The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-08-09

.'"' "'"IeaoHy appear rom lew observations,
indeed Tho TACT stsfcs W. In tho face, from ono
: emu OF tho land to tho other. Intcmpcrancc,
ldlc habits, crime and INSTRUMENTATION, sre, IN
most instances. tho inevitable fruits. But DO.
s'des THIS, their use In q community, even by
men who do not run into excess "a class that
forms very small part Of the drinking portion
, OF the community helps 10 make il popular,
ano induces Others possessing less prudence and
sell control to fall into Il. This 10 the efIec, par.
!lculsrly upon the rising generation, who look
10 tnose around them who are older and more
experienced, for an example. Few are 10 be
iound 10 the vast number ruined by in,emper.
ance, who were not drawn into the use Of spis.
lts, at an age when they were incapable Of fully
approaching the risk they ran, by seeing steady
men indulge ini It. Thus we contribute, in the
language OF Inspiration, to place ..stumbling
block" before the young and unthnkng And
were we TO start with a community whose adult
members were strictly sober, II could not re
man long so,with that in it's midst TO endanger |
ana corrupt the habits Of the youth. Il is a
ieariul thing to facilitate in the remotest de !
gree either by word or example, the ruin OF
those associated with us, particularly who have |
not reached the years Of maturity and discretion
And this consideration alone should lead eyery
father, even though he feels secure himself, TO
| ADOPT the total abstinence principle, and urge
others to do the same. The safety and after
welfare OF his children, should outweigh the
pleasures OF appetite. Such is the force of the
apostle PauPs advice, when he says, Rom XIV
III, at IS good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink
wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother STUN
Ibleth, or is offended, or is made weak" Res.
IpectlDg the words "to eat fesh," we gather
from the context that the apostle has reference
4 to the difference opinion, existing at the time
among the Jewish and Gentle christians, with
regard to lawful and unlawful meats, the former
adherng to the old ceremonial law under which
they had been brought up-the latter contend
ing that 1t was no longer binding. Writing to
, the Church at Rome, he lays down the general
RUE, as applicable now as then, that it was pro.
per to avoid, as far as possible, whatever was
mediately or Immediately productive of harm.
Again, the use ofintoxcaling drink is an evil
to the Church, If tolerated within it's pale, and
brings reproach upon it. II evidently disqua-
'ties the mind for religious exercises, and re.
tards that growth in pieiy and christian excel
;, ence, which evepy one claiming 10 be child
OF God must desire. And since its legitimate
;. offspring is drunkenness, that is Is likely tc
|, follow in the case of church member, as one
: who is not. He is subject, therefore, if incau-
tious enough to INDUCED in Tito commit many
ndscretions. and to be guilty of unchristan
conduct. Indeed, this very practice is undoubt
eddy the ''besetting sin" Of many professed
christians in this day. 1t is emphaticaIly a
"welght'" then, such as the apostle exhorts ev
cry man to lay aside. Every ore knows, too,
how eager the irreligious are to point out that
professor OF religion who is guilty of intoxica-
ton at times, and 10 herald abroad his conduct.
always giving the occurrence little more col,
oring than it really deserves. And this, too,
when they themselves have contributed to
bring it about have myself heard men boast
OF making ministers OF the gospel so drunk, that
they could scarcely walk! Hence the absolute
necessity that the church, if it would maintain
high order of purity and be efficient in the
accomplishment of good, should put its veto |
upon all manner of inebriating drinks.
The evil influence of these is also manifested
IN retardpg the spread Of the gospel. They
produce, as previously remarked, lntemperance
and immortality They call into operation the
baser feelings Of our nature. They excite GU,
passions. They blunt our sense of right and
wrong. They unfit the mind, therefore, to ap-
preeiate the trn,hs of the gospel. When the
arr ofmaking distilled spirits was first discover.
ed and made known in Arabia, such was the
conviction of their banefu effects, that the Mo.
hommedans prohibited the use of them BY law,
in their sect; though they allowed them to be
given to christians. Think of enlightened
men Of the nineteenth century! Ardent spirits
fit for a christian but not for a Mohdmmedan!
We boast Of the advancement and refnements
of our age; but alas! fear we have retrogra-
ded in some respects. Mohanmed himself for.
babe his followers the use of wine, and this ex.
pressive reason for it is recorded in the Koran:
"The devil desires to SOW discussions and ha-
tired among you, by means Of winc and gam.
bling: be obedient to God and the prophet, his
apostle, and take heed to yourselves" What
sentiment from heather book! Would that
those in christian lands might learn wisdom
from the Arabian Impostor, and regard intoxi.
eating drink az one of the Vaccinations of
Satan "to sow hatred and discussions among
them!
We cannot obey the injunction to put evil
from among ne, whilst we aid in patronsing
and fastening upon the community, one OF it's
most fruitful sources. Nor can the incongruity
OF the Scriptures favoring that, which is 60 at
war with their principles and design, have es-
capped observation.
VII. Lastly, the word Of God approves total
abstinence from wine voluntarily undergone.
This is the only safe ground, and the favorable
recognition OF it forms the crowning evidence
that the Scriptures are against the use of ths
alcoholic drinks Of modern times. Ofthe Eech.
abites, God says, jeremiah XXXE. IA, 10:
"'rhe words Of Jonadab, the sen Of Rechab,
that he commanded HE sons not to drink pine,
are performed; for unto this day they drink
none, but obey ,hei. fathers commandment.
Therefore thus saith The Lord of hosts, the
God OF Israel; Jonadab the son Of Rechsb shall
not want .Dan to stand before me forever.
The Rechabites we're q tribe Of Kenites or
Midiantes, who dwelt in tents separate to /