The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-14

Lecturer, will deliver addresses on that sub
jec,, as follows ;--Rutland, Thursday, May
18th Brandon, Friday, May Is, Cat the
Baptist Westinghouse, 7 o'clock, P. M. ),
Middlebury, Saturday and Sunday, 18th &
18th; Yergennes 18th; Ferrisbmgh, 10Th
Charlotte, goth; Shelburne, 21st; Bur-
lington, 22d, and Piattsburgh, 23d. The
meetings are appointed at 7 12 o'clock, un-
less the friends in the above towns designate
a different hour.
The young Man beguiled or his strength,
Thanks 10 Messrs. Eastman & Dan.
forth, publishers Of the Vt, Patriot, for a
copy of Rev. John Gridley's Sermon un-
der the above caption, which was deliver
ed in the Brick Church at Montpelier,
March go, 1916.
This discourse in the main, is excellent
and every young man would do we'll to
heed the admonilions contained in it !;
and, in order that the readers of the Voice
may get a clue at some of the facts pre-
scented, l have thought proper to quote the
following.
rs. BY the use of intoxicating drinks.
think it would be an event still TO occur
for the first time, especially in this region.
that whole nights are spent in dancing and
carousirg, and in the practice of things
which usually attend these scenes, that
intoxicating drinks are excluded from use.
Not that all who patronize night dancing
are addicted to drink on such occasions =;
nor that any perhaps are quite as bold, at
the presen. day, as in former times 10 cir
culate The intoxicating cup. but it is we'll
known, and | think will not be denied,
that there are young persons in this region
who do practice the use Of intoxicating
drinks, and that TOO often 10 inebriety.-
They are known 10 be especially the
chief patrons OF the bar on such occasions,
not only to their own disgrace, but 10 the
annoyance Of others. Wherefore rely
upon ii my hearers, such conduct does not
escape public observation. Such young
men are marked, and regarded with pity
and aslonishment; and even those who
furnish them the liquor, pass upon them
behind their backs, a cool condemnation ;
not having as much ~boldness, and honesty,
to withhold from them the cup, as zeal
and audacity 10 draw from them their
money. Be- assured nv hearers that this
age of light upon the subject of intoxicar.
ing drinks, when the world is as it were,
awake 10 the importance Of p%ropogating
and praclicing temperance principles, no
young man can be a tipler, without in.
curing universal reprobation. The com
mon sense Of mankind condemns the
practice ; and he who will disregard that
voice, imperils his character. Moreover,
when | see a young man, at the present
day, habitualIy using intoxicating drinks,
and that too in spite Of public opinion, and
his own better judgment, my soul grtt"es
for that individual. | see him in my i'm
agination a few years hence, a confirmed
sot disgraced and ruined a candidate for
a drunkard's grave and a d~runkard's re,>
ribulion ! Oh, my friend, there is no ex.
aggeration in this, but it is The sad and
history of thousands Of our race.
| warn you therefore, young men, touch
not the intoxicating cup, it contains a
that will sting and bite you fatal,
ly. Look not thou upon The wine when
is red, when it giveth his color in the
when it moveth itself Alright. AT the
last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth
like an ADDER Prov. % 81, 80.
But a ll,dge, a young man is beguiled
Of his strength,
8, BY associating with evil companions
. young man in his character, and in the
respect which others feel for him. will al
ways take the level of his associates
This is as inevitable, as any principle in
For he will learn their hab-
its, adopt their maxims, use their language,
and indulge their practices. Like the
Sponge, which invariably takes the color
OF the rock it grows upon, will the young
man take upon himself the moral COM
Of those with whom he habitualIy
associates. Hence, if you choose for your
companions, those who have no character,
or those whose character is doubtful, YOU
mus. expect to be ranked with such in re-
gard 10 worth and influence. No superb
GRITTY of intellect, nor advantage in point Of
MOI wealth by way of patrimo-
ny or from any other source, can save
you from the doom. This is a sort Of
moral ~agrarianism, if I may use the term
in this connection, which brings all down
TO the same level, who thus associate; and
that too in despite of any incidental cir
cumslance that can avert it. And for
aught | see the principle is Just; no un-
righteousness is done the individual, by
such an estimate OF him, he gets no more
than his due for the Apostle hath said,
Evil communications corrupt good NOR
ais and with this accession Of corrun,