Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-13

and enter their protest against such an '
accusation, declaring that though they Y
sell ardent spirits, it is with sorrow that {
they contemplate the conduct of the /
drunkard or the condition of his family. !
This alters not the matter and cannot re-
lieve them, because their actions deny
their words.
But let US illustrate this subject farther,
| by reference to two instances one re-
corded in the book of God, and the other
Of frequent occurrence in our country
The instance TO which would first direct
your attention, is recorded in the 1Ith
Chapter of II Samuel. We are told that
David sent Joab and his servants to fight
against the children of Ammon, but he
tarried at Jerusalem. "And it came to
pass,i in an eventide, that David arose from
off his bed, and walked upon the roof of
the kings house and there he saw wo-
lman," with whom he became enamor-
ed. even to a grossly criminal extent.
But she was the wife of another man
and how should he secure her as his wife?
The woman's husband was with Joab,
on the battlefield. David sent for Uriah,
and after OBTAINING him at jerusalem for
while, sent him back to the army with
letter from the king to Joab. What was
the import of that letter? Why, that
Joab should put Uriah in the forepart of
the hottest battle, that there might be the
igreatest proability that he would be kill
: ed. His object was accomplished and
: Uriah fell, as brave man, fighting for
! him who desired his wife, and was will
ing that he should lose his life, in order
, TO crafty that desire. After the death of
, Uriah, David took Bathsheba to his own
= house. Soon after this sad and disgrace
= full occurrence, God sent his Prophet,
" Nathan, unto David, and he declared these
" words unto him: There were two men
IS in one City, the one rich and the Other
+ poor. The rich man had exceeding ma.
ID ny flocks, but the poor man had nothing
r save one little eve lamb, which he hac
i brought and nourished up; and it grew
" up together with him and with his chill
io dren: it did eat Of his own meat, anc
IT. drank Of his own cup, and lay in his owl
h. bosom, and was unto him as a daughter
n And there came traveller unto the ricl
n man, and he spared TO take of his owl
flock and of his own herd, to dress for tn
ur wayfaring man that was come unto him
N. but took the poor mans lamb and dress
,se ed it for the man that was come to hin
M And David's anger was greatly kindle
m against the man, and he said to Nathar
W. AS the Lord iveth, the man that hat
he done this thing shall surely die, and
az shall restore the lamb fourfold, becaus
as he did this thing, and because he had n
ell tpity. And Nathan said unto David
THOU ART THE MAN." And now Natha
ect after recounting Gods goodness to hin
re- said, Wherefore hast thou despise6 II
Of commandment of the Lord to do evil
re- his sightI Thou hast killed Uriah, Il
a Hittite, with the sword, and hast take
ent his wife to be thy wife, and hast sla
er- him with the sword of the children
- Ammon."
do Now, it is evident from the divine recor
lilly that David wanted Uriah' wife, and the mi
hat successful way to get her, was to let him S
ere fer death by the hand of the Ammonite
the then Of course all would think that he fell
e 10 many had done before. But notwithstaI
I c. ing he was at Jerusalem when Uriah di,
be yet, in the sight of God, he was a murder
lble This he admitted, before he discovered t
iron Nathan's remarks were applicable to hi
hall Now, 1 ask, does the liquor dealer sust
my less criminal relation to the Sixth Cc
ould mandment, than David2 It'll true the V
enc der may not want the wife of the drunkal
con- but his money is the Bathsheba which he
the much desires, and he is aware that the O
fire, way to secure it is to supply him with pois
: the The liquor dealer lusts to such an extent
lit ter his Bathsheba, that he is willing the dr
; be- kard should drink even to death. u
can was slain by the sword of the Ammoni
'ther but God charged David with the murder
nent The drunkard falls groaning and dying
word the sword of liquid vengeance, and will
mine God charge him, the vender, with the I
fore, der? Who can doubt it? The rumst
rder- may say, that he does not coerce men,
they drink because they will. Neither
two David compel the Ammonites to slay III
'hich but he knew that they would do it ant
nder that means he could get his wife. The
mur- der of spirituous liquors know that men
t the drink, and that it is means by which
rther can get their money. David was glad {
,nder opportunity of placing Uriah in situa
indi- that would deprive him Of life; that
cohol might gain his wife The liquor We
, it is dare not deny, but that he is delighted '
| host his shop or bar room is filled with Gus
j is ers because he can empty their poe
stom- and enlarge the dimensions of his cot
, who Despite of all that he may say of his
Ie ap- for, and adherence to the principle Of
poi manity, yet is it not clear, that he is
to the fectly willing, that men should die
ust be drunkenness, if he can advance his
to his cuniary interest thereby?
u nf. LII rnlntn +hn fnIlnrr;rrr inn;dnnt Il