Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-22
Written for the Shepherdstown Register. ]
TEMPERANCE.

TEMPERANCE.
This world teens with abundance and
is clothed with beauty, every spot of earth
yields something-tholgh varying greatly
in kind and value, from the spreading
Banyan or Palm, under whose protecting
shade the children of ,he sun repose, to
the scarlet lichens of the frigid zone which
impart their own hue to the SHOWS above
them. Yes, all is full of life and beauty
the meanest flower Of the vale is full of
meaning and speaks the benevolence of
God. Many of the beautiful things with
which mans habitation is garnished were
given merely 10 delight the eye; flowers OF
every odor, bloom, to convince him Of
Gods benevolence golden and luscious
fruits of every cline ripen to crafty his
taste, but in the bestowing of these gifts
He requires of us the exercise of special
virtue if we would make an appropriate
use OF them, or long enjoy them. Tenn
perance is this virtue. 1t is Rot necessary
for revelation here to speak, for in reasons
ear the voice of Nature proclaims, and the
law of instinct teaches, that safety waits
upon excess. But man, not always so
wise as the brute, brushes the kernel that
is wont to give him the bread that sust.alns
his life, and,exracts from it lio'Iid that
poissrs, nonsUmes and destroys it. The
clusters of the vine are rot always press
ed TO procure the refreshing Juice, but a
substance which at the last stingeth like
a serpent, and biteth like an adder. There
are some of these gifts which may be
classed, or ought to be in Christian CON-
munity, with those things of which the
Apostles says, Touch not, taste not,
handle not" Then why were they given?
They have their appropriate and excellent
use. in the laboratory of God-but 100 is
pronounced upon the man who putteth the
bottle to his neighbours lips. A 100 from
whom! from the pen of Inspiration,
written in Oracles, not obscurely shadow
ed forth, but clear as the light.
Habit has made us look upon the GUS
tom of presenting the foaming goblet with
some CONFERENCE.-THE it are associated
smiling faces and merry hearts. Nay,
some still imagine, hospitality requires
such offerings. If hospitality demands
sacrifices like these, it is not household
God, but siren-like monster who entices
but to destroy. True hospitality, ever
Kindly in its sympathies, does not require
the aid of the intoxicating bowl, and re-
fuses to beguile the present hour by an in
diligence which might peril the future
prospects of the young, and the ultimate
and eternal coed of the mature. The de-
stroying Angel passed over the houses of
the Egyptians and in every house there
was one dead. Have the parents in our
little community any pledge, if they con-
sinue this practice, that destroyer more
fell than the plague of Egypt, more ven
omous than the " worms of the Nile,
may enter their pleasant abodes and con-
vert them into dwellings of sorrow! 9th
err vices though they poison the current OF
human existence and stain the soul with
leprous spots, there is still a hope that
truth may enter and shed beam upon the
darkened soul-but upon the drunkards-
never
The fountain Of feeling, so far as ms
pwn spiritual condition is concerned, is
quite dried up, seated to all goood infu,
eaeeS from without. Let us not DOUBT as
to the duty of discarding Intoxicating
drinks from our feasts and social meet
ings. Doubts are often traitors and rob
us OF the good we oft might win by fear
ing to attempt"
An OBSERVER.
Shepherdstown, January %, 1850.