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

CHAPTER VII.
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.
Thou shall not KILL"
Gone blow, and life is gone;
One grasp--'tis over now,
The blood streams fast from the gaping side,
And pallid is the brow;
The cold dead eyes are staring wide,
Ah murderer-where art thou 2"
Men Of distinguished character, deci-
ded talent and possessing very extern
sive knowledge of theology, define muir
der TO be something more than an un-
provoked, and direct attack upon ones
person, whereby he is deprived Of life.
A most excellent writer and theologian,
uses the following language, with refer
ence to the sixth commandment. Be-
sides the direct act Of murder, every
thing that leads to it, or has tendency
to endanger life, is to be considered as
forbidden. All unkind and harsh treat
ment towards servants, dependents and
brute animals, by which life may be shor-
tened or rendered intolerable-aK furi-
Gus and revengeful passions which NAV
lead to acts Of violence all quarrelling
and fighting. either for bets, or the graf
ifcation of hatred or revenge-all wish
es for the death of others, and all con-
trivances either direct or indirect TO COM
pass the destruction of our neighbor-
all criminal negligence by which our
own life or the life Of others may be en-.
dangered or destroyed-and all those
actions BY which murder may be com
mitted as probable effect, as the burn
ing Of inhabited houses, and the throw
ing Of the instruments of death into thu
midst Of a crowd-are to be regarded a
involving the principle Of murder, a
we'll as the direct acts of suicide, duel
ing and assassination.
Perhaps the above view Of the subjec
will not meet with very welcome re
ception; but it is sustained by the law O
God. Now ST. Paul uses this language
Whosoever hateth his brother, is
MURDERER" Is not hatred the paren
of all those acts and dispositions, refer
ed to in the above quoted remarks? ?
Evidently love can have nothing to d
with them. Suppose l and my famil
were in house, and distant part Of th;
house were TO take fire, and friend wei
TO warn me of my danger, but at th
same time, another individual were
tell me that there was no danger; or
ven keep silence, but at the same time,
feeding the flame with some combustib
substance. that he might get the old ire
and rubbish Of the building, after it sh;
have been consumed were /, and n
family thus to fill fiery grave, wou
not that man be considered as my en-
my: yea, farther, would he not be CO
sidered as my MURDERER Has not t
tenement of many a mortal taken fl
and has not that flame been fed by t
liquor deaIers And for whats The
tie trash he may have, or may leave
hind when he is consumed. How c
the liquor vender indulge any oil
thought, than that his daily employmt
is Of murderous character? The VIZ
Of God is the rule by which to determ
the quality Of moral action; thereto
il he is condemned thereby as a murd
er, he must abide it.
This subject may be viewed in ty
fold light he deals in liquid by VIII
men are killed; and men when UNI
the influence of that liquid, commit m
der. We shall endeavor to present
subject to you in this light, in its furt
prosecution, which involves the ven
Of spirituous liquors, directly and il
rectly. 1t is loo evident, that Alco
possesses no nourishing ingredient,
never digested. The testimony of /
OF Medical men declare that alcohol
poison, and when taken into the stC
ach, tends 10 destroy life. He then, '
ior the sake Of gain, panders to the
petltes of men, by giving them this
son, acts with no kind reference to
HE OF his fellow creatures; but mus
ioOked upon as greatly contributing to
death. See that liquor dealer, as is
zen me case, as he sells his pernici
nuld TO the half dead drunkard while
\ isaWare that his family are des stitut
a. the most ordinary comforts of life. "
N does this indicator Does he not evj
q strong disposition to seizV the few
lN Pers IN the trembling hand of the :,
\ inebriate, whether he, or his family
or die' Men may consider me Ia