Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-13
CHAPTER VIII.
THE sEvENTH COMMANDMENT.
C Thou shnh mt Commit n1aLlfar,,n

&c But chief she loves the scenes of deep de-
bauch,
When revelry, and dance, and frantic song
Disturbed the sleep Of honest men. And where /
The drunkard sat, she entered in, we'll pleased,
With eye brimfulI Of wauton mirthfulness,
And urged him still to fill another cup"
"This commandment is to be viewed as
comprehending within its prohibition, every
species of lewdness, 10th in word, thought !
and action as adultery, fornication, incest. |
polygamy, &C., and also all those icentious
desires and affections from which such ac-
tons proceed. In this comprehensive sense
it is explained by our Saviour, in his sermon
on the Mount, and by the Apostles, in their
letters to the Christian Churches. As the
Saviour and his apostles are referred to in
the above remarks, We will quote their Ian
guage upon the subject. Says Christ: Ye
have heard that it was said by them of old
time, ''Thou shalt not commit adultery: But
| say unto you, that whosoever looketh on
woman to lust after her, hath committed a.
dultry already with her in his heart. SAYS
Paul: Now the works of the flesh arc man
ifest, which are these Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lascivousness.-Peter speaks
as follows: Having eyes full of adultery that
cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable
souls. We add one more quotation from
Paul. Be not deceived; neither fornica-
tors, nor idolaters, nor efeminate, shall in
, herit the kingdom of God.
The law Of chastity is one which should
be held sacred and one to which all should
adhere with the most scrupulolls tcnacity
, for the indulgence of simple unchaste, OF
: impure thought, may lead to tie most ag
+ gravated violation of the seventh command
/ ment; the most degrading results. This W,
0 presume NO one will doubt Knowing til,
: pauperism, confusion, contention, misery
# and blood shed, which is pronounced by tn,
Il violation of the law of chastity, does it no
i become every virtlous man, and goo,
, citizen, to detest the very idea of having an
i eonnexion with this prominent sin Of on
a country. And yet We are compelled to ad
n nit, that there is very intimate connexio
d existing between the traffic in ardent spirit
" and this abominable sin. BY alInding t
lie this subject, may subject myself to tn
N charge of imprudence and indelcacy; hl
e. this feature of the traffic, that do not ne
n remember to have seen set forth its h0rri
l. deformity ought to exhibited to the gaze
he the world, to the confusion and condemns
ton of all concerned. IF the fact allude
It. to above actually exists, then should pro,
lis recreant to the high trust committed to Ii
BY were L not to expose it.
er Awed by mortal frown, shall |
cel Conceal the word of God most high!
Ir- How then before thee shall dare
ra- To stand, or how thine anger bear2
MI Shall 10 soothe the unhuly thronG,
ir- Soften thy truth, and smooth my tongue
ler No ! We will try to tell you the truth, t
al whole truth, and nothing but the trutI
IN, then we shall be clear in the matter. NJ
The | mean to assert, that the immediate, dire
his and unwavering tendency of liquor ven
to ing, is to prepare man for the violation
lie, this precept, in the grossest forms. VIII
at the unfortunate man receives the fatal draug
he at the hand of the vender, by which he
his comes intoxicated, is he not in situati
I'M to give unrestrained indulgence to his p
Go sions? The poisonous draught that is de
zap out to him, divests him of judgment, and
ecu thrones reason and when these are gol
less what has he left, by which to be governe
and by which to control his sensual nature
him Hence, men have violated the seventh &C
gal mandment when intoxicated, in the mos
that bominable and destestable manner
ffic, when judgement has regained its positi
All, and reason ascended the throne, the RENE
mis- brance of their wickedness, has come u
ttri- them like mighty torrent, well nigh o1
de- whelming them. [ do not mean to say,
|, IL this precept would never be violated, if L
om, did not traffic in ardent spirits, or bec(
en- intoxicated, any more than they would br
aced every other precept of the moral law; b
b an mean to say, that the instances would
lpon comparatively few. There are men who,
and haps, would shudder at the thought of c
soon mitting such crime when sober, but III
lpid, the deranging influence of ardent spirits,
m a hesitatingly yield he would be borne a
will in the absence of reason, by the fiery str
,cks, of passion, into this sin, in the most dt
ated cable shape. Instances have occurred,
up which the intoxicated father, with den
like purpose has sought to blast the spot
used virtue of his daughter. Who can sup
N in that, that father, when sober, would hay
hose dulged such beastly, devilish purpose
refer No, he would have turned from tie tho1
been as soon as from the mouth Of the death-t
ards. ing cannon. The liquor dealers beve
ven transformed the kind father into he
alton iend !; and the man into q hog. The Ii
nclu- business has sent forth a most pernicious
sr, to moralizing, and degrading influence. n
Which a foul blot, and abominable stigma, has
Let entailed upon the innocent for general
burn How many gentcel and talented y,