Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-08-30
0rigiual paFtrs.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC,
AS CONNECTED WITH THE VIOLA
TION OF THE DECALOGUE.
ny A METHODIST MINISTER.
CHAPTER /.

"The Lord declares his will,
And keeps the world in awe;
Amidst the smoke on Sinai's hill
Breaks out his fiery law"
More than three thousand three hundred
years ago, there was vast concourse of peo-
pie assembled in the vicinity Of a majestic
mountain, whose elevated summit pierced above
the clouds Of heaven, for the purpose of be
ing informed respecting those fundamental
truths in which their final destiny was invol-
we'd. The scene which was about to trans
pire was of divine appointment twas by
Gods direction. The efulgent rays Of the
rising sun, dispelling the gloom of night, gave
evidence to the waiting multitude, that the
time had arrived when all Israel would be
summoned TO hear the infinite and eternal God
utter his voice, and to witness striking,
and terrible demonstration of his power and
majesty. And now Moses, the servant of the
Most High, led the people to the q neither part
ofSinai % The thunders of heaven burst forth
in astounding and frightful peals the light
ming flashed athwart the mount, which CON
yinced the people that God was moving to-
wards the earth
The pcaling thunder the hghtnings Wv
id glare; the quaking mount the uprising
dismal columns Of smoke the " exceeding
loud sounding trumpet's blast ;" the fiery vol
.ume that encircled the great AM the mass
Of trembling humanity; all, all unite in the
grand proclamation g The Lord God omni
potent reigneth." Evidently, the design Of
Almighty Gods visit to Mount Sniai wa:
to communicate to man certain principles Oh
lawEgby which he should be governed in this
world, declaring that he, was the only true
God, and at the same time exhibiting his ma
jestic power in the maintenance of his author
ity. Who can believe otherwise. than thai
but one thought occupied the mind of the vas
multitude !. The Lord he is God, and we un
hesitatingly submit to his authority.
From the character of God, VIC can com
10 no other conclusion, than that in giving tn
law on Mount Sinai, he had direct referenc
to the happmes Of man; indeed we have hal
frequent practical exempliieations of his truth
in the case of those who have adhered wit
holy tenacity to those wholesome laws. Tn
legitimate consequence Of strict obedience t
the Ten Commandments, is holiness fror
which necessarily flows solid happiness. Go
designed that the decalogue should be tran.
mitted to the latest generation, as the gres
principles Of human action.
IT'S an offence Of no small magnitude, {
violate any one Of these commandmendst.-
, We are ready to conclude, that had we form
ed a part Of that trembling company wi
stood at the base of the quaking mount, an
been fearful spectators of the dreadful seer
which occurred, no thought Of violation
Z God's law would have been entertained by u
But are we not as fully convinced, that d
Ten Commandments are of divine origin
H. ,c1
wisdom, and authority, as were the Israelitei
And yet, we disregard them, as though th'
were but the effusion Of some frenzied, peae
hating mind.
Now it is awful enough, and is running
fearful risk, to live in the practical violate
Of any one of these commandments but
what light must that man be viewed, who
daily business stands connected, either dire
1y, or indirectly, with the violation of
7rh0Le decalogue? Itisa startling fact, a
one which ought to arouse the guilty app
henSoh Of al concerned, that the liquor tr
&c standA connected with the violation
every preeept of the law given on Mount
mai Now the position we have assumed N
Be exceedingly Questionable in the view
Of those who are engaged in the traffic of 81
ituous liquor, and perhaps Of some who ;
not 80 engaged but we shall attempt to sh
by undeniable faet that we occupy positi
4 Il once tenable, and consonant with the r
eldtiDn Of God, and the principle Of reason
IL ] succeed in sustaining the position VIII
] have assumed, then how vastly guilty m
that man be, who will engage IN a course
hfs fraught with 80 much evil to himself {
others Oh, If the fact asserted be establ
Y : ed, win Il not add deeper stain, and
ker hue, 70 the reckless liquor dealers gu
Oh, that men would think: Is there any
eF vocation on earth, in which man may
gage, that tramples upon the entire code
Gods law from which emanates such a
of evils3 Let the community at large be b
dsd no longer to their best interest let Il
1lEink no longer from bold performance
"a important duty let them arise in one &
body, and show their unequivoeal disappr
sidn to apractice destined but to errse
4 the human familY.