Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-08
FoR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
FACE THE MUSIC.n

"Show me how / can do good in the cause
of benevolenee, humanity and virtue, and /
viii prove my faith by my works" is the claim
of every christian and true phiIanthropist. to
clear himself of false professions. Come with
me, brother, to this humble cottage, once the
abode of competence, peace and domestic hap
piness-now the den of a maniac who has
just endered himself insane for the time, a-
ter a long debauch at the " Exchange" the
tavern or the grog store. See that trembling
wife how her heart yearns with the complex
emotions OF error, Distraction, compassion and
despair. Look at those children leaving their
toys and innocent gambols, to hide themselves
hastily from the presence of their returning
father! Look at those shrinking and tender
females afraid to meet the scowling eve of
him, for whom they could give their lives, If he
were, as once, their Kind, sober. indhlgeDt pa
rent! Then ask yourself before God, If you
can reclaim that greatly erring husband and
father, byyour precept and example, by making
him a Son of Temperance, whether you need
to get to Heaven before you realise that YOU
have done a noble and praiseworthy action -
Is not ~ bird in the hand" palpable, visible
benefit, to restore peace TO these wounded,
troubled soufs-pienty to their board, and
smiles OF serene joy to this now happy family?
| have seen much of human natuFe-ohi how
much OF human misery and degradation, and |
solemnly declare, that of all vice, that of a
drunken husband and head of n family de-
serves most to be called Legion! Ihaye Gu
red many diseases, but confess | never felt
so much like God had given me a power like
that of casting out deriJs, as when I had re-
stored a once inveterate drunkard, once more
to himself, his heart-broken family and his
friends! What vice opposes so powerfully
all the merciful designs of a benevolent God
and Saviour, as drunkards? What vile habit
gives the devil such powerful aid in deluding
the soul out of true contentment and destroy
ingi it, sending it in pursuit of the maddening
pleasures of ntoXication, only to reap misery
and continued disappointment, as drunkennessa
VIVA vice is already entwiuing itself around
the now comparatively free hearts of so many
young men, who now regard themselves as
" temperate drinkers" ana who will soon stand
up before the altar of marriage, and VOW every
thing else but this conduct to the then only low
ed one-and then wilfgo'and repeat this horrible
devilry in their once cherished families ? Drunk
enness! Alas the dru1kard worships hisl
selfish and sensual appetites more thin his
COP can he love his wife and children. better
than his most cherished and ha~bit-couirmed
propensities? He p~rofanes the name Of his
Maker, tramples on all he has sworn to love and
protect: dishonors his relations-breaks the
Sabbath-lies TO his friends-murders his wife.
or his next best friend-defrauds his creditors
-indulges all his lusts-violates the whole
decalogue, and stands forth manifest to all, far
more a demon, than a mani repeat the SEN
timent when such men are brought to the prac-
tee of Temperance, is it not, as if they were
dlspossessed Of a devil-especially, when as so
often happens, divine mercy completes the
miracle, by placing them at the feet of Jesus,
clothed and in right mind. Temperance, like
charity, hides a multitude of sins. Go then.
and preach and practise temperance, and you
will rejoice over many restored and happy
souls.