Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-04-03
TEMPERANCE.
From the Religious llorald.
TCmrCrancc Of tho Bible,

and practically vindicate the doctrine
of Temperance as inculcated by the
gospel. What docs the gospel incul-
cate on this subject. This, every
Christian should seek to ascertain.
That drunkenness is forbidden is uni
versally admitted. The only point
of difference regards the moderate use
of intoxicating drinks as Bcrcragr,
all conceding that their use for me-
.chanical or medical purposes is not
forbidden by the gospel of Christ. |
assume,
| !. That tic moderate use Of mt0ri-
eating EQours as odcrcragc, is a ri0-
lation eftAe gospc1gf Christ.
/. l remark, That the gospel is the
proper standard Of appeal on all qnes-
tions of faith and practice in deciding
upon what is right and wrong; what
should, and what should not, be done.
It will consequently form the final
standard ofarpoal on the judgment
day, awarding to every man either
life or dea,h-cndless bliss or endless
voc according to the obedience or re-
bellion on the part Of the subjects Of
its obligations.
What the gospel makes wrong no.
thing else can make right, and what
it makes right nothing else can mako
wrong. 1t is Gods system, not only
for the redemption Of fallen man, but
also for the government Of his moral
actions. While it provides for the
remission of sins, its standard orrccti-
tude is as high and holy as any ever
known amongst men. In the first
Epistle to Timothy, lst cll. 11th ",
Paul, after setting forth the design OF
the law, as forbidding the catalogue
,of crimes enumerated, adds, Sand il
there bc any oMer ling that is con.
trary to sound doctrine, according to tile
glorious gospel ofthe blessed God"
The gospel yields to no other system
in point of the recsitude ofits princi.
pies or the authoritativcncss Of its de-
mands.
Its principles are perfect, its claims
supreme. 1t is the sum Of the divine
will to our fallen world.
9. Ercry man IS imPeratirc7y boand
TO confirm to schat lie gospel requires.
say "evcry man" because by the
commission of the "Head of all prin-
cipalities and powers both in heaven
and in earth" the gospel is to be
preached to every creature-thc same
facts duties and motions are to be held
forth to every man. Its recipient Is
saved, its reflector is damned. But
while the unbelieving reject the gos-
pel, both as to its salvation and its
principles Of government, and arc
therefore condemned by it, the be-
lever cordially receives both, and in
his baptism practically VOWS before
heaven and earth, that he will conform
in faith and practice to the gospel OF
Christ, and he will be justified accor-
ding to the scheme of fmercy WHICH
the gospel tenders to all sinners.
3. Tie Ministry Of Christianity IS
bound by pirtuc Of MeU Commission
to tcacA tic disciped, baptized part Of
j, Me nations to obscrre aRthiags cajo'"-
cd in The gospel till tie end Gf Tie
,oorM. Tho same authority that
binds them to teach, binds the disci-
pies, one and all, to observe what is
thus taught And no man or council
Of men has tho slightest authority to
require the disciples to observe more
or less than Christ commanded.
: "NYhatsocvcr have commanded you
sets hounds to the acquisitions Of the
ministry, that may not bo surpassed,
but short Of "all things commanded
no minister should feel himself at lib
crty to stop his instructions, or tho
disciple his observance. The gospel
thon, being the supreme rulo OF right,
we proceed to show wlatare its teach
ings on the subject of temperance
This may be inferred,
, /. From the objects the gospel was
intended to accomplish. God, by the
gospel, intended to reconciethc world
unto hilnsoltby Jesus Christ-.'iat is
: to induce revolted sinners by repent
: ance, to give up whatever was wrong