Smyrna times., 1854-11-15
0ralnal ArtlfLss.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
Bible Temperance.
Y nv rouAnAnr --.-..--- Il
BY JoHANAN.


FOURTH PRooF.-BIBLE PRINCIPLE.
The principles of the Bible perfectly accord
with the precepts and examples already speci-
fled. The precepts are based upon these prin-
ciples, and the examples are carrying them into
practice. They all breathe the same spirit
When the Apostle, Rom. a. 81, says-"I 1t is
good neither to eat flesh nor drink wine, nor
anything whereby thy brother stunbleth, or is
made weak ;''-he simply brings forward this
great principle: That the use of any thing
whatever. whose tendency either directly or
Indirectly, is evil to ourselves, to our brother,
or to our neighbor, accords not with the princi-
pies Of the Gospel, the great Law of Love-
We are to love our neighbor as we love our
selves, and to love ourselves as we love our
neighbor, and both these to be swallowed up in
eur loveto God; hence to use anything in such
manner as destroys this principle, is contrary
to, and subversive Of the divine government
The apostle says, it is good not to drink wine,
consequently to drink wine must be evil; for
every act must be either good, or not good,
right or wrong; therefore, TO drink wine can
not be according to the divine will. Who does
not know that the very nature and universal
tendency OF alcoholic liquor is to cause man to
stumble and to offend by transgrcssing the law
of God. Look at the evil, both in the church
and in the world that has been, and is yet be-
ing produced by this pernicious poison. And
\ can any one point outa particle of good that i
has ever done as a beverage! No--not one.
Again, Cor. s, l3.4-'GIf meat make my bro
Their to offend, Twill eat no flesh while the world
standeth, lest cause my brother to offend" ~
/ This passage contains the same principle. Ii
these quotations, it is the principles which the.
inculcate for which Icontend. 1t is the prin
! ciple of benevoleuce, the grand principle Q
4 divine truth, and is perfectly to the subject &
hand. We maI alsS argue from these pas
sages, in the language OF a certain writer, o.
tho ground of expedlensy: Even if it wer
Il true that our Saviour made Intoxicating drink
I -eyen if it were true that he used them, Q
!. gave them to others; yet, in the face of tina
y Paul would say, there may come state {
d things in which it would be my duty to give u
T. wine, and IwouLD do it: aif wine make m
p brother to offend, viii give it up, viii abal
to don it, This is the true principle of Christ
at anity. And ask if we have not come in
RS those circumstances now, when with the fabr
6r Gated wine of modern communities, we can g
M nothing but ardent spirits diluted and disguise
. and when we cannott get the beer bottle al
the gin bottle out Of the hands of the pc
I. drunkard, unless we viii sweep away all the
substances together! ask whether we ha
"; not come to the very juncture of human aiai
when the Apostle Paul woul say--"I will gi
up these beverages---I will sign the tempe
ance pledge, and | will give the pc
drunkard the force of my example, that
= may follow me aud get away from the source
y his wretchedness.p If all men would act up
he this principle, the world would get rid Of dru
OBJ. enness at once fsny one stands upon te
perance platform to descant on the evils of
|. toxicating liquors, and in order to quench
own thirst, lifts the wine glass to his lips, Il
d 4 prchend his own conscience win condemn b
- 4.taftsa. ff..sf sEsHsl.