Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1854-09-20


Did Jehovah make intoxicating drinks, and
sanction their use as a beverage! Never
never. The Lord is consistent and unchange-
able being. He cannot pronote evil but the
very niture and tendency of alcohol is evil
which fully develops its origin. How much
like the deadly adder, whose poison lies con-
cealed; but the very moment you touch it, its
venom plerces your heart and curdles your lite
blood. Yes, it is like the Upas tree, whose
very atmosphere strikes death to the SOUL
Who hath wo-who hath sorrow-who hath |
cOntentlOn--who hath babbllng-who hath
wounds W thOut cdu-e-who hath redness of
!'-who hath dclir.um tremens they |
tn It tamper with this .nsldlous poison-thry
tht 10 k upon the VINE. Surely, the doctrine
OF total abstinence from all mtox icdtimg drinks |
as beverage, is taught in this passage, anu
that to the fullest extent; and if there We're |
nothing else i'll the Bible to substantlate the
proposition | have laid down, this to every re,-
sOnable person, methnks, would be amply sufli-
cent
But, again:-Eph. 5, 49," Be not drunk
with wine, wherein is excess" The same
truth is here expressed and the same prccept
is given. The word .MethuSkeSthe, here trans
lated "drunk," comes from the word MethuO
whose root is lIethu, which means "wIne," or
"unmxed wine;" hence, Methuo literally
means, Ito drink VINE freely" or free IN
dulgence in the use of unmixed wine ;" hencl,
also, MethuSkO, another form of MethuO, ana
from wh oh 1TpfbuSEeStbo ~ ,nora t,,I,,
derived, when used i'll reference to the drink
ing of alcoholic wine, mostly means, to drink
to ntoXlcatlOn," and by an extension of medn-
ing Ito be intoxicated or be drunk" because
any one who will drink freely of alcoholic
vine, or other drinks, will be sure to become
intoxicated or drunk; but he may drink ever so
freely, even to safety of unfermented wine or
drinks, containing no alcohol and it is imross-
Die fer him to become intoxicated or 4" drunk"
Th2 same word Is used in the scptuagent, Gen.
l3, 81: "and they drank and were merry with
him LITERALLY, and they drank largely with
hHn," as it is Iii the margin of the Bible. 1t is
also used in Canticles ), |, Drink abundantly.
y beloved, also in Haggal l, 6, aye drink,
but not largely, or pIentnully" These, per-
haps, fully develop the true meaning as can
be easily made clear by the principles of inter
probation, but as | shall have occasion to refer
), to them again, when take up the objection O
Chrst's making wine-John =, ], Gc.,-at pre-
sent shall make no further comments.
The word ASotia is composed of ga" mega
tive, and derivation of SOzO to save--whcl
:, shows that a person indulgIng in the free us,
Of wine is unsavcable, and the passage clearl,
teaches that proAigacy, debauchery, and Ger
tain destruction are necessarily and inseparabl
connected with the free use OF alcoholic WINE
> therefore, the prohibition in the text aud tn
exhortation, "to be filled with the spirit" Ii
: that is filled with the Holy SPIRIT will not eve
look upon the bewltching temptation.
The same truth is taught us, and the sam
command is given us, in other parts of God
word. l Thess. s. 22.-Abstain from all al
pearance of evil" CoIoss. 2, 81, 22.-"Touc
not, taste not, handle not, which all are to pc
ish with the using" Prev 4, IA, l5 &C.
Enter not in the path of the wicked and 9
..g not IN the way OF evil men, avoid it, pass Ut
by 1t, turn from it and pass away, &c. Prov
ID" lEslnners entlce thee, consent thou not.
Thus there is no excuse, for God has erected
= beacon, a; the entrance of every avenue, to I'll
broad road of intemperance, so that none nee
mistake or be allured to ruin. Here we a
commanded not to drink the wine, to touC
not, taste not, handle not, by no means to emit
,,D the path of temptation, but to avoid it, to pa
not by it, to keep entirely away from the TEN
tation, to reSolutely say "no" to the temple
OIL and turn from him and pass away-to absta
o'' from its very apprenticeship, not even to 10,
len upon it; because of its deceptive, bewitchir
elh and deadly influence. All of which agre
eh' with the facts of the case, and what can mo
the fully teach, and enforce the doctrine and pra
OF tice of teetotalism.
rib Let us now look at some of the Bible decl
it. rations on this subject Prov. 90 l: "Wine
ing a mocker, strong drink is raging,and whosoev
dly is deceived thereby is not wise" What
inc truthful picture of inebriating wine Many
{ in poor soul has it "dsceived" and "mockeo
lin again and again, and yet they still turn TO thu
for cups and say, al will seek it yet again.
AXE Many seek pleasure and bliss in the wine C,
era but it mocks their search,--others seek to all
ker vate their sorrows and to obtain respite fir,
go the ills of life, but it only adds misery to 81
his ROY and mocks their increased wretchedne
You until rage and despair fasten upon them, a
first ruin follows in the train. Yes, wine is mo-
mp er, and every one is surely unwlse, who is
s:- lured TO the use Of this deceptive beverage
liter The use of wine, and other mild drinks, is 81
sady to lead to the use Of stronger and more ard
vine beverages The appetite becomes formed
deep the desire for strong drink increased, until
unk- raging thirst knows no control- torn
"a 10 to pain; while the feverish brain, the frena
sings passion, tha trembling nerve, the totteriug
I not son, and the see,rbon sling Of m vst unsea