Smyrna times., 1856-11-05
temperance matters.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
No. ).
Harmony of the ProhibitOry and Moral
Law


Law.
Mr.. Editor Having shown in the Sd arti-
Gle, that ardent spirits when used TO excess
produce death and that, by consequence, the
excessive use of these drinks is violation of
| the Moral Law, which says, "Thou shalt not
kill" including suicide as well as homicide
and having shown in article 4, that moderate
drinking leads to drunkenness, impairs the ply
sical system, renders it liable to diseases that
in consequence of these effects, it superinduces
premature death and that moderate drinkers
exert more influence upon the young than the
besotted, and many, through their influence,
are induced to enter upon a course of intem-
perance, which results in their death; moder-
ate drinking, therefore, is opposed to. and is a
violation of the same law, because the founda-
tion- principle of the law is Benevolence, which
forbids the doing of anything which tends to
infict injury upon our neighbor. We now
proceed to call attention to the waste of pro-
perty effected by the manutact ure, sale and use
of these liquors. ,.....
The law of the Most High forbids the forci-
/,
perty, or the use of any means to get it which
are not in accordance with the principle Of JUS
tIce or benevolence for justice is only branch
of Benevolence. The law, as amplifed and
applied by our Saviour, also torblds the waste o.
!. this worlds goods, even by the holder of them
The law recognizes man as a steward, an agen
or trustee, having property or its equivalent il
trust, for the use and benefit of another, wht
claims to be the original righiful owner; allow
ing man to defray his lawful expenses, or t,
o supply his reasonable wants out of the funds h
e has in hand but not to waste it. 1t is useles
: for US to cite passages from the notes upon thi
law, endited by the Author, generally calle
o '.The Scriptures" to show the truth OF thi
point We believe the above proposition
generally conceded, if not acted upon. by al
who acknowledge Bible authority. u. g.
oil What, then, is waste Of property, and mil
~ ~ use of our Lords money 2" The using {
y this property to procure anything that is nc
= necessary to make us comfortable, and cleanl
in person and apparel; or which does not col
tribute to our health and the prolongation
at life, or that is not conducive to the peace an
iI quiet Of our families or neighbors or thi
does not tend to promote the happiness of on
q, selves or others Property is, also, absolutel
wasted when we exchange it for that which
= not an equivalent; unless it be bestowed grl
tuitously upon benevolent or charitable objec
:, 8 or purposes. We are now prepared for ii
he following propositions 1. Liquor is not nece
at sary TO render US comfortable or cleanly g
ess does not contribute to our health, or the pr
aly longation of life g. It does not conduce to Il
IN, peace and quiet of our families or our neigi
10 bors; A.. II neither tends to promote the happ
. ness Of ourselves or others. 1t is not, ther
= fore, an equivalent of the money or proper
!, expended to procure it. Consequently all e
~ change Of property for liquor. is waste Of tn
property. (By the term property, we incu
es money; and We mean property spent for liqu
my to be used as a beverage or common druk)
owl IL is generally conceded, we believe, that
ooa man spends fortune for rum, it is vast,
h;s worse than wastsd,-it is devoted to his o,
90 destruction, None are louder or more abusi
(at in their condemnation of the poor, anfortans
eet inebria,e, who hasspeh has property for driI
than the moderate drinker. Yet, he is dol
Del. the very same thing for which he condemns
-. - drurksrd--only not to the same extent II,
e expendIng part Of his proPertyto gr4tify
at tui,+i ,1oalaspiD laa nsoddn4sA