Smyrna times., 1857-04-22
Smyrna, April 18th, 1857.
Com AUNICATED.

TO the Editor Of the Smyrna Times:
SIR,-Hoping it is desirable BY Methodsts
generally, to know Mr.. Wesley's opinion on
any subject, have concluded to make an en-
tract from a Book of mine, styled " practical
Thoughts selected from the Works of John
Wesley, a. NJ, by John Hersey, which may be
found ON pages 225-'9 of said book, and reads as
follows:
"Nether may we gain by hurting our neigh
Dor in his body. Therefore, we may not sell
anything which tends TO impair health. Such
is emnently, all that liquid fire commonly call
ed drains or sprituous liquors. 1t is true, these
may have place in medicine; they may be OF
use in some bodily disorders, (although there
would rarely be occasion for them, were it not
for the unskilfulness of the practitioner y
Therefore, such as prepare and sell them only
for this end, may keep their conscience clear
But who are they! Who prepare them only
for this end Do you know ten such distillers
in England! Then, excuse these. But all who
sell them in the common way, to any that will
buy, are poisoners, general. They murder His
Majesty's subjects by wholesale neither does
their eye pity or spare. They drive them to
hell like sheep. And what is their gain Is
it not the blood of these men? Who, then,
would envy their large estates and sumptuous
palaces! A curse is in the midst of them /;
the curse of God cleaves to the stones, the tim
Der, the furniture of them. The curse of. God
is in their gardens, their walks, their groves; a
FIRE that burns to the nethermost hell. Blood,
| blood is there; the foundation, the floor, the
walls, the root, are stained with blood. And
canst thou hope, o thou man of blood, though
| han ~ al, InI = IL 4
tarest sumptuously every day; canst thou hope
to deliver down the fields Of blood, to the third
generation! Not so; for there is a God in
heaven therefore, thy name shall be rooted
out. Like as those whom thou hast destroy ed
body and soul, thy memorial shall perish with
thee"
send you the foregsing extract, subject t.
your disposal, ofeourse. But l hope it will re-
suit in the furtherance of good. 1t is Scrip
tural expression, " though dead, yet speaketh,
and Ipresune Mr.. Wesley designed his wri
tlngs or opinions to be common property for th,
J benefit of all who would allow them to be such
in imitation Of his Divine Saviour. There
fore, Mr.. Editor, as people in my native Stat
have put down legal suasion upon the subjec
OF retailing ardent. spirits, and plead for tn
continuance of moral suasion upon the subject
do hope If this comes to be public, that proies
Y sors of religion, and all lovers of good orde
and good institutions will be encouraged to hol
e up their heads in these days that try men
: souls in moralmatters, when finding themselve
! in such good company as Mr.. Wesley and NJ
r Hersey, &c. Now, MIR. Editor, do not wis
b this to have an especial political party effect
d deprecate such thing; | want both polite,
G parties to rally around and held up good nilori
e institutions, and feel to say, Shame to The ma
e who"will go further to support party than
L rescue the fallen When think, sir, OF Ii
e many incidents could loom up as evidences
j. degradation and ruin, growing out Of, Tho Vi
r. of an article nearly or entirely useless,
makes me sorry that men can be found in III
IS happy land, 90 Vampire-lke and even worse