Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-03

planted in his heart. We are naturally sell
fish beings, and until our sel6shDess Is In
some good degree subdued by divine grace,
we will continue to love self more than any
other being-hence, we cannot, nor Will
not, love our neighbOr as ourself. 1t may
be pertinent to enquire, what we are to
understand by loving our neighbor as our
selfl Whatever else it may mean, 1t GER
tainly imports, that We do nothing to IN
jure our neighbor, neither in name nor in
property, but that we aim ESQ far as may
consist with our duty to ourselves and 9TH
ers) to further and promote, both his tenn
poral aud spiritual interests. The good
Samaritan would be a case directly in
point.
If the definition above given be correct,
may We not legitimately infer, that if We
see our ncighbor pursuing q course that
may, and probably will lead him away from
the path Of duty and rcctitudc, it is our du-
ty to admonish and warn him of his dan
ger, aud take bin by the hand, and say to
him, come neighbor, you are in danger OF
running yourself and family-take the ad-
vice of a neighbor and friend, and abandon
your cour.e. If this neighbor is INDUCING
but occasionally in the use of ardent spir-
its-may be not become a drunkard !? 9th
ers have, who at first drank but occasion
ally, and may We not reasonably infer, and
conclude, that what shds been, may be
:. again." Now, if we succeed in dissuadine
our neighbor from the use Of strong drlRk'
as q beverage, and thereby save him from
a d~runkard's grave, have we not done on
duty to our ~neighbor, aud afforded strong
err evidence of cur love to him, than if w
had let him alone?
Who can tell the benefit that may result
|, from that one kind act, and who know
but that it may save him, not only fror
temporal but eternal ruin; besides, who ca
estimate the untold blessing to his wife an
children, and ~neighbors7 How often is
: the case, when you ask one of your neigt
- bors, who is a sober man, to unite with tt
} "Sons of Temperance in order to aid
Y the noble work of staying the progress
intenperance, ne will tell you that he is
le {" no danger at all, why don't you go to tt
drunkards who are in danger; they are Il
men who ought to join your order. l
eS tend to mind my own business-if u
:. neighbor makes q fool of himself-let hi
do SOL am not responsible for what
ne does" Nov l ask, is this loving our neig
Dor as ourselves? Now, would you I
nd evince your love for your neighbor in
much more convincing manner, If "
(although a sober MANI would 60 to ye
nc neighbor who is a drunkard, and say to b
,or "Neighbor A., l see you are about
ruin yourself aud family, and although
to do not feel in any danger myself-co
and let US both Join the 'SOns of Temp
ance." am willing to doit for your sa
a great many men who were as intemI
ate as you are, have by SO doing, beca
sober men," Would not this man pr
-. that he loved his drunken neighbor n
thaa tao man who was willing and de
up miHed to "mind his own business and
his neighbor 60 to destruction, witt
So even making an effort to prevent it ! !
if every sober man would evince his
to his neighbor, who is either q drunk
Ou' or in danger Of becoming ono, by joil
the "Sons" himself, and by getting
neighbor to join also, how long would
hill before q great and glorious change "
be visible all over our country-and DIR
no enness, and all its concomitant evils
bauished from our whole country
Would not every drunkard's wife, 6
peal up, and call the man blessed" who v
be instrumental in saving her hus
from g drunkard's grave, and her chi
hear from being orphans and ~vagabonds ? {
then, o my christian brother and chr
'fJe- sister, aud aid us (the much pcrse
"Sons"1 in eRdeavoring to remove
dreadful curse of in~temperanse frol
tenn land. But my article is long cnous
ro;o;- a newspaper communication. Perb
may resume the subject at some
man time.