Smyrna times., 1858-03-04

men reeling and staggering under the lnfu-
ence of intoxcation, or laying out upon the
cold, damp ground, unable to help themselves /;
but such is no uncommon sight now. All this
goes to prove that the sale of intoxicating
liquor is wrong radically and religiously
wrong, and that no professor of religion ought
to engage in it. But it is contrary to the rule
of g Discipline" of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. 1t is expected of all who become
members of the church to conform to its rules,
and one of those rules, established by Mr.. Wes-
ley, for the government of the church, (and
predcated upon the authority of the word of
God,) is, to do no harm, by avoiding evil of
every kind, buying and selling spirituous IL
quOrS, or drinking them, unless in cases of ex-
treme necessity.
1t will be admitted at once, hat man can
not conform TO this rule of I" Discipline and
deal out liquid poison to his customers, thus de-
stroying their reason and SO bunting their
moral sensblitieS to render them insensible
or completely incapable of receiving any reIi-
gious admontion or instruction.
Bat it is wrong in another pIrtcuar. The
example that is set before the world is bad
one, and etrcs lice sc TO many others to en-
gage in other sinful and wrong practiceS.-
They VIII justify themselves upon the ground
that they are as good as other members OF the
church, If they do act thus and so they don't
sell rum, they don't make any one drunk nor
deprive poor, innocent children OF their daily
bread aud if you will go and reform them,
then | will DO better. We'll, then, if it is
wrong in lis effects upon community, and if it
is contrary TO the rules of the church to which
we belong, and if the example is bad one and
has demoralizng influence upon society, then
1t follows, beyond the power of successful con-
tradictlon, that no faithful follower of Jesus
Christ can conscientously engage in the sale
of rum. The first quart, drink or Jug, as The
case may be, that he deals out to that incbrla-
ted husband, he is conscious Of the awful pos.
sbity that that very liquor may be the cause
of his death, thus making widow of his wife
and robbing his children of their only means OF
support, aud remembering at the same time that
II is written in the word of God that no MUIR
dcrer hath eternal Ite." 1t is a nefarious busi-
ness, and one that 10 Christian ought to en-
gage in. 1t will, as certain as night succeeds
day or darkness light destroy vital pety from
the heart and leave an " aching VOID that the
world can never fill, "a Consciousness of hay-
ing violated the teachings Of the Gospel and
The dictates Of that inward monitor that should
regulate all our actions and lead us in the path
of duty.
We have only time enough to prepare for
Eternity, if we do our whole duty: but if we
waste our time in tamperng with such a busi-
ness, or engaging in such sinful practices, sure
ly, " God will be unto us u consuming fire."
"The way of the transgressor is hard, and
the wages of sin is DEATH" and if we engage
in that that will not only destroy our own souls
but the souls of our fellows, then we may ex-
Pect to reap the reward Of the transgressor and
the wages Of those that continue in sin.
In conclusion, may | not express the hope
that if any who are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, are thus engaged in dealing
out death by poison, they will leave off the
business and employ their time in a more hon.
orable calling, and be more devoted followers
of our Lord aud Saviour Jesus Christ, and that
we may all SO live aud so act in this life "that
men may see our good works and be constrained
to glorlIy our Father winch is in Heaven"
CArALINE.