Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-13
3sliigiiolrs / 4}tabil1g,
From the Virginia Conductor.
Christian Influence,

daily ayocations. Recognized in Divine reve-
lation as the salt Of the earth and light Of
the world, and being the Representatives Of
Him who is without spot or blenish, Chris
tians occupy peculiarly prominent position
in society, from whence springs all influence
that either tends to elevate the moral condi-
ton of the human race, or else religion sus-
tains serious loss by causing those who have
never named the name Of Christ to become
careless and Indifferent as to the true merits
Of redeeming grace.
Naturally prone to walk the paths of sin
and folly, no opportunity is lost by the man
of the world in scrutinizing the Christians
conduct in order to detect some error by
which he may he justified in the course he
pursues. Yea, instead Of perusng the Bible,
wherein he may learn the duties ne owes to
God and man, invariably the professor Of re.
ligion is regarded by him as the exponent OF
the Scriptures, as q guide to him IN every
controverted point on morality and as monu-
ment Of redeeming love.
Hence the responsibility of every member
of the church-and really it is an awful ore.
Then, evidently, it is the indispensable duty
of every disciple of our Lord and Savior to
walk the narrow but pleasant path pointed
out in the Book Of life, cultivate the Chris
tan graces along the entire journey, remov-
ing every obstacle, be it what it may, that
has the least tendency to clog the wheels OF
the car of salvation, and thus, the Christian
would exert powerful sway on the minds OF
those among whom he may chance to move.
Religious principles are positively contagious
when properly enforced by salutary exsm-
Piles, 50 well adapted are they to the interest
of fallen men. But, alas indlscretion pre-
rails to an alarming extent in the church.
At this juncture of our essay, readers, we
earnestly invoke your attention to one very
great indiscretion on the part Of the men,
hers of the church-the peculiar people OF
(iod-that is the use of alcohoi liquors as a
leyerage-alrrost as far back in the records
of antiquity as the history Of man extends,
the use of ardent spirits is found to have
ninistered to the baser passions of the hu-
man soul, stirring up strife and ambition, in
citing to murders and all kinds of vice, con-
seuuently, operating very materially against
the Transforming influence of Jehovah's just
and holy law.
Solomon, in the profundity Of his wisdom
raised his warning voice against the use OF
wine, because it was mocker and deceiveri
running the souls of men--and subsequent
history both of profane and sacred char
acter, has proven incontestlbly the truth Of
his declaration. lie was thoroughly versed
in all the secret operations Of the human
heart, he was acquainted with its frailtieS,
and he prescribed remedies for all of them.
But how few regard his admonitions. AT the
- tl Sntn
cation seems to hare been a prevalent evil
among all classes of society, as the great
founder of the church was called wine bib
ber by those who were inveterate enemies to
his doctrine Coeval with the advent OF the
Savior-heathen nations looked upon Bacchus
as the presiding deity at all Of their banquetS,
invoking him with incantations OF LEVIED
nature to inspire them with feelings of con-
reniality and cheerfulness. Wine, at that
time, and ever since, in addition to all OF its
kindred liquids, has fired the sordid passions
of the soul, and has drawn dark and dismal
veil across the way that leads to happiness
above-it suppresses the noblest aspirations
of the mind, and causes the inebriate to curse
the God that made him. Drunkenness is an
abomination in the sight of the Lord, his
curse rests upon it everywhere. Some who
differ from US may argue that the scriptures
declare we must be temperate in all things,
even in the use of alcoholic liquids. Where
is arsenic? strychnine2 and prusslc acid, and
a host of other deadly poisons in the same
catalogue with alcohol? The reason YOU
don't tamper with arsenic you are afraid of
it, but alcohol deceives you by inducing a
genial flow Of spirits in your nervous system
for q moment or so, then it leaves you VIC
tim to gloomy feeling and morbid appetite.
If you intend to fulfil the scriptures as it re-
CARDS temperance, according to your inter-
pretation, you must not only be temperate
in the use Of ardent spirits, but, in order to
be temperate in all things, you must not
repudiate stIychnine, opium and prusSic
acid, because these are certainly three things.
Be consistent, we beseech you, for conSis-
tency is a Jewel, especially in religious mat
tiers. Says Paul, "be ye firm and sicadfast
in the doctrines have taught you Now,
10 substantiate the grounds we occupy, we
observe that all alcoholic liquors are the re-
suit Of mans perverted ingenuity. Had he
have plucked the grape from the vine in the
condition which the great chemist of nature
presented it to him-fuil of nu:riment and
pleasant to the taste, sin and sorrow would
not have made such rapid strides DER this
tccursed land of ours, but, on the other hand,
men in possession of cool and reasonable
minds, would have been more susceptible to
The benign influence of those divine truths
in revelation, intended by the author OF all
goodness to raise his affections from the per-
ishable things OF this world to bright sphere
where peace and comfort eternally reign.
Instead of going humbly into the Labratory
Of Nature eating and drinking what the un-
erring hand OF the creator has prepared for
him, he is dissatisfied with the offerings ii
an all-wise Being, subjects many OF them to
his rules Of chemistry, and the result OF
which, in the case Of all vegetable matters,
containing starchy and Sacharine properties,
10 a poison to both soul and body.
Alcohol is not found in All isolated state
anywhere within the vast domain of the veg
ctahlc kingtlonl-hence it was never designed
by our Creator as beverage for a man. 1t
NAV he found in some Of the ripe juicy fruits,
such as pear, peach, &C., but always So wisely
blended with the other ingredients by tue
skllfu chemist of nature SO as not To ln]ure
any one who desires to eat snch lrnit. More.
over, it is the result of = puiretactiye process
that takes place in the juices Of the fruit at
the time it becomes mature. Would man
allow these juices to take their natural
course, the little alcohol they contain would
SOON result in the formation of those acids
peculiar to them, whether citric, malic, OF
acetic acid.
Alcohol is medicine and poison too, all
medicines are poisons, SO We should never
use them unless necessity calls for them
therefore no person is benefited by the habit
ualuse of ardent spirits. You might ransack