The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-08-02

active duties of life, body animated, a
mind unbecl0uded, and habits and tenn.
permanent attuned to the highest efforts
and purest purposes. As temperance in
yigorates, so intemperance debilitates
As temperance preserves all the active
and useful capacities of the physical
frame, SO intemperance abuses and eventu-
ally destroys tiem. As temperance makes
the body subservient to the will, and
hts it to accomplish the highest aims of the
most hallowed affections, so intcmperance
readers the body uncontrolable, chains
the will, and dcgrades the holiest affec-
tions to the level of brute instinct. Are
you temperate in every particular? You
are the only freeman that walks in the
pride of exalted manhood Are YOU in
temperate You are the vcriest slave that
encumbcrcth our mother earth. The in.
culcation Of these principles is designed to
tree you from an uncomfortable thraldom
No one, under the pressure of unnatural
excitement, can think clearly Perception
OF truth is dimned the judgment is liza
bic to be biased by any passing current of
prejudice; the Imagination, that harp OF
the soul, refuses to tune its mclolous
strings, and the plumed soul herself is i'm,
INJURED in annfrangible prison house of clay.
Well may we say unto her in the language
of inspiration, Awake, arise, oh dau.h-
ter OF Zion Burst the bands of thy neck
oh captive daughter of Jerusalem :" Arise,
and plume thysef for noblcr flights
The serious convert to the cause of tenn
peraree, throwing off these disgracclul
shackels, stands before the view of an an
proving community as noble example of
one who has achieved a great moral victo-
ry. Is not the reflection, thatwe merit the
esteem and personal good Offices of our icl-
low-men, calculated to enhance our happi.
ness If so, then We have two strong ard
overwhelming motives to tcmpcrance-onr
own self respect, and the respect of others.
But let US consider, siHgly, without the
AID OF the odious comparisons ATTEMPTED
IN oar first suggestions, the estate OF the
temperate III its intrinsic cxcclllncy. |
speak now of the general principle of tcm-
pcrancc; hoping that il | convince YOU OF
Its great importance, and its universal ma
ture, rs underlying and supporting all
moral good, You cannct certainly withhold
the conclusion, that we should insist upon
temperance in the use of ardent spirits
Temperance implies calmncSs of purpose.
purity OF motive, and conscience eminent
ly qualified to determine proper courses of
conduct, for the alone sake of whit it secs
in them worthy of its appreciation. No
conceivable motive, thought, or action can
take place that cannot be elaSsed into tenn.
pcratc or intewpera;e Our habits. all
likes AID dislikcs, as well rs overt and de-
eided actions, are moliied oy this princi-
pie. Consider man rs IN animIl, en- lowed
with the common instinct If self n~n-
servatlon, aud III the sraJt,iea> wAilt 81
purSucs to effect this cS,,&ti4! IS. ...., ,,,
behold ham exercising Il certain cree
OF temperance Consider him as an H..
telleciual being, governed to some extent;
10y reason, and you see the scale of pre- an
tion rising in proportionable degree. Rut
when yon contemplate the higher consile.
ration of moral responsibility, and the
standard of moral exccllcncy fixed above
the dclusive hopes and the irregular pas.
sIons of subunary affairs, You IN behold
nm fulfilling his highest destiny, govern
ing and being governed by temperance
efidllng his passions and ruling his spirit.
man-it may be faint sciutilation of the
Divine nature
In social relation, too. so far aS we de-
prNe ourselves OF superlupu, pleasures, or
any comfort, convenience, or r.al benefit.
to contribute to the happiness of others,
you lind that the governing motive is tenn
perancc, for It's own sake; orit-iu;crrst bcins
sacrificed on. the altar OF friendship. DO :
your seli-den'al react in giving YOU real en-.
JoymenE If so, then you are truly tcrn-
Perate. If, however, other motives have
constituted your actions, your claims will
not b. regarded. Is not this the exprr-
ence OF every one, who while living, has
not been dead to the true blessings of life :
AoIr own hearts and conscicnccs will an
swer satisfactorily this question
Ii any other aspect OF the subject, in con
nectlon with Individual character. is To bc
considered, 1t is the obligation under which
we rest to obey the moral law, that true in
dex OF the monitor within These immacu
late precepts, while they constitute a tran
scrpuon OF divine character. ut the same
time so exactly coincide with the inner on
'eratloIs OF the human conscience. that a
most convincing argument against intidcli-
ty here arises, giving the lie To all human
Inventions, and completely subvcrtins the
whole satanic tribe of lalIacics Our duty.
as bound under this law, looks primarily to
thIs virtue, under the guidance of which
our lives are to be coniormcd to the test of
& reasonable accountability.
Abstinence, you will remember, was en-
joined upon the Lcvitical Priesthood by a
positive commandment. Lest YOU may
miSapprchcnd my meaning, will quote
the whole passage: "And the Lord spakc
unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor
strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee.
when yc so into the tabernacle Of the con
gregation, lest gc die: it shall be a statute
forever throughout your generation" Mark
the perspicuity of the language, and the
terrible nature Of the threatened punish
ment. Think you that Nadab and Abihu
would have fell less certainly under tie
stroke OF Divine vengeance, for breaking
this law than thcu ItI f,r l,r,;..- .