Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-05-02
Fcs tAe.sspAof the Age.
ON WINES OF THE SRIPTUREs.
no. 3.-BY REV. PETERhUB, D. D.

NO. O.-BY REV. PETER9UB, ID. d.
ON THE CONDITION OF THE THABITANTs IN
WINE GROWING COUNTRIES, AS RESULTANT
FROM THE USE OF FERMENTE WINE.
It has long been Thought, ad roundly af-
frmed, that drunkenness is sarcely known
in those countries where fre use of fer
mented wine is INDUCED. Ithas also been
affirmed that the general uss of pure wine
woulu Danish the basei liquors such as gin,
whiskey, rum and brady from the country,
and that the community woud, to a very
great extent, if not entirely, become sober
and temperate.
This is a concessionof very great impor-
tance in favor Of the ettsrtsnow made by the
tenn perance associationsof cur country. 1t
is at least an acknowleAga that those
agents of drunkenness olsht t. be- banished
from society. And by Suggesting gthe intro
duction of what is thouglt to be a more in
nocent beverage, the eSss of the former,
would IN a great measnrs be couhteracted.-
If this were true in thSfesult, by the substi-
tuition of wine, we might hail such change
with great delight. Bus there are various
considerations, based upn well established
facts, which cause some serious doubts to
arise in my mind, in re- gard to this matter.
| once entertained similar views on this SUBJ
ject, but having made tie investig alton indi-
Gated in the two former Tracts; l have seen,
as l think, abundant reason to modify my
views greatly on this subject. 1t is my
purpose in this Tract, to furnish some of the
reasons that have operated this change IN my
views. L would, however, remark that l
never supposed that highly branded or drug
ged wines would have answered any good
purpose, only such as had the saccharine
matter of the grape juice, changed into alco-
hol, thought might be allowed. But here.
a difficulty at once 1krUse m my mind with
regard to the wines producing different et-
tects as represented in the Bible. This led
me to investigate the whole subject anew, as
thoroughly as time and means have allowed
Part of the result of that investigation APP
pears in the former Tracts, and more viii
appear in this land perhaps another) which
l think will at least indicate that | have no
come to the present point, in hurried OF
even careless manner. The sources from
which the views in this Tract have been de
rived, will, | hope, satisfy the reader tina
my authorities are at least reliable, and ma.
be received as good.
That the use of the purest termente'
wines have been anything else than salutary
so far as the condition of society is concern
ed IN the countries manufacturing them, is
fact which will be clearly shown IN thes
sheets. 70 begin, then, this investigation
our attention is directed to the condition,
l. Of the Jewish people.
The Jews while they used only the unfel
mented juice of the grape, such as nav
shown IN Tract No. 2, continued to be 81
Der, temperate and prosperous nation. In
state OF things preVaf1ed almost invarlabl
from the time of Moses to the latter part
the reign of David and the former part OF 30
onions reign. Soon after this, We find mari
OF divergence from this course to an lncrea
ed use OF intoxicating wine, as is shown
!, the histories of those times as In the lst an
! "a hlngs, and Chronicles, Esther, and Pr
verbs. When we come down to the times
Isaiah, jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea and other
. the scene widens, and we see Israel trodd
down and peeled, because of their drunke
ness and other crimes growing out OF the
dlsslpated habits resultant from the free u
e of fermented wine.
Inns state OF things was in the days
: Isaiah, OF most alarming character.
: viewed the condition of the Jewish chur
/ ana people, as being exceedingly disastrol
9 and this was brought about by their indl
't gence In the use of fermented wine. ProI
:, cts, Priests and the People, all were alike
volved in this criminal conduct. So ra
y pant had Israel become, in the use of f
e mented wine that the Prophet Micah assu
= US that they delighted to hear any G
l. prophesy of wine and strong drink" a
'e declared that such AZ. .sae as would proph.
Of these should be the prophet of this .
10 ple." Micah i'll.
e. Hosea represents the condition of
!, Jews In his day, as immensely perilous,
n reason of the general corruption of mann
of in connezion with the use of intoxicat
at wine. Hear him speak in strains of d.
Is astonishment and despair: "When wo
in have healed Israel, then the iniouity
ct Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedr
er of Samaria, for they commit falsehood,
st the thief cometh in and the troop of robt
e, spoileth without. And they consider no
j. their hearts that remember all their W
of edness now their own doings have b,
b. them about, they are before my face. Z
nd make the King glad with their wicksdr