Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-10-10
PRAYER For The Drunkard.

In the efforts made by temperance men to
vice Of incbriety and the slough of Des-
pond, y too little resort and confidence has
generally been made in devout prayer to God
for strength from on high to enable them to
stand, in the midst of temptation. And the
unfortunate incbriatc himself, who longs, oh,
with how intense a desire, to be freed from
the shackles Of intemperance, in his efforts
to escape, how seldom does he apply to HIM
who alone is able to give firmness and forti-
tude, and above all, grace, to enable him to
overcome the fierce appetite that he feels is
consuming him, body n dsoul-for time and
all eternity !
The following incidents, in point, we give
for the encouragement and imitation of all
who desire to escape the greedy jaws of the
all-pervading destroyer:
At a recent ~Fultou-street prayer meeting,
prayer was asked for Il young man who was
u drunkard. lie had often tried to reform,
but could not. lie was present in that meet
ing. After prayer was offered in his behalf,
u middle-aged man arose and said, he could
fully sympathise with the feelings which had
prompted this request, for he had Just es.
capped from Il similar thraldom. He had
known what it was to be a drunkaTd--a slave
10 the burning, consuming appetite for strong
drink. He continued: 'Some two or three
weeks ago | went on q fishing excursion, and
met a young maj on the grounds, who APP
peared to be a fisherman. His happy face
attracted my notice, and | could not refrain
from looking at him. He took pains to show
me attcntions-how to bait my hook, and
how 10 fish. Finally, and by way Of the or
binary compensation, | took out my flask o
liquor and offered it to him. He looked a
me with a peculiar expression, which shall
never forget to my dying day, and said, :
never drink liquor His manner and tom
was so kind and courteous, notwithstanding
his refusal, that it greatly impressed me.
asked him, Are YOU Il Christian !? Yes n
replied 'and | have asked the Lord Jesus
Christ to keep me from ever tasting arden
spirits, and ! have not the least desire t
touch it. Well | inquired could he keeI
me, as we'll as your 10 be sure he could,
be answered, if you put your trust in HIM
and not in yourself
That little incident was like an arrow i
my heart. | found no rest. ] cast mysc
on Jesus Christ. | besought him, despair
ing of any strength of my own, to take tn
accursed appetite away. He has heard IN
prayer. Now | want to say to that youn
man, who cannot bc further gone than | wa
that my Saviour will be his Saviour, if /
will go to him for strength against his CIV
habits"
As soon as the speaker had conclude
another, u middlc.agcd gentleman, arose. /
was from a Southern city. He desired
tell the dcspairing young man what Chri
had done Tor him. II, had walked in Il
light of his countenance now for two year
Before that said he, ~ was Il most beast
drunkard, cast off 10y my family and frien'
even brothers had disowncd me, and we
ashamed that | bore thcirname. As for b
ing lost, none was ever more so, and yet 0
Of hell. had lost all confidence in myse
| had, with tears and most solemn vows, l
solved in my " strength against drinki
the Intoxicating bowl. But ! no sooner car
where it was than | fell. And ! fell so oite
that | said, and all said, it's no use to t
any more was given over, and gave m
self over to perish. In such n case, attel
long debauch, | found myself alone in a lie
on the farm. sohercd, because no one wol
trust me for anything. There | came to II
self. felt such n sensc of degradation as
had never felt before. | fully realized Il
life and death were set before me. | felt
cast down and ruined, and | went to jos
and told him so, just as | would tell one
you. ] told him | was a gone case, uni
he would now, once for all, undertake for
I bcsought with all my heart that might
saved from myself. What do you think
Saviour did for me? | declare, in the M
solemn manner, that Jesus took Inc at
word, and | have not drank drop of any
toxicating drink since. | have been imp
tuned to return to my old haunts, bu
never shall so much as enter at the door,
| know that did drop pass my lips, | sho
he doomed to the everlasting burnings VIII
! have just escaped, as it were, by a Ia
breadth. ! fully realized that there is h
Now | would commend that young mar
Christ alone for help. lie should, mos
all, refuse to trust in his own resolution,
cling TO Christ alone. DO not cXperimC
hut cast yourself wholly upon him. You
wholly sold to sin, and your only redempt
is through Christ. lie invites just sucf
you. Look at me: two years ago, j
just as yourself, only worse. Now
happy arc my family how happy my frien
how prosperous my business! All is '
with me. / an living on the strength Of
Su5 day by day. Oh, come to Him!-Ec