Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-03-27
Look not thou upon Tie urine selea 1t is red, Chen
giveh has color IN The cup, 'oheH II Hloreth ITSELF argh

]
| 1t has long been supposed that the Bible
sanctions the moderate use of intoxicating
drinks. On this ground men have justified
themselves in making, using and vending all
kinds IF feI mented and distilled liquors. On
/ this ground men have refused to join the total
abstinence movement, and have Conscientious
/ ly reserved 10 themselves the right to use in-
toxicating liquors in a moderate way. The
wrong has been supposed to consist, rot in ;iie
use, but IN the abuse Fl has been held right
TO drink moderately. but wrong whenever a
man drank enough to make him drunk Mod
erGte, temperate, respectable drinking has been
considered right and praisewo worthy; but if
man chance, at any time, 10 drink little too
much, more. as the popular phrase is, than he
can stand, then Immediately he is an offender,
| liable to all the woes denounced against drnn-
kards While he could walk straight-while
from the strength of his nerves, or the peeu-
liar effect Of habit, he cuuld attend to his usu
al business. and not roll in the gutter, nothing
could be said against him-net even when he
was manifestly wasting his energies, destroy
ing his health, and feeding an appetite that
must sooner or later work his temporal, per-
haps his eternal ruin. Yet such, christian
UlSll DHfG lGOuSIt, anu niAiig VI ~
think, is the undoubted teachings of the word
of GOd. On account OF the power which such
opinions have exerted on the popular mind,
and especially or account Of the interpreta-
tion of scripture which they require, and on
which they are founded, many excellent and
active temperance advocates have felt them
selves greatly embarrassed. Hence we find
Ftbev have been accustomed 10 advocate total
abstinence almost entirely on the ground oil
expedency. They have set forth the unniti-
gated woes of drunkenness They have shown
how moderate drinking leads to aud is iusep-
arabIy connected with d-ui kenness. They have
appealed to mems love of life and honor, to
their affection for wife, aud children, and
friends They have pictured, in clearest light,
the iEsiduous nature Of the process by which
men are made drunkards, enforcing their ar
gument by an abundant and heartrending de-
tail of facts. Bot they have rarely attempted
Ito support their theory from scripture. In fact
they lave generally avoided mentioning the
scriptures, except when compelled to do so in
order to ward off the attacks of opponents.-
hr doing this they have acted merely on the
defensive, showing that the sculptures do not
posiriyelY ,rbid total abstinence. And even
| in this they have often felt embarrassed by the
crv. that they are righteous above measure,
| that thev are reprnaching God by despising
and prescribing cue Of the gifts of his bounty,
rand that they are condemning the approved
conduct of patriarchs, and prophets, and holy
meG.
Now surely every question of morals should
aud may safely come to the scriptures Tor
| L, H. 10 Off
10 bring every such question to the test OF
bGod's word. Here is an infallble rule OF both
I faith and morals We may indeed mistake in
our understanding of the scriptures, but they
do not mistake. They are pure truth, although
to our perverted minds that truth sometimes
seems hidden. It was once supposed by many
tiiat geological discoveries had well righ over
turned the mosaic account of the CREATION
But enlightened science has at length shown
rather how they confirm it. So, while by
many it has b2en supposed that total absti-
Enence IS in opposition to Bible teaching, 1t
viii. yet be shown, / am assured to be in com
pete harmony with it. On no point, perhaps,
has the teaching Of the scriptures been more
grossly misappfehended ard perverted, than in
respect to the use of Intoxicating liquors.
Popular ignorance and prejudice have been
allowed TO control the sentiments of christian
people, and-evtn to modify and control the in
terpretatiot7 or the scriptures. It is high time
this important question was put on IFS true
criptural bdsis. | do not refer to the appli-
elIion of the principle Of christian charity
This is very generally admitted and is abdn-
dantly' insisted upon by temperance advocates.
refer rather to the question, whether the
Bible directly sanctions or condemns the use
of wine, or wheiher'i leaves the matter en-
tirely open. II is especially to this question
that | invite attention at this time. With all
reverence for the divine word, as the great and
only source Of revealed truth, let US approach
the subject.
l. is patent to every reader Of the Bible
th 1t wine is spoken Of in terms both of praise
ID dispraise, Of commendation and reproba
tion. 1t is used as a symbol OF mercy, and as
) symbol of wrath 1t il blessed, and it is
cursed It was miraculousy made by our
E Lord at the marriage of Cana; while at the
same time it is elsewhere called mocker, and
it is fol hidden even TO look upon it. This
most obvious onrariety dema 'ds some eX
PLANTATION. How shall these glaring inconsist
r encies be reconriIed? The solution has beer
supposed to be in the well known principle
> that thing lawful in its use. may and does
. become unlawful when abused. Thus it hn;
been affirmed that all scriptures which speak
of wine in the way OF commeHdation refer tC
its moderate, temperdie use while such a;
> speak of il in the way of Reproduction, TO i'll
unlawful intemDerdfe use. That this explain
alton, so commonly adopted is not the iru'
one confidently maintain. Although it ha
served the mass of the christian world so man.
aqes. vet | feel assured the time is at hant
when a more correct and discriminating hibli
4 cal Interpretation and criticism will show it
: utter lalsity.
}, As an explanation it is unnatural and Offer
4, ut erly insufficient. Take the text as an ex
e ample, ''Look moi thou upon the arine arhen ,
IL is red qchen his color is in the cup. qchen I
" rpoueth itself aright" How can this mea
h simply not to drink to excess, when it is eX
he pressly forbidden to look upon the wine at all
Or, take the passage in Psalms CO.'S Tho
hast made us TO drink the 1p'ne Of as'ohiSh
d nent." With what show of reason or goo
A. sense can this be made TO mean merely the III
at moderate use of good wing Again we rea
S of wine which is called "The poison Of dag
US ons andtse cruel Usnom Of aSps.' BY wha
st species of biblical criticism can it be show
or that this refers simply to the abuse of thin
good in itself? Many such cases might b
cited. but these are enough 'o'show the utte
r insuficiency of tie explanation.
cd This explanation is inconsistent with tn
rs usual clearness and simplicity. Of scriptur
be style. When wine is called arIaooker and til
e. poison of dragons and the cruel venom3of ASP
he while at the same time it. does not mea
.r,nd lrrirnn ~ he