Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-08-17
TEMP E GRANGE COL UMN.
Duty Of the Church in regard to the
emperance Work.

AeSh oui oPiooo. IL 0uC INt1CIldDlIco,
Sons of Temperance, Good Templars,
and other reformers, although they
are not church organizations, and
those who constitute their member
ship do not all profess to be Chris
tians, we say, "God speedi", Not for
the world would we have them re.
linquish their efforts in this direction.
May they go on and experience still
greater success in saving the lives
and reputation, and securing the tenn
poral welfare of their felIow.meni
And while thus employed may the
spirit of God lead them all onward
in the path of virtue, until they are
fitted for the kingdom of heaven
But the point we now make is that
the Church of Christ ought not to
leave this philanthropic work for
those who are outside of her pale to
perform. We contend that this is
emphatically her business, which she
cannot consistently delegate to others.
and which she cannot, without great
sin, as well as inconsistency, neglect
herself. '3. ~.-I0u -2 aclls
1. Is not the Church professedly
holy, and is it not her mission to
propogate holiness? How can size
be holy when her members traffic in
and drink those vile drugged liquors
vended at the present day, which poi
son the body, enervate the mind, and
tend to the everlasting destruction of
the soul? How can she be holy if she
permits those who are outside of her
jurisdiction, but within the limits of
her influence, to destroy themselves
by wicked indulgence, without utter
ing word of expostulation and en-
treaty?
Talk not of former days, when
Christ made wine, and his disciples
with others drank it. Christ never
made any such wine as frat which is
now furnished. We are confident if
our SAVIOR were now upon earth, He
would dash to the ground the purcst
liquor that will intoxicate; ami point
ing to the effect produced by it. ad-
wise all to enrol themselves with the
reformers, and pledge themselves to
abstain entirely and forever from the
inebriating bowl. We blush to think
that any person who calls himself holy
should pollute his body and mind with
| the mixed and drugged liquors now
i'll market, and then, as an apology
for his using the filthy trash, point to
Christ and Cana.
2. Another reason why we think
the church should espouse and a NO
cate this cause is, that it is benevo-
lent. Who can deny this ? This Ger
tainly is its design and its effect.
Can it be denied that through the in
strumentality of this reform, hundreds
! OF victims have been rescued from the
drunkard's grave, thousands been re-
strained from destructive vice, and
millions of hearts made happy, which
, otherwise would have been broken
; and crushed with sorrow Surely this
is legitimate work for the Churcil. Ii
the good thus accomplished perlailed
only to time, it would be worthy the
attention of those who profess to be
Gods people.
: 3. But we go step further, ard
notice how Intimately this subject is
connected with the souls eternal wi
fare The inebriate, however de s,sl.i-
ed he may be, is our brother, and we
!. are in duly bound to labor and pray
/ for his salvation. All men are III
:, vited to repent and believe-he
n among Jhe number. Christ came tc
d call, not the righteous, but sinners
and surely such as he, and We have
no right to consider him rejected ctcr
. naIly of God until he dies.
: But how can the church lead tlli;
# man into the Gospel kingdom unit
: he is reformed of his intemperat,
:. habits What reason is there to be
;, lieve he will submit to God and trus
> in Christ unless he cease his drunken
: ness And how can he do this Tin
Y less be divorce himself from his cups
s. And what probability is there tnat h
,E viii do this when those who eloquent
al " urge him to repent of his sins
l. stand holding the poison-chalice t
IS their own lips j?
n Moderate drinking Christian, Sc
s. what an influence you are exerting
Be There are multitudes around yo
ID whose precious souls are likely to b
= lost; and you, by your neglect an
at unholy example, are helping to distro
Id whereas you should be striving wit
of all your might to save them.
Look again. Behold that army 9
starving, shivering, shrinking wome
be and children, the wives and offsprin
be Of drnnkards. They are not in a f
ly condition to attend Church and Sal
On bath School. They do not feel lik
as seeing heavenly bread, when perisf
n inc for want of material food. The
g naturally turn away from all that ]
If good and holy, unless they have grac
n. in their hearts; and feeling disgracet
to blush to look respectable people i
b. the face. Now, if the persons Ian
Iy their name is legion-are not specia
be Ily operated upon by the divine Spiri
ut do you think the christian who advt
er Gates or apologies for the drinkin
5 usages of society, will be likely /
lead them into the fold of the O.
ID Shepherd /? No; they will
is confidence in him or his. =
ed long as by his example
!" their drunken hpd !l..
10 in the continpo
!: 5. ). ,.::;, - q