National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-03-22
Temperance and Christianity.

ICHll'tldi't dioHc u not HIS
tianity, nor can true religion exist
in the heart without temperance III
the life. 1t is one Of the fruits of
the Holy Spirit. Paul preached and
practiced it, as do all true Chris
tianS.
Whatever visits upon the body
and health of man such injuries
and premature death whatever
stupeties and renders irresponsible
the human mind, reducing man TO a
level with a brute whatever cor
rupts and pollutes the soul, created
to bear the image of God and enjoy
his smiles forever, no christian can
practice or support directly or indi-
rectly. Such harm as families and
societies suffer from intcmpcrance,
demons only and their emisSaries
can willingly infliet.
Not to put ourselves in battle ar
ray against such dark catalogue
of human woes shows us as indiff-
ercnt to the deStinies of earth as
we are to those of the remotest
planet. Simply to acknowledge
these evils and yet do nothing to ar
rest them, we seem to rise no higher
than the piety and morality of the
Priest and Levite. who passing by
on the other side. left the poor man
uncared for who had fallen among
thieves and robbers. Our holy reli
giOn does not consist III doing no
harm. This is praise suitable for
dead men.
Christian morality covers both
the negative and positive sides Of
this question, Thou shalt not" and
''l'hou shalt" And here lies the
grand reason why the christian reli-
gion promotes so decidedly Sobriety
and temperance. 1t overthrows all
drunkenness among its subjects,
and carries on a vigorous wal with
it everywhere else.
All conscientious convictions about
the use OF Intoxicating drinks found
in society comes tn the teachings of
Christianity. 1t is Il worldly and
selfish policy that looks alone to
ones own good. but it is inSepara-
blc from religion to care for others
and to exert every possible int uencr
to benefit and save them. Hence it
is that people with a Christian con
science often solely for The example
and influence on others, pledge
themselves not to drink. though
they may have no fears of ever be
coming Incorporate if unpledged,
knowing as they do that with ,0any
(probahly most to drink at all is sure
to be followed by drunkenness.
Yet abundance of facts go TO show
that many of these parties who are
so unconcerned for themselves find
their own security alone in a pledge
On this subject. in this country, and
with present habits OF society. pledg-
ed people alone are safe. 1t is true
of Young and old, male and female.
Just at this point, Christian char
actcr and instruction are more I'M
portaut TO orr canSe than Is often
supposed. With no thoroughly
Christian conscience respecting the
use OF strong drink. few men who
desire ever to take it, and who care
but little about their example and It's
Influences on others. will pledge
themselves not to drink ; and I'M
pledged parties seldom become ac-
/ tive temperance men. but usually
/ throw themselves against the cause.
What work then deVolveS on the
pulpit. the Sabbath School, and the
family to educate an all-perNading
conscience on this subject. The sin.
i lulncsS of drinking-moderatelN as
/ we'll as immoderately-must be fully
shown. because of the harm it does
to every one, the danger it creates,
( the ruinous influence of the exam
I ple OH those whose ruin lies i'll the
first glass, Few persons without
religious culture will see or feel the
force of these reasons. Yet these are
the reasons, and often the only
reasons, leading to sign the pledge
and without the pledge we are Ii,
temperance men.
We shall see now on the otirl
hand that the temperance rciorma
tlon is of great service 10 Christian
ilN. 1t is to the Gospel Il kind o
John the Baptist--lt prepares til,
way. Drunken or drinking men
either crazed or stupclicd. are III II,
condition to hear or receive Tia,
teachings of the Holy Spirit. !
temperance revival. therefore, Otter
becomes the harbingcr of rcligi
Gus revival, Wh.ch is frequently no
ticed III Individual cases and il
whole parishes. When sense u
right and duty, with the struggle
OF an enlightened conscience, hay,
led tn one to give up his cups, tla
glorious beginning, under tayorabl,
circumstances, will generally be fol
lowed 10y other steps leading 10 Go,
and heaven. Then the church an,
ministry are glad to acknowledg
. their obligations to temperance me
and societies in helping to save th
lost. More, the whole Church ron
tinually needs the temperance ag
tation, leeturing, pledging, readinl
. etc, OF else it rrlapses, first into in
difference, and then to.smcll of moo
crate drinking, and so many fall on
of the way. Many Christian me
have become infdels before the
knew they had ceased to be Chri,
! tlans. 80 have temperance men b,
e come eflectunlly drunkards beior