Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-04-03
Temperance.
NO. T..

p 1ntemperanee abstracts the progress ol
Christianity. 1t is an es! Of great mag
ntnde,-a tree that produces poisonous
frult' which none desire to pluck from its
branches. Rrnnkarls are not christians.
and drinking men at this age Of the world,
cannot become personally interested in re. .
llsl"n' and experience its saving power
unless they frs. abandon strong drink.
When an unbeieving man asked St.
Paul, "what he must do to be saved" his
answer was, "believe on the Lord Jcsua
Christ
When an Incorporate man in York Co.
Me, asked the Rev Mr.. Clark. a Congre-
gationalist Clergyman. what he must 60
to be saVed.' His answer was. leare off
drinking rum" There is, always some
oheslil' that staads m the way OF salvation
more than all others combined. In this
ease. the sin was tie lore Of strong drink.
Rarely is tho House of God visited by
men of Incorporate habits.
They will not come to the light, lest
their deeds should he reproved. They
have no desire that the gospel, which ..iA
the power of God unto salvation to every
one that bclieyetll," should be sounded in
slleir ears. and its solemn truths be brought
home to their hearts.
In bnt few cases does the inebriate's fam
lily visit the house of worship. If the wife
and children have desire to hear tho Gcs.
pei, they find timpnssible, in their extreme
poverty to obtain suitable apparel to up.
pear in public upon the christian Sab
bath.
The bulk o! Incorporate men do not
contribute to ths support Of the christian
geiigon.-they have neither the means.
nor the disposition to do it. There are
exceptions to this remagk.--as for instance.
when property is possessed by inheritance;
or when men are keptin business positions.
and made to move in business circles hy
rich relations. But III every case it is safe
to say that their hearts are not in sympathy
with the principles and spirit of christian.
ity. and their hands are nat in the work.
The entire influence of this class of
men is against the religion of christianity,
and against every association that is based
upon the principles of the Bible.
While they steel their hearts to the in
auenee oi divine truth. they, at the same
time cultivate an undying prejudice against
the ministers Of the GOspel-not because
, they are men of talent, not because they
occup: an e6lcial position simply but be.
cause they are ministers 81 that Gospel
which has pr nounced Il "woc" apon him
"who puts the cup to his neighhors lips"
and has declared in til. most emphatic
terms. that. mo druukard shall inherit tie
kingdom Of heaven
In view of these facts, we cannot fail to
see, that If all men were drunkarls. there
would be no personal niety, or public re-
lIgious worship in the land.
1t is in spite Of the rum influence. that
religious worship is sustained in our
County.
Public religious worship to day. is tho
victory of right over wrong. Of truth over
error Of fright Judgment, over the deprayed
passions AMI prejudicea Of the human Il, art /.
The light that shows intempernnce to
be great evil in our landis the true Cos.
pei daylight dispensing the darkness Of
opening Up the paths Of duty before tho
millions OF earths for whom Christ died.
Asyau dry up tie fountain Of Intemper.
ance, you thereby show Yourself to be tho
true friend OF christianity. BY SO doing you
make christian homes for your peighbors
I . id will make your own more secpre.--
t more than this; you will haye the proud
j abstraction of transmitting Q christian
country to your prostcrity. Asyou prize
:. personal piety, and public religious wor-
a ship; as you desire to leave christian
!, church, and christian institutions to th q