The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-11-28
Sermon on Temperance.
PORT DEPOSIT, Nov. 25th, 1874.

PORT DEPOSIT, Nov. 25th, 1874.
EDITOR WnIG:-The Rev. Mr.. Martin
preached his promised sermon last Sunday
night, to an appreciative audience, al,
though, owing to the Indictment night, not
SO large as was expected. The text was
drink is raging; whatsoever is deceived
thereby is not wise
Isubjoin a synopsis of the sermon which
will, no doubt, be productive Of good to all
who read it. The sermon will be continued
on next Sabbath evening; at which time
the remedy for the evils in question will be
discussed
The discourse was introduced by a COM
plimentary reference to the Brotherhood of
Good Templars, at whose request the clergy
Of Port Deposit were now engaged in
Ject of Temperance. The advocates of
temperance are engaged in noble cause.
They have achieved moral victories prouder
than any which have been won on the bat
claim our hearty cooperation, our personal
efforts and our prayers.
Temperance is an essential grace of
Christianity. The ministers of religion
are its earnest, constant advocates. They
preach temperance as they do faith and
charity. All these grow together and are
effectually nourished by the divine word
and sacraments. Now is time of peculiar
danger, calling for special efforts. Intern
perance has come to be classed as the great
vice of our age. There is fatal attraction
about this vice which lures its victim on, in
spite of all the warnings of Providence,
the reproofs of conscience, and the awful
threatenings of Gods word.
The sermon treated at some length on
the sources Of the evil complained Of and
illustrated the pernicious effects of intern
perance, leaving the consideration of how
best to deal with it to the following Sunday
night.
This vice, in common with all evil excess,
has its beginning in our weak human
nature. Man is prone to selfindulgence.
He is easily led astray by temptations which
assail him from within and from without.
Vice is arrayed in false colors which deceive
us. The young especially are in danger.
They see only the tiowery beginning Of
the path, and do not see the fatal end of
self-indulgence, when sit biteth like ser
81 10 n
who is at all Incorporate can be certain
that he will not fill drunkard's grave.
Nor can he be sure that he will not in
some hour of thoughtless indulgence COM
whole life. This proneness to selfindul-
gence implies the necessity of self denial.
The evil must be guarded against
prayed against. "Taste not-touch not"
Here religion comes to our help. 1t ever
recognizes our weakness and offers grace
and help in time of need. 1t requires of
us to deny ourselves from first to last.
This is the teaching Of the blessed Cross:
If any man will be my disciple let him
deny himself"
This sin bears bitter fruits. 1t corrupts
men, defies the land. Much of the crime
and bloodshed which abound are laid to
the charge of intemperance. 1t clouds the
dwellings of rich and poor. 1t makes
dreary and dark the happy homes where
hearts are desolate and hearth stones cold.
1t entails upon its victims wretchedness
and woe. 1t leads downward to hopeless,
unwept, unhonored grave. Many, once
noble and pure, have fallen. We have
wept over our loved ones and our best.
Who has not call to watch and be sober9
The evil is like the song of the tabled
Syrens. 1t decoys its victim to destruction.
The danger is great. The evil is so
seductive we must resist it at all hazards.
And we must resist it at the start. We
must lay the foundation in principle
Early lessons of self denial must be encour-
aged, enforced. Home must be the true
temperance lodge where prudent disci-
pline and firm restraint shall be exercised
from day to day. Renewed efforts here
will, in time, supply recruits better able to
carry forward our banner of temperance,
and advance its triumphs than any other
means we can devise. Meanwhile let us
all work together heart and hand, to bear
down this monstrous evil, while we raise
those faithful barriers against which, in
future, it shall beat in vain.