, 1876-06-25

7nfbos ~ Chambers. y. n in n. fcs-n.ud<ry
A fallacious argument mt on1y foi1s tn he,n.
hut artua,1v ;,;rro- ~ 1,,,,. v...,s:.s :.
d,,aes. ~ Ii'' e'ause los WHICH II Is ao-
1aee"' Ao1 IL creates presumption that the
other arguments with which it is associated arc
OF the same character. A similar remark is trut
In regard to raisannlied Scr;nture Men reod,1v
.nfcr fron, 49,, ;lf.n.s.;'sA ~ 'Asn teaany
.uei, from one 'mpertinent quotation, that all
osAe,s' "neh carefully examined, Will be found
equally destitute Of point.
An instance is seen in the frequent cita-
ton Of Habakl,nk I, IL MN vh, aro
,,x;o,,. 80 -. f 49, ""o "' y
lA'ous " discourage the drlnKlns usases OF
soclety anu hinder persons from Offering intox-
eatns liquors TO their friends arc accustomed
70 70 round on fervent appeal with these words
o. inc prophet: Woe unto him that gvcth
ms nS'ghbor tirink, that puttcst Thy bott1e to
htIn;" And they suppose they nave thus rivet-
ed thcir efhoftatlou with an express warming
from the mouth Of God. But a candid scrutiny
ot Inc !c1t anu It's connection shows that this is
not ftam and !; fannos 4'a. a.,1 be The meaning
the remainder OF the text" aud 1nakcst him
drunken also, that thou maycst louk on their
nakedEess "-s1iows That the reference is not to
mere Social Invitation to drink such as fire.
qucntly occurs among friends, but to dclibcr-
ato attempt to make one drunk in order that in
this helpless condition there may be iulicrous
or shameful exposure OF his person. All will
admit that hcartlcss and gratultous wickedness
like this IS every way worthy Of mans abhor-
rcnee and Gods malediction. But it cannot fairly
be made to include what is called the social
glass offered in kindness, however mistaken
that kindness may be.
But the words OF Habakkuk, by the consen-
tscnt VOICE OF almost all critics aud cxpositors,
yewish and Christian, arc not to be literally un-
derstood. The prophet is not referring directly
to his eountrylncn; he Is not rcbuking personal
Or social immortality; hut Is setting forth in 4
series OF rapid explanatory uttcranccs the sin
and the doom OF the national foe. Babylon Is
personiticd as proud man, with IN appetite far
conquest as Unsuitable as the grave, bent upon
Aeaplng together all nations and peoples as his
tributary subjects. These, in turn, nrc set forth
as tallnt1nEty 2p0strophzlng Ills utter failure in
the end. Woe to him tllat nu]tiplcs what does
not belong to him! The spoiler shall himself be
despoicd: Woe to him thatcovets continual &C
cessons for his own aygrand!zcmcnt and safety,
cry out OF the wall and the beam out Of the TIM
ber shall answcrit: Woe to him that builds his
city with blood and cements it By iniquity! The
labor is fruitcss and the toiling multitudes only
become fuel for the fire. Voc to him that
makes his nelghbor drunk with the cup Of wrath,
so that the poor victim lies helpless, exposed,
and degraded! The insolent con4ueror shall in
his turn be subject to the same fate. Hc too
shall drink cup Of wrath from the Lords right
hand, shall lie out in fgnonlinious exposure, aud
sllall haYe his glory covered with shameful spew-
ing.
In this last instance the 10th verse fixes
beyond question the meaning Of the 18TH
Nothing Is more common than the statement Of
Gods anger asa cup nut to the lips Of his foes
Babylon had made Jutlea drunk with the wine