Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-30
A Stirring Appeal.

OPPOSITION TO THE PLEDGE PERILoUS.
1t is perilous to oppose the use of the
pledge. Preachers, like merchants, do often
a wholesale business and hurt nobody, be-
cause they seldom specify sin. They fight
the Philistines hard they demolish again ex-
tinct demons, but they seem not to know
that the serpent of the bottle is the favorite
child of the serpent of Eden. Preacher,
bruise the head of the bottle serpent lift
the hammer for good blow that will crush
this demon. If you will not sign the pledge,
hinder none who use it nor one who would
sign it. Every Christian profession is in it.
self a pledge against lying, stealing licen-
tiousness, ETC., and until that high and right
ground is made by the church of Christ to
cover intemperance in all of its forms, as
well AS lying or stealing, we must have the
pledge. The gospel is applied to these al
ready; no written pledge is drawn, but the
verbal VOWS registered before God and the
church. Special diseases require special rem
edies. John the Baptist gave one COM
mand to the people, another to the publicans,
another to the Pharisees, and still another
to the soldiers. lie prescribed specifics ac.
cording to the need of each. The very ma
ture of drink demands special help to the
will-power and just such help as the solemn
obligation of the pledge secures To make
earth like heaven, and every man as like
to God as can be, apply the truth at every
point of growth and in every atom of devel-
opment. We ask persons convinced of sin
to rise or to kneel, and those who confess
Christ to devote themselves to his service.
Years ago one said "Who is on the Lords
side let him come unto mel" Led by
these principles, the writer presents the
pledge ON the Lords day, after temperance
prayer-meeting or sermon, saying: "Who
will here and now promise and perform the
forsaking of the sin p Many who thus sign
we receive afterward into the church, fully
redeemed by the grace of God. As the en-
gagement-ring procedes the wedding-ring,
so this pledge precedes union with Christ.
The stone rolled away from the door of the
imprisoned Lazarus, Jesus sets the prisoner
free. The pledge is John the Baptist
not the Christ, indeed, but yet herald to
lead many to the Lamb of God.
PERILoUs TO LIVE UNPLEDGED.
1t is perilous to live unpledged, Doors of
the word, and not hearers only, or takers
merely, deceive no one. Steadfast example
is mighty to rebuke or to encourage, to ad-
monish or to provoke to good works. Chris
tians move the world when they first move
themselves. Ministers, as shepherds, must
lead the way if they would have the sheep to
follow 1t is a hindraDce to live unpledged.
| have been in many places where, as a
smoker or drinker | would have done
harm; ] certainly could not have done much
good bat | have never been in any place
where my pledge hindered me from working,
and to go down to those who most needed
me had to pledge myself. We must have in
our possession what we would give to others /;
be what we would have Others become.
PERILous TO NEGLECT CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
1t is perilous to neglect church discipline.
Actions do speak louder than words. Cleanse
the church of tippers and traders in
drink. Purge her communion from the
presence of such as put the bottle to their
neighbor's lips. Cut away those who will
ingly derive support directly from the traf
fic. Compel wholesale dealers TO share in
the condemnation visited upon the heads of
retail dealers. Why shut out the saloon
keeper and admit the landlord in whose
building the former phys his trade Put
beer and brandy, wine and whiskey, tip
piers and traders, landlord and tenants, un.
der one ban. Make no compromise with the
sin in any way clear the church from even
the smell of scorching.
DO SOMETHING.
DO something, aud let your doing be con
tinuous and regular, as opposed to the spas
modic. The less machinery you have the
better. One wide-awake man and TEN
perance pledge will work as a rhed gun il
the hands of a trained gunner. Begin witt
a prayer-meetng be willing to have smal
meetings. Let not the day of small thing
be despised but keep right ON doing some
thing-doing with both hands, with all you
heart, in all winds and weather, with ebb o.
flood tide--keep right on doing something
Do something A revolver may be best t
kill mad dog, but all cannot aim straight
and few carry revolvers, Try boot-jacl
or a brickbat. A life-boat is the best thin
with which to rescue drowning men a
sea, but many mau has been kept up b.
hen-coop or floating plank Do some
thing Let all good men, respecting eacl
the others methods, and all moving fol
ward, if not in the same line, yet on aralle
lines, confront this old serpent, hundred
headed mad dog, Cerberus and with l1el
$ cules' club dispatch him. We may not b
able TO do what we would, but hereafter
when the recordso of this warfare are writer
may it be said of our churches, They di
what they could" In every good work
"Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will Halter, some will spite;
Cease from men and look above thee
| T.. l.. Al.