The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-12-11
law Asp HEsroxcIHILIrY.
~ KEy. L. NJ. VAN BURES

Some avow their belief 10 abstineaee
on the ground Of expedisncy, but re-
reject IL as au obligation imposed by
divine law. They aver that there is no
such formal Law forbidding ''inloIicAt-
ing drinks" This mode Of reasoning
leaves the great mass Of human actions
without law. IL makes the laws Of God
formal statutes like the laws Of man.
Instead Of this. Gods law covers the
whole field of mora! action. "Thy CON-
mandment is exceeding broad" (Ps.
elk 96) nothing escapes lie scrutiny.
The ten commandments have more than
ten specific applications what 10 i'm.
piled is as much forbidden as what 10
expressed. Their implications run iu-
TO all our actions Thou shalt not
kill" is very simple aad plain declara-
tion, il applied only to the immediate
action which causes death; but ii for
bids any acts which tend 10 iDjure our
health or shorten our life, though the
deleterious effect may be ever so slow.
aud the 6nal result 70 which they Gen.
tribute ever so remote.
In the use Of Intoxicating drinks the
destruction OF human life is tremen-
dous. No one denies this. The claim
is set up that this can be avoided by
maintaining their moderate use, and
that If any one finds that he Is acquir-
ing an appetite for them which leads to
excess, he should desist from their use.
1t is just here the difficulty and danger
of his position becomes apparent. he
is now no longer his own master. 1t ia
only by fresh pOtations that be can APP
pease bis craving thirst and arouse his
morbid, sinking system. This relief ID
only temporary; the potations must be
repeated. Now his effort 10 to keep
from the Frustrating effects of helpless
drunkenness.
This struggle often goes on for years.
Some. by the mastery Of powerfsl
will keep on the line ofmoderate drink.
ing Their example 10 the argument fol
beginners. many OF whom are utterly
ruined in their young manhood. The
thousands Of millions who have become
drunkards. in this and other ages, have
ell been trained by the same process
nod crate drinking. Moderate drinking
is responsible for ell this vast destrue-
tion of human life, for all this misery
and wrctchedness which the bodies and
souls Of men have suffered.
To say the law OF God does not reach
this matter because there is no specis
prohibition against tho use Of alcoholic
drinks 10 to ignore The irst elements O.
common reason God not only forbidl
taking the life Of smother. but any In
jury to oar own by the use Of anything
deletsIious ia tie effeets. He requires
all men TO avoid temstatious that lead
to evil Our position must always be
one OF safety. We are not permitted
to pursue doubtful courses Of living. IL
regard TO Iintox. icAtiBg drinks, iher'
can be no question that this command
requires us to look after our safety
that IL extends 10 every act OF volun
tary aud reckless exposure to danger
The question 10 nst whether one may
possibly escape; The putting Of thii
question shows disposition 10 take I
risk where God requires US to be safe
1 The only use for the word expedi'
ency is to ahowthat absiinency is 81
and proper. a. the nost safe and per
feet protection Of ell the interests o.
the soul and body. There Is no place
in the moral system Of the Bible for ar
expediency, which is out Of The divine
law. That which is DOT expedient ID
moral acts carries Sin with it. II 10 the
citing propriety Of our moral acts tc
the requirements Of the divine Law
which justices lhsm and makes them
right AnsKpedienCy, which is called
law Of liberty, AuJ 10 not enforced b
moral obligation. furnishes place o
escape into which the perpetrators Of |
vast amount Of crine may take refags
Public policy or The public good is :
great principal IN civil Law always
acted inshunsn legislation The selling
Of intoxicating drinks is regulstsd. re.
strained. OF forbidden on the ground o.
lie iDeIpediency, because lie tendency
il TO denoraIixs the community. 10 Ia
furious TO public order, prosperity and
morAlity. Does the divine Law take nc
cognisance ct this state Of things ia
The conduct Of issividusls. and leave
I'll free to experiment on their ability
10 use Intoxicating drinks without IN
iarisK theneeivesf Docs il leave the
thing TO 20 on untii positive drunksa-
nsss ia reached. before IL fsstrains,
yarns, o. pssishssf Shall The laws
of men Be mots perfect than lhoae u
God Civil Law deals with the cons