Smyrna times., 1879-01-15
For the Smyrna Times.
Drunkenness is a Sin.
BY REV. T. o. AYRES.

BY REV. T. o. AYREs.
Sin is defined as being a transgression
of the law of God; disobedience of the
divine command; any violation of Gods
will, either in purpose or conduct" Web
ster So much by way Of definition.
Now if we can show that rum selling and
rum drinking is violation of the above
definition then we have case, according
to the best judgment of men, and the ex-
press word of God. See John, III, 4.
| "Whosoeyer committeth sin transgresseth |
ALSO the law; for sin is the transgresson of
the law" Now our task is to show in the |
first place that rum drinking and rum |
selling are transgressons of the law of God. !
! Now if the reader will do us the kindness |
! to open the Bible and turn to the book of
Deuteronomy, XXI, 20. "And they shall say |
unto the elders of his city, this our son is |
stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey
our voice he is glutton, and Il aIrmkard, 81.
And all the men of his city shall stone him
with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put
evil away from among you, and all lsreal
shall hear, and fear" This looks like as if
| drunkenness was and is a tranSgresslon OF
the law Of God, don't it?
Now turn to Isaiah, V, IL. "Woe unto
them that rise up early in the morning,
|
continue until night, till wine inhames
them" Drinker, when you get up before
day and 60 to the grog-shop for your drink,
just take your Bible along and read this
passage to the rum seller and ask him what
he thinks of it. Ask yourself if this don't
argue and prove that drunkenness is
transgresSion. Look over to the vi chapter
and pick out of the 9th and 10th verses:
" Be not deceived; neither forncators nor
dro,kartls shall inherit the kingdom of
God" Don't this look as if drunkenness
was Il violation of the law of God-and
sin?
But we are wasting powder in talking to
: the rum seller and rum drinker about the
} law Of God, for many of them scout the
law of God-of the law of God. Now turn
over into the New Testament to the v
chapter of Corinthians, and look at the II
t verse and read, " But now have written
unto you not to keep company, if any man
P that is called a brother be a drunkard,
f with such one, no not to eat"
: Now Mr.. Bar-keeper, just hand this last
D quotation to your church member Gus
toner the next time he comes for drink.
. Now just be good enough to make one
more reference-and they have gotten
e beyond that-true it is that many of them
n used to belong to church-used to pray in
e public, but they have found out the truth
@ of the whole matter, and learned better
d than to be moved by the tears of women
d and preachers and "hypocrtical church
9 members they know better now than to
e bother their time in fooling over Bible
If religion has played out. Religion and
e water will do for women and children"
e They scout and repudate the law of God
as set forth in the Bibe-they repudate
lr the Bible God. SO we must turn tC
n nature and natures God; to the infdel
God, and to the infdel's Bible. Well, W.
d are ready to turn-and to examine the ques
i. ton from that stand-po
v We ask, then, what are its effects upol
t. society? The infdel tells US that religion
ID consists in an honest life-in gentleness-
at in care for the helpless-in providing
is things honest in the sight of all men-il
in telling the truth. Very we'll; let us appl
ry this definition and see if rum selling an
k rum drinking are good and effectual mean
It, for the accomplishing of these ends.
1g l. Does rum make a man honest: on
ne who was dishonest before-dishonest whe
I'd he was a sober man, does he become homes
as when he contracts the habit and practic
Is. of drinking and drunkenness? What say
IS, experience?
be 2. Can a man be found who always lie
when a sober man, but who always told tn
k, truth after he went to drinking? Or whe
he and where did drunkenness improve
mt mans veracity?
ed 3. Is there man who drinks to drunken
re, ness who will go home and tell his vii
hit that he will give her the liberty which
ut takes?
pc, 4. Does rum make man gentle {
ice abusive?
ng 5. Does rum drinking put into a man
heart the disposition, and into his pock'
mt, the ability, to take care of the helpless?
ny 6. Who cares for runs paupers, rum
dead prostitutes, runs murders? Not ru
his sellers.
he 7. Does rum drinking enable a man
oat clothe his wife and children, and to educa
ing his children?
vas 8. Does rum bring happiness into Il
inn neighborhood and family?
eet What are its effects upon the individua
ley l. His health. Does steady drinking
rum build up his body, give him go'
old nerve, and make him strong and able
ars- stand erect?
lp .. Does it give to man clear mind,
Ter. that he can see what is best for him,
by does it wreck his body, and make fool
eed him?
,oor 8. Is not rum as great foe to the
heir fdel's God as it is to the Christians God
4. Does not the infIel's God denouncC
ned with as much severity as does the CHI
fter- tians God?
Nature teaches her subjects to prep'
for time to come, and the ant tolls for c
That poor grain. The beaver builds house. I
the squirrel puts away nuts for winter.
dla, the poor fool of a rum drinker goes it,
'ork blind, but with his eyes wide open, to
on slaughter
gest An old hen will, and does, fight
test her chickens; but the rum drinl
lom murders his children. An old hen scrat
the es hard and finds a worm, then she c.
a an her chickens and feeds them-the +
utch drinker works for HHLe money and Il
nerl; spends it for rum and leaves his child
ana to starvel
urch When food is given to an old hen
one won't eat it all herself, but calls
need chickens and gives part of it to tn
nifty, When food and clothing are given to a +
ming drinker for his children he sells them
rum and leaves his children to starve
=, 90 naked Alas for rum and rum dri
;, the ing, and rum selling; it is a crime aga
Iaoie God and man.
en- a
and
ere's Arkansas has spent $l50,000 in I'll