The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-03-17
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE.
Abstract Of q Sermon by Rev. u. A.
Sanford, IN Trace Church, Cresc0,
Iowa, Sunday evening March

on any political matters. / pre-
sent duty rs efYecting the Christian
life.
Drunkenness is n sin. Familiar
scripture quotations point this out.
Drinkards nrc classcd with fornica-
tors, idolators and adultcrcrs NJ
those who shall no; inherit the king.
dom OF Heaven.
On this subject, prejudice exists III
various forms. Some, at one ex-
treme, looking upon the Use Of alco-
hol in 1ny form rs wrong; others.
dcspising this narrow spirit, will not
allow their liberty to be bridlcd Ill
any manner. 10th eJil'cmcs are
rJo,ig. Avoiding extremes, 1T rs
calmly examine Gods Word On this
matter.
WINE HAS IRIS GOOD rsF.
Wine make'h glad The heart q man. ~.
give strong drink unto him tl,st Ii ready 10
perish. and viii. unto thuse that be u heavy
hearts," Troy, xNAi. q.
The Rrrllabites were given wine to
drink mt tho Lords house ut the
word Of God 10 jeremiah. tchap. 81.
They refuse, to drink wine. III they
would to sew seed. or build houses.
rot because il WAS evil, but III obe-
di.ncc To their Fathers command
ment. Wine Is prescribed III the
offerings 81 the Jewish church. Our
Lord by Ills first miracle afforded an
abundant supply OF good wine at
the wedding feast ut Cana OF Galilec.
There Is no good reason for thinking
this wine different from ordinary
wine. III fact. our Lords life seems
to have been in such contrast with
the life of John the Baptist who
drank no wine or strong drink, that
the Jews called HIM gluttonous man
and a wine bibber, friend OF publ
cans and sinners.
Wine is not an evil per sc.
Profanity is evil in itself. Wine
becomes an evil when abused.
But take warning, lest q too free
use becomes to you tho occasion o.
sin. There is danger here: many
have suffered themselves to be de-
ceivcd.
It has been observed that, In
northern climates, greater danger ex-
lists, than in warm climates where
the vine grows lnxuriantly. There
Is less drunkenness there in proper
ton to the amount OF wine, or other
beverages used, than in colder eli
mares where the supply IS less. The
human system seems to have less
need for stimnlants, where nature
has afforded the less supply.
Howsoevcr this may be, tho prin-
ciple to be followed in avoiding al
coholic beverages is this rs stated
by st. Paul (Rom xiv: 81:
lit Is good. neither to eat flesh or drink wine,
nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, OF
Is offended, or Is made weak
It IS not because wine is evil in
itself, but because 1t Is SO often made
the occasion of evil, because it be-
comes u stumbling block to others,
TINT we may not freely use that
which Is otherwise lawful and right.
III meat make my brother u offend, will
eat no flesh while the world shall last, lest
make my brother to osYeud.r Cor, vii: IS.
It is our christian duty to care for
others, To save them from falling. to
rescue the perishing, to seek and
save those who are running both
body and soul Deal kindly and
gently with the erring. II they fall
again, encourage them to rise and
amend; shield them from temptation.
There are many ways in which we
can encourage Others 10 lead tenn
perate life. The quiet influence OF
christianity regard rs far more i'm
portant, than loud demonstrations
The temple of Solomon was erected
in quiet, without the sound Of
hammer, or any tool OF iron heard
in the surroundings. And, SO IN
those other temples, our bodies and
souls. Gods work is quiet work
The building up OF christian charuc.
ter takes time for growth.
As christian people, we are bound
to exert that quiet influence for 9th.
crs' good. Iii regard to alcohol,
beverages, RECOMMEND their disuse
because for the most of III as an or
binary thing, they are unnecessary
hut further, because they. are very
often a stumbling block to others
though they may never cause us I,
sin, yet to others, seeing our exam
pie, they become the occasion Of sin
We can not shut our eyes to these
facts. Christianity lays down ~
iron rule in this matter: yet our con
duet must be largely influenced u.
its relation to others. For myself
have never taken Il total abstinenc,
pledge for life. / have reasons 10,
ny not doing so. For the ordinar,
christian. think that no such iron
rule Is required. think it wrong /,
impose on children a total absti
nenec pledge, the nature Of whicl
they but feebly understand. Yet 70
many among us, it is the only SAT
rule, for many among us, total alb
stinence is practical thing; &c
most of us, IL rule close to this seem
to be advisable. Your own conscienc
must determine how far you rcstrai
your christian liberty in this matter
A pledge of total abstinence is j
some eases ut least, a good thing. ]
thy right hand or thy right eye caus
thee to offend, pluck them out an
cast them from thee. Ii your chris
tian privilege cause you to offent
deny your self that privilege, thong
it be SO dear to you us your rigll
hand or your right eye. Such
pledge may be n help; but anothe
pledge, not Il mere man made pledg'
press upon you. BY your baptisl
you arc sworn to renonnce, not onl
drunkenness, but NIL forms OF sill
the devil and all his works, and a
!, the sinful lusts OF the flesh. In you
} own name you renew that pledge
confirmation. God lays the Oblig,
ton upon you. You virtually rene
, that pledge each time you reccis
J the holy communion. Gods grat
will assist you to keep that pledg
! Temptations to sin will continual
| arise. The warfare will 60 on unit
death. To fight manfully again
. sin the world and the devil Is 70,
J duty to your life's end.
!, Lastly, let me urge you to no
4 out the sympathizing hand to u
/ fallen brother, and encourage hi
; BY every rightful means to III
: soberly, righteously and godly