The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-09-02

eowPsaeioh ih even the looking upon
wine, and iftbere Is danger in its appear.
aDce how much more in its nse. The
Savior also taught his disciples to pray,
"lead rs not into temptation" Is not
the use Of wine 2. great temptation to
many4 Can Dir. Stevens deny thisl
Does it not lead directly 10 drunken.
ness and licentiousnesa Is not this a
stumbling block in the way Of the
.weak Il IL a christian duty to re-
move this temptation9 The Bible here
is also, explicit. It says at Is good
neither to eat flesh nsr 70 drink wine,
nor anything whereby thy brother
stumbleth or Is offended or is made
weak" Ia the 35th chapter Of Jere-
mish The Rechabites arc commended
for total abstinence, Mr. Stevens says
however that they were commenl.d d
for obeying the command Of their
father and not for total abstinence.
Let us examine and rec whether his
statement is sustained. The RecLa-
bites were commanded by their father
not 20 drink wine. Was this comma nd
right Was total abstinence right for
the Rechabitesi God says The CON-
mand was right. that their total absti-
nence was right, because be .commends
and praises them and rewards them
for obeying this command. If ibe
command was wrong, or il the abstain
ing from drinking wine was wrong or
evil, would God commend the doing
Of evil Has he ever done sol yet be
did commend the. Rechabites for doing
the very thing which Mr.. Stevens says
is wrong and is perversion Of chris
tian truths as he understands them.
Dir. Stevens further says that
Christ's dying command is that all par
take Of wine. he bases this assertion
no doubt upor the account given by
the Apostles Of the last Supper.
Matthew, Mark and Luke give this ac-
count Substantially the same. Marks,
which is the most complete, is as fol-
lows: "And he took the cup and gave
thanks, and said, take this and divide
it among yourselves Tin Matthew
drink ye all Of it" For say unto you
| will not drink Of the fruit Of the vine
until the kingdnm Of God shall come.
And be took bread and gave thanks and
break il and gave unto them saying;
this is my body which is given fer you
this do in remembrance Of me. Like
wise also the cup after supper, saying
this cup is the new testament in my
blood which is shed for you" IL il was
wine that was in the cup, which Mr..
Stevens assumes, the text will not sup
port the theory that the Savior drank
Of the 'wine, or that he commanded his
disciples 10 do 50 in future in remem-
brance Of him. He did command them
to break bread and distribute il in re
membrance Of him, but that command
does not follow the giving the disciples
the cup, or the direction, "drink We all
of it."
The next enquiry is what was in
the cupf The Savior says "this is my
blood Of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of
sins" and then adds s'but / viii not
drink henceforth of this fruit Of the
vine until that day when I drink IL
new with you in my fathers kingdom"
and it is implied that the vine was q
grape vine, and that "this fruit of the
vine" means wine. This construction
OF this and similar passages in the ac-
count given Of the. last supper by the
apostles is not warranted. The Savior
says, 81 am the true vine and my father
is the husbandman," and again al am
the vine, We are the branches" His
hour had come, the fruit was ripe. He
speaks of himself as already having
shed his blool for the remission of
sins. He speaks Of himself as having
accomplished his mission-s'this is my
blood which is she'd" The Savior Is
the vine there spoken Of, and the fruit
of that vine is christianity, with all its
blessings, joys, holiness, benefits, re-
wards and effect upon the human race.
The Savior speaks of himself as dead
and says in effect 81 will drink no
more of this while living" Is the as
sertion of Mr.. Stevens sustained :
Where is it recorded that the Savior
drank wine 2 He was at the marriage
feast where water was made wine, but
did he drink any of iti He lived
thirty three years, but where is the re-
cord Of his drinking wine on strong
drin I There is record that he ask
ed for drink, but it was Of water.
Does wine or its use T. pity the pleasures
of heaven : If so then all We have tc
do to have foretaste Of heavenly
pleasures is to drink wine teuiperately.
but in sufficient quantities to feel its
effects, but let all beware for observa-
ton has proved that if the bounds. Of
moderation is once passed, instead Of