The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-12-22
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
a, EDITED HY THE
WOmsn's Christian Temperance UuIsu
CHRIST ONLY cAs no rr.

/. "'Sh could Tell every drunkart
IN the land that Jesus alone can 90 .,
MIN. His blood cIcanselh from al
sin.' So wrote TO me one OF the nos,
extraordinary reformed inebriate,
whom ! have ever known. Two
years ago he had sunk 10 the uits,.
MOST depths OF poverty and degrada-
uon. A kind Christian friend had
picked him up In the open street on
Winter night, after he had been
turned out by the heartIess grog-sell.
er 10 freeze and perish. I had knovn
him In bis better days and loved him
a. q friend, trusty man OF business.
ana once a respected member OF NV
church. But the bottle had driveo
him from business, broken M nj,
once happy home, and hurled him
out a. wandering walf from one
dramshop to another. May God have
mercy on those Christians who aid
ana abet those drinking customs
which produce such wretchsd vic.
Tins as my poor friend 81
Nothing seemed left 10 him hat
the prayers Of godIy wIfo whose
hear, his debaucherIes had broken
y
ana whom his career had sent 70 her
grave. To my astonishment this
man. whom l had given up az hope
less, came In 10 eur payer.meetlng a
few months ago, sober, well dressed.
and In 'his right mind" He arose
and poured out his heart In confeesIon
of his sins, and In a melting PRAYER a,
thanksgiving 10 Jesus for the miracle
Of his salvation. He gave all fbe
glory to the atonIng blood. The
meeting became a 'fBochimy az fbe
reformed man told his Touching story.
Last week he was with US again, and
told US how Christ's arm had held
him up for several months and bow
the grace Of God had even conquered
his old appetite for drink.
Assoen as he closed, another mem.
her oi my church, whom / had laid
hold OF once in the street, when a
common drunkard, rose and added his
testimony 10 the power of Jesus 10
save. His speech clenehed the nail
which my friend s. had driven
Immediately called upon the meet.
ing TO sing Mrs. wittenmeyer's
hymn, "Jesns Ts mighty TO save. u
We felt that the old miracle OF east
Ing out the evil spirits had been re.
Peated afresh, and 10 the wonder
working Saviour belonged the glory.
This Is a key-nete for the true
temperance reform, stJesus can save
the drunkard, and He only" Dur.
ing my late attendance upon the
National Temperance Convention a;
Chicago, ] heard several converted
ineoriates testify in public tina,
"Christ's indwelling grace had taken
away even their appetite for strong
dsink 90
This Is n wonderful fact which th.
Psychologist, and the moral refermer
too, would do well TO heed. Mors
suasion Is good. total abstinence anc
pledges are valuable, Tut poor weak
humanity, IN its battles with In,
devil, needs the Almighty arm
When Christ saves, he saves to the
uttermost. His grace can conquel
even physical appetite, as well as {
depraved affection. In proportion
as the victims Of the cup lay held on
Jesus, is there hope of their perma.
nent reformation. The one "Inebri.
ate Asylum" that I have mes. faith
In, is the Gross OF the atoning Re.
deemer. "Tell every drnnkard that
Jesus only can save him."
But let US not stop here. The vast
majority OF tlpplers and sots will
never come to Jesus. We must
strive TO prevent the young and sober
from ever becoming enslAved to the
bottle. What motive SO sfrsng as q
conscience enlightened and strength
ened by Christ 2 As ChVistian
duty, let US urge all to let the aecur-
sed cup alone. Upon every Christian
conscience let us press the Div.ue
precept that .'it is geod not to drink
vino whereby brother is made
weak" Christ and the temperance
cause should be welded together,
and what God joins, let no man put
asuDder. Human laws can do much,
but the grace of God can do infinitely
more. -American Messenger.
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VyUm suarU rArarp