Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-02-13
Christ only can do it.

II wish I could tell every drunkard
IN the land that Jesus alone can save
him. His blood cleanseth from all sin ~
SO wrote to me one of the most extraor-
dinary reformed inebriates whom have
ever known. Two years ago he had
sunk to the uttermost depths of poverty
and degradation, A kind Christian
friend had picked him up IN the open
street on winter night, after he had
been turned out by the heartless grog-
seller to freeze and perish. had known
him in his better days, and loved him as
| friend, q trusty man of business and
once respected member of my church.
But the bottle had driven him from
business, broken up his once happy
home, and hurled him out as q wander
| ing waif from one dram-shop to anoth-
er. May God have mercy on those
Christians who aid and abet those
drinking customs which produce such
Wretched victims as my poor friend 81
Nothing seemed left to him but the
prayer of godly wife, whose heart his
debaucherles had broken, and whom his
career had sent to her grave. To my
astonlshment this man, whom 1 had
given up as hopeless, came into our
prayer-meeting few months ago, sober,
well-dressed, and in 'his right mind"
He arose and poured out his heart in
confession of his sins, and in melting
prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus for the
miracle of his salvation. He gave all
the glory to the atoning blood The
meeting became "Bochim" as the re-
formed 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, aud how the
grace of God had even conquered his old
appetite for drink.
AS soon as he closed another member
of my church, whom had laid hold of
once in the street, when a common
drunkard, rose and added his testimony
to the power of Jesus to save. His
speech clenched the nail which my
friend s. had driven. Immediately
| called upon the meeting to sing Mrs.
Wittenmeyer's hymn, Jesus is mighty
to save" We felt that the old miracle
of casting out the evil spirits had been
repeated afresh, and to the wonder
working Savior belonged the glory.
This is key note for the true tenn
perance reform, "Jesus can save the
drunkard, and he only" During my
late attendance upon the National
Temperance Convention in. Chicago
heard several converted nebriates testify
in public that "Christ's indwelling grace
had taken away even their appetite for
strong drink J"
This is a wonderful fact, which the
physiologist, and the moral reformer
too, would do well to heed. Moral sua-
sion is good, total abstinence and pledg-
es are valuable, but poor, weak human
ity, in its battles with the devil, needs
the Almighty Arm. When Christ saves
he saves to the uttermost. His grace
can conquer even physical appetite as
well as depraved affection. In pro-
portion as the victims of the cup lay
hold on Jesus is there hope of their per-
manent reformation. The one "Ine-
briate Asylum" that have most faith
in is the Cross of the atoning Redeemer.
"Tell every drunkard that Jesus only
can save him.
But let US not stop here. The vast
majority of tipplers and sots will never
come to Jesus. We must strive to pre-
vent the young and sober from ever be-
coming enslaved to the bottle. What
motive so strong as a conscience en-
lighteued and strengthened by Christ?
AS Christian duty let US urge all to
let the accursed cup alone. Upon every
Christian conscience let US press the
divine precept that sit is good not to
drink wine whereby brother is ma ie
weak" Christ and the temperance
cause should be welded together, and
what God joins let no man put ssunder.
Human laws can do much, but the
grace of God can do infinitely more
Dr. r. L. CllUler