The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-07-25
A Word 60 the Wise Ought to
he Sufficient

To tha Editsr o. TemperGncs Department;
take the position that the Bible pos
itively forbIds the use OF ardent spirits
IS beverage; and this is the highest
authority that / CAP bring before the
mind Of the reader. II you Will not
hear because Of Gods word, / have no
hope left me that anything that l might
say would have the least bearing upon
the mind Of any Of your readers.
We are fully aware, too, that men
cannot be coerced into measures OF this
sort, nor have We any disposition Of the
kind. For It is by kind words that We
always expect to accomplish the great
est amount Of good. Our object in these
few thoughts is to give you few plain
Bible facts for your considerations hop
ing that IL may be tie means of fortify-
ing you against the greatest evil Of the
day. For drunkenness, in my humble
opinion, is a greater curse, and doing
more 10 people OF the world of woe with
immortal spirits than the late war. II
is true, that during that awful contest
many noble spirits fell, but many OF
these went, no doubt, to rich reward
in heaven. We cannot say a. much for
those who fall in the ranks Of the druRk-
ard; for the Bible most positively for
bids it, and expressly declares by the
mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, that Hell
hath enlarged herself, and opened her
mouth without measure, and that those
who rise up early. in the morning, that
they may follow strong drink, that con-
tiuue until night, till wine inflame
them, so they regard not the word of
the Lord, neither consider the operation
of his hands, therefore shall they de-
scend into it," There can be no mis-
take, a. 10 the true import of this pas
sage. While Paul declares that no
drunkard shall inherit the kingdom Of
God. Placing the sin Of drunkenness
with 4 catalogue of the blacklist crimes
Of which men are guilty, both in his
letter 10 the Corinthians and the Gala
tians. The IdOlatOr, the Adulterous,
the Thief, the Murderer, the Drunkard,
and they that do such things, shall new
er inherit the kingdom Of God. New
this is q firm fixed decree Of God, and
men may think Of il as they please, still
20 i- trGe, tlsf there arc large classes Of
men. who. 81 they continue as Lhcy are,
until -Ie day 81 their 3eatb, viii never
De permitted TO enter the courts of
glory. This must appear obvious to all,
who will but take a glance for one mo
ment, at. the effects Of intemperance
upon the immortal destiny of man. We
scarcely need a revelation to tell US the
awful doom Of the drunkard. For il is
next to impossible to bring anything to
bear upon his mind, that would move
him TO change his course, and leave his
habits. You may talk 10 him, and if
you can gain his ear, and convince him
Of his danger, and the only way OF es-
cape, he has no resolution left him to
carry out your advice and save bis soul
from eternal perdition. II would seem
20 US, that almost the only hope that is
left confirmed drunkard, is 10 pray for
him, and yet prayers are net miracles,
and IL does seem from the efforts that
arc made TO reclaim some men, aud yet
fails, that il would take but little less
than miracle TO save them from the
vortex OF eternal perdition. My advice
to young men would be never to fern
the habit, or acquire the the tas-ei for
the crisis in drunkard's life is at the
very commencement Of the use of ar
dent spirits. ! repest il, the point of
danger to every man Is in dram-drink-
ing, for no man ever thinks Of beeOm-
ing drunkard, when he begins to take
his dram, and yet in many cases it is
the first step TO a drunkard's grave.