The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28

L
mans physical antecedents, but be-
cause acquainted with his business
intensity, We feel that close connec-
ton with and application to his bust
ness did something to make weaker
his power of resistance, when disease
laid its hand on him. And we may
suppose, had he been contented to
rest earlier, he might have had some
what more in his favor. But he
worked for the future, goal was be-
fore him.
The drinking man does not do that.
He willingly shuts his eyes to the fu-
ture and when that can no longer be
done, ne plunges like mailman on
toward its abyss of darkness.
Now / do not say the man who
sometimes drinks, goes to such ex-
cess; but he does not act by the di-
vinely given power of fore thought,
or fore look even-which he exercises
in any other matter.
Right at the basis then, in the sim
pie fact of using liquor as beverage
never mind the kind, never mind
the quantity-there is an actual de.
NAL of our best nature, tits an abb
normal act. Is that known to the
drinker? Then we pronounce it a
sin--as really as any sin you can
name. Of course if man is un-
avoidably ignorant Of the facts men,
toned, it changes the moral status of
the act. But if he knows these facts,
it is sin. To him that knoweth to
do well and doeth it not, to him it is
sin. G
Now do you say ! am fanatical,very
well, by all law known; given, to a
man, the knowledge that he is violat-
ing his nature for present and per
sonal qualification, and he sins in the
act or there is no sin in this world.
And human nature in its possibilities,
which is our likeness to the divine, is
a lie and farce.
We have no time to enter discus
sion of metaphysical possibilities con-
corning sin; true we can conceive of
many things being done by some
that are only evils, which if done by
others would be sins. The effect Of
drinking mead was evil to our Morse
ancestors. But if we believed Heav-
en- was an eternal drunk, and wanted
to realize it, we should at once COM
mence to prepare the mind for its
beastly joys. We do not believe that
We know that the drunkard can.
not enter the Kingdom of Heaven be-
cause of its natural opposition to the
hell the drunkard makes for himself.
1 speak of the Kingdom of Heaven
as our Lord did when he said cit is
within you." And the man who shuts
his eyes to the future, who banishes
forethought from his action, who de-
thrones prudence from his nature, for
a momentary pleasure of personal
nature, will find it equally impos-
sible,--because he loves darkness
rather than light. In the self chosen
but ever deepening condemnation he
lives, or rather stays.
When the moderate drinker, we
care not how moderate, pleads for
himself--on the ground that he has
no particular tendency to fear, no
mate craving to enlarge caution
then we say the sin is more aggravated;
its aggrevation is proportionate to
the truth of his utterance.
Why, see; short while since
minister in Mass. was arrested for
stealing books. He was pronounced
insane, and committed to a retreat
for the insane. That we can over
look and Pity the man for his attic
ton. l once knew of woman who
was a klepto-maniac, whose family
was wealthy, whose husband was rich,
who could purchase all she wished,
who would steal the most trivial
things she could place her hands on.
Her husband went among the mer.
chants of the town, told them to
watch her, and that he would exam
inc all goods brought homeland
pay for all she stole. You pity such
a person. But you would feel vastly
differapf foua ri one a. -. A.