The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-11-19

EX. 15-25.
Moses had led the children of Israel
safely over the Red Sea, as on dry land
The horses and chariots and men, who at
tempted to pursue them, were swallowed
up, and the vengeance of the Lord was
full against Pharaoh and his wicked
hosts. When Moses had led the people
over the sea, they went into the wilder
ness of Shur, and were three days with
out water. This lack of water alone may
seem an unutterable hardship, but the
fact stands forth in the experiences of to-
day that three-days' fast from water is
not worthy of consideration. Three days
Have not men gone-in so far as their
friends can see-for three years without
tasting water? However, the people
murmured against Moses, and said what
shall we drink p
Along down the years, ever since that
seemingly difficult problem was presented
to Moses, the same question has been
agitating the minds of the people. Not
under the same circumstances under
which the same problem was presented
to Moses, but rather the reverse. In our
times men do not enter the wilderness
until after they have decided that matter
for themselves. In the fullness of faith
Moses led the way on until an abundance
of pure water was found. This decided,
for the time what should be the drink of
that people. Pure water! They were
driven by the prosecutions of Pharaoh to
a fountain of pure water. In our days,
Pharaoh does not drive, he persuades. By
the most fascinating allurements known
to his wicked nature, he draws his vic
tins away from the fountains of pure
water, and drags them rapidly to the
fount of damnation. His prosecutions
begin after the victim has been dragged
into the wilderness. Says Pharaoh: "Who
shall dictate to you what you shall eat
and drink?" Then, in the most peremp-
tory manner he declares: "You shall eat
bologna sausage and limberger cheese, and
drink beer and whisky. In the beginning
of the career of manhood, the youth will
say like the Israelites, "What shall I
drink ?" A thousand answers are ever
ready. Jehovah with all His great love
and kindly providence, points to the
fountains of pure water that bubble up
from beneath the feet of the young man.
Pharaoh hastens forward and points with
a benevolent smile to the stacks of kegs
and his array of bottles and jugs. "This
is the fountain of manhood (oh, Infamous
scoundrelD and this is the road to dis
tinction" In some hesitation the youth
turns to those who at least ought to be
able to give him advice. He goes into
the public place and asks "What shall 1
drink ?" A multitude answer him, "Beer
and whiskyW He goes out into society,
and asks the question "What shall /
drink?" His young friends advise him
that little strong drink is essential to
the happiness of frst-class young man.
He goes into the presence of young lady
acquaintances and asks "What shall [
drink 2" A score of them will reply,
"Take little wine-it will do you good
We had wine and card party last night,
and oh, we had so much fun" He goes
to the halls of craftsmanship, as,d asks,
"Good sirs, what shall / drink?" A score
oaths and advise the faltering youth to
try little Old Rye or Bourbon. With
some misgiving, the youth goes to the
Church, and his heart keeps asking
"What shall / drink?" The sacred strains
of music arouse warmth within his
heart that makes him love the whole uni
verse of God. He sees, under the inf1u-
ence of the services of the hour, the
bleeding sacrifice upon Calvary; he sees
the young man starting out in life with
a purity of life and purpose which crowns
him with glory in time and in eternity;
surely this seems to him the right way,
the perfect way. He asks "What shall [
drink" The articulate answer comes
back "Be temperate in all things. We
condemn the use of strong drink as q bee
erage" The odoriferous answer comes
from many a pew Drink beer and
whisky, and plenty of it-all of it that
you can hold"
He has been started in the way he is to
go. Every influence seems to push him
more rapidly along the way, and going
out from the realm of Christianity and
perfect peace, he enters the realm Of the
modern Pharaoh. The King is waiting
to receive and welcome him. The jewels
of the kingdom are displayed in artistic
glassware. The influence of the kingdom
is illustrated in the barrels and kegs that
line the pathway. The record of the ac-
work of the kingdom is writ
ten upon the artistic tablets of the ceme-
teries. There's welcome and encour-
agement for the youth here. He is in the
and he must pass through the
sorrow, the suffering, the destruction and
ruin, that characterize the wilderness,
until the end shall be reached. He has
found out at last what to drink. He will
not have his personal liberty interfered
with. With much besotted boastfulness
he finds himself drifting down the stream
of degradation, while Pharaoh and his
imps follow him, not for the purpose of
destroying him at once, but for the pur-
pose of torturing him by slow degrees,
and taking from him meanwhile, all the
worldly possessions he may have accu-
mulated.
At last, worn out, consumed by the
terrible SufterlngS which attend the
course he has pursued, he falls, famish-
ing. perishing. In the agony of his great
suffering, when all hope seems to be gone,
and the great chasm of the unknown
yawns before him, he cries aloud "What,
Oh, what shall drink?" Gently, sweetly,
down from an unknown hight, comes a
voice saying Pure waterW The llnowl-
edge came at the end of the race. With
heart crushed with long suffering, with
a soul fettered by chains voluntarily
forged, in an unutterly, helpless despair,
the victim cries "TGo later' In the will
derness in which he is groping, there is
no well bubbling welcome to his thirsty
spirit. Those who should have been his
friends, were, unwittingly, his deadly
opapoinc. ha wac his own worst eDpmV