The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-02-16
A REPLY TO j. MASSIE.

perull ne space 10 your paper to reply
| io an article from the pen of j. Mss-ie,
in your columns, bearing da'e January
II 1852
He says in the otteet of his sr,icle
that ''iptempei ance is the great b.setting
sin OF the human family" Are you
sure, friend, that this is o correct rosi.
iion2 We venture 10 say that it is not
for this REF son: that everybody is not
addicted to Lsrtske OF this great ev !,
t ere ore it only applies to those that fall
VIC inns to its use. Other mems beset.
.nents consists in various other things
neither does it "undeilie most her
sins," but it is ore among the mos,
grievous sins. Men place lhemse YES
uhder its ir fluence in order TO cary OUT
tie vicIous d, signs that ale lui king in
their ev hearts: hence il only serves 10
prompt them to- setioD. But have we 8
remedy bv which to arrest this evill We
venture TO say We have Our friend
SAYS that "we want intelligence on Ibis
subject. and not ignorance eople mus,
be educated up to the point tina, the,
shall see and ietl that the nse and sale OF
alcoholic drinks, ss a heversge, are as
much violation of Gods law as theft
or murder" Just 30 God never in.
tended that man should dc 1t without in
curing his disp!easure; hence be has
given us law Ivy which TO adjust these
matters, and is contained in the moral
law given BY God on Mt. Sinai and de-
llivefFd TO The children Of Israel at the
hands OF Moses. their leader, and slso
incorporated into the new covenant by
Christ This law does not reach ovei
and remove the temptation; this is not
the d, sign OF the giver, hut 10 hold The
human family ID check, that they might
not partakc Of those evils that Gods
law furbids. In. some cases men has
become such exceeding great sinners ip
the sight Of God that be was compelled tn
enact . law TO remove the subject, hut
In no case does he propose to remove
the temp,stlon until the final consumma-
lion OF all things, and the reason is this
that he proposes to educate the people
up to this point, tbrouph moral sussion
that they may see and know that TO prac
tice these things is violation OF the
laws Of heaven. and that il they coniirue
in This course eternal death will be the
final result But Gays our friend: "Mor.
vi suasion has heen tried and failed" Il
it possible, friend Massie, that you have
come to such crisis that you are ready
to surrender the point that Gods word
is insufficient to accomplish 8 purposes
this world2 Gad created man free
agent, 10 accept or let alone; hence b,
has set before him life and death, and has
taught him the cons, qaences Of obedi
ence ard dsobedience. He wants mer
to exercise their own volition iu the mat
ter. after they have been taught up 10 tht
Iproper point; and God has made it obli
gatory upon bic church to carry on tha
great work, and it must begin 10 tue fam
lily circle. Parents must tesch their chil
dren and prepare them for and to seeI
! refined society, that they may not seei
those places Of vice and intany, for thi
thing goes by communities sni it de
pends largely on what We make it 'TheI
let the church exercise her II fuence
Chriet compares the church to city Sc
on bill, that CO, Ii not be bid, and say
sYe are the light Of The world" &c
therefore "let our light shine hefor
men that they may zee your good works
and gloriiy your Father which is il
heaven This is heavens plan Of reg
ulating these ,hirgs, ond does OF ou
friend lev claim 10 b,lopg TO Il is orde
OF things.2 If so, Then let him bring hl
influercs to bear in this direction and W
will unite our forces to destroy this erea
evil; and not only this, let those That al
not Christians, bul have morality q
heart, biirg their Influence to hest IN ,hi
direction, regardless OF nsking It an is
sue in politics. and God will verify hi
promise, namely: "Let The wicked for
sake his way, and tae urrighteous n a
his Thoughts, and let him return unto ih
Lord and He will have mercy VI on him
and TO ouI God, for lie will abundant
pardon, .;or nv thoughts ere Lot you
, thoughts, neither are your ways m
ways, ta,eih tie Lord; for The heaven
!. are HIGHER than The GaIth.eo are ml way
higher than your wsys, and my 'ho1gh,
than your Thoughts, for as the rain cnm
eth down, and the snow from heaven
aud reiurneih not thither but waleret
ihe earth, and makpth il bring forth sn
bud, that i, may give seed TO the sowe
and bread 10 the eaier. SO shall 10
word be that goeih forth out Of m
mouth; It shall not return unto me VOID
hut it shall accomplish that which
please, and it shall prosper in the thin
vhereto | send it"-Isaiab ", L L
This is the Lords plan TO suppress .es
OF whatsoever description. and ate
men are taught up to this point, where
the necessity Of adding another laW, az
It human law, in the hsrgsin2 Th
Lord wants men to act from principle
.hsving the mind enlightened, otherwis
it will he according TO sthe old ndae'
Convert q man against his will and b
is Of the came opinion still frohibl
tion meal not TO remove the iempiatio
but 10 hold men in check just as Go
said unto Adam. "And the Lord Go
commanded the man, saving, Of ever
ttee OF the gardenthou mavest freely eat
but Of The tree OF knowledge. Of goo
and evil thou shalt net eat IT IL; for o
the Day that thou Gates. thereof tho