The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-05

per hand Of you; that you will never
allow this evil habit to conquer and
enslave you, and that you can stop
whenever you want to. Ii that be
true, let me abjure you, for the sake
of everything that is valuable to you
in this world, and for the sake of
everything that you hope for in the
next, stop. Stop while you may and
where you can. Some of the most
gifted men of the age have felt at one
time as you now feel, and went on and
on. But alas! they discovered at last
to their shame and sorrow that they
could not extricate themselves from
the deadly coils of this hellish serpent.
Many strong men have been slain by
her. Its polluted hands are stained
this very day with the blood of great
men-men of superior minds-men
that one day stood in the front ranks
in state and church. The drinking
habit has such a force, such charm
over many of our fellow beings, that
it seems useless to present to their
minds any consideration whatever, to
induce them to make an effort to dis
entangle themselves, and depart from
it. Let me relate to you little his
tory. | once knew a young man that
was brought up within twenty miles
of this place In his youth he was a
noble character, man that not only
professed religion but seemed to adhere
most faithfully to its glorious princi-
pies, made himself useful as Sabbath
School teacher and & jealous temper
ance worker. He went to Cincinnati,
engaged in business there, and in a
few years succeeded beyond his expec-
tation. As he was man of marked
ability, he was elected an elder in the
church; and it seemed that no better
choice could be made. But somehow,
I know not how, he was induced to
take his beer. 1t wasn't very long till
he was seen one night coming to his
home drunk His case was brought
before the church. With fearful eyes
he admitted the fact, and in the pres
ence of God and the church he made
fair promises in regard to the future.
But, like Samson, his strength was
gone. He fell again and again. He
tried hard to disentangle and liberate
himself, but failed in his attempt, and
at last he realized the awful fact that
by indulging in strong drink he had
bound himself with cords that he
could not break. l saw that man
weeping like child. At last he was
given up to hopelessness, and [ was
told by brother minister that he had
told him that he had no inclinations
whatever to leave his evil habit and
his miserable life, and so he ended his
mad career. By indulging in this sin
full habit, the man sacrifices the health
of his body, the comforts of his family
his social responsibility, his natural
life and the everlasting happiness OF
his immortal soul. At present it may
charm you, but remember, as true as
God liveth, "At the last it biteth like
a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. y
Let me entreat you most sincerely, my
dear friend, to make up your mind at
once to sign the pledge and by help of
God to keep it. Be decided upon this
matter. 1 once read of heather king
who had been for years confirmed in
the sin of drunkenness, but had been
led to forsake the habit. He said to a
missionary: Suppose you put $4,000
in one hand and glass Of rum in the
other. You say, You drink this rum,
l give you four thousand dollars l
no drink it. You say you kill me. l
no drink it." That is the kind of de-
cision we need to withstand the temp
tations to indulge in this sinful and
destructive habit.