The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-07

k'sSfssSSS
they should say on the matter of wine
drinking. II they solemnly and con.
tinually protest against drunkenness, and
it is found that such wine as men now
drink is always injurious to health and
destructive of self control. 80 that drunk.
enness is apt to result from the most
cautious use Of it, Their entire abstinence
is duty. lfthey teach us to have re.
gard to the welfare of our fellows and to
deny ourselves luxury or pleasure for
their benefit, We must abstain from wine
as beverage in case our use of it would
lead them to peril. If they teach us to
have tender regard for tile consciences
OF our brethren, who may believe that
total abstinence is duty. but might be
tempted by our example, to drink, we
should, perhaps, refrain for their sakes.
II they require US to love our ncighbor
as ourself. and we are convinced that
wine drinking is and must he a great
evil in modern society, We surely ought
to abstain from the practice. If they
leave us free to drink no wine, unless it
be at the holy supper, ond in remem.
brance Of the Lords death, VIC need not
hesitate to follow the nsrrow way OF
total abstinence for the good of all. But
when the morbid consciences of good
men summon us to impeach the Lords
wisdom, or to talnper with evidence for
the sake of saying that the fruit of the
vine.' used by Him was unfermented
grape juice. it is time to pause aud COLI
slider whether our own consciences have
not some right to he heard. When
ardent men profanely say that if Jesus
used wine having alcohol in it lie was
unworthy of place in one of our
churches, it is time to protest against the
short-sighted omnlscience of modern re.
formers"
AS already stated, DR.. Hovey is at the
head of a leading Baptist Theological ILL.,
stitution, and has the confidence of
Christians for scholarship and piety.
Dr. Hamilton. an NJ. Z. minister in
Brooklyn, n. y, is reported as having
said i'll a temperance address, in 1887:
"1f Jesus would apply for admission to
membership in our congregation. should
refuse him OH the ground of his drink.
ing wine !" Is this not an illustration Of
''morbid consciences" and ardent men
profanely," etc., etc? Reader. which
will you follow, the men and women of
"morbid consciences" or the men quoted
above?
ga more excellent way" that of
education. As moral reformers our
sphere is not that Of the legislator, max.
ing laws, nor that of the city marshal or
county sheriff. enforcing law, but that of
Christian educators, understanding that
whom we would influence are primarily
heads and hearts. Every Christian is or
ought to be moral reforlner, and his
method ought to be, not coercive, but
persuasive. This was the method of
Paul WHO was perhaps the most success
full moral reformer that ever lived. Said
he. 2 Cor. SILL. "Knowing therefore the
terror Of the Lord we persuade men," 1t
is true that the persuasive is more
difficult method than the coercive, but it
is also true that the persuasive is more
fruitful in good results than the ceercive.
That free and intelligent people can be
driven only to rebellion is the unanimous
testimony Of the ages. Tie old fashion.
ed fcrule may be applied ever SO vigor.
ously to the hairy side offs live boys
skull, but this will not make him q "total
abstainer" from his youthful pranks.
Francis Murphy, the well known tenn
perance lecturer, says: II know of no.
thing that can save you but mercy. Just
remember that, and remember that am
not finding fault with any other method
Of saving mer, but officers cannot reach
the appetite. While it is well to under
take to do certain things by acts of legis-
lature there are things that the legisla-
turc cannot do, and it is no use to try.
The law does not save men. If Moses
could have saved by law lie would have
been the Christ, and there would have
been no need for another Saviour. Now
remember that Christ never went after
man with city marshal, but with the
grace of God"
Senex Smith says: II have seen the
wind blowing against the current of q
river. Little wavelcts play over the sur.
face, and the child claps its hands and
cries. The river is going up stream But
the depths are not touched by the wind,
and even the wavelets OH the surface are
carried downward in spite of the wind.
So with our efforts to arrest this river of
death which is sweeping so many souls
away. 1t is chlld's play to make ripples
and clap our hands. We must take the
Gospel Of Christ, the only reforming
power in the world, and plant it deeply,
by toll and prayer, in the hearts of men.
When this is done the drunkard will be-
come sober man, and the drunkard
maker will quit his terrible trade with
horror and remorse."
But is it not shamefully true that hun.
dreds and thousands of dollars of the
Lords money that should find its way
into the treasures Of the various Chris.
tian churches to be devoted to bring this
J Gospel to the hearts and consciences Of
, men in home and foreign lands are an.
, nually wasted in vain efforts TO convert
the clergy of this nation to a "third
. party" No more hopeless work than
this can well he imagined. 1t is seldom
we hear of the conversion of clergy.
man. 1t is schooner we ought to hear Of
sucli an event.
My dear Christian fricnds-Prollibi.
tionists and Anti Prol,ibitionists- il
not seem rs if those who thus misapply
and squander their Lords money have
more faith in I'LL "arm of flesh" than they
have in 'the Gospel of Christ" which
"is the power of God unto salvation"-
salvation from sin, and, therefore, from
intemperance. Human codes are 'tl,e
wind blowing against the current of the
river" leaving the depths untouched.
But the Gospel dries up "this river Of
death" to its lowest bed. Send this Cos.
pei to those who have it not. Commend