Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-12

''lOok not upon the wine when it il red,
when it mOveth itself Alright 10 the cup
ljr at the last, it biteth like serpent and
it stiugeth like an adder. 4"
Bat / want in conclusion TO cay one
thing personal, for l do not like sermon
that has no personalities in it. Perhaps
this hsa net mad that fanlt already. l
want to say to those who are the victims
of strong drink, that while | declare that
there was "a point beyond which a man
could not stop, | want to tell you that
while a man cannot stop in his own
strength, the Lord God, by his grace. can
help him to stop at any time. Years Ego
vas in a rOom 10 New York where there
WsTe many men who had been reclaimed
from drunkenness. heard their testimo.
nv, and for the first time in my life there
flashed ont truth I never understood.
They said: I'VE we're victims of strong
dnok. We tried to give it mp, but always
failed; but somehow, SINGS we gave our
hearts to Christ, he has taken care
.Of us." | believe that the time
will soon come when the grace
Of God viii show its pOwer here not only
10 save mans soul, but his body, and re-
construct, purify, elevate and redeem il.
verify believe that, although you feel
graphing at the roots of your tongues an
slm0st OmuipOtent thirst, if you will this
moment give your heart to God he will
help you, by his grace, to conquer. Try
it. 1t is your last chance. l have looked
often upon the desolation. Sitting under
10y ministry there are people in awful
peril from strong drink, and, judging from
ordinary circumstances, there is not one
chance in five thousand that they will get
clear Of il. l see men in this congrega-
lion of whom | must make the remark
that, if they do not change their course,
within ten years they will, as 10 their
bodies, lie down in drunkards' graves;
and as TO their souls, lie down in dunk
ards perdiIion. know that it is
AN AwGUL THING TO SAY,
bat can't help saying it. Oh, beware!
You have not yet been captured. Beware!
As ye open the door of your wine closet
to day, may that decanter flash out upon
You. Beware and when you pour the
beverage into the glass, in the foam at the
top, in the white letters, let there be
spelled out TO your soul, "BewaIew When
the books Of Judgment are open, ard ten
million drunkards come up TO get their
doom, want you to bear witness that l
to cay, in the fear Of God, and In the love
for your sOul, told you with sll affection,
and with all kindness, TO beware of that
which has already exerted its influence
upon yoar family, blowing out some of its
lights-a premonition of the blscsness Of
darkness forever. Oh. if you could Ouly
hear this moment, Intempsrauce with
dT1nkGrd's bones drumming on the head Of
the wine c2sk the Dead March of immor-
tai souls, meshinks the very glance of q
wine cup would make you shudder, and
the color of the liquor would make you
think of the blood OF the soul, and the
foam on the top Of the cup would remind
you of the froth on the maniacs lip, and
you would 90 home from this service and
kneel down and pay God that, rather
than your children should become captives
of this evil habit. you would like to carry
them out some bright spring day to the
cemetery and put them away to the last
sleep, until the call OF the south wind the
tlJTers would come up al over the grave
swee- prophecies Of the resurrection. God
has a balm for such wound; bat what
flower Of comfort ever grew on the blasted
heath of a druukard'e sepu!cheI?