The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-11

And sting like viper.
O. Time and Place.
The Book of Proverbs was written by Solo
mon about 900 years before Christ.
g. The Aathor Solomon.
Son of David-third King of Judah and Ben
iamin-very learned-writer of Proverbs, Ec-
clcsiastes, Cantice, and Psalm-greatly expe-
rienced.
a. Ten Characteristics Of htemperance.
We have stated here several of the serious
effects of drunkenness:
/. Woe. %.
2 Sorrow. 20.
3. Contentious %.
a. Babbiing. %. Perverse things. 80.
5. Wounds. 90. Biteth; stingeth. 3d.
6. Reduess of eyes 20.
Z. Lust &c.
g. Inconsistencies of danger 81.
9. Inconsistencies of pain and disgrace. 80.
10. Loss of self-control. 30.
Notes.
/. Woe 90 The word carries the idea of
extreme distress. Such is the lot of the drunk
ard. What folly then, to use liquors for
drowning trouble. The poet Burns had high
appreciation of Scotch whisky, and SO declares !:
"'Twill make man forget his woe''
But it also causes him to forget himself; to
forget his business to forget his family; to for
get all sense of obligation. But it is only q
brief oblivion, TO be followed by fearful con-
sciousness. Then every woe is magnifed.
Woes forgotten are yet woes. They leave ter
rible marks. Further, we are not only to con-
slider the woes so far they relate to the merely
physical, but the woes also resulting from Gods
opposition to such evil and the accountability
at the final Judgment of human conduct. Us,
Sill, ~; Hab., g: 5; Prov, 20: /; %: 20;
Eph., 5:l8)
| 2 Sorrow 90 It Is supposed we are to
! Il - II IL L
ard, producing pain of heart, utter misery
of conscience, deprivation. Drunkards lose
health. money, friends self-respect, confidence
of community, character, happiness
3. Contentious. 90. Intenperance leads to
brawls, quarreling. Bitter words are spoken,
| leading to blows. At times deadly weapons
are used, and so we read of murders.
A. Babbling. %. DIR. J. r. Kendrck says
| the meaning is trouble or soiicitude, mental
| agitation resulting from prostration and un-
| strung nerves" One in such a condition would
not be coherent with his tongue. DR.. Conant
renders, complaining. We read in verse SO,
| Thine heart shall utter pervcrse things" !;
that is to say, thou wilt, from thy heart under
| the influence Of drunken mind, speak per-
/ verse words. Perverse words-K endrick,
| "driveling nonsense. or raving wickedness."
| s. Wounds. %. Then in V. 80 we find him
| bitten and stung wounds in good encounters
add to a mans repute. Quarreling generally
has red eyes t29), but often black and blue eyes.
| Wounds without wounds without
| any iustfiabe cause-wounds received in
| groaudless disputes.
| The comparison OF final results of intemper-
| ance to the bite of serpent and the sting of an
| adder show the horrible consequences to body,
| mind and soul. Conscience IS involved. 1t
burns like the poison of an asp injected into
/ the human body. At "last." 1927 1t seemed
| delightful at first, but at last! wise man
! must consider the end as we'll as the beginning
! of every course of action adopted by him.
G. Richness of eyes. A reference TO the
| bloolshot appearance of drunkard's eyes.
| Alcohol first quelSens the circulation of the
| blood but this state of things gives way gradu-
ally to the opposite as the blood vessels become
permanently diIated. This accounts for the
red and fiery appearance OF the drunkard's
| eyes and nose"
There may be reference ase to the general
| infamed condition of the entire physical sys-
TEN, especially the stomach, of which the
redness of the eyes is an indication. lisa.
| SHY
T. Lust. &c. The sin of intemperance may
be classed under the Sixth Commandment.
The evil is killing, numbering, in special, self
destruction. But the evil involves also the
Seventh Commandment. Wine and lust are
concomi tants
8. Inconsistencies of danger 81. drunk
en- man has idea of the fitness of things.
| Sense of possible harm is lost. One lies on the
railroad track and is killed. Another lies in
the field and is frozen to death. Another lies
! on luggage and is rolled into the sea.
| 9. Inconsistencies of pain, abuse etc. 30. We
| have seen men drunk receiving the greatest
indignites insulted and hooted at by boys re-
| peatedly struck by stones or sticks. There
| seemed insensibility to shame and pain.
was not sick" practically means, as just below,
II felt it not" All sense of manhood, dignity,
self-respect was gone. prov, 81: %; Jer., 5:
3; Eph., 49,
10. Loss of self-control. 3d. The will is
gone. The cannot resist temptation.
Consciousness does not assert itself. (DeU., 20:
49, Isa., 90: 12; Jer, 2: %.
5. Illustrations.
We quote the two following: "There was q
wonderful truth taught in the goblet which the
genius of heather fashioned. Having made
"a model of a serpent he fixed it in the bottom
Of the cup Coiling for the spring. pair OF
cleaning eyes N its head, and in its open
| mouth fangs raised to strike, it lay beneath the
ruby wine.
lie who raised the cup to his lips to quench
his thirst aud quaf the wine, could pot see
what lay beneath. till, he reached the dregs,
that dreadful head rose up and glisteued before
| his eyes. So when life's cup is nearly empted,
and SINS last pleasure quaffed, and the bitter
dregs are being drained, shall rise the CHASTITY
terrors of remorse, and death, and judgment
upon the despairing soul. BE assured. SER
pent turks at the bottom of quilts sweetest
pleasure"
"Ihers is legend abroad of someone OF
| whom it was foretold that she would die of a
| serpeuts bite. The father. to keep her away
| from that, built a castle far out in the sea. lie
said no serpent could crawl there; bnt one day
Il boat came under the castle. and the daughter
saw grapes in it, and. letting down a rope, she
got the grapes. and was eating them when she
| found serpent eutwined in the clusters. Ii
stung her and she died Sin may seem luscious
aud ripe, and to have all the wealth of the
vineyard. but at the last it biteth like SER
peat, and stingelh like adder Oh have
nothing co do with its approaches. 1t promises
yon a robe: it will eover you with rags. 1t
offers you chalice Of luxurious beverage; ii
will fill you with wornwood. 1t promises you
IA throne; ii will drive Yon into = kennel"
&. Suggestions
TIE two great thoughts OF this lesson are
temperance and purity. The paragraph add
dresses itself IN particular to young men.
]. Purity.
Several s0eie,ics doing excellent work.
We notice Tho Society for the suppression OF
Vice. The White Cross, The Christian League.