National Baptist world., 1894-09-28
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
FOR THE SAKE OF SELF.
One OF the Strongest Reasons Why We
Should Not Drink Intoxicants.

FOR THE SAKE OF SELF.
One of the Strongest Reasons Why We
Should Not Drink Intoxicants.
A self-forgetful regard for the well
rare OF others which prompts Chris
tlan to deny himself harmless indul-
gence, or to restrain himself in an al
1owable liberty, in order to be of serv-
Ice to those who might be grieved or
injured by his examples is worthy of all
praise. And there are opportunities
for every Christian to exercise this COM
mendable virtue, in various spheres of
personal influence
But, in matters where the thing in
question is either of intrinsic evil or
beset with peculiar perils, a Christians
he can with propriety, for his oaon sake
as well as for the sake of others. If,
indeed, in such a natter, he credits his
restraint to a self-denying consider
ateness of others, he may be inclined
to limited and temporary indul-
gence when he is quite by himself, or
is in circle where his example is not
likely to be injuriously operative on
others. It becomes. therefore, impor-
tant to understand what habits or oc-
cupations or amusements are to be alb
stained from on ones own account,
even if others might fairly be left out
of the question.
Take, for example, the moderate use
of Intoxicating liquors. Waving en-
tlrely the question of intrinsic evil in
such use, or even admitting this use as
within the scope of Christian liberty.
and the question still remains to every
Christian, is it right and proper for me
to indulge in this use. in view cf evi-
dent perils, and OF my duty of consid-
ering my own safety, as well As my
personal example? If, indeed. a duty
were laid OF God upon every Christian
to use Intoxicating drinks as a bever
age, whether he wants them or not,
then, we should have no alternative
but to go forward and take the risks.
1t will however, be admitted by
the most Jealous advocates Of
moderate drinking. that no. specific
command in the Bible enioins such
drinking on every body: and that the
Christian liberty OF the i}ible includes
the liberty of letting liquor alone,
if we find that it is not a safe
thing for ourselves. This being the
case, it is well for us all to weigh care
fully the exceptional risks of wine
drinking, to persons of our own peculiar
characteristics and temperament and
circumstances. as illustrated in the
course Of those who have gone before
us in the path of life we are treading;
and then to decide as to the claims on
ourselves of total abstinence for our
own sakeS.
On what ground can man claim, in
view of the example of others. that he
may count himself fairly safe in the
moderate use of Intoxicating bever-
ages? Does he reckon on his brain
power. and his intellectual attainments
and vigor? Men vastly superior to him
self in that very sphere have-as he
can not but knoW-been often over
come by intemperance, when they
purposed only moderation. Indeed, it
is directly affirmed by high med
ical authority, that brain-workers
are peculiarly liza ble to be swept into
intemperance if they venture on the
use of alcoholic stimulants. And the
world of intellect is full of instances of
ruined genius through an inability to
resist the temptations of excess in
drink. Is it the power of his own
strong will, that one rests on for his
control of appetite. as he ventures on
limited indulgence in this line? Be-
fore his very eyes, men Of more strong
1y marked will-power than he would
think of claiming as his own, have been
openly proved incapable of moderation
in drinking, when they departed from
the bounds of abstinence
There are well-l1nown historic exam
plies, in our own land and day of men
of iron will and of preeninent deter
mination found helpless j. a strug-
gle with the foe which this man thinks
can be safely grappled by himself.
Perhaps, however, he rests on Gods
grace to sustain him. if he dclibera tely
incurs a special risk without com
mandment thereto. He must surely
admit, or at all events his friends
must admit for him, that men who
have seemed even purer. hOlier, more
godly, and more reliant on divine help,
than himself, have become drunkards,
even within the limits of his own gem
Grafton. The Christian abstainer who
stands firmly on a place of assured
safety, even at the temples pinnacle,
NAV we'll shrink from tempting the
Lord his God by yielding his foothold
there, in the hope that holy angels
will be sent to bear him up in his mid
air fight toward the drupkard's Gehen-
ua.-Sunday School Times