The Newtown bee., 1896-05-08
Local Affairs
WHAT Is CHRISTIAN TEMPER
 ANCE?

The tcmp".arcr gac~tiuu is aa cld as l the race, get i, j, ever new and always Will he until, discaIdjug license com promises, it is settled furaiI tmr and set 1 tied right A this naji,n c"uld not cu
 .ju.r hslf dave and half free, no moro can it cudur" helf drunk and hall sober
 This mumcutous qur~Cioa will be haI way on the rnad to settlement when tho rhurch of God is uuaujmou- for the uth, tue wLolc truth and uothtrE but .he truth as it is in Jesus. Bu5 the church is composed of units. lC is by the growth of units, "i yourself and ny self, in the truth that the mass is to bt pcrmcatcd and controlled. God give me grace to show and you to read the in- sight and acceptance of the truth, for whose acceptance or rejection we must one day give account.
 We cannot ignore this burning issue of the day and be guiIylcss before God. This is the effort If many profcased Christian teachers, atl0at upon the stormy TN tlb-L s OA NOAAClt l"f Otl -S-LtN Et.L Atl4h If their own. Temperance and other vi- tal issues of the day are thrust aside by
 heir hobby. It is a favorite device of the Enemy of Souls toroufusc the DO, pie of God, setting truth in array against truth, dspIaciug thristlihc effort for per -onal good of ucjghbors with hate bcgct- ting argument, or self advancing procIa maricn of cgoti.tjc ha,f-truths. No one can justly deny the truth and necessity of the blessed foundations of Scripture. They have their proper place and con- spicuous among them all stand forth the solemn words of Ez kjrl NNNtII, , 5. No warrhman cau escape penalty whose personal ease or indulgence, whose love of popularity or shameless indifference lead him to ignore the vices of his day that are engulfng innocent youth, ven erable age, honorable manhood and beau tiful womanhood.
 A dangerous rock on which satan wrecks many temperance principles is that of personal right or liberty. Our destiny, both for that world which now is and that which is to come, hinges on individual choice. We can go to Heaven and help to people the city of golden streets, or we can swell the ranks of those without" where are 'd0gs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and mur- derers and dolaters and whOsoever lov- eth and maketh lie" Of the last class none are so subtle and dangerous as wolves in she2ps' clothing "that put darkness for light and light for dark ness." It is not .'whosuever must" but "whosoevcr will" Truth is for our re- iection or acceptance, temperance truth as truly as any other. This is true in q certain sense of indulgence in habits of debatable character. We can drink, or we can fOrsWear alcoholic beverages. We can puff cigars and cigarettes, or we can escape the nicotine example and in- lection. We can keep @ mistress, or we can establish homes that God can bless and whose issue shall multiply the bless ings of coming generations. We are free moral agents. God sets before us good and evil and their consequences and bids us choose between them. How are we choosing between temperance good and evil?
 But is a Christian permitted free choice of evil? He is no longer under law, but under grace. "Be not deceived; neither fornicatOrs, nor idolaters, nor aduIterers, nor etfeminate, ,nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor Ievilers, nor extor- tioners shall inherit the kingdom of God" Christ fulfilled the law; he did not destroy 1t. He removed it from the realm of the mere outward act to en- throne it in the inward motive. Hence forth he that ''looketh on & woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" Christ revealed liberty higher than that of personal right-self denial for others good. "Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" i've, then, that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. For even Christ came not to please himself" "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord" He who came s'to minister and to give his life ransom for many" expects self denial of those who also take up the cross. Love shirks no obligation, but counts it highest priv ilege for His dear sake. The law was ob- ligation, fThou shalt, erbou shalt not 2