The Newtown bee., 1898-04-01

them. And 1t will not save US. In this
great danger is found the claims Of total
abstinence. And it is the claims OF
reason, of wisdom and of our highe st
good. 1t is the claims of religion and
the Bible. There is no need of discuss
ing the nature of Bible wine or the use
of wine in those days when that was the
strongest kind Of Intoxicating liquors.
What we say is, that the principles con-
tanned in the text demand of Us, in this
age of the world, in this climate, with all
the dangers from distilled as we'll as
fermented liquor S, from adulterated and
drugged as well as pure liquors, that we
should avoid the danger by abstaining
entirely from this needless indulgence.
Even in the Bible times there was need
OF this warning, "Look not thou upon
the wine. At the last it biteth like a
serpent and stingeth like an adder -
and there are warnings all the way
through the Bible against being over
come with wine. But imagine the
prophets to be living at the present time,
and we can think how they would apply
this principle, and warn US against the
dangers of drink. Imagine the Apostle
Paul to be living to-day, land we can think
how he would apply this principle as he
reasoned of Righteousness, temperance
and dgment to come"
THE WHOLE SPIRIT OF THE BIBLE DE
MANDs
that we take the only safe course.
But this principle has an application in
respect to our relations to others. We
are not only to avoid danger to our ,elves
but also to others. No man has a right
to live for himself alone. We are to
seek the good OF others. And no man
can live to himself alone so as not to
effect the lives of others. Our lives, our
example,, are exertipg an influence upon
others which will be helpful or Injurious
Our duties to others demand of US that
we should OF needlessly expose them to
danger. II anything not essential in
itself shall lead others into sin and
danger we are to abstain from it for their
sakes. Christ says, Whose shall offend
one of these little ones which believe in
me-" that is, cause them TO fall into sin,
''it were better for him that milestone
were hanged about his neck and that he
were drowned in the depths of the sea-
IL by any means we could know that in
our case there would be no danger from
moderate drinking, yet for the sake of
others who are in danger from our ex-
ample. we should deny ourselves from
this Indulgence. There can be no wav
to save those who surely would fall
under the power of appetite, only as
others abstain from this indulgence.
But there can he no such thing as draw
ing the beforehand between those who
would fall victims to appetite and those
who would not. Only the sad expert
ences will reveal the fact. The father
may drink moderately all his life and
never become drunkard, but he may
see his children ruined as the re suit of
his own example.
HOW MANY FATHERS HAVE MOURNED
over the ruin of their sons which would
not have taken place but for their ex-
ample and influence. And how many
ruined men can see the starting point 10
their career in following the example of
one they trusted. Should not the possi-
bility of producing such results upon
others be sufficient reason for taking
the safe course2 And how much more
more when the possibility is changed in
60 a strong probability? IL the popular
sentiment be in favor of moderate drink
ing, then many will be ruined who other
wise might have been saved from such
result. How many parents have sacri.
feed their children upon the altar of in.
not Intentionally but none
the less surely. How much bette- that
death itself had taken away those they
loved. 1t il not matter which concerns
ones self alone, but that of others, and
often of those most closely connected by
the ties OF affection, when we consider the
claims of total abstinence. The good
Of others, the welfare of those who are
Influenced Dy our example is of SO much
greater importance than any mere in.
diligence, that we might well deny our
selves for their sakes, even II we knew
hat no harm would come to ourselves.
But this we do not know. And the dam
ger both 30 ourselves and to others en-
forces the words Of the text. s Look not
;hou upon the wine when il is red, when
1 giveth his color In the cup, when 1T
goeth down smoothly. AT the last it