The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
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tary on the Lesson.
29 "Who." A divine commission to ever,
man to Investigate the prevailing cause oil
woe and sorrow and strife, and thus be de.
tered from taking the wrong course In
life. Robinson calls this lesson the
! drunkard'S looklng-glass, set before those
whose face Is toward the drunkard' s
habits, so that they may see what they will
be II they go on. "Hath woe." What space
would be needed to record the names OF all
who could truthfully say 81" to this cues.
tion! Woe" Direful distress; both the
condemnation for a sin committed and u
certain awful condition for suffering. Sin
OF all kinds brings its own punishment,
but there Ia no sin which so speedily and
relentlessly pursues Its victim US the sin OF
drunkenness. The drunkard has woes Of
body and woes Of mind; woss In himself,
woes In his family; pains, diseases, pow
erty, and all without alterations. Who
hath SORROW" The Hebrew word means,
first, poverty and then misery. The drunk
ard has sorrow OF his own making. The
cup contains more than one woe; u single
sorrow Is not all. These are so numerous
as to call forth a constant and long-con-
tlnued cry OF anguish. "Who hath conten-
two questions will also respond to this.
Nine-tenths Of all the brawls aud fights,
quarrels and misunderstandlng5 ure trace
able to drink. "Who hath babbllng." This
refers to the tendency OF strong drink to
foolish and incessant talking, revealing
secrets, vile conversation and noisy de-
monstrations, which are common In differ
ent stages OF drunkenness. The word Is
now comm only regarded rs meaning sor-
rowful complaint; for example, over the
exhausted purse, the neglected work, the
nj ha mi n foh n n
strength. Nothing goes right with the
drinker. He complains OF God, OF society,
Of his family, Of his circumstances, OF
everything. Nothing can be right to one
who Is thus wrong. Wounds Without
cause" Wounds received in wholly un-
profitable disputes, such as come Of the
brawls OF drunken men. Drinkers arc
especially exposed to accidents and dis
eases which temperance would have pre-
vented. "Redness OF eyes," Bloodsnot.
blurred, or bleared eyes. Gen. 40: IL. Al
cohol induces q paralysis OF the nerves
controlling the minute blood-vessels, the
capillarfes, which results In dilatton that
speedily shows itself in the eye. In his
step and in his eye the drunk shows the
secret OF his sin.
30. "They that tarrY long ut the wlne."
This answers the above questions. He who
begins to drink continues to drink, tarry-
W
day and night. They that Co." To places
or among people where intoxicating drinks
are made or Stored or used. "MIxed wlne."
Spiced, drugged, medlcated wine, the in
toxlcatin9 power OF which Is increased by
the infusion Of drugs and spices. Such
men drink the cup OF costly death. The
chemical analysis OF the liquors used by
the people In this country shows that they
drink alcohol arsenic, alum. aloes, bitter
a, a., o1,ot oha ou
culus indlcus, copperas, gypsum, henbane,
opium, oil OF vitrol, oil OF juniper, oil OF
surpentine, tobacco, sugar Of lead, resin,
etc.
81. "Look not thou upon the wIne." T.is
prohibits moderate drinking. Do not put
yourselfin the way of. emptation. He who
goes freely into temptation Is already more
than half fallen. "When 1t Is red." The
bright color OF the wine gives It an attrac.
tive look and adds to it3 fascination and
its danger. "When 1t glveth its color In
the cup" Literally, its eye, the clear
brightness. or the beaded bubbles, on which
the wlne.drinker looks with pleasure:
verse pictures the attractive side OF wine,
when it seems perfectly harmless 10 sip q
little, when It Is bright and inspiring, thrill
ing the nerves With delight, promising all
ioy and freedom. It Is the shining side OF
evil that Is so dapgerous-thls lowery en-
trance to the path that leads to death. -.
80. cat last 1t biteth." TIE pleasure will
be attended at last with intolerable pains,
when. 1t works like 30 much poison In thy
veins and casts thee into diseases as hard
to cure as the biting CT serpent. Its
effects are opposite to It's pleasures. Its
only beauty is when It sparkles In the cup.
It can only harm the one who ventures to
enjoy its pleasure. Then It bites; sends
its poison beyond your reach. Its only
end and purpose is ruin.
SO. "Thine eyes shall behold strange
women" The loving wife will be forgot
ten and her goodness despised, and evil
desires spring up to fill her place with
others, or to go from her with others who
have fallen into the same pit OF drunken
ness as yourself. Homes are broken up as
the result OF strong drink. The tears and
pleadtngs OF the devoted wife are spurned,
and the dance-hall Is sought, where WON.
On are dressed to suit the eyes OF wicked
men, and where natural affection Is over
thrown, and cruel list rules.
81. Gas he that lleth down In tue midst
OF the sea-" To make ones bed on the
waves Of the sea would be to be swallowed
up in death. So Is the drunken man. Or
as pilot who has gone to sleep when bis
ing the tiller to slip out OF his hand, and
his ship to be swamped with the waves
which he might have outrldden. Stupehed,
besotted men know not where they are or
what they are doing, and when they lie
down they are as II tossed by the rolling
waves OF the sea, or upon the top ora
mast. Their heads swim. Their sleep Is
dIsquiet, and troublesome dreams make
sleep unrefreshing. Upon the top 2i g
mast" The drunkard IL utterly regardless
OF life. He Is as one falling asleep clasplng
must either fall down upon the deck and
be dashed in pieces, or fall into the sea
and be drowned.
IS. "They have stricken me ..and l
was not hurt" With consclences scared
and self.respect gone, the drunkard bousts
Of the things which should make him blush
with shame. Because he did not feel the
hurt OF his wounds he cares not for the
scars. He thinks himself fortunate to be
any alarm for his unfeeling soul, that has
no thought Of Gods great mercy In sparlng
bis life In his helpless moments. 'They
have beaten me. II felt 1t not" Angry
companions have done their worst to end
my lie, says he, but their blows did not
affect me. "When shall awake? I will
seek 1t again." Rather when shall awake
I will seek 1t again. Self-contfol Is all
gone. The drunkard is slave to appetite.
He is as insensIble to the pleadings and
warnings OF those who seek his salvation
US he Is to the beatings OF his comrades
when he is delirious. One OF the greatest
punishments OF drunkenness is this insat-
liable appetite that, in spite OF warnings,
and In the face OF all consequences turns
the drunkard to his cup again.