The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-05-12

their premnturely old countenance, who
would have been in the house OF God this
morning a5 we'll clad nS you had 1t not
hcen that strong drink drove their parents
down into pcnury and then down into the
grave. Oh, yum, rum, thou despoiler Of
homes, thou foe OF God, thou recruiting
officer OF the pit hate thee!
Eut my subject takes II deeper tone when
1t tells YOU that the inebriate suffers the
loss of the soul. The Bible intimutes that
il we go into the future world unforgiven
the appetitcS aud passions which were
rcsnant here will torment us there. / sup
pos" when the inebriate wakes up in the
lost wCrld there will be an infinite thirst
clnwing upon him. In this world he could
gct strong drink. However poor he was
in this world, lie could beg or he could
steal five cents to get drink that would
for a little while slnkc his thirst, hut in
eternity where will the rum come from?
Dives wanted one droi; or water, but could
not get it, Where will the inebriute get
the draft lie so much requires, so much de-
mands! No one to brew it. No one to
mix Il. No one to pour it. No one. 20
fetch H. Millions OF worlds now for the
hrcgs that were thrown on tho sawdusteI
floor OF the restaurant. Millions Of worlds
now for the rind flung out from the puuc!
bowl Of an earthly banquet. Dives called
Tor water. The incbrate calls for rum
II n iiend from the lost world should come
up on n mission to srogshop and, having
finished he mission in the grogshop, should
come bnck, taking on the tip OF his wing
one drop OF alcoholic beverage, what cX-
element 1t would make all through tho
world OF the lost, and, If that one drop of
alcoholic beverage should drop from the
wing OF the ilend upon the tongue OF the
inrbrate, how lie would spring up and cry:
That's II! That's 1t! Rum! Rum! That's
it!' And all the cavcrns Of the lost would
echo with the cry: "Give it to me! Rum!
Rum!' ALI, my friends, the inchriate's sor-
row In the next world will not be the alb
sence Of God or holiness or light; it will be
the absence OF rum. "Look not upon the
wine when 1t is red, when 1t moveth itself
alright in the cup, for at the last it biteth
like u serpent, and 1t stingeth like an ad-
der"
Bat I must not dwell on Gcneraliiics;
must come to specifies. Arc you nstray?
If there Is any sermon dislike, 1t is II SER
Are you astrnyf Have you gone so far you
think You cannot get back? Did 1 say Il
Few moments ago that II man might 20 to
point In inehriation where he could not
stop? Yes, j said ii, and i reiterate 1t.
But want you also to understand that
whilo he man himself, OF his own strength,
:annot stop, God can stop any man.
You have only to lay hold of the strong
arm OF the Lord God Almighty. He can
stop You. Many summers ago l went
over TO New York ono Sabbath oven
inc-our church not yet being open for
tho nntumna services. l went into Il
| room in til" Fourth Ward, New York
where n religious service was being
held for reformed drunkards. and
heard revelation that night that had
never heard bcfore-iiftecn or.twenty men
standing up and giving testimony such rs
! had never heard given. They not only
| testified that their hearts had been changed
by the grace OF God, but that the grace of
God had rXtinguishcd their thirs'. They
went on to say that thcv had reformed at
different times before, but Immediately
| inllen, because they were doing the whole
work III their own strength. But rs soon
| as We gave our hearts to God" they said,
"and the love OF the Lord Jesus Christ has
come into our soul the thirst has all gone.
W" have no more disposition for strong
drink"
On, If you could only hear intemperance
with hrunkards' bones drumming on the
| :pp Of the wine cask tho Dead March" of
immortal souls, you would go home and
kneel down and prny God that rather than
your chiIdrcn should ever become the
| victims OF this evil habit you might chrry
| them out to the cemetery and put them
| town In The last slumber. waiting for the
| flowers Of spring to come over the gravs--
| sweet prophecies OF the resurrection. God
hath Il balm for such wound, but what
Hover Of comfort ever grew on the blasted
heath oi u drunkard's sepulchcr?