The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-23
WORLDS TEMPERANCE
 LESSON.
Isa. v. 11-23.

Introduction-The idea of worldwide lesson on temperance, or rather lntem- perance for the children and youth Of our Sunday schools, cannot be too highly commended It is a pity, however. that the committee in selecting the Scripture to be studied included so much, verses to 3o large part Of which has notn- ing to do with the subject. In this expo sition a mere limited passage is, there fore, taken, and a part even of this IS only indirectly appropriate. By compar- ing verses Il and IF, it will be seen. how ever, that the drink habit was in the writer's thought throughout. Separate sins never flourish alone. They all orig inate in carnality Gal V, 19-2D. when one appears the others are present, al- though. possibly concealed. In depicting the woful condition of the drunkard, the prophet calls attention to those things which result from or accompany thls vice, grow with 1t, feed upon it, and In turn support 1t. One serpent thrusting out his head, belongs to whole nest or them; coiled in darkness, are many more.
 first result as we'll as the method of the drink habit. By the use of intoxicants a man acquires an appetite whose de, mand cannot be refused. The infiamed condition of the vital organs and the consequent pain (Prov. xxiii, 32) compel him to leave his couch early to seek re- lief. In this way princes became slaves (Eccl. X, 1Sl. The pleasurable sensation
 
 at their cups, retiring in -stupor Prov. xxiii, 3D. Beginning and ending the day under the dominion of strong drink, It became their chief desire (Prov. xxiii, 3o). Failing into extreme sensuality, they in- troduced music into their feasts to height en their pleasure, and entice them to further indulgence. In this degradation, they sought enjoyment as their cnlei good (Amos vi, 5l; and the work of God was driven from their minds. They lost interest in the phenomena or nature, m the welfare of society, in the duties of the hour, and gave their tune ,7and strength to seIsuous pleasure. Woe unto such men," cries Isaiah.
 Results.-Sad as is the condition or strong drink. as just described, there are more deplorable consequences both to the individual and to society. The drunk ard, while boasting of personal liberty and resenting restraint, seems not to consider that he intures others. Rom. xiv D. The prophet turns his thoughts to the remote results of the drink habit 6Verses B and IA. My people are gone ring to their past, and, probably, to their future. But why into captivity? Be cause they have no knowledge" Having just shown that intemperance precluded such ignorance leads to national ruin OHos. iv. 6). And this because the hon- orable men. the officials, through drink come to poverty Prov. xxiii.2D, and famine and death carry multi tudes of them to the grave He saw hell enlarged to receive the vic tims, like some voracious monster, open ing wide his jaws; to gorge his prey. He may have referred to Tophet. the general burning place near Jerusalem (Jer. vii, bD, once beautiful valley. then marked by defilements and death, emblem of the abode of the wicked uuke xvi 2).
 Judgment.-When all this has run it's course, what shall be the finality in Is- rael? The prophet would have us know the worst. that a full measure may be taken of the evil we are considering (Verses 15-1D. The mean man (Jer. V, 9 shall be brought down and the mighty man shall be humbled-they shall b. ruined by their own sinful indulgence This will be recognized as the Judgment of God upon them. and He will be ex alted and glorified for this display of Hii holiness and justice tDan. iv, 3O. Let nc man imagine that the Almighty is an in
 different spectator when such havoc 1: made of the soul and body, when thu good order and peace of society are dis turbed, and when destruction Is wrought pn every hand. Moreover, when He has thus entered into judgment when the captlves. the cities shall become pas lures. The lambs shall feed where the absolute had their habitation, and strangers will cultivate the waste places and eat of the fruitage (Ch. ". SD. Such will be the outcome as a Divine retribu- lion upon perverse people Qsa. xviii, To. who, giving themselves over to their appetites. have forgotten God
 Scoffers.-There are those who doubt the execution of divine judgment. En- couraged to continue In sin because punishment is delayed (Eccl. viii, 11), they establish themselves in evil prac- tices as one who spins cords together to form a cable, each new deed drawing out their iniquity until the habit be- comes strong as a cart rope Verse 1S) They defy the predicted vengeance oi