Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-11-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
November u
Subject: The Curse Of Strong Drink Prev Xxx. ];
xiii, N,1l, z0.3S-GoIden Text. Prov. Xxx,
Memory Verses, xiii. ~, 81
Commentary on the Days Lesson.

% L. o,i o'' ! - mocker." Rather, scorn-
er. The thing is personifed IN lts y yNsIt
The scorners appear as class OF dehane
frne thinkers in contrast to the wise.
Thew are proud, self-suficient, and have
nnnfsmntuous disregard for God and man
Prov. 81: 2D. 1t is impossible to reform re,
them, for they hate reproof and VIII not
seel, instruction Q3: l; 10: ~. IL tney
seek for wisdom they will not ind II w "a
a., tt is folly to argue with them ": T., o.
They are generally detested (23; y, ana h IN
the interests of peace must DC DanismI ~
from society 90: lO). Divine luagaitii' .
are in store for them; and ta aG lsS Ts - Do.
c Mareing TO b aReeieth." "Not wise"
It is the height of folly for a man to de-
grade himself by using strong drink. .1;,
%. q. "Winebibbers." Much OF TINS
chapter is spent in giving directions con
corning eating, drinking and entertain
ments in general. The reasons for giving
these directions were, l.. The danger OF
contracting irregular habits and OF oelns
induced to lead voluptuous and ehemln'
ate life. 2. The danger from bad COMPANY lP1a,n
3. The waste of money and time. "Giut-
sarv. "Drowsiness." Which comes as a
result of excess and gluttony. with rags"
Such a course will not only bring poverty,
and rags. which it is sure to do, but VIII
unfit a person for work, so that he cannot
be trusted, and he will be no longer capa'
BILE of providing for himself and for those
who may be dependent uDon him.
II. Strong drink destroys happiness Tvs.
%. 3O). 20. "Who." A divine commission
to every man to investigate the, preyalilng
cause Of woe and strife, and thus De oe,
tered from taking the wrong course IN
life. Robinson calls this lesson the drunk
ards looking glass, set before, those whose
face is toward the drunkard's habits, so
that thew NAV see what they will be if they
90 on. "Hath woe" What space would be
needed to record the names of all who,
could truthfully say "I'' to this question!
"WLo hath sorrow" The Hebrew means,
first, poverty then misery. The drunkarn
has sorrow of his own making. 'Ihe cup
contains more than one woe; single soi-
row is not all. These are so numerous as
10 call forth constant and long contlnue1;i
crv of anguish" "Who hath contentious.
Those who responded to the flrst Two
questions will also respond to tins. Nine
tenths of all the brawls and hghts, quar-
rels and misunderstanding, are tr ia, .n
TO drink. "Who hath babbhng. ms re,
fers to the tendency of strong drink 10
foolish and incessant talking, revealing Sc
cfets. vile conversation and noisy demon
STATIONS. which are common IN di1ierent
stages of drunkenness. wounds without
cause Wounds received i'll wholly UNI
nro6tabIe disputes, such as come OF the
bra,vls of drunken men. Drinkers arc es-
neciallv exposed to accidents and diseases
which temperance would have prevented.
"Redness of eyes" Bloodshot, blurred OF
bleared eyes. The traveller IN the drunk
ards broad road to death bears a greaec
bundle of woes. Among them are losses OIL
time, of talent, of purity, OF a clean con
science, of self-respect, of honor, OF rehS-
ion, of the soul, ;, M
.wers the above questions. He who begins
TO drink continues to drink, tarrylnng often
a whole night, and from that to day ana
night. They that CO." To places or on
among people where intoXlcatlng dfinks
are made or stored or used. mixed VINE.
Spiced. drugged. medicated. wine, the m m
toxicating power of which is increased ny
the infusion of drugs and spices. ouch
men drink the cup of costly death.
III. Strong drink ruins G, character tys;
moderate drinking. Do not put yourself IN IN
fhe wav of temptation He who goes freely
into temptation is already more than nan
fallen. ''When it is red" The brlght
color of the wine gives it an attractive looh
and adds to its fascination and ITS danger
offs color" Literally, its eye the clear
brightness or the beaded bubbles, on
which the wine.drinker looks with pleas
ure. 'When it goeth down smoothly
| This verse pictures the attractive SIDE o.
wine, when it seems perfectly harmless te
sip little, when it is bright and inspiring
thrilling the nerves with delight, promlsin1a
~ -, bp side
Of evil that is so dangerous:
% @Af last it biteth." The pleasure
will be attended at last with intolerable
pains, when It works like so much poison
| In thv veins and casts thee into diseases
az hard to cure as the biting OF serpent
! Its effects are opposite to its pleasures. IT.
ONLY beauty is when it sparkles IN the cup
It can only harm the one who ventures t.
J enjoy its pleasure. Then it bites; sends 1t!
| poison beyond your reach. It's only enc
and purpose is ruin. It's sting is the stlnt
of death. ~,
wife will be forgotten and her goodness &c
spised, and evil desires spring up to TILL ne
place with others, Or to go from her VII
Others who have fallen into the same PIT 0
drunkenness. Homes are broken up. 1h'
tears and pleadings of the devoted wife ar
spurned, and the dance hall is. sought
where women are dressed to suit the eye
of wicked men. where natural affection l
| overthrow and cruel lust rules. Ute
neryersc things" When men or women
indulge in the use OF strong drink they !c
down the bars to every sin that follows II
the train. >,
"a. In the midst Of the sea-" To max
ones bed on the waves of the sea would D.
to be swallowed up in death. So Is tn
drunken man. Or as pilot who has gon
to sleep when his ship was in the trough
of the sea, allowing the tiller to slip on
of his hand, and his ship to he swampe'
with the waves which he might have out
ridden. "Top OF a mast" The drunliar
is utterly regardless of life. He is as on
falling asleep, clasping the masthead
whence in few minutes he must elthe
fall down upon the deck and be dashed J.
pieces, or fall into the sea and be drowned
50. '"I was not hurt" With conscience
scared and self-respect gone the drunkar
boasts Of the things which should max
him blush with shame. Because he did no
feel the hurt OF his wounds he cares no
for the scars. 81 felt it not" Angry con
Danions have done their worst to end m
lie. SAYS he, but their blows did not affec
me. "When shall I awake? / will seek
again" Rather, when shall awake 1 v, wi
seek it again. Self-control ID ali gone. LII
drunkard is a slave to appetite: He Is
insensible to the p1eadings and warning
bf those who seek his salvation as he is t
the beatings of his comrades when he Is dt
liriouS.