The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-25

, The people OF Judah have also erred
through wine. There arc drunkards at
Jerusalem, as there were in Samaria.
Voiuptious living in each capital consti-
tuted a serious offense against the nation
and against God. Even the priests who
ministered at the holy affairs and the
gion, were out of the. way. through strong
drink THEY err IL Vision and they
many OF those whose, business It was %
lead |, the people II the rIght way The
escriptions OF practices among his own
MOCKERY- (verses and 10) Refer
the results 81 these Efforts This Vas BY
faithful men had INSTRUCTED ii the law s
GOD would have thoughtful and voluntary
5followers of that which is good. He
the mind. gain the affections and bring
the will Into conformity But this method
had failed. The people continued Sas they.
lives were not reformed. They dcspised
their teachers and even Knocked them. Re-.
mtgG}tsring &, the IN
endured with contempt y II the publit
teachers Of religion proposed to treat
men as little ones and give them line.
upon line. precept upon precept The orig
8inal Of the ninth Verse indicates that 1t
was common to take up the very LAM
Eg}u "a e. of a prophet and repeat # after
ossTISAGY.iVerscs ii and 1e) The
nation would not hearken4 It obstnately
God. preferring The Indulgence Of tho the
$carnal life to the ways OF holiness. The
security offered against en- enies. the way
spired men was utterly diaregardel SEN
sual delights were eagerly sought as alone
\ q desirable. And 50. as the mouthpece OF
kind Of instruction should be impaired.
M would be BY stammering lips and in
an9ther tongue He refers to the Lessons
whose Language would not be UNDER
stood When the ton WAS carried Into
ons 70 be- met .ae a anferslss ana ae
would be learned to which thus far deaf
cars had been turned. In the school of
might have acquired In their own land
wisdom to live rightly and to serve and
erhE Cod IS aef 'en so4ts
for men, even though they obstinately
t tyr Away way from Him. Il
be. offered. "Precept upon precept.. rep
e, !, Of divine truths. day after day
ali Ysa men, w HEAP PTys a
cuSe God Of neglect The path Of Of Iii life is
!Iidtle very pain, Il as Ilat no one need
be ignorant Of 1T and jcntreaties to enter
It are so cordial and constant that there
Is always a strong motive that ought
to be operative ut-what makes the
case exceedingly nteressing-they@ who
sin under such circumstances do so
against. great light and merit all the
more the condemnation meted out to
all men In all history. Privileges create
obligations, and these neglected measure
the punishment that is due. 8a5
&CONCLUSlON-Thi passage may be
properly used, as was intended by the In
.ternational committee. III the interest Of
Temperance, in, either or both of two
ways 1t may be shown that the drink
habit has led to national degeneracy,
eaus!ng .meh 70 neglect tho truth and, eS.
eign war. Or 1t may be shown that the
drink habit is always one OF the proofs
of sensuality. contracted as a people de-
cline from God, fastening afterwards to
decay and destruction. a mark In the
do wnward movement from righteousness
to sin. In the first case 1t becomes the
cause Of lnnumelylble msfortunes, and
IN the other. it Is the consequence Of a
defects. Bat In either way Of handling |
the subject the cry of Isaiah. "Woe to I
the dr0nkard, = ought to be needed byi
men everywhere. "Strong drink Is rag
Ing, and whoso.i Is deceived thereby is not |
WISE. sF55sss u. - |