The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-14


lisa v. ILL. F.-Nahum i. $40.
Visa V. 1925. S.-Matt xiv. 44-51.
Sun.-Rom xiii. ia.
Through all the centuries that have passed since
his day, Solomon is still the wise man. No doubt
he was man of extraordinary natural gifts, and
for his day made extraordinary acquisitions of
knowledge, and he had wide and memorable
perience of human nature and the world of men.
But his teachings, preserved in three Wisdom
Books, divinely guided and inspired. No
has been found i'm the Proverbs of Solomon. His
knowledge of human nature, its strength and it's
weakness, its temptations its follies, its sins
not mistaken. All the ages and all the families Of
men have confirmed the wisdom of this ancient
King of Israel. Many times Solomon his
against the perils of the drink habit. Wine
is a mocker." 1t deceves and betrays, and then
laughs to scorn those whom it has deceived. Our
lesson is picture of the evils of alcoholic drink,
strong, vivid and true to-day when it
written
1. Six evils are given the results of ntemper-
ance degrading, miserable and destructive. The
wine of which he speaks is the fermented juice
of the grape and was the common alcoholic drink
of his day. 1t represents all strong drink, pro-
ducing drunkenness with all its evils.
First. who hath woe?" misery and pain of
body, making cry out, "Oh!" Tortured by
pains, made miserable by disease.
Second. who hath sorrow?" THIS is the mental
distress of following intemperance; sorrow of pow
erty of the grief of home and friends of love- of the
respect of men and of self-respect Many sorrows
come after the other
Third. "Contentions." Making a man quarrelsome
and irritable at home and in business in the street
leading to brois and fighting
Fourth. "BabbIing" "Compaining" (R. W
Because OF it's effect the nervous system the
drinking man becomes grumbler complaining of
his want his hard lot, etc.
Fifth wounds without cause" Bruises and in
juries by falling, lighting, accidents wholly without
reason and unnecessary. The scars of a soldier
to be justified and are just and honorable The
wounds of drunkard without excuse and are
shameful.
Sixth. "Redness of eyes," Bloated and disfgured
his eyes tell the story of his shame. Alcohol has
the same fruits to-day and in all lands This is the
picture through the ages of them that tary long
at the wine" Wine produces the desire to repeat
the drink, and then to "tarry long" And from
this comes to the appetite which is not satisfied
"They then go to seek mixed Wine" the stronger
drink. And they are going to seek after
it, anywhere, at any cost.
H. The part Of Wisdom. VS.. 81. Look not thou
upon the wine" 1t is not only do not taste, but
look not" There is danger. Surely this is total
abstinence IT is good advice to-day and to all
men. Eve looked first and then tasted. and then
she fell and was driven from Paradise Wine has
always been beautiful to the sight and therein is
its first temptation. The one absolutely safe path
is to let it alone utterly.
III. at the last" (Vs. 32D At once the wise
and inspired teacher tells of the end Men do not
always see the end from the beginning. 1t is wise
to ask what the end will be before we begin to in
quire where the path viii lead before we set out.
"rhere is a way that seemeth right unto a man.
but the end thereo is the way of death" xiv 70
In the use Of strong drink, the beginning seems
pleasant ANA danger is i'm sight. I'm the be-
ginning cit singeth like 81 bird" but cat the last
it biteth like serpent and stngeth like an adder"
painful and deadly Most of the trains on that
road are through trains, and if you get on the
train YOU are not likely to get off until you reach
the end Of the line"
". The drinking mans eyes and his heart VS.
33. Thine eyes shall behold strange women" filed