Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-11-14
IAN ENDEAvOR.
Pray Aty sing Topic For,the Week
ginning Nov. is.


4 ginning Nov. is.
NV. s. II. DOYLE.
Topt-Efs the Bible condemns intern
pera.ce view of all temperance pas
saF~ Il. 5-15.
II zee has been one Of the
kre;i ,es of humanity through
pus From the time OF Noah's
yiel, the temptation of strong
6r'~ .lerance has claimed its
nse; victims No people AMI
10 ~ 4 lis escaped its blighting
Init he chosen people of God
sye4 exception. Among them
Inter = and drunkenness prevail
ed, a ua .erous warnings are to be
founu : Bible against it. These
war louid deeply impress us,
since re the warnings of God
H. en- may argue in favor of
alcohol drinks, governments may IL
ceaS. protect liquor selling sa-
looms. but mans opinion is not to be
coin su,.j > Gods. 1t is our duty to
lislea ~ lis voice and to ooey the
warnings 81 His word. I'VE ought to
obey Cad Their than man."
1. T.. ole warns us against the
conseQren IS of intemperance. Many
such warn ngs might be quoted, but no
PASSAGE II the Bible perhaps so fully
sums up the consequences of this evil
as the familiar one from Solomon;
who hath woe? Who hath sorrow?
Who hatu contentious? Who hath bah
bling? Who hath wounds without
cause? who hath redness of eyes?
They th.,t AIRY long at the wine; they
that 60 to seek mixed wine" Who has
not so2a e awful consequences of in
temper ''e-woe, sorrow, contentious.
wounds: What a warning they should
be to all against this great and wide
spread interest.
2. The Bible warns us against the
siightest Indulgence in strong drink.
Because of a few passages in the Bible
suggesting the use of wine as a medi-
cine it has been argued that the Bible
does not teach total abstinence, that it
simply warns against the immoderate
use of drink and does not condemn
moderate drinking. But what does Sol
0mon say? Look not thou upon the
wine when it is red, when it giveth his
color In the cup, when it moveth itself
Arfght." If we are not to look upon it,
how can we touch it? And with what
reason the wise man urges complete
abstinence AT the last 1t biteth like
Q serpent and stingeth like an adder"
Our only safety is in total and com
plote abstinence. No one can afford 70
rum the risk of being a moderate drink
q. Every man ruined by alcoholic
drinks was at one time q moderate
drinker and never intended to become
q drunkard Can we afford to take any
chances when the dangers are so great?
g. The Bible warns us against giving
drink to others. Woe unto him that
91veth his neighbor drink, that puttest
thy bottle to him, and makest him
drunken" The woe here pronounced is
applicable to many. The saloon keeper,
the bartender, the one who treats an
other to drink comes clearly within its
meaning, and there is no reason why it
should not include the government that
makes drinking possible and those who
at social functions or in their ordinary
home life place the wine cup before
others. 1t is almost inexplicable how
men can engage In business that ruins
mems lives, how governments can per-
NIT the sale of that which destroys it's
citizens, society sanction that which
only degrades 1t and men tempt their
fellow men to drink. But it is all done
Yet God will hold the guilty ones re
aponsible His woe has been pro
nounced upon them and they will not
escape their share of the responsibility
IN the ruination Of the bodies, minds
and souls Of men.
BIBLE READINGS.
Lev. K, 8, 10; lisa. V, IL; Joel. /. 5;
Prov. xiii, 90, 81, 29-35; Nah. i, 10;
I Cor. vi, 10; Gal. V, 1926; Eph. v, u.s.
Rev. xii, 1915.