Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR MARCH 20.

Temperance Lesson, Proverbs 1890
35 Golden Text, Proverbs rs:
S2Commit Verse 81 ~ Com-
mentary.-
TIME. All times. PLACE.
Everywhere.
ExPOsITION.--I. Six Great Evils
That Result From Indulgence in
Wine, 20, 80. Solomon here gives us
a very vivid picture OF six evils.that
result from indulgence in wine. Cen
turies have passed since Solomon's 8
day. but It. Az as true In our day
as 1t was In his that these evils pur-
sue the winebibber. Note them care
fully. (1) "Woe," literally, "Ohi'1f.
g., the intense pain that leads one to
cry "Oh." How many "Ohs' are
arising to-day from tho lips Of men
and women whose bodies are tortured
with the many Ills that arise from the
use of alcoholic stimulants. / can see
still the man that onca carried bod
lily through the streets Of a city
shrieking "Oh, oh, oh" In indescrib-
able agony from drink, and see him
later as | held him down with my
knee upon his chest as they strapped
him to he'd in the hospital. t2)
Sorrow" literally, "Alas!" /. e., the
deep seated and abiding grief that
causes one to cry alas! alas!' This
sorrow of the drunkard Is of innum-
cradle forms. Sometimes 1t is the
sorrow of seeing loved wife and chill
dren reduced from plenty to poverty.
Sometimes 1t is the sorrow Of being
passed upon the street unnoticed by
old-time friends and associates. Some
times 1t is the sorrow of standing by
the grave Of the once beautiful and
happy wife who has died of broken
heart over her loved ones degrada-
tion. (3) Contentious. I" Conten-
tions at home, contentious in society,
contentious in the place OF business.
contentious on the street. Alcohol
mothers most of the broils in this
world. If man wants a perpetual
war let him drink. t4) Complain
ing" OR. W Wine iniurcs the stor,-
ach and breaks down the nerves and
thereby spoiis the disposition. The
drinker soon becomes grumbler,
and grumbler is miserable under any
circumstances. (5) wounds with
out cause" Go to the police court
tomorrow morning and see the black
eyes, broken noses, crippled arms and
less, chewed ears and more serious
and entirely unnecessary wounds that
have come through drink. (6) Red
ness of eyes" the sign of distempeced
brain and premonition of approach
ing insanity and death. Note that
these things come from wine" not
merely from the stronger distilled
liquors. Il know, of course, that
there Is danger in whisky and rum
saying, "but what harm Is there In
wine?"
III. The Only Wise Attitude To-
ward Wine. 81. Look not thou upon
the wine" This is total abstinence
with vengeance. Not only don't
taste" but "don't look." 1t is good
advice, inspired advice. III thing
ought to be left alone, leave it alone
utterly. There are many who do not
mean to sin, but they will just look
at the sin. That look Is fatal. Eve
first looked, then she lusted, then she
ate, then she died (Gen. 3:6). Many
a man and woman has taken the same
path to the drunkard's grave and the
drunkard's hell.
III. "41t the Last" 81. "At the
last" Three significant words. IL
men could only see the end from the
beginning how many things they
would leave undone which they now
do. Before entering upon any course
of action we ought always to ask
where it ends. There Is way that
seemeth right unto a man, but the
end thereof is the way of death"
(chap. 14:12). The way Of the wine
drinker is undeniably such way.
The beginning is likely to be pleasant
indeed. In the beginning it singeth
like bird, it is ''at the last" that 1T
biteth like serpent and stingeth like
an adder" But most of the trains on
that road are through trains, and IL
you get OH the train you are not like
ly to get off until you reach the end
} of the line.
Nv. The Wine Drinkers Eyes and
Heart, 33. "Thine eyes shall behold
strange things" (R. W Indeed they
shall They shall see things out of
all proper proportion, they shall see
double, they shall see snakes and
monsters and devils. The drinking
man has perverted vision, physical,
mental, moral Folly looks like wis
6om and wisdom looks like folly.
Right appears wrong and wrong ap-
pears right. A man who is truthful
and honest and pure when sober will
lie and steal and commit abomination
when he has drank little. Wine in
capacitates men for business, for
study, for decent living. II we take
the rendering of the A. ", the verse
is still true, for when the stomach Is
full of wine the eyes are full Of lust.
How many young man Eyes, and
young woman) has taken his first
step In unmentionaDle vileness when
all that is bad in him has been set on
fire by glass or two of wine. Wine
is tho 5educer's most potent ally. But
not only the eyes are wrong, but
worse yet, the heart Is wrong.
Y. The Wine Drinkers Brain, "a,
3S. The head of the drinker reels
and is stupid. He tosses to and fro
as he that lieth down in the midst Of
the sea" and sways back and forth as
"he that lieth upon the top OF a
mast" 1t Is graphic picture OF q
drunkard's confused and unsteady Y
mental condition. ~ :assrttnermore, the
brain Is for the time insensible to in
juries received and the drinking man
is thus rendered incapable Of self
protection. Last of all, the drinxer
is the complete slave Of his enemy.
With full knowledge OF the injury
! drink does him he cries, ~ Will seek
1t yet again.