Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-16
HOLDING THE RElNs ON LIFE

HOLDING THE RElNs ON LIFE.
Terse Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic OF the Young
Peoples Societies - Christian En-.
deavor, Baptist Young Peoples
Union, Epworth League, etc, for
July 10, Temperance Meeting:
How to Promote Total Abstinence"
Gal. 5:16-24.
The real strength Of the temper
ance movement will neve be found
in the number and influence of it's
powerful allies, but rather in those
deeply underlying principles which
are set forth in the gospel of Jesus.
Ultimately, the reform rests upon in
dividual total abstinence for the sake
Of society's %well-being. Thus 1t is to
be seen that temperance is al es-
sentially spiritual in It's nature as any
other development of Christianity.
Whoever gets a clear understanding
of the genius Of Christianity is not
likely to be guilty of practicing or
supporting intemperance. Christianity
is spiritual; 1t is a belief of the heart
influencing the manner of life. AS the
old writer's used to say, it is "a spirit
ual walk" Paul expresses it clearly
when he says Walk by the Spirit,
and We shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh" And, ITO be spiritually-mind-
ed is life and peace" Liberty con-
sists in emancipation from the thrall-
dom Of carnal desires. Only they are
masters of life who have first master
ed themselves. To be a slave to ap-
p~etites and passions is to deny ones
self-sovereignty. And self-sovereignty
is best won by yielding life over to
the control of the Spirit who has come
to be in the place of Him whom the
little band of fishermen called
Master"
A sharp line was drawn by the
apostle between the unbridled world
that surrounded the infant church, as
water surrounds an island and the
Spirit-controlled church itself. The
worlds way was to let passion run
riot. Desires, said men, were made
to be gratifed; and we still hear
echoes of that same philosophy today.
The result was a society corrupt with
all the r%ottenness of ~heathendom. The
New Testament presents a picture OF
the heather world that Is actually In
comprehensive to a person living In
a civilized land today, In shining
contrast with this %foulness was the
humble, modest purity of the Chris
tians. They had been taught by their
Lord to deny themselves. The, glory
of God and the welfare of the world
were more important in their eyes
than any qualification Of their " de-
sires. So they held a tight rein owe
appetites and gave liberty to their
spiritual nature.
The enthusiasm of Paul was for the
cross; so he pictured the friends OF
Christ as having cruciied the flesh,
, that old man of desire, that they
might rise again with their Lord to
a free life of spirituality Risen to-
gether with Christ is his description
Of the life Of those who have nailed
: their passions and lusts to the cross.
THE way to abolish the saloon
said the temperance speaker, lis for
every man to close the liquor business
that is carried on between his own
chin and nose"
: Total abstinence on the part Of the
Individual is the only rock foundation
3 for proh1b1tlon IN the state.
8 Any habit, no matter how good
which cannot easily be broken mill
+ tates against the sovereignty of the
spirit.
Every moderate drinker could
e abandon the intoxicating cup If he
would; every inebriate would If he
could.-John B. Cough.
e Any thing that is proper to do is
proper to promise to do. Signing
total abstinence pledge is as manly
and chivalrous (f faithfully kept az
, Is total abstinence itself.
e Drinking water neither makes
man sick nor in debt, nor his wife
. widow.-John Neal