The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-24
WINE AND THE SCRIPTURES.
what would Christ DO And How
Would He Vote Were He Citi.
zen Of Sumter?.

Ter, that We should be governed by
the teachings of Christ and the Bible,
but 1t seems that he does not know
what these teachings are in regard to
intoxicating liquors. don't see how
any earnest and careful student of
the New Testament can fail to know
that the Master and his disciples
drank wine as they had perfec.
right to do according to the teachings
of the Old Testament (Deut. 1926;
Eccles. 9:7) The patriarch Isaac, q
servant of God. in bestowing bless
ings upon his son included plenty of
corn and wine. Corn for bread, and
why the wine. IL 1t was a sin to drink
1t. (Gen. 27:2s.) God also promised
1t az blessing for love and obedi-
ence. and to be deprived of it was
q curse threatened for disobedience.
(Deut. ll:14; Amos. s:14: Deut. %:
ss.)
King David made great feast at
the bringing of the ark to Jerusalum
and dealt among all the people, even
the whole multitude Of Israel, as well
to the women as to the men, to every
one cake OF bread and q good piece
OF flesh. and fiagon Of wine." G.
Sam. 6:19. Why wine. II the drink
ing Of It was an offense to his God?
We are told Ia the Proverbs to, "Give
strong drink unto him that is ready
to perish. and wine unto those that
be Of heavy hearts," and ST. Paul ad-
vised Timothy to quit drinking water,
and use little wine for his stomach's
sake. and his often innrmities.
The first miracle Of the Lord Jesus
was at q wedding where he made of
water an abundant supply Of good
wine. and gave no command concern
Ing the use OF It, except that 1t be
drawn out and carried to the COVER
nor Of the feast. Both st. Matthew
and st. Luke tell US that the Lord
said he had come eating and drink
ing. and for this reason his enemies
had accused him of being a glutton
and wine-bibber. At the passover
supper he told his disciples that he
would drink no more Of the fruit of
the wine until he drank It new with
them In the Kingdom Of God. II
he had not already drank wine, why
the words mo more"? What do they
imply? Which were the better ex-
ample Of self government, total absti-
nence Or to drink and show that he
could refrain from drinking too much
and also that none Of his Fathers
blessings were given amiss? Did he
not choose wine as the symbol of his
precious blood spilled. the greatest
and most sublime sacrifice ever
made? II there is any one SUBJ
stance or element more sacred than
any other 1t must be grape wine. Let
US say nothing against wine or strong
drink. or dare to abuse them by maxi
ing unlawful use of them. lest we be
found drinking damnation to our
selves without going to the Lord's>ta-
bic unworthily. but let US rather with
thankful hearts use them properly,
and for the purposes for which they
were given. and like st. Paul be ever
ready to cheerfully deny ourselves
this privilege. If by so doing we may
save others from stumbling.
In the Bible Nazarites were forbid
den to drink wine and priest were for
bidden to drink wine or strong drink
when they went into the tabernacle
or court of the temple. Rulers were
cautioned against wine and strong
drink. and st. Paul tells us that Bish-
ops. deacons and aged women of the
church must not be given to wine, al
so that, 1T Is good neither to eat
flesh. nor to drink wine, nor anything
whereby the brother stumbleth, or is
offended. or is made weak" With
these exceptions the inexcessive drink
Ing of wine or strong drink Is not for
hidden. I cannot find a word in King
James version of the Bible that in
any way forbides or restricts the
making. selling or buying of intoxi-
eating liquors. For this reason IL Je-
sus were now on earth and a citizen of
Sumter county. would not ask him
to vote for the dispensary or prohibi-
tion law. for fear might get a re-
buking answer like that given the
man mentioned in the Gospel of st.
Luke. (Luke 12:13.) He we'll knew
that II either OF the brothers had re-
spected him or regarded his teach
ings there would have been no trouble
over the division of the inheritance.
and III here now he would knou that