The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-07-17

immortality. If thing is wrong there
is no place in it for moderation. This
applies also if it is pernicious in its ten
denotes, either as it affects others or
ourselves. Christians are to have a
moral power, equal to any emergency,
which they must use as effectual re-
straint. Paul in Gal. 5:22 places it last
among the christian virtues. 1t is the
protector of all the others. 1t controls
the disturbing forces of our sinful
nature which remains within US. Tenn
perance is the protecting power that
keeps all our christian virtues safe. 1t
is the roof that protects everything in
side the house from exposure to the
elements. If the roof is broken or de-
caved everything valuable within suf-
fers. What wretched habitation is
the human body which has over it no
protecting roof of temperance to shelter
the soul.
Suppose we apply this principle to in
toxicating drinks, and we can readily
see that every christian is obliged to
practice such restraint as will give COM
plete protection against the injuries re-
sulting from them. We have no as
surance that we can do this by moderate
drinking, for no one can be sure that he
will not acquire an appetite for liquor.
Once get the habit and the roof is well
nigh worthless. The storm of drunk
enness NAV delude the house ere he
knows it.
Some try to reduce it to expediency.
1t is not matter of irresponsible ex-
pediencY but stern duty that is impos-
ed on US by the word temperance; the
duty to put down pride, envy. anger,
fraud, drunkenness, &c. The appetite
for intoxicants is not natural but ac-
quired by moderate drinking; and like
all diseases has various stages of devel-
opment. In some it becomes so strong
that nothing will stand in the way of
its qualification. 1t will sacrifice home.
happiness and heaven.
Yet MANY christians are fearfully in
different to this matter. 1t is awful to
think that some christian parents will
use it on their table and so have trained
their sons to be drunkards.
Temperance applies to all efforts to
preserve life ond health. Medical
science says alcohol is injurious to
health. So soon as its stimulating
effects begins to show in menta al ex-
hiliaration the poison is beginning to
act on the body. How many stop at
this point? Few indeed. The voices of
myriads cry from their graves, touch
not the accursed thing for it has ruined
US; you seek pleasure, but think of us
and the evil that may come upon you.
God has made the body as a temple
for the soul; sin corrupts the soul and
alcohol poisons the body. If we think
of the powers of the soul, and the
elevating sources Of happiness which
God has provided for it; of the body so
wonderfully made and sustained by
Him, does not the sense of obligation to
God and duty to ourselves impose on US
the strictest temperance; a restraint
that will give ample protection to body
and soul? Total abstinence is the only
method by which this protection can be
maintained.
This is the New Testament principle
of temperance, and what appears to be
its proper application to alcoholic drinks.
We must learn the meaning of temper
ance from the language in which the
New Testament was written. Our word
temperance does not come up to the
Greek word, which has a fitting pro-
priety to the christian life, in the great
ideas of moral, effe ctual and safe self
control. This is the law of God, this is
what the church must incucate, this is
what she must aim at as her goal. Is she
true to her commission? Are her men,
bers living examples of this grand idea?
Gospel temperance is universal law.
But will reserve this thought for my
next Yours truly,
NJ FRANCE.