Year: 1869

a single chew Of tobacco, a single grain
of opium, is followed by positively inju-
rious effects. The larger the amount
that Is taken, and the oftener Ii Is re-
peated, the more serious the injury to
the individual, though the effect Of each
portion by itself may be much less
marked. The man who would be al
ways in the best possible condition to
think aud work for God. must therefore
exercise temperance by u total absti-
nence from these things. So long rs the
only inducement to their use is the
qualification Of appetite and the pleasure
that attends a compliance with the Gus
tons of society, the christians temper
nence from them. He owes this to
God, to himself and to his fellow men;
and thus does no more than it Is his du-
ty to do.


In view Of these things, observe
fourthly: That temperance is a virtue
worthy the highest esteem, and that in
temperance should not he carelessly ex-
cused. The practice Of temperance, as
Paul preachedit, brings the christian near
to God and keeps him there. 1t teach
es christians to take their religion with
them to their dinner tables, aud to keep
it in sight after the blessing has been
asked. The first falling away of many
christian is by intemperance, by graf
itication Of appetite in things that con
science whispers are not quite right.
Let every man be firmly established in
the belief that he belongs to the Lord
Jesus Christ. Let him be Il willing ser
want. Let him have his heart filled
with love to God and man, and he then
has higher motives to Temperance than
any that can be drawn from mere world
ly prudence. The great temperance re-
form has now passed through its period
of novelty and enthusiasm. Men have
learned that the organization and MAIN
tenance of temperate societies, the cir
culaton of pledges, and the administra-
tion of solemn obligations, are not sufll
cient to permanently reform the intem.
perate, or preserve the masses of men
from that occasional use of Intoxicating
drink, which inevitably leads multi
tudes down the dark path to Il drunk
ards grave. At the present time, mul-
titudes of families are making each
few bottles of wine, which are occasion
ally brought forward for the entertain
ment Of guests; aud thus the way is
preparing for return to the old drink
ing habits that pervaded society IA hun
dred years ago, and swept the land us
with curse. Multitudes of respectable
people make light of the danger attend
ing the acceptance of Il single glass of
wine, few times year. On the same
principle they might begin to try a little
opium occasionally for the sake of its
eXhilarating effect.


The work Of temperance men at the
present day is to impress on the mind of
every one, young and old, that the USE
for the qualification ofappetite, of wine,
or any Intoxicating drink or hurni
drug, is q sin. That the evil effects of Il
few spooniuls Of wine may be small
makes its use no less a sin. The evil
effects of single oath may not now be
very manifest, but it is no less surely Il
sin. The example of the man who takes
his first glass of wine in the presense of
others, Is fully as injurious as that Of the
, man who in like company insults his
Maker with an oath. And moreover,
the evil effect on himself in hardening
his heart, and weakening the controlling
power of conscience, is as real AS that
which results from profanity. When |
see the members of II healthy happy
family press round the glasses of home
made wine, | think Of a dream that
John Newton had while he was q sailor.
lie thought an angel came aud commit


ted to his charge precious pearl. AS


he dreamed, the interests Of his soul de-
pended Oh his care of that pearl. At
first, he put it in his pocket for safe
keeping. Then, as he was leaning over
the side Of the ship: he took it out and
holding it carefully in his hand, obscrv-
ed its perfection of form and color.
Soon lie was passing it from hand to
hand, then tossing it in the air to see it
sparkle and catching it as it fell, until
once bounding from his hand it sank in
the sea. Those who, neglectiug the
warnings of the gospel, perhaps laugh
ing at them, look upon the wine when
it is red, when it giveth his color in the
cup, and taste it, merely to try it, are
like that careless sailor in his dream
for a present and ihconsiderable gratiii-
cation they run the risk of great harm.
! The. truth that no man belongs to
himself has an application here. Every
man of integrity feels an obligation to
avoid risks when using the property of
another. fla man has valu able horse
of his own, he may ieel justified in
driving it Tor his own pleasure, at a
rate of speed that involves little dan
ger TO the health Of the horse The
danger is slight, though real. If the
horse is injured, it is his orn, and IN
view Of the result he may feel that lie
iilSt in i'm. cr;, -