Year: 1876

There is something in the vice Of intem-
perance which is exceptionally mean. Not


only, like all other vices. is it debasing and


evil in itself but, having the property OF


hourishing in company with every other


vice, its companionship sinks each one OF


them down to q still lower level of shame


and degra dation. A liar is bad enough, in


all conscience but liar who is drunken
sot is still more detestable. A thief is very
| despicable, but drunken thief Is incalcu-
lsbiy so. And so it is through the cata-
| logue /; every vice Is made more hateful and
repulslve by teing linked with intemper-
ance.


Moreover, there is no other vice which 50
effectually extinguishes the ordinary moral
| virtues. A liar may be courteous. cleanly.
humane. capable OF faithful friendship and
ardent affection, and too honest or too proud
TO steal but drunken mar never can be
either of these In his drunken moments
he is rude. unclean, brutal, prone to insult
or iDlure friends or wife or child, and be
| will descend to the lowest depths ofbaseness
and dishonesty. So, again, a thief may
have all those virtues which are possible
with liar, and may in addition despise
lying but the drunken man, having no
capacity for any virtue and attracting to
himself every vice. finds it easier to lie than
to speak the truth. Proverbially, no one
places any reliance on his word or even upon
his sworn testimony.


Ii is even worse with religion than with
the merely moral virtues. man has no
conscience when he is drunk his spiritu-
ality is extinguished absolutely he cannot
either fear or love, pray. worship OF adore
he is unable to see his sin. and, therefore.
cannot be truly penitent for it, or repent Of
it /; the example. the sacrifice, and the res
direction OF bis Saviour can make no impress
sion on his bestlalized soul. nor will the
Holy Spirit enter that unclean dwelling IT
Is impossible for the love of God to ind
room in his heart, and we have the inspired
word of the Apostle that none who are like
him :" shall inherit the kingdom of God"


There is another and very tragical as
pect of this terrible vice. IL is perhaps the
most difficult 10 conquer OF all vices. No
other sin stretches Its roots down 80 deep
into or IDtertwines its tendriis 50 lnsldlOus-
ly and widely with every part OF our moral
nature. 81 that, commonly, the confirmed
drunkard Is 10 condition OF almost ahject
hopelessness and, humanity speaking.
i, considered past remedy or cure. His
will is so utterly Frustrated. his conscience
so blulted, his sense OF shame and sell
respect so obliterated, his whole better ma
luTt 50 pdIdll Ecu OT luht
expended upon hi n is ielt-Often, alas toe
trulv--to be labor in vain.


While we would be the las. to discourage
Christians from labOring with those who
are the victims OF this monster vice, bot
would rather encourage them 10 redouble
their exertions to snatch them as brands
from the burning, the lesson that we desire
specially to enforce is the Importance OF
early culture to prevent Its ImplantatlOn
and growth in the young Let children be
shown from their tenderest years how hid
eous and dangerous thing It Is. Let them
be assiduOCsly taught TO regard 1t, not as
an infrmlty or a disease. bat as d sin
something TO be hated and feared rather
than pitled. And let them be directed. also.
to the only thing which can be sure pre-
tentative against it-namely, the grace OF
God. leading to a pure and holy lie 1t
mothers and fathers would bring up their
children in the fear OF the LOrd-or as the
Apostle puts 1t, - in the nurture and ad-
monition Of the Lord" there would be an
end of this vice IN our land Christian In
fCligeucer