61. Intemperance

"The kingdom of God is not meat and drink." (Rom. 14: 17.)

Meat and drink preserve our corporal life. It is so ordained by God. But where the disorder begins, there begins the guilt.

Truly, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; and to rest in these, to seek happiness therein, is perverseness, abuse, denial of the true dignity of man.

The more exclusively man eats and drinks for the sake of enjoyment, the more flagrant is the abuse, and the greater the guilt.

If eating and drinking be indulged in to excess, if the health be thereby injured, the faculties of the soul diminished, much time lost, and the duties of one's state of life neglected,—then Intemperance is a sort of idolatry, whose sacrifices are real abominations to God.

Those who walk thus, are enemies of the cross of Christ; their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame. (Phil. 3: 8, 9.)

This inordinate indulgence in food and drink differs in its gradations, and finally, reaches the abyss of irrational brutes.

Inordinate desire, unbridled greed, fastidiousness about one's choice of meat and drink, low pleasure, surfeiting, loss of the free use of the senses, darkening of the understanding, servitude of the spirit by the overcharge of matter, overwhelming of free-will—all these are the offspring of a passion, which becomes the more disgraceful, the more it degrades man to the level of the brute.

And yet, how many thoughtless young men are addicted to over-indulgence in drink!

Because there are many hard drinkers; because there are many men of fashion who even glory in intemperance; because the evil hides itself behind sociability and good cheer,—the young man enters upon this precipitous path, and, perhaps, even endeavors to gain a sad notoriety in it. One would think it impossible for a well-educated young man to find pleasure in such a dissolute life! But, alas, what are not bad example, the encouragement of others, one's evil inclination, and a falsely-understood standard of honor. able to accomplish!

In this way, many an excellent mind perishes, many a fine character is demoralized, many an innocent heart is wrecked, many a dangerous, bad, immoral connection is formed, many a dissipation is learned, the hard-earned money of industrious parents is squandered, devoured, and profaned, many a strong constitution is shattered, many a noble vocation frustrated, and the seed of incalculable misery sowed for the future to reap.

Truly, wine hath destroyed very many (Ecclus. 31: 30)— both of souls and bodies.

Above all, Intemperance inflames and stirs up the impure passions of men.

Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous; whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise. (Prov. 20; 1.)

Spirituous beverages heat the blood; they are to the impure passion, what oil is to the flame.

The vapors which they generate, surround the mind with mist—they weigh, like heavy clouds, upon the heart. The knowledge of good becomes confused; the will is, as it were, enervated, blunted for every good purpose, incapable of every noble sentiment. The drunken man is completely controlled by his senses. Swayed by every beastly impulse, he indulges in his desires to the full, no matter how depraved or degraded they may be. What protection is there for chastity, when the watchman is asleep? The doors stand open, and soldiers are bribed, or made defenseless.

Not in vain is the warning of the Apostle: Be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury, but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephes. 5: 18.)

How, if death should overtake you at an hour when you have scarcely the semblance of a man?

Take heed to yourselves, says Jesus Christ, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and that day come upon you suddenly. (Luke 21: 34.)

A young man addicted to this vice—what an abomination to heaven, what a horror to all honorable men! What bad habits are there not in prospect! What defeats! What dishonors!

And who could reckon all the loss of time, the occasions of brawls and quarrels, the obscenities and shameless songs, the improprieties and rudeness, which follow in the train of drunken carousals!

Here, if ever, the greatest determination is necessary, provided a thorough cure is expected to take place.

Human respect is to be overcome; the proximate occasions must be avoided; abstinence, severity against one's self, are absolutely indispensable.

O shrink not back from these sacrifices, you who, until now, have indulged in this passion!

The more powerfully you attack it, the quicker you will obtain the victory.

Yes, use violence. Have pity upon your poor young heart! Do not yield it up to a vice which is hydra-headed—to a monster begetting other monsters, which will devour you cruelly at the very moment you throw yourself into its arms, and give yourself up to its embraces.

How does such an indulgence in drink accord with the thirst of your agonizing Redeemer, with the gall and vinegar of your Jesus, suffering and dying for you upon the cross?

How does it accord with the misery of so many needy fellow-creatures, with the sweat and death-agony of so many Christians, departing this life at that very hour?

How does it accord with the torments of those who, at this very moment, on account of this very sin, are being condemned to hell? with the groans of the rich glutton?— Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16: 20.)

Now, while the germ of evil is not yet fully developed, your task is not so difficult; but it will be heavy work, by and by, to cut down the tree, to tear up those roots which have penetrated deeply into the soil, and spread themselves in every direction.

Awake, ye that are drunk; and weep, and mourn, all ye that take delight in drinking sweet wine: for it is cut off from your mouth. (Joel 1: 5.)