fancy to himself that the drunkards toast,
"_here is health and success to us_!" has any charm to avert his ruin,
or to stay the judgment of heaven. The more frequently that toast has
been uttered, while smiling upon the cup of inebriation held in a
trembling hand, the farther have health and success been removed from
the deluded victim, and the more swift and deadly have misfortune,
sickness, distress and pain fallen upon him. Intemperance is a demon,
that sows the seeds of discord among all ranks, orders and conditions
of men. Beneath his crushing hand creation reels, and fortunes fall in
broken ruins! And peace the sweet angel of mercy flies these turbulent
skies, and lights on realms unmoved by the hand of commotion and
discord. At his approach, blooming health is driven back from its warm
abode and the fairest flowers of domestic love, hope and joy are
withered forever! Let this frightful foe of discord and confusion be
barred from our sacred heritage and peace be within our borders.

We are not only to be of one heart and one mind in resisting profanity
and intemperance, but in resisting tale-bearing. Let us not speak evil
of others. This is beneath the character of a gentleman, and certainly
beneath that of a christian: consequently no gentleman or christian
will indulge in it. It is the employment of _low, ill-bred minds_, and
therefore none will engage in it, but those who are destitute of
reputation themselves. This vice has no excuse, and must therefore
originate in the _basest_ motives. They intend to bring their fellow
creatures down to a level with themselves, and thus lessen them in the
good opinion of others, and destroy their peace. And though they may
effect their object so far as the good opinion of the virtuous is
calculated to give us happiness, yet the approbation of a good
conscience, arising from the conviction of innocency, can never he
rooted from the heart of its possessor by all the calumnies of earth.
_This_ God has secured in all the secret chambers of the soul, and
forever barred it against the breath of slander. There he takes up his
abode and holds communion with the contrite spirit. The real merits
and consolations of virtue are secured to its possessor by the
impartial legislation of righteous heaven. Intemperance in its
effects, compared with slandering, is harmless; at least so far as
producing discord is concerned. The peaceable drunkard, compared even
with that church member, who i