will not
barter visions of glory for mere animal excitement and mental
stupefaction.

Equally illustrative of our principle is the confession of an aged
deacon, accustomed to drink moderately: "I always, in prayer, felt a
coldness and heaviness at heart--_never suspecting it was the whiskey_!
but since that is given up, I have _heavenly communion_!" O, what an
increase of pure light and joy might there be, would all understand
this, and be _temperate in all things_.

The use of such liquor _is inconsistent with the sacred order and
discipline of the church_. A venerable minister, of great experience,
gives it as the result of his observation, that _nine-tenths_ of all the
cases calling for church discipline have in former years been occasioned
by this liquor. This is a tremendous fact. But a little examination will
convince any one that the estimate is not too high. And can it be right
to continue an indulgence that brings tenfold, or even fourfold more
trouble and disgrace on the church than all other causes united? Do not
these foul "spots in your feasts of charity" clearly say, "Touch not the
unclean thing?" Can we countenance that which is certain to bring deep
reproach on the church of Christ? "It must needs be that offences come,
but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh."

The use of alcoholic liquor by the religious community _is inconsistent
with the hope of reforming and saving the intemperate_; and thus shows a
_want of love to souls_. The Christian knows, that _drunkards cannot
inherit eternal life_. He knows also, that hundreds of thousands now
sustain or are contracting this odious character; and that if the evil
be not arrested, millions more will come on in the same track, and go
down to the burning gulf. But the man who drinks just so much as to make
himself "feel well," cannot reprove the drunkard who only does the same
thing. The drunkard may say to him, "My appetite is stronger than yours;
more, therefore, is necessary, in order to make me '_feel well_;' and if
you cannot deny yourself, how can I control a more raging appetite?"
This rebuke would be unanswerable.

All agree that total abstinence is the only hope of the drunkard. But is
it not preposterous to expect him to abstain, if he sees the minister,
the elder, the deacon, and other respectable men indulging their cups?
With mind enfeebled and character lost, can he summon resolution to be
singular, and live more temperately than his a