vi. CONTENTS. PART IV. REMARKS ON THE REPLY.-The beginner of the controversy-Distinction - (pp. 40-131.) vii. "Who seeth not now the miserable estate, whereinto men are brought by these foul, filthy monsters, gluttony and drunkenness? The body is so much disquieted by them, that, as Jesus, the Son of Sirach affirmeth, the insatiable feeder never sleepeth quietly, such an unmeasureable heat is kindled, whereof ensueth continual ache and pain to the whole body. And no less truly is the mind also annoyed by surfeiting banquets: for sometimes men are stricken with frenzy of mind, and are brought in manner to near madness; some wax so brutish and blockish, that they become altogether void of understanding. It is a horrible thing that any man should maim himself in any member: but for a man of his own accord to bereave himself of his wits, is a mischief intolerable."-HOMILY AGAINST GLUTTONY AND DRUNKENNESS. "The proper PLACE of alcohol for man's use is as a medicine. Let men put and keep it there. Its power then is both great and good. "Let them regard it no longer as an article of ordinary diet; for wholesome, real food it is not, and power as such it has none. "Let them beware of it as a luxury; for though its power as such be great, it is often grievous. And, looking to the exigencies of the present time, let them resolve, in God's strength and in God's name, to deny themselves what to the man in health is but a doubtful luxury at the best, and is shown by sad experience rather to become a mockery, a delusion, and a snare.' 'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."" ALCOHOL: its place and power, by J. MILLER, F.R.S.E. PART I. INTRODUCTORY. TEETOTALISM has become a power in the world. It is a fact which none can dispute, that its advocates have unfurled a banner, around which thousands have rallied to assert their freedom from the debasing usages, and the abominable crimes of Intemperance. Honour to the men who, with honest hearts, and unswerving purpose, have gone forth to do battle in the cause of humanitywho have gone into the fetid atmosphere of moral evil where debauchery and lust have been uncontrolled by any sense of virtue, and snatched from the contagion immortal souls, who are destined to live for ever in the light of God. May the time soon come when men shall every where do honour to the consistent advocates of Truth and Temperance. It were vain to think, however, that every man deserves to be crowned, who with impassioned energy pleads the cause of either Temperance or Religion. There are, doubtless, many advocates of the one and of the other, whose claims to the gratitude and respect of mankind may be considered as very superficial. The greed of gain, and the little pride of speech, which are satisfied by the display of some rhetorical power, furnish an ample reward for all the effort which they are at in catering for the popular taste. The writer of this pamphlet has been particularly impressed with the necessity of extreme vigilance in the Church of Christ respecting the mode in which Temperance ought to be advocated. Teetotalism, he would repeat, has become a fact and a power in the world. Ministers of the Gospel, Sabbath-school Teachers, Tract Distributors, Visitors of the Sick, and all who have to do with the dissemination of Scripture truth, must see in this fact, and in this power, something which claims their thoughtful attention. But is there not danger in some cases of attaching undue importance to this principle? Is it not to be lamented that some, who once confessed that "the Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation," and who still adhere to this form of words, have found their zeal diminished, and their usefulness impaired in the service of Christ, through an all-absorbing interest in the spread of Teetotal principles? If I may express my convictions honestly with regard to Teetotalism, I believe that it is something like a good quiet horse, that will do its work very well, if it is not over driven to its death. To Teetotal advocates I think it may be very properly said: Have patience! Give it time! Do not make a god of it; nor put it altogether in the place of religion. If Clericus cannot see things exactly in the same light as Doctor Philosophicus, that is no reason why Doctor Philosophicus should call Clericus an impudent blunderer; for such a method of argument may only show to the world that a diploma, like alcohol, may sometimes make a man forgetful of his proper self. Nothing will more entirely disgust the more thoughtful of the community than the arrogance which will tolerate no opposition, except with torrents of invective and abuse. We may be sure that neither friends nor enemies to the cause of Teetotalism will be made any the better by the lofty interdicts of some, who appear to think that all the harmonies in the universe must revolve around their one idea. I believe that large numbers have been already alienated from the advocacy of Teetotálism by the pretentious reviling of some of its professed supporters. Doubtless some of our very violent friends will observe that, if Ministers, and other professing Christians choose to oppose Teetotalism, they ought to be reviled. In some instances, perhaps, their conduct may be injudicious: but who is to revile them? There are now, as there have been in times past, many godly men, though they have not professed the principles of Teetotalism; and their usefulness has been of a higher order, than many can comprehend. Such may say: "Let the righteous smite me; it shall |