Is it said, that the influence of a small temperance society, or church, is unimportant? Not so; its light may save the surrounding region; its example may influence a thousand churches. And let the thousand thousand professing Christians in this land, with such others as they can enlist, resolve on total abstinence—let this great example be held up to view—and it would be such a testimony as the world has not yet seen. Let such a multitude show, that these drinks are unnecessary, and reformation easy, and the demonstration would be complete. Few of the moral would continue the poison; thousands of the immoral abandon it at once; and the nation be reformed.
The use of this liquor is inconsistent with the proper influence of Christian example. The Saviour says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” But will men esteem Christians the more for drinking, and thus be led to glorify God on their behalf? Or will the Saviour praise them for this, “when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe?” Rather, will not their drinking lead some to excess, and thus sully the Creator’s work? Nay, is it not certain, that if the religious community indulge, the example will lead millions to drunkenness and perdition? And, on the other hand, is it not morally certain, that if they abstain, their combined influence will save millions from infamy and ruin? How, then, in view of that day when all the bearings of your conduct shall be judged, can you hesitate on which side to give your influence? It is not a little matter; for who can conceive the results of even one impulse, among beings connected with others by ten thousand strings!
The use of this liquor is inconsistent with, that harmony and brotherly love which Christ requires in his professed followers. He requires them to “love one another with a pure heart, fervently;” to “be all of one mind;” to be “of one heart and one soul.” But who does not see the utter impossibility of this, if some continue an indulgence which others regard with abhorrence? Since public attention has been turned to the subject, thousands have come to the full conviction, that to use intoxicating liquor is a sinful as well as foolish practice. The most distinguished lights of the church, and such as peculiarly adorn human nature, embrace this sentiment. And how can you associate with these, and yet continue a habit viewed by them with disgust? Ah, the man, however decent, who “will have his glass, not caring whom he offends,” must have it; but he must also “have his reward.” “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck.”
The use of intoxicating drink, in this day of light, is incompatible with the hope of receiving any general effusion of the Holy Spirit. Christians are allowed to hope for the Spirit to be poured out only in answer to prayer—true, spiritual, believing prayer. “If they regard iniquity in their heart, the Lord will not hear them.” If they wilfully cherish sin, they cannot have faith. Indeed, how odious the spectacle of a company looking towards heaven, but in the posture of devotion breathing forth the foul, fiery element—literally “offering strange fire before the Lord!”
We are not, then, to expect divine influence to come down “like showers that water the earth,” till we put away that which we know tends only to wither and consume all the “fruits of the Spirit.”
The waste of property in the use of alcoholic drink is inconsistent with faithful stewardship for Christ. Religious “contributions” are among the appointed means for saving the world. But allow each of the tens of thousands of professing Christians in this land only three cents worth of such liquor daily, and the annual cost is some millions of dollars; which would be sufficient to support thousands of missionaries. Let “stewards” of the Lord’s bounty, then, who would consume their portion of this “little” on appetite, ponder and blush for such inconsistency; and let them hasten to clear off the heavy charge, “Ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”
Again, to indulge in intoxicating liquor is inconsistent with attempts to recommend the Gospel to the heathen. Nothing has done more, in former years, to prejudice our Indian neighbors, and hinder among them the influence of the Gospel, than those liquors we have encouraged them to use. Several tribes have set the noble example of excluding them by the strong arm of law; and it is only by convincing such that really consistent Christians do not encourage these evils, that our missionaries have been able to gain their confidence.
The same feeling prevails in some distant heathen nations. They cannot but distrust those who use and sell a polluting drink, which they, to a great extent, regard with abhorrence.
Suppose our missionaries should meet the heathen with the Bible in one hand, and the intoxicating cup in the other; what impression would they make? Nature herself would revolt at the alliance. And nothing but custom and fashion have reconciled any to similar inconsistencies at home.
But not only must our missionaries be unspotted, they must be able to testify, that no real Christians encourage this or any unclean thing. With such testimony they might secure the conviction, that our religion is indeed elevating, and that our God is the true God. For saith Jehovah, “Then shall the heathen know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”