A Christian may with as much propriety manufacture idols for others to worship, as furnish either meats or drinks to his fellow men, which are known to be injurious to their souls and bodies. Either the truth of this doctrine must be conceded, or it must be shown that the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," has been repealed.

Should it be said, that there are many, who, from not being convinced of the injurious nature and tendency of intoxicating liquors, while used in moderation, may, therefore, continue to make and sell them without sin-it is replied, that while ignorance may excuse them in the sight of God, who alone can judge of motives, intentions, and desires, this is no reason why, by their example in the church, they should be permitted to spread over it a withering influence, and to stand forth as the greatest obstacles in the way of the world's conversion.*

The tendency of their occupation is only towards that which is evil, unless it be an advantage, worth contending for, to have a dangerous substance so administered, as to render it fascinating to the sensual appetite, and, consequently, so much the more dangerous.

In reference to some, of old, who had been a * See appendix L.

"stumbling-block of iniquity to Israel," by going after idols, the Almighty declares, "therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, and they shall bear their iniquity."* Their sin was not merely personal, but its influence extended to others, and, on this account, they became the objects of God's peculiar displeasure. It is the business of the makers and vendors of intoxicating drinks to render them as pleasing to the taste as possible, and also to induce the public, by personal solicitation, to become the liberal consumers of those drinks. However, then, they may profess to abhor drunkenness, it is in the very nature of their business to make drunkards. And they not only prepare and sell their liquors, knowing them to have a direct tendency to produce innumerable evils, but make no scruple of selling them to persons known to be intemperate. If such conduct be consistent with a Christian profession, it is hard to conceive in what genuine Christianity consists? "Whether therefore ye eat," says the Apostle, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God;" and again, “Let us not therefore, judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way:" but among all the occasions of falling into sin-into a state of misery Ezek. xliv. 12. † 1 Cor. x. 31. Rom. xiv. 13.

here, and into eternal perdition hereafter, where shall we look for any more powerful, or which have proved more fatally injurious, than intoxicating drinks!

Let the church, then, take care, that she does not corrupt herself, and become accessory to the upholding of our national idolatry, by cherishing in her bosom the men, whose time, wealth, and ingenuity, are all devoted to the maintenance of that idolatry.*

* How can ministers faithfully expose, from the pulpit, the danger of using intoxicating liquors, for purposes of self-indulgence, when they are giving the right hand of Christian fellowship to individuals, whose trade it is, intentionally to minister to the drunken appetites of their customers? Or how can they honestly denounce the abominable impurities of the gin-shop, or the public-house, when they are treating as brethren in Christ, the men, who, in their own persons, or by their servants, are soliciting the keepers of such places to purchase their liquors ?

It cannot be denied, that the traffic, in intoxicating drinks, as now carried on, is every way, incompatible with a Christian profession.

The seller may argue, that he does not wish his liquors to be consumed by drunkards; but he sees, that it is in the very nature of these liquors to make drunkards; and he must know, that he cannot carry on his trade without directly contributing to the support of intemperance, and all its attendant evils.

The Rev. Rowland Hill has judiciously observed, that that which is innocent can never hurt the mind; and,

Having purified herself from the evil in question,

III.

HER NEXT DUTY IS TO EMPLOY THE MOST EF

-FECTIVE MEANS FOR DESTROYING THE INFLUDRINKS OVER MAN

ENCE OF

INTOXICATING

KIND AT LARGE.

This is a duty which arises from the very nature of the Christian profession, the great distinguishing peculiarities of which are its HOLINESS and

BENEVOLENCE.

It cannot be denied that Christianity is opposed to every form of immorality and sin. Its divine Author was the very perfection of moral purity; and he has left us an example, not merely to be admired, but to be followed. Hence an individual no sooner assumes the Christian name, than he engages to be the resolute and persevering enemy of sin.-Sin, in himself, is the first object of his according to the word of God, every Christian should be in a perpetual aptitude for prayer."-But it seems utterly impossible to conceive of any address to the Almighty, which would be suitable, in connexion with the traffic in intoxicating liquors. To pray for its success, is to pray for an increase of human guilt and misery: and to be thankful for its prosperity, is to be thankful for the destruction of what God approves, and of what man should most earnestly desire!

In reference to the immorality of "the traffic," American Christians have spoken plainly; and it would be well, if their principles were universally adopted.-See Appendix O.

M

abhorrence; and, then, sin in his neighbour. That he may not be guilty of sin himself, he is to pray that he may not be led into "temptation,”* and is to "abstain from all appearance of evil."† That he may promote the holiness of others, he is to avoid putting "a stumbling-block in a brother's way," and is to be “steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."|| That drunkenness is a sin, of a most foul and malignant character, has again, and again, been proved; it is therefore impossible for a man to be a Christian who can give the slightest sanction to such a sin, or attempt to soften down its harsh and repulsive features. But, to act consistently with the requirements of the Gospel, it is not enough to abstain from drunkenness :-it is not enough to denounce drunkards, and to hold them forth to public scorn and reprobation. What then, it may be asked, is to be done? And to such a question common sense replies, that the unnatural-the unnecessary temptations to intemperance must be removed; and it devolves on the church, as the depository of all the means which are appointed for the world's regeneration, to employ whatever influence she may possess to effect their immediate and entire removal.

* Matt. vi. 13.

† 1 Thess. v. 22.

|| 1 Cor. xv. 58.

Rom. xiv. 13.