The bases of the temperance reform: an exposition and appeal./ With replies to numerous objections. By Rev. Dawson Burns.

I I6 Sciz/zli-c a/(nd hic Tcnzcpreailce Olcstii z.
gives eloquent expression to this temperance testimo ny:
"Oh! madness to think use of strongest wine,
And strongest drinks, our chief support of health,
W,hen God, with these forbidden, made choice to rear
Ilis mighty champion strong above compare,
Whose drink was only from the liquid brook."
That men need a daily portion of intoxicating liquor for
daily sustenance, or to preserve them in good health, or
to give them long life, is a doctrine contradicted and refuted by the historical parts of the Bible; and when the
prophet brings before the people the man of iron sinew,
the smith who "worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it
with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his
arms," he does not exhibit him as flagging for want of
exciting drinks; "yea, he is hungry, and his strength
faileth; he drznket nzo water, anzd is fainl." * Bread and
water, and a few figs and raisins, revived the fainting
Egyptian after three days' want of food and drink; t and
all through the Biblical record there runs the sound physiological assumption, that nutritious food, with water as
a diluent, is alone essential to robustness of health and
length of days. When God would threaten Judah with
the severest temporal loss, it is "the whole stay of bread,
and the whole stay of water," that he determines to take
away.:
2. 7'lze Scrifb'tres illistrale the.ernzicios infltence of ~nloxicalil., drinzks ibfonijersonzs of the hzgAhes rank and Mte grealesi adva'ilafges of intel/ectual and mzoral training. The modern notion that only ignorant and low-born people are
likely to be overcome by wine, is opposed to the whole
tenor of the sacred narrative. The men who are described
as betrayed by strong drink are the holy Noah, the obedclient Lot, the rich sheep-master Nabal, the royal Elah,
Bernhadad, and Belshazzar; and when the ravages of in
t I Sam. xxx. II, 12.
,
II
* Isaiah xliv..2.
+ Isaiah iii. i.