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

Biblic(l Descriipio/is of fite.
by Solomon and Iabakkuk are, of course, metaphors,
but they would be senseless if they did not indicate the
specific character of the object to which they relate. An
attempt to evade the only reasonable conclusion-that
the article so described is not a good, but baneful thingis sometimes made by the plea that what is said of "wine"
is said of its excessive use; but the excessive use is
not "red," and does not "give its eye (bubble) in the
cup"; and if such terms as " mocker," "raging," " deceiver," do not markl some causative quality in the substance spoken of, metaphorical language is a delusion.
Wine cannot literally be a "mocker" (scorner); but if
this epithet is not assigned it on account of its peculiar
power of turning men into "mockers," or scorners, for
what reason is it assigned? To say that " the effects are
meant," is to say nothing, for does not the nature of the
effects indicate the nature of the cause? Can a good
tree bring forth corrupt fruit? The attempt to find an
analogy to such metaphors by alleging that money is
called "the root of all evil," and the tongue "a world of
iniquity," and "full of deadly poison," is of no avail.
Not money, but love of money (one word in the Greekizhilaruaria) is spoken of; and what is said of the
"tongue" is plainly meant of the evil disposition which
moves the tongue to evil utterances, as wine moves those
who consume it to evil in thought, word, and deed.
Thus we find that Scripture sustains the temperance doctrine that the evil arising from drinking is to be referred
to a perverting quality and tendency in the drink used,
and that, therefore, to blame the effects while cherishing
the cause is not to act conformably with enlightened
religion. Hence we are prepared to find that (4.) Ifzlovica/&nz druzk is emSloyed as a symibol of evil aztd
of dzvote wrath. The evil operates within, the wrath from
without; but they resemble one another in their disastrous effects, and this resemblance finds fit symbolic.ex
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