If you wish to be always thirsty, be a Drunkard; for the oftener and more you drink, the oftener and more thirsty you will be.
If you seek to prevent your friends raising you in the world, be a Drunkard; for that will defeat all their efforts.
If you would effectually counteract your own attempts to do well, be a Drunkard; and you will not be disappointed.
If you wish to repel the endeavors of the whole human race to raise you to character, credit, and prosperity, be a Drunkard; and you will most a.s.suredly triumph.
If you are determined to be poor, be a Drunkard; and you will soon be ragged and pennyless.
If you would wish to starve your family, be a Drunkard; for that will consume the means of their support.
If you would be imposed on by knaves, be a Drunkard; for that will make their task easy.
If you would wish to be robbed, be a Drunkard; which will enable the thief to do it with more safety.
If you would wish to blunt your senses, be a Drunkard; and you will soon be more stupid than an a.s.s.
If you would become a fool, be a Drunkard; and you will soon lose your understanding.
If you wish to unfit yourself for rational intercourse, be a Drunkard; for that will accomplish your purpose.
If you are resolved to kill yourself, be a Drunkard; that being a sure mode of destruction.
If you would expose both your folly and secrets, be a Drunkard; and they will soon be made known.
If you think you are too strong, be a Drunkard; and you will soon be subdued by so powerful an enemy.
If you would get rid of your money without knowing how, be a Drunkard; and it will vanish insensibly.
If you would have no resource when past labor but a workhouse, be a Drunkard; and you will be unable to provide any.
If you are determined to expel all comfort from your house, be a Drunkard; and you will soon do it effectually.
If you would be always under strong suspicion, be a Drunkard; for little as you think it, all agree that those who steal from themselves and families will rob others.
If you would be reduced to the necessity of shunning your creditors, be a Drunkard; and you will soon have reason to prefer the by-paths to the public streets.
If you would be a dead weight on the community, and "c.u.mber the ground,"
be a Drunkard; for that will render you useless, helpless, burdensome, and expensive.
If you would be a nuisance, be a Drunkard; for the approach of a Drunkard is like that of a dunghill.
If you would be hated by your family and friends, be a Drunkard; and you will soon be more than disagreeable.
If you would be a pest to society, be a Drunkard; and you will be avoided as infectious.
If you do not wish to have your faults reformed, continue to be a Drunkard, and you will not care for good advice.
If you would smash windows, break the peace, get your bones broken, tumble under carts and horses, and be locked up in watch-houses, be a Drunkard; and it will be strange if you do not succeed.
If you wish all your prospects in life to be clouded, be a Drunkard; and they will soon be dark enough.
If you would destroy your body, be a Drunkard; as drunkenness is the mother of disease.
If you mean to ruin your soul, be a Drunkard; that you may be excluded from heaven.
Finally, if you are determined to be utterly destroyed, in estate, body, and soul, be a Drunkard; and you will soon know that it is impossible to adopt a more effectual means to accomplish your--END.
"All the crimes on earth," says Lord Bacon, "do not destroy so many of the _human race_, nor alienate so much _property_, as _drunkenness_."
_Drunkenness_ expels reason--drowns the memory--defaces beauty--diminishes strength--inflames the blood--causes internal, external, and incurable wounds--is a witch to the senses, a devil to the soul, a thief to the purse--the beggar"s companion, the wife"s woe, and children"s sorrow--makes a strong man weak, and a wise man a fool. He is worse than a beast, and is a self-murderer, who drinks to others" good health, and robs himself of his own. He is worse than a beast, for no animal will designedly intoxicate itself; but a drunkard swallows his liquor, well knowing the condition to which it will reduce him, and that these draughts will deprive him of the use of his reason, and render him worse than a beast. By the effects of liquor his evil pa.s.sions and tempers are freed from restraint; and, while in a state of intoxication, he commits actions, which, when sober, he would have shuddered to have thought of. Many an evil deed has been done, many a MURDER has been committed, when those who did these things were intoxicated.
Tremble, then, if ever you taste the intoxicating draught. Reflect, before you put the cup to your lips. Remember that you are forming a habit which will lead on to the commission of every crime to which the propensities of your nature, rendered violent by indulgence, can urge you. Before you are aware, you may find yourself awaking from a fit of intoxication, guilty of offences against the laws of your country which will draw down just vengeance upon your head; abhorring yourself, and an abhorrence in the sight of heaven.
_Drunkenness_, persisted in, will a.s.suredly _destroy your soul_, and consign you to everlasting misery. Hear what the _word_ of _G.o.d_ declares.
"Awake, ye drunkards, and weep." Joel 1:5.
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contention? who hath wounds without cause? They that tarry long at the wine, they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine; at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Prov. 23:29-32.
"Woe unto them that rise up in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them." Isa. 5:11.
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink." Isa. 5:22.
"The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: uncleanness, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d." Gal. 5:19, 21.
These are awful declarations, and they will certainly be fulfilled upon him who continues to delight in drunkenness; he cannot enjoy the love of G.o.d, he will not be received into heaven.
Separate yourself, then, utterly front this ensnaring sin. "Touch not; taste not; handle not." In ENTIRE ABSTINENCE is your only safety. This persevered in, you shall never fall. Wherever and however the temptation is presented, "avoid it--turn from it, and pa.s.s away." Turn also from every sin. "Commit your way unto the Lord," and he will "direct your paths." A glorious provision is made for your salvation, through the atoning blood of Christ. "G.o.d so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Commit your soul and your all to him. He will guide you through life, enable you to vanquish every foe, and crown you with victory in heaven.
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
THE WELL-CONDUCTED FARM.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Farmer dismissing drunk workman]
Mr. B----, a respectable farmer in Ma.s.sachusetts, came, a number of years ago, into the possession of a farm of about six hundred acres. On this farm he employed eight or ten men. These men were in the habit, and had been for years, of taking each a portion of ardent spirit, when they labored, every day. They had grown up in the practice of taking it, and the idea was fixed in their minds that they _could_ not do without. It was the common opinion in the place, that, for laboring men, who had to work hard, some ardent spirit was _necessary_. Mr. B---- for a time followed the common practice, and furnished his men with a portion of spirit _daily_. But after much attentive observation and mature reflection, he became deeply impressed with the conviction that the practice was not only useless, but hurtful. He became convinced that it tends to lead men to intemperance; to undermine their const.i.tutions; and to sow the seeds of death, temporal and eternal. And he felt that he could not be justified in continuing to cultivate his farm by means of a practice which was ruining the bodies and souls of his fellow-men. He therefore called his men together, and told them, in a kind and faithful manner, what were his convictions. He told them that he was perfectly satisfied that the practice of taking ardent spirits was not only needless, but hurtful--that it tended to weaken and destroy both the body and mind; and that he could not, consistently with his duty, be instrumental in continuing a practice which he had no doubt tended to destroy them both for this world and the world to come. He therefore, from that time, should furnish them with no ardent spirits.
One of them said that he could not work without it; and if he did not furnish them with it, he would not stay with him. "Very well," said Mr.
B----; "hand me your bill, and be off." The man replied, that he presumed all the others would leave him. "Very well," said Mr. B----; "tell them, any of them who choose to leave--all of them, if they choose to go--to hand in their bills, and they shall have their money to-night.
If they stay, however, they shall have nourishing food and drink, at any time, and in any abundance which they wish; and at the close of the year each one shall have twelve dollars, that is, one dollar a month, in addition to his wages. But I shall furnish no spirits of any kind, neither shall I have it taken by men in my employment. I had rather my farm would grow up to weeds, than be cultivated by means of so pernicious a practice as that of taking ardent spirits." However, none of the men left, except that one. And when he saw that all the others concluded to stay, he came back, and said, that as the others had concluded to stay, and do without rum, he believed that he could, and he should be glad to stay, too, if Mr. B---- had no objection. But he told him, No, he did not wish him to stay; he would make of him an example, and he must go. So he departed. The rest went to work, and he furnished them with no spirits from that time through the season. Yet his work, he said, was done "with less trouble, in a better manner, and in better season, than ever before." Some of his men, however, he found, when they went abroad, did take ardent spirits. They sometimes procured it at the tavern, or a store; and in some instances took it secretly, while on his farm. The evil, therefore, although greatly lessened, was not entirely done away.
When he came to hire men again, he let it be known that he did not wish to hire any man who was not willing to abstain entirely, and at all times, from the use of ardent spirits. His neighbors told him that he could not hire men on those conditions; that men could not be found who would do without rum, especially in haying and harvesting. Well, he said, then he would not hire them at all. His farm should grow up to weeds. As to cultivating it by the help of rum, he would not. By allowing men in his employment, and for whose conduct he was in a measure responsible, to take ardent spirits, he should be lending his influence to continue a practice, or he should at least be conniving at a practice, which was destroying more lives, making more mothers widows, and children orphans, than famine, pestilence, and sword: a practice which was destroying by thousands, and tens of thousands, not only the bodies, but the _souls_ of men, rendering them, and their children after them, wretched for this world, and the world to come. "No," said he, "I will clear my hands of this enormous guilt. I will not by practice encourage, or by silence, or having men in my employment who take ardent spirits, connive at this deadly evil." However, he found no difficulty in hiring men, and of the best kind. And when his neighbors saw, that by giving one dollar a month more than others, he could hire as many men as he pleased, they gave up that objection. But they said, it was bad policy; for the men would not do so much work, and he would, in the end, be a loser. But he told them that, although they might not at first do quite so much, he presumed that they would in the end do more. But if they should not, only let them do, said he, what they easily can, and I shall be satisfied. My Maker does not require of me any more than I can do without rum, (for he used no ardent spirits himself) and I shall require no more of them. His men went to work. And his business prospered exceedingly. His men were remarkably uniform in their temper and deportment; still, and peaceable.
He found them every day alike, and he could always safely trust them.