crown of rejoicing; for if ye, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, shall find mercy, these shall cause you to ' shine as the stars in the firmament, for ever and ever.' See then your responsibility, that ye may beware of abusing it; see your blessed privilege, if ye be faithful, that you may strive to secure it. Brethren; care for the souls of your men, and the Lord will care for you.

DISCOURSE XII.

ON THE EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE.

JOEL i. 5.

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep!

DRUNKENNESS, is at once the bane of the people, and the curse of the land in which we live. Whilst, then, this many-headed-monster is permitted to reign amongst us unheeded and unchecked, how partial, if not vain, must be every benevolent endeavour for promoting either the good of the land, or the welfare of the people. America, which but recently groaned under the miseries of an intemperate population, has, through the good providence of God, been awoke from her stupor, and is now actively stirring herself to extirpate the evil which was ruining the peace of her sons. Though somewhat aware that the deadly plague was prevalent among ourselves, we either neglected to ascertain the extent of the disease, or, perceiving something of the frightful

truth, sunk in despair at the vastness of the misery, and the apparent hopelessness of the case. But the success which hath attended the efforts of our American brethren in checking the progress of the mortal malady, hath moved us with hope to follow their example. Therefore, would we warn the sober amongst us to beware of the plague, and call upon them to awake to the misery of their perishing brethren; whilst the rest would we admonish in the words of the text, saying, "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep."

These objects we shall now attempt, with a humble dependence on the divine blessing, by discoursing more at large On the evils of intem

perance.

Drunkenness, because less dreaded than great crimes, is one of the most dangerous and insidious vices to which mankind are addicted. For thousands of persons who at first look upon the crimes of theft, lying, fraud, or adultery with absolute horror, consider the vice of drunkenness rather as a little fault or a pardonable weakness, than as a sin against God and against their own souls. And many who think habitual intemperance a shocking and degrading vice, justify moderate drinking, as a useful and heart-cheering practice, and excuse even occasional excess, as no great harm. But the nature of all kinds of drunken

ness is alike brutal;-the difference being only in the frequency or degree of the indulgence; for to be a drunkard habitually, is to be always a beast; to be an occasional drunkard is only to be a beast sometimes!

Did every one who indulges in drinking, either in occasional excess, or even in moderation for the purpose of cheerful excitement, consider the fatal tendency and consequences of this hateful vice, they would surely pause before they entered the door of temptation, or put to their lips the ensnaring glass. For there is no sin which ever has been devised by the hearts of wicked men, or by the instigation of the Devil, that has not been found to follow in the track of drunkenness. Drunkenness is the train which sets fire to every inflammable passion and vice of our nature, and which furnishes the fuel for the support of the flame it has kindled! Yet, fools that men are, they not only sport with this deadly enemy; but actually laugh at the pitiable victims who are in its ruinous grasp. The giddy world makes a mock at sin, and finds sport in the vice that is destructive to body and soul. Many who look on the reeling drunkard, only look that they may laugh. Yet they who laugh at the drunkard, laugh at a wife's wretchedness, a family's misery; at children's starvation, and the ruin of immortal souls! Sailors! By all your hopes of comfort,

happiness, and respectability in life; by all your hopes of preferment in your worldly business; by all your desires for the esteem of good and honourable men; by every expectation of good in earth or heaven, I charge you beware of the ruinous sin of drunkenness. For drunkenness expels the favour of both God and man, drives every amiable and virtuous feeling away, opens the sluices of vice and sensuality, sears the conscience and hardens the heart, expels the Spirit of God, and throws open the gates of the citadel to the great enemy of man, so that Satan obtains complete dominion, and reigns in destructive triumph in the soul! And are not these things so? Does not drunkenness throw the pike to the revengeful foe, and place the degraded wretch at the mercy of his enemy? You know it does; for by means of intoxicating liquors, not only Satan tempts, but wicked men triumph in the spoliation of their unsuspecting fellow-creatures.

When the artful swindler has designs against your little property, he gives you drink; when the harlot would decoy you to her devilish haunts, and rob you of your hard-earned wages, she persuades you to drink to your heart's content; when the Devil would lead you on to greater crimes, he prepares effectually for his deep-laid snares by tempting you to drink; and when wicked men, as Satan's agents, would betray you into their