God's revealed truth. Perilous indeed is the state of the soul of the habitual drunkard. And what can be the hope of the wretched individual who perisheth in his intoxication? What the situation of him, who, having deprived himself of all outward consciousness, passes in that state of insensibility from time into eternity; and awakes no more, until the arch-angel's trumpet summons him to judgment! "O that men were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end !"7 Judgment and eternity, my brethren, hasten on, though we may be forgetful of those all-important things, though we may be greedy and mad after every sensual indulgence, and abuse the good creatures of a bountiful and gracious Providence to sad occasions of falling. Re member, brethren, further, that in the judgment of the great day, unto which we must all rise after the deep sleep of 7 Deut. xxxii. 29. "He the grave, the plea of ignorance in regard either to the folly or the sinfulness of this habit will not avail Christian men. Ye know the truth in this matter. As already observed, daily experience, and the commonest observation, will suffice to declare the disgraceful misfortunes into which the man, addicted to immoderate drink, suffers himself to be led. goeth, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver ; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life."8 And think ye further, brethren, as ye stand arraigned at Christ's dread tribunal, at the tribunal of him, who hath said, "Be ye holy, for I am holy;" think ye that, in excuse for having thus enervated and destroyed your health and strength, it will then avail you to plead that you have not wronged your neighbour in this matter, that in the course 8 Prov. vii. 22, 23. of your drunken folly you have only marred your own worldly prospects? However christian charity may breathe a fervent prayer over the bed of the dying profligate-and christian hope is not to be denied to the returning prodigal even at the eleventh hour yet, brethren, living men, men yet abroad in the world, and with their faculties of mind and body yet vigorous, and who, perhaps, may be glorying in their strength, and abusing it to purposes of occasional, if not habitual, excess-all such men are to be again and again solemnly reminded, that "drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Their sin is enumerated among those "works of the flesh," which conduct to the mansions of a too late repentance and unavailing re morse. Be Therefore, brethren, and in conclusion, we bid you to "consider the end." persuaded, that what hath been here said, hath been delivered for your own indi vidual good. matter. (6 Get wisdom" in this "Get understanding" as to the present profit, and the everlasting gain of sobriety. "So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."9 And if ye will not hear, if ye will not hearken unto this counsel from the Lord, if ye will not receive this promise of Holy Writ to follow and to lay hold of it-then shall the shame and the ruin be on your own heads. "Thou shalt mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed; and when there remaineth, if sense and reflection do then remain, "but a fearful looking for of judgment." 1 In a word, and with reference to this, and to all the practical advice which a minister of the Gospel may at any time deem it needful to give from his appointed place, he, who now addresses you, may be allowed to adopt the peremp 9 Prov. iii. 4. 1 Prov. v. 11. 2 Heb. x. 27. |