Winchester Gazette

DRUNKENNESS.

No reputation, no windfall will secure
a man against: drunkenness. This sin

is found in the cottage & the palace, in

the study of the philosopher, and at the

sacred desk; in the hall of the coun-

sel, and on the bench of justice; and,

contrary to what would seem the die-

tates of nature as well as delicacy, in

the female sex; even in instances where

distinction, understanding, amiable-

ness and refinement would appear to

forbid even the suspicion. In most, if

not in all these cases, the evil creeps

insensibly on the unhappy subject, and

overcomes him before he is aware. A

prime object to be here regarded, is

therefore to keep the danger always

before our eyes. We are ever to feel

that we ourselves are in danger, and to

consider a habitual and lively dread

of it as our best safety.

Nothing pleads for it except the

mere appetite for strong drink—an

appetite usually unnatural, and created

by casual indulgence. All things else

in heaven and earth exclaim against it

with a single voice. Our health, our

usefulness, our living, our souls, our

families and our friends, in solemn and

affecting union, urge, entreat, and per-

suade us to abstain. God commands;

Christ solicits; the Spirit of grace in-

fluences us to abstain; angels and glori-

fied saints behold our conduct with

such anxiety and alarm as happy be-

ings can feel, and watch, and hope to

see our escape. The law, with a ter-

rible voice, thunders in our ears that

dreadful denunciation— “Drunkards

shall not inherit the kingdom” Even

hell itself, hostile as it is to our salva-

tion, follows the rest of the universe,

and in spite of its own malevolence

subjoins its dreadful admonition; by

marshalling before us the innumera-

ble host of wretches this sin has driven

to its mansions of despair. Who that

does not already come

the sleep of

death, can

awake, and