NOT FOR ME ONLY. OUCH was certainly not his thought who was “clothed in purple, and fine linen, and who fared sumptuously every day.” It is easy to picture such a man looking complacently upon his own most comfortable sur roundings, and soliloquising, “ How ... good God is to me," " All this for me,” without bestowing a thought on the poor afflicted beggar at his gate. How different was the feeling of the grand old saint whose words are quoted above. It was not enough for him to anticipate his own coming coronation, but he found a far larger joy in the thought of others' glory. And if we possess the spirit of Jesus, and appreciate the purpose of His great salvation, it will not content us to know that we are safe from the power of this temptation, and that snare, and the other peril. Our brother's welfare is our concern as well as his own. “Am I my brother's keeper?" was the question of a guilty conscience,and a polluted soul. In the light of modern Temperance missions, and their universally admitted necessity, we might profitably study anew our Lord's answer to. the Lawyer's enquiry, “Who is my neighbour ?" R. P. Cook. CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY IN REGARD TO THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION. By the Rev. Wm. Stott, of St. John's Wood. HE very first question put to man by his Creator was, “ Adam, where art thou ? ” (Gen. iii. 9.) and this had reference to himself. The second was, “ Cain, where is Abel thy brother?” (Gen. iv. 9.) And underneath these two first great questions lie the principles of moral obligation and responsibility which run through the Bible from first to last, holding the relations of our common humanity together, as does the keystone the arch, and without which cementing and holding force the great human fabric would fall into irrevocable confusion. And this in spite of colour or race, or nationality, or social status,—for God hath made of one blood all nations of men. And the order in which these questions were put at the first suggests the order in which the principle or law of responsibility should affect us now; for nowhere in the Scriptures are we taught to be concerned about the safety of others before our own, or to labour for the salvation of our brother while our own soul's eternal and present interests remain neglected. But safely rescued from the perilous storm, and sheltered in the immovable and all sufficient Refuge, we are bound to remember that the voice said, “Cain, where is thy brother ?” Nor will Cain's answer to God do for us, for no man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself. As the offspring of a common parent, we are bound by the golden chain of a common brotherhood. But still more as the Father's redeemed children, bending at the same Mercy Seat, and being fed at the same family board, and all called by one name, we are doubly bound to love one another, and to seek one another's welfare, bearing each other's burden and so fulfilling the law of Christ. With the Scriptural authority of this principle so clearly before us, we are brought face to face with our subject, which is Christian Responsibility and Duty in regard to Gospel Temperance. Or, in other words, that no Christian man can be so indifferent to the claims, to the wants, and to the weaknesses of those about him, as to say before God, it matters little or nothing to me what becomes of these my neighbours. Will he not rather say, “ I am my brother's keeper. I am also the property of another. I am bought with a priceand the love of Christ constraineth meHe died for all, that they which live should not live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. v. 14)? If we, as Christians of the nineteenth century HYMN FOR ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. 1 E join, O Lord, before Thy throne, Our weakness and Thy care to own; Our daily path we safely tread. P. G. Scorey. Baptist TOTAL ABSTINENCE ASSOCIATION New MemBER'S CARD.-Specially designed and printed in gold and colors on enamel card, 74 by 54 inches, id.each, 6s. per 100 (carriage 6d. per 100). Extra charge for printing in name of society and pledge, 25. per 100; 3s. per 200 ; and is. per 100 beyond if ordered at the same time. Every Band of Hope and Temperance Society in the Denomination should use this Card. Orders, with Postal Notes, should be sent to the Hon. Sec., Mr. James T. Sears, II, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C. could but fathom the sacred depths of con builder only, but for the protection of those who secration that slumber in the heart of those had not such a firm foot and steady head, and words, the result would be, not one spasmodic | whose lives were in peril. effort to do some great thing for God, but a The responsibility of the infuriated beast's daily surrender, a daily pouring out upon the being at large, rested not with the persons gored, altar to the very end of life, “ A living sacrifice but with the owner whose duty it was to keep holy and acceptable unto God, which is our him in. And we pleadingly ask, is not a similar reasonable service.” Now from the doctrine of responsibility ours, in regard to those great these passages, and many others kindred to and terrible evils which confront us every day? them, it is clear that as men redeemed and The wild ox of drunkenness is at large, goring reconciled, Christians cannot live unto them- | men, women, and children to death, in every selves, nor is their supreme aim to be self-grati rank and station in life, from the man ordained fication, we must live for Him who died for us to preach the Gospel of peace, down to the helpand rose again. Oh, if we could get rid of this less orphan of the poor drunkard's widow ; one proud, rampant idolatry, self-indulgence ; and who may be the next victim, God only if we could but resolve to deny ourselves even knows-and yet a so-called Christian governthose things which we cherish with a lawful ment permits this fearful enemy of all people love, for the sake of others, very soon a revolu to go on in its work of death almost tion would take place in the customs and habits | unchecked, and many Christians look on with of society in general, and of the Church of God amazement who might do well to consider if in particular. they are clean-handed in the matter. I. In the first place we argue the Christian's And who shall say we do not require the responsibility and duty on the broad basis of battlement of Total Abstinence around the Bible teaching. Under the old Mosaic dispensa homes of the young, around the schools of tion, the whole scope and sweep of the Bible is youth; yes, and around the sacred sanctuary of on the side of our plea. We need not to pick | prayer. Every minister must know that hundreds out a passage here and another there, as if we of church members fall through drink every year. begged the question, the Word of Life abounds | And besides, the New Testament all the way with suitable and telling illustrations of the through is as full of this doctrine as the Old. doctrine of personal responsibility. In the Does not our Saviour both in practice and Book of Exodus, (Exod. xxi. 28), “ If an ox teaching lay down and enforce this law to the gore a man or woman that they die, then the very last ? May we not see it in His beautiful ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall parable of the Good Samaritan? May we not not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall be see it in those heart-searching and thrilling quit. But if the ox were wont to push with his words, anticipating that day when a man (if not horns in time past, and it hath been testified to before) will find out that he is responsible for his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but his belief and for his actions too ? For every one that he hath killed a man or woman, the ox | shall give account of the deeds done in the body shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to whether they be good or bad. death.” Again, in Deuteronomy (xxii. 8), the law And what are the words He will address to is laid down, “When thou buildest a new house some ? “I was hungry, and ye gave Me no then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink; that thou bring not blood upon thy house if any I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in; naked, man fall from thence." and ye clothed Me not; sick, and in prison, and The man who built the house might say, my ye visited me not.” Here, dear reader, is a house has no need of any battlement, there is condition of things in which some are to be no fear of my going too near the edge, or slip found who represent the very brethren of Christ. ping over. . I have walked on the roof of many “I was a stranger, and ye took me not in." a house in my time, but I have never fallen over | Yes, but not always a stranger, though now a once. Why should I be put to the needless stranger to the House of God,-a stranger to expense, and the mechanical inconvenience of happiness and conscious peace--a stranger to protecting others? The owner of the ox might sobriety, religion, and prayer,—and “ye took me argue, why should I be blamed if my ox does not in,” because, although one of God's little gore anybody? I cannot help it, people should ones, I had lost my reputation through drink. mind what they are doing, and see where they “ I was sick and in prison,'' not once or twice, are going, and keep out of the way of danger. may some say, but many a time; and none of Is not that precisely the tone and spirit in the members of the same church ever paid me which alas, too many Christians speak and act in a visit, because I was excluded from their society regard to the evils and dangers around them ? through drink. Sirs, the battlement on the house was not for! Yes, dear reader, it is the same painful old story. the safety of the well-balanced brain of the | Drink is the poisonous and turbid fountain from which this religious declension, and ruination of character, and consequent poverty and misery springs, and thousands of the most respectable and well-to-do Christians know this, cannot help but know it, for these matters are the painful topics of many a church meeting, and form the staple in many a newspaper column. And yet these same God-fearing, well-wishing, mission-loving people, take and indulge in of WO good men went forth to hold the very liquid fire that produces all the evangelistic services. Neither of mischief. them was a Total Abstainer, so they Oh, have we ever studied our Lord and had beer and pipes. A young maid Master's prayer in the light of all the drunken LE saw them drinking beer and smoking, ness that prevails, and all the degradation that and went away, saying, “ I should not have seethes like one putrescent mass of corruption; thought it.” and this, too, around our churches and chapels, and in the face of all the enlightenment | A BELOVED brother wishes « half the public on which we pride ourselves as a nation. houses” to be abolished. Does he like “ half We reverently bow the knee, and say, “ Our Father, which art in heaven," but no such father When did “half” measures do much good ? and no such home for the poor inebriate, for no There is a nest of adders. One of them, say, drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God. I bites and kills a member of my brother's “Hallowed be Thy Name,” but whence church. Would he cry, “Kill half of the lot?” comes the foulest blasphemy, but from lips that | Not he. Alas! my brother, you made more have been polluted by the use of alcohol. than “half” a mistake. Come, did you not? Then we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and all the time we feel sure that there is no greater hindrance and preventive force either at home A Music Hall and public house has just been or abroad, than that which the poor heathen burned down, --it has the honour to belong to himself calls fire-water. the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. “ Thy will be done,”—yes, but how on earth can it be done while the drinking customs of society block the way. A CLERGYMAN presided at a Blue Ribbon We petition God for daily bread,” and know Mission. He declared it was not a sectarian at that moment what thousands of empty cup meeting, then defended the dual basis of the boards there are, and millions of little ones Church of England Temperance Society, and crying for the bread that drink has stolen. then warned the speakers that they were not to * And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive speak upon that. I am for free speech on that others,” but this narcotic poison so benumbs and every other Temperance topic. the sensibilities of the soul, that malice and revenge are the sure offspring of the drinking We must be prudent. Of course, we must. curse. But we must be true as well. Speak out, say I. " And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Oh, dare we utter it and then tamper with the direst source of evil that Mr. R. T. Booth claims the honour of being ever blighted this fair earth since the world the first man who ever gave a Temperance began. “Lead us not into temptation,” and yet! address in an English gaol. Not so, R. T. of all temptations there are none for one moment Booth, that honour belongs to the late Simeon to be compared with the drinking customs of Smithard, a deacon of a General Baptist Church society, both high and low. We might call as at Derby. The writer of Mr. Booth's life has a witness of the Christian's responsibility in this been duly informed of the error, and, therefore, matter, the Apostle Paul, who, for the sake of no doubt, the publishers will take care that it is others,would deny himself a lawful enjoyment to corrected in a second edition. Honour to whom the end of the world rather than cause a weak honour ! brother to offend. Which is better, then, to hold aloof from this heaven-born mission, for the There is reason to believe that the Rev. Dr. sake of a little personal gratification, or through J. H. Wilson was the first guest of the Queen a fear of offending long-standing friends; or, in who did not drink wine at the royal table. He the spirit of Him who pleased not Himself, but | is alive and well. Long may he live, honest gave Himself a ransom for all, break awayman ! from the unsafe and unholy traffic. The WANDERER. lips; and my tongue shall shew forth Thy praise," may well be used by such as fear to bear testimony for their Saviour. Remember what the Lord said to Moses, when he was afraid, "Who hath made man's mouth, have not I, the Lord ? Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." In like manner will the Master help all His true servants who trust in Him. May every bar be taken away, so that all men can own their Saviour everywhere. 4 FRIENDS KU "A BAR ACROSS THE MOUTH." By the Rev. Charles Spurgeon. speed, for everything was in our favour, until, "What's the matter ?" Our fears of danger were quickly dispersed by the intelligence, that as the tide was not yet high enough we could not cross the bar at the mouth. I was somewhat sorry because of the delay which the fact occasioned; but I thought what a capital thing it would be if we could put a bar across some other mouths beside the one belonging to the river Mersey. There are some people who let the tide of their talk remain at high water, for they never cease chit-chatting. Like Tennyson's brook “Men may come and men may go, But they go on for ever.” If there was a bar at the mouth it might arrest a few of the floating craft that come steaming down the river of · speech in the form of words. "Covet earnestly the best gilts," is a sound exhortation ; but the Apostle did not include the gift of the gab" in his list, for then there would have been too much sound about the exhortation. Obstructionists are to be found in other places besides the Houses of Parliament, for there are such persons as Home Rulers elsewhere who do a great deal too much talking. Tongue is a very good thing to have upon the table at meal-time; but when the carver makes a mistake, and gives the guest "a slice" of his or hers it is not so fully appreciated, for it is generally accompanied with “a bit of their mind." Some folks use their tongues like colts, and ride them until they run away with them. If I had the training of them I would never let them go out without bit and bridle, and a strong curb. The stream of their talk rushes on, and although we seek to draw the line "thus far shalt thou come and no farther," like impetuous waves they cross the limit. A great deal more work would be done if there was not so much wordiness in every department of Christian service. Practice in the place of so much preaching is what the present age needs most, for “though we speak with the tongues of ough we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, we are become as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbals." A padlock would make a fitting present to these everlasting talkers, and if I might be allowed to suggest that the key be kept by some one else it would materially assist in ensuring some degree of silence. If a bar is not the right thing at the mouth, then perhaps a door will suit, and as I read that David prayed, " Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips ;" I shall join the Psalmist in the supplication. Nothing but what is holy and pure will ever be allowed to pass the gate if the Lord is the porter, and while He guards the bar no pirate ship of evil can ever cross. Another class of people needs a bar across their mouths, because their mouths are always across the bar. The difference between the bars is as great as the distinction between beer and water, and instead of oaths mingling with the words which come from the lips of drunkards, there would be thoughts finding utterance both of holiness and purity. I recommend a piece of blue ribbon to tie up the mouths of those that are loose as regards the drink, and the Temperance Pledge as a barrier at the lips to prevent the passing of the intoxicating cup. Such as regularly attend the public-house need to be warned of the evil of drinking. There is " death in the pot," and those loose men that are always tight may unwittingly stagger into their graves. Then again, some need to have the bar of fear removed, for they always tremble to say a word for Jesus, and to speak on His behalf to others. “O Lord, open Thou my A TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL. OLL intoxicating liquors contain a spirit known PAR as alcohol, and it is against the use of this one thing that all teetotalers are pledged. There is not the same proportion of alcohol in all these drinks, some have only a small quantity, while others are fully one half spirit. . Home made wines and beer are not as intoxicating as spirituous liquors, such as rum, gin, brandy, or whiskey. A Band of Hope boy was once asked to take a glass of wine, but he refused, when the lady who offered it said, But you can drink this, for it is home made, and I have put no spirit in it." She forgot that alcohol is formed by fermentation of any liquor containing sugar, and that her home-made wine, having been allowed to ferment, contained alcohol,and was therefore intoxicating. There is a story told of a Persian king who lived shortly after the flood, his name was Jamsheed, and he built the ancient city of Persepolis. At that time Persia was almost like a large vineyard, so many grapes were cultivated, and the king being very fond of them, had large quantities gathered and stored in cellars for his use. One day he found that a lot of them had burst, and the fermented juice tasted hot and strange to him. Instead of at once throwing it away, it is said that he filled large bottles with it and had them labelled "poison," Some time after one of his wives was ill and very low spirited, and determined to take away her life; having found these bottles labelled poison she drank heavily. Becoming stupefied or intoxicated she slept for a long time, and awaking refreshed by the sleep, thought the wine had cured her, so she got into the habit of taking the drink, and soon all the bottles were emptied. One day the king found this out and was very angry, and asked who had dared to take it ; his wife confessed that she was the culprit, and told the king the circumstances. He at once had some grapes pressed, and allowed the juice to ferment, so that he might taste this wonderful drink, and became so fond of it that soon it was a general beverage in the country, and was called "delightful poison." Whether this story is true in every detail or not, the name given by the king was perfectly true, for alcohol is a poison of a very deadly character, and will, if taken undiluted, kill as surely as laudanum or arsenic. Intoxicating simply means “poisonous," so that it would be perfectly correct to say when speaking of any alcoholic liquors, * poisonous drinks " instead of “intoxicating drinks." Perhaps you will wonder how it is, if this is true, that so many people can drink this spirit and not seem any being, so to say, a stroke of the tool, and exercising an the worse for it. influence on other minds, and through them, on social It is just because they have gradually trained themselves circumstances and conditions. He who is known to to it, and though they have in many instances really done abstain out of conviction, is ever using his own conduct as themselves harm, still they can drink without apparent an instrument of Temperance propagandism. According injury what would make many people quite drunk. to the proverb :"Actions speak louder than words," and As an illustration of what is meant the following fact they cut more deeply. Anyone who refuses to take a will show the power of habit. glass of wine on the ground not of some' temporary Some years ago a boy during an illness had small doses sensation, such as a headache,--but of his Temperance of laudanum given to produce sleep, after he got well he principles, is using this tool to good effect. Every similar continued to take this poison unknown to his parents. and successive act makes an impression, and the sum of He was sent to a large boarding school in a few months, and these impressions is work done, and it may be of a very by the assistance of a servant, took wlth him a large bottle valuable kind. of this horrible mixture; every night before getting into But conduct, to do its best, must be consistent. A man bed he used to open his box and take his laudanum, till who is known to abstain at home and to take a little wine he could drink double the quantity without any unusual abroad, even so far abroad as the Continent, blunts his effect upon him. One night a bed fellow snatched the tool, or turns it against the Temperance cause. Alcohol bottle out of his hand and threw it out of the window on may be taken as a medicine without a violation of the to the gravel walk, the poor fellow could not sleep at all, pledge; but if one is known to be frequently taking intoxihe tossed about all night and was quite ill the next day. cating liquor as a medicine, or taking it in society, and A doctor was called in, and when he was told the story, he for a long time together, he gets to be a very poor tool, said that every day that the boy had been taking the so far as Temperance principle and progress are conlaudanum he had been injuring himself, though he did • cerned. not know it. In a week he was able to sleep without any To buy strong drinks for others, though not drinking such false help, and quite recovered from its influence. them oneself, is a course of action sometimes pursued from Those who take alcoholic drinks find just the same a desire not to offend non-abstaining friends: but the feelings, they have just to overcome the natural dislike example of offering will do much to nullify the example to such liquors, and then they become so used to them of abstaining. that they feel they cannot do without them. Let us sharpen our Temperance conduct at the grindSome future time we may have something more to say stone of consistency, and we shall be more blessed in our about this poisonous spirit which is doing so much harm in our land. [The other points will be taken up next month.] deeds. I tools torrent · A BASKET OF TOOLS. WORKETTI HINTS BY AN OLD HAND. No. 1, TORK" is a word of wide meaning, and 8W “Workers” are of many kinds. Be the work 201 what it may, tools are necessary, and man is a tool-making and using animal. In temperance work there is also need of tools-such instruments as are required for getting the work done as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. Temperance work is a genus, including various species, and the tools will vary with the style of work attempted. Our object is to bring over all Churches, all Church members, all professors of religion, and all sorts of people to the adoption of the principle of Total Abstinence. This is the end we set before ustowards which we are to work intelligently, diligently, and-let us hope, by the Divine blessing-successfully. Nothing less can satisfy us but the universal abolition of all drunkenness, all drinking houses, all drinking customs, and all drinking practices. Now, the tools we are to employ in getting through this work--one supremely arduous, and superbly excellent--are of several classes, the Personal, the Intellectual, the Agitational, and the Associational. A few thoughts on each of these will open up the subject, which the reader may pursue to his heart's content. I. PERSONAL. By this I mean all personal acts which bear a relation to our great Temperance purpose. Personal conduct is a great compound tool, and it is ever in operation, each act That Total Abstinence is advantageous under all circumstances is proved by the following facts: ASSURANCE COMPANIES.-One Company announces : “ Total Abstainers are assured in a distinct section, to secure to them the full benefits of the greater longevity to which their principles contribute." Another Company charges Total Abstainers a reduced premium, and in their Prospectus it is broadly stated, " that the wisdom of this step is clearly becoming more apparent, the experiment having proved greatly in favour of the Abstainers." The Bonus returns of the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution, however, provide the most conclusive evidence of all. The calculations of mortality in each section are based on the same tables. In the five years ending 1880, the expected claims in the Temperance section were 933 for £193,748, while the actual claims were only 651 for £126,142, or 282 claims and £67,606 less to meet than were expected. In the general section the expected claims were 1,485 for £311,326, and the actual claims 1,480 for £322,644, or only 5 less than expected; but £11,318 were paid more than were reckoned. The profits, therefore, in the Temperance section were from 41 to 135 per cent. on the premiums paid, while in the general section they amounted to from only 26 to 83 per cent. . That MENTAL STRAIN can be best borne without the use of strong drink is clear from the testimony of such men as the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, Archdeacon Farrar, Newman Hall, Dr. Stanford, Charles Garrett, R. Glover, and a host of other leading men in every section of the Church and Society. In Hot Climates, we have the testimony of LORD WOLSELEY, who forbade the use of strong drink to the soldiers in the Egyptian Campaign, the only drink the men were allowed to take with them before their decisive victory at Tel-el-Kebir being cold tea. Lord Napier, Sir |