30
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene
not only mental and physical, but moral. As a result we see nervous
men and women, of unsound judgment and unbalanced mind. They
often manifest a hasty, impatient, accusing spirit, viewing the faults
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of others as through a magnifying glass, and utterly unable to discern
their own defects.
When these tea and coffee users meet together for social entertain-
ment, the effects of their pernicious habit are manifest. All partake
freely of the favorite beverages, and as the stimulating influence is
felt, their tongues are loosened, and they begin the wicked work of
talking against others. Their words are not few or well chosen. The
tidbits of gossip are passed around, too often the poison of scandal as
well. These thoughtless gossipers forget that they have a witness. An
unseen Watcher is writing their words in the books of heaven. All these
unkind criticisms, these exaggerated reports, these envious feelings,
expressed under the excitement of the cup of tea, Jesus registers as
against himself. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [
Matthew 25:40
.]
We are already suffering because of the wrong habits of our fathers,
and yet how many take a course in every way worse than theirs! Opium,
tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor are rapidly extinguishing the spark
of vitality still left in the race. Every year millions of gallons of
intoxicating liquors are drank, and millions of dollars are spent for
tobacco. And the slaves of appetite, while constantly spending their
earnings in sensual indulgence, rob their children of food and clothing
and the advantages of education. There can never be a right state of
society while these evils exist.
When the appetite for spirituous liquor is indulged, the man vol-
untarily places to his lips the draught which debases below the level
of the brute, him who was made in the image of God. Reason is para-
lyzed, the intellect is benumbed, the animal passions are excited, and
then follow crimes of the most debasing character. How can the user
of rum or tobacco give to God an undivided heart? It is impossible.
Neither can he love his neighbor as himself. The darling indulgence
engrosses all his affections. To gratify his craving for strong drink, he
sells reason and self-control. He places to his lips that which stupefies
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the brain, paralyzes the intellect, and makes him a shame and curse
to his family, and a terror to all around him. If men would become
temperate in all things, if they would touch not, taste not, handle not,