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Temperance
Only men of strict temperance and integrity should be admitted
to our legislative halls and chosen to preside in our courts of justice.
Property, reputation, and even life itself, are insecure when left to
the judgment of men who are intemperate and immoral. How many
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innocent persons have been condemned to death, how many more
have been robbed of all their earthly possessions, by the injustice of
drinking jurors, lawyers, witnesses, and even judges!—
The Signs of
the Times, February 11, 1886
.
If All Responsible Men Were Temperate
—Should represen-
tative men keep the way of the Lord, they would point men to a
high and holy standard. Those in positions of trust would be strictly
temperate. Magistrates, senators, and judges would have a clear
understanding, and their judgment would be sound and unperverted.
The fear of the Lord would ever be before them, and they would
depend upon a higher wisdom than their own. The heavenly Teacher
would make them wise in counsel, and strong to work steadfastly in
opposition to all wrong, and to advance that which is right and just
and true. The word of God would be their guide, and all oppression
would be discarded. Lawmakers and administrators would abide by
every good and just law, ever teaching the way of the Lord to do
justice and judgment. God is the head of all good and just govern-
ments and laws. Those who are entrusted with the responsibility of
administering any part of the law, are accountable to God as stewards
of His goods.—
The Review and Herald, October 1, 1895
.
Reason Dethroned at Belshazzar’s Feast
—In his pride and ar-
rogancy, with a reckless feeling of security, Belshazzar “made a great
feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.”
All the attractions that wealth and power could command, added
splendor to the scene. Beautiful women with their enchantments
were among the guests in attendance at the royal banquet. Men of
genius and education were there. Princes and statesmen drank wine
like water, and reveled under its maddening influence. With reason
dethroned through shameless intoxication, and with lower impulses
and passions now in the ascendancy, the king himself took the lead
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in the riotous orgy.—
Prophets and Kings, 523
.
At the very moment when the feasting was at its height, a blood-
less hand came forth, and traced on the wall of the banqueting room
the doom of the king and his kingdom. “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Up-