THE USE OF WINE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8483, 15 May 1893, Page 6

THE USE OF WINE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir, —In " Jason's" letter which appeared in Saturday's issue of the Press, wherein he attempts to justify the use of wine from the sacred Scriptures, he states " that the use of wine was not only not forbidden but was approved of, and regarded as a symbol of plenteousness, and is a source of joy." Now it is well known that there were different wines in use in the olden times, and now I will give some extracts from the pages of the. sacred book which distinctly warn and disapprove of the use of wine, Proverbs, eh. xxiii.,v. 29, 30, ''who hath woe,, who hath sorrow, who hath contention, who hath babbling, who hath wounds without cause, who hath redness of eyes? they that tarry long at the wine, they that go to seek mixed wine "; v. 31, "Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright"; v. 32, "at last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder." Isaiah, eh. v., v. 11, "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, until wine inflame them." Joel, eh. i. v. 5, "Awake ye drunkards and weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine." From these quotations, it will be seen that a certain wine was as intoxicating in that age as it is now, and I defy "Jason" to prove that God ever recommended the use of anything in His Word to be used by man that was intoxicating in its nature and that would do him harm ; and the closer we regard God's instructions and walk in His commandments, the better it will be for His children. I would also refer "Jason" to another passage in the New Testament, where it is said " that no drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." Now, I take it that if " Jason" is sincere and anxious to direct men aright, he should refrain from encouraging the practice of a thing in which there is a temptation and an evil. We should not be the means either by example or precept in leading our brother into temptation and wrong-doing. If we desire to make the world better, we must so conduct our thoughts and our actions before our fellowmen which will, commend itself to their consciences, and which will lead them into the ways of righteousness, and then it will be better for ail of us here and hereafter.—Yours, &c, ROBT. C-EPIIAKE.