TEMPERANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10408, 5 April 1897, Page 3

TEMPERANCE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l fear that your brief reference in this morning's issue to my remarks at St. Matthew's, last night, may create a mistaken impression. My text was not " Br. temperate in all things," but" Temperate in all things," St. Paul's description of those who strove for the mastery at the Isthmian games. I stated that the word translated " temperate" was, in the Greek, suggestive of personal inward strength; and that the late Arcnbishop Benson, speaking to boys of how "all things" had been given by God into man's hands, had pointed out that there were three ways of dealing with them : (1) Bystudy of them ; (2) by employment of them; (3) by refraining from them. The first was the most noble ; the second was the most general;' the third was the most necessary. He that refrains from that which is in his power, with St. Paul, " standing steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will," saying to himself, even of things lawful, "I will not be brought under the power of any," is the stroug or " temperate" man, and reminds one of Huxley's description, " whose passions have been trained to come to heel by a vigorous will, the servant of a tender conscience." This position is possible to each of us, though naturally weak, if we will believingly use the grace brought to ns through the Incarnation, strong in the grace of Christ, we shall be able to really help others. Forgive, my trespassing on your space, but the matter is one upon which I should wish not to be misunderstood,—l am, etc., B. T. DuDbEr. April'2,lß97.