A DRUNKARD'S DEATH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 259, 19 April 1878, Page 7

A DRUNKARD'S DEATH.

During one of his recent sermons on temperance, Father Bourke related the following startling incident relative to the horrible death of a drunkard which he had witnessed : I once brought the Blessed Sacrament to a man dying of delirhini tremena ; I calmed him for a time. But he cried out, " Oh, see, here, are all the devils around me ! Great God of heaven, what am Ito do .' "' Well, I calmed him, so that I thought I could hear his confession. He was quiet for a moment, and he asked me confidentially : " Tell me," said he, " you are a priest?" " Well, lam a priest." "Have you the Blessed Sacrament with you ? " "I have, 1 ' I replied. He sprang out of the bed. and he dying. " What made you bring God here to me 1" he ciied. "What made you bring God here to me? "I'll meet Him time enough. He is about to damn me, and send me down into Tiell ! " He sprang out of bed, and died upon the floor ! Oh, for God's sake, my brothers, don't let any man over whom you have any influence expose himself to this awful death. Don't, for God's sake, don't let this blemish and this awful stain come upon you, bringing in its train cursing, lying, adultery, bloodshed, forgetf ulness of God, a debasing impurity, an awful spirit of blasphemy, and all that can make people accursed and hateful- in the sight of the Most High and Most Holy God ! let me conclude with one word of St. Peter. " Brethren, be sober and watch : for your enemy goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." O Son of God, who died upon a cross to save us from our enemy ; and our enemy is the Demon of Drunkenness. 0 Son of God, before whose altar we are assembled to-night, make us not only sober but watchful, that we conquer that enemy, and so come to see Thy glory in the Kingdom of eternal happiness, for evermore.