shortened, until by a sudden inundation it is stopped. Or, if in this form death is avoided, it is, only to be met in another--more dilatory but no less terrific; for now comes on the last catastrophe--the sudden prostration of strength and appetite--an increased difficulty of raising the ebbing tide of life by stimulants-a few panic struck reformations, just on the sides of the pit, until the last sinking comes, from which there is no resurrection but by the trump of God, and at the judgment day.

And now the woes and the sorrows, and the contentions and the wounds, and babblings are over--the red eye sleeps--the tortured body rests--the deformed. visage is hid from human observation-and the soul, while the dust crumbles back to dust, returns to God who gave it, to receive according to the deeds done in the body.

Such is the evil which demands a remedy. And what can be done to stop its ravages and rescue its victims ?

This is not the place to say all that belongs to this part of the subject, but we cannot close without saying by anticipation a few things here; and

1. There should be extended through the community an all-pervading sense of the danger there is of falling into this sin. Intemperance is a disease as well as a crime, and were any other disease, as contagious, of as marked symptoms, and as mortal, to pervade the

land, it would create universal consternation: for the plague is scarcely more contagious or deadly; and yet we mingle fearlessly with the diseased, and in spite of admonition we bring into our dwellings the contagion, apply it to the lip, and receive it into the system.

I know that much is said about the prudent use of ardent spirits; but we might as well speak of the prudent use of the plague-of fire handed prudently around among powder-of poison taken prudently every day—or of vipers and serpents introduced prudently into our dwellings, to glide about as a matter of courtesy to visitors, and of amusement to our children.

First or last, in spite of your prudence, the contagion will take--the fatal spark will fall upon the train -the deleterious poison will tell upon the system--and the fangs of the serpent will inflict death. There is no prudent use of ardent spirits, but when it is used as a medicine. All who receive it into the system are not destroyed by it. But if any vegetable were poisonous to as many, as the use of ardent spirits proves destructive, it would be banished from the table; it would not be prudent to use it at all. If in attempting to cross a river upon an elastic beam--as many should fall in and be drowned, as attempt to use ardent spirits prudently and fail, the attempt to cross in that way would be abandoned--there would be no prudent use of that mode of crossing. The effect of attempting to use

ardent spirits prudently, is destructive to such multitudes, as precludes the possibility of prudence in the use of it. When we consider the deceitful nature of this sin, and its irresistible power when it has obtained an ascendency--no man can use it prudently--or without mocking God can pray while he uses it, “lead us not into temptation." There is no necessity for using it at all, and it is presumptuous to do so.

2. A wakeful recollection should be maintained of the distinction between intemperance and drunkenness. So long as men suppose that there is neither crime nor danger in drinking, short of what they denominate drunkenness, they will cast off fear and move onward to ruin by a silent, certain course, until destruction comes upon them, and they cannot escape. It should be known therefore and admitted, that to drink daily, at stated times, any quantity of ardent spirits, is intemperance, or to drink periodically as often as days, and times, and seasons, may furnish temptation and opportunity, is intemperance. It may not be for any one time the intemperance of animal or mental excitement, but it is an innovation upon the system, and the beginning of a habit, which cannot fail to generate disease, and will not be pursued by one hundred men without producing many drunkards.

It is not enough therefore to erect the flag ahead, to mark the spot where the drunkard dies. It must be planted at the entrance of his course, proclaiming in

waving capitals---THIS IS THE WAY TO DEATH!! Over the whole territory of "prudent use," it must wave and warn. For if we cannot stop men in the beginning, we cannot separate between that and the end. He who lets ardent spirits alone, before it is meddled with, is safe, and he only. It should be in every family a contraband article, or if it is admitted, it should be allowed for medical purposes only. It should be labelled as we label laudanum-and TOUCH NOT, TASTE NOT, HANDLE NOT, should meet the eye on every which contains it.

vessel

Children should be taught early the nature, symptoms, and danger of this sin, that they may not unwittingly fall under its power. To save my own children from this sin has been no small part of my solicitude as a parent, and I can truly say that should any of my children perish in this way, they will not do it ignorantly, nor unwarned. I do not remember that I ever gave permission to a child to go out on a holiday, or gave a pittance of money to be expended for his gratification, unattended by the earnest injunction, not to drink ardent spirits, or any inebriating liquor; and I cannot but believe, that if proper exertions are made in the family to apprise children of the nature and danger of this sin, and to put them on their guard against it-opinions and feelings and habits might be so formed, that the whole youthful generation might rise up as a rampart, against which the fiery waves of intem

perance would dash in vain, saying, hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here shail thy proud waves be stayed. To all our schools instruction on this subject should be communicated, and the Sabbath schools now spreading through the land, may in this manner lend a mighty influence to prevent the intemperance of the rising generation.

In respect to the reformation of those over whom the habit of intemperance has obtained an ascendency --there is but one alternative, they must resolve upon immediate and entire abstinence.

Some have recommended, and many have attempted, a gradual discontinuance. But no man's prudence and fortitude are equal to the task of reformation in this way. If the patient were in close confinement, where he could not help himself, he might be dealt with in this manner, but it would be cruelly protracting a course of suffering through months, which might be ended in a few days. But no man, at liberty, will reform by gradual retrenchment. Substitutes have also been recommended as the means of reformation, such as opium, which is only another mode of producing inebriation, is often a temptation to intemperance, and not unfrequently unites its own forces with those of ardent spirits to impair health, and destroy life. It is a preternatural stimulant, raising excitement above the tone of health, and predisposing the system for intemperate drinking.