love. These are the scenes in which the effects of this most inexcusable traffic in ardent spirits are exhibited: these the scenes, where cruel and cold-hearted avarice, for the sake of a few paltry sixpences, palsies every healthful pulse of life, and sharpens every pang of death-where the grim master of the sacrifice himself, coming forth from his dark Aceldama of human blood, strikes down every hope that can cheer, and wrings every fibre that can feel, before he gives the final blow that sends the suffering victim to eternity. Can that traffic be justified by an enlightened and virtuous people, which thus alone holds out the chief temptation to ntemperance, and strews the land with 'beggars, and widows, and orphans, and crimes,'-which breaks up the foundations of social happiness, consigns millions prematurely to their graves, and fills the world with wailings, lamentations, and woe? I answer, No. Policy, morality, patriotism, religion condemn it."

Says an eminent European writer, "Let him who sells ardent spirit bring the practices of his daily calling to the standard of the Bible; and when he stores his ship with this body and soul destroying agent; when he holds out its tempting symbols to his friends and to all around him; when he knows its deleterious nature, and sees its demoralizing tendency; when his hands are polluted in transmitting it to the hand of the drunkard;-when husbands, and wives, and mothers, and children, are pining in indigence and hopeless sorrow caused by that very article which it is his business to retail, let him inquire whether he can be a participant in, or a cause of such scenes and yet be free from guilt. Let him inquire whether he can conscientiously go to his keees, and pray for the blessing of God to rest upon, and to prosper the works of his hands. Let him inquire whether he seriously believes, that God will send forth his hogsheads of whiskey, or rum, or brandy to be a blessing to his fellow men; or whether he can lie down on his pillow at night with a calm and tranquil mind, when he thinks on the miserable and wretched beings whom he has been helping to destroy, and some of whom have passed into eternity under the influence of spirits provided for them within his door. Let him ponder well such passages of the word of God as these, and then let conscience give her verdict. Woe to him that giveth his neighbor drink, and maketh him drunken.' 'Let no man put a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.' 'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.' 'Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.' Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.'"

6

And after quoting from a writer of our own country the declaration, that could each hogshead of whiskey which a Christian sells, come back, and as it enters his door tell him of the families it has made miserable, the wives it has made widows, and the children it

has made orphans, he would start back from the traffic as he would from the pit of perdition; and after stating many horrible cases of its effects upon those who sell, and those who buy, and saying that it seems as if the same malignant spirit reigned every where in the bosoms of those who have sold themselves to strong drink, and that nothing appears too base or Satanic for them to perpetrate, he adds, "When will the moral man, and the Christian withdraw altogether from countenancing either directly or indirectly this system of iniquity; and resolve neither to make, sell, or use these distilled liquors, which are so preeminently Satan's instruments of evil to a guilty world."

Such is the voice of the press, both in this country, and in Europe. And the truth which it has uttered has commended itself to the conscience, and operates powerfully and efficaciously on the heart.

Multitudes have during the past year renounced the unhallowed and degrading traffic; and greater multitudes have been impressed with its awful wickedness and guilt. One man writes, "The publications on this subject, if circulated and read, must drive every man of conscience out of this traffic, or drive him distracted." Another man remarks, "Every man who is in this traffic must renounce it or give up his religion; for Christian character and rumselling cannot any longer go together." Another man writes, "Makers and venders of ardent spirits have no souls; if they had, and understood what they are doing, they could not continue in their present employment."

These are indeed strong expressions; but they show the current of public sentiment, and the deep abhorrence with which reflecting men view that fatal employment.

A respectable master mill-wright was solicited to repair the pumps of a distillery; but he refused, and said that he could not without a violation of conscience, even in the way of business, aid in expediting the manufacture of an article that was working such terrible destruction among his fellow men. Another man was applied to, to paint a sign that should show the passing traveller the place in which he could get the poison. But though dependent on his business for his living, he promptly refused; and let the applicant know that he believed it to be morally wrong thus to assist in destroying others.

A miller who lived in a State that required by law, that millers should grind such grain as might be brought to them for that purpose, when grain was brought to be ground for distillation, refused to grind it. He would not have his mill prostituted to such a vile and loathesome purpose. He could not do it without a violation of moral duty, and he felt bound, though it was a breach of human law, to refuse. He did refuse, like a man who was not afraid to do

right. The destroyer however, continuing intent upon his gain, the man was prosecuted and fined. He applied to the Legisla-, ture; whereupon they passed the following act, viz. "It is hereby enacted, that an act entitled, an act, relating to mills and millers,' shall not be so construed as to make any owner or occupier of any mill, liable to the penalty therein named, who shall refuse, or neglect to grind any grain brought to such mill to be ground for the avowed, or apparent purpose, of manufacturing such grain into distilled spirits; nor liable to any suit or action for so refusing." And, says an energetic writer, speaking of this man, "He has done well, and has shown that a good, well informed conscience, resolutely obeyed, will make its possessor a benefactor to mankind. Time, place, occupation, circumstances cannot hinder it. Though shut up in a grist-mill, busy in watching the fineness of Indian meal as it comes from between the stones, such a man may amend the legislation of States, and Empires, and hasten the march of mankind towards the enjoyment of all their rights; by just doing one duty after another, as they come along, without being deterred by fear of consequences."

In another State a town applied to the Legislature for an act of incorporation. While the bill was before the lower house, a member moved to strike out the 3d section, which contained the usual authority to town officers to grant licenses to retail spirituous liquors. An animated debate ensued; and in which the advocates for licenses, assumed the same rights for the town in question to regulate its own morals, as had been granted to other towns. The mover replied that the Legislature had no right to authorise the granting of licenses for such a purpose. A noble sentiment, worthy to be written in letters of gold; and destined soon to be the opinion of the world. He said that he considered it to be their duty as guardians of the public welfare, to take a stand on this subject. He did not legislate, with reference to the state of things in that town, which he presumed was not worse than in others, but he would oppose any measure, whencesoever it proceeded, which tended to spread the pernicious influence of intemperance. And on the final question the motion to strike out prevailed by a large majority.

The keeper of a little grog-shop in a narrow dirty lane, said to his acquaintance, "These temperance folks are doing a deal of mischief. On Saturday night, the workmen, after getting their wages, on their way home used to stop at my store and drink. I used on that night and the next day to take a hundred dollars, but now I cannot take ten." A deal of mischief to be sure, as the other ninety dollars now goes to support their starving families.

And what a deal of mischief will legislators do, when they shall no longer sanction by legislation the licensing of men to sell ar

dent spirit, and thus to take on Saturday night and Sabbath day, a hundred dollars from starving families; and instead of poisoning the father and rendering him a maniac, shall let him remain sober, to carry bread and clothing, peace and joy, to his wife and children.

Another man, licensed to sell, and acting under the full sanction of legislative authority, had on hand a quantity of spirit. Finding no opportunity to sell it, where it might not be drunk and destroy his fellow men; and not being willing to do that for money, he turned it into the sea. He had rather lose it, than to have the drinker lese it, and with it, as he might should he drink it, lose his life, and his soul. Though he could get the money for it, he did not believe it to be right in that way to make money; because it tended to destroy others. He did not believe it to be right for him to teach the doctrine, as he would should he sell it, that men can without committing sin, buy and drink it. He did not believe it would be right, even should he appropriate the avails to the distribution of the Bible, or the relief of the poor. As Jehovah abhors robbery for sacrifice, he knew that he would not accept the fruit of a traffic which does more mischief than robbery itself. He therefore resolved to cleanse his hands and purify his heart from that covetousness, which leads men, for the sake of money, to desolate and destroy.

Another man, who was convinced that it is wrong to make ardent spirit, to import or to vend it, was yet not so sure that there might not be a case, in which a cargo consigned to him, not from another country but from his own, might be lawfully sold, as, if he should not sell it, some other man would, and his doing it would not increase the quantity in the country or the amount that would be used. He had such a cargo, and after considerable doubt and hesitation, he sold it and took the commission. But said he, after reflection, "I believe I ought not to keep that money." He chose not to retain it. And he appropriated it to the dissemination of information as to the nature and effects of spirituous liquors, for the purpose, as far as practicable, of convincing all men that it is wicked to make, import, sell, or drink it. Should a man sell it, even on commission, though another man would sell it if ne should not, he would teach by that act the fatally erroneous doctrine, that it is not wicked to buy and drink it ;-a doctrine which no man can teach, without being accessory to the evils, temporal and eternal, which it occasions.

And this, with Christians and sober men, in proportion as they examine the subject, is becoming more and more the deep and universal conviction.

The Clerk of a Presbytery writes, "We have within our bounds twenty-one churches; and there is not an individual in either, who is in any way connected with the traffic in ardent spirit." There

are ten sucn churches in the city of Boston, and twenty in the city of New York; and the Committee are led to believe, more than a thousand in other parts of the country. The impression is now common that for men to profess religion and covenant before heaven and earth to do good as they have opportunity to all men, and then make it a business to manufacture, or sell, that which produces such unmixed and overwhelming evils, is solemn mockery. To go from the communion table to the grog-shop, the liquor store, or the distillery, and pour out streams of death over the community, is an abomination in the sight of heaven, which the great Head of the Church, who died to redeem it unto himself, requires should be universally and forever done away. And those who, notwithstanding all the light which the church can now furnish as to the nature and effects of this traffic, still continue in it, are viewed as unfit for her communion. And increasing numbers believe that they are forbidden by the sacred oracles to be accessory to the introduction of such persons into the visible church. Numbers of churches have been formed, with the understanding among the members that no such persons are ever to be admitted. Nor is this, as some suppose, adopting a new rule or test of admission to churches, or one not recognized in the Bible. It is only the application of the principles and requirements of the scriptures correctly to this case, whereas in times past, through ignorance and error, they have not been so applied. The Bible does not indeed say, in so many words, that retailers of spirit, or distillers, shall not be admitted to the church. Neither does it say, that gamblers, or counterfeiters of the public coin, shall not be admitted to the church. And yet Christians act, and long have acted as if it said so; and they are forbidden to act otherwise. Why? because those practices are immoral, and as really known to be such as if they were mentioned by name, and denounced as immoralities in the Bible. So with the traffic in ardent spirit.

If, with all the light which, from the Scriptures and from facts, the church can now furnish, a man does not renounce the traffic, he fails to exhibit that evidence of being a good man, which would justify others in receiving and treating him as such.

Besides, as the business is immoral, if it must be continued, less mischief will be done if it is carried on only by men out of the church, than if it is carried on also by church members. as most of the troubles which the churches have had with their members have arisen from this employment, they are bound in self defence not to admit such persons to their communion. They have too many such in the churches already; and they are bound not to increase the number. If they do, they will increase their weakness and their sorrows. This employment is one of the most powerful obstructions to the efficacy of the gospel, and one of the