With what does the
apostle Paul class temperance?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law." Gal. 5:22, 23.
What does the same
apostle say of those who strive for the mastery?
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in
all things." 1 Cor. 9:25.
In running the
Christian race, what did Paul say he did in order to be successful?
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway." 1 Cor. 9:27.
What is the effect
of intemperance?
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? 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." Prov.
23:29, 30.
Why were kings
prohibited the use of strong drink?
"It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink;
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of
the afflicted." Prov. 31:4, 5.
Why were priests
not allowed to use intoxicating drink?
"And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor
strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle
of the congregation, ...that ye may put difference between holy and
unholy, and between unclean and clean." Lev. 10:8-10.
Why did Daniel and
his companions refuse to drink of the wine of the king of Babylon?
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which
he drank." Dan. 1:8.
After protesting
against the use of the stimulants offered them, what did they request?
"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days: and let them give
us pulse to eat and water to drink." Dan. 1:12.
At the end of the
ten days' test, how did these Hebrews appear?
"And at the end of ten days their
countenances appeared fairer and fatter in
flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's
meat." Dan. 1:15.
At the end of three
years (the time appointed for them to learn the Chaldean tongue, (Dan.
1:4, 5) how many in the realm were found equal in learning to these
abstainers?
"Now at the end of the days... the king communed with them; and among
them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ...And
in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of
them, he found them ten
times better than all the
magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Daniel
1:18-20.
Did not Paul
recommend the use of wine under certain conditions?
"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy
stomach's sake, and thine often infirmities." 1 Tim. 5:23.
How is the first
kind spoken of?
"Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams
of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou
didst drink the PURE BLOOD OF THE GRAPE." Deut. 32:14.
How is the second
kind represented?
"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth
his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it
biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Prov. 23:31, 32.
With what other low
debaucheries is drunkenness more or less associated?
"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like."
Gal. 5:19-21.
Can a drunkard
enter the kingdom of God?
"Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 6:10.
How, then, should a
Christian regard one who persists in drunkenness?
"But now I have written unto you not
to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or
a railer, or a drunkard." 1 Cor. 5:11.
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