lence or love. In reference to this celebrated and primary Christian virtue, the Apostle Paul declares, that it is our duty both by precept and example, to "consider on another, to provoke unto love and to good works," and which St. James describes as 'pure and peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits."-James iii. 17. It is a mistaken notion, that the principles of these Societies embrace in their object the intemperate part only of the community. The reformation of the drunkard is an important consideration in the grand scheme of Christian benevolence. On the principle, however that "prevention is better than cure," the principal means of its accomplishment necessarily depend on the influence and exertions of the sober part of the community. To describe the benefit which would result from a general disuse of inCoxicating liquors, would be to exhibit the reverse side of the melancholy picture delineated in this volume. If this moral and physical scourge were banished from our beloved country, religion, morals, individual happiness, and national prosperity, would be promoted and augmented to an incalculable extent. Objections are not unfrequently urged against the institution of Temperance Societies, on the ground that there is no Scriptural command for abstinence of this kind; and that to propound this remedy for intemperance, is to propose a scheme, which, in fact, supersedes and derogates from the character of the Gospel, and endeavours to impose upon mankind restraints which God does not either require at our hands, or authorize in his holy word. The Christian reader will readily perceive the fallacy of these popular objections. The Gospel is acknowledged by all, to be the only means of salvation; the word of God, however, nowhere prohibits the employment of subordinate means to remove those unnatural obstacles to its reception which so universally prevail in the present day. In no part of the Scripture is there found a command for the habitual and dietetic use of intoxicating liquors. In many parts of the sacred book, are found decisive proofs of divine approbation of those who abstain from their use. The Scriptures contain no specific commands in relation to many evils which the pure principles of divine inspiration can by no means tolerate. Among these may be included theatrical entertainments, gambling, and other sinful amusements, some of which obstructed the diffusion of Christianity in the time of St. Paul. Ferocious exhibitions of gladiatorial skill, took place in the city of Rome, at the time St. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans, and yet no literal condemnation of this practice is to be found in the writings of that Apostle. Many eminently useful institutions are in operation in the present day, as auxiliaries to the Gospel, for which there is no direct command in the Bible; who, however, in this age of sacred light, would on this account condemn or prohibit the formation of Bible and Missionary Societies, Sabbath Schools, and other similar establishments? These subordinate institutions, indeed, are distinguished manifestations of the essence of Christianity; which teaches us not only to "deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly" ourselves, but also to do our utmost to promote the temporal happiness and eternal welfare of our fellow-creatures. The Gospel is adequate to remove the vice of intemperance; its principles, however, have not hitherto been brought to bear upon the evil. The remonstrances and denunciations of Christian teachers, have almost invariably been directed against the drunkard, while the source or sources of the evil have been either partially or altogether overlooked and neglected. Let Christian temperance be advocated from our pulpits, and in our various religious institutions, and doubtless ere long, the vice of intemperance with all its attendant evils, will be removed from our land. The construction of this work from the nature of the advertisement issued by the Committee of the New British and Foreign Temperance Society, necessarily assumes its present form;-a collection of important facts illus. trative of general principles. A treatise of this kind, moreover, may be deemed a desideratum in the present comparatively infant state of Temperance Societies. The advocates of these benevolent associations, have to contend against long confirmed prejudices and habits. Stubborn facts alone will dissipate this popular delusion. Hence the writer studiously, and perhaps to his own disadvantage, in general omits such arguments, as in a work more popular in its character, would be deemed essential to its success. The Author deems it proper to apologise for any inadvertencies or omissions which may have crept into a work that comprehends subjects so numerous and so miscellaneous, and which has been written in the hurry and confusion of professional pursuits CONTENTS. NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INTEMPERANCE. 1. Definitions of Intemperance in various ages 2 The Use of Intoxicating Liquors an acquired habit 5. Intemperance common to savage and to civilized nations to the illiterate and the educated Page The Philistines, 20-Amalekites, 21-Syrians, 21-Ephraimites, 22 -Babylonians, 23-Medo-Persians, 24-Persians, 25-Macedo- nians, 26-Thracians, 30-Scythians, 30-Germans, 32-Grecians THE HISTORY OF INTEMPERANCE-continued Early inhabitants of Britain, 38-Gauls, 38-Anglo-Saxons and Danes, 39-Normans, 40-British, 41-Nubians, Natives of Ash- antee, Congo, Nicobar Islands, Otaheitans, New South Wales, Pago 1. Influence of Intoxicating Liquors on the mind and temper 2 The Use of Strong Drink destructive of moral Principles 3 Influence of Intoxicating Liquors on the Intellect Moral and Intellectual Degradation of Intellectual characters Influence of Intemperance on the character of Literary Produc- 1. Delusive notions propagated in the works of eminent writers |