Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1871 — Sixteen Reasons. [ARTICLE]

Sixteen Reasons.

A writer in an exchange gives the following plain and forcible reasons for abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage: 1. Because ale, porter, gin, rum, brandy, etc., all contain a spirit which is calculated to derange the human system. 2. Because none of these drinks, as an habitual beverage, are ever useful, but always injurious to persons in health, and many professing. Christians, both young and old, have been ruined by them. 8. Because drunkenness is a besetting sin and leads to idleness, quarrelling, swearing, fighting, stealing, adultery, murder, and almost every other sin, and finally to eternal misery. 4. Because drinking produces poverty, bankruptcy, destruction of property, loss of reason, disease and premature death. 6. Because a great deal of valuable time labor and capital are worse than wasted upon making, vending, and using these drinks. 6. Because over seventy millions of money, being more than the whole revenue, are annually expended upon them in the United Kingdom, which ought to be laid out in food and manufactories. 7. Because nearly sixty millions of bushels of good grain are annually destroyed in this Christian land to make those liquors, while the markets are high and many of the poor are starving. 8. Because intemperance obstructs the progress of civilization, education, the religion of Jesus, and every useful reform. 9. Because abstinence is sure and safe, but drinking moderately is dangerous,, and has led to all the drunkenness in the world. 10. Because I find I cannot effectually warn the drunkard, or set him an . example. unless I am myself an entire abstainer. 11. Because I like to join those who are exerting themselves to promote the temporal and spiritual reformation and happiness of man. 12. Because it is important to set a safe example of perfect sobriety to our children, friends and associates. 13. Because it is our Christian duty to deny ourselves even of lawful things, to promote the happiness of others. 14. Because, while millions in time and eternity have repented of drinking, not one ever repented of abstaining. 15. Because, while no blessing is pronounced upon drinking, God’s approval is frequently recorded in favor of abstinence. (See Jer. xxxv.; Luke i, 15; Rom. xiv., 21; Prov. xx., 1.) 16. Because I should be ashamed to touch, taste or handle, or keep in my house, the article which is filling the land with dissipation, vice, poverty, misery, lamentation and woe.