means,' they ridicule all who come not up to their standard of perfection. They point the finger of scorn at those temperate men whom God loves, and all good inen should esteem, because their views of temperance harmonize not with their own. And if a temperance man is seen in the day time going to the store after wine or strong drink, his motives are called in question, his character assailed, and he is called 'worse than a drunkard.' But wait till after dark, with a bottle under his cloak, the professed abstinence man will, like a thief in the night, steal along to the store, where the 'crittur' is retailed, give the store keeper a sly wink, ask for oil-deprecate the traffic made in alcohol-return home in deep distress for the fate of his fellow mortals, and is only relieved by a double portion of that oil, purchased under the garb of hypocrisy! No matter how corrupt people become, they may serve the devil all their days if they will only join an abstinence society.

I have heard a great many lectures on temperance, but I never heard but one* that exhorted people to. be temperate in the bible acceptation. Professing to be wise above what is written, they have invented an improvement, and doubtless have ere this, gained a 'patent right.' Solomon must forever stand behind the curtain for his wisdom and glory is eclipsed by the wise men of the 19th century! No doubt these men have often thought with Lorenzo Dow, that 'Solomon was a

By Rev. I. D. Williamson, Albany, N. Y.

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wise man in some things, and a fool in other things!' That he did not belong to a total abstinence society is evident from his writings!

In the history of Abimelech, we find that he used cunning and crafty means to make the people believe that they would be much better off with one king to rule over them, than they were with all the sons of Jerubbaal. But they soon found to their sorrow, that he was a "Bramble.'

In imitation of him, the movers of abstinence measures have endeavored to make the people think that temperance was total abstinence, and he only was a temperate man who wholly abstained from all spirituous liquors! Thus confounding temperance with abstin'ence, than which nothing can be more false. Under the specious guise of being friends to temperance, they collect the people together, not to preach bible temperance in all things, but the system of total abstinence. A system generated in the distempered brain of some wild enthusiast, and recommended by the aristocracy of the age. Often have we heard them exclaim, 'O, the blessed cause of temperance!' 'O, the blesed cause of abstinence,' thus amalgamating the one with the other. I do contend that there is as much difference between temperance and abstinence, as between black and white.

You are a temperance man, are you? Yes. You You bedo not drink any wine or strong drink? No. lieve the bible enjoins temperance in all things? O,

yes. Well, go and live on your principle of temper ance; reduce your theory to practice, in eating as well as drinking, for the bible says be temperate in all things. And you say temperance is abstinence, and how long would you remain temperate? Why, just as long as the Indian's horse did; the owner of which tried to make him live (i. e. temperately,) without eating, but just before he got him well learned, he died!

To illustrate the principle that abstinence, is not temperance, let us suppose a case. A man starts this morning for Boston; informs a friend that he is going to drive temperately; the man commends his moderation, and steps into the house. In the course of the morning he goes out and finds his old friend taking his comfort, reading a public journal on total abstinence. 'Hallo, friend,' he cries, 'I thought you was going to Boston!' 'Well, I am,' is the reply, 'I am only driving temperately!' At night he goes out again, finds his temperance friend busily engaged in the same employment. Not being able to understand his friend's temperate driving, he asks him to explain himself. He informs the enquirer that he has been driving temperately all day, but for some cause or other he had not made much head way; but that he was confident it was the right way to drive temperately. The man tells him he is inconsistent, for if it would be temperate not to drive at all, it would be intemperate to advance a single step, and therefore recommends him to remain in that position, and see how long it would take, with such temperate driving, to reach Boston!

O that men would be consistent, and learn to call things by their right names. I would recommend to all you engaged in the abstinence enterprise to let temperance alone. That is not what you are laboring to promote. It belongs to another class. We beg of you gentlemen to work on your own principle, and let others promote temperance as the bible dictates!

That we may have a right understanding of the subject before us, let us enquire, what is the true definition of the word temperance?

Temperance, 'is that virtue which a man is said to possess, who moderates and restrains his sensual appetites. It is often however used in a much more general sense, as synonymous with moderation, and is then applied indiscriminately to all the passions.'-(Dr. Buck's Theo. Dic.)

I presume this definition of temperance will stand the test of the strictest scrutiny. 'It is often used as synonymous with moderation;' and moderation, the same writer informs us, is 'the state of keeping a due medium between extremes, calmness, temperance, or equanimity.' The most prejudiced, I think, will not dispute but what this is the only true meaning of temperance. I shall now proceed to show that it harmonizes with the scriptures of divine truth.

'Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.

For if these things be in you, [what things? why, temperance, &c.] they make you that ye shall neither be barren or unfruitful,' &c. 2 Peter, i. 5-8.

Let your

moderation be known unto all men.' Phil. iv, 5.Here the apostles recommend temperance and moderation to be used in all things. Query-Wonder if they belonged to a 'total abstinence society?'

Every man must know, who has read the scriptures, that temperance is a bible doctrine. Temperance in eating and drinking, are strongly enjoined upon mankina, and urged as important both to the health of the body and the mind. Drunkenness, gluttonny, and every species of intemperance are reprobated by all the inspired writers. And one of them recommends to the

temperate man, 'when thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee, and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite.'Prov. xxxiii. 1, 2. I would have all victims of intemperance follow this injunction; but I would not recommend abstinence men to hold the knife for them, lest they should place it too near the throat, and make bad worse!

"Take heed to yourselves,' says the apostle, 'lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness,' &c. Luke xxi. 34. Here is temperance preached again to the Jews, approved of God, and sanctioned by his messenger. Paul exhorts the Ephesians not to be 'drunk with wine, wherein is excess.' Ephe. v. 18. And in his Epistle to Titus com