guineous to higher and more dangerous pitches of excitement. The melancholic unhappily and invariably find indulgence succeeded by still deeper shades of depression, while the temperament of the phlegmatic, although temporarily roused, after the fumes of the glass have effectually subsided, again assumes its natural character. Intemperance is modified to a considerable extent by the inebriating agent by which it is produced. Alcohol, either in its palpable and visible form, or in its latent and disguised existence, is now universally known to be the great agent of intoxication; and the effects resulting from its use are in proportion to the purity and strength in which it is employed. The use of alcohol, in the form of ardent spirits, is more injurious and exciting than in any other association, because it is more concentrated in that state than in fermented liquors. Malt liquors, for instance, do not contain so much alcohol as ardent spirits; and from the bitter principle with which they are combined, are less stimulating and more sluggish in their effects. The stupifying and deadening operation of malt liquors forms a striking contrast to the more active and all exciting influence of ardent spirit. These effects are too familiar to require more particular detail in this place, but they will be resumed in succeeding portions of the inquiry. CHAPTER II. HISTORY OF INTEMPERANCE. Boundless intemperance In nature is a tyranny: it hath been Wine and wassail have taken more strong places than gun or steel.-CHESTERFIELD. THE History of Intemperance presents a most melancholy subject of instruction and warning to mankind. It has been asserted that history is philosophy teaching by examples. The correctness of this definition, is, in no instance, so powerfully exemplified, as in that of intemperance. The frugal habits of the primitive inhabitants of the earth, exclude as impossible the existence of gross intemperance in early times. Isolated cases at an early period, are recorded in the Old Testament; but these rather present striking examples of human frailty, than illustrations of a vice general in its existence. Those of Noah and Lot are the earliest instances with which we are acquainted. At a later period the vine became more generally cultivated, and examples of intemperance were less rare in their occurrence. The most powerful nations then in existence, were composed of scattered and nomadic tribes, of pastoral and predatory habits. They were accustomed to hold frequent feasts, either to do honour to their gods, or to commemorate signal successes gained over their enemies. Important deliberative concerns were transacted on such occasions, a custom, which, even at the present day, prevails among barbarous nations. Gaal and his brethren, in connexion with the Schechemites, made a feast and conspired against Abimelech.* In the instance of Sampson, the Philistines assembled together to offer a sacrifice to their god Dagon, for having delivered their formidable enemy into their hands. When their hearts were merry,' Sampson was brought into their presence, that they might make sport with him. Sampson called upon the Lord to assist him, and his enemies were destroyed in the midst of their rejoicings. Another example of intemperance may be found in the instance of Nabal, an inhabitant of Maon, near Carmel. This man having acted churlishly towards David, the latter was only conciliated by timely presents made by Abigail, the wife of Nabal. Abigail on returning home found her husband feasting and very drunken." The following morning she acquainted him with his fortunate escape. This information had so great an effect on Nabal's frame, debilitated as it was by his previous excesses, that in ten days afterwards he died. " In the reign of Saul, the Amalekites made an irruption into the borders of Palestine, and harassed the people of Israel. They indulged freely in intoxicating liquors, for having pillaged Ziklag, the residence of David, the latter pursued and found them "spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking." A few only escaped the avenging hand of their enemies. 66 66 In the case of Amnon the son of David, and of Elah, King of Israel, signal examples are presented of the evils which befall those who indulge in strong drink. The domestics of Absalom slew Amnon when his heart was with wine:" and Elah, when he was merry drinking himself drunk" was slain by his servant Zimri. The Syrians also were more or less addicted to intemperance. When Benhadad, King of Syria, besieged Samaria, Ahab, by direction of the prophet, surprised and defeated this warrior, whom he found with thirty-two kings "drinking themselves drunk in the pavilions." One of the books of the Apocrypha acquaints us with an interesting example of the effects of intemperance on the Assyrians, who, but for the event in question, had every * Judges ix. 27. reasonable prospect of making conquest of Judea. thulia was closely besieged by Holofernes, chief captain of Nabuchodonosor, King of the Assyrians. Destruction, either by thirst or by the sword, to all human foresight, appeared inevitable. A powerful army had assembled before the gates of the city, and the fountains from which they had obtained a supply of water, by a device of the enemy, were rendered unavailing. Judith, a woman of wonderful courage and surpassing beauty, happily effected their deliverance. In company with her maid she visited the tent of Holofernes, and cunningly held out to him hopes of effecting the speedy and easy capture of the city and its inhabitants. Holofernes fascinated by the charms of her person, prepared for his fair guest a feast, at which he "drank much more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born." In the hour of night Judith approached the couch of the chief who was "filled with wine," and cut off the head of the intended destroyer of her kindred and nation. The Jews greatly encouraged by this event, suddenly fell upon the Assyrians, who were in utter amazement and fright, and slew them with a terrible slaughter.* In Isaiah and the succeeding prophets, there is found ample evidence of the declining morality of the Jews. The prophets frequently exclaim in the most energetic language against the intemperance which prevailed, and present in glowing language the awful consequences of this debasing vice. A most characteristic feature of the intemperance of the Jews, was the fact of their mixing strong spices and other aromatic ingredients with their wine, for the purpose of increasing its stimulating potency. In this state it was variously denominated strong drink, mixed wine, and mingled wine.+ * The Ephraimites, a people remarkable for their Apocrypha. The Book of Judith. + Isaiah lvi. 12; v. 11, 12; xxiv. 9; v. 22; Proverbs xxiii. 29, 30. "Sichem, called by the Hebrews, Sichar, was the capital of Ephraim, and was situated between the mountains Gerizem and Ebal. The name of Sichar was a term of reproach which the Jews gave this city in allusion to that passage of Isaiah, 'Woe drunkenness, were peculiarly favoured by the fertility of their land, and the beauty of its situation. The prophet Isaiah, thus strongly exhibits their abuse of the bounty of Providence:-"Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower; which are on the heads of the fat vallies of them that are overcome with wine."* The intemperance of the times is further seen in the drunkenness of their king:-" In the days of our king, the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine.+" The most awful feature of these times is witnessed in the intemperance of the priesthood. Even that sacred office was profaned through the influence of strong drink. "But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way: the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine; they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full c vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean."‡ In the prophet Jeremiah it is written, "Thus saith the Lord, behold I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness."§ The Nazarites, a people specially pledged to abstain from wine, indulged in strong drink. "But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink."|| No more decisive proof can be adduced of the indignation of God against those who indulged in strong drink, than the symbolical and threatening language of the prophets. In speaking of Jerusalem, they evidently allude to the medicated wines then in common use. Their predictions were awfully fulfilled in the case of Babylon. Babylon was the mightiest among the nations of the earth. to the drunkards of Ephraim,' for the Hebrew word the prophet here makes use of, comes from Sachar, which signifies to get drunk; and St. John, therefore, calls this city by the name the Jews used to do."-Fleury's Manners and Customs of the Israelites p. 266, Clarke's Edit. * Isaiah xxviii. 1. Hosea vii. 5. + Isaiah xxxviii. 7, 8. |