intoxication being produced. In a popular publication of recent date, it is affirmed by an individual, who had made personal inquiry, that on the Rhine and various other parts of Germany, the workmen do not generally use beer and spirits, but confine themselves to wine, which costs about a penny per bottle, and of such a quality that English labourers, accustomed to a more potent beverage, would most assuredly reject with disdain. This practice is general. Dr. Russell, in speaking of the white wines of Aleppo, states, that they are palatable, but thin and poor, and seldom keep sound above a year. The Rev. W. L. Pease, who has recently made a visit to the Levant, affirms, "that the common wines of Cyprus which are used by the lower orders, are red, sour, and about as strong as other poor wines."

The ancients frequently make mention of these weak varieties of wines. Thus Persius iii. 93.

"Lenia loturo sibi Surrentina rogavit."

"He has asked for himself about to bathe mild Surrentine." Pliny observes,

"Surrentina vina caput non tenent.”—PLINY Xx. ii. chap. 1. The Surrentine was a small wine not apt to affect the head. Mr. Madan observes, that this kind of wine was very old, and therefore very soft and mild before it was drunk. The editor of the Dauphin's edition of Persius says, that this wine was kept for twenty-five years, that it did not at all affect the head, and that it was good for rheumatism" Et stomachi et intestinorum rheumatismos cohibent." Pliny speaks of this wine as possessed of medicinal virtues. Item Surrentina in vineis tantum nascentia, convalescentibus maxime probata, propter tenuitatem salubritatemque. It was expressly approved of for invalids on account of its weakness and salubrity.

Columella also gives us some account of these weak wines, which were distinguished from others on account of their mildness and want of alcoholic strength. "Those small Greek wines, as the Mareotic, Thasian, Psythian, Sophortian, though they have a tolerable good taste, yet in our climates they yield but little wine, from the thinness of their clusters, and the smallness of their berries. Nevertheless, the black Inerticula (the sluggish vine),

which some Greeks call Amethyston,* may be placed as it were in the second tribe, because it both yields a good wine and is harmless from which also it took its name, because it is reckoned dull, and not to have spirit enough to affect the nerves, though it is not dull and flat to the taste."+

The writings of Hippocrates, who flourished about 456 years before Christ, contain a most distinct and interesting account of the strength and mode of drinking fermented wines at that period. Some of these on account of their weak qualities, were denominated aqueous wines, and when weakly diluted, according to this celebrated physician, differed little in their strength from water itself.

* Inerticula Nigra. The Greeks call it aμεovorov, from the little effect that its wine has to make one drunk. Pliny says, there is more reason to call it the sober vine: and that its wine is commendable when it is very old."-Note to English Translation. + Columella, book iii. chap. 2.

"The voapɛa, or aqueous wines, though they differed in strength, yet some of them were so mild, that they required no water to be added to them, and others but a small quantity, on which account he distinguished them by the name of ολιγοφοροι ; and Hippocrates regards the difference between some of them, when pure or lightly diluted, of little consequence, that in the beginning of the summer season, in this dietic regimen, he directs this wine, in its original strength, for their usual drink, and afterwards he directs it to be largely diluted in the advancing heat of it; but not so much with a view of reducing its strength as of supplying their blood, disposed to a viscid inflammatory state, with a larger quantity of that diluting fluid.

"The peculiar qualities of these wines consisted in being mildly purgative or diuretic, or in promoting the regular, or restraining the irregular excretions and discharges in these diseases. These he deduced from observations on their more evident qualities, as being either of an austere, soft, mild, or sweet taste, or of a fragrant smell, or inodorous. But whenever he directs them to answer any particular intention, he first distinguishes them as being of the strong or weak kind, and always regards, in these cases, the degree of strength, as being the most powerful agent and superior to any peculiar quality. Kai oioi pev бе ψωδης εστιπινόμενος, ησσον αν τέτοισιν αναγοι ηὁ ἑτερος· οισι δε μη διψώδης, μαλλον αναγοι αυτό ετερς.(De Vict. Acut.) Thus, when he describes the wines most proper to promote expectoration when the breast is affected, he observes, that if they produce heat and thirst, they will rather retard than promote expectoration, by rendering it more dry and viscid; and that any of the lighter white wines, which possess one of these peculiar qualities, will more effectually promote it.

The Bible is not intended to be referred to as a book of diet, containing specific directions concerning those things which are proper to be eaten as food or otherwise. The Almighty has not, perhaps, in so many words, prohibited the use of arsenic, or any other deadly poison. He manifests, however, his displeasure at the use of improper articles in language the most definite and decisive, by the injurious effects which they produce on the morals and on health. The laws of the animal economy are plainly distinguished. None, indeed, can mistake them, who follow the dictates of nature in preference to the unnatural claims of vitiated appetite.*

On a careful examination it will be found, that the whole tenor of Scripture is opposed to every species of intemperance. The causes and effects of this degrading vice are pointed out in the strongest possible manner, and faithful warnings are therein given against mankind in any way becoming the victims of intoxicating drink. This is found to be the case, not only in the inculcation of general principles, but in the illustration of those principles by particular examples.+

"In the same manner, he absolutely forbids the use of any of the stronger mixtures, whenever in the progress of the fever, the head is affected with a great heaviness, or any alienation of the mind; but directs that the drink should be entirely aqueous, or consist of the weakest inodorous white wine drink, only taking a small quantity of water after it. From whence it is very evident, that he makes very little difference between the strength of these aqueous wines, very weakly diluted, and of water alone." Υποπτευσαντι μεν τοι εν ταυτησι τησῖ νούσοισι η καραβαριηνιχυρην η φρενων αψιν, παντα πασιν οινε αποσχετέων υδατι δε εν τω τοιώδε χρεστεον, η υδαρεα και λευκον παντελως δοτεον οινον και αοσμον πανταπασι, και μετα την ποσιν αυτέ, υδωρ μETA TOTεOV Oyov."-(Lib. De Vict. Acut. (Barry on the Wines of the Ancients, p. 372, 393, 386-8,)

Such were some of the varieties of fermented wines in use at a period prior to the appearance of the Saviour.

*Professor Moses Stuart, after very mature consideration arrives at this conclusion:-" The use of intoxicating liquors," he remarks, "is as evidently forbidden by God in his arrangement of our natures, as in the volume of his revelation."-(Essay on Temperance, 1830.)

+ 1st. The most pointed warnings are given against the causes of intemperance and the inducements which lead to it. Prov. xx. 1.; xxiii. 31, 32. 2ndly. Intoxicating wine is described as producing violence. Prov. iv. 17; Zech. ix. 15; Jeremiah li. 7;

The Mosaical law against intemperance in young men was of the most severe character. "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them; then shall his father and mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place, and they shall say unto the elders of his city, this our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a DRUNKARD. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die so shalt thou put evil away from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear."* This fearful law was enacted, no doubt, to restrain in the most summary manner, such young men as might be induced to abandon themselves to sensual pleasures. Although the enactment concerned a disobedient and rebellious son, it is evident that gluttony and drunkenness were considered to be the chief causes and indications of these heinous crimes. Jewish writers, indeed, so understand it.

Many passages are found in the pages of the Old Testament, which exhibit the extreme caution of the Jews in relation to intemperance. The commands of the Almighty are frequently directed to this subject. The manner in which this important matter was both regarded and treated by them, may be considered under two heads, viz., 1st, Those circumstances where the use of wine of any kind was forbidden by the Lord, and 2ndly, Such voluntary prohibitions as were occasioned by a desire to set an example to the times, and to promote personal piety.

xxv. 15, 16; Revelations xvi. 19. 3rdly. The pernicious influence of wine on the affections, and its paralyzing effects on all the faculties of the mind are powerfully adverted to. Isaiah xxviii. 7; Jeremiah xxiii. 9; Proverbs xxiii. 35. 4thly. The self-security and irreligion displayed by the lovers of intoxication. Isaiah lvi. 12; xxii. 13, 14; 1 Corinth. xv. 32; Habakkuk ii. 4, 5. 5thly. Many of the general, but woeful effects of intemperance, are strikingly exhibited. Prov. xxiii. 29, 30; xxiii. 20, 21. 6thly. Severe woes are denounced against those who indulge in wine and strong drink. Amos vi. 6; Isaiah xxiv. 9; v. 22; xxviii 1. 7thly. Denunciations are uttered against those who promote intemperance in others. Habakkuk ii. 15.

* Deut. xxi. 18-21.

1ST. ACTUAL PROHIBITION.-1. The priests of the Lord were forbidden to drink wine during their official attendance in the Tabernacle. This commandment is found in Leviticus, among other regulations, which relate to the functions of the priesthood. "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, lest ye die : it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses."* Most commentators are of opinion, that this regulation was consequent upon the occurrence mentioned in the preceding context. Nadab and Abihu had offered " strange fire before the Lord. It is natural to infer from the severely penal law which immediately followed, that the introduction of this strange fire was occasioned by the sons of Aaron, being in a state of intoxication, while performing the duties of their sacred office. The fire of the Lord, however, consumed these guilty profaners of the Tabernacle of the Most High. The prohibition of wine to the officiating priests under these circumstances, was constituted a statute for ever throughout all succeeding generations. It would be a happy circumstance for the interests of religion, had this law been observed in every age by those who are set apart to instruct in divine knowledge. The reason assigned for this wise enactment, is worthy of serious consideration. That the ministers of God might, uninfluenced by artificial and unholy excitement, discern the difference between right and wrong, holy and unholy, and both perform the sacred functions of their office and promulgate the commandments of the Most High with becoming solemnity and appropriate dignity. No stronger evidence can be adduced of the tendency of intoxicating liquor to impair the moral and mental perception, than this signal prohibition of it by the Almighty. Divine wisdom hereby declares the use of intoxicating wine, to be incompatible with holiness of heart and purity of mind, as well as with that reverential

Levit. x. 8-11..