Life's Battles in Temperance Armour

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1884 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIV. FAITH AND PHYSIC. THAT numbers of men abstain from intoxicating liquors who are but little if at all influenced by Bible teaching needs no proof. They have no faith in the drink, and wishing to make the best of this life they take care of the present.. Numbers more abstain who have faith in the drink, but believing themselves called upon to abstain from things lawful and useful in themselves that they may be useful to others, they practise what to them is a considerable self-denial. In either of these motives there is sufficient reason and abundant vitality to keep alive the practice of teetotalism. There is, however, yet another class, and not by any means a small one. These not only believe the drink to be dangerous, but worthless, and they have the clearest and most abiding conviction that both Church and State are called upon to take hold with no gloved hand of this delusion to man and enemy to God: of that number I am one. That men are influenced by different reasons and act from different motives is no new thing, and our platform is broad enough for all. It is therefore a needless and meddlesome interference with individual liberty to ask for reasons and question motives. It is enough that the action in itself is right. We have from the first been more or less subject to amendments and improvements, but they none of them change our nature, and never will. We differ in our form of thought, as we do in our form of face, and as we agree to differ in the one why should we not do so in the other'? As temperance teachers we have nothing to do with motives; if it were so, there would be plenty to trouble us in connection with the working of the different societies: those concerned have thought it wise in this way to put forth their strength, a...