With what does the
apostle Paul class temperance?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law." Gal. 5:22, 23.
What does the same
apostle say of those who strive for the mastery?
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all
things." 1 Cor. 9:25.
In running the Christian
race, what did Paul say he did in order to be successful?
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway." 1 Cor. 9:27.
What is the effect of
intemperance?
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath
babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that
tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Prov. 23:29, 30.
Why were kings prohibited
the use of strong drink?
"It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink; lest
they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the
afflicted." Prov. 31:4, 5.
Why were priests not
allowed to use intoxicating drink?
"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, ...that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and
between unclean and clean." Lev. 10:8-10.
Why did Daniel and his
companions refuse to drink of the wine of the king of Babylon?
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with
the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." Dan.
1:8.
After protesting against
the use of the stimulants offered them, what did they request?
"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days: and let them give us
pulse to eat and water to drink." Dan. 1:12.
At the end of the ten
days' test, how did these Hebrews appear?
"And at the end of ten days their
countenances appeared fairer and fatter in
flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."
Dan. 1:15.
At the end of three years
(the time appointed for them to learn the Chaldean tongue, (Dan. 1:4, 5) how
many in the realm were found equal in learning to these abstainers?
"Now at the end of the days... the king communed with them; and among
them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ...And
in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he
found them ten times better than
all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Daniel
1:18-20.
Did not Paul recommend
the use of wine under certain conditions?
"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's
sake, and thine often infirmities." 1 Tim. 5:23.
How is the first kind
spoken of?
"Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the
breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst
drink the PURE BLOOD OF THE GRAPE." Deut. 32:14.
How is the second kind
represented?
"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his
color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a
serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Prov. 23:31, 32.
With what other low
debaucheries is drunkenness more or less associated?
"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like." Gal. 5:19-21.
Can a drunkard enter the
kingdom of God?
"Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 6:10.
How, then, should a
Christian regard one who persists in drunkenness?
"But now I have written unto you not
to keep company, if any man that
is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard." 1 Cor. 5:11.