THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. REV. T. APPLEGATE. LECTURE IX. -TEMPERANCE. "The fruit of the Spirit is temperance."-Galatians v. 23. I. The objects to which it refers. To enumerate the whole would be impracticable, within the limits of so small a compass. The following may be mentioned. IT was excellent counsel which the Christian character, I shall now endeavour apostle gave to the Thessalonians, "Let to point out the objects to which it refers us who are of the day be sober." "Sobri--the benefits of which it is productiveety" admits of extensive latitude; it in the arguments by which it may be encludes not only freedom from excess in forced-and the means by which it may drinking, but moderation in all things. be promoted. In this sense the word "temperance" is used in our text. It is opposed to an excess of self-indulgence, to excess of abstinence, to excess of self-denial, and to an excess of mental excitement, It is a steady tenour of feeling and proceeding; a calm independence of spirit and conduct, 1. Opinions respecting ourselves. These right onward through all the temptations should be modest, humble, and unasand causes of interference and perversion. suming; in opposition to pride, selfThe moment the Christian relaxes, is the conceit, haughtiness, vain glory, and moment of his weakness and danger. ostentation. "For as a man thinketh in Enemies of every shape and mode of insi- his heart, so is he.” In harmony with nuation and attack lie in ambush about this axiom, Paul exhorted the Christians his path, watching every avenue to his at Rome "not to think of themselves more heart to put him to shame. The grace highly than they ought to think, but to most effectual in preserving him, is tem- think soberly, according as God hath perance. This claims regard in all the given to every man the measure of faith." departments of his being, under all the For if a man think himself to be somevariety of circumstances in which he may be placed, and over the imaginations, thoughts, words, and actions. As long as it occupies all the passes to his soul," And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast he is invulnerable. The enemy, to make made Thy servant king instead of David an impression, must master his tempe- my father, and I am but a little child; I rance. "Be sober, therefore; be vigi- know not how to go out and to come in; lant; because your adversary the devil give therefore Thy servant an understandas a roaring lion walketh about, seeking ing heart to judge this people, that I whom he may devour." "Take heed may discern between good and evil. And lest at any time your heart be over- the speech pleased the Lord, that Solocharged with surfeiting and drunkenness mon had asked this thing." The characand cares of this life, and so that day come ter of Elihu is equally interesting, when upon you unawares." "Let us walk ho- submitting to the judgment of men older nestly as in the day, not in rioting and than himself; "I am young, and ye are drunkenness, not in chambering and very old; wherefore I was afraid, and wantonness, not in strife and envying; durst not show my opinion; I said, Days but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof." "Every man striving for the mastery, is temperate.' Understanding the term as connected with the thing, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." What an amiable example of humility and wisdom have we in Solomon! shall speak, and multitude of years shall teach wisdom." "Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder; yea, all of you, be subject one to another; and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the hum- | Naboth's vineyard. The rich man in hell ble." "The fruit of the Spirit is temperance," as it regards— 2. Worldly expectations. There is among the irreligious a system of maxims, customs, modes, and fashions of tyrannical authority, and people seem to acquire a kind of conscience and religious reverence towards it. They must do as the world does. They dare not presume to be out of its regard. They anxiously study the dictates and watch the movements of this dread sovereign. Wealth is with them the one thing needful. For this they rise early and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness. Their language is, 'I care for nothing if I may but succeed in business, and acquire property: I will endure any fatigue, make any sacrifice, and suffer any privation, so that at last I may realize a fortune.' "But the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." And shall we be intemperate after that which we may never gain? Shall we devote our existence to secure riches, which make to themselves wings, and flee away? "A man's life," said Christ, "consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." "Man wants but little here below, The pleasures of earth consist more in hope, than in real enjoyment. If a man possessed the world, he could use no more of its produce than his own exigencies would demand. It could only afford him some imaginary pleasure. He could only survey it in his mind, or behold it on a map. If a thousand worlds belonged to him, they would crush the happiness derivable from the ordinary blessings of life. They would prove unsatisfactory in their enjoyment, fleeting in their continuance, and injurious in their end. None of them could satisfy the soul, calm the conscience, or purify the mind. They would be too insignificant and worthless. The effect of earthly possessions is to inflame the desires which they fail to gratify. They flatter their votaries with the expectations of real bliss; but no sooner have they obtained the portion of opulence to which they aspired, than they feel as remote as ever from satisfaction. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing. Look at the ambitious and the enterprizing, the gay and the wealthy. Ahab, with all his riches, covets says lifts up his eyes, being in torments. The "In vain we seek a heaven below the sky. 3. Pleasure and amusement. This in one form or other is the pursuit of myriads, who are lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God. The grace of temperance is highly requisite to limit such employments within the strict bounds of innocence and usefulness. In a world where the pleasures of fashionable amusements are so many exhibitions of dissipation, the Christian is in danger of being borne away by the strong current of example into the vortex of forgetfulness, to sacrifice his immortal interests to the earth's supremacy. The goddess of pleasure entwines him with her bewitching charms, and aspires to the disWe tinction of being the chief good. have a beautiful illustration of pleasure in the epigram of Dr. Doddridge on his own motto, "Dum vivimus, vivamus. "Live while you live, the epicure will say, And take the pleasure of the present day; Live while you live, the sacred preacher cries, And give to God each moment as it flies. Lord, in my view let each united be; I live to pleasure, when I live to Thee." The pleasures of living to God are weighty and permanent; they are pleasures that know no bitterness, and leave no sting; pleasures that increase on reflection, and that will end in fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. 4. Creature attachments. Undue attachment to the creature is idolatry. It is an alienation of the heart and affections from their legitimate source; a practical violation of the first commandment, in robbing God of His indisputable right. The husband may be guilty of idolising his wife, or the wife her husband, the "The fondness of our creature love, It Love to the creature is not prohibited; but it must always be temperate, and act in subserviency to the love of God. Advice on this point is often fruitless; persons choose rather to be governed by their inclinations than Christian prudence. would be well for them to remember, that such misplaced affection, transferred from the Creator to the creature, is the most effectual method to have the beloved object embittered or removed. God will have no rival. "He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me." He must be paramount in our affections; or we are not a whit more innocent, than if we were to go into a wood, cut down a tree, carve it into an image, fall down before it and say, "Thou art my God, deliver me." association and example. "He that walketh with wise men, shall be wis; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." "Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." "We are all" says Locke, "like chameleons, that receive a tincture from the objects that surround us. If we do not impress a similarity of taste, we shall be sure to acquire it. "How can two walk together except they be agreed?" The influence of example in the formation of character is beautifully illustrated in an oriental apologue. A philosophier in one of his walks beheld beside him a substance, from which was emitted a fragrant and delightful smell. He took it in his hand, and inquired, 'What art thou, from whence there issues an odour so delightful?' And he was answered, 'I am but a lump of clay, but I was placed beside a rose, and so I partook of its fragrance.' This is eminently true with regard to religion; it communicates a fragrance and a beauty to the most unworthy. They become "like the smell of the field which the Lord hath blessed." Never suffer your imaginations to be 5. The selection of associates. Man captivated by the properties of a character, was made for society. It is an essential of which the substantial parts are not ingredient in his happiness. The beauti-approved by your judgments. Examine ful scenes of Eden were but partially what is presented for your admiration. enjoyed, till Adam was furnished with an Look through the meretricious ornaments. help-meet, a counterpart with whom he Penetrate the dazzling exterior, the outcould take sweet counsel, and communi- ward varnish; and if integrity be not the cate the raptures of his soul. And if in prominent feature, withhold the tribute of paradise, where all was innocence and your approbation. Your reputation, love, bliss was incomplete till Eve was principles, safety and everything dear to formed, how natural to infer, that now, you will be endangered by connection surrounded with the spoliations of sin, with persons living in the visible neglect man will seek to fill up his void, and find of religion. How can you "grow in grace, happiness in others! But all happiness and in the knowledge of our Lord and does not centre in a friend. It is better Saviour Jesus Christ," if you voluntarily mix to have no companion, than an improper with individuals who have not the fear of one. Intimacy must only be preserved God before their eyes? Can a frail bark with the scripturally wise, who can teach live in the tempest? Can flames surround a us how to enlarge our stock of Christian military magazine, and produce no exploknowledge, how to climb the heights of sion? Can a lamb make its way through Christian elevation, and who can "allure a herd of wolves? In the selection of to brighter worlds, and lead the way.' friends, and especially in the choice of a In pursuit of such intercourse, we must be companion for life, let the wisdom of resatisfied only as we can exclaim in the flection, and the discretion of piety guide language of David, "I am a companion you. Remember, the fairest flower fades of all them that fear Thee, and of them soon. Look for something that will surthat keep Thy precepts." We are well vive the bloom of the cheek, and the aware from the history of past times, how sprightliness of the eye, and the symmetry much human character is formed by of the form. "Be not unequally yoked to immediate He gether with unbelievers; for what fellow- tion, and often leads to ship hath righteousness with unrighteous- destruction. "Who hath woe? who ness, and what communion hath light hath sorrow? who hath contention? with darkness, or what part hath he that who hath babblings? who hath wounds believeth with an infidel ?" without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; that go to seek mixed wine." I have listened to a narrative of most melancholy interest, the circumstances of which ocourred in the United States of America. There I was put in possession of many facts illus|trative of the ravages of intemperance, and witnessed the most strenuous efforts to stop its ravages. The man in question was the son of a tavern-keeper on the island called Wolf's, or Grand Island, in the river St. Lawrence. He had been early addicted to habits of dissipation; but was somewhat guarded and prudent till he was married. then gave himself up to his cups and carousals, neglecting his business, scattering and destroying and spending much of his time in the town of Kingston, a place noted for intemperance and gambling. It was not long before the last of his property tottered on a single card. He had sold the clothing out of his own house for rum, and his wife was left to contend with poverty and despair. He not only seemed to have forgotten to provide for his family, but it had become his delight to rob his forsaken wife of every little comfort she might earn, or receive from a benevolent friend. He lived on the west side of the island, in a log hut. It stood upon a rise exposed to the northern blast, that swept along the entire length of Lake Ontario. Almost perpetually the howling tempest beat upon the lonely and shattered dwelling. The rolling waves of the Ontario were seen at a distance, dashing their foam upon huge banks of ice; and the war of waters and storm added to the dismal gloom, that reigned within a drunkard's home. 6. The appetites and passions. These are the features of the evil one, that pervert and disorder the mind, vitiate the taste, and pollute the affections of the heart. They require the influence of grace to keep them temperate. " And the grace of God which bringeth salvation teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." From the passions misguided, there is much to fear. Many a sad example meets the eye at every avenue of life, of persons, who having abandoned themselves to the unrestrained dominion of sensual appetites, have become the disgrace of their families, and the scourge of the community. The slave of unbridled appetite resembles a man surrounded by a powerful action of the elements, the element of water on the one hand, and of fire on the other, and the wind whistling as if to exasperate them both, and threatening to whirl him to destruction. It becomes him to watch his movements, and to ask whither these tempters and traitors really tend, and if temperance be not a pearl of great price. 7. Temporal indulgences. How gratiying, to see a man whom providence has favoured with the means of procuring whatever his heart may desire, habitually denying and restraining himself by the rules of temperance, to what is consistent with, and conducive to health and support! He that thus gains a conquest over himself, deserves a higher encomium than he that conquers a city or a country; for the one gained by reason, is more noble and glorious than the one gained by force. History informs us, that the Lacedemonians in order to fortify their children against intemperate habits, exposed their slaves when in a state of intoxication to their contempt and derision. And really if a drunkard could but conceive the ridiculous figure which he makes, when staggering along the street, and stunning the inhabitants with his noise and impertinence, he would not be in charity with himself, till he had obtained penitence and forgiveness. Intemperance is dangerous to the peace of society; it excites to quarrels and conten Here lived the unfortunate woman, who had been married and confined to the prison-house of a drunkard, near five years. Two infant children demanded her attention and her tears, the youngest of which was but a few weeks old, when its mother fell a victim to neglect and despair. When her infant was but ten days old, she was under the necessity of going out through drift and snow and piercing winds, to gather fuel to keep her from freezing; her husband being good, but it only deprived her of reason. By this time the brick and stone had becoine very warm, and the drunken mother applied them to the naked feet of the dying woman. In about thirty minutes she expired. "It fell to my lot," said the narrator, "to deliver the funeral discourse of this unfortunate female. The feelings of my heart on the occasion, I will not attempt to describe. gone on a drunken frolic. She took a half a mile distant), told his mother the severe cold, and was soon confined to fire had gone out, and his wife was at her bed of straw. No longer able to home sick, and wished she would go over walk, or even to sit up, early one morn- and see her, and at the same time stepping ing, as her husband was setting off to into his father's barn, took a glass of the tavern to keep the day, she expostu- brandy. As he came out, he staggered lated with him, and endeavoured to im- and fell, and there spent the afternoon. press upon his mind her distressed and His mother was given to habits of intemcritical condition. She seemed to suc-perance, and was then under the influence ceed; but oh! delusive hope! She told of ardent spirits. However, with fire and him she must have assistance soon, or fuel she set off to visit the abode of disher stay in the land of the living was tress. She found the wife and children short. He seemed to feel. She prevailed speechless, frozen, and apparently in the on him to go for medical aid. He crossed sleep of death. With some difficulty she the river St. Lawrence on the ice to made a fire, threw a brick and a stone Kingston (a distance of four miles), and into the flames, and while they were obtained a vial of medicine at the apothe-heating, she discovered the bottle of rum. cary's store, and left in haste for his sick Being exceedingly chilled, she drank family. He was returning with apparent freely of it, and thought it would do her concern, and was passing the corner of the street, when one of his associates in profligacy looking through the window of a contemptible grog shop, saw his comrade passing, and called him in to take something to drink. Although this inebriate knew, that the relief, if not the life of his family, depended his return, yet on hearing the sound of rum, and an invitation to partake of thecrimson poison, he soon forgot his suffering wife and helpless infants, left When the lid of the coffin by him in the jaws of death. He entered was removed, and many weeping eyes the sink of woe and crime, where demons were cast in painful looks on her, who had in human form are wont to meet and hold fallen a victim to the casualties of intemmidnight revelry. Here he remained in perance; I saw her husband, the author drunken frolic for several days; during of her hapless fate, stagger up to the cofwhich it was extremely cold, and there fin, and to all appearance, with a heart as was a heavy fall of snow. No one called unmoved and an eye as tearless as the at his house during the storm, supposing cold and lovely form on which he fixed his that he was at home with his family. The drunken gaze. We all proceeded to the fire was out; no friend to render assistance. burying-ground; and I felt a pleasure in On her bed of straw, with an infant on seeing the coffin consigned to its peaceful each arm and a few shreds of covering, abode. But when 1 had dismissed the lay the sufferer pierced with hunger and audience, I saw that drunken maniac cold. The bed, fire-place, and floor, stagger over the fresh grave of his bosom were all covered to some depth by the companion; my heart failed and spirits drifting snow. On the third or fourth moved within me, and I could not refrain day, he returned with a little medicine exclaiming-'Almighty God, if it is Thy and a bottle of rum. The snow had so will that man should suffer in this life, imdrifted, it was with great difficulty he en- pose on me what evils it seemeth good in tered his house. All within was silent. Thy sight; let me live in the cottage of as the house of death. It is said, the fin- poverty all my days, and have nought but gers of the eldest babe were stiffened to the bread of sorrow to eat; and when I marble, and the tear-drop had frozen on am thirsting on a dry and parched desert, the infant's cheek. His wife neither let me find no water but mine own bitter smiled nor wept. Life still flickered with tears; and when my enemies pursue me them all. In this situation he found his and seek my reputation and my life, and neglected and perishing family. He was I fly for protection to my last friend, let intoxicated when he returned-set his that friend forsake me; let all this come medicine and bottle of rum on the shelf, upon me if I must suffer, but oh! gracious and immediately left for his father's (about ' Heaven, deliver me from the all-devour VOL. XIII. I |