Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 218

"_Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit._" Eph. 5:18.

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Prov. 20:1.

"_Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling?

who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?_" Prov. 23:29.

"They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Verse 30.

"_Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright._" Verse 31.

"At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Verse 32.

"_Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, ...

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of G.o.d._" 1 Cor. 6:9, 10.

"Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing." Judges 13:4.

"_Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of G.o.d, and ye are not your own?_" 1 Cor. 6:19.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify G.o.d in your body, and in your spirit, which are G.o.d's." Verse 20.

"_Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of G.o.d._" 1 Cor. 10:31.

Look not upon the wine That sparkles in its flow, For death is slumbering there, Beneath its ruddy glow.

No happiness it bringeth, At last it only stingeth; It biteth, and it wringeth The heart with bitter woe.

Lift up the tempted soul Now fallen in despair, Direct his thoughts above, To G.o.d, who heareth prayer.

His arm in mighty power Can bid the demon cower, And in temptation's hour Will an escape prepare.

F. E. BELDEN.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Guardian Angel. "What maintains one vice would bring up two children."-_Benjamin Franklin._

True Temperance Reform

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Save The Boys. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6.

1. What was the original food provided for man?

"And G.o.d said, Behold, I have given you every _herb_ bearing _seed_, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every _tree_, in the which is _the fruit of a tree_ yielding _seed_; to you it shall be for meat." Gen. 1:29.

NOTE.-In other words, vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts.

2. After the flood what other food was indicated as permissible?

"_Every moving thing that liveth_ shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." Gen. 9:3.

NOTE.-From this it is evident that flesh food was not included in the original diet provided for man, but that on account of the changed conditions resulting from the fall and the flood, its use was permitted.

3. When G.o.d chose Israel for His people, what kinds of flesh food were excluded from their diet?

Those called unclean. See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

4. What special food did G.o.d provide for the children of Israel during their forty years' wandering in the wilderness?

"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain _bread from heaven_ for you." "And the children of Israel did eat _manna_ forty years, until they came to a land inhabited." Ex. 16:4, 35.

5. At the same time what did G.o.d promise to do for them?

"I will take _sickness_ away from the midst of thee." Ex. 23:25.

6. What testimony does the psalmist bear regarding their physical condition?

"There was not one feeble person among their tribes." Ps. 105:37.

NOTE.-When they complained at G.o.d's dealings with them, and longed for the food of Egypt, G.o.d gave them their desires, but sent "leanness into their soul." See Numbers 11; Ps. 106:13-15; 1 Cor.

10:6. Like many today, they were not content with a simple but wholesome and nourishing diet.

7. Where, above all, should true temperance reform begin?

In the home.

NOTE.-Unless fathers and mothers practise temperance, they cannot expect their children to do so.

8. What cla.s.ses of men especially should be strictly temperate?

"Be thou an _example_ of the believers." 1 Tim. 4:12.