to the use of tobacco, I will barely add, that three of the greatest physicians the world has known, Borhave, Cullen and Rush, have concurred in denouncing it on various grounds of injury which it inflicts upon the health of those who use it; but the most pernicious effect of it, perhaps, is that of creating a thirst which neither water, nor any other simple beverage, will allay. To obviate the effect of one unnatural stimulous, another becomes necessary; and hence the pipe and the tobacco, must be followed up by the rum and the brandy bottle. Wine is not strong enough to quench the thirst created by this foul and nauseous weed. These facts decidedly prove, that among the worst sins we can commit against Heaven and ourselves, are those of eating too much, and of using such powerful stimulants as most of us do almost every day of our lives. They go to prove another, and perhaps a still more awful fact, and that is, that the greatest sin which modern civilized nations have to account for at the bar of Divine Justice, is that of carrying the poison of alcohol among the simple and unsophisticated savages, and other uncivilized portions of the human race; thereby adding new excitements to their ferocity and barbarity, and retarding their civil, moral and religious improvement. Of our own population there is no doubt that thousands, perhaps, of men, women and children, have fallen under the deadly tomahawk and the bloody scalping-knife, who might have been saved, had not their sav

age murderers labored under the influence of strong drink; had not the fury of their vindictive rage and malice been unnaturally wrought up to the highest degree by copious libations of what they themselves call the "fire-waters!"

I must here insist upon it, that the branch of our subject, connected with temperance in eating, is no less important in every point of view, than that which relates exclusively to strong drink; and that we are bound to think of it as seriously, and to act upon it as decisively, especially if we mean to obey the injunction of that religion which I hope and trust we all sincerely profess. Be ye temperate in all things, is the language of our holy religion: And this injunction, coupled with another from the same source, should admonish us to be careful of the means we employ to promote the good cause in which we are engaged. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay. Let us then refrain from all coercive measures, and content ourselves with every rational effort of the pen and the press, the forum and the pulpit, to persuade, convince and convert the miserable, the weak and the wicked votaries of Intemperance; always recollecting that the greater the sinner, the more necessity for the pity and compassion of the saint. It was indeed, an admirable answer of Catharine of Russia, to some very austere councillors, who urged her to burn certain heretics: "It will be too hard, gentlemen," said she, "to burn the poor creatures here, since they

must suffer the fires of hell hereafter!" Though far from being the most virtuous of her sex, or the most pious of sovereigns, she proved herself in this case a much better christian than any of those who thus urged her to commit a cruel, bigotted and bloody deed.

I assume it, then, as beyond dispute, that religious and moral influence is the best antidote that can possibly be opposed to the evil we are combatting. Religious influence is to be sought for in the bible alone; and no opportunity ought to be lost by the benevolent reformer of drawing the attention of the sons and daughters of Intemperance to the sacred volume; for therein they will find " line upon line, and precept upon precept," flowing from the pen of inspiration, and painting in their true colors the horrible nature and effects of strong drink.

If called upon to point out the best moral influence in this cause, I should say that I know of none better than that which flows from the enlightened and well directed efforts of temperance societies. Whatever objections may be urged against these societies, we must still recollect, that combinations, in some shape or other, have perhaps effected most of the great and glorious triumphs of reason, religion and humanity. Vicious or bad combinations, all honest men must heartily condemn-but good ones, those which aim at effecting necessary and salutary reforms, challenge the undivided support of the wise and the virtuous. Pledges have

been objected to, and rash pledges are undoubtedly always to be avoided. But when the object is both laudable and lawful, no man, and much less a wise man, runs any risk in pledging his best efforts to accomplish it: And certainly, if ever there was a laudable pledge, that must be one, which has for its aim to fortify the mind and the heart against the inroads of a destructive vice. Our national existence is founded on a pledge: For our revolutionary fathers pledged their "lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors," to sustain the cause of independence; and under God they redeemed their pledge gloriously.

And this brings me to a question of no small importance: If in the language of a British poet

"'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to heaven!"

We

is it not equally wise to look forward to our future hours, and determine within ourselves, what report they shall bear of us to the judgment seat of our Creator and Redeemer? have just past the bourne of the old year, and entered upon that of the new. The year that has gone by forever, reminds us of our fleeting destiny, our rapid descent to the tomb. The year that has commenced, points forward to that tomb, and calls upon us to redeem our lost time, and prepare for another world. The shade of the last year is the ghost of our departed days; whilst the light of the new is but the spectre of

eternity to come! The old year tells us of what we shall never hear or behold again. The new one reminds us of scenes beyond the boundaries of our present existence. Its language is, now is the time to enter upon a new career: Now is the time to form new and virtuous resolutions. You cannot recall the time that has gone by; but you can, by the blessing of God, command the future as an indemnity for that portion of the past which you have wasted in idleness, or sacrificed at the shrine of the bottle, in the unhallowed recesses of those who sell strong drink, and who live themselves by cutting short the lives of others. If you have closed with the old year in drunkenness, you can commence with the new in sobriety. Think not that you have gone too far to repent and retract; think not that you have steeped your souls so long in the impure and vile atmosphere of the bar-room or the grog-shop, that you cannot emerge again into that of purity and health. Think not that Satan and his satellites have so strong a hold upon you, that you cannot, by the blessing of God, escape from their fangs: Recollect, that it is never to late to do good; and that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine that need no repentance. Now, then, is the time to come forward, and pledge yourselves at the altar of God, to do all that may be in your power, to promote the glorious cause of temperance. Fear not, falter not, I beseech I beseech you; for if you