Street  Ministry

DRUNKENNESS, intoxication with strong liquor. It is either actual or habitual
; just as it
is one thing to be drunk, and another to be a drunkard. The evil
of drunkenness appears in the following bad effects : 1. It betrays
most constitutions either to extravagance of anger, or sins of lewdness.—2. It disqualifies men for
the duties of their station, both
by the temporary disorder of their
faculties, and at length by a constant incapacity and stupefaction.
—3. It is attended with expence,
which can often be ill spared.
—
4. It is sure to occasion uneasiness
to the family of the drunkard.
—
5. It shortens life.—6. It is a
most pernicious awful example to
others.—7. It is haidly ever cur-,
ed.— 8. It is a violation of God's
word, Prov. xx, 1. Eph. v, 18.
Isa. v, 11. Rom. xiii, 13. " The
appetite for intoxicating liquors
appears to rrfe," saj's Paley, " to
be almost always acquired. One
proof of which is, that it is apt to
return only at particular times
j
and places ; as after dinner, in
the evening, on the market-day,
in such a company, at such a tavern." How careful, then, should
v/e be, lest wc form habits of this
kind, or choose company who
DUN 249 DUN
are addicted to it ; how cautious
and circumspect should we act,
that we be not found guilty of a
sin which degrades human nature,
banishes reason, insults God, and
exposes us to the greatest evils
! 
Paleifs Mor. Ph'il^ vol. ii, ch. 2;
FlavePs Works^ vol. ii, p. 349 ;
Buck' s Ws Anecdotes^ vol. i, p. 82,3d edition.