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Poor charge, and prowls around the farm.
The Hind at length perceives the harm
His favourite does (spite of a band
Of faithful dogs) and rids the land
Of such a pest: the flock in peace
Now feed, and depredations cease.

The Editor takes the present occasion of occupying a few lines of the Yorkshireman' with an address to his Friends in favour of the circulation of the work. His publication has experienced hitherto a limited sale, such as a bookseller, calculating on the ultimate return from a moderately large Edition, would not be discouraged at: but sale, and the saving of his pocket, are not the Editor's concern—he is mainly solicitous that the contents of the work should (now in the critical time of an Ecclesiastical reform, which must go on and be consummated,) be made known to those principally interested in them-the Freeholders (or voters) the Legislature, the Government and the Magistracy of his country-not excepting such of the Clergy themselves as may be found capable of perusing, with candour and patience, a work so manifestly opposed to their worldly interests. Will none of the members of his own society be courageous enough in their own defence, and liberal enough in the support of a just cause, to put a few copies into the hands of men of influence of their acquaintance (or to whom they may have easy access) for this purpose? He is fully resolved at all events that it shall not remain (in any considerable number) to cram the creaking shelves' of his publishers, but shall be dispersed (God willing) at his own, if not at others' cost; and he invites his Fellow-professors to aid him with their own pains and purses, in a timely distribution to the requisite amount, among such public characters as may be found willing to accept itquite satisfied in himself, that the result of a perusal in such hands will neither dishonour him, nor discredit those in whose behalf he has from the first professed to appear. His own share of the work is intended (should he be allowed life, health and liberty) to be comprised in three volumes: and he sees not any present likelihood of its becoming so changed, in matter, purpose or execution, as to occasion to those who may hold the former parts any regret at having the latter to take in. The requisite time and labour are nearly all that are now required for its completion: but he hopes also to be favoured as heretofore with the countenance of his friends.

Ackworth, 17th Eleventh Month, 1833.

Communications may be addressed, rost PAID, "For the Editor of the Yorkshireman," at the Printer's, Pontefract; at Longman and Co's, London; John Baines and Co's, Leeds; and W. Alexander's, York.

CHARLES ELCOCK, PRINTER, PONTEFRACT.

THE

YORKSHIREMAN,

A

RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL

BY A FRIEND.

PRO PATRIA.

No. XXXIV. FIFTH DAY, 28th ELEVENTH Mo. 1833. PRICE 4d.

ART. I.-On Temperance and Temperance Societies.
(Concluded from p. 69.)

How to reclaim the drunkards and cut off the succession of the victims to habitual intemperance, is now to be considered. We have seen this proposed as the object of public associations, the members of which shall bind themselves to the non-use of spirituous Liquors ; which so many abuse, to their own destruction.

It is not questioned but that the use of these articles of consumption may thus be put down for a season: or restricted to what regards medicine alone. But it is strongly doubted, whether such an attempt at reform, carried as far as it would go in the hands of the inexperienced would stand. Whether we should not have to dread a future revulsion in public opinion, consequent on the forced nature of the change, which should bring back Intemperance, and establish excess yet more firmly.

All great and permanent changes are effected by slow degrees: and the same thing, CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE, to which we are indebted for other ameliorations in the moral condition of our species, must be considered here also. I am persuaded, accordingly, that it is only in the rising generation that we can expect to lay the foundation of sobriety for the ages to come. Train up the child in the way should go, and it is not very probable the man will be found departing from it but debar the adult by mere force (be it even that of

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public opinion) of his customary sensual indulgences, he will be likely at the first opportunity, consequent on a change of circumstances, to return to them-yes, as the dog to his vomit or the sow to the mire! A man's habits are commonly but a part of his outside-though by long use they are said to become second nature. Yet it is by external circumstances chiefly that they are modified; and there must be in him a conscientious persuasion of duty, to make him superior to their influence. Let us make clean the inside of the cup and of the platter -in the very doing of which the outside is cleansed also. Implant in the youthful breast the principle of self-denial, (leading to self-command) and strengthen every precept by due admonition and restraint in practice, and the conduct of the pupil may be expected, on reasonable grounds, to be sober, moral, temperate-I do not here say just ; which is perhaps the hardest part of the lesson of self-denial that we are called to; and far too much neglected by some, who are loud in their condemnation of mere sensual indulgences.

It is, then, to the Schools for youth, now become so general, and increasing by mere force of patriotism and public spirit (but ere long to become a subject of anxious and vigilant care to the Government) that we should look, mainly, for the remedy in the case. Let the adult, who feels that he cannot otherwise resist temptation, seek better disposed associates. Let him bind himself along with these, to whatsoever regulations the emergency may call for-but let not Monkish abstinence (the shell put for the kernel of a virtue) be made so the fashion for all of us, as that we may not enjoy our liberty in the Gospel without offence!

We are very apt to go the nearest way to work in our reforms; and to conclude that what is put on the outside of the man shall be found also within him. But the experience of so many ages of Orders and Observants, of Cloisters and Inquisitions, of a mere outward superintendence, exercised with rigour enough at one time, with laxity at another, but always in vain as to the life of religion, and the advancement of sound morality in the world, should have taught us better! We have yet to learn, it seems (now that the Reformation is of so many centuries standing) what it is to take up the cross! That it is

not merely to wear a jewel on the breast, or a patch on the garment, but to receive into our inmost souls the power of the word, and become subject to that which is (substantially, and beyond and through all appearances) the kingdom of God.

Let the state of fallen man be what it may, if he be truly reclaimed it is by this means: No other thing is of efficacy to wash him, whose sins have been as scarlet, white as snow.

The Gospel is not however here the subject-but a proposed moral remedy for a flagrant moral evil. We must then leave the man to the Temperance Society and the preacher (especially to him that has the courage to bear his Lord's message to individuals, wherever he can find them) and return to the more hopeful child. And if it be true, as we cannot doubt, that this capacity for self-command (coming through repentance and faith) must be received by the proudest of men in

AND TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

147

humility and teachableness of spirit even as a little child' can we do better than take the little children at once, and impart it to them? We neglect, too commonly, both in our schools and at home, principiis obstare, to meet the first buddings of insubordinate passion with suitable reproof; to controul and convince (for children may and ought so to be reasoned with) of the nature and consequences of sensual indulgence. It is much easier (as we may find) to put upon a youth habits of decency, and even of devotion in the ordinary sense of the term, with inoffensive manners, than to do for him this more important and fruitful office. He must however (if we would save him from destruction) be brought to know what and where the kingdom of heaven is, and to RULE HIMSELF,

What-break the boy's spirit and make a dolt of him! How shall we be provided, in the event of future wars, with enterprising soldiers, daring seamen, commanders that stick at nothing, if we take up every wild youth in this way? What shall we do (I ask in my turn) without wars to take them off, if we leave so many destitute of instruction; to keep up the supply of lost apprentices, ruined workmen, dishonest jailed ploughmen, discarded servants? Shall we go on sowing tares for ever, merely that the destroying angel may find work to bind them into bundles, and burn them? We may leave this service, surely, to the enemy that hath ever been doing it, the god of this world and subverter of all that tends to our good in the next. I should have concluded, in my simplicity, that it was the duty of priests and magistrates to endeavour, with their might, that the youth be trained (all of them, without exception) sober, discreet, and orderly members of society; and that the Prince of darkness might then be safely told to maintain his kingdom in his own way, if he could! We need not doubt at all, but that, when we have done our best, offences will come; but surely we are not prepared, individually, to take upon us the woe denounced against that man through whom the offence cometh! Let us snatch, then, from the lips of the infant that which the child should not relish, and forbid to the child that which he may scarce take with safety when grown to manhood. It was the maxim, I believe, of an eminent philosopher and physician of the last century, that children should drink water, and adults malt liquor; and that the feebler pulse and colder stomach of old age should alone be trusted with the stronger stimulus of wine and brandy. This, of course, as matter of diet-and, were I disposed to lay down rules in that respect, I think I should approve the principle here advanced. For it is commonly in youth, and while the animal spirits would suffice, if left alone, to their proper office, that the vinous potion is brought in aid and misused, to hurry the pulse, disorder the vital functions and lay the foundation of disease and wretchedness; to be endured at the season when old age might have been benefited by the use.

And now a word as to water-drinking. I do not suppose that those who would willingly see the practice become general, have much reflected on the consequences that might probably ensue to the health of

the people. There is, in fact, as great a variety in the natural impreg nations of the universal fluid, as in those which we give to it for the purposes of the table: and many of these are far from being wholesome. Could we get it always from the living spring, there might be more said for its salubrity: but how often does it come from questionable sources-ex rivo, tum ex puteo, tum ex palude-often through mere indolence from the pit that chances to be next at hand: while custom reconciles us to the slow but sure destruction of our health and comfort!

And it may be very fairly made a question, whether under these circumstances the use of water, as our common beverage, might not prove as great an inlet to disease, as the present abuse of those variously compounded drinks into which it enters. The mere boiling of the water for tea or coffee, independently of the vegetable impregnation, is indeed a means of rendering it, generally, more safe to drink-but the spirit of retrenchment which, under the pretence of putting down luxuries, would embarrass the government by subtracting revenue, will be found, if it proceeds in its operations, attacking these also: and then farewel to the boiling of our water, be it tainted, or chalybeate, or earthy, or in whatsoever way unwholesome.

But these, I shall be told, are mere prudential considerations (as are also those which lead to Temperance Societies) but we are to be temperate (and some will say abstemious) on higher ground; because we are Christians, and are not our own but are bought with a price, the infinite value of which we acknowledge. Granted: but let us take along with the argument this fact, that our blessed Lord and Saviour, whose precepts we are bound to observe and whose example we should follow, himself drank wine, the common beverage of the country, and lived as other men do, using the Creation with them, and avoiding only the sin and evil of intemperance. He laid down no precise rules of abstinence: the spirit of superstition and will-worship invented these, and introduced them in abundance into the churches: but an enlight ened and reasonable view of our duty throws down all such barriers, and brings us back to the restraints and liberties of the Gospel-for it has both to offer to our acceptance.

How to separate wholly the moral from the religious part of my subject, here, I know not, Happy is the man who condemns not himself in that which he pronounces lawful for another: we must be careful, while we assert this our liberty, not to license excess. The sober man, the most circumspect not to give offence by his conduct in these things, may, after all, in respect of the weightier matters of the law (judgment with mercy, and good faith) be found a delinquent. Let us then so judge others, as we ourselves would be judged: and let those who wish not the universal prevalence of vows of abstinence, be permitted still to take the plain ground of practical usefulness, in their dissent. There is undoubtedly, in the practice of temperance, taken in the gospel sense, the greatest sum of enjoyment here and the surest hope of happiness hereafter. It is good, then, for the child that he

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