Total Abstinence
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.


The following story is told of General Harrison, one of the candidates for the Presidency of the United States, in connection with a public dinner given him on one occasion: "At the close of the dinner one of the gentlemen drank his health. The General pledged his toast by drinking water. Another gentleman offered a toast, and said, 'General, will you not favour me by taking s glass of wine?' The General, in a very gentlemanly way, begged to be excused. He was again urged to join in a glass of wine. This was too much. He rose from his seat and said in the most dignified manner: 'Gentlemen, I have twice refused to partake of the wine-cup. I hope that will be sufficient. Though you press the matter ever so much, not a drop shall pass my lips. I made a resolve when I started in life that I would avoid strong drink. That vow I have never broken. I am one of a class of seventeen young men who graduated together. The other sixteen members of my class now fill drunkards' graves, and all from the pernicious habit of wine-drinking. I owe all my health, my happiness, and prosperity to that resolution. Would you urge me to break it now?'"



Parallel Verses
KJV: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

WEB: Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.




The Evil Effects of Drunkenness
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