The Banners of the Temperance Reformation
J. Dawson Burns. Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfill all your petitions. There is the battle of life and its hard struggle, with which we are familiar. And there is that other battle of a higher kind — the battle of salvation, in which we have to carry on a warfare against our spiritual foes. And every great reform has been of the nature of a battle, because of the opposing forces arrayed against it. The Temperance Reformation is no exception to this rule. Many and mighty are the forces arrayed against it: ignorance and appetite, custom and fashion, prejudices and "vested interests," and yet more. This is the battle we have to wage. But we survey the field of this warfare not at all with discouragement, but rejoicing in the salvation which God has wrought by the temperance cause. I. ENUMERATE SOME OF THE GREAT TRUTHS WHICH ARE THE BANNERS OF THE TEMPERANCE REFORMATION. We know how useful signs, banners, and such symbols are in any warfare. What great service they render. 1. Now, amongst ours are abstinence and health. No one imperils their health by joining our cause, though some think they will. But it is altogether a mistake. There is no need for their coming as martyrs, for no one's health will be injured by abstinence. And how vastly health is promoted by it is a fact becoming more recognised day by day. 2. Temperance and safety. Perfect safety is not the lot of man, but relative safety is largely within our own power; and abstinence from all intoxicating drinks is one great aid to such safety. "Wine is a mocker," and the victims of its deceptions are gathered from every rank, age, and calling, the most sacred not excepted. Therefore it is well to make ourselves, by abstinence from strong drink, as safe as we can in order that we may more fully execute the will of God and the work of life. 3. Temperance and charity; that is, love for our fellow man. For the sake of others we should keep from that which does others so great harm. Love will ever swell the ranks of the temperance cause. 4. Temperance and piety. The one does not involve the other, but it is a great helper thereto. A practical connection exists between them, and temperance has brought multitudes to cast in their lot with the godly, and to walk with them in the heavenly way. 5. Temperance and prosperity. What hinders national and individual prosperity so much as intoxicating drink Y What, then, could more help than abstinence from it? II. EXALTATION OF THESE BANNERS IS BINDING UPON US. We are to set them up, not as the only things to be exalted, but yet as certainly amongst them. 1. Why shall we set them up? (1) As a protest against prevailing errors and fallacies which still are held by multitudes of people. (2) For publicity — that all may know what we believe and teach. (3) For the sake of propagandism. We want these truths spread. 2. Where shall we set them up? In the home, the school, the church, the press, the legislature, wherever, indeed, we may. 3. The means. By the living voice, by the printing press, by personal example, by social influence, by the franchise. III. THE DIVINE SANCTION UNDER WHICH WE ACT. We care for such sanction and we have it: His authority, honour, service, all sanction our efforts. Let us all be of those who take our text as their own resolve. (J. Dawson Burns.) Parallel Verses KJV: We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. WEB: We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.