He Knew All About It by Richard Newton, D. D.

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 16, 1882

He Knew All About It.

By Richard Newton, D. D.

SOME time ago a gentleman was going from Boston to Albany, and on his journey got into conversation with a young man, a divinity student, who was traveling the same way. Something was said about drinking, when the divinity student said:—

“I am only twenty-five years of age, but you can’t tell me anything about that. I know all there is to know about drinking.”

“When I was eighteen I went to Boston to take charge of the books in a mercantile house. In the boarding-house where I boarded were four young men. We became companions. They all drank and invited me to join them. I declined. I said, ‘I am eighteen and have never drank, and it would not be just to my Christian home and my family to do so now.’ I resisted for a time; but they resorted to ridicule, and that I could not stand. I drank, and in two years delirium tremens overtook me. All terrible things were present to me and pursuing me. I suffered agonies. I trembled and realized my danger, and in my alarm sought refuge in my Saviour’s strength, and now I expect soon to preach the gospel.”

“And will you tell me,” said the gentleman, “what has become of your boarding-house friends ?”

“Three of them,” said the young man, “are in drunkards’ graves, and the fourth is in prison.”

What an injurious sting this sting of strong drink is!—Richard Newton, D. D.