The Bible and Strong Drink

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 15, 1877

The Bible and Strong Drink

In a recent address, Mr. Gough said: “We have no reason for searching the Bible to find permission to drink intoxicating beverages. All we need ask for from the Bible is permission to let the drink alone. Unless the Bible commands our using them, we ought not to think of touching strong drinks. Suppose a man asked you to take a lighted candle and go with him by night into a powder magazine, would you think of doing it? ‘But’ he might say, ‘there is no command in the Bible against your doing this thing if you want to.’ ‘That may be true,’ you would be likely to respond, ‘but unless I am commanded in the Bible to run such a needless risk, I will stay in a safer place than you propose to me.’ And you would be a great deal more sensible than the man who takes just a little wine daily because he finds no explicit command in the Bible against such a course.”