The Wine Cup | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1875

The Wine Cup.

“Oh, that men should put such an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains.”—Shakespeare.

You are falling, brother, falling— When you taste the muddy wine; 'Tis but Satan's bait for catching Fish that are almost divine.

Dare not touch it lest he catch you— Dare to answer firmly, No; When in guise of friend he comes, “Shake him” as you ought to do.

Gaze around you for a moment; Think of friends that you have known On the downward road to ruin— Some still linger, some are gone. Would you like to join them, brother, In that vale of tears and woe? If you keep on tasting, brother, You'll be there before you know.

It may be you're just commencing— Only take a “social cup” Now and then, “with jolly comrades, Just to keep your spirits up— Have not felt the gnawing, craving, Which is sure to come with time; Yet beware retrace your footsteps— Haste thee, lest you mire in slime.

When once mired, God have mercy— Once a drunkard, who can save? None but He, “who rules the thunder, Claims the wind and stills the wave.” Dare not take the chances, brother? Think it over, ponder well; Then don't let the “sparkling tempter,” Drag you down to death and hell.