HELP FOR THE DRUNKARD by Rev. E. Payson Hammond, M. A.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 29, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 22.

HELP FOR THE DRUNKARD.

By Rev. E. Payson Hammond, M. A.

During the evangelistic meetings in Washington, we frequently witnessed the mighty power of God in enabling those who had been addicted to habits of intemperance to abandon the intoxicating cup. Men frequently arose and said, “I have for years struggled with the demon of strong drink, but never till my conversion have I been victorious.”

I rejoice in all that temperance societies are doing to save the drunkard; but I feel that too much dependence is sometimes placed upon man's ability to rescue himself from the enslaving power of drink. Sinners of every grade need to be told that they are lost, and that Christ alone can save them. When this great truth is brought home to them by the Holy Spirit, then it is they begin to cry for mercy, and soon find by happy experience that the Lord Jesus is “able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.”

As an illustration of this truth, I give the experience of a gentleman of culture in one of the government departments at Washington. In a letter which he addressed to me he says:—

“Subsequent to my conversion, as you know, I frequently testified to the saving power of Christ in my regeneration. But never had I given a full statement of the terribly depraved and lost condition which I was in prior to my conversion, particularly in regard to my slavery to rum. The subject was too mortifying to me to speak of it in public, tho I sometimes felt condemned for not doing so, as it might have had a good effect upon others who were victims of the same wretched vice. I was reared by Christian parents and nurtured in the Sunday-school. At sixteen years of age I stepped out from under their influence into the abyss of worldly pleasures, and sought them in the ball-rooms, theaters, gambling dens, rum mills, and other places of infamy, only however to find grief, distress, heart-burnings, and bitter remorse. My constant indulgence in the accursed cup for twenty years, had become second nature with me, and to control the appetite was impossible. The fact of my living and dying a drunkard, and my helplessness, was so loathsome to me that I craved death; and on one occasion went so far as to attempt to take my own life by drinking three ounces of laudanum, but thru the providence of God I was discovered at death's door and saved. I also lived thru delirium tremens twice.

“I shudder at such revelations now that I can realize the terrible perdition which I escaped thru the great mercy of Christ; but suffice it for me to say, that from the time I received the blessed assurance of the forgiveness of sins, and the regeneration of my heart, thru the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, I have never from that moment to this had the slightest desire to take a drink of liquor; whereas, prior to that time the appetite for liquor was so intense that I had no more control over it than a starving man would have to resist food when placed before him. Nothing but the miraculous power of a merciful God ever saved me from a drunkard's grave; and while my whole soul pours out in humble gratitude to my Redeemer for His wonderful mercy to me, I so greatly fear the return of that terrible appetite that I endeavor to keep myself constantly under the influence of His Holy Spirit by unremitting prayer, in the faith that He is not only able, but will save me from that as well as all other sins. My life is now one of almost uninterrupted sunshine and happiness. Those things that once seemed to afford me pleasure, I now abhor, and my sole delight now is in the association of Christians. I am never so happy as when on Saturday evening we young converts assemble, and strengthen the bonds of our Christian brotherhood by relating our individual experiences as to our spiritual progress from week to week.”

I remember that during the revival in St. Louis, there were about one hundred and thirty drunkards converted, who banded themselves

together in a society to strengthen one another by mutual prayer and counsel.

Thirty years ago a tramp came to my father's door one Saturday evening, and asked the privilege of sleeping in the barn. He was an educated Scotchman. He had spent all his money in Boston for liquor. With blistered feet he walked a hundred miles, pressing on his way to New York, where, without doubt, he would soon have slept in a drunkard's grave. But a little kindness shown to him for a few weeks, and the presentation of “Christ and Him crucified” to him in love and tenderness, induced him to become a Christian. For many years he occupied an important position as a teacher, and has since passed away, loved by many. Let us pray and labor for the salvation of those addicted to strong drink. God is able to save them.

Should you, my reader, possibly be of this number, I pray that you may ask God to forgive you all your sins for Jesus' sake, and to give you a new heart and put His Holy Spirit within you, so that you shall hate every evil thing you have hitherto loved.

May God help you to heed these words: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55: 7.

Jesus' words to you are, “Him that cometh unto Me I will in nowise cast out.” John 6: 37.

Believe in Him now, and be saved. Yes, Jesus loves you. He will receive and change your heart, and give you strength to resist every temptation. Only trust him.

“Come to Jesus, all ye weary, Burden'd with a load of sin; Come to Jesus, He is ready To receive such wanderers in.

“Come to Jesus, He'll receive you, Take His yoke and learn of Him; As your Prophet to instruct you,— As your King be ruled by Him.

“Come to Jesus, He'll receive you; He will cancel all your guilt. 'Twas for this He came to save you,— 'Twas for this His blood was spilt.”

REV. E. PAYSON HAMMOND, M. A.