THE DOG. 169 



as he had a bone to his meat, or a crust to his 

 bread, he would divide it with his faithful friend, who 

 had preserved his life :" and this he did with the perfect 

 conviction that the warmth of the dog, in covering the 

 most vital part of the body, had continued the circula- 

 tion, and prevented the entire stagnation of the blood 

 by the intense cold. 



It is not stated that so remarkable a deliverance 

 from death was followed by the abandonment of intem- 

 perance ; yet such ought, assuredly, to have been one 

 of its results. The man who yields himself to the 

 dominion of this shameful and filthy vice, sinks far below 

 the level of the beasts that perish. No effort no 

 sacrifice should therefore be refused for its prevention 

 or correction. The health the character all the 

 temporal and eternal interests of the deathless spirit, 

 raise their voice against it. Oh that it were heard by 

 all who are caught in the snare of intemperance, or in 

 danger of becoming so ; while it ought ever to be re- 

 membered that the grace of God is the only effectual 

 corrective of evil, and that he who would be temperate 

 in all things, must be truly pious ! 



