"'Wine,' says the Scripture, 'maketh glad the heart of man,' but only of the man who has a heart. The thing called high spirits is possible only to the spiritual." — G.K. Chesterton, Heretics
Only the spiritual can be in high spirits. But not all spirits are high born.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Wine can only make glad the heart of a man who has a new heart. The man whose heart is hardened cannot take the edge of with alcohol, it only sharpens the edge. Only a man whose heart is true can truly be glad.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
So, Chesterton's observation holds up. Sour hearts will not taste God's sweetness and evil spirits cannot be in high spirits. Low born vices cannot rise up to the level of celestial virtues, they can only sink down to deeper degradations.
Ephesians 5:18
Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
So, be intoxicated with the Spirit of God, not the wine of the vine. You cannot appreciate fermented beverages with a sour attitude. Do not rely on artificial spirits to raise yours. Turn to Christ and receive a new spirit and then, and only then, will you enjoy spirits of all kinds and in proper proportion.
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