Commenting on Daniel 1:8-10 an ancient commentary relates the following:
Keep in mind, this commentator is not even dealing with the "two wine theory." He is merely considering that abstinence from even that which may be "lawful" is "sometimes a sacred duty."
"The royal provisions in themselves good, but in the circumstances not to be partaken of by Daniel and his friends without sin and moral defilement.
So even in his old age, Daniel for a special religious purpose abstained for a time both from flesh and wine (ch. x. 3).
" Every creature of God is good, and to be received with thanks- giving of them that know and believe the truth."
But there are times when, for the sake of others, if not for our own, it may be our duty to abstain from the use of some. Christian wisdom and an enlightened conscience needed to direct us in regard to such abstinence."
Spirit given wisdom and
a biblically enlightened conscience
are necessary, at times, to discern what is best to do.
The same Apostle who counselled Timothy to "use a little wine " for his stomach's sake and his frequent infirmities, asserts that " it is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak ; " and declares for himself, " If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (Rom. xiv. 21; 1 Cor. viii. 13).
"The character of the wines and other intoxicating drinks used in this country, the prevalence of the drinking customs, the continued evidence before our eyes of the terrible effects of the use of these drinks, both physically, socially, and morally, slaying as they do their tens of thousands, and drawing in their train both misery, poverty, disease, and crime (and this was published in 1892)— these facts are believed by many to make it the duty of Christian men and women in general, in the exercise of that charity that " pleaseth not itself" and " seeketh not her own," to abstain entirely from the use of these beverages for at least the sake of those who must, one way or other, be influenced by our example."
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