Litchfield enquirer., 1833-06-20

in that which Our Saviour supplied y miracle, does not appear. The difference seems 10 be chieay !" words. For regards poisnn, tka"w nU, tha, 'heFs is any thing bud about iI, except sla' hpr"'iaces bad effect the body, and so'nelimes On the mind a sO and the constitution, precisely the same thaA is produced by wine when taken in certain quantities.
 But in relation this subject, the following thing, may be said.
 Supposng wine to Ie poison, it is no more deroga- tory 10 the character of the Sav0ur to furnish il by miracle. than it, the materials OI which it is composed. He originally made it, or at leasl the juice of the grape and he made all things else, not excepting poisOns. For all things were made by him, and without hiUa not any thing made that was uiade." Some of the things which he made, if taken into the stomach, would, without doubt, pro- duce speedy deah But this is not considered as be- ing areectiOn upon his character his benevolence. though cannot the purpose for which pOrlic- ular poison was created, the Creator had, without doubt, benevolent purpose in creating it. We might therefore though should fail to discover the spe- cia object which Saviour had in view, in furnish
 ing the wine at the marriage of Cana, conclude that the object of it must have been benevolent and there contentedy leave the subject. The difference, then, so far the power and goodness ofthe Saviour are concerned, between his originally creating wine, and his miracuousy making it the above occasion, was. that the first, being act of his almighty power ofinnumerable similar acts performed the same time: the other was single act of the same power, performed alone and afterwards. The object of the miracle was to manifea. his glory; the that he had in view in the creation.
 As the object in view simply the display of the savoGrs glory his divine power this could as wei be dspayedby the creation of one thing of anoth CT. But there was a special reason in the present case for selecting wine as the subject of his almighty power. There was nothing which would so muc, strike he attention Of those concerned was the very thing that wanted; and the supply of it, in this manner, would be noticed, and long remembered. As to the quality of the wine itself he Jeff them to de- termine it, as they determined the quality of other wine, and to receive reject asthey, instructed by their knowledge of its qualities, shood decide, bod- ing them responsihe in other cases, for the cor rectness of the decisons I, not on that oecasion ary more part of his design decide question in the Materia Med'ca, than when he gave the Bible to make that book for the solution of that question.
 In the hundred and fourth psalm, all human beings are called on to bless God, for many reasons; ant among many others, because he gives wine that ma. keith glad the heart of man, and oil that causeth his face to shine, and bread which streng,henetit nan l heart" This passage is sometimes quoted to show that sUine good but the advocates of that opnior commonly omit to quote what is said respecting oii
 however, proper to take the whole passage together It s then, to be observed that oil was in that age and country applied habitualy o the face till it slone with glossy lusre. This was regarded as necessary to comfort that i, became, in the estimation of the people, necessary point of hospitality to guests, and our Lord when invited to dine by Pharisee, who omit
 ted this and other of ciyy, did fail remint him of the neglect. But think differently re specting oil; we should consider smearing the fac, with it as both uncomfortable and indecent; and tn, person who should do it, in such society as ire quent, would be proper object of reprehension.- Why we should take this liberty with oil alone, ant not also with wine, it is difficult perceive. Botf these thought good by the people of that coun try and those times; but experience has shown,
 that by us both of them had better he let aone They both stand the ground with other local and temporary customs; every person must judge from their known qualities and effects, whether they are good or bad for us. ME PARolNoN. ITO De continued.J