Smyrna times., 1856-11-26

win" spoken of in this transaction, admitting
the supposition of Burder, was, from the mode
OF it's preservation, sweet wine, and not SO LA
Bile to intoxicate. The wine produced by the
Saviour was better--so much better than the
wine usually first used upon such occasions,
that its peculiar quality excited the wonder of
the governor, and called forth from him gen.
/ tie reprimand. We think the whole transac-
tion proves very material difference between
the wine they had been using and that made by
Christ; for the language of the governor inti-
mates so much difference, that he is not willing |
to admit they had been given any good wine
until then. What was the difference? tits
4 not reasonable to suppose that Christ, whose
! Gospel forblds drunkenness, would manufacture
la beverage possessing more or stronger intoxi-
eating qualities than that they had already been
drinking. Such a supposition would present
him in the unattractiye light of contributing to
the drunkenness of the company-would present
i the anomalous feature in connection with Christ
of being about to commission his ambassadors
to go and say to the people, No drunkard shall
inherit the kingdom of God," and at the same
time, not only countenancing drunkenness, but
actually using his miraculous power to the pro-
duction of that which would in all probability
Ike men drunk. Who is willing to believe
this of the spotless Son of God! The reasona-
BILE conclusion, then, is, that this wine, while it
had the taste and much batter flavor than the
wine. usually drank, possessed none of its in
toxicating qualities. Any other supposition is
not only unreasonable and unscriptural, but de-
rogatory to the character of Christ.
Besides, the argument we are noticing, says,
I: the original of the word rendered "drunken,"
"means more or less exhiirated"-i. e. iutoxi.
: Gated; and makes the Saviour, at this stage of
b the feast, produce wine of more highly intoxi-
eating power, than that which had already pro-
. duced more effect than the Scriptures allow us
to experience from the use of wine-and
large quantity, too--enough to have made
pretty large company boozy,n without having
I used any before. There were six water pots
containing two or three frkins apiece" The
: frkin is about nine gallons. Taking the lowest
number two firkins apiece lit would make
:. lOS gallons. Take the highest number, A." three
= frkins apiece" it would be I08 gallons. Take
: the Average, and it would be 135 gallons, or
I over four, barrels of wine, intensely intOxica-
!. ting made by the Saviour at wedding, for the
" use of the company, and that, too, after they
: were all mere or less exhilirated or intoxica
= ted !! i. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not il
y Askelon, lest the daughters of the 'uncircum
!. cised rejoice :" - ..,......,.....
Ii may, however,, be said, that our estimat'
I, of the quantity of the frkin is too large. DIR
~ Clarke, who visited Cana, which still exists
:" says, it is worthy Of note, that walking amon
the ruins Of church, we saw large massy ston
~ pots, answering the description given of th
- ancient vessels of the country, not preserve
nor exhibited as relics, bat lying about, dlsre
30 garded by the present Inhabitants as antiqnitie
- " with whose original use they were unacqusin
- ed. From their appearance, and the number
~ them, it was quite evident that practice
- keeping water 10 large stone pots, each hOIdin
" from eighteen to tsOenty-seUen gallons, wa
- once common in the country" Here are th
:. Identical water pots used in the time of Chris
81 holding "two or three frkins apiece I'll
! : supposition that this wine was Intoxicating
agl viewed in connection with all the elrcumsta
e ces esofithetransaction, bears Prima fdcie ey
'''u dence of fIits falsityH aaai % '2ah7'e s"1*
up-I al dv fsddauuifs f-yil9 ullastgs ylUFI es
= Says this, same writer, I" The Saviour W
49, voluntarily at the feast and he condemned n
II, the use of these drinks by precept, and Tess
of example, We wait for the proof that Il
Ia Saviour drank any wine at this wedding. The
"a is not the least intimuton Of it in the who
cen record, The fact Of his being there is not su
rsd cient proof. The tact of his having made wi
( of Of winter Is NOT proof 1t was not necessary
lied Him to taste that which he made himself,
first order to know its flavor or quality-He KIN
lin these without tasting; and the narrative jus
rem fes us in the conclusion that He did not ia
fore it-at least, NOT until the governor had Fl
uted tried its favor. ssolq - ,3isa g7ia0a9 3ai 81
s in Again If to drink intoxicating drink" 8,
adds the writer, q other than as medicine, is a
rows and il was custom of the world so to dri
rood when this language was uttered---it was tots
n oc- unworthy the Divine Being to exclude
,ted. drunkard from Heaven, when nine-tenths Of
acle, living were daily drinkers; and according
TX at this doctrine, wbosoeyer had or should take
Which one drpk'iuhis, Lifetime. was as sure to be
as All clusled from heaven as the druBkard. IT
,erior repentance was possible, but both, If to d
fa., is avviolaton of the moral law, were, ever
as far been, and ever must remain equally sur
leetly helk'u This fine specimen Oh iog'cis prese
ed fsr in connection with the passage, sthedrun
.tons. shall not inherit the klngdom OF ood.
i,pop Such logic says too plainly, that # 70 re
pecui % worship Cod except from necessity or
under RANGES be q sspT5snd iaolairIwaP ihe Ipra'
ia no of the world shenathe worship OF God 'sa'
eating oiaea---is Wssito,all unworthy The Dvin'
seal. ling t. say s.the wicked shall be tdrned
oflbe he'll pHd ~ lSAs l!Ogs 'ea' 'qfsfl soa,
ssabs nine- 'sptps " bpfsWpstWeieitpRlafess ~