Litchfield enquirer., 1871-04-27

lnQ. So does Donnegan With but one ex- ception, aud that only apparent, saying it may mean .'to soak" But suppose a man we'll -soaked in liquor issa drnnkard, an "old soaker' in the street slang.
 As against this opinion of these eminent photographers. as well as such men as Skaff and Lange, backed by the inherent force of their connection of the passages themselves. numerous enough to settle the matter, and with not one single case of a proved opposite meaning in the New Tes- lament, and the Septuagint divided and doubtful. submit that the evidence is overwhelmingly against your correspon- dents position. I assert, on sound exeget- ical rules, that the word q nsethuei," in the Corinthian church case, does "prove" there was drunkenness there. in view of the facts above given. "Only point of exegesis, |" says MT. E.; but the question of cor rect exegesis is all important here, as else where in the Word of God. If one should say that the Latin word "equns," horse, may mean mule. and, possibly, on 8 pinch. donkey; or that the word ':1slis, /" cat. migM signify tiger, or leopard, when other words. used uniformly, signi- fed those animals, what would be thought of such exegesis? may add, that all the verb and cognate words. such as 'aaethe, {" "saethusnsa," " methusos." drunkard, and their compounds, have assigned to them by the most eminent authorities, kindred meaning, and this as the only meaning. And here am quite willing to rest the ar- gument, satisfied that thorough investi- gation by any one in an impartial spirit of the real meaning of these words in New Testament Greek, and with the help of the best authorities, can lead to but one con- clusion, that maintained in these articles.
 l must, however, before closing, again and emphatically dissent from the gratui- tous assumption of your correspondent, that our Lord could "countenance by His presence only sober, quiet and happy as- semblies of peoples. Christ went among aA classes of people. even "publicans and sinners, " the refuse and vile of society. He countenanced no sin, indeed, but He did countenance by His gracious presence all sorts of assemblies; always. however, with holy purpose to do them good The character of the people at Cana had nothing to do with the great intent of his visit thither. He went to "show forth His glory" and whether the company was "quiet" and "sober'' or the opposite; or whether the wine He miraoalously made was fermented or not, were things incl dental and unimportant.
 Why, then, I ask, should we becloud this question of Temperance with doubt full. and, as think. utterly invalid argu- ments? MT. D s attempt to convince men that in the cases under discussion the wine did not intoxicate, may convince some. Others, and many of them. as sturdy and true friends of Temperance as he, he will not convince. think his argument, as he puts it, on, the Bible ground, untenable. With all due respect, and I certainly have, l trust, only sincere and fraternal regard for him. personally as we'll as officially, I am yet firmly of the opinion. after many years study and observation, that the gIori ous cause of Temperance and total absti- nenee has been, and still is, hindered and hampered by arguments that do not, and neuer aoiA commend themselves to the in. telligent judgment of thinking and inves- tigating men. And now, since we have both had our "say." MT. Editor, second MT. E.. and "call for the previous ques- tion.'' W. s. Co1roN.