Litchfield enquirer., 1871-04-13
For the Enquirer.
 TEMPERANCE,

the nSta or cfatlc0l yQ1ScuSslOD Wltn my nsighbor Cotton. must say, however, in reply to his strictures that notwithstanding his sweeping and peremptory verdict. I hold the same opinions as I before ex- pressed. 1 He does not represent correctly my state. ment in regard to the wine at the marriage in Cana. did not refer to the quantity i being too much, if fermented, because q smaller amount would have suficed for the
 purpose of moderate drinking, as though
 that were ''the question before the Savior's
 mind" merely remarked that such a
 lavish provision, in tempting excellence, of
 on intoxicating beverage already so freely
 partaken of as to exhaust presumably
 liberal supply. ''would ill accord with the
 views of those who advocate only moderate drinking, who would hardly so venture to
 tempt their guests. and so it still seems
 to me. Yet do not suppose that the o5 jea of our Lord in fixing tho amount had anything to do with its use. whether mod crate or immoderate.
 The main point at issue, then, is the ap p]ication of the Greek word methuo. I was. of course, perfectly aware of it's ordi- nary signifcation, and also of the differing opinions of commentators as to its mean ing in the passages referred to. chose, therefore, to accept the construction which appeared to mo most probable in the con : nection. and most consistent with circum- stances. He considers the names which mentioned ''not frst-class authorities no,c, :" but l do not think it point of SO much difficulty as to require the most advanced scholarship He himself says it is ''one of the plainest words ia the Greek language" ," Moreover, "irst class authorities" are quite as liable as any other to be biased in their views by some underlying feeling; as I presume my friend will agree with me in be- lieving Dean Afford to have been whare ecclesiastical, national and reform matters are involved. Let him read the Dean's whole comment on the occurrence at OaIa, and see if he can find no trace of this in the bitter denunciation of the principle of total abstinence. for which we are both contending :; though, by the way, do not find in my edition of Afford, upon that passage. any such declaration as that "the verb could mean nothing else." nor any allusion what ever to it.
 The word methuo is undoubtedly derived from methu. originally signifying wine, "mulled wine" says Donnegan. i. e. soft ened. o. brought down in spirit" Stuart. says, "sweet wine and probably unfer- mented." It generally. however, does in- dicate drunkenness. But is it necessary to infer that it could not be. and was not, used in less limited sense ]? With due deference to my learned neighbor, when he speaks of uniform and indisputable usage." inse~i6ly opposed to any other, !" so that "no fair, candid scholar can come to any other conclusion" T beg to demur. Donnegan gives as one of his definitions "to indulge to excess" A secondary ap- plication, and according exactly with the view which I have given in regard to its application to the Corinthians. Bloom field cites several exceptions to the strict meaning of intoxicate from Aristotle, Plu- tarch and Menander among classical, and Josephus. Philo and the seventy among Hellenistic writers. Donnegan also. de fines Methusko. "to wet thoroughly, to soak, the final root form being meth or naed, to moisten, as in Dent. 32:42, to which Robinson's Lexicon refers for an illustra- tion of the use of 8 corresponding Hebrew word. .and which the Septuagint readers by
 Metsusko, CT will make mine arrows drunk with blood" An analogous instance oc- CUTS in Ps 43:24, "Neither " hast thou filled me tMargin-' Made me drunken, abund- antly moistened1 with the fat of thy sacri- fees" Such 8 departure from the primary meaning was common in the scriptural or Jewish Greek. and is fully recognized in the Septuagint version, which, Robinson remarks. "was probably the only Greekwrit. ing with which most of the sacred penmen were acquainted" Accordingly that yer sion adopts the word we are discussing in such passages as the following: Ps. 23:5, !" My cup runneth -over." Ps, 36:8, "Abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house." Ps. 65:l0, "Thou settlest the furrows." Jer. S1:14. "Satiats the soul of my priests with fatness." Prov. |5:19. sLet her breasts satisfy thee." Dr.. Lees, in his Biblical Commentary, gives 8
 large collection of such texts. showing s'the application of nsethao to food, to milk, to water, to blood, to oil. as well. as to wine. '' Not having these works at hand quote from Dr. Wm. Patton. of New Haven. It would not be remarkable, therefore. if Paul or John should follow the same free dom and sometimes employ the term in it's extended sense of abundance or excess in anything. though generally conforming to
 the more familiar usage. s < Let us look now at the cases which are
 under discussion. It strikes me as entire lY unfair fin view 0f whas have Shnwns