Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-18


pats an entirely different usansnl
and construction upon the text IL q
follows: do not drink wine M
strong drink, thou nor thy sons with
thee, when ye 90 into the tabernacle o
the congregation. lest re Gle" DC. III.
language is specific, not general: tbs
prohibition temporary. not perpetual.
BE says TO Aaron you must not drink
vine nor strong drink - IN the taber'
nscle" only.
IN the general laws for the gaiesncs
and government Of His chosen people
ss given by God TO Moses in Levitical
and Deuteronomy, we find the mos
complete exegssis Of what was allowed
and prohibited. Those laws are Sc per
feet and 80 complete that the Jurisprs.
dence of al civilized nations is founded
and based upon the ethics therein con-
tained. We are told what animals
birds, and reptiles may be eaten or not
eater. and in chapter xiv. %, the chill
dIen Ct Israel are commanded 70 eii
= Of thy wine and Of thine OIL, and the
frlilipgs Of thy herds and Of thy
Hocks.r wealso commend to the care
ful perusal Of " Truth - xviii, II, in con.
neetion with verse 10, same chapter, o.
Numbers; also. Ibid xv.. S. :, ..
The quotations made by "Truth '
from Proverbs only prove ihSt GOD
prohibits and interdicts drunkenness
and excess.
The quotation from HabAkkuk H., Z,
only p-Ores, what 10 one denies or contr0-
yeIts, that II is wrong 70 make your
Dsighbor drunk for any purpose. aud
more particularly that "tbou mares.
look CD MS ntks5peEs." We are al 9
loss TO conceive by what process oi
information or deduction interpreted
according 70 the - analogy Of faith " OF
faithful aDology, the conclusion il
arrived at that God permits the use ol
wire or strong drink only as medicine.
Only one text is deduced to sustain
this view, and that is not by any means
as clear as Truth " thinks when
viewed By bis favorite method o.
analogy OF faith " or by a faithful
analogy, for Psul's language 10 Timothy
is made plain and unmiStakable when
be writes to the Colossisns Gi., l6) aud
says: Let no mar therefore judge
you IN meat or in drink" &C.
We do not think the analogy Of
faith " or any other analogy or analysis
could deduce any other conclusion from
he miracle Of the conversion Of water
into wine by Christ than be sanctioned
Us use il moderation as q beverage.
Look at the facts Jesus and his disci-
pIeE 20 10 & marriage, or rather mar
risee-ieas.. and II Is 3 weu-known fact
to theological scholars that among tbs
Jews the nuptiAl festivities continued
from three to seven days. They have
10 wine. The original is equivalent 70
- The wine is falling short" for Il Is
evident from verse 10 that wine was
used other than that produced By Christ.
lis mother informed him " they have
no vine and =. Jesus saith unto them
FIJI the vster-pots with water. And
they filed then TO the brim. And be
saith unto them. Draw out now. and
bear unto the Governor Of the feast.
And they bare it, And when ths ruler
Of the fesg, had tasted the wine be said,
Every man At the beginning doth SCI
forth good wine and when men have
well drunk then that which is
worse; but thou hast kept the
good wine until now" The Ian
guage is plain, concise, unmistsktble-
requires no elucidstion, no explanation,
no comment. Take into consideration
the occasion, coupled with the fact tina,
the people he was raised witb-sDongs;
one OF whom he was-Eere IN the habit
Of using wine daily ss "a beverage, and
II does look " abgurd a" that any other
conclusion, when interpreted by the
rules founded on the analogy Of faith,
could be deduced than the one we have
arrived al. ''1ruth" says the miracle wss
wrought 10 suthenticate His divine mis-
sion and power. Granted but did Christ
ever 20 amongst the people when they
were engaged IN sinful acts that BE did
not rebuke them: Would not bis d.
vine mission and power been as fOrci-
bly authenticated had he converted the
wine into water For If is evident from
6 careful reading Of the narrative ths;
there was some wine on hand when be
arrived, and be deferred the mira
Gle until Il was exhausted. CHRIST never
wrought & miracle for mere show. BE
alwsvs had al object IN view. and lie
never did things by halves. II We sp-
ply - Truths construction or inter-
probation Of the " analogy Of faith
10 the miracles OF the conversion OF
water into wine and the miracle OF the
loaves and fishes, we arrive at the con-
clusion that the latter was not done 70
feed The hungry, but simply 10 suthen-
ticste His divine mission. and there
fore II was wrong for the multitude 10
have eaten Of the same but 10 res
soning mind il is Just as clear that the
wine was. II one case, made 20 be
crank and was drank, as II is 10 the
other that the loaves and fishes were
made to eat and were eaten. Ii Is
clearly our duty not to attempt 20 imi-
tate Christ's miracles, bat It Is unques-
tionably our province and our duty TO
initiate HIS teachings, TO emulate His
example. His life, HIS actions, His
temperance, His moderation his
charity, His chastity. His patience,
BIS meekness. His goodness. lie
taught US by His example to use the
good things Of this lie IN moderation
and not 10 abuse then. He taught Us
IN the miracle Of the conversion OF
water into WINE 10 use II IN Dooera-
rion lie taught Us In the miracle o.
the losves and fishes 10 feed the hun
cry lie taught Us by casting out devils
10 eschew evil ard TO subdue our evil
passions He taught Us in cursing the
| fie-tree when il was no longer fruitful
10 pluck II w and let II no longer
cumber the grolnd ID His fast n the
wilderness lie taught Us 10 fast aud
pray in His salk upon me waters BE
taught US 10 walk upon the sea Of lite
upheld by the strong arm OF faith.
/ These are III. lessons we learn from His
I miracles these the deductlung drawn