The rum-sellers, with their dupes, were now aroused to a full sense of the power arrayed against them; they justified7 their conduct, by holding up that of the ministers and leading[119] men in the Church, and the latter would quote Paul’s advice to Timothy, where he says, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities.” Tim. v. 23.
“Here,” they boastingly said, “wine is commanded as a drink;” and dared a refutation.
But Truman showed them that this passage did not only not prove that wine should be used as a common drink, but proved that it should only be used as a medicine. He showed them, too, that Paul was a Temperance Lecturer, and not afraid to reprove rulers before whom he “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment8 to come.”
The argument that Christ turned water into wine was also brought forward; the reply to this was, that there was no evidence that the miraculous9 transformation10 contained a single particle of intoxicating11 matter; whilst every rational supposition, based upon[120] the holy character and pure doctrines12 of the Redeemer, would most emphatically declare that there was not.
Such was the acute and powerful reasoning of this young man, that minister and deacon were silenced, if not convinced. Mr. Truman having been himself snatched from the very vortex of ruin, his experience in the dens13 of infamy14, and knowledge of the workings of the whole traffic, enabled him to bring the truth home to the hearts of his hearers in a very effective manner.
As the faithful missionary could delay no longer, he appointed the time to preach his farewell sermons in the two settlements. The first meeting was to be held in the Clear Creek15 school-house immediately after Sunday-school. The day was pleasant and the school well attended; the exercises of the same having been completed, order was called, that all might have the benefit of the missionary’s parting advice. He made a short address,[121] and then desired each child to come to him, that he might shake hands and bestow16 a trifling17 gift by which he might be remembered. He would live in the memories of all, however, without anything of this kind. A half hour after the dismissal of the Sunday-school, the people had assembled to hear the “farewell sermon.” The text was, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts xx. 32. The sermon which followed was adapted, in every respect, to the occasion.
As all earthly ties must sooner or later be sundered18, this shepherd and his flock were compelled to part. It is needless to say that the separation was sorrowful on both sides.
After leaving Clear Creek Settlement, the missionary filled his appointment at the other place; and the parting which took place here, was but a repetition of the first one.[122] We now find him on his way to a work among strangers in a strange land: he knew what would probably befall him, but he had counted the cost, and, like Paul, was willing to endure hardships as a good soldier.
Here, for the present, we will leave this noble, earnest and devout19 Christian.
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1
missionary
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adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
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2
labor
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n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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3
enthusiast
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n.热心人,热衷者 | |
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conscientious
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adj.审慎正直的,认真的,本着良心的 | |
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5
Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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consigned
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v.把…置于(令人不快的境地)( consign的过去式和过去分词 );把…托付给;把…托人代售;丟弃 | |
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7
justified
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a.正当的,有理的 | |
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8
judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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9
miraculous
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adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 | |
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10
transformation
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n.变化;改造;转变 | |
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11
intoxicating
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a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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12
doctrines
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n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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13
dens
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n.牙齿,齿状部分;兽窝( den的名词复数 );窝点;休息室;书斋 | |
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14
infamy
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n.声名狼藉,出丑,恶行 | |
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15
creek
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n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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16
bestow
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v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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17
trifling
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adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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18
sundered
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v.隔开,分开( sunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
devout
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adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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