Correspondence on the principles of right reasoning, applicable to temperance : and to the effects of fermented and distilled liquors ; between Samuel M. Hopkins and Gerrit Smith, Rev. Dr. Justin Edwards, and Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Cox, with other papers and notes, by the editor ; part I / collected and published by Samuel M. Hopkins.

  • Hopkins, Samuel Miles, 1772-1837.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Correspondence on the principles of right reasoning, applicable to temperance : and to the effects of fermented and distilled liquors ; between Samuel M. Hopkins and Gerrit Smith, Rev. Dr. Justin Edwards, and Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Cox, with other papers and notes, by the editor ; part I / collected and published by Samuel M. Hopkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    his friends, to affirm ; that the inference that he did it, is not so cer- tain as better evidence makes other tilings; and that all the light of other passages, relevant and combined, seems to me to inculcate a differ- ent lesson, in this age of recklessness and self-indulgence. If Timo- thy may be taken as a specimen of usage among Christians, in the apostolic age, we know of that lovely young evangelist, (and may your son and mine be each such an one !) that he was habituated to drink water only ; that it required the inspired order of an apostle to bring him to change his practice ; that here he was to use a little wine, and I suppose only a little; and that this was wholly and specifically a medicinal use: for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. I should be happier, dear sir, to speak with you on this subject, than thus to write, in a hurry and far from my study, where I have some notes that I ought properly to consult. Very sorry I am that so much want of the urbanity of gentlemen and the courtesy of Christians, is to be found characteristically in the public disputes of our county, even on great moral questions, and I regret that you have to complain of its passive experience, in reference to your sen- timents on the wine question. I know what it is, by wholesale, and on more questions than one ! but I find a glad resource in Heb. 12. 3 4 Rom. 15.3, 1 Sam. 8.6,8, and also passim in the precious ora- cles of God. With sincere respect for yourself, T am, dear sir, knowing that you will use aright what I have written freely, Your friend and brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. SAMUEL H. COX. REMARKS IN ANSWER TO DR. COX'S LETTER. Dr. Cox's letter exhibits, as I respectfully conceive, the same questionable course of reasoning, which has infected the argu- ments of far inferior men. There must, he alleges, be a caveat against certain collusions, in the special case of our Saviour: if he usually drank wino, there must be a presumption, a pri- ori, that there was something peculiar about it. We are not to admit the fact without « positive evidence, or a literal pas- sage of scripture ; and the idea of his using wine had better be left to his enemies than his friends to affirm.