“There can be no doubt,” he affirmed, “but that they drank wine freely. They knew enough in that day not to discard a good thing.”
Hundreds of people sprang to their feet, but Mr. Venerable ordered that one should speak at a time and that they all should be seated and first listen to the questioner.
“Was that wine the same, in kind, that Noah drank, as related in Gen. 9:21?”
“Identical.”
“And the same that is used to-day in the commercial world?”
“It is the same as the good wine that is used to-day. There are many modern adulterations.”
The questioner took his seat. A man from London then obtained the floor. He also held a Bible as he spoke.
“I am a temperance worker in one of the districts of London, and would like to know whether you conclude by your former assertion concerning the early Christians that the Bible does not speak against wine drinking?”
“Not in a single place. How could it do so consistently?” answered the Devil’s expert.
“Will you please turn to Prov. 20:1. ‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.’ How do you harmonize this passage with what you have just asserted?” The man from London sat down.