2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;… One day, as Dr. Cutler was returning home, a poor woman, whose husband had been very intemperate, called after him, and holding up a pair of chickens, begged him to accept them. "I told her," said he, "she could not afford to give away such a fine pair of chickens." "Mr. Cutler," said she, with a sad expression, "you will hurt my feelings if you do not take them. I have fatted and picked them on purpose for you. It is the only return I am able to offer for the very great service you have lately done me and my little children." "I am not aware," said Mr. Cutler, "of having done you any service of late." "Sir," said the poor woman, "you have reformed my husband," "There must be some mistake," said Mr. Cutler. "I knew your husband was intemperate; but I have never said a word to him on the subject." "I know you never have," said she; "if you had, his pride is such that it might have made matters worse. It has happened, oddly enough, that often, when you have stepped in to say a few kind words to us, he has been taking his dram, or taking down his jug or putting it back again. About two months ago, just after you went out, he went to the door, and to my astonishment poured nearly a pint of rum out of his jug on to the ground, and said, 'Debby, rinse out that jug with hot water. I've done. I can't stand that man's looks any longer! If Mr. Cutler would look savage, I shouldn't mind it; but he looks so sad, and so benevolent all the while, when he sees me taking a dram, that I know what he means just as well as if he preached it in a sermon; and I take it very kindly of him that he didn't give me a long talk.'" (Memoir of Dr. Cutler.) Parallel Verses KJV: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; |
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