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in darkest england and the way out-第60章

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one exception happened on the Queen's Jubilee Day。  On seeing her well…known face again before him; the magistrate enquired; 〃How many times has this woman been here before?〃

The Police Superintendent answered; 〃Fifty times。〃  The magistrate remarked; in somewhat grim humour; 〃Then this is her Jubilee;〃 and; moved by the coincidence; he let her go free。  So Rose spent her jubilee out of prison。

It is a wonder that the dreadful; drunken; reckless; dissipated life she lived did not hurry her to an early grave; it did affect her reason; and for three weeks she was locked up in Lancaster Lunatic Asylum; having really gone mad through drink and sin。

In evidence of her reckless nature; it is said that after her second imprisonment she vowed she would never again walk to the police station; consequently; when in her wild orgies the police found it necessary to arrest her; they had to get her to the police station as best they could; sometimes by requisitioning a wheelbarrow or a cart; or the use of a stretcher; and sometimes they had to carry her right out。  On one occasion; towards the close of her career; when driven to the last…named method; four policemen were carrying her to the station; and she was extra violent; screaming; plunging and biting; when; either by accident or design; one of the policemen let go of her head; and it came in contact with the curbstone; causing the blood to pour forth in a stream。  As soon as they placed her in the cell the poor creature caught the blood in her hands; and literally washed her face with it。 On the following morning she presented a pitiable sight; and before taking her into the court the police wanted to wash her; but she declared she would draw any man's blood who attempted to put a finger upon her; they had spilt her blood; and she would carry it into the court as a witness against them。  On coming out of gaol for the last time; she met with a few Salvationists beating the drum and singing 〃Oh! the Lamb; the bleeding Lamb; He was found worthy。〃  Rose; struck with the song; and impressed with the very faces of the people; followed them; saying to herself; 〃I never before heard anything like that; or seen such happy looking people。〃  She came into the Barracks; her heart was broken; she found her way to the Penitent Form; and Christ; with His own precious blood; washed her sins away。  She arose from her knees and said to the Captain; 〃It is all right now。〃

Three months after her conversion a great meeting was held in the largest hall in the town; where she was known to almost every inhabitant。 There were about three thousand people present。  Rose was called upon to give her testimony to the power of God to save。  A more enthusiastic wave of sympathy never greeted any speaker than that which met her from that crowd; every one of whom was familiar with her past history。 After a few broken words; in which she spoke of the wonderful change that had taken place; a cousin; who; like herself; had lived a notoriously evil life; came to the Cross。

Rose is now War Cry sergeant。  She goes into the brothels and gin palaces and other haunts of vice; from which she was rescued; and sells more papers than any other Soldier。

The Superintendent of Police; soon after her conversion; told the Captain at the Corps that in rescuing Rose a more wonderful work had been done than he had seen in all the years gone by。

S。 was a native of Lancashire; the son of poor; but pious; parents。 He was saved when sixteen years of age。  He was first an Evangelist; then a City Missionary for five or six years; and afterwards a Baptist Minister。  He then fell under the influence of drink; resigned; and became a commercial traveller; but lost his berth through drink。 He was then an insurance agent; and rose to be superintendent; but was again dismissed through drink。  During his drunken career he had delirium tremens four times; attempted suicide three times; sold up six homes; was in the workhouse with his wife and family three times。 His last contrivance for getting drink was to preach mock sermons; and offer mock prayers in the tap…rooms。

After one of these blasphemous performances in a public…house; on the words; 〃Are you Saved?〃 he was challenged to go to the Salvation Barracks。  He went; and the Captain; who knew him well; at once made for him; to plead for his soul; but S。 knocked him down; and rushed back to the public…house for more drink。  He was; however; so moved by what he had heard that he was unable to raise the liquor to his mouth; although he made three attempts。  He again returned to the meeting; and again quitted it for the public…house。  He could not rest; and for the third time he returned to the Barracks。  As he entered the last time the Soldiers were singing: 

 〃Depth of mercy; can there be  Mercy still reserved for me?  Can my God his wrath forbear?  Me; the chief of Sinners; spare?

This song impressed him still further; he wept; and remained in the Barracks under deep conviction until midnight。  He was drunk all the next day; vainly trying to drown his convictions。  The Captain visited him at night; but was quickly thrust out of the house。  He was there again next morning; and prayed and talked with S。 for nearly two hours。 Poor S。 was in despair。  He persisted that there was no mercy for him。 After a long struggle; however; hope sprung up; he fell upon his knees; confessed his sins; and obtained forgiveness。

When this happened; his furniture consisted of a soap…box for a table; and starch boxes for chairs。  His wife; himself; and three children; had not slept in a bed for three years。  He has now a happy family; a comfortable home; and has been the means of leading numbers of other slaves of sin to the Saviour; and to a truly happy life。

Similar cases; describing the deliverance of drunkards from the bondage of strong drink; could be produced indefinitely。  There are Officers marching in our ranks to…day; who where once gripped by this fiendish fascination; who have had their fetters broken; and are now free men in the Army。  Still the mighty torrent of Alcohol; fed by ten thousand manufactories; sweeps on; bearing with it; I have no hesitation in saying; the foulest; bloodiest tide that ever flowed from earth to eternity。  The Church of the living God ought notand to say nothing about religion; the people who have any humanity ought not; to rest without doing something desperate to rescue this half of a million who are in the eddying maelstrom。  We purpose; therefore; the taking away of the people from the temptation which they cannot resist。  We would to God that the temptation could be taken away from them; that every house licensed to send forth the black streams of bitter death were closed; and closed for ever。  But this will not be; we fear; for the present at least。

While in one case drunkenness may be resolved into a habit; in another it must be accounted a disease。  What is wanted in the one case; therefore; is some method of removing the man out of the sphere of the temptation; and in the other for treating the passion as a disease; as we should any other physical affection; bringing to bear upon it every agency; hygienic and otherwise; calculated to effect
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