adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第7章
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are just the sort of people that want to hear good news。 For when
anybody’s well off； they don’t much mind about hearing news from
distant parts； but if a poor man or woman’s in trouble and has
hard work to make out a living； they like to have a letter to tell ’em
they’ve got a friend as will help ’em。 To be sure； we can’t help
knowing something about God； even if we’ve never heard the
Gospel； the good news that our Saviour brought us。 For we know
everything comes from God： don’t you say almost every day； ‘This
and that will happen； please God；’ and ‘We shall begin to cut the
grass soon； please God to send us a little more sunshine’？ We
know very well we are altogether in the hands of God。 We didn’t
bring ourselves into the world； we can’t keep ourselves alive while
we’re sleeping； the daylight； and the wind； and the corn； and the
cows to give us milk—everything we have comes from God。 And
he gave us our souls and put love between parents and children；
and husband and wife。 But is that as much as we want to know
about God？ We see he is great and mighty； and can do what he
will： we are lost； as if we was struggling in great waters； when we
try to think of him。
“But perhaps doubts come into your mind like this： Can God
take much notice of us poor people？ Perhaps he only made the
world for the great and the wise and the rich。 It doesn’t cost him
much to give us our little handful of victual and bit of clothing； but
how do we know he cares for us any more than we care for the
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worms and things in the garden； so as we rear our carrots and
onions？ Will God take care of us when we die？ And has he any
comfort for us when we are lame and sick and helpless？ Perhaps；
too； he is angry with us； else why does the blight come； and the
bad harvests； and the fever； and all sorts of pain and trouble？ For
our life is full of trouble； and if God sends us good； he seems to
send bad too。 How is it？ How is it？
“Ah； dear friends； we are in sad want of good news about God；
and what does other good news signify if we haven’t that？ For
everything else comes to an end； and when we die we leave it all。
But God lasts when everything else is gone。 What shall we do if he
is not our friend？”
Then Dinah told how the good news had been brought； and
how the mind of God towards the poor had been made manifest in
the life of Jesus； dwelling on its lowliness and its acts of mercy。
“So you see； dear friends；” she went on； “Jesus spent his time
almost all in doing good to poor people； he preached out of doors
to them； and he made friends of poor workmen； and taught them
and took pains with them。 Not but what he did good to the rich
too； for he was full of love to all men； only he saw as the poor were
more in want of his help。 So he cured the lame and the sick and
the blind； and he worked miracles to feed the hungry because； he
said； he was sorry for them； and he was very kind to the little
children and comforted those who had lost their friends； and he
spoke very tenderly to poor sinners that were sorry for their sins。
“Ah； wouldn’t you love such a man if you saw him—if he were
here in this village？ What a kind heart he must have！ What a
friend he would be to go to in trouble！ How pleasant it must be to
be taught by him。
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“Well； dear friends； who was this man？ Was he only a good
man—a very good man； and no more—like our dear Mr。 Wesley；
who has been taken from us？ 。 。 。 He was the Son of God—‘in the
image of the Father；’ the Bible says； that means； just like God； who
is the beginning and end of all things—the God we want to know
about。 So then； all the love that Jesus showed to the poor is the
same love that God has for us。 We can understand what Jesus felt；
because he came in a body like ours and spoke words such as we
speak to each other。 We were afraid to think what God was
before—the God who made the world and the sky and the thunder
and lightning。 We could never see him； we could only see the
things he had made； and some of these things was very terrible； so
as we might well tremble when we thought of him。 But our blessed
Saviour has showed us what God is in a way us poor ignorant
people can understand； he has showed us what God’s heart is；
what are his feelings towards us。
“But let us see a little more about what Jesus came on earth for。
Another time he said； ‘I came to seek and to save that which was
lost’； and another time； ‘I came not to call the righteous but
sinners to repentance。’
“The lost！ 。 。 。 Sinners！ 。 。 。 Ah； dear friends； does that mean you
and me？”
Hitherto the traveller had been chained to the spot against his
will by the charm of Dinah’s mellow treble tones； which had a
variety of modulation like that of a fine instrument touched with
the unconscious skill of musical instinct。 The simple things she
said seemed like novelties； as a melody strikes us with a new
feeling when we hear it sung by the pure voice of a boyish
chorister； the quiet depth of conviction with which she spoke
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seemed in itself an evidence for the truth of her message。 He saw
that she had thoroughly arrested her hearers。 The villagers had
pressed nearer to her； and there was no longer anything but grave
attention on all faces。 She spoke slowly； though quite fluently；
often pausing after a question； or before any transition of ideas。
There was no change of attitude； no gesture； the effect of her
speech was produced entirely by the inflections of her voice； and
when she came to the question； “Will God take care of us when we
die？” she uttered it in such a tone of plaintive appeal that the tears
came into some of the hardest eyes。 The stranger had ceased to
doubt； as he had done at the first glance； that she could fix the
attention of her rougher hearers； but still he wondered whether
she could have that power of rousing their more violent emotions；
which must surely be a necessary seal of her vocation as a
Methodist preacher； until she came to the words； “Lost！—
Sinners！” when there was a great change in her voice and manner。
She had made a long pause before the exclamation； and the pause
seemed to be filled by agitating thoughts that showed themselves
in her features。 Her pale face became paler； the circles under her
eyes deepened； as they did when tears half…gather without falling；
and the mild loving eyes took an expression of appalled pity； as if
she had suddenly discerned a destroying angel hovering over the
heads of the people。 Her voice became deep and muffled； but there
was still no gesture。 Nothing could be less like the ordinary type of
the Ranter than Dinah。 She was not preaching as she heard others
preach； but speaking directly from her own emotions and under
the inspiration of her own simple faith。
But now she had entered into a new current of feeling。 Her
manner became less calm； her utterance more rapid and agitated；
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as she tried to bring home to the people their guilt their wilful
darkness； their state of disobedience to God—as she dwelt on the
hatefulness of sin； the Divine holiness； and the sufferings of the
Saviour； by which a way had been opened for their salvation。 At
last it seemed as if； in her yearning desire to reclaim the lost
sheep； she could not be satisfied by addressing her hearers as a
body。 She appealed first to one and then to another； beseeching
them with tears to turn to God while there was yet time； painting
to them the desolation of their souls； lost in sin； feeding on the
husks of this miserable world； far away from God their Father； and
then the love of the Saviour； who was waiting and watching for
their return。
There was many a responsive sigh and groan from her fellow…
Methodists； but the village mind does not easily take fire； and a
little smouldering vague anxiety that might easily die out again
was the utmost effect Dinah’s preaching had wrought in them at
present。 Yet no one had retired； except the children and “old
Feyther Taft；” who being too deaf to catch many words； had some
time ago gone back to his ingle…nook。 Wiry Ben was feeling very
uncomfortable； and almost wishing he had not come to hear
Dinah； he thought what she said would haunt him somehow。 Yet
he couldn’t help liking to look at her and listen to her； though he
dreaded every moment that she would fix her eyes on him and
address him in particular。 She had already addressed Sandy Jim；
who was now holding the baby to relieve his wife； and the big soft…
hearted man had rubbed away some tears with his fist； with a
confused intention of being a better fellow； going less to the Holly
Bush down by the Stone…pits； and cleaning himself more regularly
