按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
friend he would be to go to in trouble！ How pleasant it must be to
be taught by him。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 36…
Adam Bede 36
“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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 37…
Adam Bede 37
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；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 38…
Adam Bede 38
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 mor