Here is a pleasant story which I will tell in rhyme About a certain preacher who lived in recent time. He was a circuit rider of Mr. John Wesley's band, And He rode the finest circuit in all this blessed land. At one of his good charges, some members, not a few, Became quite sorely troubled about the word 'INTO.' The Good Book says quite plainly, Acts 8, They came unto And went down into the waters as Baptist people do. The parson preached a sermon of extra power and might, And to his satisfaction, he set the passages right, "INTO" there don't mean "INTO" Bit "of," or "near," or "by." They went to the water and got a good supply. Now near the place of worship, there lived a Sister Jones, Who, by her splended cooking had gained a grean renown. Her yellow-legged chickens, her luscious cakes and pies, Of made the circuit rider roll up his weeping eyes. And her delicious coffee on all the circuit round The parson often admitted its like could not be found. So when he preached a sermon of extra power and strength, He landed at Jones' table to rectify his strength. But Sister Jones was a Baptist, the stoutest in that land, And often reproved the Methodist for changing God's command. She heard Brother Smith's sermon and thought the subject o'er, But asked him up to dinner as she had done before. She ground her good brown coffee, the kettle steaming hot, She put it "at" not "into" the famous coffee pot. She poured Brother Smith a cupful, and thought it was no sin, "Why Sister, you've forgotten to put the coffee." "No, no, Brother Smith, that's coffee; I ground a good supply; Then down by the kettle, I put it 'at,' or 'near,' or 'by.' By the logic of your sermon, I thought it rather thin If 'at' or 'near' or 'by' means into, I put the coffee in. If you'll strictly promise no more such stuff to teach Nor dodge God's plain commandments when you attempt to preach I'll make some coffee just to a Bible dot, And will put the coffee INTO the coffee pot." - author unknown
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