Запретный лес
VII. The First Blast
Awomancameoutofacottage,andsaidsomethingtoGibbiewhichcausedhimtoholdhispeaceanddisappearintoakailyard....Butthewomandidnotlooktowardstheminister,buthurriedinagainandclosedthedoor.Wasthewholeparish,thoughtDavid,bandedinatacitconspiracy?WasthispooridiotoneofthemisbegottenthingsoftheWood?
ThenextSabbath,whichwasthefifthofMay,thekirkofWoodileeshowedafullcongregation.Thatday,saveforinfantsinarms,therewerefewabsentees.Neverhadtheplacebeenmorehushedandexpectant.Davidpreachedfromthetext,"Enterintotherock,andhidetheeinthedustforfearoftheLord,"andhedeliveredhissoulwithafreedomhithertolackinginhiscarefullyprepareddiscourses.NottheBoanergesofBoldcouldhaveoutdonethefieryvigourwithwhichhedescribedhowIsraelwentastrayafterforbiddengodsandhowthewrathoftheAlmightysmoteherwithdeathandexile.Butwhenhecametotheapplication,whichshouldhavebeenasanailfastenedinasureplace,hefaltered.Thefacesbelowhim,set,composed,awfulintheirdecency,seemedlikeastonewallagainstwhichhemustbeatwithfeeblehands.
"Ihavethesureknowledge,"hesaid,"thattherearealtarssetuptoBaalinthisveryparish,andthatthislittleIsraelofourshasitsowngroveswhereitworshipsthegodsoftheheathen--ay,theverydevilsfromthePit.BeassuredthatIwillriddleoutthisevilmysteryanddragitintothelightofday,andonthepriestsofBaalinWoodilee,betheylibertinesorprofessors,IwillcalldowntheterrorsoftheMostHigh.
