Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
"TheSolemnLeagueandCovenantboundallScotlandinapactwiththeLord,andpresentlyallEnglandwouldfollowsuit.Therewouldbesoonthatcomfortablesightwhichhadbeenforetoldbytheirgodlyfathers,auniformKirkandapureGospelestablishedbylawfromLondontotheOrkneys,andacovenantedSiontowhichallthepeoplesoftheearthwouldgoup.Mr.Muirheadwaseloquent,forherepeatedaperorationwhichhehadonceusedintheGeneralAssembly.
"Ihaveheard,"heconcluded,"thatinWoodileetherewasasigningoftheCovenantbyeverysoulthatcouldmakeascartwithapen.Thatforyourencouragement,Mr.David."
Mr.Fordyceshookhishead."Howmanyappendedtheirnamesoutoffearorfrommerecarnalpolicy?Mankindwillrunlikejukesafteraleader.Imuchmisdoubtifthereisanyspiritualhealthtobegotfromfollowingamultitudeunderduress.Iwouldhaveleftthechoicetoeveryman’sconscience."
"You’renotsound,"criedMr.Muirhead."You’reshakyonthefundamentals,Mr.James.IwillconfoundyououtoftheWord.WhenKingJosiahmadeasolemncovenant,didheleaveittoilkaman’sfancytosignorno?Nay,hecausedall--all,Isay--inJerusalemandBenjamintostandtoit.SeeSecondChroniclesthirty-fourandthirty-two."
Therewasatouchofasperityintheonedisputantandofrecalcitranceintheother,soDavidforgood-fellowship’ssakesuggestedthathemightshowthemthemanseinitsnewguise.ButatthatmomentIsobelappearedwithwordthatChasehopewasatthedoorseekingspeechwiththeministerofKirkAller.
