Запретный лес

           Atthenewsagreatcongregationassembled,forinthatjoyousdayofdeliveryitwasbelievedthatthesinsoftheparishwouldbeleftononeside,andthattheservice,asintheotherkirksintheland,wouldbeoneofthanksgivingandexultation.Tothesurpriseofmostofhishearers--andtothesatisfactionofthesuspicious--therewasnowordoftherecentcrowningmercies,saveaperfunctorymentionintheopeningprayer.

           David,asbefittedonewhohadjustburiedhisfather,discoursedondeath.Hewasinamoodwhichpuzzledhimself,forgentlenessseemedtohavecomeuponhimanddrivenouthisjealouswrath.Hehadseentherighteousdie,themanwhohadbegothim,thelastnearkinhepossessed,andmemoriesofchildhoodandsomethingofthewistfulnessofthechildhadfloodedinonhissoul.Hehadseen,too,thedownfallofhumanpride,thedescentofgreatnesstodust,andyetinthatdustamorecompellinggreatness.Aboveall,hisloveforKatrinehadmellowedandlittheworldforhim;ithadrevealeddepthsofjoyandbeautywhichhehadneverknown,butthebeautyandjoyweresolemnthings,andofaterriblefragility.HefeltanewthedependenceofallthingsuponGod,andtheneedofwalkinghumblyinHissight.SohepreachednotlikeanOldTestamentprophet,confidentinhiscauseandeagertogatherthespoil,butasonewhosawfromahighmountainthelittlenessoflifeagainstthevastbackgroundofeternity.Hespokeofthefutilityofmortalhopes,thefallibilityofman,thecertaintyofdeath.