Запретный лес
XIV. The Counterblast
Inapassionoftendernesshepledforcharityandholinessastheonlycandlestolighttheshortdarkdayoflife--candleswhich,litbyaheavenlyhand,wouldsomedaywaxintothebrighteverlastingdayoftheNewJerusalem.
Therewerethoseamonghishearerswhoweremovedbyhiswords,buttomosttheyweremeaningless,andtomanytheywereanoffence.PeterPennecuikwasdarklycritical."Themanisunsoundasapeat,"hedeclared."Whaur’stheirono’doctrineandthefireo’judgmentinsicabairnlyscreed?There’sanillsoughthere,sirs--he’sowerfondo’warksandtheragso’ourainrighteousness.WorthyMr.Proudfootwillbegarrin’thestourflythedaydenouncin’theLaodiceansthatwadbelukewarmincuttin’offthehornso’thewicked.Isthereonysuchgodlyzealinourman?Whaur’sthedenunciationo’thesinso’Montroseandhiscovenant-breakers?Itseemsthathe’smairconvincedo’hisainsins."
"Hehasmaybecause,"Chasehopeobserveddryly.
IthadbeenDavid’sintentiontovisitthemanseofKirkAllerandobtaintheanswerofthePresbytery’smoderatortothechargeshehadformulated.Thiswasadutywhichcouldnotbeshirked,sincehehadputhishandtoit,butatthemomentthefireofbattlehaddiedinhim,andhehadnozestinthetask.HefoundhimselflongingtotakeIsobel’sviewandbelievethathissenseshadplayedhimfalse,thattheeventsoftheBeltaneandLammasnightswerenomorethanillusions.
