Запретный лес
XVI. The Witch Hunt
Youarebesottedinyourerror,andtillyourepentyouhavenopartinthecommonwealthofIsrael,foryouarelikeLotandhavetakenupyourdwellingintheCitiesofthePlainandhavepitchedyourtentstowardsSodom,whereastheKirk,likeAbram,dwellethintheplainofMamre,whichisinHebron,andhathbuiltthereanaltartotheLord."
ThePresbyteryrefrainedfromanyjudgmentonthecase,thatbeingdeferredtillalatermeeting,when,ifnecessary,evidencecouldbecalled;butinviewofthefactthattheministerofWoodileehadacknowledgedhisfaultandexhibitedcontumacythereanent,hewasbyaunanimousdecisionsuspendedfromoccupyingthepulpitanddispensingtheSacramentintheparish,andfromallotherpastoralrightsandduties.Asthewinterwascloseonhand,whenevilroadslessenedchurchattendance,itwasagreedthatspiritualneedswouldbemetifMr.FordycewereenjoinedtoconductpublicworshipalternatelyinWoodileeandCauldshaw.
Davidrodehomeinaframeofmindwhichwasneithersadnorglad.Hefeltnoshameathissuspension,butherecognizedwithapangthebreadthofthegulfwhichseparatedhimfromhisbrethren,andtheruinofthosehighhopeswithwhichayearagohehadbegunhisministry.Herealizedthathewasbutapoorecclesiastic,forhecouldnotfeelthatloyaltywhichothersfelttoaKirkwhichwasmainlytheworkofmen’shands."Theyhavelamentablypervertedreasonandjustice"--herememberedMontrose’swords;andyetmostofthemwerehonestmenandpiousmen,andmaybetheirgoodonawidecomputationwasgreaterthantheirill.
