Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
"ItellyoutheCitiesofthePlainwerelessanoffencetoAlmightyGodthanthisdementedtwistofJohnCalvinthatblastsandrotsaman’sheart.Forifitmakeshereandthereasaint,itislikeadung-heaptohatchoutsinners."
Davidwassuspendedfromofficiatinginthekirk,buthewasstillaplacedminister,andtherewasnoembargouponhisutteranceselsewhere.SowhileeveryalternateSabbathMr.FordycecameoverfromCauldshawtooccupythepulpit,andindefianceofthePresbyteryatehisdinneratthemanse,ontheothersDavidpreachedinthekirk-yard.Twentyyearslaterthesesermonsintheopenairwereremembered,whenMr.Fordyce,thenfaradvancedinage,wasdrivenfromCauldshawtoholdpreachingsintheDeerSyke....
Therewasanoveltyinthepracticewhichbroughtmanythefirstday;andonlaterSabbathstheaudienceincreased,forDavidhadneverdeliveredsuchdiscoursesintheWoodileepulpit.Onefamoussermonwasontheperiloftriflingwithsalvation.Asoulwasnotsavedbyaneasymiracle,butmustmounthardlyandpainfullytoeternallife;toacceptgracelightlywastocastscornupontheatonementoftheCross.Butdoctrinefiguredlittle,norwerethereanyoftheforecastsofhellandjudgmentwhichwerethecommonproofofanearnestminister."Heisaguiddowg,"RichieSmailwasreportedtohavesaid:"hewadwysefolkgentlytoChrist.
