Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Thenumbnessofloss,thelanguoroffear,gaveplacetorecrimination.Whowasresponsibleforthecalamityofthepest?ItmustbeamarkoftheLord’sdispleasure,butagainstwhom?TheyrememberedthattheirministerlayunderthebanoftheKirk--hadbeenforbiddentoconductordinances--wasconvictedofmalignancyandsuspectedofworse.IntheirsearchforascapegoatmanyfasteneduponDavid.PracticalfolksaidthathehadbeeninEdinburghinthetimeofplague,andhadmaybebroughtbacktheseedsofit.Thedevoutaverredthattheuncannyweatherhadfolloweduponhispublicsins,andthatthepesthadcomecloseontheheelsofthePresbytery’scondemnation.WastherenotthehandofGodinthis,amanifestjudgment?ThewaysoftheAlmightyweremysterious,andHemightordainthatthepeopleshoulddieforthesinsofoneman.EventhosewhohadbeenonDavid’ssidewereshakenintheirconfidence.
Tocrownall,cametheeventsofthepastweek.Tohiscriticstherewasnoreasoninhisdoings:theybelievedthepestilencetobeavisitationofHeaven,tobestayednotbythearmofflesh,butbyfastingandprayer.Hehadbeenassiduousinhisfutilevisiting,itwastrue,andhehadburiedthedead;buthehadbrokeninontheirsufferingwithviolenthands,andhadherdedmenandwomenlikebrutebeasts.Doorsandwindows,opentotheFebruaryrains,attestedhismethods;byhisacttwocottages,oncesnugandcanty,werenowgreyashes....
