Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
Sempill,whatsayyouonthiscount?DidyoukenthetruenatureofthismanMarkRiddel?"
"IknewthathehadbeenasoldierofMontrose.WhatmatteredhispastifhewerewillingtohelpinaworkofChristianduty?"
"Christianduty!"TheModerator’sfacecrimsonedwithwrath."Thewordsshouldchokeinyourthroat,sir.YoudaretocallitChristiandutytoharrythelivingandperplexthedyingforsomewhimofyourownignorantheart?Youfoundayoke-fellowworthyofyou.ItisborneinonmethatyouandyourpresumptionandyourslacknessofwalkanddoctrinehavebeenthecauseofthissoredispensationinWoodilee.Uponyourhead,sir,liethedeathsandsufferingsofyourafflictedpeople."
Hecheckedhimselfwithaneffortandproceededinacalmertone.
"Noevidenceneedbecalledonthemaincounts,fortheyhavebeenadmittedbythepanel.ByhisownconfessionDavidSempill,latelyordainedministeroftheGospelinWoodilee,isguiltyofthegrievoussinofconsortingwithandabettingthedeclaredenemiesofChrist’sKirkinScotland.Underthespeciouspleaofcharity--whilkisafavouritedeviceoftheEnemytodeludemankind--hehasgivensheltertoonewhosehandswereredwiththebloodofthesaints,andhasendeavouredtocumbertheworkofpurgingtheaccursedthingfromourmidst.Moreover,hehaslatelyshownwhatwasinhisheartbyfurtherandintimateconversewiththeungodly.Idonotspeakofothererrors,ofharshandun-Christianconducttowardshiscongregation,oflackofjudgment,andofaweaknessindoctrine,whilk,ifnotactualheresy,isitsnearneighbour.
