Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
IamloyalwhenshefulfilsthosedutieswhichGodhaslaiduponher--thatduty,aboveall,ofbringingmortalmentoGod.Ifsheforgetthoseduties,andmeddlearrogantlywithcivilmattersthatdonotconcernher,thenItakeleavetoopposeher,asinalikecaseIwouldopposehisMajesty.ForbysuchperversitiesbothKingandKirkbecometyrants,andtyrannyisnottobeenduredbymenwhoarecalledintothelibertyofChrist."
"OrbyScots,"addedthetalltrooper.
"Ihavenoclearnessonthepoint,"saidDavidafterapause."Ihavenotthoughtdeeplyonthesematters,forIambutnewtotheministry,andmyyouthwasfilledwithprofanestudy."
"Nevertheless,suchstudyisagoodfoundationforawisetheology.IjudgethatyouarearipeLatinist--maybealsoaGrecian.YouhavereadyourAristotle?Youarefamiliarwiththehistoryoftheancientworld,whichilluminesalllaterages?Iwouldpointmyargumentsfromthatarmoury."
"IcannotgrantthatthedoingsofancientheathendomgiveanyruleforaChristianstate."
"But,sir,thebusinessofgovernmentisalwaysthesame.WehaveourLord’swarningthattherearethethingsofCæsarandthethingsofGod.TheRomanwasthegreatmasteroftheartsofgovernment,andhedidnotseekthroughouthisempiretomakeasinglereligion.Hewascontenttogiveitthepeaceofhislaw,andleteachpeoplegoitsownwayinmattersofworship.ItwasinthattolerantworldwhichhecreatedthatourChristianfaithfounditsopportunity."
"DoubtlessGodsomovedtheRomanmindforHisownpurpose.ButIjoinissueonyourapplication.
