Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
TheChurchofChristisnowinbeing,andthefaithofChrististhefoundationofaChristianstate.CivillawisanoffenceagainstGodunlessitbealsoChristian."
Theyoungmansmiled."Idonotdenyit.ThisrealmofoursisprofessedlyaChristianrealm--Iwoulditweremoretrulyso.Butthatdoesnotexemptitfromobediencetothoselawsofgovernmentwithoutwhichnorealm,Christianorpagan,mayendure.Ifamanissoillasmiththathecannotshoemyhorse,IwillbenonethebetterservedbecauseheisagoodChristian.Ifalandbeillgoverned,thedisasterwillbenotthelessgreatbecausethegovernorsaremenofGod.IfhisMajesty--totakeapertinentexample--overridethelawtothepeople’sdetriment,thattyrannywillbenotthelessgrievousbecausehisMajestybelievesinhisheartthatheisperformingadutytowardstheAlmighty.Honestintentionwillnotcurefaultypractice,andthefoolisthefoolwhetherhebeunbelieverorprofessor."
Davidshookhishead."Wheredoesyourargumenttend?Ifeartoschism."
"Notso.IamanorthodoxsonoftheKirk,aloyalservantofhisMajesty,andapassionateScot.Here,myfriend,ismysimpleconfession.Thereisbutonemasterintheland,anditsnameisLaw--whichisinitselfacreationofafreepeopleundertheinspirationoftheAlmighty.Thatlawmaybechangedbythepeople’swill,buttillitbesochangeditistobereveredandobeyed.IthasordainedtheKing’sprerogative,therightsofthesubject,andtherightsanddutiesoftheKirk.
