按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
coggly beneath my feet； as I mounted the pulpit。 With what sincerity I
prayed for help that day！ and never stood man more in need of it； for
through all my prayer the congregation was so watchful and still；
doubtless to note if my doctrine was orthodox； that the beating of my heart
might have been heard to the uttermost corners of the kirk。
I had chosen as my text； from Second Samuel； xixth chapter and 35th
verse； these words〃Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and
singing women？ Wherefore； then； should thy servant be yet a burden to
the king？〃 And hardly had I with a trembling voice read the words； when
I perceived an awful stir in the congregation； for all applied the words to
the state of the church； and the appointment of his grace the Commissioner。
Having paused after giving out the text； the same fearful and critical
silence again ensued； and every eye was so fixed upon me； that I was for a
time deprived of courage to look about； but heaven was pleased to
compassionate my infirmity； and as I proceeded； I began to warm as in my
own pulpit。 I described the gorgeous Babylonian harlot riding forth in
her chariots of gold and silver； with trampling steeds and a hurricane of
followers； drunk with the cup of abominations； all shouting with revelry；
and glorying in her triumph； treading down in their career those precious
pearls； the saints and martyrs； into the mire beneath their swinish feet。
82
… Page 83…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
〃Before her you may behold Wantonness playing the tinkling cymbal；
Insolence beating the drum； and Pride blowing the trumpet。 Every vice is
there with his emblems； and the seller of pardons； with his crucifix and
triple crown； is distributing his largess of perdition。 The voices of men
shout to set wide the gates； to give entrance to the queen of nations； and
the gates are set wide； and they all enter。 The avenging gates close on
themthey are all shut up in hell。〃
There was a sough in the kirk as I said these words； for the vision I
described seemed to be passing before me as I spoke； and I felt as if I had
witnessed the everlasting destruction of Antichrist； and the worshippers of
the Beast。 But soon recovering myself； I said in a soft and gentle manner；
〃Look at yon lovely creature in virgin… raiment； with the Bible in her hand。
See how mildly she walks along； giving alms to the poor as she passes on
towards the door of that lowly dwellingLet us follow her inShe takes
her seat in the chair at the bedside of the poor old dying sinner； and as he
tosses in the height of penitence and despair； she reads to him the promise
of the Saviour'This night thou shalt be with me in Paradise；' and he
embraces her with transports； and； falling back on his pillow； calmly
closes his eyes in peace。 She is the true religion； and when I see what
she can do even in the last moments of the guilty； well may we exclaim；
when we think of the symbols and pageantry of the departed superstition；
Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women？ No；
let us cling to the simplicity of the Truth that is now established in our
native land。〃
At the conclusion of this clause of my discourse； the congregation；
which had been all so still and so solemn； never coughing； as was often the
case among my people； gave a great rustle； changing their positions； by
which I was almost overcome； however； I took heart and ventured on； and
pointed out that； with our Bible and an orthodox priesthood； we stood in
no need of the king's authority； however bound we were； in temporal
things； to respect it； and I showed this at some length； crying out in the
words of my text； 〃Wherefore； then； should thy servant be yet a burden to
the king？〃 in the saying of which I happened to turn my eyes towards his
grace the Commissioner； as he sat on the throne； and I thought his
83
… Page 84…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
countenance was troubled； which made me add； that he might not think I
meant him any offence； 〃That the King of the Church was one before
whom the great； and the wise； and the goodall doomed and sentenced
convictsimplore his mercy。〃 〃It is true；〃 said I； 〃that in the days of his
tribulation he was wounded for our iniquities； and died to save us； but； at
his death； his greatness was proclaimed by the quick and the dead。 There
was sorrow； and there was wonder； and there was rage； and there was
remorse； but there was no shame there… …none blushed on that day at that
sight but yon glorious luminary。〃 The congregation rose； and looked round；
as the sun that I pointed at shone in at the window。 I was disconcerted by
their movement； and my spirit was spent； so that I could say no more。
When I came down from the pulpit； there was a great pressing in of
acquaintance and ministers； who lauded me exceedingly； but I thought it
could be only in derision； therefore I slipped home to Mrs M'Vicar's as fast
as I could。
Mrs M'Vicar； who was a clever； hearing…all sort of a neighbour； said
my sermon was greatly thought of； and that I had surprised everybody； but
I was fearful there was something of jocularity at the bottom of this； for
she was a flaunty woman； and liked well to give a good…humoured gibe or
jeer。 However； his grace the Commissioner was very thankful for the
discourse； and complimented me on what he called my apostolical
earnestness； but he was a courteous man； and I could not trust to him；
especially as my lord Eaglesham had told me in secrecy beforeit's true； it
was in his gallanting waythat； in speaking of the king's servant as I had
done； I had rather gone beyond the bounds of modern moderation。
Altogether； I found neither pleasure nor profit in what was thought so
great an honour； but longed for the privacy of my own narrow pasture； and
little flock。
It was in this visit to Edinburgh that Mrs Balwhidder bought her silver
teapot； and other ornamental articles； but this was not done； as she assured
me； in a vain spirit of bravery； which I could not have abided； but because
it was