登陆注册
38579900000002

第2章 INTRODUCTION(2)

"To my young friends I would, as a parting word, say, look to the lives and conversation of your parents--they were plain, honest, and devout Christians, fearing God and honouring the King. They believed the Bible was the word of God; and, when they practised its precepts, they found, by the good that came from them, that it was truly so. They bore in mind the tribulation and persecution of their forefathers for righteousness' sake, and were thankful for the quiet and protection of the government in their day and generation. Their land was tilled with industry, and they ate the bread of carefulness with a contented spirit, and, verily, they had the reward of well-doing even in this world; for they beheld on all sides the blessing of God upon the nation, and the tree growing, and the plough going where the banner of the oppressor was planted of old, and the war- horse trampled in the blood of martyrs. Reflect on this, my young friends, and know, that the best part of a Christian's duty in this world of much evil, is to thole and suffer with resignation, as lang as it is possiblefor human nature to do. I do not counsel passive obedience:that is a doctrine that the Church of Scotland can never abide; but the divine right of resistance, which, in the days of her trouble, she so bravely asserted against popish and prelatic usurpations, was never resorted to till the attempt was made to remove the ark of the tabernacle from her.I therefore counsel you, my young friends, not to lend your ears to those that trumpet forth their hypothetical politics; but to believe that the laws of the land are administered with a good intent, till in your own homes and dwellings ye feel the presence of the oppressor--then, and not till then, are ye free to gird your loins for battle--and woe to him, and woe to the land where that is come to, if the sword be sheathed till the wrong be redressed. "As for you, my old companions, many changes have we seen in our day; but the change that we ourselves are soon to undergo will be the greatest of all.We have seen our bairns grow to manhood--we have seen the beauty of youth pass away--we have felt our backs become unable for the burthen, and our right hand forget its cunning.--Our eyes have become dim, and our heads grey--we are now tottering with short and feckless steps towards the grave; and some, that should have been here this day, are bed-rid, lying, as it were, at the gates of death, like Lazarus at the threshold of the rich man's door, full of ails and sores, and having no enjoyment but in the hope that is in hereafter.What can I say to you but farewell! Our work is done--we are weary and worn out, and in need of rest-- may the rest of the blessed be our portion!--and in the sleep that all must sleep, beneath the cold blanket of the kirkyard grass, and on that clay pillow where we must shortly lay our heads, may we have pleasant dreams, till we are awakened to partake of the everlasting banquet of the saints inglory!"

When I had finished, there was for some time a great solemnity throughout the kirk; and, before giving the blessing, I sat down to compose myself, for my heart was big, and my spirit oppressed with sadness.

As I left the pulpit, all the elders stood on the steps to hand me down, and the tear was in every eye, and they helped me into the session-house; but I could not speak to them, nor them to me.Then Mr Dalziel, whowas always a composed and sedate man, said a few words of prayer, and I was comforted therewith, and rose to go home to the manse; but in the churchyard all the congregation was assembled, young and old, and they made a lane for me to the back- yett that opened into the manse-garden-- Some of them put out their hands and touched me as I passed, followed by the elders, and some of them wept. It was as if I was passing away, and to be no more-- verily, it was the reward of my ministry--a faithful account of which, year by year, I now sit down, in the evening of my days, to make up, to the end that I may bear witness to the work of a beneficent Providence, even in the narrow sphere of my parish, and the concerns of that flock of which it was His most gracious pleasure to make me the unworthy shepherd.

同类推荐
  • 耳食录

    耳食录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 画继补遗

    画继补遗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Pupil

    The Pupil

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 两溪文集

    两溪文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大乘方广总持经

    大乘方广总持经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 缕缕阳光洒下来

    缕缕阳光洒下来

    因为车祸休学后不得不降级的学姐,巧合之下,成为了学校金主儿子的同学。原本想安安静静的过完剩下的两年,怎么那位学弟,你老跟着我干嘛?什么时候成了校园绯闻中心了,学弟你站住,都怪你。“你买的这个菜一点都不新鲜啊。”她拿过楚旭阳手里的袋子,翻了好一会儿,说道。楚旭阳把手搭在林顾身上:“那你从此之后就来帮我买菜吧。”
  • 女子就如男

    女子就如男

    大将军之女,方莺莺发现未婚夫花街柳巷,活活气死。花花公子方浩,意外死亡,正好魂穿她身,誓要替她报仇。疑团解开,原来一切都是造化弄人,因为他一直深爱着方莺莺。但是天意弄人,她和父亲方无敌,被卷入争夺皇位的阴谋之中。 她又怎么解脱?她又怎么面对皇子的感情?李煜对她的感情? 在时刻都会消散的生命前,她又该何去何从? 更让她伤心的是,自己最为信任的人,实际上一直在背叛着自己。凄美委婉的爱情,亲如姐妹的友情,又该怎么进行下去……
  • 听见下雨时的哭泣

    听见下雨时的哭泣

    他,在九岁那年,许下承诺,说会一辈子对她好,一辈子都不离开她,可是,他终究还是离开了,八年后,他回来了,他寻找着当年那个小女孩,他希望可以完成他未完成的承诺,,,,,,,,,
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 重庆阳光

    重庆阳光

    写在自己40岁之前,回头读了读自己的博客,虽然知道他们都几乎实实在在的发生过,但却恍若隔世,好像在读着一个个过分美好的故事。我明白了自己一直想要的就是那些已经忘却了大半,但却被涂抹的越发鲜艳的记忆,和任何时候都能冲击内心的情感。
  • 神意纪元

    神意纪元

    遥远的未来,人类后裔在宇宙建立起神意帝国。奴隶星少年夜凌生,偶然获得名为“思感能”的神奇力量,从此开始了逆天屠神的星海冒险之旅。
  • 都不容易1

    都不容易1

    亲官难断家务事,若问什么最难解,当属夫妻那点事、儿女亲官难断家务事,若问什么最难解,当属夫妻那点事、儿女那点事、爱情那点事......家家都有本难念的经,他们辛苦长大,努力生活,可生活仍然是一地鸡毛......
  • 极品偷心兵王

    极品偷心兵王

    他是回归的兵王,低调潜藏,不受美女老总的待见。一次祭拜完父亲之后回公司,因美女老总的弟弟被绑架而再次出手。猛虎在深山,蛟龙腾于渊,他渐渐显露出狰狞的一面。暴打纨绔,猛拍局长,凶狠如狼。
  • 我的法术变异了

    我的法术变异了

    凌易——一名因意外导致的穿越者,来到一个现代与修仙结合的世界。作为一名修仙之人,当然需要学习各种各样的法术了。但是为什么我的法术与别的不一样?为什么我的控火术会爆炸?硬化术不是增强防御吗?我的轻身术是飞得太低了吗?
  • 绝世妖妃:第一女幻师

    绝世妖妃:第一女幻师

    被亲妹妹和未婚夫背叛,云荼选择引爆飞机玉石俱焚。再次睁眼,她魂归异世大陆莫氏宗族灵力全无的废材莫云荼。宗族舍弃?无碍,她会让自己的姓氏成为另一个神话。灵力全无?笑话,她暗含神力幻兽多多外加上古神兽精血淬体谁人能比。貌丑无盐?放屁,待她风华尽显闪瞎了所有人的眼。佛挡杀佛,魔挡诛魔是她的人生信条,人若犯我就地砍死是她的行为准则,且问:谁敢争锋?月黑风高,某妖孽摸黑爬床,“喂,你的……在干嘛?”“为夫只是想用自己的长短,试一下你的深浅而已!”不怕妖孽耍流氓,就怕妖孽变成狼,还是吃人不吐骨头的大色狼。