the man from glengarry-第32章

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extolling　and　illustrating　the　supreme　grace　of　love；　Peter's　hard
face　grew　harder　than　ever；　and　his　eyes　began　to　emit　blue　sparks
of　fire。　　This　was　no　day　for　the　preaching　of　smooth　things。　　The
people　were　there　to　consider　and　to　lament　their　Original　and
Actual　sin；　and　they　expected　and　required　to　hear　of　the　judgments
of　the　Lord；　and　to　be　summoned　to　flee　from　the　wrath　to　come。

Donald　Ross　sat　with　his　kindly　old　face　in　a　glow　of　delight；　but
with　a　look　of　perplexity　on　it　which　his　furtive　glances　in　Peter's
direction　did　not　help　to　lessen。　　The　sermon　was　delighting　and
touching　him；　but　he　was　not　quite　sure　whether　this　was　a　good　sign
in　him　or　no。　　He　set　himself　now　and　then　to　find　fault　with　the
sermon；　but　the　preacher　was　so　humble；　so　respectful；　and　above
all；　so　earnest；　that　Donald　Ross　could　not　bring　himself　to
criticise。

The　application　came　under　the　third　head。　　As　a　rule；　the
application　to　a　Fast　Day　sermon　was　delivered　in　terrifying　tones
of　thunder　or　in　an　awful　whisper。　　But　to…day　the　preacher；
without　raising　his　voice；　began　to　force　into　his　hearers'　hearts
the　message　of　the　day。

〃This　is　a　day　for　self…examination；〃　he　said；　and　his　clear；　quiet
tones　fell　into　the　ears　of　the　people　with　penetrating　power。
〃And　self…examination　is　a　wise　and　profitable　exercise。　　It　is　an
exercise　of　the　soul　designed　to　yield　a　discovery　of　sin　in　the
heart　and　life；　and　to　induce　penitence　and　contrition　and　so
secure　pardon　and　peace。　　But　too　often；　my　friends；〃　and　here　his
voice　became　a　shade　softer；　〃it　results　in　a　self…righteous　and
sinful　self…complaisance。　　What　is　required　is　a　simple　honesty　of
mind　and　spiritual　illumination；　and　the　latter　cannot　be　without
the　former。　　There　are　those　who　are　ever　searching　for　'the　marks'
of　a　genuinely　godly　state　of　heart；　and　they　have　the　idea　that
these　marks　are　obscure　and　difficult　for　plain　people　to　discover。
Make　no　mistake；　my　brethren；　they　are　as　easily　seen　as　are　the
apples　on　a　tree。　　The　fruits　of　the　spirit　are　as　discernible　to
any　one　honest　enough　and　fearless　enough　to　look；　and　the　first
and　supreme　of　all　is　that　which　we　have　been　considering　this
morning。　　The　question　for　you　and　for　me；　my　brethren；　is　simply
this：　　Are　our　lives　full　of　the　grace　of　love？　　Do　not　shrink　from
the　question。　　Do　not　deceive　yourselves　with　any　substitutes；
there　are　many　offering　zeal；　the　gift　of　prayer　or　of　speech；　yea；
the　gift　of　faith　itself。　　None　of　these　will　atone　for　the　lack　of
love。　　Let　each　ask　himself；　Am　I　a　loving　man？〃

With　quiet　persistence　he　pursued　them　into　all　their　relations　in
lifehusbands　and　wives；　fathers　and　sons；　neighbor　and　neighbor。
He　would　not　let　them　escape。　　Relentlessly　he　forced　them　to
review　their　habits　of　speech　and　action；　their　attitude　toward
each　other　as　church　members；　and　their　attitude　toward　〃those
without。〃　　Behind　all　refuges　and　through　all　subterfuges　he　made
his　message　follow　them；　searching　their　deepest　hearts。　　And　then；
with　his　face　illumined　as　with　divine　fire；　he　made　his　final
appeal；　while　he　reminded　them　of　the　Infinite　love　that　had
stooped　to　save；　and　that　had　wrought　itself　out　in　the　agonies　of
the　cross。　　And　while　he　spoke　his　last　words；　all　over　the　church
the　women　were　weeping；　and　strong　men　were　sitting　trembling　and
pale。

After　a　short　prayer；　the　professor　sat　down。　　Then　the　minister
rose；　and　for　some　little　time　stood　facing　his　people　in　silence；
the　gleam　in　his　eyes　showing　that　his　fervent　Highland　nature　was
on　fire。

〃My　people；〃　he　began；　and　his　magnificent　voice　pealed　forth　like
a　solemn　bell；　〃this　is　the　message　of　the　Lord。　　Let　none　dare
refuse　to　hear。　　It　is　a　message　to　your　minister；　it　is　a　message
to　you。　　You　are　anxious　for　'the　marks。'　　Search　you　for　this
mark。〃　　He　paused　while　the　people　sat　looking　at　him　in　fixed　and
breathless　silence。　　Then；　suddenly；　he　broke　forth　into　a　loud
cry：　　〃Where　are　your　children　at　this　solemn　time　of　privilege？
Fathers；　where　are　your　sons？　　Why　were　they　not　with　you　at　the
Table？　　Are　you　men　of　love？　　Are　you　men　of　love；　or　by　lack　of
love　are　you　shutting　the　door　of　the　Kingdom　against　your　sons
with　their　fightings　and　their　quarrelings？〃　　Then；　raising　his
hands　high；　he　lifted　his　voice　in　a　kind　of　wailing　chant：　　〃Woe
unto　you！　　Woe　unto　you！　　Your　house　is　left　unto　you　desolate；　and
the　voice　of　love　is　crying　over　you。　　Ye　would　not！　　Ye　would　not！
O；　Lamb　of　God；　have　mercy　upon　us！　　O；　Christ；　with　the　pierced
hands；　save　us！〃　　Again　he　paused；　looking　upward；　while　the　people
waited　with　uplifted　white　faces。

〃Behold；〃　he　cried；　in　a　soul…thrilling　voice；　〃I　see　heaven　open；
and　Jesus　standing　at　the　right　hand　of　God；　and　I　hear　a　voice；
'Turn　ye；　turn　ye。　　Why　will　ye　die？'　　Lord　Jesus；　they　will　not
turn。〃　　Again　he　paused。　　〃Listen。　　Depart　from　me；　ye　cursed；　into
everlasting　fire。　　Depart　ye！　　Nay；　Lord　Jesus！　not　so！　　Have　mercy
upon　us！〃　　His　voice　broke　in　its　passionate　cry。　　The　effect　was
overwhelming。　　The　people　swayed　as　trees　before　a　mighty　wind；　and
a　voice　cried　aloud　from　the　congregation：　　〃God　be　merciful　to　me；
a　sinner！〃

It　was　Macdonald　Dubh。　　At　that　loud　cry；　women　began　to　sob；　and
some　of　the　people　rose　from　their　seats。

〃Be　still；〃　commanded　the　minister。　　〃Rend　your　hearts　and　not　your
garments。　　Let　us　pray。〃　　And　as　he　prayed；　the　cries　and　sobs
subsided　and　a　great　calm　fell　upon　all。　　After　prayer；　the
minister；　instead　of　giving　out　a　closing　psalm；　solemnly　charged
the　people　to　go　to　their　homes　and　to　consider　that　the　Lord　had
come　very　near　them；　and　adjured　them　not　to　grieve　the　Holy　Spirit
of　God。　　Then　he　dismissed　them　with　the　benediction。

The　people　went　out　of　the　church；　subdued　and　astonished；
speaking；　if　at　all；　in　low　tones　of　what　they　had　seen　and　heard。

Immediately　after　pronouncing　the　benediction；　the　minister　came
down　to　find　Macdonald　Dubh；　but　he　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　Toward
evening　Mrs。　Murray　rode　over　to　his　house；　but　found　that　he　had
not　returned　from　the　morning　service。

〃He　will　be　at　his　brother's；〃　said　Kirsty；　〃and　Ranald　will　drive
over　for　him。〃

Immediately　Ranald　hitched　up　Lisette　and　drove　over　to　his
uncle's；　but　as　he　was　returning　he　sent　in　word　to　the　manse；　his
face　being　not　yet　presentable；　that　his　father　was　nowhere　to　be
found。　　It　was　Macdonald　Bhain　that　found　him　at　last　in　the　woods；
prone　upon　his　face；　and　in　an　agony。

〃Hugh；　man；〃　he　cried；　〃what　ails　you？〃　　But　there　were　only　low
groans　for　answer。

〃Rise　up；　man；　rise　up　and　come　away。〃

Then　from　the　prostrate　figure　he　caught　the　words；　〃Depart　from
me！　　Depart　from　me！　　That　is　the　word　of　the　Lord。〃

〃That　is　not　the　word；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　〃for　any　living　man；
but　for　the　dead。　　But　come；　rise；　man；　the　neighbors　will　be　here
in　a　meenute。〃　　At　that　Black　Hugh　rose。

〃Let　me　away；〃　he　said。　　〃Let　me　not　see　them。　　I　am　a　lost　man。〃

And　so　his　brother　brought　him　home；　shaken　in　spirit　and　exhausted
in　body　with　his　long　fast　and　his　overpowering　emotion。　　All　night
through　his　brother　watched　with　him　alone；　for　Macdonald　Dubh
would　have　no　one　else　to　see　him；　till；　from　utter　exhaustion；
toward　the　dawning　of　the　day；　he　fell　asleep。

In　the　early　morning　the　minister　and　his　wife　drove　over　to　see
him；　and　leaving　his　wife　with　Kirsty；　the　minister　passed　at　once
into　Macdonald　Dubh's　room。　　But；　in　spite　of　all　his　reasoning；　in
spite　of　all　his　readings　and　his　prayers；　the　gloom　remained
unbroken　except　by　occasional　paroxysms　of　fear　and　remorse。

〃There　is　no　forgiveness！　　There　is　no　forgiveness！〃　was　the　burden
of　his　cry。

In　vain　the　minister　proclaimed　to　him　the　mercy　of　God。　　At　length
he　was　forced　to　leave　him　to　attend　the　〃Question　Meeting〃　which
was　to　be　held　in　the　church　that　day。　　But　he　left　his　wife　behind
him。

Without　a　word；　Mrs。　Murray　proceeded　to　make　the　poor　man
comfortable。　　She　prepared　a　dainty　breakfast　and　carried　it　in　to
him；　and　then　she　sat　beside　him　while　he　fell　into　a　deep　sleep。

It　was　afternoon　when　Macdonald　Dubh　awoke　and　greeted　her　with　his
wonted　grave　courtesy。

〃You　are　better；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　she　said；　brightly。　　〃And　now　I
will　make　you　a　fresh　cup　of　tea〃；　and　though　he　protested；　she
hurried　out；　and　in　a　few　moments　brought　him　some　tea　and　toast。
Then；　while　he　lay　in　gloomy　silence；　she　read　to　him；　as　she　did
once　before　from　his　Gaelic　psalm　book；　without　a　word　of　comment。
And　then　she　began　to　tell　him　of　all　the　hopes　she　had　cherished
in　connection　with　the　opening　of　the　new　church；　and　how　that　day
she　had　felt　at　last　the　blessing　had　come。

〃And；　O；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　glad　to　hear　you　cry；　for
then　I　knew　that　the　Spirit　of　God　was　among　us。〃

〃Glad！〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　faintly。

〃Yes；　glad。　　For　a　cry　like　that　never　comes　but　when　the　Spirit　of
God　moves　in　the　heart　of　a　man。〃

〃Indeed；　I　will　be　thinking　that　He　has　cast　me　off　forever；〃　he
said；　wondering　at　this　new　phase　of　the　subject。

〃Then　you　must　thank　Him；　Mr。　Macdonald；　that　He　has　not　so　done；
and　the　sure　proof　to　you　is　that　He　has　brought　you　to　cry　for
mercy。　　That　is　a　glad　cry；　in　the　ears　of　the　Saviour。　　It　is　the
cry　of　the　sheep　in　the　wilderness；　that　discovers　him　to　the
shepherd。〃　　And　then；　without　argument；　she　took　him　into　her
confidence　and　poured　out　to　him　all　her　hopes　and　fears　for　the
young　people　of　the　congregation；　and　especially　for　Ranald；　till
Macdonald　Dubh　partly　forgot　his　own　fears　in　hers。　　And　then；　just
before　it　was　time　for　Kirsty　to　arrive　from　the　〃Question　Meeting；〃
she　took　her　Gaelic　Bible　and　opened　at　the　Lord's　Prayer；　as　she
had　done　once　before。

〃It　is　a　terrible　thing　to　be　unforgiven；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　she　said；
〃by　man　or　by　God。　　And　God　is　unwilling　that　any　of　us　should　feel
that　pain；　and　that　is　why　he　is　so　free　with　his　offer　of　pardon
to　all　who　come　with　sorrow　to　him。　　They　come　with　sorrow　to　him
now；　but　they　will　come　to　him　some　day　with　great　joy。〃　　And　then
she　spoke　a　little　of　the　great　company　of　the　forgiven　before　the
throne；　and　at　the　very　last；　a　few　words　about　the　gentle　little
woman　that　had　passed　out　from　Macdonald　Dubh's　sight　so　many　years
before。　　Then；　falling　on　her　knees；　she　began　in　the　Gaelic；


　　　　　〃Our　Father　which　art　in　Heaven。〃


Earnestly　and　brokenly　Macdonald　Dubh　followed；　whispering　the
petitions　after　her。　　When　they　came　to


　　　　　〃Forgive　us　our　debts；　as　we　forgive　our　debtors；〃


Macdonald　Dubh　broke　forth：　　〃Oh；　it　is　a　little　thing；　whatever！
It　is　little　I　have　to　forgive。〃　　And　then；　in　a　clear；　firm　voice；
he　repeated　the　words　after　her　to　the　close　of　the　prayer。

Then　Mrs。　Murray　rose；　and　taking　him　by　the　hand　to　bid　him　good
by；　she　said；　slowly：　　〃'For　if　ye　forgive　men　their　trespasses；
your　heavenly　Father　will　also　forgive　you　your　trespasses。'　　You
have　forgiven；　Mr。　Macdonald。〃

〃Indeed；　it　is　nothing；〃　he　said；　earnestly。

〃Then；〃　replied　Mrs。　Murray；　〃the　Lord　will　not　break　his　promise
to　you。〃　　And　with　that　she