登陆注册
15693400000001

第1章 INTRODUCTION(1)

In the same year, and on the same day of the same month, that his Sacred Majesty King George, the third of the name, came to his crown and kingdom, I was placed and settled as the minister of Dalmailing. {1} When about a week thereafter this was known in the parish, it was thought a wonderful thing, and everybody spoke of me and the new king as united in our trusts and temporalities, marvelling how the same should come to pass, and thinking the hand of Providence was in it, and that surely we were preordained to fade and flourish in fellowship together; which has really been the case: for in the same season that his Most Excellent Majesty, as he was very properly styled in the proclamations for the general fasts and thanksgivings, was set by as a precious vessel which had received a crack or a flaw, and could only be serviceable in the way of an ornament, I was obliged, by reason of age and the growing infirmities of my recollection, to consent to the earnest entreaties of the Session, and to accept of Mr Amos to be my helper. I was long reluctant to do so; but the great respect that my people had for me, and the love that I bore towards them, over and above the sign that was given to me in the removal of the royal candle-stick from its place, worked upon my heart and understanding, and I could not stand out. So, on the last Sabbath of the year 1810, I preached my last sermon, and it was a moving discourse. There were few dry eyes in the kirk that day; for I had been with the aged from the beginning--the young considered me as their natural pastor--and my bidding them all farewell was, as when of old among the heathen, an idol was taken away by the hands of the enemy.

At the close of the worship, and before the blessing, I addressed them in a fatherly manner; and, although the kirk was fuller than ever I saw it before, the fall of a pin might have been heard--at the conclusion there was a sobbing and much sorrow. I said,"My dear friends, I have now finished my work among you for ever. I have often spoken to you from this place the words of truth and holiness;and, had it been in poor frail human nature to practise the advice and counselling that I have given in this pulpit to you, there would not need to be any cause for sorrow on this occasion-- the close and latter end of my ministry. But, nevertheless, I have no reason to complain; and it will be my duty to testify, in that place where I hope we are all one day to meet again, that I found you a docile and a tractable flock, far more than at first I could have expected. There are among you still a few, but with grey heads and feeble hands now, that can remember the great opposition that was made to my placing, and the stout part they themselves took in the burly, because I was appointed by the patron; but they have lived to see the error of their way, and to know that preaching is the smallest portion of the duties of a faithful minister. I may not, my dear friends, have applied my talent in the pulpit so effectually as perhaps I might have done, considering the gifts that it pleased God to give me in that way, and the education that I had in the Orthodox University of Glasgow, as it was in the time of my youth; nor can I say that, in the works of peace-making and charity, I have done all that I should have done. But I have done my best, studying no interest but the good that was to rise according to the faith in Christ Jesus.

同类推荐
  • 古清凉传

    古清凉传

    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。
  • 阿吒薄呴付嘱咒

    阿吒薄呴付嘱咒

    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。
  • 本草简要方

    本草简要方

    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。
  • 知稼翁词

    知稼翁词

    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。
  • 明伦汇编人事典游部

    明伦汇编人事典游部

    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
  • 御夫36计:双面总裁请接招

    御夫36计:双面总裁请接招

    自从爷爷去世他第一次出现在她的面前时,她就认定了他将是自己未来的老公!直到渐渐长大之后心意也没有变过,因为她真的爱死他了!可是不管她怎样爱他,她都要说——他是个木头啦!不光是生活中无趣的很,连她这个软乎乎香喷喷的大美女在跟前诱惑他,他都能冷静地跟她分析受凉生病的恶果……难道他“不行”吗?呸啦!她明明见过早上的时候他的小盆友起立敬礼的说,难道是她魅力不够?然而后来她才明白,他明明是“太行”了,只不过全部用在了其他女人的身上……想得美!想把她这么轻易甩了?看她御夫36计,总裁大人乖乖束手就擒!
  • 腹黑王妃倾天下

    腹黑王妃倾天下

    她是组织的王牌,因七星剑穿越到南炎国,误杀皇后,失去母后的龙凌轩将她扔进迷失森林,阴差阳错下救了龙凌轩,被太子追杀,她掉下悬崖,而龙凌轩却失忆......
  • 漫步时空之旅

    漫步时空之旅

    突然有一天,王漓拥有了可以穿梭时空的能力,可以将外位面的先进科技带回地球,甚至可以将外面获得的能力带回地球使用。一切变得不一样了,一个崭新的视野,一个大变化的国家,一个不一样的地球文明缓缓展现在人类面前……异能,机甲,魔法,斗气,神奇而又灿烂的异世界文明体系。山川河流,异域风景,壮丽而又美好的自然风光。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 离殇的秘言

    离殇的秘言

    她是不可一世的女王,他只宠她的冰山王子,一切让她不得不离殇........................
  • 名门重生:妖孽男神快走开

    名门重生:妖孽男神快走开

    命运对苏岑从来都是,捉弄之后再好好安抚苏岑想着她的人生大抵就应该这样了却不想带给她接连不断的惊喜,让她措手不及
  • 剑侠域

    剑侠域

    穿越异界,双生灵魂,银色双眸,九色丹田……
  • tfboys之我爱你王俊凯

    tfboys之我爱你王俊凯

    我是四叶草,我希望大家都能爱tfboys,祝tfboys永远都红。希望大家能看我写的小说,呵呵,我爱你们,四叶草们。
  • 星河囚徒

    星河囚徒

    元婴巅峰的修士飞行高度是三万米,配备有最先进引擎的战舰飞行高度是五万米,而这颗星球的大气层厚度足足有九万米。也就是说,褚墨要想逃出这颗星球,至少拥有比元婴高两个等级的斩灵期修为,或者一艘理论中的母皇级别战列舰。但是,在这个修真文明早已经衰落,机甲文明蹒跚起步的世界,两个目标似乎都是那么的遥不可及。褚墨能做的,唯有付出百分之一千的努力而已。……这是一个为了自由,为了生存的少年,从一颗囚禁他的星球越狱的故事。
  • 神莽天荒录

    神莽天荒录

    魔挥手泯灭众神,万灵不从。魔象怒踏神路,神熊弹指斩下日月星辰。恰若永生泯灭,众神埋冢灭世棋局,万灵为刍狗.大千世界,谁来主宰?吾为永生,我命主宰。