Запретный лес
XVI. The Witch Hunt
Wastherenothere,onecried,thatrebellionwhichwasasthesinofwitchcraft?Whatbecame,criedanother,ofthedeferencewhichayoungmanwasboundtoshowtotheauthorityofhisfathersinGod?"ArewetobelikeRehoboam,whohearkenedtocallowandinexperiencedyouth,andnottothoseelderswhopartookofthewisdomofhisfatherSolomon?"
PresentlyDavidwassilent.Herememberedthatmeeknessbecamehim,andhehadasharpsenseofthefutilityofargument.Respectfullyhebowedhisheadtotheblast,whileadozenofhisbrethrendeliveredextractsfromtheirrecentsermons.TheModeratorconfirmedthesenseoftheCourt.
"OuryoungbrotherislamentablyestrangedfromChrist,"hesaidinavoicewhichwaschargedwithregretaswellaswithindignation."HeisliketheChurchofLaodicea,ofwhomitwaswritten,’Becausethouartlukewarm,andneithercoldnorhot,Iwillspuetheeoutofmymouth.’Itellyou,sir,hethatisnotwithusisagainstus,andthatinthedayoftheLord’sjudgmentstherecanbenohaltingbetweentwoopinions.ItisthedutyoftheKirktofollowHisplaincommandmentandtorestnottilltheevilthingbeutterlydestroyedfromourmidst,evenasBarakpursuedafterthechariotstoHaroshethoftheGentiles,andallthehostofSiserafellupontheedgeofthesword,andnotamanwasleft.