“By his ain v’ice i’ the hert,” said Bow-o’-meal.
“Then a public assembly is not necessary for the communication of the gifts of the spirit?”
They were silent.
“Isn’t it possible that the eagerness after such assemblies may have something to do with a want of confidence in what the Lord says of his kingdom—that it spreads like the hidden leaven— grows like the buried seed? My own conviction is, that if a man would but bend his energies to live, if he would but try to be a true, that is, a godlike man, in all his dealings with his fellows, a genuine neighbour and not a selfish unit, he would open such channels for the flow of the spirit as no amount of even honest and so-called successful preaching could.”
“Wha but ane was ever fit to lead sic a life ’s that?”
“All might be trying after it. In proportion as our candle burns it will give light. No talking about light will supply the lack of its presence either to the talker or the listeners.”
“There’s a heap made o’ the preachin’ o’ the word i’ the buik itsel’,” said Peter with emphasis.
“Undoubtedly. But just look at our Lord: he never stopped living amongst his people—hasn’t stopped yet; but he often refused to preach, and personally has given it up altogether now.”
“Ay, but ye see he kent what he was duin’.”
“And so will every man in proportion as he partakes of his spirit.”