“But dinna ye believe there is sic a thing as gettin’ a call to the preachin’?”
“I do; but even then a man’s work is of worth only as it supplements his life. A network of spiritual fibres connects the two, makes one of them.”
“But surely, sir, them ’at’s o’ the same min’ oucht to meet an’ stir ane anither up? ‘They that feart the Lord spak aften thegither,’ ye ken.”
“What should prevent them? Why should not such as delight in each other’s society, meet, and talk, and pray together,—address each the others if they like? There is plenty of opportunity for that, without forsaking the church or calling public meetings. To continue your quotation—‘The Lord hearkened and heard:’ observe, the Lord is not here said to hearken to sermons or prayers, but to the talk of his people. This would have saved you from false relations with men that oppose themselves, caring nothing for the truth—perhaps eager to save their souls, nothing more at the very best.”
“Sir! sir! what wad ye hae? Daur ye say it’s no a body’s first duty to save his ain sowl alive?” exclaimed Bow-o’-meal.
“I daur ’t—but there’s little daur intill ’t!” said Mr Graham, breaking into Scotch.
Bow-o’-meal rose from his chair in indignation, Blue Peter made a grasp at his bonnet, and Jeames Gentle gave a loud sigh of commiseration.
“I allow it to be a very essential piece of prudence,” added the schoolmaster, resuming his quieter English—“but the first duty! —no. The Catechism might have taught you better than that! To mind his chief end must surely be man’s first duty; and the Catechism says—‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God.’”
“And to enjoy him for ever,” supplemented Peter.
“That’s a safe consequence. There’s no fear of the second if he does the first. Anyhow he cannot enjoy him for ever this moment, and he can glorify him at once.”