Markus, however, paid not the slightest attention to these words. His voice rang clearer than ever through the chill, lofty spaces. The people listened, and the dominie had no alternative but to be silent or to shout the louder, which latter expedient he renounced from a sense of dignity.
"My poor friends," said Markus, "does it not alarm you that there are wrong-doings of which you are not conscious? Is it not sad to be guilty and not to know it?"
"If we, poor souls, forgive those who unconsciously wrong us, will not our Father forgive us?
"But to wander is to wander, and not to follow the straight course: and he who errs, though he may know it not, does not do right, although he may intend a thousand times to do the right.
"And he who continues to wander gets lost; for the Father's justice is inalterable and unfailing.
"And yet, my poor friends, the Father's forgiveness is for every one, even the poorest wanderer. His mercy is for all.
"And His forgiveness is called knowledge, and the name of His mercy is insight.
"These are bestowed upon every one who does not reject them; and no one will be lost who makes use of them.
"Therefore, the Psalmist begged to be cleansed from secret faults. He knew that we know not ourselves how very guilty we are. And He knew that the enlightening and purifying fire of confession is of the Father's mercy.
"Has ever a thirsty one continued to wander away from the water, after recognizing his mistake?