Some people demand from the householder none but new things, others none but old; whereas we need in truth of all the sorts in his treasury.
“I haena a doobt it was a’ richt an’ as ye say, Anerew,” said his wife; “but for mysel’ I could mak naither heid nor tail o’ ’t.”
“I saidna, Doory, it was a’ richt,” returned her husband; “that would be to say a heap for onything human! but it was a guid honest sermon.”
“What was yon ’at he said aboot the mirracles no bein’ teeps?” asked his wife.
“It was God’s trowth ’at,” he said.
“Gie me a share o’ the same I beg o’ ye, Anerew Comin.”
“What the man said was this—’at the sea ’at Peter gaed oot upo’ wasna first an’ foremost to be luikit upo’ as a teep o’ the inward an’ spiritual troubles o’ the believer, still less o’ the troubles o’ the church o’ Christ. The Lord deals wi’ fac’s nane the less ’at they canna help bein’ teeps. Here was terrible fac’s to Peter. Here was angry watter an’ roarin’ win’; here was danger an’ fear: the man had to trust or gang doon. Gien the hoose be on fire we maun trust; gien the watter gang ower oor heids we maun trust; gien the horse rin awa’, we maun trust. Him ’at canna trust in siclike conditions, I wadna gie a plack for ony ither kin’ o’ faith he may hae. God ’s nae a mere thoucht i’ the warl’ o’ thoucht, but a leevin’ pooer in a’ warl’s alike. Him ’at gangs to God wi’ a sair heid ’ill the suner gang til ’im wi’ a sair hert; an’ them ’at thinksna he cares for the pains o’ their boadies ’ill ill believe he cares for the doobts an’ perplexities o’ their inquirin’ speerits. To my min’ he spak the best o’ sense!”
“I didna hear him say onything like that!” said Donal.
“Did ye no? Weel, I thoucht it cam frae him to me!”
“Maybe I wasna giein’ the best heed,” said Donal. “But what ye say is as true as the sun. It stan’s to rizzon.”