After leaving the manse, the deputation walked slowly down the approach, old George Brown leaning on Mr. Taylor’s arm. When we reached the gate opening on the public road, George, who was in front, turned about, and when all had gathered round him, he said:
ALL THE TITHES.
“Freends, I’m an auld man, the auldest o’ ye a’, and I thank God I’ve lived to see this day. I’ve lang mourned o’er the backslidings and defections o’ our times, but the Lord has made bare His holy arm. This is the day of His merciful visitation. I’ll say to you as Moses said to Joshua, ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.’ Dinna turn your back in the day of battle, like the sons of Ephraim; dinna abide by the bleatings of the sheep, like Reuben, or remain in ships, like Dan; abune a’, dinna provoke the curse of Meroz for not coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Mind, when things werena as they should have been in the days o’ Haggai, when men lived in their ceiled houses and let the house o’ the Lord lie waste, that they sowed much but brocht in little, when neither their meat nor their drink nourished them, and even their vera claes werena warm. Their wages were putten into a bag wi’ holes, and the Lord blew on what did grow; an’ the drouth[5] spoilt their corn, an’ wine, an’ oil, an’ men, an’ cattle, an’ a’ the labour o’ their hands; and they had blastin’, an’ mildew, an’ hail. But frae the vera day, the four-and-twentieth day o’ the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation o’ the Lord’s temple was laid—frae that vera day the Lord blessed them wi’ plenty, an’ scattered their faes, and made them as a signet—that I take to be a finger-ring, aye in His sicht. We hae gude reason to believe that the Lord’s time to favour Zion has come. He’s sitting like a refiner of silver, purifying the sons of Levi. Dinna rob Him in tithes and offerings, or He’ll curse us wi’ a curse; but oh, my freends, bring a’ the tithes into the store-house,—the tithe o’ pious hearts and godly zeal, an’ prayer, an’ brotherly love, an’ charity, an’ works o’ faith, an’ labours o’ love, and worldly goods—a’ the tithes; dinna keep back pairt o’ the price, as ye would escape the fate o’ Ananias and Sapphira. And if we a’ dae our pairt, the Lord will prove true to His promise, an’ open the windows o’ heaven, and pour out a blessing till there’s no room to receive it; and ours will be a delightsome land—no more desolate and forsaken, but Hephzibah and Beulah, which means ‘Delighted in,’ and ‘Married.’”
[5] Drought.
There was something of the old prophet in the good man, as he “lifted up his voice and testified.” An interesting conversation followed, in which present duty was discussed, and each resolved to help the good cause. Before leaving the avenue, under the shade of the two limes which graced its entrance, without previous concert, but as if moved by a simultaneous influence, we uncovered and looked to old George. He quite understood the look, and feeling the impulse, he engaged in prayer. His words had the rich unction of Christian experience; they lifted us up for the time until we felt as if inside the audience-chamber; he spoke as one speaks to a father and friend; it was not wrestling, it was more like Hezekiah’s spreading out the letter of the Assyrian captain before the Lord in the temple. The close of the prayer for light and direction was fervent,—that every one of us may ask, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” and do it with all our might, as good soldiers, and good servants, and good stewards. During the prayer was heard an occasional “amen,” and there was a unanimous “amen” at its close, a very uncommon thing in such exercises in Scotland.
All had shaken hands with George, and were bidding good-bye to each other, when George said: “My freends, I’m gaun to ask a favour. I am a descendant of John Brown o’ Priesthill, the carrier that was shot by Claverhouse. I hae his Bible and Psalm-book, and table and arm-chair. I wad like them to be used at the Annie Green on Sabbath by Mr. Barrie. They hae served the same purpose wi’ Cameron and Peden and MacMillan in the covenantin’ times, and I think the blood o’ the martyrs is noo springing into the seed of the Church.”
“Certainly,” was the unanimous reply.
CHAPTER VI.
THE DISRUPTION AND BLINKBONNY.
“Long, long be my heart with such memories filled,