Scotland/Scots > Licht frae the smiddy o' Saunders Dinwuddie

SLANDERERS OF HEAVEN’S AMBASSADORS. 51
heads, i’ their hearts, and i’ their consciences.
There lies the seed, there it springs and grows
and flourishes, and frae the centre o’ life it is
made manifest to the world in a rich harvest o’
guid thochts, words, and guid deeds. When I
hear ignorant and bad men speaking lowsely and
lichtly o’ ministers I say to mysel’—What for do
thae men utter sic spitefu’ things against God’s
servants ? Ministers speak against sin in a’ the
shapes and fashions it puts on. Is that no a richt
thing, an’ a thing to be commended by God an’ a’
guid men ? Sae, I draw an inference, an’ my in¬
ference is this—ministers speak and work on the
side o’ a’ that’s guid, and set themselves against
a’ that’s evil. But certain men revile the mini¬
sters, therefore certain men maun be reckoned
amang the wicked. Isna that a sound inference,
Sir ?”
“Perfectly sound, Saunders. You are a true
disciple of the old Stagyrite, a profound logician,
who can frame a just syllogism. Perhaps the
walk and conversation of a few ministers cause
the way of truth to be evil spoken of.”
“Just sae, Sir. If a minister gang a thocht
agee, and do something that the haill warld does
a’ the warld ower, and every day o’ the year,
there’s nae end to the reek and the stour raised
by the foul breath o’ sinners to the disparagement
o’ a’ truth and godliness. Nae doubt, Sir, some
o’ the Lord’s servants may gae a kennin’ wrang,
being men o’ like passions wi’ oursel’s. And
ithers are men o’ sma’ gifts and few graces, weak
but weel-meaning men, wha hae but little tow on
their rock, and sae when they hae spun oot their