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

A STURDY PILLAR ADDED TO THE KIRK. 85
the man of God as well provided for as I am
mysel’. If I see God’s servant in want, I’ll no
button up my purse. I warrant you, Saunders
Dinwuddie wudna be himsel’ if he didna put his
hand in his pouch and help him, as God has pros¬
pered Saunders, and thereby honour the Lord wi’
his substance. Rich men wi’ a beggarly spirit
are nae ornament and sma’ profit to a congrega-
“ A man may be worthy and wealthy, if his
wealth is honestly come by, and dispensed with a
liberal spirit.”
“ True, Sir, if he honour the Lord wi’ his
substance. But if he dishonour God by
keeping back what is no his ain, he may be rich,
but he is not a true disciple of Christ. Tho’ rich
he may have the soul of a miser. Tho’ he wear
the livery of fashion, though he dwell in a splendid
mansion, and though he drive round the kintra in
a gilded chariot, he maybe as churlish as Nabal.”
“ You are diverging, Saunders, from the matter
in hand, your account of the eldership.”
“ Beg pardon, Sir, but I canna help swinging on in
my ain way. If I were put in harness, I would fling
up my heels, coup the cart, scamper, and scour
awa’ through the wide field o’ thought and utter¬
ance as freely as if I were a wild roe, fleein’ like
a filze of a hurricane amang the glens, the rocks,
the precipices and streams, the deep gorges, and
loudy passes of a Hieland wilderness o’ wild,
craggy mountains.”
“ Swing on, Saunders, swing on.”
“ Aweel, Sir, to return after that wild canter,
I mean to set to my work as an elder o’ the Kirk,