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he symbols and pageantry of the departed superstition； Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women？ No； let us cling to the simplicity of the Truth that is now established in our native land。〃
At the conclusion of this clause of my discourse； the congregation； which had been all so still and so solemn； never coughing； as was often the case among my people； gave a great rustle； changing their positions； by which I was almost overcome； however； I took heart and ventured on； and pointed out that； with our Bible and an orthodox priesthood； we stood in no need of the king's authority； however bound we were； in temporal things； to respect it； and I showed this at some length； crying out in the words of my text； 〃Wherefore； then； should thy servant be yet a burden to the king？〃 in the saying of which I happened to turn my eyes towards his grace the Commissioner； as he sat on the throne； and I thought his countenance was troubled； which made me add； that he might not think I meant him any offence； 〃That the King of the Church was one before whom the great； and the wise； and the goodall doomed and sentenced convictsimplore his mercy。〃 〃It is true；〃 said I； 〃that in the days of his tribulation he was wounded for our iniquities； and died to save us； but； at his death； his greatness was proclaimed by the quick and the dead。 There was sorrow； and there was wonder； and there was rage； and there was remorse； but there was no shame there… …none blushed on that day at that sight but yon glorious luminary。〃 The congregation rose； and looked round； as the sun that I pointed at shone in at the window。 I was disconcerted by their movement； and my spirit was spent； so that I could say no more。
When I came down from the pulpit； there was a great pressing in of acquaintance and ministers； who lauded me exceedingly； but I thought it could be only in derision； therefore I slipped home to Mrs M'Vicar's as fast as I could。
Mrs M'Vicar； who was a clever； hearing…all sort of a neighbour； said my sermon was greatly thought of； and that I had surprised everybody； but I was fearful there was something of jocularity at the bottom of this； for she was a flaunty woman； and liked well to give a good…humoured gibe or jeer。 However； his grace the Commissioner was very thankful for the discourse； and complimented me on what he called my apostolical earnestness； but he was a courteous man； and I could not trust to him； especially as my lord Eaglesham had told me in secrecy beforeit's true； it was in his gallanting waythat； in speaking of the king's servant as I had done； I had rather gone beyond the bounds of modern moderation。 Altogether； I found neither pleasure nor profit in what was thought so great an honour； but longed for the privacy of my own narrow pasture； and little flock。
It was in this visit to Edinburgh that Mrs Balwhidder bought her silver teapot； and other ornamental articles； but this was not done； as she assured me； in a vain spirit of bravery； which I could not have abided； but because it was well known that tea draws better in a silver pot； and drinks pleasanter in a china cup； than out of any other kind of cup or teapot。
By the time I got home to the manse； I had been three whole weeks and five days absent； which was more than all my absences together； from the time of my placing； and my people were glowing with satisfaction when they saw us driving in a Glasgow chaise through the clachan to the manse。
The rest of the year was merely a quiet succession of small incidents； none of which are worthy of notation； though they were all severally； no doubt； of aught somewhere； as they took us both time and place in the coming to pass； and nothing comes to pass without helping onwards to some great end； each particular little thing that happens in the world being a seed sown by the hand of Providence to yield an increase； which increase is destined； in its turn； to minister to some higher purpose； until at last the issue affects the whole earth。 There is nothing in all the world that doth not advance the cause of goodness； no； not even the sins of the wicked； though； through the dim casement of her mortal tabernacle； the soul of man cannot discern the method thereof。
CHAPTER XXI YEAR 1780
This was； among ourselves； another year of few events。 A sound； it is true； came among us of a design； on the part of the government in London； to bring back the old harlotry of papistry； but we spent our time in the lea of the hedge； and the lown of the hill。 Some there were that a panic seized upon when they heard of Lord George Gordon； that zealous Protestant； being committed to the Tower； but for my part； I had no terror upon me； for I saw all things around me going forward improving； and I said to myself； it is not so when Providence permits scathe and sorrow to fall upon a nation。 Civil troubles； and the casting down of thrones； is always forewarned by want and poverty striking the people。 What I have； therefore； chiefly to record as the memorables of this year； are things of small importthe main of which are； that some of the neighbouring lairds； taking example by Mr Kibbock； my father…in…law that was； began in this fall to plant the tops of their hills with mounts of fir…trees； and Mungo Argyle； the exciseman； just herried the poor smugglers to death； and made a power of prize…money； which； however； had not the wonted effect of riches； for it brought him no honour； and he lived in the parish like a leper； or any other kind of excommunicated person。
But I should not forget a most droll thing that took place with Jenny Gaffaw； and her daughter。 They had been missed from the parish for some days； and folk began to be uneasy about what could have become of the two silly creatures； till one night； at the dead hour； a strange light was seen beaming and burning at the window of the bit hole where they lived。 It was first observed by Lady Macadam； who never went to bed at any Christian hour； but sat up reading her new French novels and play…books with Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress。 She gave the alarm； thinking that such a great and continuous light from a lone house； where never candle had been seen before； could be nothing less than the flame of a burning。 And sending Miss Sabrina and the servants to see what was the matter； they beheld daft Jenny； and her as daft daughter； with a score of candle doups； （Heaven only knows where they got them！） placed in the window； and the twa fools dancing； and linking； and admiring before the door。 〃What's all this about； Jenny；〃 said Miss Sabrina。〃Awa' wi' you； awa' wi' youye wicked pope； ye whore of Babylonis na it for the glory of God； and the Protestant religion？ d'ye think I will be a pope as long as light can put out darkness？〃And with that the mother and daughter began again to leap and dance as madly as before。
It seems that poor Jenny； having heard of the luminations that were lighted up through the country on the ending of the Popish Bill； had； with Meg； travelled by themselves into Glasgow； where they had gathered or begged a stock of candles； and coming back under the cloud of night； had surprised and alarmed the whole clachan； by lighting up their window in the manner that I have described。 Poor Miss Sabrina； at Jenny's uncivil salutation； went back to my lady with her heart full； and would fain have had the idiots brought to task before the session； for what they had said to her。 But I would not hear tell of such a thing； for which Miss Sabrina owed me a grudge that was not soon given up。 At the same time； I was grieved to see the testimonies of joyfulness for a holy victory； brought into such disrepute by the ill…timed demonstrations of the two irreclaimable naturals； that had not a true conception of the cause for which they were triumphing。
CHAPTER XXII YEAR 1781
If the two last years passed o'er the heads of me and my people without any manifest dolour； which is a great thing to say for so long a period in this world； we had our own trials and tribulations in the one of which I have now to make mention。 Mungo Argyle； the exciseman； waxing rich； grew proud and petulant； and would have ruled the country side with a rod of iron。 Nothing less would serve him than a fine horse to ride on； and a world of other conveniences and luxuries； as if he had been on an equality with gentlemen。 And he bought a grand gun； which was called a fowling…piece； and he had two pointer dogs； the like of which had not been seen in the parish since the planting of the Eaglesham…wood on the moorland； which was four years before I got the call。 Every body said the man was fey； and truly； when I remarked him so gallant and gay on the Sabbath at the kirk； and noted his glowing face and gleg een； I thought at times there was something no canny about him。 It was indeed clear to be seen； that the man was hurried out of himself； but nobody could have thought that the death he was to dree would have been what it was。
About the end of summer my Lord Eaglesham came to the castle； bringing with him an English madam； that was his Miss。 Some days after he came down from London； as he was riding past the manse； his lordship stopped to enquire for my health； and I went