The minister is the maist contrary o' mortals.

He kens naething about church government, and he treats gude siller as if it wasna worth the counting; but he's a gude man, and a great man, Davie, and folk canna serve the altar and be money-changers too.

I ought to keep that i' mind.

It's Deacon Strang, and no the minister." "Well, uncle, you must just thole it; you know what the New Testament says ?" "Ay, ay; I ken it says if a man be struck on one cheek, he must turn the other; but, Davie, let me tell you that the man who gets the first blow generally deserves the second.

It is gude Christian law no to permit the first stroke.