3. CHAP. III.
AS I have said, the day passed over, and
there was no word of Teague. In
the evening, as it was usual with the gentlemen
at the Indian Queen, to go to some
place for the amusement of an hour or
two; mention being made of a celebrated
preacher, a Universalist, as he was called;
that is, one who preaches the doctrine of
universal salvation; it was proposed to go
to hear him, as he was to hold forth that
evening. The Captain readily consented;
and it struck him, that, as this was a new
fangled doctrine, and the preacher had
made a great noise; and as it was a
doctrine that, conscious of a good deal of
fornication, would naturally please Teague,
it was not impossible but the Irishman
might have become a disciple of this reformist,
and be at his conventicle.
Coming in amongst the crowd, and obtaining
seats, they saw the preacher ascend
the pulpit, and, after the preliminary exercise
of psalms and prayer, take a text,
and begin his sermon.
His text was taken from one of those
passages of scripture, which speaks of “the
lion lying down with the kid, and the tyger
with the lamb;” which have been interpreted
of the Millenium; but were applied
by him, to that period, when, as
the sea shall give up her dead, so hell shall
give up her damned; and the devil himself
shall come to lick salt out of the hand
of an angel.
Enlarging on this doctrine, and supporting
it with a variety of proofs from
scripture, and arguments from reason, he
seemed to have brought the matter to a
point; answering all objections, and closing
in with the hearer. At this stage, using
that figure of oratory, which is usual in
the pulpit, of asking questions, and pressing
for an answer, but expecting none;
he would say, Is not this conclusive? Is it
not evident? Is there any here can advance
an argument against it? Will any of you
speak—I pause for an answer?
Mr. M`Donald, in the mean time, (the
Scotch gentleman; who happened to be
there,) thinking him really serious, and
that he wanted an answer; or taking advantage
of the pause, and the interrogation,
to speak his mind, leaning over the
front of a back seat, made reply:
Why, said he, I like the doctrine well
enough, and ha' na' disposition to o'erthrow
it. I dinna muckle care if there
ware na' hell ava. If ye could make that
out, I wad rather hear it, than o' being
smoaked twa' or three thousand years in
the devil's nuke, or singed wi' his burnt
brimstone, even if we should get out afterwards.
Ye need na' put yoursel in a
passion, or be flee'd that you'll no get proselytes;
for I shall warrant you, as many
every night as ye can weel stow awa i' the
conventicle.
The preacher giving thanks to God for
the success in his ministry, in the remarkable
conversion of the man who spoke, the
Scotch gentleman said again; Ye need
na ca' it a conversion; for I ha' been o'
the same opinion a' my life; that it was a
sare thing to bide the kiln of hell, and
they wad deserve muckle thanks wha could
establish that we should na' stay long in it,
or that there was na' such place ava.
The preacher commenting upon this,
observed that some were orthodox from
their birth, like Jeremiah, who was sanctified
in his mother's womb; but others
were hardly brought to the truth, with
much teaching and instruction. That the
present was a happy instance of one who
was in the right way from his very early
years.
The Captain in the mean time, had been
thinking of the doctrine; and thought it
reasonable to suppose, that the Almighty
might relieve after some time, and let the
damned devils go. Just as with himself at
present in the case of Teague; if he had
got his hands on the bog-trotter, he could
not help being very angry, and would be
disposed to punish him with great severity;
but after some time he knew his passion
would subside, and he would forget his
delinquencies.
Teague in this manner running in his
head, as the people, after some epilogue of
prayer and benediction, being dismissed,
were retiring, he got up, and raising his
voice, begged the audience to detain a
little. — Good people, said he, if any of
you should come across a young man, a
servant of mine, of the name of Teague
O'Regan, I shall thank you to send me notice
to the Indian Queen, where I lodge.
And, according to the advertisement in
this day's paper, I will give two dollars
reward.
Thinking him deranged in his brain,
they proceeded, and took no notice of the
proclamation.
