All  they  heeded  was  wealth  of  gain.
All  they  dreaded  was  loss  of  gear  ;
But   their   swords   are   good  if  their

hearts  are  vain.
And  we'll  need  them  all  in  the  stress

and  strain
That  will  try  our  mettle  this  coming

year.
God   grant  that  they  may  stand  fast

that  day  ;
But  some  are  ambitious,  and  some  are

proud,
And  some  are  fain  just  to  get  their

own  way  ;
AndtheremaybeaJudas.  Who  can  say
What  kind  of  folk  may  be  hid  in  a

crowd  ?

Is  it  right  to  join  hands  with   them,

in  view
Oftheir  alien  mind.  Were  not  Gideon's

band,
The   gallant  three   hundred,    staunch

and  true,
Better  by  far  than  a  motley  crew
Who   care  for  nought   but  the  teind

and  land  ?

Some  of  God's  servants  will  have  it  so,
For  they  say  He  can  save   by  many

or  few.
And   they  blame   me   as  one  who  is

fain  to  go.
By  worldly  policy.     Yet  I  know
We  shall  need  every  man  to  carry  it

through.
But  the  people  are  stirred,  for  they  all

have  heard
Of    the    quarrel    'twixt    King    and

Parliament,
And  their   hearts  are   hot,    and  they

will  not  yield
To  Charles  or  Laud,  till,  on  stricken

field.
One  side  or  other  its  force  has  spent.^

I  am  no  soldier,  and  I  shrink

From    battle    and    blood    as    things

abhorred ;
Yet  now  that  we  stand  on  the  deadly

brink,
No  more  may  I  counsel  peace,  but  think
Of  the  Kirk  and  its  only  King  andLord.
Gask  and  Montrose


S9I


Where  the  Spirit  of  God  is,  men  are

free;
Where  the  spirit  of  truth  is,  men  are

strong ;
And  strong  and  free  shall  our  country

be
When  the  storm  is  past,   which   we

plainly  see.
