[58] Even in his controversial works, sparks of the same poetic fire fly out when opportunity occurs. In his Treatise "De Divina Providentiâ," the following paragraph occurs, extolling the glory of Godhead wisdom. "Comparentur cum illa increata sapientia Dei Patris umbratiles scintillulæ creatæ gloriolæ quotquot nominis celebritate inclaruerunt. Delirat _Plato_. Mentitur _Aristoteles_. _Cicero_ balbutit, hæsitat, nescit Latine loqui. _Demosthenes_ mutus et elinguis obstupescit; virtutis viam ignorat _Seneca_; nihil canit _Homerus_; male canit _Virgilius!_ Accedant ad Christum qui virtutis gloria fulgent! _Aristides_ virtutem mentitur. _Fabius_ cespitat, a via justitiæ deviat. _Socrates_ ne hoc quidem scit, se nihil scire. _Cato_ levis et futilis est; _Solon_ est mundi et voluptatum servus et mancipium, non legislator. _Pythagoras_ nec sophos, nec philosophus est. _Bias_ nec mundi nec inanis gloriæ contemptor. _Alexander Macedo_ ignavus est," &c. Another work bears this title: "Exercitationes Apologeticæ pro Divinâ Gratiâ, studio et industria Samuelis Rhætorfortis, Anwetensis, in Gallovidiâ, Scotiæ provinciâ Pastoris." The preface, or dedication, to _Gordon of Kenmure_, is very characteristic, ending thus: "Non enim ignoras in hac valle miseriarum minime sistendum, neque tentorium figendum; ad æternitatem ipsam (quod vere magnum nomen est & ineffabile) te vocari; crescere iter, decrescere diem, omnia alia aliena, tempus tantum nostrum esse, si modo nostrum est." In this preface he calls himself "_Pastor Anwetensis_," the old spelling of Anwoth being _Anweth_. His correspondents were chiefly persons residing either in Galloway, where Anwoth was, or in Ayrshire; for these two counties at that time were rich in godly men of some standing. His pen suggests often, by a few strokes, very much that is profound and impressive. There is something not easily forgotten in the words used to express the Church's indestructibleness when he says, "The bush has been burning these five thousand years, and _no man yet saw the ashes of that fire_" (Letter cccxvii.). How much truth is conveyed in that saying, "Losses for Christ are but goods given out in bank in Christ's hand." There is an ingenious use of Scripture that often delights the reader; as when he speaks of "The corn on the house-tops that never got the husbandman's prayer," or of "Him that counteth the basons and knives of His house (Ezra i. 9, 10), and bringeth them back safe to His second temple" (Letter cccxxxiii.). It is a curious fact that only in Letter cccxxv., does he speak of the Holy Spirit, though elsewhere (see "Life of Grace") very full are his statements of the Spirit's work. The truth is, a man full of the Holy Ghost is full of Christ and testifies to Him. These letters will ever be precious to--