shelter of his roof; how he Utened him to the rod of Moses which turned to a serpent in the hand, and declared that Divine venf^eanee could he averted only by
- timely repentance/* If he should testify contrition
Lang would again meet him as a friend. It seems that the hardened Wemyss exliihited the letter as a ]>roof of Lang's ingi'atitude. In the same pamphlet is included a letter to Mr. Busby (who having been a member of the Scots' Church Committee in 18*24, was repelled by Lang's conduct). Lan{j( wrote to Busl>y : *' Several of my former supporters have douhtless fallen away from me and deserted my ministry. So it fared, however, with the Saviour of the world and with his twelve apostles ; and 1 feel content to receive the same treatment as my Master." These occurrences for a time rendered Lan^*s name a sjmonym for untr list worthiness. It was not until he plunged into politics, in 1843, that he acquired any general following. As he occupied a prominent position at all times it is right that he should he introduced in his true colours and judged by his own words and acts. His importance may deserve a personal description. Tall and lean in youth, he became iKHtly in advanced life. His aspect was keen, his nose aquiline, his voice harsh, his action ungainly, his accent broad, his language coarse. Unctuous as a petitioner, he was insolent when backed by numbers. An opponent once, amid a shuddermg consciousness of the Ukeness in some respects, read, with hypothetical applica- tion to Lang, Macaulay's description of Ferguson the plotter, in the reign of Charles II. :
- He bad }>eeTn bred a Presbyloriaii ; but the Presbyterians bad Mast
him oulj and ht bad become an Indeptindeiit .... Tkougk texts of Scripture were always on his Ups^ tboae who had pecmiiary transactions with him aooii found him to be a mere swiiidlor. At length he turned bis attention abuost entirely from theology to tlie worst piirt of poUtiea. . . . Violent, maliguantj regardless of truth, insensible to slmuie, insatiable of notoriety, delighting in intrigne, in tumult, iu mischief for its own sake, be toiled during many years. . . . Nor was it easy for bini to escape notice ; for his broail Scotch ftccent, his tall and lean iigure, bis lantern jaws, the gle^im of his sharp eyes . . , . bis gait tliatinguished by a peculiar form of shullie, made him remarkable wherever lie appeared." Lang, however (unlike FerguBon), did not skulk m hiding- places. His boldness was ever ready to distort or to defend openly whatever his cuneing devised.
