The salutations will take about a year or so; Rufus, chosen in the Lord, will need careful treatment; and then I thought, if I were spared, of giving another year to a brief review of the leading points of doctrine; eh ?" Carmichael indicated that the family at Mains would almost expect something of the sort, and inquired whether there might not be a few passages requiring separate treatment at fuller length than was possible in this hurried commentary.
"Quite so, John, quite so; no one is more bitterly conscious of the defects of this exposition than myself--meagre and superficial to a degree, both in the patristic references and the experimental application; but we are frail creatures, John, and it is doubtful whether the exposition of any book should extend unto a generation.

It has always caused me regret that Mains--I mean the father of the present tenant--departed before we had come to the comfort of the eighth chapter." The Rabbi's mind was much affected by this thought, and twice in the kitchen his eye wandered to the chair where his friend had sat, with his wife beside him.

From Priscilla and Aquila he was led into the question of hospitality, on which he spoke afterwards till they came to the Manse, where he stationed Carmichael on the doorstep till he secured a light.
"There is a parcel of books on the floor, partially opened, and the way of passing is narrow and somewhat dangerous in the darkness.".