o convert a nation one had first to
convert the king. The goal towards which St. Columba set his face was
the castle of King Brude at Inverness. Iona was but the base for the
great campaign that was to make North Britain safe for Christians. If
to-day the problem be how to make the world safe for democracy (though
the problem is really greater--how to produce a democracy worth the
sacrifice of making the world safe for it), in the sixth century the
problem was how to make Scotland safe for Christ.

III

The greatest story in our history is that which tells how Columba made
his venture of faith and conquered. He never lacked courage this man.
'Do you think, Columba, shall I be saved?' asked the King of Ireland.
'Certainly not,' answered Columba, 'unless you break off from your
sins, repent, and be converted.' The courage wherewith he faced his
kinsfolk, with that same courage he now faced his enemy. We can see
his galley sailing up Loch Linnhe with the Cross at the masthead, and
the face of the leader set like a flint. He would go to the stronghold
of paganism. Up the great glen the little band trudged with death
lurking behind every bush, but there was never a thought of faltering.
In vain did King Brude bar his gates against him. No walls can shut
out the Spirit, no gates of iron can debar the Word living and
powerful. Outside the gates Columba and his band begin to chant a
Psalm--'We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us,
what work Thou didst in their days ... how Thou didst drive out the
heathen with Thy hand....' And as that voice of his rolled like
thunder the King and the people 'were affrighted with fear
intolerable.' The gates were flung open and King Brude surrendered to
the ambassador of Christ. The wild race, whom the legions of Rome
could not subdue, were conquered by an unarmed man. What a light must
have been in that man's eye: what a fire in his heart! From that day
Scotland was safe for the followers of Christ, and the little band of
Christians in Kintyre could now sleep peacefully at night, for King
Brude was learning the law of love and the way of peace. From that day
the good seed was sown broadcast over all the land. That dauntless
messenger traversed sombre, uncharted gulfs, trod his way along
rock-strewn sounds, and the darkness of the centuries faded before the
Cross that gleamed at the masthead. The Picts became Christians, and
in due course united with t