The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-02-10
Moral and Religions.
beauty ofthe scottish sabbath

cody, like London,-a city without Sabbath they
used when they Ind an opportunity, 10 ait down and
talk Of the fair land and the lovely temple from winch
they had been wrenchGd away. "By the rivers Of
Babylon, there sat down. yen, wept when we
remembered Zion" Denr fellow counrymen most
you arc far like the Israelites, that you
Der with tenderness tho land Of your BIRTH aud cun-
bear that others should speak Of Il diSparngngly
You like to be reminded Of the scenery Of Scotland,
the verdure of s slrnlhs and glens, and The
polished fulness Of its deep blue lakes, its waing
winter torrents, and tho snow laden mountains which
feed them. And >ou love it's ancient mns:relsy, the
gathering songs, in whose high pulse the hero hearts
OF the oIden time still hroh, aud whose pathetic dir
Res which were natures own anthems, Mere chnnted
by moorand winds and lonely waterfall, long before
man sci them 10 his music. But there are glorious
things of Scotland which have still to
remember; you have not forgotten the schools and
snnctuuries, n nd sabbath days. which Scot
lands own; and perhaps, You will not refuse to lis
ten few moments, whilst would call them TO =
membrance Let us here, in the busy tumultuous
Babylon, sit down for little and remember our Zion.
You remember the Sabbath days Of Scoliand.-
You remember how the Sabbath wont weekly
to set every house in order throughout the land
You remember the Saturday evenings preparation
for the Subbaths the early cessation Of labor
in the fields and factories, the timely marketing, the
lustraon Of ench apartment the arranging Of house
hold furniture, the fetching home of water from the
we'll and the storing Of ftggots for the fuel the busy
exerons Of young and old To anticipate and super
sede all Sabbath toll, which resulted in imparting be-
rorehAnd look Of Snbhatc and tranquility TO
the well-ordsred habinlion. You remember TOO, the
friendly visits which neghhoring families wont
10 exchange that evening, 10th to invade the sancy
Of one another's house u the Lords own day; but
glad to take advantage Of this breathing tim c,
IN ent those friendships which they meant to he here
ditary. You rememher the Sabbath dawn, with its
morning orzons and the prompt preparations for the
house Of God. You remember the fresh and whole
some aspect of The mastering populations, as they
wendell slowly through the church yard; the spectn-
ced maron with her bulky Bible wrapped in its
snowy handkerchief, and provided with fragrant
sprg oC some favorite herb: the cOir in the home
spun suit, which the Sabbath storms OF many winters
had washed but had not ta,tered; and the nr,izAn
with his children, whose countenances forgot their
weekday toll, as they put off their week day gar
ments If it wore parish over which man Of Cod
presided, you remember the Of their wor-
ship and the soemniy Of their herring; whilst one
who understood the Of each, spoke home TO the
hearts OF all, and their common confessions, and
thanS@givngs, and surplicntions, uttered by
voice, were echoed by hundred hearts. You re-
member the heart music which you sometimes heard
at the uprising of the great congregation, when the
burly voice of manhood and the quvering notes Of
palsy stricken age, "youns men and mnidens. old
men and children, praising God, told that he had
made their hearts right glad You remember the
Sabbath eve, when the chIdrens tasks were over,
and the sermons had been repeated; and with the
Bible or the Pilgrims Progress, the Four-FoJ
State, each hied away to the barn or FIR plantation
OF the thousand eotnge oratories, which God
knows full well in that land Of many worshppers till
the downward sun reminded them to close those SOL
ary studies, and gather round the house hold hearth
more.
o Scotland! much love thy tranquil daes;
But most on Sabbath eve, when low the sun
Slans through the upland crpSe, tits my delight
Wandering and stopping Oft to hear the song
or kindred prnise arise from humble roofs;
Or, when the simple service ends, TO hear
The lifted latch, and mark the grey haired man
The fhher md The priest walk forth alone,
Into his garden plot, little field,
To commune with his God in secret prayer.
We could recall scenes sacred still the sol
emnities of communion seasons,-the hao,ved incl
dents Of domestic life, and the dying testimonies
and exhortations 10 weIassured believers The men,
ory Of many reader recall the whole, for it is
so long ago since the beauty of holiness adorned
many regions of that land; the relic Of better days
the result of religious revival in these latter times
But there is need. 1t il generally conceded, that
Scotland was once religious coun,ry-more So per-
haps, than any nation in Chrsendom; is generally
conceded, that in its better days, Scotland owed to
It's church whatever family personal religion pos
sessed. But such subject, it is safest to hear n
stranger. therefore quote the words of one who
plid long visit to that kingdom upwards of IA centu-
ry ago, and whose verdict is decisive. nasmuch
as he neither a Scotchman a Presbyterian -
''When view the soundness and purity Of her
DocTRINE-the src,ness and severity Of The pI sc l.
PLINE-the decency aud order Of her Worship
the gravity and majesty of her GovERNMENr:-
when we see the modesy, humility, and yet steadi-
Of her assemblies; the learning. diligence and
painfuness Of hei ministers, the awful solennity of
her administrations; the obedience, Seriousness and
frequency Of her people in hearing, and universally
an air of sobrie,y and gravity the whole nation;