The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

OLD MORTALITY. 397
all the stern and gloomy composure of his ordinary manner, and throwing
himself on his knees, before speaking to Morton, poured forth an ejaculatory prayer for the suffering Church of Scotland, entreating that the blood
of her murdered saints and martyrs might be precious in the sight of
Heaven, and that the shield of the Almighty might be spread over the scattered remnant, who, for His name's sake, were abiders in tlhe wilderness.
Vengeance-speedy and ample vengeance on the oppressors-was the concluding petition of his devotions, which he expressed aloud in strong and emphatic language, rendered more impressive by the Orientalism of Scripture.
When he had finished his prayer he arose, and taking Morton by the
arm, they descended together to the stable, where the Wanderer (to give
Burley a title which was often conferred on his sect) began to make his
horse ready to pursue his journey. When the animal was saddled and
bridled, Burley requested Morton to walk with him a gun-shot into the
wood, and direct him to the right road for gaining the moors. Morton
readily complied, and they walked for some time in silence under the shade
of some fine old trees, pursuing a sort of natural path, which, after passing
through woodlands for about half a mile, led into the bare and wild country
which extends to the foot of the hills.
There was little conversation between them, until at length Burley suddenly asked Morton, "Whether the words he had spoken over-night had
borne fruit in his mind?"
Morton answered, " That he remained of the same opinion which he had
formerly held, and was determined, at least as far and as long as possible,
to unite the duties of a good Christian with those of a peaceful subject."
"In other words," replied Burley, "' you are desirous to serve both God
and Mammon —to be one dsiy professing the truth with your lips, and the
next day in arms, at the command of carnal and tyrannic authority, to
shed the blood of those who for the truth have forsaken all things! Think
ye," he continued, "to touch pitch and remain undefiled? to mix in the
ranks of malignants, papists, papa-prelatists, latitudinarians, and scoffers;
to partake of their sports, which are like the meat offered unto idols; to
hold intercourse, perchance, with their daughters, as the sons of God with
the daughters of men in the world before the flood? - think you, I say, to
do all these things, and yet remain free from pollution? I say unto you,
that all communication with the enemies of the Church is the accursed
thing which God hateth! Touch not - taste not - handle not! And grieve
not, young man, as if you alone were called upon to subdue your carnal
affections, and renounce the pleasures which are a snare to your feet -I
say to you, that the Son of David hath denounced no better lot on the
whole generation of mankind."
He then mounted his horse, and turning to Morton, repeated the text of
Scripture, "An heavy yoke was ordained for the sons of Adam from the
day they go- out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the
Mlother of all things; from him who is clothed in blue silk and weareth a
crown, even to him who weareth simple linen, -wrath, envy, trouble, and
unquietness, rigour, strife, and fear of death in the time of rest."
Having uttered these words, he set his horse in motion, and soon disappeared among the boughs of the forest.
" Farewell, stern enthusiast!" said Morton, looking after him. " In some
moods of my mind, how dangerous would be the society of such a companion! If I am unmoved by his zeal for abstract doctrines of faith, or
rather by a peculiar mode of worship" (such was the purport of his reflections), "can I be a man, and a Scotchman, and look with indifference on
that persecution which has made wise men mad? Was not the cause of
freedom, civil and religious, that for which my father fought? and shall I
do well to remain inactive, or to take the part of an oppressive government,
if there should appear any rational prospect of redressing the insufferable
2 I