holywillie'sprayer “andsendthegodlyinapettopray.”—pope. argument. holywilliewasaratheroldishbachelorelder,intheparishofmauchline,andmuchandjustlyfamedforthatpolemicalchattering,whichendsintipplingorthodoxy,andforthatspiritualizedbawdrywhichrefinestoliquorishdevotion.inasessionalprocesswithagentlemaninmauchline—amr.gavinhamion—holywillieandhispriest,fatherauld,afterfullhearinginthepresbyteryofayr,cameoffbutsecondbestowingpartlytotheoratoricalpowersofmr.robertaiken,mr.hamion'scounselbutchieflytomr.hamion'sbeingoneofthemostirreproachableandtrulyrespectablecharactersinthecounty.onlosingtheprocess,themuseoverheardhim[holywillie]athisdevotions,asfollows:— othou,whointheheavensdoesdwell, who,asitpleasesbestthysel', sendsanetoheavenan'tentohell, a'forthyglory, andnoforonygudeorill they'vedoneaforethee! iblessandpraisethymatchlessmight, whenthousandsthouhastleftinnight, thatiamhereaforethysight, forgiftsan'grace aburningandashininglight toa'thisplace. whatwasi,ormygeneration, thatishouldgetsicexaation, iwhadeservemostjustdamnation forbrokenlaws, fivethousandyearseremycreation, thro'adam'scause? whenfraemymither'swombifell, thoumighthaeplungedmeinhell, tognashmygums,toweepandwail, inburninlakes, wheredamneddevilsroarandyell, chain'dtotheirstakes. yetiamhereachosensample, toshowthygraceisgreatandample i'mhereapillaro'thytemple, strongasarock, aguide,abuckler,andexample, toa'thyflock. olord,thoukenswhatzealibear, whendrinkersdrink,an'swearersswear, an'singinthere,an'dancinhere, wi'greatandsma' foriamkeepitbythyfear freefraethema'. butyet,olord!confessimust, attimesi'mfash'dwi'fleshlylust: an'sometimes,too,inwardlytrust, vileselfgetsin: butthourememberswearedust, defil'dwi'sin. olord!yestreen,thoukens,wi'meg— thypardonisincerelybeg, o!may'tne'erbealivinplague tomydishonour, an'i'llne'erliftalawlessleg againuponher. besides,ifarthermaunallow, wi'leezie'slass,threetimesitrow— butlord,thatfridayiwasfou, whenicamnearher orelse,thoukens,thyservanttrue wadneversteerher. maybethouletsthisfleshlythorn buffetthyservante'enandmorn, lestheowreproudandhighshou'dturn, thathe'ssaegifted: ifsae,thyhan'maune'enbeborne, untihouliftit. lord,blessthychoseninthisplace, forherethouhastachosenrace: butgodconfoundtheirstubbornface, an'blasttheirname, whabringthyelderstodisgrace an'publicshame. lord,mindgaw'nhamion'sdeserts hedrinks,an'swears,an'playsatcartes, yethassaemonytakinarts, wi'greatandsma', fraegod'sainpriestthepeople'shearts hestealsawa. an'whenwechasten'dhimtherefor, thoukenshowhebredsicasplore, an'setthewarldinaroar o'laughingatus— cursethouhisbasketandhisstore, kailan'potatoes. lord,hearmyearnestcryandpray'r, againstthatpresbyt'ryo'ayr thystrongrighthand,lord,makeitbare upo'theirheads lordvisitthem,an'dinnaspare, fortheirmisdeeds. olord,mygod!thatglib-tongu'daiken, myveraheartandflesharequakin, tothinkhowwestoodsweatin',shakin, an'p-'dwi'dread, whilehe,wi'hinginlipan'snakin, helduphishead. lord,inthydayo'vengeancetryhim, lord,visitthemwhadidemployhim, andpassnotinthymercyby'em, norheartheirpray'r, butforthypeople'ssake,destroy'em, an'dinnaspare. but,lord,remembermean'mine wi'merciestemp'ralan'divine, thatiforgracean'gearmayshine, excell'dbynane, anda'thegloryshallbethine, amen,amen!