family worship again (twice on week days, three times on Sabbath); a few words about the sermon, and prayer for a blessing on the preached Word; then Sabbath school. It was the first Sabbath school in the south of Scotland, and well attended; all the churches in the village sent their quota; its superintendent was Rev. Mr. Crawford of the Relief Church; Brother Robert was his assistant, and took his place when he was absent; both were good. We met in a stone cottage built from the ruins of the Rhymer’s Tower. We had none of the modern improvements,—no library, no Sunday school hymns or picture papers; but we had the Bible, the Shorter Catechism, and Rouse’s version of the Psalms; also earnest teaching of the Word, heart to heart work, hearty singing of the grand old Psalms, and fervent prayer for the Divine blessing; afternoon church, when old and young went again, then home to supper, when the younger children gave the texts and the older ones portions of the sermons, while father and mother made the practical application.
“In the early evening of the Sabbath, while father was reading some of his Puritan or early Scottish divines, mother took her seat with the children around her, and gave us the lesson on the Shorter Catechism. As soon as we could talk, the first answer was recited by the youngest child, and all came in as far as they could go; those over six were expected to go clear through; mother would ask the questions and give the answers without book, while she explained the more difficult ones and applied them to the duties of daily life. I can still remember Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, as explained by her, the difference between an act and a work, the several points in Effectual Calling, God’s side and our side in the matter (so often a stumbling-block to the carnal mind, and such a comfort to the mature Christian) of Election. Family worship closed the blessed day. When I hear of the weariness in some families now, I wonder,—and bless God for such parents.”
