52 Transactions. 



great resurrection, and those kindred spirits who had gone 

 before to the mansions above. There, seated on the green 

 graves, or the grey tombstones, with the dust of generations 

 beneath them, it required but little imagination to consider 

 both dead and living listening to the Word of Life, or stand- 

 ing for judgment before the great white throne. The old 

 trees around, venerable with age, like the Cedars of Lebanon, 

 and the blue vault of heaven far above, gave additional impres- 

 siveness to the scene, and imparted a charm to the occasion 

 which wrought a beneficial influence upon the hearer's heart. 

 Besides, suitable topics were often suggested for discourse to 

 those who addressed the assembly present. Some of the 

 ministers were very felicitous in adapting their addresses to 

 the peculiar circumstances in which they were placed, which 

 always produced a solemnizing effect. The following is told 

 by James Hislop, though not quite in his own words : — 



On one of these occasions the Ordinance was just about 

 to be dispensed in the churchyard of Sanquhai', which is 

 picturesquely situated in the shade of aged trees, and sur- 

 rounded with high hills. The long tables, covered with 

 snow-white cloths, were filled with devout worshippers, while 

 hundreds were seated around, waiting till they could be ad- 

 mitted in turn. The action sermon and other devotional 

 exercises were over, and the minister at the head of the 

 tables had read the latter portion of the 116th psalm, usual 

 at such times, when an awful peal of thunder burst over their 

 heads, echoing and re-echoing among the hills. All were 

 struck with the profoundcst awe, and held their breath till 

 the sound had died away. It seemed as if the Almighty was 

 giving an audible approval of the religious ordinance in 

 which they were engaged. When all were hushed in death- 

 like stillness, the minister addressed them in the following 

 terms : — " My friends, how dreadful is this place ! This is 

 none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of 

 heaven. He, before whom we must appear in judgment, 

 from His pavilion of dark waters, and thick clouds of the 

 skies, in a voice of thunder, is now addressing us, who are 



