THE SABBATH DAY. 135 



professors of Edinburgh attached to the 

 geological opinions of the late Dr. Hutton, 

 a discussion took place upon the phenomena 

 presented by the rocks under our feet, and 

 to exemplify a principle, Professor Playfair 

 broke some stones, in which I assisted the 

 venerable and amiable philosopher. We 

 had hardly examined the fragments, when a 

 man from a crowd, who had been assisting 

 at a field preaching, came up to us and 

 warned us off, saying, " Ye think ye are 

 only stane breakers ; but I ken ye are Sab- 

 bath breakers, and ye deserve to be staned 

 with your ain stanes!" 



HAL. Zeal of every kind is sometimes 

 troublesome, yet I generally suspect the per- 

 sons who are very tolerant of scepticism. 

 Those who firmly believe that a particular 

 plan of conduct is essential to the eternal 

 welfare of man, may be pardoned if they 

 show even anger, if this conduct is not pur- 

 sued. The severe observance of the Sab- 

 bath is connected with the vital creed of 

 these rigid presbyterians ; it is not therefore 

 extraordinary that they should enforce it 



