The Lord Himsel' in former days Waled out the proper tunes for praise An' named the proper kind o' claes For folk to preach in:
Preceese and in the chief o' ways Important teachin'.
He ordered a' things late and air';
He ordered folk to stand at prayer, (Although I cannae just mind where He gave the warnin',)
An' pit pomatum on their hair On Sabbath mornin'.
The hale o' life by His commands Was ordered to a body's hands;
But see! this CORPUS JURIS stands By a' forgotten;
An' God's religion in a' lands Is deid an' rotten.
While thus the lave o' mankind's lost, O' Scotland still God maks His boast -
Puir Scotland, on whase barren coast A score or twa Auld wives wi' mutches an' a hoast Still keep His law.
In Scotland, a wheen canty, plain, Douce, kintry-leevin' folk retain The Truth - or did so aince - alane Of a' men leevin';
An' noo just twa o' them remain -
Just Begg an' Niven.
For noo, unfaithfu', to the Lord Auld Scotland joins the rebel horde;
Her human hymn-books on the board She noo displays:
An' Embro Hie Kirk's been restored In popish ways.
O PUNCTUM TEMPORIS for action To a' o' the reformin' faction, If yet, by ony act or paction, Thocht, word, or sermon, This dark an' damnable transaction Micht yet determine!
For see - as Doctor Begg explains -
Hoo easy 't's dune! a pickle weans, Wha in the Hie Street gaither stanes By his instruction, The uncovenantit, pentit panes Ding to destruction.
Up, Niven, or ower late - an' dash Laigh in the glaur that carnal hash;
Let spires and pews wi' gran' stramash Thegether fa';
The rumlin' kist o' whustles smash In pieces sma'.
Noo choose ye out a walie hammer;
About the knottit buttress clam'er;
Alang the steep roof stoyt an' stammer, A gate mis-chancy;
On the aul' spire, the bells' hie cha'mer, Dance your bit dancie.
Ding, devel, dunt, destroy, an' ruin, Wi' carnal stanes the square bestrewin', Till your loud chaps frae Kyle to Fruin, Frae Hell to Heeven, Tell the guid wark that baith are doin' -
Baith Begg an' Niven.