Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/22

 22 Nor would I quarrel with a man for his irreligion, any more than I would for his want of a musical ear. I would regret that lie was shut out from what, to me and to others, were such superlative sources of enjoyment. It is in this point of view, and for this reason, that I will deeply imbue the mind of every child of mine with religion. If my son should happen to be a man of feeling, senti- ment, and taste, I shall thus add largely to his en- joyments. Let me flatter myself that this sweet little fellow who is just now running about my desk, will be a man of a melting, ardent, glowing heart; and an imagination, delighted with the painter, and rapt with the poet. Let me figure him, wandering out in a sweet evening, to inhale the balmy gales, and enjoy the growing luxuriance of the spring; himself the while in the blooming youth of life. He looks abroad on all nature, and through nature up to nature's God. His soul, by swift, delighted degrees, is rapt above this sublunary sphere, until he can be silent no longer, and bursts out into the glorious enthusiasm of Thomson, ' These, as they change, Almighty Father, these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of thee;" and so on, in all the spirit and ardour of that charming hymn. These are no ideal pleasures ; they are real delights; and I ask what of the de lights among the sons of men are superior, not to vast addition, that conscious virtue stamps them for her own and lays hold on them to bring herself into the presence of a witnessing, judging, and approving God.” Alluding one day to his expected dissolution, he said, he was well aware that his death