Robert Burns: How to Know Him

“While I write, the youth come fresh in my way. Dear young people, choose God for your portion; love his truth, and be not ashamed of it; choose for your company such as serve him in uprightness; and shun as most dangerous the conversation of those whose lives are of an ill savor; for by frequenting such company some hopeful young people have come to great loss, and been drawn from less evils to greater, to their utter ruin. In the bloom of youth no ornament is so lovely as that of virtue, nor any enjoyments equal to those which we partake of in fully resigning ourselves to the Divine will. These enjoyments add sweetness to all other comforts, and give true satisfaction in company and conversation, where people are mutually acquainted with it; and as your minds are thus seasoned with the truth, you will find strength to abide steadfast to the testimony of it, and be prepared for services in the church.””

— William Allan Neilson

“Anthony Benezet,””

— William Allan Neilson

“If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest not.””

— William Allan Neilson

“Whatsoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.””

— William Allan Neilson

“to take upon us by inoculation when in health a disorder of which some die, requires great clearness of knowledge that it is our duty to do so.””

— William Allan Neilson

“This disease being in a house, and my business calling me to go near it, incites me to consider whether this is a real indispensable duty; whether it is not in conformity to some custom which would be better laid aside, or, whether it does not proceed from too eager a pursuit after some outward treasure. If the business before me springs not from a clear understanding and a regard to that use of things which perfect wisdom approves, to be brought to a sense of it and stopped in my pursuit is a kindness, for when I proceed to business without some evidence of duty, I have found by experience that it tends to weakness.””

— William Allan Neilson

“In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves””

— William Allan Neilson

“The others all followed, dispirited and shamefaced, and only much later were they able to regain their former affectation of indifference.””

— William Allan Neilson

“sent a pack of hounds and huntsmen on ahead to find the quarry, mounted his chestnut Donets, and whistling to his own leash of borzois,””

— William Allan Neilson