The Supreme Being is
just thanked in so many words, while the thoughts are often rambling to
other subjects. The Quaker-grace, on the other hand, whenever it is
uttered; does not come out in any mechanical form of words which men
have used before, but in expressions adapted to the feelings. It comes
forth also warm from the heart. It comes after a solemn, silent, pause,
and it becomes therefore, under all these circumstances, an act of real
solemnity and genuine devotion.
It is astonishing how little even men of acknowledged piety seem to have
their minds fixed upon the ideas contained in the mechanical graces they
repeat. I was one afternoon at a friends house, where there happened to
be a clergyman of the Scottish church. He was a man deservedly esteemed
for his piety. The company was large. Politics had been discussed some
time, when the tea-things were introduced. While the bread and butter
were bringing in, the clergyman, who had taken an active part in the
discussion, put a question to a gentleman, who was sitting in a corner
of the room. The gentleman began to reply, and was proceeding in his
answer, when of a sudden I heard a solemn voice. Being surprised, I
looked round, and found it was the clergyman, who had suddenly started
up, and was saying grace.
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