(August 15, 1771–September 21, 1832), was a Scottish novelist and poet. His works include: The Lay of the Last Minstrel, 1805; Lady of the Lake, 1810; Ivanhoe, 1819; and The Talisman, 1825.
In chapter XII of The Monastery, 1920, Sir Walter Scott wrote:
Oh, on that day, that wrathful day,
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be Thou, O Christ, the sinner’s stay
Though heaven and earth shall pass away.
Within this awful Volume lies
The mystery of mysteries.
Happiest they, of human race,
To whom our God has granted grace
To read, to fear, to hope, to pray,
To lift the latch, and force the way;
And better had they ne’er been born
Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.1667
In commenting on the Scriptures, Sir Walter Scott expounded:
The most learned, acute, and diligent student cannot, in the longest life, obtain an entire knowledge of this one Volume. The most deeply he works the mine, the richer and more abundant he finds the ore; new light continually beams from this source of heavenly knowledge to direct the conduct, and illustrate the work of God and the ways of men; and he will at last leave the world confessing that the more he studied the Scriptures the fuller conviction he had of his own ignorance, and of their inestimable value.1668
During his final illness he expressed a desire that someone should read to him. When asked what book, he replied:
Need you ask? There is but one!—St. John’s Gospel.1669
Montgomery, James (November 4, 1771–April 30, 1854), was a well-known Scottish newspaperman and poet. He edited the Sheffield Iris, and wrote many hymns, including What Is Prayer?, in which he penned:
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.1670