epistle to john goldie, in kilmarnock

author of the gospel recovered.—august, 1785

o gowdie, terror o' the whigs,

dread o' blackcoats and rev'rend wigs!

sour bigotry, on her last legs,

girns an' looks back,

wishing the ten egyptian plagues

may seize you quick.

poor gapin', glowrin' superstition!

wae's me, she's in a sad condition:

fye: bring black jock, her state physician,

to see her water;

alas, there's ground for great suspicion

she'll ne'er get better.

enthusiasm's past redemption,

gane in a gallopin' consumption:

not a' her quacks, wi' a' their gumption,

can ever mend her;

her feeble pulse gies strong presumption,

she'll soon surrender.

auld orthodoxy lang did grapple,

for every hole to get a stapple;

but now she fetches at the thrapple,

an' fights for breath;

haste, gie her name up in the chapel,

near unto death.

it's you an' taylor are the chief

to blame for a' this black mischief;