Holy Willie's Prayer Quotations

Question 1

God is ruthless, as he

Answer 1

Sends ane to Heaven an’ ten to hell,

A’ for Thy glory, (1)

Question 2

Willie praises himself by saying

Answer 2

A burning and a shining light

To a’ this place. (1)

Question 3

Willie claims that the sin he was born with is

Answer 3

Thro’ Adam’s cause! (1)

Question 4

Willie has the terrible trait of being

Answer 4

fash’d wi’ fleshly lust (2)

Question 5

Willie slept with one person multiple times: he admits this, saying

Answer 5

three times I trow - (2)

Question 6

Willie only committed adultery because

Answer 6

that Friday I was fou, (2)

Question 7

God is the cause of Willie’s sin, as

Answer 7

Maybe Thou lets this fleshly thorn

Buffet Thy servant e’en and morn, (2)

Question 8

Willie orders God to punish those people that wronged him, by saying

Answer 8

But God confound their stubborn face,

An’ blast their name, (3)

Question 9

Willie orders God to punish Gavin Hamilton especially, by saying

Answer 9

Curse Thou his basket and his store

Kail an potatoes (3)

Question 10

Willie reiterates what God must do to wrongdoers by saying

Answer 10

But for Thy people’s sake, destroy ‘em,

‘An dinna spare (3)

Question 11

The final stanza of the poem is

Answer 11

But, Lord, remember me an' mine
Wi' mercies temp'ral an' divine,
That I for grace an' gear may shine,
Excell'd by nane,
And a' the glory shall be thine,
Amen, amen! (3)