Scott\'sboyhoodwasspentinscenesthatremindedhimofthepowertheScripturehad。
Hewasdrilledfromhischildhoodintheknowledgeofitswordsandphrases，andwhilehiswritingasawholeshowsmoreoftheOldTestamentinfluencethanoftheNew，eveninhisstyleheisstronglyunderBibleinfluence。
[1]Morley，LifeofGladstone，vol。iii，p。424。
TheprefacetoGuyManneringtellsusitisbuiltaroundanoldstoryofafatherputtingaladtotestunderguidanceofanancientastrologer，shuttinghimupinabarrenroomtobetemptedbytheEvilOne，leavinghimonlyonesafeguard，aBible，lyingonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom。InhisintroductiontoTheHeartofMidlothian，Scottmakesoneofthetwomenthrownintothewaterbytheoverturnedcoachremindtheotherthatthey\"cannotcomplain，likeCowley，thatGideon\'sfleeceremainsdrywhileallaroundismoist；thisisthereverseofthemiracle。\"AlittlelateraspeakerdescribesnovelsastheDelilahsthatseducewiseandgoodmenfrommoreseriousreading。InthedramaticscenewhenJeanieDeansfacesthewretchedGeorgeStaunton，whohassoshamedthehousehold，sheexclaims:
\"Osir，didtheScripturenevercomeintoyourmind，\'Vengeanceismine，andIwillrepayit?\'\"\"Scripture!\"hesneers，\"whyIhadnotopenedaBibleforfiveyears。\"\"Wae\'sme，sir，\"saidJeanie——\"andaminister\'sson，too!\"