The sermons were appeals to the emotions.

The songs were the outpourings of the soul in ecstacy.

There was no fanaticism of the death-dealing, proscriptive sort; nor any conscious cant; simplicity, childlike belief in future rewards and punishments, the orthodox Gospel the universal rule.

There was a good deal of doughty controversy between the churches, as between the parties; but love of the Union and the Lord was the bedrock of every confession.
Inevitably an impressionable and imaginative mind opening to such sights and sounds as it emerged from infancy must have been deeply affected.
Until I was twelve years old the enchantment of religion had complete possession of my understanding.

With the loudest, I could sing all the hymns.