AT the beginning of a fourth volume we desire to express a note of thankfulness. It is now three years since this Magazine was started, and many were the fears and anxieties as to its success. It is, therefore, matter of gratitude to the Most High that it has been carried on until now in a manner that we think justifies its existence in our midst. We disclaim all credit on this account, and desire to be deeply humbled before God for His goodness and mercy.
The Magazine was established for the purpose of maintaining and defending the sound principles of the Church of Scotland, and it is this purpose we have endeavoured to the best of our ability to carry out in its pages. These principles, we believe, embody the great doctrines of the Word of God which constitute the stable bulwarks of the Church in all ages. They are such truths as living believers, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, feed upon for their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. The very life of the mystical body of Christ is bound up with them. A Church that does not believe in the infallibility of God’s Word, the divinity and atonement of Christ, man’s total depravity, salvation of free and sovereign grace, and pure Scriptural worship, is no real Church of Christ. Many professing Churches in our day are casting off these great fundamental doctrines, and it therefore becomes us to cleave all the faster to them, and proclaim them with our whole heart and whole soul. We have no reason to be ashamed of them. They are the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Besides the doctrines above-named, we feel specially called upon at the present time to emphasize the Scriptural importance of the truth that Christ is King of nations as well as King of the Church. Nations are under perpetual obligation to acknowledge Him as supreme Lord, and to be guided in their deliberations and enactments by a regard to His revealed will. The Bible provides directions for civil magistrates as well as for Church governors. The Parliament of this
country has fallen into a very corrupt condition, and is almost wholly guided by the will of the people whether that be good or bad. This does not alter our State’s obligations in the least degree, and it is the duty of the Church to labour and pray for that time when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. In this work the Church is bound to set before the State the Scriptural standard of its duty, and to bear witness against all departures from that standard. It is very sad to observe professing Churches combining together for no better end than the work of dissolving the tie between Church and State. They have already done so in their constitutions, and their strongest efforts are put forth to dissolve the tie in actual reality, a tie our noble Reforming forefathers were honoured to form under the manifested favour and blessing of the King eternal.
It has been our object in “Notes and Comments” to criticise favourably or unfavourably passing incidents of the day. We regret that these incidents are such as call, in most cases, for unfavourable comment. The times are labouring under many evils, which constantly break out in varied forms. We feel it our duty to point out and condemn these evils, and while cherishing no malice towards individual persons, yet to write fearlessly and faithfully in condemnation of lines of conduct and action that are contrary to the Word of God. There is so much spurious charity abroad that we feel it increasingly necessary to use “sharpness for edification.”
We would have preferred, had we been able, to provide more numerous original articles from writers in our own Church, but the lack in this direction is due to the many labours of our ministers, who have little time for literary work. It has been our effort to supply the deficiency by reprinting valuable sermons and letters of old divines, and also by inserting discourses, diaries, and other remains of worthy persons hitherto unpublished. We apologise to our Gaelic readers, who are in the vast majority, for the lack of current matter in their language, and hope something more may be done to meet this in the future.
In conclusion, we would ask for the prayers of all who fear the name of the Lord, for the maintenance and success of the Magazine. Our earnest desire is that it may be blessed by Him for the advance of His own cause in this kingdom. The age is departing more and more from the truth as it is in Jesus, and it would be good if the young, especially, were well grounded in the sound doctrines of the Word. We seek more than this; we seek that the truth should be blessed to the conversion of souls, and to the spiritual edification of believers. A dead, orthodox profession is a thing to be greatly dreaded. We are seeing many aged trees of righteousness being cut down by the hand of death amid our congregations. May the Lord in His infinite mercy raise up others in their place! He is “the same yesterday and to-day and forever” in His love and power, and
all who seek Zion’s spiritual prosperity would do well to wrestle at a throne of grace for displays of the Lord’s right hand in saving sinners from going down to the pit, and in making His own poor and drooping people to flourish in faith, and hope, and love, and all heavenly graces.
“O Lord, exalted be thy name
Above the heavens to stand:
Do thou thy glory far advance
Above both sea and land.”
Sayings of the Rev. John Newton.
Is beannaichte an duine sin aig am bheil a neart annad-sa, agus iadsan aig am bheil do sligean ‘n an cridhe. A dol troimh ghleann Baca ni’ iad sin tobar ann; lionadh mar an ceudna an t-uigse na linntean. Imichidh iad o neart gu neart; nochdear gach aon diubh an lathair Dhe ann an Sion.”—PSALM lxxxiv. 5, 6, 7.
THA leabhar nan salm lan de fhaireachdinean sluaigh Dhe. Anns an t-salm so tha mian an anam bheo an deigh meadainean nan gras air a chur ann an caint cho milis, druiteach as a ha ra fhaotainn anns an fhirinn. Tha farmad aig an t-Salmaidh is na h-eon a bha dluth do dh’ altair Dhe ann an Ierusalem. Tha e gle choltach gun do sheinn Daibhidh an salm so, agus an lara salm thar an da-fhichead aig an aon am. Is e beachd na uid as fallaine do luchd-minichidh na firinn gur ann an uair a eigin da teicheadh roimh Absolom a mhac a ghluais spiorad an Tighearna e gus an da shalm sin a sgriobhadh. Tha e na ni longantach gur ann ‘n am fogarach, agus bho gheurleanmhuinn a bha chuid bu mho do na daoine naomha a cleachd spiorad Dhe ann a bhi toirt focail Dhe do bhur nionnsuidhne. Chan e gearan Daibhidh anns an da shalm so, gun robh e air fhogradh bho a uchairt rioghail, agus bho ‘n a comfhartachdan a bha aige ann an Ierusalem, ach gun robh e air fhogradh bho thigh agus bho fluagh Dhe. “Na nithe so is cuimhne leam, agus tha mi dordadh a mach m’ anama leam fein; oir ghabh mi thairis leis a mhorchuideachd, chaidh mi leo gu tigh Dhe, le fuaim gairdeachais agus molaiddh, leis a chuideachd a bha ‘cumail la feille.” Feudaidh e bhith gun robh a chuid bu mho dhuibh so air dol dhachaidh do’n t-siorrudheachd, ach cha burrainn Daibhidh an di-chuineachadh fhad sa bha e anns an t-soaghal. Am bheil thu ‘n so agus t-intinn moran nas biothanta comhla ris a mhuiintir a chaidh dhachaidh, agus comhla ris an do chleachd thu bhi dol gu neodhainean nan gras anns na lathaibh a dh’ fhalbh, na tha i comhla ris a mhuiintir a tha beo. Tha thu ga ‘d fhaotinn fein mur ghealbhun beag air mullach tighe na aonar a feitheamh gu tealach air falbh an deigh chaich.
Tha ceithir puincean anns na briathraibh so a dhuinnsuidh am bu mhian leinn air n’aire, le suil ri comhnadh agus soillseachadh an spioraid naomha, a threorachadh air son beagan.
I.—Co e an duine beannaichte?
II.—Cait am bheil é aig an am so?
III.—Ciod a tha e deanamh?
IV.—Caite an criocnaich e a thurus?
peachaidh, agus le thoirt dha fuaim aoibhneach an t-soisgeil aithneachadh. An uair a tha e lag ann fein ‘s ann an sin a tha e laidir anns a ghras a tha ann an Iosa Chriosd.
I. Ainmichidh sin da ni a tha ann am brigh an fhocail so-Baca. An toiseach the e ciallachadh, gleann nan craobh smeur. Tha fhios agaibh fein de cho cronail agus a tha na drisean do na caoirich. Tha e na ni cumanta caora bhochd fhaicinn ann an dris, ach chan fhaca sinn gobhar riamh ann. Siomadh reubadh a gheibh a chaora bhochd bho na drisean. Bidh na buachailean a gearradh nan ‘drisean. Is ann mur sin bu choir do theachdairean Chriosd a bhi gearradh le focal Dhe na h-uile dris a dhaodadh, aon chuid ann an puincean creideamh, no cleachdadh, bhi calltach do’n eaglais. Tha an eaglais, no an t-anam grasmhor, air an samhlachadh ri lili am measg droighinn. Tha sluagh an t-saoghail, ach gu h’raidh luchdaidich gun gràs nan drisean a tha toirt iomadh reubadh dhoibh. “Agus thubhairt mi och nach robh agam sgiathan! Mar choluman theichinn air itaig agus gheibhinn fois. Feuch shiubhlainn fad as; chomhnuichinn anns an fhasach. Dheanainn deifir gu dol as o ghaoith laidir, agus o’n doininn. S grios a Thighearna agus roinn an teanga; oir chunnaic mi foirneart agus connsachadh ‘s a’ bhaile.”
- Tha ris brigh eile aig an fhocal “gleann Baca.” Tha e ciollachadh gleann nan deur. Tha da sheorsa broin anns t-saoghail so. Tha doilgheas an t-saoghail ag oibreachadh báis ann am moran. Tha am bron diadhaidh ag oibreachadh aithreachas chum slainte de nach gabhar aithreachas ann an ro bheagan ‘s a ghinelach through so. Tha iomadh aobhar broin aig an duine bheannaichte anns an t-saoghail so. Chi sinn anns a cheithir ficheadamh salm gum be staid iosal aobhair Chriosd aobhar broin luchd eagail Dhe.
‘Us rinn thu sinn mar aobhar stri
d’ ar coimhearnachaibh fein,
‘N ar n-aobhar spors’ ‘us abhacais
d’ ar n-eascairdibh gu leir.”
Tha cheart ni fior an duigh, gur e aobhair Chriosd bhi air a shaltairt bho chosaibh dhaoine, agus sluagh a briseadh reachd Dhe ann an ainm dhaoine agus mhnathan diadhaidh, tha na aobhar oilbheum do mhoran a chum an call siorruidh, agus a tha na aobhar broin domhain do’n duine air am bheil eagal Dhe. Feudaidh aobhar broin a bhi agad ann ad mhac no ann ad nighinn; agus feudaidh a cheart aobhar broin a bhi aig mac na aig nighean dhiadhaidh ann a bhi faicinn athair, no mathair air an t-slighe chum truaighe. Tha gealladh luachmhor a bhuneas do ‘n duine so, “Agus pillidh saordhaoine an Tighearna, agus thig iad gu Sion
III.—Ciod a tha e deanamh ann an gleann Baca?
Tha e deanamh tri nithean anns a ghléann so. An toiseach tha e deanamh tobar ann; ris tha e ag amharc suas air son uisge gu bhi lionadh an tobair; agus a ris tha e ag imeachd o neart gu neart.
i. Ciod a tha sinn gu bhi tuigsinn leis an tobar? Tha an Spiorad Naomh a toirt an fhreagraidh so, “An uair a bhitheas am bochd agus an t-aonnis ag iarruidh uisge, agus nach bi e ann; agus a bhios an teangadh air tiormachadh le tart; mise Jehovah freagram iad; Dia Israel, is mi nach treig iad. Fosglaidh mi aimhnichean anns na h-ionadaibh arda, agus tobraichean ann am meadhon nan ghléann.” An uair a thainig an t-am a runaich an Tighearna gum biodh tobraichean air am fosgladh anns na glinn anns an robh na Cinnich through a dol bas a dheusbhaidh uisge na beatha, dh’ fhosgail E tobraichean dhoibh le bhi cuir na firinn agus meadhainan an t-soisgeil d’ an ionnsuidh. Chuir E daoine mach anns na h-uile ginealach gu bhi deanamh obair mu thiomchuil n’an tobraichean so. Ann an linn na’n Abstol bha tobraichean air am fosgladh ann am iomadh gleann. Ri linn na ‘n aoisean dorcha cha mhor nach robh na tobraichean air an dunadh. Thainig tuil thairis air eaglaisean na h-Asia nach dh’fhag urad agus comharadh na deigh gu ‘n rohh a leithid as aobhair Chriosd riamh am measg an t-sluagh. Air tir mor na Roinn-Eorpa bha na tobraichean air an lionadh le trualliachd na Papanachd. An am an Athleasaichidh thog Dia suas daoine chum no tobraichean fosgladh a ris. Bha Luther agus Calvin air an togail suas air tir mor na Roinn-Eorpa, agus Iain Knox ann an Alba. Thoisich na daoine urramach sin ris na tobraichain a ghlanadh, leis na h-uile ni thug a phapanachd a steach do dh’aoradh Dhe nach robh a reir focail Dhe thilgeadh a mach. Thoisich troimhcheile anabharrach eadar na daoine diadhaidh sin, agus an dream a bhuiheadh do Eaglais na Roimh. Na ‘n statadh iad do cladach bhiodh sith ann, ach cha robh e ‘n comas dhaoine stad a chuir air an obair. Nuair a chunnaic na naimhdean so, thoisich iad air feuchainn ris an tobar, ann an Alba gu h-araidh, ghleidheadh bho bhi air a cladach gu ghrund. Dheuch iad ri riaghladh eusbigeach, mar a tha anns an Eaglais shasunnaich, a shuidheachadh, ach b’ fhearr le ar n-athraichean am bas fhulang ann an tuill na talmhuinn, no leis a claidheamh anns an achadh fosgailte, no anns an teine, no air a chroich na gun geileadh iad anns a ghlanadh so gus nach biodh ni ann ach na dh’ordaich Criosd agus na h-Abstoil. Cladhaich Iain Knox, Andrew Melville, Alaster Henderson an tobar ann an Alba gus an dth’rainig iad carraig na Firinn. Thilg iad a mach innleachdan an namhaid,
Rannsuich e an fhirinn a thuigsinn ciod an luchd-dreuchd a bu choir a bhi anns an eaglais bho ‘n Tiomnadh Nuadh agus dh’fhoghllum e gur ann le seanairean (Presbyters) a bha eaglais Chriosd air a riaghladh ri linn nan abstol. Chuir e an sin cul ri easbuigean, sagartan, agus na h-uile ni bhueinadh do’n ordugh riaghlaidh aig an eaglais phapanaich, agus shuidhich e eaglais Chriosd ann an Alba, a reir na firinn, na h-eaglais chleireil. (7) Theagaig e nach robh ann am purgadair eaglais na Roimh ach innleachd leis an Namhuid gu bhi mealladh anamaibh dhaoiné gu’n robh na h-uile creideach ann an Criosd ‘dol a dhiunnsaidh gloir shiorruidh aig a bhas, agus gu’n robh na h-uile a bhasaicheadh gun Chriosd agus gun mhathanas peacaidh troimh fhuil-sam a dol do dh’ ifrinn aig a bhas gu bhi caillte gu siorruidh. Ghuidh e air a cho-pheacaidh pilltinn ri Dia troimh Chriosd le creideamh agus aithreachas, agus gun iad a chur dochas sam bith anns am mhealladh eagalach sin. (8) Dhiult e an teagasg sgriosail a tha ann am moran de eaglaisean gus an la ‘n diugh, gum bheil na h-uile naoidean air athghionmhuin le e bhi air a bhaisteadh. Theagaig e ged a bha ‘m baisteadh a ciallachadh agus a seulachadh do na creidmhich uile shochairean cunanta nan grá, gur ann tre focal agus Spiorad Dhe a bha anam sam bith air athghionmhuinn agus air aonadh ri Criosd. Chuir e cul ris na h-uile ni a rinn an eaglais sin na shacramaid, ach an dithis a bha air an suidheachadh le Criosd anns an eaglais—am baisteadh agus suiphear an Tighearna. (9) Thog e ghuth mar thrompaid an aghaidh a chleachdaidh ghranail sin, nach feud sagart de ‘n eaglais phapanaich bean a phosadh, agus dhearbh e gum bheil iad eagalach graineil na ‘n caithe-beatha. Thilg e sios tighean nan duth-chailleach (Nunneries) mur aitean a bha air an tabhairt thairis do striopachas, mort naoideanan, agus nan ifrinn air thalamh, agus dh’aithn e, reir focal Dhe, gum biodh a bhean fein aig gach fear a chum striopachais a sheachnad. (10) Thilg e mach ionnalan-cuil a aoradh follaiseach an Tighearna mar nithean nach buineadh do aoradh spioradail eaglais an Tiomnadh Nuaidh. Comhla ris na h-ionnalan so thilg e mach luidhean neo-dheachd aichte, agus thoisich daoine air sailm Dhaibhidh a sheinn. (11) Bha moran de laithean feile air an cuir suas, agus là na Sabaic air a thilgeadh bho na cosaibh. Thog Iain Knox an t-sabaic bheannaichte agus dhaithn e gum bu choir i bhi air a cumail air reir aithne Dhe; ach a chionn nach dh’aithn an Tighearna aor air bith do na laithibh eile bha air an cur air chois gum bu choir cul a chur riuthe. Mar so chaidh an duine so, a bha air a thogail le Dia gus an tir so ath-leachadh, air aghaidh a duitheadh innleachdan dhaoiné agus a cur suas aoraidh a reir intinn Dhe air a foillseachadh ann am focal na firinn. Bha eaglais na h-Alba air a h-aideach, mar “Eaglais Athleasaichte Na h-Alba,” le parlamaic na h-Alba anns a bhliahna 1592, ach cha robh i gu h-iomlan air a suidheachadh a reir ruin na ‘n daoine diadhaidh sin gus a bhliahna 1638. Is ann ceithir bliadhna na dhuigh so a thoisich
iad fein agus na diadhairean urramach a bha an Sasunn ri “Leabhar Aidmheil a Chreideamh” a chur ri cheile. Bha e air a ghabhail mar chreud Eaglas na h-Alba anns a bhliadhna 1647. Bha mar so ar n-eaglais anns an tir so air a faicinn mar a’ mhaduinn, “Sgiambhach mar a’ ghealach, glan mar a’ ghrian, uamhasach mar shluagh le ‘m brataichibh.” Bha mar so an tobar air a cladach gus nach robh aon ni truailidh bho dhaoine air fhagail ann. Chaidh an riaghailt do reir an robh e air a cladach a tharruing a mach, agus dh’fhag iad e gu bhi air a ghleidheadh do na h-àil a bha gu teachd. Is e “Leabhar Aidmheil a Chreidimh” an riaghailt so. Tha na h-uile puinc teagaig, agus ordugh a tha anns an leabhar sin air a daingneachadh le focal na firinn. Tha an doigh anns an coir aoradh a thabhairt do Dhia a reir an sgriobtuir, le suil ri Criosd mar an t-eadar-mheodhainear air an cumal fa chomhair pheacach ann cho soillear agus a bha e riamh ann an àm air bith do ‘n t-saoghal. Ach do bhrigh gum bheil an leabhar fughail so anns a chanain Ghailic, agus gum feud na h-uile a leubhadh air an son fein, cha n abair mi an còr mu dheithinn ann an so. Dhiarruinn a mhain ar naire a thabhairt a dhionnsuidh na puinc, gur e an leabhar so, mar a tha e air a bhonntachadh air focal Dhe, am bonn air am bheil eaglais na h-Alba air a suidheachadh, agus air am bheil sinne mar eaglais air ar suidheachadh.
Tha sinn a leubhadh anns an fhirinn gun robh na tobraichean a chladhaich seirbhisich Abrahaim air an lionadh leis na h-Amoraich air chor ‘us gun robh aig seirbhisich Isaac ri an cladach a ris. Tha e na ni cho cinnteach gum bheil an tobar ann an Alba air a lionadh de nithean a bheir am bàs siorruidh air na h-uile anam a dholas de an uisge phuinsean leis an do lion daoine e, mar a tha an sgriobtur ag radh, “Ge be neach a bhriseas an lagh, agus nach fan ann an teagasg Chriosd, cha ‘n ‘eil Dia aige: an ti a dh’fhanas ann an teagasg Chriosd, tha araon an t-Athair agus am Mac aige.” Thoisich an Eaglais Shaor air truailleadh an tobair le laoidhean neo-dheachdaichte thoirt a stigh gu bhi air an seinn ann an aoradh follaiseach an Tighearna. Nochd iad le so a dheanamh gun robh iad air fàs sgith de Shailm Dhaibhidh, agus gun robh iad a toirt air ais aon do na nithean a thilg na h-atrichean a mach aig am an athleasachaidh. An ceann uine ghoirdich na dheidh sin thug iad a stigh innealan-cuil do’n aoradh fholleasach. Cha Cha b’urrainn iad aig an am sin na nithean so a dheanamh na’m pairt de chreud na h-Eaglais, oir chunnaic iad gu’n robh na daoine a bha seasamh na’n aghaidh cho dìleas agus gum briseadh iad an eaglais mun fuilgeadh iad a creud a bhi air a truailleadh leis na nithean sin. Cho luath agus a thuair iad gum feudadh an gnathachadh lion iad an Eaglais anns an taobh deas dhiubh. Thoisich iad an sin air aonadh ris an Eaglais Chleireil Thoilich (U.P.). Bha creud na h-eaglaise so ann am mòran phuinsean cudthromach calg dhireach an aghaidh creud na h-Eaglaise Saoire. An deigh dhoibh deich bliadhna a thoirt a strì chunnaic iad nach geilleadh Dr. Begg, agus
Kennedy, agus moran eile don aonadh sin, agus leig iad leis car uine. Thoisich iad an sin air dith-steidheachadh Eaglais na h-Alba, agus chum iad air glaothaich air son sin bho ‘n uair sin (1873). Chi sinn anns an dara salm gun do chuireadh Chriosd suas mar righ le Dia an t-Athair ann a dhreuchd mar an t-Eadar-mheadhonair, agus gum bheil uachdarain agus sluagh a’ cur an aghaidh sin. Tha an Spiorad Naomh a toirt comhairle orra ann an deireadh an t-sailm, agus ag iarruidh orra ciall a ghlachdadh agus a bhi reidh ri Criosd mun lasadh a chorruich nan aghaidh. Bha còraichean Chriosd na bu luachmhoire ann an sealladh nan athrichean diadhaidh na gun diultadh iad aobhar a chumail suas mar righeachd, agus gum be fhocal a bu choir righrean agus sluagh a riaghladh. Bha iad a creidsinn gum buineadh na nithean sin do na h-orduighean a shuidhich Dia agus ‘a bheir truaighe air gach rioghachd a dhiultas gabhail riu. Ach se an t-aobhar bu mho a bha aig na daoinne sgriosail ud, gum biodh a phuinc so air a briseadh sios ann am bunait na h-Eaglaise Saoire chum gu ‘m biodh i air a deanamh coltach ris an Eaglais Chleireil Thoileach, agus nach burrainn lagh na rioghachd greim a dheanamh air maoin na h-eaglais do na doine a sheasadh air na bunaitean mar a bha iad.
Thoisich mearachdan uamhasach air a bhi air an teagasg, an toiseach anns na tigean foghlum, agus cha robh iad fad an sin nuair a thainig iad chum clusan agus suilean dhaoine. Bha an leabhraichean, agus na teagasgan bho na cupaidean calg dhireach an aghaidh focal Dhe. An aite na doine a thoirt gu aideachadh air am peachdadh, no an cur a mach as an eaglais is ann a bha iad air an cumail bho cheartas ann an cuirtibh na h-eaglais. Ghabh iad an sin misneach agus thoisich iad gu follaiseach air teagasg gun robh am Biobul lan do mhearachdan, agus gur e bha ann ni duilich gun do theagaisgeadh riamh gun robh e air a dheachdadh leis an Spiorad Naomh. Aig an Ard-sheanadh chaidh a thoirt air aghaidh gun robh nithean ann an Leabhair Aidmheil a Chreidimh nach b’ urrainn cuid bòideachadh gun robh iad ‘ga chreidsinn, agus chuir iad ordugh sios a dhuinnsaidh nan seisean ciod an t-arrachadh a bha iad ag iarraidh air an leabhar sin. Anns a Ghaelteachd bha na seannairean a dhaon ghuth nach robh iadsan ag iarruidh ni air bith arrachadh ann, ach anns a Ghalltachd bha cuid a dh’ iarr nithean a bhi air an atharrachadh. Nuair a chaidh so air beulabh an Ard-sheannaidh chuir iad cuideach air leth dhuibh fein gu sealtuinn a stigh anns a chuis so, agus anns a bhlidhna 1891 thug iad an t-Achdmineach-aidh air beulabh na h-eaglais. Tha an t-achd so a tilgeadh air falbh teagasg an taghaidh anns a cheud phuinc; oir tha e cumail a mach gun do ghradhaich Dia na h-uile. Tha sin a ciallachadh gun do ghradhaich E Iudas leis a ghradh leis an do ghradhaich E Eoin agus an sluagh taghta uile. Is i an dara puinc ann nach do thuit an duine ann an Adhamh air a leithid do dhoigh agus nach robh iomhaidh Dhe air fathast, agus gun robh e comasach
iad suas mar iolair air a sgiathaibh; ruithidh iad cha bhi iad sgith, siubhlaidh iad agus cha-n fhas iad fann.” Do bhrigh gun dubhairt sinn began air an neart so fuidh ’n cheud cheann do’n fhirinn so, agus do bhrigh nach urrain sinn an còr a radh air aig an am so, thig sinn gu h-aithghear a dhionnsuidh na ceathramh earran do’n cheann teagaig.
IV. Càite an croicnaich an duine beannaichte so a thurus? “Nochdar gach aon diubh an lathair Dhe ann an Sion.”
“Help, Lord, because the godly man
Dost daily fade away;
And from among the sons of men
The faithful do decay.”—Psalm xii. 1.