A FRIEND has kindly sent us the following letter, which appeared in the Northern Ensign in 1884, shortly after Dr. Kennedy’s death. It contains some interesting notes from his sermons which may be read with profit :—
Sir,—Two very satisfactory accounts of the eminently godly and learned Dr. Kennedy of Dingwall, appeared in your last Ensign. A reference to either, particularly to that of the Rev. Mr. MacKenzie, Golspie, cannot fail of being very suggestive in bringing anew to memory some of the rich and most original remarks and public observations of this worthy ambassador of Christ, who has now departed to his everlasting happiness, and long-expected reward. He was blessed with a very rare and uncommon mode of expression, above any of his fellows in our time, and to those who altogether overlooked his gracious experience of soul exercises under the teaching of the Holy Ghost, his rarity of thought and method of delivery in the pulpit would seem to be the only secret of the universal fame he acquired amongst friends and enemies.
Jacob’s sons envied Joseph because his father gave him the coat of many colours, and there is little doubt if they had left it on him when he was sold to the Ishmaelites, their envy or enmity would also have been stirred. As is generally common with godly and faithful men, Dr. Kennedy’s enemies speak well of him after death. This is not a new practice: they are impelled by inward after-thoughts working in conscience, or through ambition of an unspotted appearance to the eyes of the generation in which they live. But it is principally my aim at present, with your kind indulgence, to give your numerous readers an opportunity of looking at a few of his observations in public, which I well remember. . . . At one time, preaching on the case of the woman brought to Christ in order that it might be ascertained whether He would consent that, in accordance with the law of Moses, she should be stoned, Dr. Kennedy remarked: “It was not at all out of a sincere regard for a due observance of the divine law that these accusers were so urgent in pressing the matter so as to have Christ’s verdict regarding this poor fallen woman, but in hopes of finding out something contrary, so that they might have a cause of condemnation against the Saviour. Many a time did the devil try to put Christ and Moses in contradiction since.”
In commenting on the unjust Judge and the poor widow, he observed, “This Judge must doubtless have been a proud sort of over-bearing fellow who did not regard God or man, neither was moved by the sufferings of the poor widow, yet in case she would make herself a source of incessant annoyance, he intends to avenge her of her adversary, unjust Judge though he be. And shall not God avenge His own elect, who cry unto Him day and night, though He bear long with them? The sighing and crying of His own elect must have been precious in the ears of God. What other reason can be assigned why He should have borne with them for nearly six thousand years, till now? Since ever Abel began to cry this world has not yet wanted some poor creature, in some corner thereof, either night or day, that has not ceased crying to God for mercy.”
Again on the text, “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich,” he observed, “Were it possible that I could stand here till doomsday describing the poverty of Christ, none will understand it but those who have understood their own misery. Indeed, He was so poor and despised that the woman of Samaria, a very short time before He revealed Himself to her, could not spare Him a drink of water without a grudge; neither could He pay the tribute money till a miracle must be wrought, and a piece of money got out of a fish’s mouth. And, poor creature, if you are believing yourself to be so utterly vile and worthless that you think your prayer is not worth the hearing, your reading, singing, or meditation worthless, and your attendance on ordinances worthless, my dear fellow-sinner, let me assure you the day will never dawn when Christ will despise you. . . .
“You are sometimes thinking the Lord has quite forgotten you. Indeed, a foul fiend once whispered in my ear that the Lord had forgotten to be gracious. I well remember the time when I could not manage to keep up any hope at all, but in absence of my Bible. But now, blessed be God, my only stay is, ‘What saith the Lord?’ When Christ came to marry His bride it was far more likely He would have to bury her—death seemed much more imminent than life. And I will tell you how the matter stood with myself. I died, and the day of my death was the day of my resurrection, birth, and marriage. This was also the way John Bunyan felt, aye, and many other Johns besides.”
At another time, speaking of “the expectation of the poor,” he said, “The poor became so very poor that nothing else except his expectation remained between him and death, and every time he came to know the weight of his poverty he was a poorer man than before.”
On the words, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God,” he remarked, “Strange, that in this Psalm, the turning of the wicked into hell, and all the nations that forget God, should be made a matter of song. How can this be reconciled with the love, mercy, and goodness of God on the other hand? Just as the increase of the kingdom of God consists with the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom in the world. Israel could not prosper in Canaan till the Amorites were destroyed.”
Dr. Kennedy had a fine critical taste for suitable and pointed remarks. Alexander Gair, in making a distinction in his hearing between the hypocrite and the real Christian, said, “The fire which fell from heaven left nothing to Elijah, not even the ashes of the sacrifice, whereas the worshippers of Baal, if they got time, might have fed themselves fat on their rejected sacrifices.” He declared he never could forget the observation.
Many of his own utterances besides were awfully solemn and pathetic, such as, “O, poor soul, were you ever at Sinai! If you were, I assure you that you felt hell in your flesh.” After being earnestly engaged during the whole of a Communion Sabbath, he said in the concluding prayer, “Lord, thou knowest which was more abundant in our endeavours before Thee this day—truth or blasphemy.” Referring to the very common use of calling God “Father” in prayer, he remarked, “Oh many a poor foolish creature now dares, in approaching the Most High, to say ‘Father.’ I wonder that a spark does not go out from the jealousy of Jehovah and consume them in a moment.”
Others of his sayings assumed an air of pleasantry and satirical point not to be forgotten. Speaking of the Mutual Eligibility Act as conducive to the Union of the Churches, he said, “The boa constrictor does not swallow the rabbit at one gulp; it first licks it all over and then begins the swallowing at one of the extremities. But it was with a view of incorporating the whole carcase that the licking process began.” He also insinuated that both Churches were like vessels cast adrift on the ocean, after breaking off from their moorings. Such often tend to come in contact with each other, and their united and mutual attraction frequently ends in a damaging collision. His advice was, “Bind them to their moorings, if you don’t want to see them wrecked.”—Yours, etc.,
AN ADMIRER OF DR. KENNEDY.
20th May, 1884.