(Continued from page 266.)
JAMES MACDONALD, REAY, AND OTHERS.
James Macdonald, Catechist, Reay, was one of the most eminent Christians of his time. He was the father of the Rev. John Macdonald, D.D., “the Apostle of the north.” James, though he never learned to read, was a man of high mental powers, knew almost the whole Bible from beginning to end, and exercised his office as catechist with remarkable wisdom and efficiency. He lived to an advanced age, 95 years, and looked forward with solemn but joyful anticipation to the day of his death, speaking of it as his “wedding day,” when the marriage between his soul and Christ would be perfectly and eternally consummated.
Many were the memorable sayings uttered by James Macdonald. Our present collection of “Notes” has only two brief ones. On one occasion he rose to engage in prayer on the Sacrament hill at Latheron, and began thus, addressing the Saviour: “Some have called Thee the Carpenter’s son, and they were right, for many a crooked, knotty stick Thou hast made straight and smooth.” On another occasion, he was walking along the road with Janet Macleod, Sandside, a very pious woman, when a thunderstorm took place. Janet began to tremble, but when she looked at James, she saw that he was calm and unmoved. “O James,” she cried, “are you not afraid of the terrible thunder?” “No,” he replied, with the calm confidence of heavenly faith, “it is just the sound of my Father’s foot on the loft.”
* These Notes from the start have been chiefly taken from note-books belonging to the late Mr. G. Sutherland, Forse, Caithness, a sketch of whom appears in this issue. The Editor has written short notices of the worthies named, and added a note here and there from his own information. A good many are (D.V.) yet to follow.—ED.
DONALD MACKAY, CLASHCRAGGAN.
The name of this godly man has gone far and wide. He was a Nathanael, an Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile. His piety was of the most marked description. Sabbath and week day he was a living epistle of Christ, and he almost literally prayed without ceasing. During his sleep he was heard to pray in the most solemn and affecting manner. Though he might be long engaged in private, his public exercises were short, pithy and expressive. His godly example and sayings are still kept in recollection.
Donald was on one occasion asked by the eminent John Mackintosh to pray at a catechising. Several others had already refused to engage. Donald also refused, remarking that there were many others present better qualified than he was. John, however, would not take a refusal, and said, “Though I should remain here till to-morrow morning, I’ll not ask another.” Hearing this, Donald at once arose and engaged, saying loudly, “O thou Holy One, give thy people grace to discern Satan, whether he comes in black or white.” He added no more, but resumed his seat. Donald perceived Satan coming in white, when John Mackintosh gave him the indirect compliment of saying that he would not ask another to pray though he should remain till the morning. (“Life and Times of late Rev. G. Davidson.”)
Being asked on another occasion to pray, and evidently enjoying at the time the good hope through grace of eternal happiness, he rose and said, “Glory be to thy name, Lord, that time is so short and that eternity is without end. Amen.”
He was one day at the burial of a godly woman who lived in Achow. A minister who was present said, “This is a great breach in our land, Donald.” “Yes,” he replied, “a breach that will not be made up.” “Oh, how do you say that?” answered the minister; “the Most High is the same as He was.” “Yes,” Donald said, “I know that; but this is a backsliding day.”
Having one night on his spirit the impression that one of “the Church” was to be taken away, Donald could get no rest in bed, but rose before daylight and went out, and at daybreak he was at “the planting” (plantation of trees) of Lybster. A man who was passing, seeing something like a human figure in the dark, said “Who is here?” “Oh, it is I,” said Donald. Then said the man, “How are you here so early?” “Oh,” Donald answered, “some one of the saints, who is taken to eternity, was on my spirit, and I could get no rest.” “Well,” replied the man, “I have been on foot all night, as my sister died during the night.” “Oh!” Donald exclaimed, “I have now found out the person on whose account I could get no rest.”
JOHN SUTHERLAND, BADBEA.
Someone remarked that John “Badbea” would have “made a Christian in any generation of the Church’s history,” such was
the general excellence of his Christian character, and his freedom from local peculiarities. While not of a severe temperament, he was not easily satisfied with evidences of grace in himself or others, and would sometimes describe himself as a deep hypocrite and a “shawl” (shallow) professor. We have testimony to the effect that he knew “the love of Christ which passeth knowledge,” and could speak of the same to much edification at fellowship meetings, but we know also that he passed through deep inward trials in his latter years which were no doubt intensified to some extent by straitness in his outward circumstances. His name is savoury to this day. He died in 1864.
John was one day speaking of “faith.” He said that many nowadays were with their faith like great farmers who had an overstock of goods and had to roup so much, as they did not require it all. “But,” he added, “it is otherwise with me, as unbelief is for most part the goodman of the house.”
In regard to long services, he used to remark that it was wiser to let the godly go away somewhat hungry than to weary the careless. He was a wise “fisher of men.”
The following incident shows the respect in which John was held as a man of prayer. A certain man was coming down the Moray Firth one stormy day with a cargo of wood. As they were opposite Badbea, some of the crew were speaking of throwing some of the wood overboard, as they considered the boat too deep, but the skipper (known as William “Dunbrae”) looked to the land and saw John Sutherland going round his house towards the barn, and thinking in his own mind, “Perhaps he is going to the barn to pray,” he said to the crew, “We will cast none of the wood overboard for a little, till we see.” And so it came to pass that they got safely to Dunbeath. As soon as William got everything in order, he set off to Badbea, to express his gratitude, and give a token of appreciation to John Sutherland.
JOHN M’CONNEL, REAY.
John M’Connel was a man of weight and a deeply exercised Christian. It is stated that during his first experiences he passed through such fiery mental trials that for a period of three years he could not personally open the Bible and read it. He was also a long time before he could be got to take part in public exercises, but became eventually an edifying speaker on divine truth and experience.
Speaking of “the conscience” on one occasion, he said: “The road in summer is so hard with the heat that the largest horse with the heaviest shoes will not mark it, but when it is softened in winter, the lightest bird that sits on the road will mark it with its feet. So is the scared conscience; nothing will impress it; but as for the conscience made tender how little will mark and trouble it!”
When speaking of the want of spiritual power in the means of grace, he said he believed that extreme “necessity” would yet bring down something from heaven.
He also made the following remark: “I have hope of the man I get from the Lord in the Word, that though he is yet wandering on the mountains of vanity, the Most High will call him effectually in His own good time and way.”
GEORGE MACKAY, CATECHIST, LATHERON.
This catechist was a man of gifts and grace. He said on one occasion, “Be you sure that for as many days of joy in Christ you get, you will likely get as many days of trial to follow them.” Again: “Take away the grace of love out of godliness, and there is nothing left but the chaff of religion.” Still again: “The hypocrite and the Christian go both to the means of grace—the Christian to seek Christ in the means, for since he got the first blink of Him he is never satisfied without Him; the hypocrite to pay an old hire he has to pay.”
George Mackay was once asked what he thought of a minister who used the Divine Name very often in his mouth, and apparently not with sufficient reverence. His reply was: “I would think very little of him if he does this when along the shore and in shallow water, but if he was using the Name often when he had got into the ocean and deep water, I would not think so ill of it.”
He was one day catechising a worthy man, Donald Sutherland, Tenant’s Park. The subject seems to have had reference to “seeking Christ.” Donald gave the following notable answer: “There have been some who have gone all their days mourning and seeking Christ, and were afraid they had Him not, but they found they had Him at last.”
(To be continued).