(Continued from Vol. xxi., No. 12, page 468.)
SHERIFF MACCULLOCH, DORNOCH, AND OTHERS.
Sheriff MacCulloch was well-known as an eminent Christian. References to him are to be found in Sage’s Memorabilia Domestica, and Dr. Kennedy’s Fathers of Ross-shire. It is related of him that when under the operation of conviction by the Spirit, he went regularly to hear the eminent Rev. Dr. Angus Mackintosh of Tain every Sabbath. Dr. Mackintosh was always guided to clear up his difficulties before the service was over. One Sabbath Sheriff MacCulloch’s mind was in trouble and darkness, and he thought of going away as usual, but the day became very stormy with wind and rain, and he did not attempt to go. He said afterwards, “For my staying at home that day, the particular trouble on my mind at that time will not be cleared up till the day of my death.” He felt that by his failing to attend the means of grace without a sufficient cause, he had sustained a loss that might not be made up in this world.
Sheriff MacCulloch was once commenting on Jacob’s words to his sons in the forty-second chapter of Genesis (verses 36-38): “Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me. . . . If mischief befell him by the way, then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.” He spiritualized the subject with reference to the sad experience at times of the Christian in regard to his inward graces: “Faith is not, and love is not; and if ye take Benjamin —this small thread of hope—from me, you will bring down the grey hairs of my soul with sorrow to the grave.”
It is told that the Sheriff was once at a seaport in the south, and was walking along the harbour, when a sailor met him and began to smile. The Sheriff addressed him and said, “What makes you smile at me?” “Oh,” the sailor replied, “the grace in me is rejoicing at the grace in you.” It is said that the sailor and the Sheriff had never seen each other before. Perhaps we may be permitted to remark that it is possible the sailor had previously heard of the Sheriff.
An example of Sheriff MacCulloch’s Christian prudence in special circumstances is the following. Having gone to visit a man who was very ill, he did not remain long. When he was about to leave, the man said to him, “Are you going away without reading or praying with me?” “O, yes,” the Sheriff answered, “it may trouble your weak body at this time to engage beside you. I am just going over to the foot of yon hill to do it, and it will be as useful for you.” And so it proved to be. For, while the Sheriff was praying at the side of the hill, the man had considerable relief in his trouble.
PETER STEWART, CATECHIST.
This eminent man was known as the leader of “the Separatists” from the Church of Scotland in the Highlands. He probably held some extreme opinions, but, in our judgment, historians almost invariably treat him with undue severity. There were reasons for Separatism in many parishes. Various stories are told regarding Peter Stewart’s piety. It is related that a child who once fell into a river, and was taken out apparently quite dead, revived again on his mother’s knee, in answer to the catechist’s prayers.
The following note is an illustration of Peter Stewart’s penetration and humility. He was one day catechising a woman, when he asked her if she was praying. She replied that she was. He asked her if she was spoiling any of her prayers. She answered, “Yes.” “And what do you do then?” he said. “Oh,” said the woman, “I go and pray again.” “And do you spoil the next prayer?” “O, yes,” was the answer. “And what do you do then?” he asked. “I go again and again,” the woman replied. “O that will do,” Peter said, and added no more. Some of those present asked him afterwards why he did not catechise the woman more. “Oh,” Peter replied, “I think that, instead of my catechising her, she catechised me.” He felt that the woman’s earnestness had searched and rebuked himself.
NEIL MACPHERSON, CATECHIST, HALKIRK.
This worthy catechist flourished before the Disruption of 1843. He was a choice Christian of great weight and usefulness. It is stated in the “Ministers and Men in the Far North” that “his labours were owned of the Lord to the ingathering of souls, and to the refreshment of those already gathered.”
The following is one of Neil MacPherson’s comments on the case of the Apostle Thomas. He said that Thomas’s unbelief was in a certain sense the belief of God’s elect to the end of the world. It would not do for Thomas to hear from others that Christ was risen; he must see and get Christ for himself. Neither will it do the deserted believer that others have seen and found Christ. He must see and handle Him spiritually in his soul for himself.
DONALD MURRAY, CATECHIST, HALKIRK.
Donald Murray exercised his office as a catechist in a district of Halkirk about the same time as Neil MacPherson. He also was eminent for his piety. The following story illustrates the sterling honesty of his character in his business dealings with his fellows:—He was one day at a market, selling a cow. One of his sons was with him, who, while his father was engaged speaking to another man, sold the cow. He then came and told his father that the cow was sold. His father asked, “At what price?” The son replied, “Seven pounds.” “Well,” said his father, “give me the money, as it belongs to me, and bring the man who bought the cow.” This was done, and Donald then said to his son and the man, “Neither of you knows what the price should be. Five pounds is price enough for the cow.” So he gave the purchaser two pounds back, and would only take five pounds for himself, as he believed that was the real value.
JAMES SUTHERLAND, HOUSTRY, DUNBEATH.
James Sutherland was another eminent Christian who flourished in Caithness during the early half of the nineteenth century. He gave the following wise advice to professing men on one occasion, in the homely language of the countryside where he lived. It has a general application to all places: “When you come out to confess Christ in public, let there not be a ‘summan’ (i.e., a straw rope binding the thatched roof) broken on your house, before the world may say that you are an inconsistent Christian, lazy or inclined to idleness.”
It is related that some time before his death he dreamed that he saw the Lord coming with a golden coach to take him to heaven. On observing this, and looking about him, he saw Satan, in the form of a little, black, ugly object, at a short distance on the other side. Thereupon, he thought he heard Satan saying to the Most High, “I’ll warrant, you will not come to take me to heaven, although I was once a glorious, shining angel there.” “And who put you out of heaven?” said the Most High. “Your Eternal Son,” replied the enemy. “Yes,” said the Most High, “and He will do more than that; He will take all the election of grace from you, and then crush you under His feet.”
GEORGE MACKAY, GOLTICLAY, LATHERON.
This George Mackay was an eminently godly man, of whom there is a very interesting notice in the “Ministers and Men.” Many were his quaint and pithy sayings. We have just one note concerning him in the present collection, as follows:—He was cutting grass on the Monday evening at the end of a Communion season—in those times every day of the season was observed almost as sacredly as the Sabbath—when he was observed by his pious neighbour, Donald Mackay, Clashcraggan. Donald came quietly up at his back, saying to himself, “George is very worldly this evening,” but, drawing nearer, Donald heard him sing, and the words were these:—”Glory to thy name; Thou art the scytheman thyself, Lord.” Donald, having heard the words of George’s song, in which he ascribed all the glory of his work to the Lord, was ashamed of himself for his thoughts, and esteemed himself less, and George more, ever afterwards.
ALEXANDER KEITH, DUNBEATH.
Sandy Keith was well-known as an honest, outspoken Christian, of whom several interesting anecdotes are told. The following incident may be related. We would be glad to have more to put on record. At one time one of his daughters was very ill. Two neighbours were in the house watching her, and the woman got very weak during the night. They thought she was near her end, and went and awoke her father. He rose, and stood for a few minutes beside the bed on which his daughter lay, and said, “I will be in eternity before her yet.” And so it proved true. His daughter recovered, and lived some years afterwards. At length, Sandy got sick, and his daughter’s trouble also came on again. This proved to be the last sickness to both. But Sandy died two hours before his daughter, and his word proved correct. Both were buried on the same day. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear his name.”
PEACE is such a precious jewel, that I would give anything for it but truth.—M. Henry.