ANDREW FINLAYSON was the grandson of Mr. James Finlayson, Skigersta, who held such an eminent place in the days of Rev. Mr. MacBeth and latterly in connection with the stand made in Ness by the Free Presbyterian Church. James Finlayson’s memory is still savoury in the minds of the few survivors of these stirring days and who remember his deep, solemn manner in expressing the profundity of the eternal love of God toward guilty men, and our absolute need of being embraced in that love, if we were to enjoy nearness to Him in Christ during our sojourn here and to all eternity. He had a special place for his grandson, Andrew, and expressed the conviction that Andrew would yet be a witness for Christ. The knowledge of this cost Andrew Finlayson many a conflict but, we trust, it was one of the things that worked together with other things for his eternal good.
Andrew used to tell us (for he was one of the most open-minded men we ever knew) that the Spirit of God strove with him from his earliest days. He grew up, however, to manhood and was many years married before he underwent that change of which the Saviour spoke to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” In the Providence of the Most High, he went out to British Columbia, Canada. It was while there that he was awakened to see his lost condition as a sinner and was brought to an utter end of his own resources in the matter of his salvation. Shut in completely to a confession before God of being absolutely undone for eternity, and as he used to put it, as if God were asking him: “Are you now admitting that you are altogether an heir of wrath?” Light from Heaven shone into his heart by the application of that precious Scripture:—”I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord” (Hosea, II. 19, 20).
Andrew was now in a new world. His joy and liberty was such that he could not but declare what the Lord had done for his soul. Shortly after obtaining the liberty of the gospel, he came home, and poured out his experience of the power of the truth into every ear that would listen to him. In his singleness of mind, he set his jewels before every one who professed the Saviour, not understanding at that time, the experience of the spouse when she had to utter her sad complaint:—”They smote me, they wounded me: the keepers of the walls took away my vail from me” (Song, v. 9). Our late revered missionary, Mr. Malcolm Macleod, acted the part of a spiritual nurse to our friend, Andrew, and rejoiced that the Lord had raised up a witness to stand in the breach. Malcolm heard a sermon about this time which was on the same lines as the advices he was giving to Andrew. It was based on Proverbs, xxx. 2, on the words of Agur. The preacher said that Agur kept his great coat buttoned up till he got an opportunity to speak to Ithiel and Ucal. Agur knew that the professors of religion in his day could not make right use of his experience. When he met with Ithiel and Ucal, he could speak his mind to them:—”Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man!”
It was upon the shoulders of Andrew Finlayson that the burden of the missionary-ship ultimately fell, after Mr. Malcolm Macleod’s removal, in 1927. Mr. Norman Norrison, elder, did all he could to keep the services for some time, and gave his help till he was confined to his home with failing health. For the few years Andrew Finlayson was spared, he proved himself very acceptable in his expositions of the Word, and had a warm place in the hearts of the discerning people among us. For over a year before his removal, he was almost altogether laid aside with severe blood pressure which did its own work on his body. He was only 52 years of age when he departed this life, on the 7th day of January, 1935. He left a widow and a large family to mourn his loss, also brothers and sisters, and a devoted people who greatly loved and respected him. May the Lord raise up in Ness and elsewhere, young men and women to take the place of those who have been removed to their rest, and who served their generation after the will of God, ere they fell on sleep.—Malcolm Gillies.
Na Dorsan a dh’fheumar fhosgladh do Chriosd.
LE UILLEAM DYER.
‘S e cheud dorus a bu chòr do pheacaich fhosgladh do Chriosd, dorus nan smuaintean. Tha mi ag ràdh gu feum sinn dorus ar smuaintean fhosgladh dhà a chum agus gu ‘m bitheadh Dia ann ur smuaintean, agus Criosd ann ur smuaintean, agus Spiorad na beatha agus a’ chumbachd ann ur smuaintean, siorruidheadh ann ur smuaintean, nèamh agus breitheanas ann ‘ur smuaintean: “Gleidh so gu bràth ann am breithneachadh smuaintean a’ chridhe.” “O eia luachmhor leamsa do smuaintean-sa a Dhé! eia mór an àireamh.” “Ann an lìonmhoireachd mo smuaintean an taobh a stigh dhìom thug do chomh-fhurtachd sòlas do m’ anam.” O se so a cheud dorus dhe ur cridheachan a tha creidmhich a’ fosgladh do ‘n Tighearna gràdhach.
‘S e ‘n dara ‘h-aon, dorus a’ bheachd-smuaineachaidh: “O gu ‘m bitheadh iad glie, gu ‘n tuigeadh iad so, gu ‘n tugadh iad fainear an crìoch dheireannach!” “Is aithne do ‘n damh a shealbhadair, agus do ‘n asail prasach a maighstir; ach chan aithne do Israel; chan ‘eil mo shluagh-sa a’ toirt fainear.” “Agus tha a chlàrsach, agus a chruit-chiuil, agus an tàbor, agus a phìob, agus fion na ‘n euirmibh; ach obair an Tighearna chan ‘eil iad a cur an suim, agus gniomh a làmh chan ‘eil iad a toirt fainear.” Ach a nis, iadsan a dh’fhosgail an dorus so do Chriosd tha iad a’ toirt fainear an slighean: “Ni esan a tha ionraic a shlighe dìreach.” Agus bheir e fainear oibrìbh iongantach Dhé, agus na nithean mór a rinn Dia air a shon. “A nis ma ta mar so tha Tighearn nan sluagh ag ràdh, Thugaibh fainear bhur slighean.” Agus is e so dara dorus a’ chridhe.
‘S e ‘n treas dorus, dorus a’ ghràidh a bu chòr do pheacaich fhosgladh do Chriosd: “Gràdhaichidh tu an Tighearn do Dhia le d’ uile chridhe, agus le d’ uile anam.” “Ma tha neach ‘s am bith nach gràdhaich an Tighearn Iosa Criosd, bitheadh e ‘na Anatema Maranata.” “Gu robh gràs maille riusan uile a tha gràdhachadh ar Tighearn Iosa Crìosd ann an treibhdhireas.” “Suidhichibh bhur n-aigne air na nithibh a tha shuas, agus chan ann air na nithibh a tha air an talamh.” Feumaidh dorus so a ghràidh a bhi air fhosgladh do Chriosd, a chum agus gu ‘n tig e steach do ‘ur cridheachan, a chum agus gu ‘m bi e dhuibh na neach is dluithe agus is gràdhaich, bhur n’ oibhneas agus bhur tlachd, chum agus gu’m bi rèite agaibh ris an Athair, aonadh ris a Mhac, co-chomunn ris an Spiorad Naomh. Agus ‘s e so treas dorus a’ chridhe.
‘S e ‘n ceathramh aon, a dh’fheumus a bhi air fhosgladh do Chriosd, dorus a’ mhiann, air neo chan urrainn e teachd a steach do ar cridheachan agus a shuipeir a ghabhail maille ruinn. O pheacaichibh! feumaidh sibh miannachadh agus dian-thart a bhi oirbh as dèidh Chriosd, agus a ràdh mar a tha ‘n eaglais ag ràdh ann an deireadh Dàin Sholaimh, “Dèan cabhaig, fhir mo ghràidh, agus bi cosmhuil ri earb, no ri laogh fèidh air beannt-aibh nan spiosraidh.” Agus mar sin ann an Leabhar an Taisbeanaidh, “Seadh, thig, a Thighearna Iosa.” Mar sin tha’n Salmadair ag ràdh, “Có a th’ agam anns na nèamhan ach thusa? agus an coimeas riut chan ’eil air talamh air am bheil mo dhéidh.” Agus a ràdh maille ris an eaglais, “Le m’ anam mhiannaich mi thu ’s an oidche; seadh, le mo spiorad an taobh a stigh dh’iarr mi thu ’s a’ mhaduinn; oir tha miann m’ anama air t-ainm, agus air do chuimhne.” Agus mar sin le Pòl, “Oir chuir mi romham gun eòlas a ghabhail air nì ’s am bith ’n ’ur measg, ach air Iosa Crìosd, agus esan air a cheusadh.” ’S e so an ceathramh dorus air a’ chridhe a dh’fheumas tu fhosgladh do Chrìosd, air neo cha bhi shuipeir aig maille riutsa, na agad-sa maille ris-san.
’S e ’n cóigeamh dorus, a dh’ fheumas peacaich ’fhosgladh do Chrìosd, dorus a’ mheas; ’s e sin luach a chur air, agus a’ meas nì ’s luachmhor na h-uile cuspair eile. Mar so tha creidmhich a’ déanamh, “Dhuibhse uime sin a chreideas, tha e luachmhor,” agus maille ri Pòl, “a’ cuntas nan uile nì na ’n aolach agus na ’n call:” agus mar an ceudna le Maois, “a’ meas gu ’m bu mhó an saoibhreas masladh Chrìosd na ionmhas na h-Eiphit.” O na h-anamaibh beannaichte sin a dh’ fhosgail an dorus so do Chrìosd, tha e dhoibh san uile gu léir ionmhuinn, sònraichte ’am measg dheich mìle, seadh, tha e nì ’s fheàrr na clachan luachmhor, “agus chan ’eil gach nì ’s urrainn thu mhiannachadh r ’an coimeas ris.” ’S ann mar sin a dh’ fheumas sibhse bhi, anamaibh bochd, feumaidh sibh amharc air Chrìosd mar ró-ghràdhach, ro-luachmhor, ro-mhiannaichte, ro-ghlòrmhor: Mar so tha e dha ’n Athair, dha na h-aingil naomha, agus dha na naoimh. Agus is e so cóigeamh dorus a’ chridhe.
Se ’n sèathamh aon, dorus an deagh chaithe-beatha, a dh’ fheumas peacaich cho math ri naoimh fhosgladh do Chrìosd: “Oir tha ar caithe-beatha-ne air nèamh, an t-ionad as am bheil dùil againn fòs ris an t-Slànuighear, an Tighearn Iosa Crìosd.”
“Oir dh’fhoillsicheadh gràs slàinteil Dhé do na h-uile dhaoinibh, a’ teagasg dhuinn gach mi-dhiadhachd agus ana-miann saoghalta àicheadh, agus ar beatha a chaitheadh gu stuama, gu cothromach, agus gu diadhaidh anns an t-saoghal so làthair.” “Uime sin do bhrigh gu ‘m bi na nithean so uile air an sgaoileadh as a chéile, ciod a’ ghnè dhaoine ‘bu chòir a bhi annaibh ann an caithe-beatha naomh agus diadhachd.” “A mhàin caithibh bhur beatha gu cubhaidh do shoisgeul Chrìosd.” “Agus dhàsan a dh’orduicheas a shlighe, nochdaidh mi slàinte Dhé.” Feumaidh a sèathamh dorus so mar an ceudna, eadhon dorus an deagh chaithe-beatha, a bhi air fhosgladh do Chrìosd, a chum agus gu ‘n tig e steach agus gu ‘n gabh e shuipeir maille ruinn, agus sinne maille ris-san, a chum gu ‘m bitheadh cho-chomunn aig ar n-anamaibh ris.—Eadar-theangaichte le I. M.
Nadur an Duine ‘na Staid Cheithir Fillte.
(Air a leantuinn bho t.d., 434.)
AN T-AONADH DIOMHAIR EADAR CRIOSD AGUS CREIDMHICH.
Is mise an fhionain, sibhse na geugan.—Eoin xv. 5.
‘S an aon àite deug, Air do ‘n duine bhì an fhad so air irioslachadh, cha tagair e nì ‘s mò “gur àirdh e gu’n dèanadh Criosd so dhà;” ach air an làimh eile, tha e ga fhaicinn féin neo-airidh air Criosd, neo-airidh air deadh-ghean Dhé. Feudaidh sinn a choimeas anns a’ chor so, ris an òganach a lean Criosd, aig an robh an lion-eudach air a chur m’ a chorp lomnochd; neach an uair a rug na h-òganaich air, a dh’ fhàg an lion-eudach, agus a theich lomnochd uatha, Marc. xiv. 51, 52. Eadhon mar sin, bha’n duine a’ leantuinn Chrìosd, ann an éididh, tana fuar a dheadh-dheanadais féin; ach leis an éididh, eadhon leis an éididh sin, anns an do chuir e urrad de earbsa, tha ‘n lagh ga ghlacadh, ga dhèanamh ‘na phrìosanaich; agus an sin bu mhath leis flàgail, agus teicheadh air falbh lomnochd: gidheadh cha ‘n ann a chum Chrìosd, ach uaithe. Ma dh’ inneas tu nis dhà, gu ‘n toir Criosd, fàilte dhà, ma thig e d’ a ionnsuidh; tha e ullamh gu ràdh, an urrainn a leithide de thruaghan gràineil ‘s a tha mise ann, fàilte fhaotainn gu teachd a dh’ ionnsuidh an Iosa naomh? Ma chuirear plasda r’ a anam leònta, cha cheangail e ris: their e, “Imich uamsa, a Thighearn, oir is duine peacach mi,” Luc. v. 8. Cha ruig duine ‘s am bith a leas labhairt ris mu aithreachas, a chum a chomhfhurtaich; is urrainn dhà gu h-ealamh a leithide de choireanna fhaicinn ann, as a tha ga dhèanamh gràineil: no mu dheòir, oir tha e cinnteach nach d’ thàinig iad riamh gu buideal an Tighearna. Tha e ga dheasboireachd féin air falbh o Chrìosd, agus a’ smuaineachadh air dhà a nis a leithide de dhìmeas a dhèanamh air Chrìosd, agus air dhà bhi ‘na chreutair cho mi-naomha gràineil, agus nach urrainn dhà, ‘s nach fheud e, ‘s nach còir dhà, teachd a chum Chrìosd; agus gur éiginn da bhi aon chuid ann an cor a ‘s fheàrr, no cha chreid e gu bràth. Agus maith so, tha e nis a’ dèanamh spàirn làidir gus na nithean a bha mearachdach roimhe a leasachadh: tha e ag urnuigh ni ‘s dùrachdaiche na rinn e riamh, a’ dèanamh bròin ni ‘s géire, a’ dèanamh spàirn an aghaidh a’ pheacaidh, ann an cridhe, agus beatha ni ‘s beòthaile, agus a’ dèanamh faire ni ‘s dùrachdaiche; a dh’ fheuchainn, ma dh’ fheudas e air sheòl ‘s am bith mu dheireadh a bhi iomchuidh air teachd gu Chrìosd. Shaoileadh neach gu bheil an duine a nis air irioslachadh gu leòir; ach, mo thruaighe! tha uaibhreas diabhaileach a’ luidhe gu dìomhair fo ‘n sgàil irioslachaidh so: cosmhuil ri geug dhàimheil an t-seann stoc, tha e fathast a’ leantainn ris; agus cha stròichd e do fhùireantachd Dhé, Rom. x. 3. Cha tig e dh’ionnsuidh féill an t-saor-ghràis, gun airgiod. Tha e air a chuireadh gu pòsadh Mhic an Rìgh, far am bheil am fear-nuadh-pòsda féin ag uidheamachadh nan aoidhean le trusganaibh bainnse, a’ tabhairt an trusgain féin dhiubh; ach cha tig esan, a chionn nach ‘eil trusgan bainnse aige: gidheadh tha e gu dìchiollach ag ullachadh aon. Is obair chiànail so, agus uime sin is éiginn da buille as doimhne fhaotainn fathast, no bithidh e air a sgrios. Tha ‘m buille so air a thoirt da le tuadh an lagha, ann an cumhachd brosnuchaidh. Mar so air do ‘n lagh an t-anam a chriòslaichadh le cuird bàis, agus a bhi ga chumail le àitheantaibh cruaidh na h-ùmhlachd, fo phéin a’ mhallachd; agus air do Dhia ‘na ghliocas naomh, a’ ghràs bacaidh a tharruing air falbh; tha truaillidheachd air a brosnuchadh, tha ana-mianna a’ fàs làidir, agus mar is mò a nithear strì ‘nan aghaidh, ‘s ann is mò a tha iad ag àta suas, cosmhuil ri each fiadhaich ris an cuirear srian! An sin togaidh truaillidheachdan nach faca e riamh roimhe, suas an cinn! Anns a’ chor so, éiridh, gu tric Dia-àicheadh, Dia-thoibheum, agus ann an aon fhocal, éiridh nithean uamhasach mu thimchioll Dhé, smuaintean uamhasach mu thimchioll chreidimh, suas ‘na ùidh: air chor as gu bheil a’ chridhe ‘na ifrinn féin an taobh a stigh dheth. Mar so am feadh a tha e sguabadh tighe a’ chridhe, nach ‘eil fathast air uisgeachadh le gràs an t-soisgeil, tha na truaillidheachdan sin a’ luidhe roimhe gu sàmhach ann an cearnaibh folaichte, ag itealaich sìos agus suas ann mar dhuslach. Tha e cosmhuil ri neach a tha càradh linne-uisge, agus an uair a tha e dèanamh suas nam beàrna innte, agus a’ neartachadh na h-uile earrann dhith, tha tuiltean cumhachdach a’ teachd a nuas, a’ cur ‘obair bun os ceann, agus a’ sguabadh air falbh gach nì roimpe, eadhon an nì a chuireadh ris as ùr co-mhaith ris na bha air a chur ris roimhe. Leugh Rom. vii. 8, 9, 10, 13. Is buille so, a ruigeas an cridhe; agus leis a’ bhuille so tha dòchas air e féin a dhèanamh nì ‘s iomchuidh air teachd gu Chrìosd air a chur air chìl.
‘S an àite mu dheireadh, A nis tha ‘n t-àm air teachd, anns am bheil an duine, eadar dochas agus eu-dochas, a’ cur roimhe dol a dh’ ionnsuidh Criosd mar a tha e; agus uime sin, cosmhuil ri duine dol gu bàs a tha ga shìneadh féin, direach mu ‘n teid an anail a mach, tha e ag ath-chruinneachadh na tha do neart a làthair ‘s an anam, a dh’ fheuchainn ri creidsinn, agus air dhòigh éiginn a’ dèanamh greim air Iosa Criosd. Agus a nis tha gheug an crochadh ris an t-seann stoc, le aon snaithean caol de chreidimh nàdurra, air a chumail suas le oidhirpean nàdurra, fo theann ro chruaidh, Salm lxxviii. 34, 35. “N uair a mharbh e iad, an sin dh’ iarr iad e, agus phill iad, agus bha iad gu moch ag iarraidh Dhé: Agus chuimhnich iad gu ‘m b’ e Dia an carraig, agus an Dia as àirde am fear-saoraidh.” Hos. viii. 2. “Riutsa glaodhaidh iad, O Dhia Israeil, is aithne dhuinn thu!” Ach air do ‘n Tighearna rùnachadh ‘obair féin a dhèanamh iomlan, tha e fathast a’ tabhairt buille eile, leis am bheil a’ gheug a’ tuiteam dheth gu tur. Tha Spiorad an Tighearna a’ soilleireachadh gu mothachail do ‘n pheacach, gu bheil e gu tur neo-chomasach air nì ‘s am bith a dhèanamh a tha maith; agus mar sin tha e bàsachadh, Rom. vii. 9. Tha ‘n guth sin a’ bualadh gu cumhachdach troimh ‘anam, “Cionnus a dh’ fheudas sibh creidsinn?” Eòin v. 44. “Cha mhò as urrainn dhuit creidsinn, na ‘s urrainn do d’ làimh ruigheachd gu nèamh, agus Crìosd thoirt a nuas á sin. Agus mar so tha e mu dheireadh a’ faicinn, nach urrainn dha e féin a chobhair aon chuid le oibreachadh, no le creidimh; agus do bhrìgh nach ‘eil nì tuilleadh aige gu crochadh ris, air an t-seann stoc, tha e uime sin a’ tuiteam dheth. Agus am feadh a tha e mar so air a theannachadh, ga fhaicinn féin an cunnart a bhi air a sguabadh air falbh le tuil feirge Dhé, agus gidheadh fathast neo-chomasach air urrad ‘s a làmh a shineadh a mach a dhèanamh greim air meangan de Chraoibh na beatha, a tha fàs air bruachaibh na h-aibhne; tha e air a thogail suas, agus air a shuidheachadh anns an fhìor-Fhionain, air do ‘n Tighearn Iosa Chrìosd Spiorad a’ chreidimh a thabhairt dha.
Leis na chaidh a ràdh air a’ cheann so chan e mo rùn cràdh no teann a chur air coguisean anmhunn; oir ged nach ‘eil an leithide sin ach tearc ‘s an là so, gidheadh nar leigeadh Dia gu’n tugainn oilbheum do neach de mhuinntir bheag Chrìosd. Ach, mo thruaighe! thuit cadal trom air a’ ghinealach so; cha bhi iad air an dùsgadh, ged rachamaid cho fagus do ‘n bheò ‘s as urrainn dhuinn: agus air an aobhar sin, tha eagal orm gu bheil seòl dùsgaidh eile a’ feitheamh air a’ ghinealach rag-mhuinealach so, a bheir glaodh air cluasaibh na muinntir a chluinneas e! Gidheadh, cha b’ àill leam gu ‘n smuainicheadh neach gur e so a mhàin an aon rathad a tha aig àrd-uachdranachd Dhé air peacaich a ghearradh o ‘n t-seann stoc; ach so chumail a mach mar fhìrinn chinntich, gu ‘n robh na h-uile a tha ann an Crìosd, air am briseadh air falbh o na dochasaibh fa leth sin; agus gu bheil iadsan nach robh riamh air am briseadh uatha, fathast ‘nan stoc nàdurra. Gidheadh ma tha ‘n tigh air a leagadh sìos, agus an t-seann stéidh air a thabhairt air falbh; is e ‘n aon nì, co dhiubh a bha i air a toirt a nuas a lìon clach is clach, no co dhiubh bha i air tolladh foidhpe, agus gu’n do thuit an t-iomlan an aon àm.
Ri leantuinn.