Brief Meditations on certain passages of Scripture

By the late Mr. ANDREW CAMERON, Elder, Oban.*

I.

After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude, which no man could number, etc., etc. (Rev. vii. 9-17).

1. The great multitude. Christ has a little flock in most generations, and especially in this one, in comparison with the number on the broad way, but when the Great Shepherd will gather them home they will be a great multitude. He will account for each one of them to God the Father, and not one of them will be lost in that day. They will be out of every nation and people. The day is coming when all nations shall know Him.

2. Their standing. They are nearer the throne than the angels for they had on a more glorious robe than they—no creature-righteousness, but Emmanuel’s righteousness. This people were far away from God as others, but they were brought nigh by the blood in a day of effectual calling in the world, and were brought home to glory.

3. Their garment. The best robe of Christ’s righteousness, fairer than that of Adam in innocence, fairer than the angels. Palms of victory in their hands. Not their own hands which gave them the victory, but through the blood and the word of the truth of the gospel. “Ye shall overcome even as I overcame.”—The church had no hand in the great battle. “Christ trod the wine-press alone, but she participates in the spoil.” “More than conquerors through Him that loved them.”

4. Their Song. Glory to God and to the Lamb. They began it on earth. When the Israelites got over the Red Sea, they sang praises unto God for the salvation He wrought for them.

The angels sing Amen. They rejoice over one sinner that repenteth, and when sinners will all be brought home to glory and they hear their songs of praise for deliverance it will constrain them to sing also.

1. Their experiences in the wilderness. They came out of great tribulation. When they were awakened by the Spirit of God with regard to their soul in view of eternity, they had trouble. And after being washed in the blood, they had to go through the wilderness where they met many enemies and were subject to hunger and thirst. In some generations the tribulations were greater than others so that men and women had to give up their lives for the sake of the gospel. Some had tribulations in their families, some in their bodies, but they got out of them all. They had enemies within, but they have now got to their rest. Those without Christ are only going to meet tribulation, but this world is the only hell the people of God will have.

2. Their exercise and blessedness throughout eternity. They serve Him day and night in His temple, and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They are now made perfectly holy so that they have delight in God’s service. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. They shall then be drinking of the Spirit of God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

3. Mr. Andrew Cameron, formerly of Onich and latterly of Oban was one of the ablest of our Elders. As he did not go away much from home he was not so well known as some of our other Elders. No one who ever heard him speak either in Gaelic or English could help feeling that they were listening to a man who was speaking from the heart. He presented the truth in a way most attractive and instructive. He died in March, 1932, a few days after his life long friend, Rev. N. Cameron. An obituary appeared in the May Magazine, 1932 (Vol. XXXVII). It fell to him to take the services in the absence of the minister and it is extracts from these addresses we are presenting to our readers.—Editor.