| | page |
|——————————————————|——|
| Fulness in Christ | 33 |
| Covenant Engagement of Mrs. Janet Hamilton … | 36 |
| Sketch of the Life of Rev. George Whitefield, B.A. | 38 |
| Lamps in the Vale | 43 |
| The Loss of Spiritual Comfort | 47 |
| The late Mr. Angus Finlayson, Elder, Dingwall | 52 |
| The late Mrs. Flora Campbell, Eboct, Bracadale, Skye | 53 |
| Suipair an Tighearn | 56 |
| Literary Notice | 59 |
| Notes and Comments | 59 |
| Church Notes | 62 |
| Acknowledgment of Donations | 63 |

Printed by

N. Adshead & Son, 34-36 Cadogan Street, Glasgow.

THE Free Presbyterian Magazine AND MONTHLY RECORD.

VOL. LIX.

June, 1954.

No. 2

Fulness in Christ.*

NOTES OF A SERMON by the late Rev. Neil MacIntyre, Edinburgh.
Text: “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians, chap. i., v. 19).

THIS epistle was written from Rome by Paul during his imprisonment to the Colossians, their city being in Asia Minor, in the province of Phrygia. Colosse was a flourishing city in the days of the apostle, but is now buried in ruins, and the memory of it, for the most part, is preserved in this epistle. It is very evident that Paul was not the means of planting this Church, but Epaphras, who was of less renown; but the Master-builder can engage whomsoever He likes.

The design of the epistle is to warn them against the Jewish zealots who wished to press the necessity of observing the ceremonial law, and also to guard against the mixture of Gentile philosophy with the gospel. The Apostle then goes on to give thanks on their behalf for their faith in Christ, and also stating that they should thank God on their own behalf for being made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

He then enlarges upon the source of all these blessings which are in Christ, and says, “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”

First, consider Christ’s right to this “all-fulness.” Second, the fulness itself. Third, some reasons why this “fulness” dwells in Him.

First, Christ’s right to it.

(1) He has it by the good will of the Father. The Father was well pleased with the Son from Eternity: “I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Some parents have to disinherit their children because of their misbehaviour, but that

* The family of the late Rev. N. MacIntyre have handed to the Editor a large number of notes of sermons by Mr. MacIntyre for the Magazine Committee to decide how they may be used. The Editor has transcribed the notes given here practically verbatim; and many remain suitable for publication. This will be considered by the Magazine Committee.—Editor.

was impossible here. (2) In the fulness of time God sent forth His Son into the world to be made sin for His people. But if ever there was a time more than another in which He loved Him most, it was when He was suffering. Now, having “finished the work,” etc., the Father is well pleased with Him as mediator, and it pleased Him that “all fulness” should dwell in Christ. (3) Christ has a legal right to all this fulness, not only that He is the Son of God, but that He is God the Son. In that noble book The Shorter Catechism we have the answer to the question: How many persons are there in the Godhead? Answer: There are three Persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and in glory. Therefore Christ has a legal right to all the fulness of the Godhead. (4) Christ has a hereditary right. He is the Son of God, and as the property of a father descends to his son who is his heir, so Christ who is God’s Son is God’s heir and possesses all that the Father has, by hereditary right. As in Hebrews i, 2: “Whom he hath appointed heir of all things,” etc. (5) Christ has also a federal right to this “fulness.” That is a covenant right. God the Father and the Son are often brought before us as entering into covenant on behalf of the elect. The Father elected them and the Son undertook to bear their sin and pay their debt. In this covenant the Father promised the Son as their federal head that He should be endowed with everything necessary for the work. “Behold my servant,” etc., also “My covenant I’ll not break with him,” etc. “All fulness.” (6) His right as Mediator. He has acquired this right. Suppose two individuals are contending for some right or privilege and that it is to belong to the person who comes off victorious, you would say he acquired the right. So Christ contended with sin and Satan, etc., and came off victorious and so acquired this “fulness.”

Second: This fulness.

The Apostle, in speaking of this fulness, speaks of it as “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” and therefore we cannot speak exhaustively of this fulness because it is infinite. It will keep the Church throughout Eternity searching into it, and they cannot find an end. We may, however, draw your attention to one or two particulars. (1) The fulness of power is with him. In creation take the first display of His power on the first day. Darkness brooded on the face of the deep and He said, “Let there be light.” Darkness at His command immediately disappeared. Whatever inventions men may contrive to improve our lighting system, they can never drive away darkness. (2) His power in upholding and sustaining man and beast. (3) Man by nature is dark and in darkness more dense than that in Egypt, and no invention of men, and they are numerous to-day, can drive away this darkness. All our learning and enlightenment leaves us in the dark as we were concerning the things of God. But let the Word of God come, and immediately the darkness is dispelled because of His power.

(2) There is the fulness of wisdom. “In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom,” etc. (1) Take His wisdom in creation. Everything created manifests the wisdom of God. What order and beauty is to be seen in all creation! What wisdom the Psalmist sees, “When I look up unto the heavens,” etc. When he looked to himself and to the wonderful formation of the heavens, he said, “What is man?” and “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (2) When we consider the wonderful display of His wisdom in the scheme of redemption, it infinitely passes all our comprehension. “It was wisdom which dwelt with prudence,” etc. Were it not that the “manifold wisdom” intervened on our behalf we could never be saved.

(3) There is the fulness of mercy and pardon. Language cannot declare the enormity of our sins committed against a holy and just God, and inscribed as more numerous than our hairs and heavier than the sand. Yet “the free gift is of many offences,” etc. “The Lord our God is merciful.” He pardons sins for the sake of Christ, though they should be “like scarlet,” etc.

(4) Fulness of love. “God commendeth his love toward us,” etc. It was only from a heart overflowing with love that such a manifestation of love could come, viz., “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,” etc. What a display of love in suffering!

Third: Some reasons why this fulness is in Him.

(1) He does not possess this fulness to keep it to Himself, but that He may communicate it to poor sinners. “He became poor that through his poverty he might make many rich.” Some persons may possess great and inestimable treasures, but may not have either the will or power to communicate them to others. Such is not the case here, for “He hath dispersed abroad and given to the poor,” etc. (2) He has pardon of sin to communicate. “The Son of Man has power to forgive sins.” (3) He has righteousness to communicate which will justify you at the bar of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (4) He has peace. If you were disturbed in your conscience and mind, where could you look for peace? Not to the world or its pleasures. But He has to communicate peace of conscience, peace which the world cannot give. (5) There is joy unspeakable. No tongue can tell the joys of God’s people, “Strangers shall not intermeddle with it.” (6) Sufficiency. One convinced of sin is ready to think that there is not sufficient in Christ for him, but “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” There is also sufficient to meet the longing soul.

If you really desire to be found in Christ and to depart from iniquity, then do not be ever tarrying in conflict with doubts and fears, but ask the Lord to sanctify you wholly.—Charles C. McIntosh.

Covenant Engagement of Mrs. Janet Hamilton.*

(Dated at Blackness Castle, December, 1687), as follows:—

O LORD, I desire to bless Thy name for Thy former loving kindnesses unto me in the day of my strait, in helping and standing by me when overcharged with affliction, and deserted of friends. What was I and my father’s house? A poor insufficient creature, taken up with nothing but vanities of all sorts. O what moved so holy a God ever to condescend to look upon me and pass by so many much more worthy than poor undeserving me! O praises be unto Thee, O Most High! O that my tongue were employed through time in magnifying the holy name of so merciful a God! May not I say, His mercies are over all his other works to me? May not I sit down and admire free love? First, in inclining my heart to love Him, and His people, and in casting my lot amongst the godly, and in bestowing a godly and kind husband on me (when left destitute without father or mother), and that He did so care for me as not to suffer me to enjoy the desires of my heart, but was at pains to hedge in my ways with thorns; and his infinite love suffered me not to sit at my ease, enjoying my pleasures in the day of Zion’s calamity, and prepared the way by smaller trials for greater. Thou didst in Thy infinite wisdom, not at first cast me into the hottest flames of the furnace, lest I should not have been able to stand, but in fright, fainted and turned back.

But, O praise! praise be to Him who inhabits eternity, that condescended so far to me, a worm, as sweetly to train me up, in alluring me, and speaking comfortably to me, at my first entry into the wilderness. Thou causedst Thy Word to be to my soul as the honey and the honey-comb. Thou madest me sit under Thy shadow with great delight, and Thy fruits were sweet unto my taste; so that many a time, which to onlookers was sad, was sweet to me. The Lord did so support me and feast me in his banqueting-house that I was made to rejoice in the midst of my tribulations. Likewise, Thou didst not suffer me to go on with those that were indifferent in Christ’s matters, but with Thy rods Thou didst raise such a zeal and love on my spirit, and so filledst my mouth with arguments, that I could not see anything like defection from, or wrong done to any of Thy truth, without resenting, testifying, and contending against it. Thou so far changedst my heart, which was proud and haughty, much disdaining the converse of the poor; but Thou helpedst me to be denied to great folk, and to the reproach I suffered on that head, making the company of the poor, that were godly in the land, dear unto me; and I hope they shall be so while they keep in God’s way, He having passed by the great ones, and honoured the poor loudly to testify for him; and those whom He honours, I desire, through grace, to honour.

Praise be to Thee whose care of me was such, that it was ministers who were valiant for Christ that were sent in my way, such as did not flatter me in my sin, but faithfully and freely did hold out, in the gospel,

* Extract from Select Biographies.

what was sin and duty, and sealed the same with their blood. How didst Thou encourage me with many sweet answers of prayer, to confirm me in Thy love!

Thou didst help me in the days of Thy love to me, to make a full resignation of all that was mine unto Thee, that when I was put out of all, stripped bare and destitute, not knowing of shelter to me and my poor babes, how calmly and quietly didst Thou help me to go under it, so that I was made to fear that it was stupidity, and not supporting grace. And such was Thy love, that even in that Thou wouldst not let me go without a reproof: for there was a friend suffered to wrong me in a business, and the Lord withdrew, and then I was a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; I could not get it borne until I mourned for my folly, in thinking that nature could do anything in me, without assisting grace; then He helped me to make a full resignation of new of all that was mine, and to look beyond all earthly portions unto that noble inheritance which Thou hast purchased with Thy blood, and gavest me full contentedness in all my sufferings, both from friends and foes.

And when Thou didst (for the trial of my faith and patience) throw me in very hot flames of affliction, having all discouragements from the world that a poor thing could be trusted with; and that which was sorest to me, not having that measure of the sense of Thy presence as sometimes before—but, O that condescension! O that fatherly love that did not suffer me to sink in this storm, which was lightly looked on by the most part, few to sympathise with me, but many thinking it their duty to add to my affliction. O praises, praises be to Thee, who in that time didst help me to sit silent, bearing Thy indignation patiently, because I sinned against Thee, yet Thy mercies did not fail towards me; but Thou didst in this extremity secretly support me, and didst, by restraining grace, bound me in, not giving me liberty to seek sinful deliverance. O Lord continue in Thy love, in keeping me in Thy way, that I may have reason to set up my Ebenezer, and to say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped me.”

O thou that hast begun this good work, perfect it, that I may praise Thy holy name through time and all eternity. And now, O Lord, out of the sense of all these Thy loving kindnesses towards Thy poor handmaid, I desire, in Thy strength, to renew former engagements and solemnly anew to enter in covenant with Thee. O Lord, help me to go sincerely about it, and let Thy presence go along with the duty!

O Lord, I here desire to enter solemnly in covenant with Thee, taking Thee for my Lord and Master, and accepting Thee on Thy own terms; taking Thee for my King, Priest and Prophet, and in my station, through Thy grace, to stand by truth, and cheerfully to take on Thy yoke and follow Thee. Lord, thou knowest my weakness—I desire to believe that thou wilt be a present help in the day of need to me, according to Thy promise, and I in the faith of this do go on. I here give my hearty consent to Thy coming and taking possession of my soul; and to Thy casting out of all that there that stands in opposition to Thee. Come, Lord Jesus, subdue

all my corruptions, and bring them under Thy feet, that I may be, through Thee, a conqueror over them.

I desire here to take Thee for my all, to be ruled and governed by Thee, acquiescing to whatsoever shall be Thy way of dealing with me; give me Thyself, and this shall be all my desire.

I desire to enter my protestation at the throne of grace, against all principalities and powers in me that stand out against Thee, and shall endeavour in Thy strength to war against them: for they are as a tyrant not having consent.

Whatever I have been, I do here accept of the offer of peace through Christ, and do make a sure covenant with Thee this day, never to be reversed, hoping Thou wilt make all forthcoming unto me, both in Thy part and mine. I desire here to own all the controverted truths that are founded on Thy holy Word, which Word I desire to be my rule; and to confess Thee before men, that Thou mayest confess me before Thy Father. Lord, give me it in that hour, if I shall be brought before great ones for Thy name’s sake. I desire to adhere to all the articles of the Covenants, National and Solemn League, to which I stand engaged, only I disown the King’s part of it, he having un-Kinged himself by the breach of Covenants, and by making our land a land of graven images, that was so solemnly given up to God. I desire in weakness to adhere unto it, although burnt by the hand of the hangman, and now buried by the hand of those that better things were expected of. O Lord, I desire to close all by giving myself up to Thee, and all mine. Accept, Lord Jesus Christ, and help to perform, and own me as Thy covenanted child, protesting humbly, that failing on my part (against which I resolve, as Thou knowest) shall not make void this covenant, I having accepted of Thy offer, on Thy own terms, and will henceforth wait for what is good, that when Thou comest I may rejoice in Thee, crying, This is my God, and I have waited for Him. As witness my hand, at Blackness Castle, December, 1687.—Janet Hamilton.