We are passing another milestone on life’s journey as we enter 1970. May it be made a year with many tokens of the Lord’s favour in providence and in grace to you all.
The Lord’s Cause is much despised in all lands, but we pray the Lord to arise and give prosperity to Zion. Thus will Zion’s children be joyful in their King. (Psalm 102, 13-17.)
Many of you may not be able to attend the public means of grace but you have the private means of grace, such as the infallible Word of God, and a praying spirit should be sought for a blessing on it. The increasing circulation of the Authorised Version of the Scriptures in many lands by the Trinitarian Bible Society, London, and others, gladdens our hearts. There are also many valuable new books obtainable published by our Church, the Banner of Truth and others, which are helpful in face of the much heretical, soul-destroying literature of today.
Our Church Magazine has been instructive and helpful to many under the retiring Editor, Rev. R. R. Sinclair. We expect it will continue to be so under the new Editor, Rev. D. B. Macleod, M.A., as it was under the previous editors, who were all closely related to him.
A Scottish worthy was heard saying, “Oh for an hour of Luther’s hatchet and Calvin’s mighty axe”, meaning the axe of Truth to the forest of error, superstition, modernism, Romanism, etc.
We endeavour to remember you in prayer, and if you visit Scotland we would wish for you the same as an English merchant got long ago when he visited St. Andrews. He said, “I went to St. Andrews where I heard a sweet, majestic-looking man (R. Blair), and he showed me the majesty of God. After him I heard a little, fair man (Rutherford) and he showed me the loveliness of Christ.”
There is continual cause for thankfulness to the Lord in the raising of young men to study for the work of the ministry at home and abroad. Your prayers are desired that they “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”. (2 Tim. 4, v. 2.)
The command is given, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. (Mark 16, v. 15.) Several have gone to our Church Mission in Southern Rhodesia, where there is much activity in love to the salvation of souls. May they experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to convince and convert.
I remember with pleasure the six months I was in Canada and U.S.A. as Church Deputy in 1930. To you, and ministers and friends in New Zealand and Australia and Italy, I extend christian greetings and best wishes.
Although far separate, we have the throne of grace at which to meet, and there let us be active, looking unto Jesus the Giver of all blessings, who alone can pardon us our sins.
“Be of good courage, and He strength
unto your heart shall send,
All ye whose hope and confidence
doth on the Lord depend. (Psalm 31, v. 24.)
WM. GRANT.