David Mackay, Port-Gower.
THERE died at Port-Gower, near Helmsdale, on 12th September, 1900, David MacKay, aged 13 years and 10 months. He had by no means a strong constitution; from infancy he suffered more or less from his heart. This trouble frequently prevented him from mingling much with the children of the village in their play. He was a bright scholar for his years, and he possessed a retentive memory.
His mother and an aunt brought him up “in the fear and admonition of the Lord.” In his early years he evidenced a strong desire for spiritual matters, and was given to secret prayer. He was fond of the Bible, and he relished its truths in his own soul. It grieved him much to hear any one swearing or using unbecoming language. He wept when he heard a boy cursing or swearing.
At the age of eight years, when his father was absent from home, he used to conduct family worship. In his prayers at the family altar, at that period, he referred regularly to the effectual call of the gospel, and desired perfect hatred to sin, Satan to be cast out, and Christ to be seated on the throne of the heart.
A year ere his end came he was very ill, and the medical attendant informed his mother that he had but a very little time to live, and that he might pass away any moment. The mother’s grief could not be hid when she entered the sick room, and David asked what was the cause of grief, and if the doctor had said anything to her about him. “Nothing of any importance, dear,” was the reply. “I know,” he said, “what the doctor told you; he stated that I have only a very short time to live; but I shall not die this time yet. I shall recover from this attack.” “But, how do you know?” inquired the mother; “what is your authority?” “My authority is the word of God,” replied the little sufferer, more like death than life. “I shall not die, but live, and shall the works of God discover. The Lord hath me chastised sore, but not to death given over.” He did recover from that severe attack, and thereafter lived for a whole year in a fair measure of health, or at least in his ordinary health.
In his last illness he suffered much. His mother said to him, “I did not think, David, you would suffer so much as you are now doing.” “The effects of sin, mother,” was the noteworthy reply; “we don’t know what we may come to.” On another occasion she addressed him in these words:—”I trust your hope is not a false one; the hypocrite has a hope, but it is a hope which will be taken from him at death.” David paused for a moment or two, and then said, “But we have an access.” “To whom?” was next the question. “To God the Father, through Jesus Christ,” was the boy’s solemn reply, adding, “Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” One day he said, “I would like to be away, but I must wait till God’s time comes. His will must be done. ‘With length of days unto his mind I will him satisfy.’” “Ah! David,” remarked the mother, “you are not at all like one that would get length of days here.” “Eternity, mother,” was the brief but striking response from the wasted frame of the patient boy.
The “Pilgrim’s Progress” was a favourite book of his, and he seemed to grasp its spiritual lessons, for he often spoke of the various characters represented in that book. He was a student of his Bible. His favourite portions were the 34th and 51st Psalms; Isaiah, 53rd chapter; 17th and 18th of John, and the 6th and 8th of Romans. His delight was in the company of God’s people, and not a few of them called to see him. These visits were a benefit to the visitors as well as the one visited. One who called to see him asked him what Psalm would they sing. “The 51st, of course,” was his answer. He did not take in that he himself could pray, and yet he could not desist praying.
It pained him to hear worldly talk on the Lord’s Day. During his illness some called at the house on Sabbath and spoke about fishing. It was no small cause of grief to him that such a subject was introduced on “the first day of the week.” “If ye love me keep my commandments.” He enjoined upon his mother to keep his sister and brother from associating with children given to bad language.
These lines in regard to David MacKay are penned in the hope that they may stimulate the young to seek the Lord. “Those that seek me early shall find me.” “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”
D. M’K.