BY THE REV. PROFESSOR JOHN DUNCAN, LL.D., TO MARGARET MACPHEE, GLASGOW.
THE following interesting letter, hitherto unpublished, was written by Dr. Duncan to his esteemed friend, Margaret MacPhee, Glasgow, better known as “Peggy ‘Phee.” Peggy, who died not long after the date of this letter, was one of the most eminent Christians in Glasgow in her day. She was a native of Argyleshire, but came to Glasgow in her youth, and sat under the excellent ministry of the eminent Dr. Love. She was one of Dr. Love’s most exercised and intelligent hearers. Her house in later years was a centre of religious influences. Being a native of the Highlands, she was constantly visited by eminent ministers from that quarter, such as the Rev. Roderick Macleod, the Rev. John Macrae, and others. The late Mr. Macdonald, Shieldaig, when a student, knew her well, and often visited her. His testimony was that she was the greatest Christian woman he ever saw. Dr. Duncan’s intimate friendship with her is well known, and several interesting anecdotes are told in connection with it. They were mutually helpful to one another. Peggy was distinguished not only for her ripe piety, but for her superior mental power, her great independence of judgment, and clear grasp of the doctrines of grace. It is told of Dr. Duncan that he visited her one evening at a late hour in much spiritual darkness and distress, and on her inquiring what was his errand at such a late season of the night, he replied, “Oh, Peggy, I have come that you may tell me about the righteousness which is by faith!” The reply was a striking testimony to the Christian love and deep humility of the learned divine, as well as to the grace and understanding of his humble friend. The above incident no doubt took place when Dr. Duncan was resident in Glasgow as minister of the Milton Church. In after years, however, he still maintained his friendship with Peggy, and regularly corresponded with her. One of his letters is the following, which may be entitled “Meditations for a Time of Thought”:—
EDINBURGH, 11th March, 1848.
MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,—I need not say what grief your brother’s letter informing us of your illness has caused to me and to my dear wife. How frequently and how strikingly has the Lord been bringing before you the solemn admonition that “here we have no continuing city.”
Since this earth became a place of sinning, it has most righteously become a place of suffering, and it is well that we trace all that we endure to that cause, that we may “glorify God in the fires.” Our suffering, indeed, can be no expiation for sin. But you know of One who, though He “knew no sin,” was made sin for sinners and a curse for accursed ones that such might be redeemed and “made the righteousness of God in him.” With what astonished joy did His now penitent betrayers and murderers, gladly receiving the word, find in the death of Jesus the Messiah the fulfilment of the prophetic word: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.” What a display is here of the character of God against whom we have grievously offended! Here let us sinners ever look on Him whom we have pierced, and while, through the working of the spirit of grace and supplications, we mourn for Him, let us aim, however dim our eyes or weak our faith may be, to join the company of those who adoringly and gratefully exclaim: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and gave his son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Christ crucified is the beginning of the confidence, and let the same be held steadfastly unto the end.
But though our sufferings cannot be expiatory, by the blessing of the heavenly Father, bestowed through His only begotten Son our Lord, and conveyed to our souls by the Spirit of all grace, they may, and repairing in humble, penitent believing faith to the Faithful who has promised, we may and should rest assured that they will contribute abundantly to our sanctification: the chastisements of the Father of spirits being, not for His pleasure, but for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. May He cause this affliction to work out for you the peaceable fruits of righteousness while you are exercised thereby!
It becomes not me to obtrude particular subjects on your meditations, persuaded as I am that the Glorifier of Christ is your leader and guide into all the truth. As, however, He is pleased to make use of instruments, and I would wish to be helpful as far as enabled to all the flock, and especially to you, my dear friend, I may venture to suggest the following very imperfect outlines of subjects of meditation for a time of trouble.
1st. Our frailty and entire dependence as creatures on the self-existent and infinitely glorious Jehovah. 2nd. Our awful inconceivable guilt as apostates from Him who made man in His own image, after His likeness; the entire depravity of our natures as fallen, and our personal actual transgressions by omission and commission, in youth and in riper years, before we knew, or rather, were known of God, and since; and most particularly in sins against Christ, His Gospel, Spirit, and grace, etc. 3rd. The believing contemplation of Christ in His person, covenant, engagements, mediatory work, all-sufficiency, grace, truth, and saving benefits. 4th. The patience, long-suffering, and abundant grace of the Heavenly Father, as it has been so richly manifested in the Son of His love and in His dealings with us. 5th. The shortness of time, the certainty of death, the vanity of the world, the solemnity of judgment. the preciousness of the mercy-seat, the necessity of entire sanctification. 6th. The glory of the exalted Redeemer, the perpetuity of His intercession, the fidelity of His promises, His power to guide unto death and through it, the blessedness of those that are at home with Him in the mansions which He has gone to prepare, the unutterable blessedness. transport, and triumph which are stored up in the words of eternal life—”I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.”
Pray for me, for my mind is often despondent, and my faith and hope sadly and disgracefully feeble and low; how needful the blessed Spirit. I hope the Lord may be pleased to spare you a little before you go hence, and make you a blessing. My wife unites in tenderest sympathy and love,—Your attached friend,
JOHN DUNCAN.