VII.
ACHMELVICH, 19th March, 1872.
MY DEAR FRIEND,—It is time for me now to answer your last welcome letter. I would not have been so long in doing this but that I was of late compassed about by many dark and disquieting thoughts, and by many fears and doubts. I do not know if you know any of these doubts by experience. One that harassed me much of late was what Bunyan calls “Election doubter,” and I believe that any who have saving grace in their souls know something of this vicious enemy assailing them. But he has not won the day against me as yet, and if I have the least spark of saving faith, he never shall; for all who are brought by grace to believe in the name of Christ, and to receive Him by faith into their souls, were “chosen in him before the foundation of the world,” as the scripture tells us, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of his hand.” “As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Now, I hope you know something of this believing in your own soul by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who was promised by Christ to be sent when He would go to the Father. This is what we should seek at a throne of grace above all things else in the world. This
only will give true peace, not only in time, but throughout an endless eternity. Seek it then until you find it. Seek that the Holy Spirit would so reveal Christ to you in His own Word, as that you would make choice of Him with all your heart, as your portion and your Redeemer. Then you will come to know that all who make choice of Him, and rest their souls on His finished work in the room and stead of sinners, are safe, the Father having given them to Christ in everlasting covenant, and of each one of them He will say at last, “Behold, I and the children whom thou has given me.” I hope you will take these words kindly from me as a friend that desires your eternal welfare. It is becoming a rare thing to find a friend that will be faithful to one’s immortal soul, therefore take this letter to your closet, and seek Him so to make Himself known to you, as that you could say, “My Beloved is mine, and I am his.”
Hoping you are all well in this severe weather, which we all, especially my poor suffering wife, feel very trying.—Your sincere friend,
ALEX. KERR.
VIII.
ACHMELVICH, 2nd May, 1872.
MY DEAR FRIEND,—I received your kind letter of 5th April, and although it is nearly a month since then, you must not think me, as the world says, “Out of sight, out of mind,” for you and some others are daily before me at a throne of grace. Whatever will become of us at last? Those that I think have some knowledge and feeling of their own corrupt and sinful hearts, I have a sympathy with; for I am myself a lump of sin and corruption, ever provoking the displeasure of the Holy One, who seeth not as man seeth, but searches the thoughts and intents of the heart. Sin appears in us in many different colours—unbelief, enmity, hardness (surely your hard heart grieves your spirit every day you live), worldly-mindedness, pride, hypocrisy—all these have a root in our evil nature.
Yet, blessed for ever be the Holy Name of Him who cast His eyes on unholy, rebellious creatures, whom He might justly have cast off forever, as they had not the least care for His glory nor for their own precious souls, and in His free love and mercy provided a ransom for them—even His only begotten Son. O! the undeserved love of God to sinners. O! the price He gave for their redemption! The atoning blood of His own Beloved Son! Time cannot fathom this—it will take eternity to search it out. O! eternity is a weighty word! My shallow thoughts regarding it often put me to a stand; but I believe this, there is only one preparation will prepare us for a good eternity, and that is, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” May the Lord of His own free grace give us that. May Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, yea may He by His Spirit take up His abode in the very depths of our hearts, fitting and moulding them as a temple for Himself. Time
is passing, and our days are passing with it. May we improve it to God’s glory and our own good.
You said in your letter that you thought — was a believer, but you did not say was it saving faith, nor did you say if you had saving faith yourself. Well, if you have not, it is of little consequence what you have or want; and I can say in honesty that I pity every one from the bottom of my heart who has it not.
Don’t be too long in writing. Remember me to the friends.—
Yours sincerely, ALEX. KERR.
Searmon.
LEIS AN URR. ARCHD. COOK A BHA ‘N DEIMHIDH.
THUG am peacadh a leithid de chriochnachadh do’n chruth-achadh ‘s mur b’e gu’n do sheas Mac Dhe a stigh gu’n rachadh a’ chruitheachd ‘na smàl. Biodh aig aon againn fhein mir oibre air an caitheadh sinn ar la ‘s gu’n tigeadh neach ‘s gu’n deanadh e le buille mirean de’n obair sin, cionnus a loisgeadh ar nadur an aghaidh sin? Nis ciod a rinni am peacadh? Direach, mhill e cruitheachd Dhe. O, sheann diabhuil ‘n e d’ obair a bhi ‘brosnachadh Dhe? O dhiabhuil oig ‘ne d’ obair a bhi ‘brosnuchadh Dhia gu do thilgeadh a dh’ ifrinn? Chuir am peacadh a h-uile ni a ordugh. Cha n ‘eil ni anns an ordugh anns an do chruthaich Dia e ach a mheud ‘s anns am bheil Dia ‘deanamh cruthachadh nuadh. Chuir am peacadh an duine as an ordugh agus as an oirdheirceas anns an robh e ann an iomhaigh Dhe agus ann an cumachd ris an lagh naomh. Chuir am peacadh a h-uile buaidh anns an anam a ordugh agus cha-n’eil ni ‘is iongantaich na Dia a’ deanamh cruthachadh nuadh anns a’ chreutair. ‘S iongantaich e na cruthachadh neamh agus talamh ach cha fhreagair an creutair gloir Dhe as eugmhais sin. O dhuine, tha do theangaidh a’ foillseachadh an spioraid shalaich a tha anns an diabhul. O! mar a tha an sgriobtuir a’ labhairt air smuaintean cridhe an duine a bhi olc o ‘oige; “is uaigh fhosgailte an sgornan”—direach uile bhuadhan an anama air tionndadh an rathad cli. Am bheil thu fein a’ cuimhneachadh do Chruitheir? Am bheil thu ‘ga ghradh-achadh? Cha-n ‘eil. An creutair neo-iompaichte, ‘s e a th’ ann diabhul agus bruid ann an aon, miannan an diabhuil anns an anam agus miannan na bruide anns a’ chorp. Chithear aig an la mhor na monstairean a bha anns an t-saoghal agus cha bhi iongantas air neamh no talamh gur e ifrinn an aite còmhnuidh siorruidh.
Thug am peacadh truaighe air na bruidean anns an t-saoghal. Tha mi ‘smuaineachadh gu bheil mi ‘cluinntinn an sgal broin a thainig a stigh ann an cruitheachd Dhe ‘nuair a thainig am peacadh a stigh. ‘ha robh creutair nach do ghuil ach an duine; ach bha esan air a chruadhachadh. Ciod an sgala bha an sud? O, sgrios dhe’n talamh an duine a thug na truaighean oirnn’. Tha sinn a’ leughadh air a’ chruthachadh a bhi fo dhaorsa. Cha-n ‘eil creutair air an
talamh nach ‘eil a’ fulang o’n pheacadh agus tha mar sin sgal anns a h-uile creutair airson dioghaltais agus tha Dia a’ tuigsinn sgal na cnuimh. Agus cha-n e sin a mhain, ach chaidh am peacadh a stigh ann an nadur cuid de na bruidean fein. Cha chomasach sinn a smuaineachadh ‘nuair a chaidh an cruthachadh gu’m marbhadh creutairean de’n aon nadur a cheile, gu’m marbhadh bo bo, na each each. Feumaidh gu’n deach’ am peacadh tre’n nadur agus mar sin feumaidh an cruthachadh bhi air a losgadh. Agus cha-n e sin a mhain, ach mar a tha toradh na talmhainn air a thionndadh gu beathachadh miannan an anama gu cogadh an aghaidh an Dhia. ‘S iongantach mar a ta e a’ labhairt ann an aon aite. “Cionnus a mhaiteas mi so dhuit? Threig do chlann mise agus mhionnaich iad orra sin nach ‘eil idir ‘nan diathan. ‘Nuair a shasuch mise iad le lon an sin rinn iad adhaltranas agus ann an tigh na striopaich chruinnich iad ‘nam buidhnibh,” agus a ris, “Dh’ fhas Iesurun reamhar agus bhreab e, threig e an Dia a rinn e agus rinn e dimeas air carraig a shlainte,” agus a ris iad a’ fas saoibhir agus a’ dichuimhneachadh lag an De’. ‘Nuair a fhuair thu fein beagan de’n t-saoghal c’aite am bheil an t-aoradh teaghlaich? Math dh’ fheidtta ru’n do shanntaich thu tigh do mabaiddh. O! ‘s iomadh com sanntach a bhios fathast lan de fheirg Dhe. Nach uamhasach sin ‘nuair a dh’ fheumas Dia creutairean gun reusan a mharbhadh agus an tilgeadh as a shealladh? Ach O! na tha de bhreugairean anns an t-saoghal, na tha de mhinaomhachadh Sabaid. Tha gloir Dhe ag agairt an cur a dh’ ifrinn no eiric air an son; agus tha sin ‘gar treorachadh a dh’ ionnsuidh an treas cinn.
III. An eiric. “Fhuair mi eiric.” Feudaidd mi radh gu’n robh ann an gabhail nadur na daonnachd ann an aonachd ris an Dia shiorruidh anns an dara pearsa ni nach b’ aithne do aon ach Dia. Ciod a ghluais an t.Eadar-mheadhonair gu nadur na daonnachd a ghabhail ann an aonachd ris fein? Direach, a ghaol do Dhia agus do’n duine: agus bha anns a’ ghniomh iad bunachar air a leagadh airson coimhlionadh ruintean Dhe. Bha iomadh run ann an Dia mu shaoghal peacach agus bha ann an sin bunachar air a leagadh airson coimhlionadh nan ruintean sin, agus airson foillseachadh de na ruintean do’n t-saoghal, mar anns na briathraibh sin, “na biodh eagal oirbh, oir feuch a ta mi ag innseadh deadhsgeul mhor aobh-neis a bhios do’n uile shluagh; oir rugadh dhuibh an diugh Slanuighear ann am baile Dhaibhidh, neach a ‘s e Criosd an Tighearna.” Bha bunachar air a leagadh airson toirt as an t-saoghal agus an cosnadh do Dhia agus airson sgrios oibre an diabhuil.
Bha anns a’ staid fein aicheidh, a ghabh Criosd anns an t-saoghal oirdheirceas ann an sealladh na Morachd a bha ‘freagairt mar eiric. Chomharrach Criosd gu’m biodh a ghloir folaichte anns an t-saoghal fo sgaile na daonnachd, gu’n aicheadhadh e dha fein a ghloir a bhuneadh dha mar an Cruithear, mar air a ghabhail a. stigh anns na briathraibh sin, “Deanadh uile aingil De aoradh dha.” Nis gu’n aicheadhadh am Fearsaoraidh dha fein a ghloir sin
a reir nam briathar “ged bha e saoibhir gidheadh gu’n do rinneadh bochd e air bhur son-sa” agus gu’m biodh e umhal gu bas eadhon bas mallaichte a’ chroinn cheusaidh, ciod na h-ionnhasan a fhuair ceartas ann an sin?
Agus chà-n e sin a mhain ach seall air na truaighean a tha anns an t-saoighal. Bha am Fearsaoraidh ag amharc air na truaighean sin mar thoradh a’ pheacaidh. Cha robh aon riamh anns an t-saoighal aig an robh a leithid de shealladanachd air peacadh mar a bha e an aghaidh gloir agus arduachdaranachd na Morachd’s a bh’aig an Fhear-shaoraidh. Nis ghabh e staid an duine agus ghabh e air fein na truaighean sin mar a chi sinn e sgith, ocrach, air a bhuaireadh, a’dol fo uile thruaighean na beatha so as eugmhais peacaidh. Bha e ag amharc air na truaighean mar thoillteanas a’ pheacaidh agus ann an sin cha bu chomasach do ghloinead ceartais aon smuain mhonmhor fhaician ag eirigh an aghaidh ‘fhulangais. Ciod na h-ionnhasan a fhuair ceartas ann an sin?
Seall mar a dh’fhoillsich e a’ bheatha bu choir do’n duine bhi beo agus mar a fhreagair e a’ bheatha sin. An aithne a bha aig Criosd air Dia’s e ‘bh’ann an aithne bu choir do’n duine a bhi aig air Dia, an aithne air Dia a chaill an duine anns an tuiteam. Chà-n ‘eil iad ach tearc anns an t-saoighal a tha ‘faicinn an aineolais air Dia ‘na pheacadh a chuireas a dh’ifrinn iad. An aithne air Dia agus an gaol do Dhia a bha ann an Criosd’s e a bh’ann an aithne agus an gaol a bu choir a bhi ann an creutairean reusonta. Seall cuideachd air an urram naomh a bha ann an Criosd, cha d’fhuair Dia a leithid riamh anns an t-saoighal. ‘Se so ni o’n do thuit an duine agus do bhrigh sin tha e toilltinneach air damnadh siorruidh.
Gabh beachd air an reite a bh ann an Criosd ri toil a’ Chruithier. ‘S ann an aite chreutairean ciontach a bha sin ann. ‘Se sin ni o’n do thuit iadsan. Agus ghabh an Cruithear siorruidh ri sin mar eiric air an son-sa.
Seall air nadur bas Chriosd. ‘Se ‘bhas a bha gu h-araidh aig Criosd ann a amharc ann an gabhail nadur na daonnachd. Cha robh ni a riaraicheadh ceartas ach fuil. Nach uamhasach sin, an Dia siorruidh ann an nadur na daonnachd ag urnuigh agus nach tearnadh sin an duine? Cha robh ni ach dortadh ‘fhola a dheanadh sin; agus ‘se sin a bha ‘na amharc ann an gabhail nadur na daonnachd, gu’m basaicheadh e anns an nadur sin. “A ta bais-teadh agam ri bhi air mo bhaisteadh leis agus cionnus a tha mi air mo theannachadh gus an coimhlionar e?” “Nis tha m’anam fo amhghar agus ciod a their mi? Athair, saor mi o’n uair so; ach is ann air a shon so a thaing mi chum na h-uaire so.” Nis ciod a bha anns an aonadh ud—Mac Dhe air a’ chrann-cheusaidh?
‘Se daoine agus diabhuil a pheacaich agus a dh’eirich ann an ceannairc an aghaidh Dhe, agus’s e nadur na daonnachd a bha anns an run shiorruidh, agus’s e nadur na daonnachd a dh’fheumadh ceartas a riar-achadh agus an reite a dheanamh. Nis cha bu chomasach nadur cruthaichte le umhlachd sam bith, air saorsa
oibreachadh a mach no aon anam a shaoradh o na truaighean a thug am peacadh air. Oir cha-n’eil aig an aingéal a’s airde ann an gloir ní’s mo de umhlachd na bhúineadh dha fein. Ach dh’írioslaich Mac Dhe e fein agus ghabh e nadur na daonnachd ann an aonachd ris fein agus ann an sin tha an Dia siorruidh ann an nadur na daonnachd a’ toirt riarachaidh; an nadur a bhris an lagh, a’ deanamh reite; an nadur a reic Dia, a’ cosnadh Dhia; an nadur a sgrios Satan, a’ sgrios oibre an diabhuil
(Ri leantuin.)
British Bluejackets at Rome.—About 150 sailors and some officers from the British battleships Bulwark, Montagu, and Ettrick called at the Vatican on June 21 to see the Pope. His “Holiness” was highly gratified by the company of so many brave and loyal subjects of King Edward. Mass was celebrated, and the devout warriors sang a number of hymns. They had the privilege of kissing not the toe, but the apostolic hand of his “Holiness,” and each man received as memento of the occasion a silver medal. This commerce of Imperial Britain in her old age with the devourer that kindled the fires of Smithfield and launched the Spanish Armada to destroy her in the days of her youth, is ominous, and will yet be instrumental in making history. There is a saying in Jeremiah’s prophecies that should arrest the attention of those who trust in Britain’s naval power, “Take ye away her battlements, for they are not the Lord’s.” Once the fleets and armies of this island kingdom were the defences of a Power professedly Protestant and Bible loving, and a considerable remnant of real Christians were found even in the fleets and armies of the nation. This public profession and real possession of the faith of the Gospel was the deep secret of Britain’s success by land and sea. Because, despite many defects and blemishes, our country was arrayed on the side of truth and righteousness, therefore Wellington smote down the European tyrant at Waterloo, and Nelson chased the confederated navies from the seas. But as surely as the Amorites, and Hittites, and the Assyrians overran and devoured God’s ancient people when they lapsed into idolatry, so surely will the ships and armies of a professedly Christian nation that has relapsed into the superstition and unrighteousness from which they were once saved by a miracle of the Lord’s right hand, and by the prayers, tears, and toils innumerable of men of whom the world was not worthy, so surely shall these proud defences be found as chaff in the whirlwind in the day of the Lord’s anger. But the judicial blindness of the King, the councillors, the chief men in Church and State, and the rank and file of the common people, is terrible to contemplate. Without fear or regret they are seeing the glory departing, and the work of the Reformation, with all its associated blessings, being undone.