(XIV.)
ACHMELVICH, 17th February, 1875.
MY DEAR FRIEND,—It is time for me to answer your last welcome letter, although I have not much news, unless I consider it news that I am spared yet on the foot-stool, and in my own sight only a cumberer of the ground. I am afraid that I am that in His sight also, who knows the heart and its motives and desires. When I compare myself to those recorded in Scripture who lived by faith on the Son of God, how I see my own shortcomings, how I see my want of that living faith which is Christ formed in the soul—the hope of salvation. No wonder then that I am restless and dissatisfied at the want of this exercise of living faith, a sure token of which would be the love of Christ taking possession of the faculties of my being. No wonder that I am concerned to find in myself some marks of the true people of the Lord, seeing that I am fast approaching my latter end, and soon the scale will go to the one side or the other. Now, my dear, see that you make sure work of the salvation of your immortal soul. Nothing will stand the test at last, but your possessing a free pardon through the atoning blood of the Son of God, and a mark of your getting this would be that the constraining love of Christ would draw you after Himself through evil report and good report.
My wife is in the same weak condition, the family are well, but I am keeping feeble, especially in my breathing, and the palpitation I told you of before is not leaving me.
Remember me to W. M. and to S. M. and the rest of my acquaintances; and oh! choose the good part that shall never be taken away.—Your sincere friend, A. KERR.
XV.
ACHMELVICH, 21st May, 1875.
MY DEAR FRIEND,—I received your last kind letter in due time, by which I understand you have not been well. I hope you are better by this time, and able to go about. Perhaps you will not be the worse of some touches of bodily sickness, for we are so much attached to the things of this present life that we need to be reminded that we and they will not always continue together. Now, if you are one of the Lord’s own children, the smiting rod is not a token of wrath, but of chastisement for the good of your immortal soul; and your part is to submit to His hand, and to take up the cross, pleading the promise that He has given in His own Word that they that wait on Him shall not be put to shame. Blessed for ever be His name, that He made such promises to lost, helpless sinners, who in His sight were deserving only of His wrath. Blessed for ever be His name that He looked on such in their low, lost state, and gave for their redemption none other than His only begotten and well-beloved Son, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” And, surely, my dear, if you know anything by experience of this adorable gift, you will praise the Lord even in the midst of earthly trouble.
I am not keeping strong, as I mentioned before, and if you will be writing to Donald Duff, tell him of my weakness, and of my feeling of being unprepared for the solemn change of entering on my eternal state.
My wife is in the same weak condition.—Yours sincerely, A. KERR.