THIS worthy man was born at Dalmore, Rogart, where he also died on Tuesday, the 27th day of September. In early life he was like his fellow-creatures, satisfying himself with the things which perish in the using, but as far as can be known he lived a very moral life, which is all the religion the majority of gospel hearers have in our day. Those, however, whom the Lord has loved with an everlasting love will not be left with daylight dreams of that kind; the Lord will make them see and feel what they have done, and what is in their hearts.
When His time came that this man, who was naturally of the earth earthy, was to be quickened, it was not in a soft manner the Allwise dealt with him. He might say that the arrows of the Almighty were fast in his soul, so much so that some thought his reason would give way. For some time he could not look at his work or converse with his friends as he used to do. To some he told afterwards that eternal realities were before his mind day and night, and that he could not see that there was anything for him but “to be with the devil in the lake of fire.” Thus he spent days and nights, the sleep parting from his eyes, so that some of his friends and neighbours thought that he was beside himself, when the man was in reality, like the Prodigal Son, coming to himself. In this state of mind, being one day in the school where the worthy man, James Murray, kept a meeting, Alexander got up and addressed the people, whom he considered secure and careless, somewhat as follows:—”If you all knew how near we all are to eternal ruin, you would not be so careless.” To those who could not see their danger this was nothing but the saying of a deranged man. Some of them complained to James, but he would answer, “Leave you Sandy; the Lord will take care of him.” Earthly physicians were consulted, but they could not help him; his trouble was deeper than a nervous shock.
The Lord alone could relieve him, and when His time came it might be said of him in the words of the gospel that “he sat at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind.” The Spirit, whose office it is to convince of sin, righteousness, and judgment, showed him that he was under the wrath and curse of God, and then enlightened his mind in the knowledge of Christ, and enabled him to embrace Him as He is freely offered in the gospel; and if his state as a condemned sinner was painful to him, when the anger of the Lord was turned away and he was comforted, his joy knew no bounds. As he said himself, “I thought I was never to be moved again,” but this only continued few days, and he was in the depth again, with Satan making new accusations against him,—that he was of those who are described as having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, that he could feel himself that he had fallen away, and that there was no hope for him now. This was the school in which Alexander was being taught when those who were secure in Zion considered him beside himself The Lord was teaching him lessons that would in future be helpful to those who would be tossing on billows somewhat similar, and when the Lord’s time came he was again enabled to hope in His mercy.
The Psalmist said that they reel and stagger like one drunk, but that He bringeth them out of their distresses. And when the time came that this wrestler with principalities and powers was called upon in public to open his lips in praises of Him who called him out of darkness into His own marvellous light, the children of light could see that it was not from man he had his news, but that his heart was inditing good matter, and that in a measure he resembled his Master who spoke with authority and not as the scribes. The most careless could see that a great change had come over the man whom they had formerly known only as a good neighbour. The inmates of the house in which he lived felt that the Lord had indeed visited them. The poor of the flock in these parts were refreshed as they listened to him declaring the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” Naturally humble, kind and peaceable, with a clear intellect when grace took possession of his soul, cleansing and enlightening it, he became a polished shaft in the hand of the Lord.
On the Friday at Communion seasons he was often enabled to enter into the green pastures of the Word of God, although after being watered the accuser often tempted him, that he had no right to be among the Lord’s people. The self-righteous will dance as self pipes, but the true child of God will have a messenger of Satan to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure. But in his case all the enemy’s temptations worked for his good, for it made him seek more of the Lord’s fellowship. In his spare time he went about visiting the sick of all denominations. Although the parish is shaken with divisions, all welcomed him to the bedside of the sick; there he might be found seeking the salvation of immortal souls. Thus following the Word of God, “visiting the fatherless and widows,” Alexander Campbell ran the race. As for his kindness and hospitality, it might be said of him, as was said of another good man, that he had a house that would hold twenty but a heart that would hold a hundred. At Communion seasons it was his delight to see every corner of the house occupied and to minister to the wants of the people.
As the Lord of the harvest was gathering the keepers of the walls from the Church militant to the Church triumphant, the lovers of Zion were anxious to have others set in their stead. The Session, looking upon Alexander as a man taught of the Lord, wished to have him as an elder. When the day of ordination came, James Murray, though feeble, went all the way to Laing to see his colleague installed, and said as he returned, “I am glad I saw this before my departure.” Little did those who looked on that day think that the young elder would so soon follow the old catechist to the region of bliss. For a short time Alexander went in and out with his brethren, discharging the duties of his office in a humble but firm manner, clearly revealing that he felt the eye of his Master upon him, often tempted that he was not a suitable man for the office he held. Sometimes he would be so cast down that he would refuse to pray, and he told afterwards the reason, saying, “I felt myself a Judas among the rest.” The Lord was fast preparing him for the house of many mansions, and Satan wished to make the way as thorny for him as he could. He might say with the Apostle, “Without were fightings, within were fears;” but as his tribulations abounded his consolations also abounded by Jesus Christ. In him the lily bruised, and the flourishing palm tree revealed themselves, mourning over his own barrenness and rejoicing in Christ Jesus, who could turn his barren soul into a fruitful field by the power of His hand. Those who used to hear him from Sabbath to Sabbath may well remember how he would in prayer plead “that I might be found in Him, not having mine own, righteousness.”
The Sabbath before he died it seems the Lord gave him a taste of the pleasures that are at His right hand. He kept the people much longer than he used to do, telling them that he wanted to be free from their blood. The portion of God’s word he spoke from was Matt. xxv., from the 31st verse to the end. The Lord was revealing to him what is hid from the “wise and prudent”—that there is a Throne at which we must all appear to be judged of the things done in the body.
On his arrival at his own house, his wife remarked that he had kept the people later than he used to do, to which he replied, “Yes, I felt so happy; I did not want to part with them.” At the evening service he said that there were some there that night that would never be there again. The people wondered at the unusual way he spoke to them, but he was bidding them farewell. The words he had in the evening were John xiv and last verse, “Arise, let us go hence.” He was indeed going hence, for on the morning as he was making ready for the work of the day the messenger of death came to him in a severe pain in his side. The doctor and a nurse were called in, but no human skill could stop the trouble. It was the call from the Father of spirits to appear before Him.
One of the members of the congregation, on hearing that he was so ill, went at once to see him, and asked if he felt any pain on Sabbath. “No,” he said, “nor on Sabbath night, but it was my last Sabbath on earth.” Although in excruciating pain he revealed his concern for the cause of Christ in the land. About an hour before he died he was asked if he would like to live longer, to which he replied, “Yes, if I would be enabled to witness for Christ; there is need of faithfulness, for we live in a dark, dark age.” After a while he said, “We know it is the Lord’s cause we have,” and then he said to one who stood beside him, “Go and keep worship. I am so pained that I cannot read.” Then he went on his knees beside the bed, and as he went back it was too evident that his soul was about to leave the tabernacle of clay. His wife, who could not stand to see his agony before, and all his friends, were then called in. As his wife came before him he asked who was there, and when he knew her voice he asked one near him to hold up his hands while he placed them round her neck, committing her to the Lord, till he closed his eyes in death between 9 and 10 on Tuesday.
The comfort he got from the Lord on the Sabbath before was like Elijah’s, a preparation for the journey from time to eternity. Of Alexander Campbell it might in truth be said that he was lovely in his life and in his death.
May the Father of the fatherless and the widow’s stay shield and support his widow and orphan child, and his aged mother, to whom he was a wise counsellor as well as a dutiful son! And may his mantle fall on some one in the parish where he lived, that we may not be as Sodom nor be made like unto Gomorrah!
E. M’Q.