Postal Labour on the Lord’s Day

THIS valuable leaflet, to which we direct very special attention, is issued by the Sabbath Observance Society, 34 St. Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh. We have taken the liberty of changing the word “Sunday” into Sabbath, or Lord’s-Day, wherever the word occurs:—

“If the friends of Sabbath Observance only knew the labour which is occasioned to letter sorters and carriers by letters received on Sabbath morning at the several post offices, they would pause before they posted letters on Saturday evening.

The report issued from the General Post Office, London, January, 1896, shows that 76,438 persons are employed in the postal service, and 62,300 others in partial work. Of the above numbers, 28,000 are women. Thus, 138,738 persons in all are engaged in transacting the immense postal work of the nation. Of these, more than 42,000 (many of whom are women) are employed, for a longer or shorter time, on the Lord’s Day.

We invite the reader’s attention to a few words of suggestion, fitted, we think, to relieve a class of deserving public servants, greatly over-worked, and often deprived, wholly or in part, of their heavenly birthright—the rest of one day in seven.

We want you to give up using the post on the Lord’s Day. A little forethought and consideration may be the means of lessening the burdens of many a hard-worked son of toil, and of earning for yourself an amount of gratitude none the less substantial, that no outward manifestation of it may happen to reach you.

We ask you to adopt the following simple rules:—

1. Do not post letters on Saturday afternoon or on Sabbath.
2. Arrange, if possible, that letters requiring answers shall not reach their destination on Saturday, and thus hold out any inducement for replies to be sent by the Sabbath mails.

No. 1 may be subject to this qualification, that letters may be posted on Saturday morning for delivery the same day at places not far off; but even here, if they require answers, you may put yourself within the scope of the case regarded in Rule 2.

Consider whether these two suggestions are not easy of application. How many letters now posted on Saturday and Sabbath, would equally accomplish their end, if retained in the possession of their writers till Monday.

But, it may be said—perhaps you yourself may have said it—‘Where is the good of one, or even a few, doing what you suggest, unless everybody join?’ To this we reply, that we seek to stop Sabbath posts by so reducing the business to be done, that the Government shall find that there are no letters to carry. London, with nearly six millions of people, has no delivery of letters on Sabbath, and yet no one complains. The classes brought most into contact with the Post Office—the merchants and traders of London—are silent, which assuredly they would not be, if they had anything to complain about.

In England and Wales there are 893 post towns, 40 of which have no house-to-house delivery of letters on the Lord’s Day. The 40 towns in this honourable position are:—Aldershot Camp, Belvedere, Bexley Heath, Brize Norton, Charlton, Chathill, Chingford, Crawley Down, Crayford, Crewe, Edmonton, Eltham, Erith, Fence Houses, Ferry Hill, Gateshead, Hayes, Hexham, Ivybridge, Kew, Kirby-Stephen, Lakenheath, Leyton, London, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Normanton, Picardy, Ponder’s End, Purley, Richmond, Six Mile Bottom, Southborough, South Woodford, Spennymoor, Tetsworth, Tilbury, Tottenham, Walthamstow, Wimbledon, Woodford Green.

In Scotland there are 165 post towns, 145 of which have no house-to-house delivery on the Lord’s Day. The 20 towns in which the Sabbath is desecrated by delivery of letters are:—Annan, Banff, Carluke, Coldstream, Drem, Fordoun, Haddington, Huntly, Inverurie, Irvine, Kelso, Kirkcaldy, Langholm, Lerwick, Lockerbie, Markinch, Maybole, Newburgh, Port-Ellen, Prestonkirk.

No one will surely pretend that these towns require a delivery on the Lord’s Day, when the large commercial centres of Edinburgh and Leith, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Greenock, Paisley, etc., have no delivery on the Sabbath.

In Ireland there are 169 post towns, 11 of which have no house-to-house delivery on the Lord’s Day. The 11 towns in this honourable position are:—Antrim, Ballybrophy, Ballymoney, Belfast, Clones, Curragh, Letterkenny, Londonderry, Newtonards, Portadown, Randalstown.

Friends of the Sabbath should remember:—(1) That Sabbath posts in rural districts can be abolished by the receivers of two-thirds of the letters addressing a memorial to the Postmaster General to that effect. (2) In town districts the memorial must be supported by the magistrates, and show the substantial unanimity of the inhabitants.

The Post Office servants deserve well at our hands. Let us do all that lies in our power to abolish their Sabbath toil, and so secure them a day of rest. The letter-carrier—no less than other men—needs the Lord’s Day for himself and his family. We are ‘Our brother’s keeper,’ and should do to him as we would he should do to us.

We leave the matter in your hands, hoping that the claims of God’s Word, and kindness to your fellow-creatures, may induce you to take this matter into your serious consideration. The liberty of the sons of God is not disobedience to His commands, but the realisation of delight in keeping them. ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments,’ are the words of Christ, ‘and, in keeping of them there is great reward.’ They who are assured of their duty and privilege to appropriate the Lord’s Day unreservedly to Him, and do it, are not likely, when the few remaining Sabbaths on earth are past, to feel that they had spent too much time in preparing for an abundantly administered entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nor, when they behold the King in His beauty, will they regret having proved their love to Him by keeping His commandments. Christ declared that He will confess before His Father those who confess Him before men. And will not they who here most cordially devote the Lord’s Day to Him, enjoy His presence with the sweetest zest hereafter? Those who desire to make the most and best of earthly Sabbaths—these days when heaven kisses earth; these gardens of rest along life’s dusty road; these bright rifts through the clouded nights of care; these golden threads in time’s woof; these crystal rounds in the ladder toward heaven—will find help by carefully adhering to the command of Him who said, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, IN IT, THOU SHALT NOT DO ANY WORK, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.'”

Ministerial Flattery.—It is a sign of spiritual decay when an epidemic of fulsome flattery takes hold of the professed servants of Christ. Some ministers may have great virtues, but when their brethren consider it their duty in season and out of season to flatter them to their face the practice becomes peculiarly nauseous. Church courts are at times turned into mutual admiration coteries, and church papers devote paragraphs and columns to the remarkable gifts and virtues of some esteemed brother. Such things are not of the Spirit, but “of the flesh.”

Searmon.

LEIS AN URRAMACH MICHAEL BRUCE.

“Stiúir mo cheumann a réir t-fhocail ; agus na biodh aig euceart sam bith uachdaranachd orm.”—Sailm cxix. 133.

(Continued from page 153.)

1. Mu thimchioll aon imeachd mhi-ríaghalteach a tha mi faotainn ann ar measg, feudaiddh sibh a choimeas fhaotainn, i Righ. xviii. 21, “Cia fhad a sheasas sibh eadar dha bharail? ma ’se ’n Tighearn is Dia ann, leanaibh e.” Thig náire agus an-aoibhinn air a leithid sin do luchd fuath-aon latha. Theid sibh do’n eaglais, agus éisdidh sibh ri ministirean Bhaal ; air là eile thig sibh a dh’ionnsuidh taobh chnoic eigin, agus éisdidh sibh a leithid do choinneamh searmonachaidh ’sa tha an so. An innis sibh dhomh, a mhüintir ionmhuinn, an saoil sibh sin na imeachd dheadh-ríaghalteach? C’ar son a sheasas sibh eadar da bharail? Ma ’se an Tighearn is Dia ann, leanaibh e : ma tha ughdarras diadhaidh gu bhi air a leantuin, leanaibh e. Ach ma tha sibh a’ saoilinn gu’n dean ughdarras dhaoinne an gnothach, co maith ri sin, an sin leanaibh e ; agus na bithibh ’n’ur luchd aidichidh meagaichte truailidh ann an cùisibh na diadhachd. Ach mur bi sibh rùnaichte dealachadh ri Baal, agus Dia a leantuin, bithidh lathean na’s dubhe ’n’ur measg na chunnaic sibh fathast. An

2. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-ríaghalteach a tha ’n’ur measg, chi sibh anns Mal. i. 6. Their iad Athair, agus gairmidh iad Tighearna dheth ; ach gun a bhi tabhairt dha aon-chuid seirbhis no urram. Nach ’eil mòran agaibh, na’n gabhadh Criosd aideachadh sgiamhach deth bhur lamhan, a bheireadh dha briathran sgiamhach na’s leòir? Ach air son imeachd ríaghalteach cha’n aithne dhuibh sin. Na’n gabhadh e aideachadh sgiamhach agus cleachdadh salach, bheireadh sibh sin dà : ghairmeadh sibh Athair dheth, ach cha d’thugadh sibh onoir dha ; bhur Dia dheth, ach cha d’thugadh sibh seirbhis dha. Tha mar so bhur gùlan na imeachd mhi-ríaghalteach, gun a bhi cosmhail ri bhur n-aideachadh.

3. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-ríaghalteach a dh’fheudar fhaicinn ann bhur measg, tha e agaibh anns Isa. xliii. 24. “Cha do cheannaich thu dhomh-sa le airgid a chuille chubhraidh, ni mo a lion thu mi le saill t’iobairtean ; ach shàruch thui mi le do lochdan : sgithich thu mi le d’ eucairtean.” Nach ’eil lionmhorachd agaibh ann an sgìrechd Challadair an Iar, a tha tabhairt a bhàn o Dhia dara leth a dhlighe, dara leth aoraidh, agus leth a mholaidh, agus a tha ’ga chaitheamh oirbh féin. Cha’n ’eil sibh a’ tabhairt moladh no aodhradh ceart dà, ach tha sibh ’ga shàrachadh le’r peacanna, agus ’ga sgìtheachadh le’r gràinealachdan. An

4. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-riaghailteach a tha ann bhur measg, tha e agaibh anns Salm lxxviii. 37. “Oir cha robh an cridhe ceart maillle ris, agus cha robh iad d’ileas ‘na choimhcheangal.” Feudaidd bhur cridheachan, a mhuinntir ionmhuinn, a bhi air an aithneachadh le’r cleachdadh agus ‘ur comh-labhairt. Agus mar air son bhur seasmbhalachd anns a choimhcheangal, rinn sibh aithnichte gu’n do tharruing sibh e a mach agus a steach. Aig gach aon teanntachd agus buaireadh ris na chomhlaich sibh, chuir sibh mineachadh air a choimhcheangal, eadhon ann bhur smuainte diomhain, ciod air bith a b’fhearr a fheagradh ‘ur buannachd o’n leth a muigh. ‘Se’n

5. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-riaghailteach ann bhur measg, gu’n bheil sibh nì’s cùramach air son bhur maoin, bathar, sprèidh, &c. Tha sibh lân do chùram air son mòran do nithe, ach an earrainn is fearr, agus an t-aon ni feumail, is beag a tha e a’ cuir do chùram oirbh. Tha Criosd, ‘aobhar, agus a chrann-ceus, air a mheas mar air bheag luach ann bhur measg. An

6. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-riaghailteach, agus do chleachdadh fuasgailt a tha ann bhur measg, is e, sibh a bhi deanamh ceannardan a chum pilltinn air ais do’n Eiphit. Is truagh dhuinne, deir sibh-se, gu’n robh gnothach cho mòr againn ri aobhar Dhia. Pilleamaid a ris do’n Eiphit; agus deanamaid dhuinn fein luchd eadar-mheadhon a ni sìth eadar sinn agus luchd gamhlais, agus thugamaid géill, agus bitheamaid maillle riu mar a bha sinn o chian-fhada. Ach leigibh dhomh-sa innseadh dhuibh, a dhaoinne, ge do ghabbadh sibh còmhuidh anns an Eiphit ré fad ‘ur laithlean, mur d’theid sibh trid muir ruadh trioblaidean agus amhgshirean, Canaan cha’n fhaic sibh gu siorruidh. O chuideachd, an caill sibh Canaan, air son sibh a dhòl troimh an fhàsach, anns am bheil trioblaidean? An caill sibh neamh agus sonas siorruidh, air son sibh a ghìùlan beagan do’n chranncheus? Nach cuir sibh sios na h-uile aig casan Chriosd? An caill sibh a leithid do luach urramach air son nithe gun fheum? An caith sibh bhur n-airgid air son sin nach aran, agus bhur sàothar air son sin nach sàsaich? An

7. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-riaghailteach a ta ‘n’ur measg, is e a bhi deanamh deireadh, no fùigheal do dh’fhirinn Dhia ann bhur n-imeachd. Tha mòran agaibh ann bhur giùllan ‘s n’ur cleachdadh a’ gabhail cuid agus a’ fàgail cuid eile do dh’aithtnibh Dhe, mar is àill leibh féin. Gabhaidh sibh a h-aon, agus fagaidh sibh a dhà; no gabhaidh sibh a h-aon, agus fagaidh sibh aon eile; agus gabhaidh sibh an aon is ro-fhusa, agus fagaidh sibh iadsan is ro-dhoilbhe agus chunnartaiche. Feumaidh iad so o bhi air am fàgail gus am fàs na laithlean na’s fearr. Ach c’ar son tha sibh fo eagl co mòr air son sin a tha cruaidh agus cunnartach? Mar is doilbhe an obair a dh’ionnsuidh an do chuir Dia sibh, ‘sann as mo a bhitheas ‘ur n-uidheam. Mar a’s cruaidhe bhios an obhair, ‘sann is fearr a chobhras bhur Maighstir sibh troimhe. O ma ta, nach bi imeachd riaghailteach na chùram agus na smuaineachadh dhuibh. Tha’n

8. Mir do dh’imeachd mhi-riaghailteach air a dheanamh suas deth fhrithéaladh air a nuadh-chúinneadh, no a’ gabhail leisgeil cúisean mhi-laghail. Tha daoine agus mnathan air an togail anns na laithibh so, ri bhi cleachdadh an comasan ann an gabhail leisgeil gniomhara mhilaghail. Bheir iad argumaidean na’s leòir bho dhoilbheachd ‘eigin, gu’n leisgeil féin a ghabhail air son an dearmad air dleasdanais. Cha tabhair iad aon argumaid a chum am misneachadh féin ann an dleasdanais; ach an uair a chuireas iad a thaobh e, gabhaidh iad fichead argumaid gu’n leisgeil féin a ghabhail ann a sheachnad, ‘nuair nach bi a h-aon aca air son a dheanamh. Uime sin tha mi ag àithnheadh dhuibh, mar a bhitheas sibh freagaireach do bhur Tighearn agus bhur Maighstir mòr, gu’n d’theid sibh mu thimchioll bhur dleasdanais air na h-uile chunntartaibh, agus na gabhaibh bhur leisgeil féin air son a sheachnad. An

9. Mir do ghiùlan mhi-riaghailteach, is aon e a tha na Dhia-achheadh. Tha mòran agaibh a tha ‘g imeachd mar nach biodh Dia anns na nèamha, agus mar nach biodh agaibh anama neobhàsmhor gu bhi air an tearnadh, no air an damnadh, agus mar nach bitheadh ann aon-chuid neamh no ifrinn. An innis sibh dhomh, a dhaoine, am bheil smuain sam bith agaibh air neamh no air ifrinn, no mu’n Dia bheò, a pheanasaicheas sibh gu soirrudh, mur tabhair sibh umhlachd dhà. An dàna leibh a bhi beò mar na h-ainmhidhean? Am b’u dàna leibh a dhol gu’r leapaichibh, agus a theachd asda mar na h-ainmhidhean? Na’m biodh sibh a’ creidsinn ann an Dia, cha bu dàna leibh a bhi briseadh aithanta, no ann an gabhail a h-aon, agus fàgail a dhà, do reir bhur toil féin. An innis thu dhomh, a dhuine, no ‘bhean, am bheil creideamh agad gu’m bheil agad anam gu bhi air a thearnadh? Cha’n ‘eil focal idir mu thimchioll so; ach tha bhur cùram uile mu timchioll ullachadh air son bhur tighean agus ‘ur teaghlaichibh. Tha so a’ tabhairt air mòran agaibh a dhol do’n eaglais thar solus agus broinn bhur coguisibh féin. ‘Nuair a theid sinn uile uidh no astar na comchoslas, ‘sann uile air son na criche agus na rùn so. Ach ciod e na’m faigheadh sibh bàs ann an leth-bhliadh’n, no na’s lugba? Nach ‘eil do dhànadas agad do bhean agus do chlann a chuir air lamhan Dhia, a chum ‘s gu’m bi esan na fhear-pòsda agus na athair dhoibh? Sibhse a bhris aithnte Dhé, agus a bhris air a lagh air an son, a chum ‘s gu’m fanadh sibh maillè riu, rinn sibh na b’urrainn sibh a chum fhabhar-san a thabhairt air falbh uatha, tha ‘g ullachadh mar-aon air an son-sa agus air bhuir bhuir son féin. ‘Nuair a’ dh’fheudas an duine a tha fantuinn dileas ann an aobhar Dhia a’ smuaineachadh, ge do bheireadh Dia mise air falbh air an oidhche so fein, tha agam muinighinn a chum mo bhean agus mo chlann, agus na h-uile fhàgail ann an lamhan Dhé. Ach sibhse a reic aobhar Dhia, agus anam ‘us coguis, a chum aran a cheannach dhoibh, cionnas a shaoléas sibh a bhitheas ullachadh air a dheanamh air son na dream so? no cia mar a bhitheas do choguis agaibh am fàgail air

cùram Dhia, gu ullachadh a dheanamh air an son? Gu dearbh, esan a dh’fhag beannachd Dhe aca, le a bhi dileas do’n aobhar, feudaidh esan dùil a bhi aige gu’n gabh Dia cùram diubh. Tha eagal orm gu’m bheil mòran do a leithid sin do luchd imeachd brùideil ann bhur measg. Tha eagal orm gu’m bheil mòran ann bhur measg do nach b’athnhe riamh ciod bu chioll do dhiadhachd. Ach bha sibh diadhaidh na’s leòir, na’n robh agaibh barr cho maith r’r coimhearsnaich, agus uiread do sprèidh; oir cha’n fhaca sibh riamh na’s mò do mhaith ann an diadhachd na anns an ni sin is mo a thug do bhuannachd leis. Cha d’fhoghlum sibh riamh an diadhachd sin a thug air muinntir a bheag sa’m bith fhagail.

‘Nis chuirinn dà cheist ribh a tha mar so ‘n’ur leithid sin do luchd imeachd neo-ghlan bhrùideil. ‘Se

(1.) Aon, C’ar son a bha sibh air bhur cruthachadh, agus air bhur tabhairt a dh’ionnsuidh an t-saoghail? Am b’ann gu bhi ad’ sheirbhiseach agus ad’ thràill do’n t-saoghail? Mo thruaighe, a sheirbhiseach bhochd agus a thràill, dhuit féin. An robh thu air do thabhairt a chum an t-saoghail gu bhi beò dhuit féin, agus gun chrioich air bith eile ach gu tiom a chàitheadh, agus gu fearg Dhia a thabhairt ort féin, agus a chum feirge a chàrnadh suas air chionn là na feirge? Uime sin, a mhuiintir ionnmuinn, mar a b’aill leibh croich bhur cruthachaidh a fhréagairt, foghlumaibh caithe-beatha freagarrach ri focal Dhé.

(2.) ‘Se a cheist eile a b’aill leam fhèorach dhibh, sibhse a luchd imeachd bhrùideil, Ciod a bheir sibh a chum na h-uaghe maille ribh? Tha agaibh sprèidh, maoin, agus bathar; ach an d’thoir sibh na nithe so chum na h-uaghe maille ribh? B’aill leam daoine agus mnathan a bhi ‘g imeachd air a leithid do dhoigh ‘s gu’m bi ac ni-eigin gu thabhairt a chum na h-uaghe maille riu. Sibhse aig am bheil a mhain ‘ur cuibhrinn ann am maoin an t-saoghail so, cha’n urrainn sibh an tabhairt a dh’ionnsuidh na h-uaghe maille ribh. Gu dearbh, tha agaibh ni-eigin a dluthleanas ribh, agus ‘se sin mallachd Dhia. Theid so a dh’ionnsuidh a bhàis agus na h-uaghe maille ribh, mur dean sibh aithreachas ann an ùin ghearr. Ach am fear imeachd riaghailteach, ge do chailleadh e a mhaoin-shaoghailt’ uile, ‘seadh, agus a bheatha mar an ceudna, tha aige do ghnàth na cuig nithe so gu thabhairt do’n uaigh maille ris, nach ‘eil aig neach air bith eile ach aig fear imeachd dheadh-riaghailteach.

1. Ma’s fear imeachd riaghailteach thu, tha agad fàbhar Dhia gu thabhairt a chum na h-uaghe leat. O ro-mhaith! ‘Nuair a thig sinn fa chomhar caithir-bhreithneans Dhé, aithnichidh e sinn, do thaobh na bha eadar esan agus sinne ann an laithibh ar n-imeachd gu riaghailteach. Ach, O mo thruaighe! Their ‘ur Maighstir ri mòran, cha b’athnhe dhomh riamh sibh, do bhrigh bhur n-imeachd mhi-riaghailteach. Agus

2. Ma tha sibh ‘n’ur luchd imeachd riaghailteach, tha agaibh teistes deadh-choguis gu thabhairt a chum na h-uaghe maille ribh. Ach sibhse aig am bheil imeachd mhi-riaghailteach, tha

agaibhse a chnuimh nach bàsaich gu siorruidh, gu thabhairt a chum na h-uaigne maille ribh. O mhuiintir ionmhuinn, tha e na shealladh dubhach, gruimeach, a bhi faicinn neach a’ dol gu bàs le droch coguis. O ma ta, a dhaoine, agus a mhathan, bhur n-uile dheartmad air dleasdanais teaghlaich, aodhradh follaiseach no diomhar, agus bhur n-aomadh peacach, beucaidh iad fathast ann bhur cluasaibh; agus bhur buntainn gu cealgach. ri Dia, sathaidh e fathasd sibh gus a chridhe. Cuiridh sgreadail coguis air a dùsgadh sibh air chuthach gu saoghal na’n saoghal. ‘Se so cuibhrinn fear imeachd mhi-riaghailteach; ach tha deadh-choguis aig an fhear imeachd riaghailteach gu thabhairt a chum na h-uaigne leis, agus bithidh sin na chuilm do ghnàth dha. An

1. Ni, ma tha sibh na’r luchd imeachd gu riaghailteach, a tha agaibh gu a thabhairt a dh’ionnsuidh na h-uaigne maille ribh, is e ceangal Dhé air son beatha bhith-bhuan; “‘Se so m’uile shlainte, rinn e riumsa cumhnant siorruidh.” Tha agaibh gealladh Dhia, a nì is e a bhann no an ceangal air son beatha shiorruidh, na luidhe ann bhur còir. An

2. Ni, a tha agaibhse, a luchd imeachd riaghailteach, gu a thoirt a chum na h-uaigne maille ribh, is e stoc do ghràsaibh Dhé, a sgaoleas ann an ùin ghearr ann an glòir shiorruidh. Agus nach ‘eil so taitneach? Oir, O tha gràs na dheadh chuideachd gu thabhairt leibh do’n uaigh, smuainichibhse air mar is àill leibh.

Fa-dheoidh, sibhse a tha ‘n’ur luchd imeachd riaghailteach, tha agaibh ceanglachan do thoradh caithemhbeatha onoireach, agus an cosd uile ris an coinich sibh a’ dol troimh thigh bhur cuairt. Ro-mhaith, ma ta; nach saoil sibhse nach feud an Criosduidh aig am bheil na cuig nithe so a dhol gu suilbhir troimh na bhàs a dh’ionnsuidh na siorruidheachd? Ach cha’n fhan mi air a so. Se’n ni a b’ailt leam a radh ribh so, bithidh na’s leòir agaibh r’a dheanamh bhur casan fhaotainn air an cumail dreach ‘san t-slighe. C’ar son so, a Criosduidh? Do thaobh a Criosduidh, tha fhios agaibh, air son a dhoilbheachdan gu léir, gu’m bheil aige do ghnath lagh ann a bhallaibh a’ cogadh ann an aghaidh lagh inntinn. Agus tha’n dithis so a’ cogadh ann an aghaidh a cheile. Air an aobhar sin, feumaidh an Criosduidh a dheanamh na chleachdadh dha féin, taobh a chumail ri lagh inntinn, ri gràs, agus ri Criosd agus aobhar, oir ‘se so is fearr dhuibh a dheanamh, ma tha sibh a’ rùnachadh gu’n dean sibh gu maith: feumaidh sibh taobh a chumail ris a phairtidh onoireach air na h-uile cunnart. An innis sibh dhomh, a mhaighstirean, nach e cuid de bhur cainnt, An cuir sinne, air son beagan do’r cuid-se searmonachaidh air là seachdain no Sàbaid, ann an cunnart call na h-uile ni a tha againn? Am feum a leithid so ‘sa leithid sud do dhuiine, aig am bheil na h-uiread do mhaoin, na h-uile a chall air son diadhachd? Chosd e mòr obair agus deadh riaghladh dhuinne, agus do’r n-aithrichibh, mu’n d’fhuair sinn an t-airgid, am maoin, am bather, no am mir fearann so air a cheannach; agus am b’ailt leibh gu’n dealaicheadh sinn ris na h-uile air son diadhachd?

Thugaibh an aire, a mhaightirean, ciod a deiream. Cha’n ‘eil mi a’ ceadachadh do neach sam bith dealachadh ri mhaoin, no ri fhearann, mur bi e air a ghairm d’a ionnsuidh ; ach mur dealaich iad ris an uair a tha e air a chuir ann an co-dheuchainn ri diadh-achd, agus aobhar Chriosd, ann an sin dearbhaiddh e bhi na mhallachd Dhia dhoibh. Le’n gleidheadh, caillidh sibh iad ; oir tha mi tabhairt bhur dúblan ar ceumanna a bhi air an stiùradh reir focail Dè, mur feum sibh aon chuid bhur maoin a chall, no an nì sin is fearr. Ach cuimhnichibhse gu’n dubhairt mise e ann an ainm mo mhaighstir, gu’m bi an luchd-imeachd gu riaghailteach le’n call na’n luchd buannachd ; oir cumaidh na tri nithe so air bhur cosaibh sibh.

(Rì leantuin.)