ST. JUDE’S, GLASGOW.
(Continued from page 97.)
GLASGOW, 31st January, 1900.
MY DEAR D.,—I received your most welcome letter, and was glad to hear that you got away at last, and I am hoping and wishing that it will do you good, and that you will prosper as your soul prospers. I trust you will soon be back both in a good frame of soul, and in some strength of body, and that you will be enabled, in the Spirit, to avoid the fellowship of this world. “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” O, that we had this desire in our hearts! that we might be enabled to come to Him with all our desires; humbly beseeching Him to wash us in the heart from all our corruption; for it is written that He will hear the desire of the humble. “If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me,” for without holiness no one can see the Lord. It is written—”Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” It would be wise for us to examine what is the desires of our hearts, and that we could come to Him with all the desires of our hearts; hiding nothing from Him. The wicked cannot come to God with his desire, because his desire is evil. He would far rather that there was no God at all; because the desires and imaginations of his heart are evil continually. It will cause anguish of spirit to the wicked to think that there is a God who is holy in all his ways. The fool says in his heart that there is no God; not in his mouth, but in his heart.
I saw in the newspaper last night that a lecture was delivered by a minister in one of the churches of Glasgow. I wish very much that I heard him, because he took a very suitable text for this nation. The text was—”So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children and their children’s children; as did their fathers, so do they unto this day” (2 Kings, 17-41). He might give a very striking lecture on that text.
Now, dear D., I would far rather speak to you face to face than write. However, I hope you will get this letter all right. I hear that Mr. Mackay is keeping much about the same way; he is not improving much, but he comes out of bed a while every day. I do hope, dear D., that you will drop me a note at every landing place on the voyage. But, if I tell you the truth, I don’t know what makes you so fond of getting my letters, for when I read them after I stop writing them, should I consult my own feelings, it would be much easier for me to burn than to post them. I hope you will enjoy your voyage, and that you will meet with better men this time than you did on your last . . . I hope that the truth will be a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path in that strange land, and that your light may shine brightly, so that all about you may see it. I say, let your light so shine before men. May the love of God uphold you, and may the Holy Spirit be with you always, even unto the end.—Your affectionate
J. MACLEOD.
GLASGOW, 12th April, 1900.
MY DEAR D.,—I was pleased to get your letter to-day, bearing the good news that you were well at the time of writing. I was wondering what came over you when I did not hear from you sooner. I did not forget you at a throne of grace, but was asking that whatever trials and troubles you may have in this world, you may enjoy sweet communion with God in Christ, and that you may enjoy all the promises of God, which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus, and that you may have all the blessings of the covenant of grace. I am greatly deceived if this be not my real desire toward you. Oh, to be enabled to trust in God; and if we could get to trust in Him, then all the promises would be fulfilled to the full desire of our hearts. What a great thing it would be if our hearts’ desire would be that His name should be glorified throughout an endless eternity! This was the desire of David, the servant of God—”Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my desire.” That you may enjoy all the blessings of this covenant is my earnest desire for you this day; not that you have not been enjoying them, but that you may enjoy them more and more—for I can say, as John Knox said to an old woman once, “If I were as sure of my own salvation as I am of yours, I would truly be content, but what an indescribable calamity awaits graceless professors in eternal woe.” Dear D., may we, by grace, be enabled to praise His name for His unspeakable gift. I wrote you to Southampton, but you did not get my letter. I hope you will get this one in Durban. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.—Affectionately yours, J. MACLEOD.
Cunntas AITHGHEARR
MU BHEATHA ‘N URR. RAIBEART FIUNLASON,
Bha na Mhinstreir do’n Eaglais Shaoir ann ‘n Eilein Leoghais,
agus ann ‘am Bunfhillidh.
LEIS AN URR. I. MACPHERSAIN, BHA ANN ‘N LOCHAI’SE, 1870.
(Continued from page 115.)
III.—MARBH-RANN,
DO’N URRAMACH RAIBEART MAC-FHIONNLAIDH, LE EANRUIG
MAC-NA-CEAIRD.
O! ‘Bhuinillidh, nach dean thu bròn,
‘S tu ‘fhuair an leòn nach b’aithne dhut,
S’ an annad ‘thuit na prionnsan mòr’,
Nach robh nan còt ‘thug barrachd orr.
Maighstir Dòmh’n’lach an leomhan treun,
‘Dol troimh gach ceum d’a dhleasannas,
S nach fhac e aghaidh duine riamh,
Roi mh ‘m fiaradh e, no ‘n teicheadh e.
‘Mhaighstir ‘Ic-Fhionnlaidh, ‘fhuair mo ghràdh,
‘Se d’ait an diugh ‘tha falamh dhomh,
‘S gur e an ùir ‘bhi air do shùil,
A dh-fhàg cho brùite m’ acain dhomh.
Gur ioma’ ceum ‘thug mi troimh ‘n Ord,
‘S bu deònach air an astar mi,
A’ feitheamh orm-sa bhiodh an fhéisd,
O’n gheibhinn feum dh’a m’anam aic.
‘An ceann na h-ùrnuigh, ‘fhir mo rùin,
Bu dìrachdach ‘s an tagar thu;
An Spiorad ‘taomadh ort mar dhruichd,
‘S o d’ bhilibh cùin bu bhlasad’oire.
Bha d’ ùrnuigh chubhr’ mar bholtrach tuis’,
‘S an tuisseir òir ‘cur bolaidh dhith,
‘Us agad bròn cha robh ‘s an fheòil,
Nach bi ‘n a cheòl ‘s ‘n a mholadh dhut.
Gu-n d’fhàs thu ‘n àird mar sheudar àrd,
Os ceann an àit an d’ rugadh tu,
‘Us bha thu d’ onoir ‘thir do dhùthch’,
‘S na h-uile taobh an tugadh tu.
Anns gach àit ‘s an robh thu riamh,
Bu chianail bhiodh an dealachadh,
Oir fhuair thu buaidh air cridh’ an t-sluaigh,
A rinn ro chruaidh an sgaradh uat.
Gur iomadh neach a deas ‘s a tuath,
A chreid ‘am buaidh na fola uat,
S’ a b’ urr’ le barantas a ràdh,
Gur tus’ a bhà ‘n a d’athair dhoibh.
Cho fad ‘s a thriall mi ‘n ear no ‘n iar,
Bu tu mo mhiann ‘s mo thoileachadh,
Oir bha thu féin mar bhail’ air slabh,
A chaoidh nan cian nach folaichear.
‘Nuair ‘sheasadh tus’ ‘an ceann a bhùird,
‘S tu làn a dhruichd nam fhlaitheanas,
An t-arán bhriseadh tu do’n chlann,
‘S an debra fann ‘s tu ‘n eartaicheadh.
Fear ‘d agallaidh ‘am beachd, ‘s ‘an rian,
Cha ‘n fhac mi riamh, no coimeas dhut,
A’ toirt a mach nam briathar dorch’,
‘Gan deanamh soirbh ‘cur soluis orr’.
‘S tu bheireadh furtachd do ‘n lag, leònt’,
‘S a nochdadh dòigh an Phairisich;
‘S gach cumadh meallaidh th’ air a’ cheilg,
Gach car ‘us cearb dhith bhrathadh tu.
‘S an àirde deas fo theas na grèin’,
‘An trìbh cèin b’òdh aithris ort;
‘S an àirde tuath fuidh ‘n reodhadh fhuar,
B’òdh iomradh buan ‘bhios maireann ort.
Gu feumainn gibtean agus gràs,
M’ am b’ urr’ mi radh na bhùineadh dhomh,
Mu d’ thàlannan ‘bha farsuing, fial,
S’ mu d’ phearsa sgiamhach, urramach.
Fear ‘chuirinn d’ ait cha-n fhaic gu bràth,
Ach teagamh ‘n gràs cha-n altrùim mi,
‘Us bidh mi ‘n dùil gu-n tig luchd iùil,
Le ùghdarras o fhlaitheanas.
Tlachd mo leanabaidheachd ‘us m’ òig’,
Gur ann dòmh-sa bha do charthanachd,
‘S cha-n fhac mi là nach robh e ‘fas,
Gu’n d’ rinn am bàs ar sgarachduinn.
Ach tha mi ‘n dùil nach fhad an ùin,
Gu coinneamh ùr gun dealachadh,
‘N sin acain, euslainteachd, no cràdh,
No bròn, no bàs cha-n fhairich sinn.
Do bhantrach bhochd, ‘s do shlochd fo bhròn,
‘Sa sileadh dheòir gun lasachadh,
‘S nachd fhaic iad tuilleadh ‘n tìr no ‘n àm,
Na ni an call a cheartachadh.
Cha sgil, ‘s cha bharail réir na feòl’,
Thug dhòmh-sa rachd na thubhairt mi,
Ach mheud ‘s a bh’ort a dh-iomhaigh Chriosd,
‘S nachd fhac mi riann ‘fhuair uiread dheth.
Gur e mo dhùrachd ‘us mo ghràdh,
A rinn an dàn ‘s a chumadh leam,
‘Us tha mo shiùl ri feara’ Leò’ is,
Gu’n cuir iad dòigh air tuilleadh dhiubh.
IV.—MR. FIUNLASON, BUNFHILLIDH.
Air a sgriobhadh ‘s a bheurla aig àm bàis Mhr. Fiunlason leis an Urramach Donncha Mac-Ghrigair, ann an Dundee, a’ nis air eader-theangachadh le I. M’P.
Ge d’ nach ‘eil mòran eolais air ainm Raibeart Fiunlason mu dheas, tha e mar ghnath-fhocal taitneach ann an Eileanan na Gaeltachd, agus ann an ceann a tuath Alba. Bha e na oighre dligheach air na teachdairean urramach a chaidh roimhe, agus neach leis am bu mhaith an diadhachd bheo, agus mhaiseach, a bha cluiteach ‘s an taobh tuath fhaicinn, chitheadh iad sin gu soilleir ann am Mr. Fiunlason. Bha a thiodhlacan, agus a ghrasan co-aonaichte, agus bha iad air an làn-abachadh ann an seirbhis a mhaighstir le cleachdadh fada, rinn so e ro ion-ghradh-aichte. Fhuair e àite ro bhlàth ann an cridheachan an t-sluaigh a b-fhearainn agus gach àite ‘s an robh e. Agus is airidh e air gu’m bidheadh iomradh nas faide na sgeul bàis lòm air a thoirt mu dhuine aig an robh beatha cho naomh. “Bidhidh am firean ann cuimbhne shiorruidh.” Agus tha sinn ga mhios an da chuid na shaothair gràidh, agus na dheasnas naomh, a bhi fidhe ri cheile cuimhnachan air beatha cho diadhuidh, agus cho urramach. Fad cuig bliadhna do thoiseach ar ministrealachd bha sinn na choimh-earnachd, shealbhuch sinn comh-luadar gu minic ris, agus am feadh a tha bhi cuimhneachadh nam bliadhnaichan sin ro luach-mhor dhuinne, tha sinn a creidsin gu’m bidh iad buanachdail do muinntir eile.
‘S e aon ni a tha air a theagasc le beatha Mhr. Fiunlason, A bhuaidh a tha aig nadur gradhach. Cha n’eil teagamh nach robh e mar thoradh air tiodhlag, ‘s air gras Dhe gu’n ro e cho gràdhach ach bha a ghìnè so air àrach le urnuigh. Is tearc iad a tha dol gu crìch am beatha gu’n namhaid a dheanamh, rinn Mr. Fiunlason so, ghradhaich gach aon e, agus gradhaich e gach neach. A thaobh aon-fhillteachd bha e na Natanael. ‘S a thaobh gràidh, bha e na Abstol Eoin. Dheanadh sealladh dheth math dhuit.
Bha buaidh taisichidh agus leighais aige a bheatha chubhaidh air daoine a bha crosdâ agus frionasach. Tha sinn an cunnart dímeas a dheanamh air a leithid so do thàlann, sin ri ràdh, bhi comasach a bhi faicinn a ni a ta math, a ‘measg mòran a ta olc—’s a bhi moladh nithibh a ta ion-mholta far am bheil neach a faicinn mòran ri dhteathd—’s a gràdhachach far am faicear mòran ri fhuath-achadh—a ghnath ag altrum an dochais is fearr,—agus ag ràdh ni is fearr a tha ri ràdh, a reir firinn sa chuis.
Tha sinn ullamh bhi co-dhunadh gu bheil e ‘g eiridh o dhi breithneachadh, ach tha beatha an Olladh Smith, agus Mhr. Fiunlason gu leor gu bhi taisbeanadh gu’r tiodhlag o Dhia nadur gràdhach, seadh aon do thiodhlagan ro phrisetl Dhe, ‘s a h-aon do na buinn aonaidh is treise a tha miosg dhaoinn agus ann s’an Eaglais. Agus a nis gu’n do d-fhalbh iad le cheile gu fois, tha eisimpleir am beatha nis ro chudthromaiche. (Se sin.) “Fannadh gradh brathirail,” “Faicibh nach cuir sibh a mach air a cheile air an t-slighe,” “Biodh gach uile sheirbhe, agus corruich, agus farg, agus garrthaich, agus toibheum air an togail uaibh, maillle ris gach uile mhirun.” Eph. iv. 31. “Is beannaichte luchd-deanamh na sithe; oir goirear clann De dhiubh.” Mat. v. 9. ‘Nuair a tha nadur gràdhach ann am ministir, air aonadh ri tiodhlacan comb-araichte, agus aig a cheart am e freagarach air son obair naomh —’nuair a bheir Dia dha cridhe maoth, agus inntinn fhallain—gu h-àraidh ‘n uair a tha anam gu moch air a naomhachadh le gras De, ‘s air a theagasg aig casan Chriosd a bhi ann an co-chordadh ri firinnean glormhor na slainte,—agus ‘n uair a dhoirteas e o chridhe a lasadh le gràdh Chriosd, ‘s le bilean ris an do bhean eibhl bheò na firinnean a lamhsich, agus a’ bhlais e—cha n’eil e na ioghnadh ge do tharruingidh e Mactalla domhain o chridhe luchdeisdeachd. Is e so a choisin do Mhr. Fiunlason o thoiseach, a leithid a bhuaidh bhi aige tharis air an t-sluagh. . . . ‘Nuair a bha e ann an Abereadhain, bha moran do’n luchd eisdeachd dhurachdach a bha aige na “Seulachan air Abstolachd ‘s an Tighearna.” ‘S ‘nuair a d-fhag e iad luchdaich iad e le comharan air a mhios a bha aca air. . . . Agus bha leithid do dheigh air a chluinntin anns a Chnoc Leo’asach ‘us nach e mhain gu’n robh an Eaglais air a domhlachadh air an t-sabaid; ach mar an ceudna bhà’n Seomar suidhe, ann an tigh a mhinstir—’s an staidhir—’s gach oirleach anns an cluineadh iad, lan gach là aig àm na h-ùrnuigh; choisich mòran gach oidche o Steornobha—astar cheithir mhilltean, gu bhi lâthair aig àm an aoraidh, bha na coinneamhan sin air am beannachadh do mhòran. Anns a bhlidhna 1831, ann an lanachd a neart, bha e air atharrachadh do sgir nan Loch ‘s a coimhearsnachd. . . . Faodar a ràdh gu’m be obair ‘s na Lochan, obair a bheatha. Chaith e a neart ann. Air chor ‘s gu’m bidheadh beachd ceart againn air a shaothair ‘s an Sgir so, bu choir dhuiinn amharc air staid Leoghais tri-fichead, na da fhichead bliadhna roimh so, oir tha eadar-dhealachadh ro iongantach eadar mar a bha suidheachadh spioradail an Eilean ‘s an am sin, agus mar a tha e an diugh, bhiodh cuntais air na ceumanan troimh an d-thanig an t-atharrachadh na chaibdeil ro chudthromach do dh-Eachdruidh spioradail na h-Alba. Cha ‘n fhaod sinn ach beanntuin ris. Bha ‘n t-Urramach Mr. M’Leod Uig a tha fathast beo, beagan bhiadh-nachan ann an Leoghas roimhe Mhr. Fiunlason, agus chrùnadh a shaothair le mòr bheannachd. Bha moran air an iompachadh gu slainteil. Bha ‘n sluagh air feadh an Eilean air a’ mor-ghluasad—mu thiomchioll fiochad mile pearsa. Thanig an soisgeul le buaidh mar ni annasach; bha e mar gu’m biodh na neamhan air am fosgladh. Thoisich maighstirean nan Sgoilean Gàelig air teagasg, mar a bha Aonghas Maciovair, Aonghas Mac-Mhathain, Coinneach Ros, agus Eachann Moristan. Thoisich am Biobull bhi air a chraobh-sgaoleadh ‘s a Ghailig. Bha “Nadur an Duine na Staid Cheithir-filte” le Tomas Boston, air ur-chlobhualadh ‘s a Ghailig, ‘s bha e air a leughadh do luchdeisdeachd a bha gùl, agus iad lan iongantais. Thanig Dr. Dónullach na Toiseachd aig amanna sonruichte do’n Eilean, agus chuidich e gu mor oidhearpan an luchd saothaireachaidh so, a bha sior fhàs lion-mhor. Thoisich frasan beannachaidh air tighinn a nuas air an Eilean-Sgitheanach anns a choimhearsachd. Bha’n seol-mara ‘g eiridh, agus fhuair Mr. Fiunlason beagan an deigh dha dol do Sgìr nan Loch cuideachadh o dhithis do luchd-comhnuidh cosmhuil ris fein, mar a bha Mr. Iain Mac Rathann an Nis, agus Mr. Mac Mhathain ‘s a Chnoc. Tha iad a nis na’n seann saighdearan ann an seirbheis am maighstir, an uine ghoirid a bha iad ann an Leoghas chuidich iad am brathair ann a bhi gabhail cothorom air fas an t-seolmhara. [Tha Mr. Mac Rath air ais do Leoghas, tha e a saoithreachadh ann an Carlobha, san am so (1869). Agus tha Mr. Mac Mhathain a saoithreachadh ann an Gearloch o na dh-fhag e an Chnoc.] Ann an cleachdadh Shamhlachan bha e ro dheas, be Iain Bunian na Gaeltaichd e. Ann a searmonachadh, bha tomhais aige do dhoigh shnasail Dhr. Kidd a b-abhaist dha bhi ‘g eisd-eachd ann an Abereadhain, ach bha e na b-fhior choslaiche ri Mr. Porteous a bha ann an Kilmhoire an Ear, agus ri Mr. Lachlun a bha ann an Lochcarron. Labhair e ann an cosamhlachd-shearmonuich e ris an duine gu h-iomlan, oir is iad samhlachan cainnnt an t-sluagh. Is iad cànmhuin naduir. Chnuaisich e focal, agus oibre Dhé; ‘s chuir e fo chìs talamh, is muir, is speur, ann a bhi foillseachadh glòir Chriosd, ‘s esan air a cheusadh. Dhasan labhair nadur mu Dhia, ‘s rinn e feum do nithibh iongantach naduir mar bhanoglaich, ann an seirbheis a mhaighstir. Cha’n fhac e creag, gu’n smuaineachadh air Carruig nan Al, na reuil gu’n smuaineachadh air an Reult dhealrach, agus mhaidne, na ròs, gu’n smuaineachadh mù ròs Sharon, na amhain, gun smuaineachadh air amhain na beatha soilleir mar chriostal, na tuinn an t-sean chuain, gu’n bhi smuaineachadh air cuan gràdh siorruidh Dhé. Chuir a Mhac-meamna siolmhor le samhladh, agus le bhi coimeas aon ni ri ni eile, solus eadhoin air na teagasan as doimhne, ga’n taisbeanadh ann an cruth beothail ri aghaidh an luchd-eisdeachd. Bha’n Eaglais ann an Sgir nan Lochfad cuig bliadhna fiochad mar “Thigh an Eadar-theangair,” air a tadhaich le luchd-turuis do’n Bhaile Neamhuidh, far an robb dealbhan air an crochadh mu’n cuairt anns gach seomar, agus samhlachan diomhoir air an gearradh anns gach urlar, ‘s gach dealbh, agus coslas mar iuchair airson bhi fosgladh firinn spioradail eigin. Agus far an robb iomadh fear-turais air a chrioslachadh leis na chunnaic, agus a chual e airson a bhi direadh “Bruthach na h-eigin,” ‘s ionnsuidh a thoirt air cunnartan eile na slighe. Dh-aom inntinn e gu bhi mineachadh samhlachan an t-Seann Tiomnadh, gu cinnteach an doigh teagasg as tarbhaiche do na h-uile doigh.
(Ri leantuinne.)