ST. JUDE’S, GLASGOW.
(Continued from page 153.)
GLASGOW, 7th June, 1900.
MY DEAR D.,—I was expecting a letter from you before you left Southampton, but I did not get it. Then I expected you would write me from Las Palmas, but, if you did, it has not arrived yet. I hope your health is continuing to improve. We are, at present, in our usual, except my father; he is failing very much. Mr. Allan Maclachlan, the elder who has been away in Australia, came home a week ago. He has been complaining very much of the darkness of these foreign lands. Indeed, I don’t know what to write, as there is such a loud cry of empty godliness—what they call godliness—in the mouths of professors of religion in our day. I am afraid I am nothing better, and that I have only an empty profession, which will bring me down into endless misery.
The Word of God says:—”But, beloved, be ye not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” When the ungodly say that the Lord is slow to fulfil His promise, that everything remains as it was from the beginning, and then they conclude that there is no God. But He says to His own people: “Be ye not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, &c.” I heard a godly minister say about this truth—”That when God gave the promise to Adam, that there would come of the seed of the woman, He who would bruise the head of the serpent, and that there were four thousand years before the promise was fulfilled.” Well might the ungodly say in this case, the Lord is slow to fulfil His promise, seeing they were ignorant of this one thing—that a thousand years are with the Lord as one day. What brought this truth before my mind at present was, that I have been endeavouring, since you went away, to pray for your return safely and in good health. When you did not return at the time I thought, I began to conclude that God was taking no notice (if I may say so) of my prayers. When I was thus tempted, these words came to my mind—”Be ye not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” God is
unchangeable. He was the same God when the promise was fulfilled as He was when He gave it in the garden of Eden.
May the grace, mercy, and peace of God be with you now and for ever.—Your affectionate friend, J. MACLEOD.
GLASGOW, 15th June, 1900.
MY DEAR D.,—May grace, mercy and peace be unto you. I see you are getting fat in flesh, and may be also in riches, and that is indeed very agreeable to a carnal and corrupt nature, which you inherit from your first covenant head. But I hope although you are in the world, you are not of the world. Your letter has given me some evidence of that, inasmuch as you write of the works of the world and of the works of this generation in foreign lands. You seem to be separated from them. I dare say you will have sometimes to confess, as a godly woman once did, while she was with other profane women on the reaping field, whom she had to rebuke for swearing, and who said to her, “Do you think that you are better than ourselves?” She said, “When I am in the company of the Lord’s people, I will consider myself like a devil; but when I am in your company I am convinced that there is something in me that is not in you.”
Now, my dearly-beloved friend, how are matters between you and Christ? When shall the day come, as you say, when His love shall fill the soul so that it will want no more? I feel it a great privilege this day that I am allowed to converse with you even with paper and ink. I cannot give a more favourable account of our people at home than you have given of the peoples abroad, for I have never seen such outbursts of wickedness prevailing over this city as I saw since the relief of Mafeking and Pretoria. I cannot describe it to you; but this I say, had not our hearts been as hellish as hell itself, we would weep day and night over this generation who, to all appearances, are making their own bed in hell, and that in the face of all the mercies of God toward us as a people. Oh, that our hearts were fired with the fire of God’s love! so that we would entreat Him to come with a day of His power to make a willing people of us as a people and nation.
My dearly-beloved friend, you will, no doubt, have enough of my letters to condemn me at the last day if the mercy of God prevent not; but still, you should have got two on your last voyage—one to Durban and one to Cape Town. Pray that the peace of God may rule in my conscience through the Holy Spirit; pray for this generation, especially for the young. Oh, the precious days of youth, and every moment of time is worth a thousand worlds! Parents, in this poor generation, are learning the young from the cradle to make their bed in hell; not that any change is necessary in man in order to his being lost, for, if he will remain as he is, in a state of nature, that is all that is necessary for bringing him to hell. Notwithstanding, parents in this generation do their utmost to hide from their children the only means God has appointed for the salvation of sinners.
Dear D., I am happy to tell you that our dear Donald Mackay is getting better, and rising, though very weak. I hope he will soon recover. You have made a mistake—the communion was not at Clydebank, but at Dumbarton, and it was too far away for me; I only got there one day. “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever?” It would be a good thing for us to stand steadfast against all our enemies, whatever it would cost to flesh and blood; but when the enemy comes then we are cowards, and that leaves us often without comfort; but if we stood steadfast against all manner of evil then we would have comfort, and would have our reward from the Lord. Others desired Paul not to go up to Jerusalem, because he was in danger of meeting his enemies there; but his answer to them was, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So he went up to Jerusalem and testified of the name of the Lord, not only to the glory of God, but also to his own comfort; for the Lord Himself stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness also in Rome.” Paul himself says that he was preaching the Resurrection of Christ so that he might have a conscience void of offence towards God and men.
I have heard since I began this letter that Donald Mackay is so weak that none are allowed to see him except Mr. Cameron and his attendants. It seems that he will not be left long with us. The doctor said that although he would get better, he was to give up preaching because his lungs could not stand the strain. To-morrow is set apart, in all our congregations, as a day of humiliation and prayer for our sins against God, both as a church and nation; but especially to implore of the Lord to bring to a successful issue the war in which we are engaged. I hope the Lord will recall our bondage as streams of water in the south; and I hope that our beloved land will be brought to its knees to sow in tears, so that we might have a reaping time of joy. I will send you the Magazines at a later date. Don’t lose them, as they are valuable reading.
Now, may the God of Israel be your God, and His Spirit your Comforter.—Yours affectionately,
J. MACLEOD.
Bibles of the Covenants.—The Quarterly Record of the Scottish National Bible Society calls attention to some notable Bibles on view at the National Bible Society’s Stand in the Edinburgh Exhibition. These include the Bibles of Donald Cargill, Alexander Peden, and Margaret Wilson. The Bulwark for August gives photographs of these Bibles, and while we disclaim the idea that any special virtue dwells in these Bibles as distinguished from others, yet what memories gather round the Word of Life from which these noble worthies learned God’s holy law to such good purpose that they feared not the breath of their enemies!
Cunntas Aithghearr
MU BHEATHA ‘N URR. RAIBEART FIUNLASON,
Bha ‘na Mhinisteir do’n Eaglais Shaoir ann an Eilean Leodhais,
agus ann am Bun-fhillidh.
LEIS AN URR. I. MACPHERSAIN, BHA ANN AN LOCHAILLSE, 1870.
Continued from page 158.)
CHA robh h-aon a thug barrachd air ann a’ mìneachadh an Tiomnadh Nuaidh le samhlachan an t-Seann Tiomnadh. Agus ged a bha aomadh beag aig gu dòigh mìneachadh Cocceius air na samhlachan, mar a bha e soilleir ‘nuair a shearmonaich e air Ionah mar shamhla; agus ged a dh’éirich a mhac-meamna gu ionad do’n robh e eucomasach do’n luchd-éisdeachd a leanntuinn gu’n tuainealacadh a bhi na’n cinn, gidheadh bha na teagasgan gu neo-ghluasadach air an cur an sàs nan inntinn. Thug an inntinn cheudna air samhlachan Chrìosd a chnuasachadh gu mòr. Bha e na b’fhasa dha searmonachadh air an deagh Shamaritanach, na air an naothamh caibdeil do na Ròmhanaich. Bha a bheachdan abuich, air samhlachan an t-Seann Tiomnadh, ‘s air co-shamhlachdan an Tiomnadh Nuaidh, mar fhìon aosda, a bha mar ìoc-shlaint do chridhe dubhach. Ag éisdeachd ris, is tric a smuainich sinn air focal Iob. “Riumsa dh’éisd daoine, agus dh’fheith iad, agus bha iad ‘nan tosd ri m’ chomhairle. An déigh mo bhriathra cha do labhair iad a rìs; agus shil mo chainnt orra, agus bha sùil aca rium, mar ris an uisge; agus dh’fhosgail iad am beul gu farsuinn, mar airson an uisge dheireanaich.” Iob xxix. 21-23.
A’ searmonachadh air (Eoin xiii. 14.) dleasnas nan deisciobul a bhi ‘g ionnlaid casan aon a chèile, thubhairt e, ‘s e aon dòigh ‘s am bheil na deisciobuil ‘g ionnlaid casan a chèile, a bhi cronachadh a chèile, ach cha chòir an cronachadh a bhi ann an briathran feargach, air eagal gu mill thu an gnìomh, na ro chiùin air eagal gu’n tig thu gearr air a’ chrìch. Dìreach mar ann an nighe casan bràthair, cha’n fheum thu uisge goileach a chleachdadh air eagal gu’n loisg thu e, na uisge reòthte, chum ‘s nach reòth thu e.
Tha sgìr’ nan Loch air a roinn gu mòr le lochan, caol, agus fada, a tha ruith iomadh rathad air a feadh, agus cha mhòr do ‘n t-sluagh a b’urrain an t-aodhaire fhaicinn gun a dhol thairis air caolas; cha’n eil sgìr’ cho duilich a h-oibreachadh le Ministeir na sgìr’ so, ach sgìr’ Lochbhraoin, gidheadh bha Mr Fiunlason eòlach anns gach teaghlach ‘s b’aithne do gach leanabh o Ath-linne gu Steòrnabhagh, ‘s o Chàrlabhagh, gu Aghaidh fhlathail. Cheusnaich e iad uair ‘s a’ bhliadhna, agus is e an Là-sin a mhàin a nochdas an toradh. Thigeadh an t-eithear ga iarraidh a stigh fo dorus tigh a’ Mhinisteir, o Chromòra—o Cheòs—o Loch-Siophoirt—o Ghriomasadh; agus air ais rachadh an sgibear earbsach, agus stràiceil le’n luchd, a’ giùlain an aodhaire urramaich do’n àite a
shònraich e, ‘s bha na chuideachd, cuid do na h-eildearan—bha’n là sin na shàbaid ann an Cromòra. Chruinnich daoine, mnathan, agus clann, an sean-mhàthair agus an tògh’ a glùn ‘g aithris cheistean Leabhar Aithghearr nan Ceist an déigh a chéile. Dh’fhosgail ‘s, cho-chuir am Ministir teagasgan gach Ceist, agus aig gach coinneamh bha na sgriobturan air an leughadh, Sailm air an Seinn, maille ri ùrnuigh. Agus bha e air a ràdh nach do labhair Mr Fiunlason riamh le barrachd dùrachd, lànachd, agus drùidhteachd na rinn e ‘s na h-earalaibh caidrich sin, a dhòirt e mach a lànachd a chridhe Chrìosdail. Thubhairt mòran ruinn gu faireacheadh iad ma ‘sguireadh e, mar gu’m biodh “Ciod is crìoch àraidh do’n duine?” a’ ruidh anns gach fèith, agus a’ bualadh anns gach boinne fala a bha nan cuirp. Ciod e’m fogharadh do dh’anamana a’ bha air a thional o thoiseach gu deireadh a’ cheusnachadh so! Bha meas ro mhòr air searmonan Mhr. Fiunlason, agus is tric a chualas sgeul air a dheanamh orra anns gach cearna do’n eilean. Mar a bha a shearmon air 2 Righ vii. 9. “Is là deagh sgeul so . . . a nis ma ta thigibh agus rachamaid, agus innseamuid do theaghlach an righ,” agus a rìs air Salm xxvii. 5. “Oir folaichidh e mi ‘na Sgàth-thigh ann an là an uilc,” ‘s air Taisb. iii. 10. “Glèidhidh mise thusa mar an ceudna o uair a’ bhuaireidh.” Ach b’e a dhòigh dràdhach, agus dìleas ri phobul aig a’ cheusnachadh a cheangail iad cho daingean ris, bha sin air fhaicinn ‘nuair a dh’fhàg e iad airson a dhol do Bhun-fhillidh. Chualas aon ghlaodh tuiridh o gach tigh, mar a chluinnear ‘nuair a tha athair teaghlaich air a giùlan a mach anns a’ chiste-mhairbh. Mar a thubhairt Dr Begg mu mhuinntir Shrath-tigh, “Is e’n diadhachd na’m beachd an t-aon nì feumail, rinn iad i na h-àrd chrìoch am beatha.” Nan rachadh e do’n eilean Leodhasach chuireadh e aonta ri beachd a bha ‘r a thoirt le dream a bha comasach air breith a thoirt, se sin “gu’m b’e Leodhas ann an seadh àraidh, Gosan na h-Alba.” Agus tha so na thoradh fo làimh Dhé air saothair Mhr. Fiunlason ann an tomhais mhòir, maille ri muinntir eile.
Theireadh iad mu Theàrlach o Bhàla gu’m b’fheàrr a shearmon fhaicinn cha b’olc an searmon Mr Fiunlason fhaicinn ‘nuair a rachadh e mach coslach ri Isaac a’ beachd-smuaineachadh ‘san fheasgar, ‘sa’ lios beag ann an sgìr’ nan Loch, na ‘nuair air an rathad mhòr, a dh’fheòraich neach a bha maille ris c’àit am bheil sinn a nis? “Seadh, seadh eadar Genesis, agus an Taisbeanadh.” Tha cuimhne mhath againn air a’ choslas ‘nuair a shearmonaich e aig an Òrdugh anns a’ bhliadhna 1850, air cosamhlachd an dà staigh, agus anns a’ bhliadhna 1852, air an dà dheisciobul a’ dol gu Emàus. ‘S an ath bhliadhna air an Nathair Umha. Bha e àrd-fhlathail ‘na chumadh, làn do aon-fhillteachd ghràdhach, bha ‘fhalt donn,—agus a ghnùis soilleir—bha sùil shèimh ‘na cheann, a bha iomadh uair air a còmhdachadh le deòir. Bha a ghuth domhain an toiseach, ach ‘nuair a rachadh e treis air adhart dh’fhàsadh e binn mar an t-airgead, agus bha
feith-ghàire gu tric air aodann. Cha do mhothaich sinn riamh barrachd buaidh aig naomhachd an fhir-labhairt ann an co-cheangal ri searmonachadh na fìrinn, na ‘nuair a bha sinn ga eisdeachd.
Rinn e gach nì cho snasail, bha làmh-sgrìobhaidh ro mhath aige, leugh e mòran leabhraichean agus bha taobh blàth aige ris na bràithrean uile ann an Eaglaisean Chrìosd. Bha eòlas farsuinn aige air eachdruidh gach Eaglais, gu h-àraidh air an Eaglais anns an robh e ‘na Mhinisteir. Shearmonaich e trì searmonan gach Sàbaid, ann an sgìr’ nan Loch agus ann an Bun-fhillidh . . . Slàn leat a charaid urramaich; bithidh treis ma’m faic mi do leithid a rìs? “Thuit uachdaran agus duine mòr an diugh ann an Israeil.” “M’ athair, m’ athair! carbad Israeil agus a mharc-shluagh.” “Cuidich leam, a Thighearna, oir cha’n ‘eil duine diadhaidh ann.”
O’n a chaidh a’ chunntas so eadar-theangachadh. Chaochail an t-Urramach Mr. M’Leòid bha ‘s an Uig, air am bheil iomradh air a thoirt, mar neach “a chrùnaidh a shaothair le mòr-bheannachd,” ‘s an eilean. Is ioma iad ann an Leòdhas a dh’amhairc air mar an t-athair spioradail ann an Crìosd, agus gu’n teagamh is mòr an call a fhuair an Eaglais le bàs theachdairean urramach, mar a bha Mr M’Leòid, agus Mr. Pàdruig Mac-Illeathain a bha ann an Steòrnabhagh. Tha iad air an ionndrainn gu goirt ann an Leòdhas.
V.—DÌOGHLAM O THEAGASG MR. FIUNLASON.
Beinn a’ chruth-atharrachadh.—Thug Crìosd leis Peadar, Seumas, agus Eoin chum na beinne, agus air do chruth Iosa bhi air atharrachadh, agus e ‘dealrachadh mar a’ ghrian, agus a chunnacas leo Maois agus Elias a’ còmhradh ris, thubhairt Peadar, “A Thighearna, is math dhuinne bhi an so: ma’s aill leatsa, deanamaid trì pàilliuna an so, aon dhuitse, aon do Mhaois, agus aon do Elias.” Is math thu fhéin a Pheadair, b’e thu féin an clachair, agus cha b’iad clachairean an là’n diugh. Cha b’fhada a bhiodh tu togail trì taighean, agus thug thu ‘n toiseach do Chrìosd; na faiceadh tu an triùir ud comhfhurtail, cha robh guth ort féin, na air an dithis bhràithrean a’ bha maille riut, ged a bhiodh sibh gun tigh gun fhasgadh. Fòghlum o so, ma fhuair thu eòlas air Crìosd tre ghràs, Crìosd féin a chur air thoiseach, sin aobhar agus ann sin thu féin ‘na do ghille bochd air dheireadh ‘s na h-uile nithe.
Ecles. vii. 10. “Na h-abair, Ciod a b’aobhar gu’n robh na ceud làithean nì b’fheàrr na iad so? Oir cha’n ann o ghliocas a dh’fheòraicheas tu mu’n nì so.” Air “Di-haoine na Ceist” thuirt a h-aon do na labhair, gu’m fac e’n sluagh anns na làithean a dh’fhalbh na bu bheòthla, agus na bu dèidheil air a bhi leantuinn meadhonan nan gràs, na bha iad a nis. ‘Nuair a labhair Mr F. thuirt e gu’n d’thug aon a labhair fainear mar a bha cùisean ‘s na làithean a chaidh seachad, ach ars’ esan, ‘s ann
a th’againn ri dheanamh ris an là làthair, agus ris na nithe ta làthair, a rèir na h-àithne. “Bi faireil, agus neartaich na nithe a ta làthair, agus a ta ullamh gu bàsachadh.” Taisb. iii. 2. Agus gu dearbh cha b’ fhiù leas na làithean a dh’fhalbh a bhi cho math ‘s a bha iad, cha robh iad dad na b’fheàrr na bu chòir dhoibh a bhi. ‘S ann a th’againn, ‘s ann là’n diugh, bhi toirt “An aire d’a chèile chum ar brosnachadh gu gràdh, agus gu deadh oibribh.” Agus mar-an-ceudna na nithe a ta air an cùlaibh a dhìchuimhneachadh, agus bhi g’ar sìneadh féin chum na nithe a ta romhainn.
Seirc.—Air do Mhr. Fiunlason bhi dùnadh na ceist aig àm Òrduigh, thuirt e gu’m b’chòir do bhràithrean bhi glé fhaicillich ciod a dh’innseadh iad mu’n co-luchd-oidhche, oir chaidh duine mòr diadhaidh cearr air a’ phuing so roimhe. Faic Eli a’ toirt breith air h-aon do chlann nan gràs, seadh agus e “na shagart ‘na shuidhe air cathair làimh ri ursainn, ann an teampull an Tighearna.” Bha Hánnah ‘g ùrnuigh, agus a’ bòideachadh do’n Tighearna, bha i labhairt ‘na cridhe mhàin; cha’n fhac Eli ach na bilean a’ gluasad, agus shaoil e gu’n robh i air mhisg, agus chronaich e gu garg i. Shaoil e gu’m bu nighean do Bhèliail i. Chuir e as leth an Diabhail obair Spioraid Dhé. Agus thoir thusa d’ cheart aire nach bi thu cur urram air an Droch Spiorad, a bhuineas do Dhia mhàin, le breith neo-sheirceil a thoirt air pobull an Tighearna.
Eud agus Eòlas Pheadair.—Là do na làithean thuirt Eud ri Eòlas, “Théid mise mach comhla ri Crìosd an diugh.” Air do Chrìosd bhi labhairt mu’n bhàs, ars’ Eud Pheadair, “Gu ma fada sin uait-sa, a Thighearna; cha tachair sin dhuitse.” Ach air tionndadh dhasan, thubhairt e ri Peadar, “Imich air mo chùl, a Shàtain; is oilbheum dhomh thu.” Chaidh Eud dhachaidh le ceann crom. “Ciod e so?” arsa Eòlas. “Ciod e a dh’éirich dhuit?” “Mo chreach, ‘s mòr sin, chaidh mi cho fad ‘s gu’n d’thuirt Crìosd Satan rium.” Ach air là àraid an déigh sin, bha Crìosd dol a mach, thuirt Eòlas, “‘S e so mo làtha-sa, bha thusa muigh an là mu dheireadh.” “Cha deanadh tu chùis cho math rium féin,” ars’ Eud, “feumaidh mi féin a dhol a mach an diugh.” Mach a thug Eud as déigh Chrìosd, ‘s an uair a bha Iosa ‘g ràdh, “Gheibh sibh uile oilbheum annam-sa an nochd,” fhreagair Eud, “Ged fhaigh iadsan uile oilbheum annad, gidheadh cha’n fhaigh mise e.” Agus thubhairt Iosa ris, “Gu deimhin a ta mi ag ràdh riut, an diugh, air an oidhche so féin, mu’n goir an coileach dà uair, gu’n àicheadh thusa mi trì uairean.” Ruith Eud dhachaidh gu Eòlas, ‘s e rànaich. “Ciod e so thàinig ort a nis, Eud?” “Mo thruaighe,” ars’ Eud, “bha mi gun chiall, bhòsnuich mi’n Tighearna, agus mhionnaich e gu’m bithinn ciontach do dh’aicheadh Chrìosd!” An treas uair thuirt Eud, “Théid mise mach comhla ri Crìosd an diugh.” “Cha téid,” ars’ Eòlas (fair play) “‘s cinnteach gur e so mo làtha-sa; bha thu dà là muigh an déigh a chéile.” Ach cha’n éisdeadh Eud, thar e as, ‘s cha bu ruith leis, ach leum, lean e Crìosd, steach do Ghetsemane, agus ‘nuair a
“chuir iad làmh ann an Iosa, agus ghlac iad e.” Shin Eud a làmh, agus tharruing e a’ chlaidheamh, agus air dha seirbhiseach an “Àrd-Shagairt a bhualadh, ghearr e a chluas dheth.” Chaidh Eud air aghaidh gus an do ràinig e talla ‘n Àrd-Shagairt, ‘s ann sin dh’àicheadh e Crìosd trì uairean. Chaidh Eud a mach agus ghuil e gu goirt. “Ciod e so?” ars’ Eòlas. “Ciod e?” ars’ Eud, “ach gu’n do ghearr mi cluas Mhalchuis dheth, agus dh’àicheadh mi Crìosd trì uairean leis na mionnan.” “Och! mo thruaighe,” ars’ Eòlas, “ciod a ni thu nis?” “Nì so,” arsa Eud, “nì thusa agus mise cordadh, ‘s geallaidh mise dhuit-sa nach fàg mi aig an tigh tuilleadh thu.” Rug iad air làmhan a chéile. Agus mach uath’ sin, cha deachaidh Eud ceum o’n tigh gun Eòlas. “Oir a ta mi deanamh fianuis doibh gu bheil Eud aca thaobh Dhé, ach cha’n ann a rèir Eòlais.” Rom. x. 2.
“Air an toraibh aithnichidh sibh iad.”
Bha Mr. Fiunlason a’ labhairt air Diluain Òrdughan ris an t-sluagh, mu thimchioll na sochair mhòir, bh’aca, a nis o cheann còig làithean aig beinn nan Òrdughan. Tha e, ars’ esan, ni’s coltaiche gu’m bi làthaireachd an Tighearna agaibhse, na aige a’ mhuinntir a dh’fhuirich aig an t-saoghal, ‘s maille ri cuideachdan an t-saoghail. Faic thusa ‘nuair a bha Maois shuas air a’ bheinn dà fhichead là, agus dà fhichead oidhche, bha e air aithneachadh air gu’n robh e ann an co-chomunn ris an Tighearna; feuch thusa gu’n aithnichear ort féin gu’n robh thu air beinn nan Òrdughan. ’Nuair a thàinig Maois nuas o’n bheinn, ’s a chunnaic Aaron ’s an sluagh e, dh’fheudadh iad a ràdh ris, “O! Mhaois, c’àit an robh thu? ’S ann agad féin, tha ’n aghaidh bhreagha; ged nach ’eil thu féin ga faicinn, feumaidh tu, a Mhaois, bratsgàile chur air t-aghaidh, mu’n urrainn sinne sealltuinn ort.” Dh’fheudadh Maois freagairt, agus a ràdh, “O! Aaroin, ’s ann air t-aghaidh féin, ’s air aghaidh an t-sluaigh tha maille riut, tha ’n coslas grànda; ciod a bha sibh a’ deanamh o chaidh mise suas dh’ionnsuidh na beinne? Cha b’ann a’ deanamh aoraidh do Dhia Israel a bha sibhse, ’s tha bhuil oirbh, ach ag aoradh do’n laogh òir, ’s ri cluich, agus gu’n teagamh is grànda sibhse le sin.” Ach mu’n tig sibhse dh’ionnsuidh na slighe ceart, feumaidh ar n-aoradh do’n laogh òir, ’s ar cluich, bhi air a dheanamh glé shearbh dhuibh; feumaidh an laogh bhi air a dheanamh ’na luathre, chum ’s gu’n òl sibh air an uisge e, agus gu dearbh cha bhi e milis; an sin pillidh sibh gu aoradh a dheanamh ann an Spiorad ’s am fìrinn do’n Dia bheò agus fhìor. Nise, ’nuair a théid thusa sios o’n bheinn, feuch gu’n leig thu fhaicinn dhoibh gu’n robh thu ag aoradh do Dhia nèimh, ach gur h-ann a bha iadsan a’ labhairt mu’n t-saoghal, agus an saoghal ag eisdeachd riutha; ’s ma ghabhas iad aithreachas, agus gu’m bi an cleachdadh air a dheanamh searbh dhoibh ann an là tròcair, is math sin; ach mar a ghabh, bithidh e searbh dhaibh gu sìorruidh far nach bi leasachadh air a’ chùis.
“Thugaibh fanear cionnus a dh’éisdeas sibh.”—’Nuair a théid sibh a dh’éisdeachd an fhocail, ’s còir dhuibh bhi ’g ùrnuigh airson mhinisteirean gu’m faigh iad o’n Tighearna nì b’fheàrr iad féin, agus an luchd-eisdeachd. Cionnus tha dùil agadsa gu’m faigh thu o’n Mhinisteir nì nach ’eil thu ag iarraidh dha? Is furasta dhuitse tha ’n ad shuidhe ’n ad thàmh sgòidean an neach a tha labhairt a thogail, agus sin a thoirt leat, agus a’ chuid is fheàrr fhàgail; bheir thu leat a’ moll, agus fàgaidh tu an cruithneachd; ach nam biodh tu mar bu chòir dhuit a bhi, ann an slighe do dhleasnais, ag ùrnuigh airson an Fhir-labhairt, dh’fhàgadh tu a’ moll, agus bheireadh tu leat an cruithneachd, agus bhiodh buannachd mhòr aig t’anam féin dheth sin.
(Ri leantuinn.)