A FAST-DAY IN DINGWALL.
THE following report appeared in the North Star of 17th September:—In view of the Eucharist Congress held in London recently, Thursday last was observed by the Free Presbyterian Congregation, Dingwall, as a day of humiliation and prayer. Services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane in the forenoon, afternoon, and evening. There were good attendances, some being present from Inverness and other districts. In the afternoon Mr. Macfarlane preached from Isaiah lix. 19—”When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” He dwelt chiefly on the flood of error that was brought into the Christian Church in the course of a few centuries after the Apostolic age; a flood that grew gradually, till, in the sixth century, the Church could not be recognised as that which Christ and His apostles founded in the world. The office of the ministry was changed into an order of priesthood, as a rival order with Christ—the only priest, atoning Sacrifice, and Altar of the Christian Church. Prelatic bishops and archbishops were set up in the Church in opposition to the order of the equality of status among the apostles and their successors as ambassadors for Christ, having one Master in heaven, and they themselves brethren, acknowledging no superior but Christ. To this error in the ministerial office was added a Pope as the supreme head of the universal Church on earth. In keeping with this unscriptural change, a change was made in the doctrine of the Church. Comparing the doctrine which Christ and his apostles taught with that which prevailed in the Dark Ages, and which is still taught in the Church of Rome, it can easily be seen that they are not the same. There was also a change made in the mode of worship. The simplicity of worship instituted by Christ, the only head of the true Church, was set aside, and a carnal one made up of Jewish ceremonial, heathenish superstition, and an element—very small—of Christianity, was substituted. Against this flood of error the Lord lifted up a standard at the glorious Reformation in the sixteenth century. He raised up standard-bearers out of the midst of the darkness which hid the true Church so long. There was then a return to the Word of God as the only rule of faith and practice, to the doctrine Christ and His apostles taught, and to the way of worship observed in the Apostolic Age. The Lord fulfilled the promise contained in the text, and the effect was that error and superstition were dispelled from most of the kingdoms of Europe by the light of the gospel, and many precious souls were brought into the kingdom
of grace and that of glory. Our kingdom shared largely in the beneficent blessing that followed the fulfilment of the promise. We are met here to-day, said Mr. Macfarlane, to humble ourselves for our many sins, and those of our nation, and to pray to God that he would in mercy disappoint the intentions of all that would deprive us of the glorious gospel, and that He would continue the gospel in our land for our own benefit and for the benefit of coming generations. There are many of the Lord’s people throughout the kingdom praying for this, and so are we.
A Free Presbyterian correspondent writes:—”As an evidence that the Lord did hear and answer these prayers, the Prime Minister prohibited the Papal legate from carrying out his intentions! This is an encouragement to cry to Him in every time of need. ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?'”