(Concluded from page 360.)
(V.)
STRATHY HEAD,
17th November, 1894.
DEAR —, —May the Lord reward you for your kindness! Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the appearing of Jesus Christ. For it is written: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Think then of your privilege at the end, for your corruptible body will put on incorruption, you will be like Jesus, perfect in holiness, and the saints you are so desirous of just now, you will have in abundance then without any spot, and of the oil of gladness which you get drops of here, you will get plenty then. But what was promised them in this world was tribulation. As for myself, I may say, I know not trouble except my own sins. Other things ought to be a trouble to me—the lowness of the cause of Christ, and seeing thousands going smoothly into the lake that burneth for ever and ever. But the stones which keep me down are very heavy. Oh to be kept from the power and love of sin! Do pray the Lord for me that I may not be left among the foolish virgins, that have no oil in their lamps. May the Lord grant you His own presence, for He hath said, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come unto you.” I would like to see the work that the Lord is doing —. But it would be well for me to have eyes to see, for it needs a spiritual man to see spiritual things.— Yours, etc.,
DONALD MACKAY.
(VI.)
LYNDALE, 1897.
MY DEAR —, —I was very glad to get a letter from you. I am pleased that — would desire to be remembered to such an unworthy creature, and for —’s sympathy it is more than I can give praise for. But I may say at times I feel — like balm to my soul. You know what I mean by saying “at times,” for there are times when two souls meet each other in converse, and seem to kiss each other. I scarcely know what I would call an “holy kiss” but that.
I am at present trying to keep my head against the storm. Of course, no ship gets the tide always with it. When the tide is against it, and no wind in the sails, it is pretty hard work for the men who are on the oars to keep her head against it at all. Yet the best thing they can do is to keep her head against it, and to row as hard as possible. But they must not overwork themselves rowing for one hour, and then let her go for the next. They must study how to work, and if they will take no counsel from good seamen, they must just learn by experience. But a breath of wind is very desirable with such hard work. May it please Him to give us a breathing, for, although many say, “Who will show us any good?” if He would lift on us the light of His countenance, we would have more joy than that of corn and wine. Those words seemed to have a little effect on my mind lately—
“Set thou thy trust upon the Lord,
And be thou doing good;
And so thou in the land shalt dwell,
And verily have food.”
I did not get to the end of my thread at either service last Sabbath. I found it good to speak to the dear people. Jesus has precious jewels in this place, but he has been gathering some home. I had not the privilege of seeing Mr. Peter MacLeod yet, but I hope to see him this week. O, if the Lord would give me a new heart and a right spirit!
Please write a few lines.—I am, etc.,
DONALD MACKAY.
(VII.)
FORT-WILLIAM.
MY DEAR —, I was very pleased to get your letter yesterday. My health is much about the same as you saw me, but the cough which I had is somewhat easier. When I go a walk, I feel so willing to rest. Last Sabbath I was in the morning in Banavie, and in the evening in Fort-William. I thought I felt more of the Spirit in the meeting on Wednesday night. When I entered the meeting, I did not know what I would speak from—not that I was much cast down. But when I began to speak, I felt as if it was coming fresh on my soul. I got some trouble in my mind on account of a thing I did yesterday. I was going over to —, and there is an iron bridge, the crossing of which makes the way a little shorter, so I crossed it, although it was against the laws of the Company. I am afraid that things which are thought little by us grieve the Holy Spirit from the soul and dishonour God. My mind was not in the same ease since then.
I was pleased to know by your letter that you had many of “the lame” out on Sabbath. It is no small comfort to be surrounded by “the lame.”
You might say what you think about this view of faith: That the grace of faith is planted in the soul in the day of regeneration, but that the reality of eternal things is only seen when the Holy Ghost, as the Spirit that giveth light, shines into the soul. Is faith the eye that sees when the light shines on it? If faith be not the eye, it must be the light which, when shining on the soul, enables the soul to see.
I am pleased to hear that — is keeping better, and gets more of the Spirit of adoption. If a man will forsake anything in this world for Christ, he will not lose by it either in this world or in the next. I wholly agree with you in your exposition of the portion of truth which you mentioned, the only exposition of it in which my soul can rejoice.—I am, etc.,
DONALD MACKAY.