(Continued from page 280.)
ALEXANDER GAIR.
On one occasion he is said to have asked a blessing on some food of which he was about to partake, in these words: “Their Thu ruinne gu bheil sinn criona, agus bu dualach duinne; ach bu Tu féin Mac an Athar a ta fial, agus bu dualach duit. Thoir dhuinne dhiot féin ‘na bheireadh ann a t-uidheam féin sinn; oir, mar toir Thu dad duinn, cha toir sinn dad duit, agus mar gabh Thu gnothuch ruinn, cha gabh sinn gnothuch ruit. Amen.” Which may be Englished thus:—”Thou tellest us that we are mean, and meanness was hereditary to us. But Thou art Thyself the Son of the generous Father, and generosity was hereditary to Thee. Give us of Thyself what would make us dependent upon Thine help, for if Thou givest us naught, neither can we give Thee aught in return; and if Thou wilt have no dealings with us, neither can we have dealings with Thee. Amen.”
Shortly before Alexander Gair died he said to Murdo Ross, a godly man: “When you hear of my being ill, you will not delay in coming to see me, for my persuasion is that the Lord will not keep me long waiting at the ferry.” Very soon after saying this Alexander Gair turned seriously ill, and when Murdo Ross heard the news, he went at once to see his friend who was then nearing his end. “Oh,” said Murdo, “you are very poorly, Sandy.” “I am not poorly,” was the reply, “and I’ll not be poorly, and I’ll be welcome when I reach.” Such was the calm triumph of this man of God on his death-bed. His last words were, as already quoted in these pages:
“I will both lay me down in peace,
And quiet sleep will take;
Because thou only me to dwell
In safety, Lord, dost make.” (Psalm iv. 8.)
(To be continued.)
WE expect to have (D.V.) in next issue a brief notice of the famous John Grant, and some interesting notes in connection with him.