“MO chlann,” ars’ an sean-duine, “éisdibh ri briathraibh deirionnach bhur n’ athar cha bhi iad ach tearc: ‘Se mo mhiann gu’n drúigheadh iad oirbh.’” An sin dheirich e air uilinn anns an leabaidh, mar gum faigheadh e neart úr; agus chaidh e air aghaidh mar so. “Nuair bha’ur n’ athair óg cha robh e na choigreach do shochairean priseil an t-soisgeil: cha’ne sin, ach bha e tuilleadh is aon uair fo mhór iomguinn mu staid anama, gu h-áraid nuair bha e ’dol na shea-bliadhna-deug: Ar-learn gu robh guth an comhnuidh ag ràdh rium, Iarr an Tighearna a nis. Cha robh sith no socair agam: dh’ fhalbh an toilinninn a bàbhaist dhomh fhaotainn ann an cluich agus sùgradh; ach air a shon so cha robh mi toileach dealachadh riu gu h-uile agus umhlachd a thoirt do’n ghuth. Tha cuimhne agam, aon là an deigh moran beachd-smuaineach, gu’n do bhòidich mi do Dhia cho luath sa rachadh maduinn na h-oige seachad gu’n toisichinn ri bhi ’m dhuine cràbhadh. Dh’ foghainn so san àm—dh’ fhag gach iomguinn mi a thiota—phill mi gun’ làn-aighir, agus cha b’ fhada bha cuimhne air ni air bith de na thachair!”
Nuair ’rainig mi cuig-bliadhna-fichead chuir mo choinnseas mo ghealladh sòleimnte do Dhia ’n ’am chuimbne, agus thoisich i ’ris ri sparradh orm cho cudthromach sa tha na nithe a bhuneas do’n t-saoghal shiorruidh. Ged dhì-chuimhnich mi mo ghealladh fad iomadh bliadhna, gidheadh, b’ fheudar aideachadh gu’n robh a leithid ann, ach a cho-ghealladh no cho’ lionadh a nis cha robh e do reir choltais a leth cho furasda sa bha e naoi bliadhna roimhe! Bhòidich mi, an dara h-uair agus le barrachd dùrachd na rinn mi riamh nuair rachadh cùram teaghlach oig an lughad gu’n tugainn gun ag mi fein suas do chràbhadh.
’Mach a thug mi ’ris a cho’ thachadh an t-saoghail, agus cha b’ fhada gus an deach’ gach giorag adhlae mar nach biodh bòid no guth-coinnseas riamh ann! Aig leth-cheud, nuair bha sibhse, mo chlann, cha’ n ann a’ cur ri m’ churam, ach a’ togail uallach an t-saoghail dhìom, bha ni eigin a’ sparradh orm an comhnuidh, “coimhliion do ghealladh—Iarr Dia a nis.” Bha fhios aig mo chridhe gun tug mi a leithid do bhòid ach cha robh mi toilichte gu’n deach’ iarraidh orm a h-locadh cho tràth. Bha mi doilich gu’n do chuir mi dàil idir ’s an obair, a dh’ aindeoin úpraid an t-saoghail. Bha mi nis fo mhór imcheist agus iomguinn intinn, ach an deigh mòran beachd-smuaineach’ fhuair m’ inntinn fois le bòid a dheanamh do Dhia, an treas uair, ’nuair rachadh cùram an t-saoghal seachad nach tugadh ni air bith m’ aire bhar ullachadh a dheanamh arson siorruidheachd.
Cha luaithe ’rùnaich mi so na dh’ fhalbh gach cùram gus an tainig eùslaints: Ach, a nis, ged bu mhiann leam a bhi cràbhadh cha b’ urrainn domh! Tha cràbhadh a nis dhomh cho làn dùibhe agus uamhais ’s gur th-ann tha e ’cur gairisinn air m’ anam! Tha mi faireachadh gu bheil mi air mo threigsinn le Dia, ach cha’n ‘eil e ‘cur glusad orm—cha’n ‘eil grádh do Dhia ‘nam chridhe, no tur fhuath do pheacadh—cha’n ‘eil mi faicinn ach eù-dochas romham ‘s am dhèigh!
Anns an staid intinn so tha bhur n’ athair a nis air starsaich siorruidheachd. Oh! mo chlann! gabhaibh rabhadh! Mar math leibh siorruidheachd a chaitheamh ann an staid truaighe toisichibh a nis—na cuiribh dàil ann an saorsa an anama gus an —cha chluinnte a chuid eile—cha’n fhaichte ach a’ bhlean a glusad—dh’ fhailnich a’ neart e—thuit e air ‘adhart taobh a chuile, agus le roan mar gum b’ e toiseach nam piantaibh air nach tig crioch e, ghabh an spiorad neo-bhàsmhor a chead de’n chollainn, a dhàitch e dlùth do cheithir fichead bliadhna!
‘Sann bho odha de’n t-seann duine, bho mhinitir, a bha ri taobh na leapach san àm, a fhuair mì’n cunntas so. Be’n sealladh uamhasach so bu mheadhon e fein agus iomadh eile de shlochd an t-seann duine iompachadh gu Dia agus nuadhachd cathe-beatha. Tri bliadhna mu’n do dhèug an seann duine bha dùsgadh mòr anns a choimhearsnachd, agus a’ measg chaich rinn an Spiorad greim air a mbac leis an robh e’fuireach. Rinn an seann duine na burrainn dha gu grabadh a chur air cràbhadh a mhic, agus fhad ‘sa bha comas glusaid aige cha ‘n fhanadh e ‘san t-seòmar an àm ùrnuigh teaghlach, ‘s cha mho, gu latha ‘bhàis, a dh’iarra e riabh ùrnuigh ‘chur suas air as a leith!
Bho’n eachdraidh aithghearr agus mhuladaich so fèudaidh sinn a thional. ‘Sa cheud aite—gur h-i ‘n òige an t-aon àm gus an Tighearna iarraidh. Tha so soilleir bho thuisge nadurra; oir tha gach bliadhna a chaitheas sinn ann an cleachdanna peacach a neartachadh an cumbachd osceann ar n’ anama, a’ togail a bhalla ni ‘s àirde, a ta eadar sinn agus neamh, agus ga fhàgail ni ‘s neò-chinntiche co ac’ a theid no nach teid sinn gu bràth a steach air geataibh na h-Ierusalem nuadh! Tha so soilleir bho na scriobturaibh naomh. Tha annatasan geallaidhean sonraichte, agus aitheantan sonraichte do’n ògraidh—”Cuimhnich a nis do Chruith ‘fhear, ann an làithibh d’ òige, m’an tig na droch làithean, agus m’ an dlùthaich na bliadhnaibh anns an abair thu cha ‘n ‘eil tiachd agam annta.”—”Iadsan a dhiarras mi gu moch, gheibh iad mi.”
Tha, mar an ceudna, fradharc ar sùl gu dhearbhbadh. Chunnaic fear-scriobhaidh an leabhrain so iomadh neach a chaidh a dhùsgadh le Spiorad Dhia, agus ‘s eigin da fianuis a thogail gur h-ann ‘nan òige a dhùisgeadh a chuid gu mòr bu mho dhiu. Cha ‘n ‘e so, ach thubhairt ministir eile ris—ministir leis an robh mòr shoirbheachadh anns an fhion-lis—nach b’ aithne dha barrachd is aon san t-seachd a chaidh iompachadh an dèigh dhoibh madainn na h-òige ‘fhàgail! Sin òige, uime sin, am feadh a ta an cridhe agus na h-aingidhean maoth, an t-àm an Tighearna iarraidh.
‘San dara h-àite.—Tha ‘leithid do staid ann ‘s neach a bhi air a thoirt thairis do chruas chridhe, agus air a chaomhnadh amhàin gus “tomhas aingidheachd a’ lionadh suas.” Agus fuilg thusa dhomh, a leughadair ionmhuinn, ma tha thu fathast gun fhios agad ciod e düsgadh spioradail, gum feud gu bheil thusa ni ‘s faigse do’n staid so na tha duil agad! Theagamh nach robh düsgadh mòr agus farsuing riabh nach robh cuid diubh a rainig an staid eagallach so—muinntir, an deigh a bhi fo mhòr imcheist, a thuit air an ais—a’ diultadh gach rabhadh—ga’n cruadhachadh fein ann an neo-shuim, ‘s an olc, agus a suidhe sios deich uairean ni ‘s measa na bha iad riabh! Cha mhòr, a theagamh, a chi, an taobh so de shiorruidheachd, mar a sgrios iad an amama mar chunnaic an seann duine mu’n robh mi ‘g innse: ach ‘sann aigesan a ransaicheas an cridhe tha fios cia lion iad, eadhon ann an tir so an t-soisgeil, ris an abair Dia na Trócair, “Gairmaidh iad orm, ach cha fhreagair mise; iarraidh iad mi—ach cha’n fhaigh iad mi!” Nam faiceadh tusa an duine ‘chunnaic ceithir-fichead geamhradh, ‘s e ‘criothnachadh le an-dochas, ‘nuair thalnig teachdairè gruamach a bhàis a thoirt air falbh ‘anama a’ dheoin no dh’ ain deoin, a dh’ fhaotainn a binn, chitheadh tu cho cudthromach sa tha focal so na Firinn a tha gràdh, “Mo thruaighe iad ‘nuair dhìbreae mise iad.”
Thusa ‘òganaich ionmhuinn, a lèugh an eachdraidh aighearr so, an robh riabh imcheist ortsa mu shiorruidheachd? Ma bha fuilingidh tu focal no dha bho charaid d’ anama. Na abair, “eistidh mi riut ‘nuair thig sean aois,” air eagal ‘nuair thig sean aois gu’n dean ea-dòchas greim ort—air eagal gu’n abair Dia, “Tha e ceangailte ri’ iodhalaibh, leig leis.”
Thusa a leugh an leabhran so, an seann duine thu? Ma seadh fuiling dhomh a charaid aosda focal no dha a ràdh mu staid d’ anama ma’ fogail uamhasan an t-saoghail shiorruidh ort.
‘S cuimhne leatsa cuideachd an làtha ‘nuair bha thu fo agradh coinnseis—’nuair bha thu fo imcheist mu shlighe na beatha agus mu shlainnte an anama. An d’ fhalbh an latha so? Ma dh’ fhalbh c’ àit an d’ fhuair d’ anam fois! No am bheil thu ‘s do cheann liath a’ d’ sheasamh air starsaich na siorruidheachd gun eagal gun churam? An àm codail so? Dh’ fhalbh an t-àm a b’ fhearr gus an Tighearna iarraidh—dh’ fhalbh ‘s gu bràth cha till e, cha’n eil àm idir a nis ann ach beagan làithean, ma tha sin fein ann!
Mar h-e cheana marbhantas a bhàis spioradail so a rug air d’ anam cha’n ‘fhada gus an tionndaidh e gus bàs siorruidh! Oh! na cuir dàil nis faide! Na h-abair “cha ‘n ‘eil comas air—ciod a ni mi?” “Cha ‘n ‘eil neach an taobh a mach de dhòchas ach iadsan leis nach àill tighinn gu Criosd chum gum biodh beatha aca. “An ti a thig do’m ‘ionnsuidhsa,” ars’ Esan, cha tilg mi air chor air bith a mach e.” Gu’n tugadh Dia dhuit fhaicinn cia cunnartach an ni dàil a chur ann an aithreachas.—Amen.
THERE are but few who love to reprove, fewer who reprove in love, and fewest of all who love to be reproved.
Resolution of the Western Presbytery against Ploughing and other Agricultural Pursuits on the Sabbath Day.
THE following Resolution was adopted on the 28th March :—
“The Western Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland view with grave alarm the recommendation made by responsible Ministers of State in favour of Sabbath desecration in the form of Sabbath ploughing, and other agricultural pursuits on the Lord’s day.
“The Presbytery are persuaded that the adoption of this course, although with the intention of increasing the food production of the country in the existing national stress, constitutes an act of sad dishonour and affront to God. They reckon it an unwarrantable encroachment upon the sanctity of His holy day, the observance of which is perpetually of universal binding obligation equally with the other precepts of the Moral Law. The course recommended cannot legitimately be urged on the plea that it comes under the category of works of necessity and mercy. It betrays woful failure in a professedly Christian nation, to acknowledge on the one hand God’s legitimate claims as supreme Lawgiver requiring universal obedience to all His commandments, and on the other to place implicit trust in Him as the Omnipotent One able to bless the labours of the six days of the week, as authoritatively enjoined by Him, so richly and abundantly as to provide adequately for the requirements of the whole nation.
“The Presbytery recognising in the unprecedented existing circumstances that He who is Lord of the Sabbath Day has a solemn controversy with our own as well as with other nations, and remembering His assurance that in the keeping of His commandments there is great reward, humbly but emphatically raise their protest against this flagrant breach of the Fourth Commandment, and they instruct a copy of it to be forwarded to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Board of Agriculture.” [Certified by Clerk of Presbytery.]
Petition to Prime Minister by Northern Presbytery against Agricultural Work on the Sabbath.
THE Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has forwarded the following Petition to the Prime Minister :—
The Petition of the Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, to the Right Honourable D. Lloyd George, M.P., Prime Minister of Great Britain.
“Humbly sheweth :—That your petitioners are grieved to find the farmers of this country being urged, by men representing the Government, to the head of which you have in the providence of God been raised, to plough on Sabbath-days equally with week-days during the spring season; that your petitioners would venture to point out how deeply embedded in God’s Word is the principle of sanctifying to God one day in seven, and that this principle is the revelation of the mind and will of that God in comparison with whom all the nations are as the small dust of the balance, and Who taketh up the isles as an atom. That your petitioners are satisfied that if His law had been honoured throughout Europe since the Reformation as it ought to have been honoured, the people of Europe would have been led to embrace Christianity in a purer and deeper sense than many of them evidently have done, and if Christianity had been so embraced, this War would never have devastated the world as it is doing.
“That your petitioners are not blind to the fact that there may occur works of necessity which are lawful to do on the Lord’s Day; but they are persuaded that to arrange to engage in the systematic ploughing of our fields in order to save the country now, as it is said, from famine is not such a work of necessity, but rather a work of panic, and a work indicative of distrust of the favour of Him by whom men live.
“That your petitioners would therefore appeal to you, as to one of whom they have reason to think as being highly appreciative of the Christian institutions of your country, with a view to your discouraging the form of Sabbath desecration complained of.
“And your petitioners will ever pray, etc.
“In name and by authority of the said Presbytery,
(Signed)
JOHN R. MACKAY,
Moderator of Presbytery.“