James Calder was ordained to the ministry of the Gospel in the year 1740. His first charge was Ardersier, in the north-east of Inverness-shire. This is the parish in which is situated Fort-George, the northernmost of three forts which were constructed last century in and near the “Great Valley of Scotland,” known now as the line of the Caledonian Canal, with the very needless intention of keeping the Highlands in awe. Before a year had elapsed, the people of Inverness endeavoured to procure his removal to that town, but his parishioners, in a curious document still extant, resisted the proposal before the Presbytery, and he himself declined it on the plea of feeble strength. In 1742 he was married to Miss Anne Inglis, daughter of the minister of Cullicudden in Ross-shire, a good man, whose memory still survives as “the Lamb of Cullicudden.” She appears to have been like-minded with her husband, but she died early, leaving him in sole charge of three sons and one daughter. His translation to the neighbouring parish of Croy took place in 1750.
Beyond these naked facts we are acquainted with almost no particulars of his ministry or life for twenty-two years.* His extant Diary begins in 1762. It bears internal evidence of having been written with the consciousness that it might one day be perused by his family. The general title is—
“MEMORANDUMS.”
“Croy, 12th Oct., 1762.—
The solemn work, through the good hand of God upon us, is brought to a comfortable conclusion: all praise to His blessed and gracious name! The servants of our Lord were wonderfully assisted on this occasion, and His people greatly edified and comforted. But, alas, how cold and formal was I in delivering a great part of the action-sermon! But blessed be His name, when I came to address myself more immediately to the most solemn part of my work my bonds were loosed, my heart enlarged, and on the whole it was a pleasant, happy Communion to my poor soul.”
Such is the first entry in the Diary. For the sake of southern readers, it is necessary to explain that the “solemn work” mentioned above was the dispensation of the Lord’s Supper, with preliminary and subsequent days of worship, as then very solemnly observed over most of Scotland. The preliminary days were, generally, one devoted to humiliation, fasting, and prayer; one (in the Highlands) to a conference for self-examination; and one to special preparation of soul. Then came the Communion Sabbath, followed by a day of thanksgiving. In the northern Highlands, at the time when this Diary was written, crowds used to gather from other parishes, on all these days, to the parish where the Lord’s Supper was administered. This custom, which proved an important means of spreading vital religion over a wide district, has by no means even yet died out in those parts.
The following extracts show the minister of Christ in his daily parochial work and home life, as well as the exercise of spirit he was at this time passing through in preparation for a greatly enlarged blessing which God was about to grant on his labours during several succeeding years:—
“16th.—
Visited three sick families. The Lord was graciously assisting.”
“17th.—
Catechised in M— of K—, a graceless village. The Lord gave liberty in re proving, and freedom in praying for their conversion and reform.”
“18th.—
Baptised a child to one Munro, residing in Campbell-town of Ardersier, a native of Urquhart, in Ferintosh. A sweet gale of the Divine Spirit breathed all along in time of administering this solemn ordinance. The child’s name—Catherine Munro. O may it be recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life!”
“19th.—
This night, family worship was gone about in a heartless, formal, unsavoury frame. Alas! I’ve offended the Lord and provoked Him to deny His usual presence and countenance, by my shameful wasting an hour of precious time before worship in an amusement innocent in itself, but unnecessary and unseasonable, and, therefore, sinful and offensive, at a time when I ought to be employed to better purpose! Oh, how much good might have been done in the precious hours which I have thrown away so prodigally and to so little purpose! Father, forgive this awful waste and unaccountable abuse of so valuable a talent as precious time, and help by Thy grace to husband and improve it with greater care, and vigilance, and prudence, and diligence than ever I have hitherto done. This I resolve in the strength of grace: Lord, let Thy grace be sufficient for me! Amen.
“22nd.—
Spent an hour in sweet spiritual conference with a very young person, M—y R—s, asking liberty to attend our monthly fellowship meeting, which was granted, as there is a promising appearance. This is now the fourth person who has been awakened here within less than a year in a way of terror or law-work. With most of them, blessed be the Lord, the thunder of Mount Sinai is turned to the melody of Mount Zion. The complaint of a cold heart, and the want of love to all that’s lovely, still remains. O Jesus, pity me!”
(To be continued.)