SEARMOIN LEIS AN URRAMACH TOMAS BOSTON.
“Co-eignich iad gu teachd a steach.”—Lucas xiv., 23.
Agus nach sona iadsan a ta steach? Am bheil bhur carraig mar an carraig-san, O pheacacha? Thugaibh fein breith, agus c’uime nach tig sibhse steach mar an ceudna. Cha ‘n eil tigh Chriosd fathasd air a lionadh. Thainig moran a stigh, ach “gidheadh tha ait falamh ann fathast” airson tuille, rann 22. Agus tha sinne air ar cuir amach gu “ur co-eigneachadh gu teachd a steach.” Tha sin air a sparradh oirinn ‘nar bonn-teagaig.
Se brigh a chosamhlachd so (ata ciallachadh an aon ni ris a chuirm phosaidh ata ann an soisgeul Mhata xxii.) a bhi nochdadh cuir air chul nan Iudhach airson an diultaan air Criosd, agus gairm nan Cinneach ‘nan aite. Si ‘n u-shuipeir chum am bheil iad air an cuireadh ‘an so, Iosa Criosd, le uile shochoirean tearnaidh: is esan maraon fear deasachaidh, agus brigh na suipeir so. Ann am maduinne ann an linntibh na ‘n aithrichibh, bha daoiné air an cuireadh chum na feisde so; oir eadhon aig an am sin, cha robh an saoghal a dh’ easbhuidh luchd searmonachadh fireantachd, 2 Pead. ii., 5. Anns a mheadhon-latha, fo’n lagh, bha daoiné air an cuireadh chum na feisde so, le faidnean, sagairt, agus Lebhitch. Agus a nis anns an fheasgar, anns na amanaibh deireannach, amana an t-soisgeul, tha iad air an gairm da h-ionnsuidh mar gu suipeir; air da frithealadh an t-soisgeul, a bhi frithealadh deireannach grais do ‘n t-saoghal. Fhuair na Iudhaich a cheud taigse, ach cha tigeadh iad; ghabh iad an leith-sgeulan, mar a leughas sibh aig roinn 17, 18, 19, 20, de na chaibdeil so. Tha na Cinnich a faighail an ath thairgse; tha ‘n seirbhiseach air a chuir amach gu sraidibh agus gu caol-shraidibh a bhaile: tha ministeirean Chriosd a’ searmonachadh an t-soisgeul do na Cinnich bhochd, agus tha iad a gabhail ris. Ach cha ‘n eil na h-uile teachd a stigh comhlath: uime sin tha ‘n seirbhiseach air a chuir a mach “gus na rathaidibh mora, agus na garachaibh” far am bheil an seorsa is ro thruaighe do shluagh ri ‘m faotainn, agus feumaidh eadhon iad so, a bhi air an co-eigneachadh gu teachd a steach. Feudaidh e bhith, gu ‘n robh suil aig cuir amach an t-seirbhiseach da uair, ri rathadh an Tighearna ann am frithealadh an t-soisgeul do ‘n t-saoghal Gheintileach; air da’n t-soisgeul air tus a bhi air a shearmonachadh do na mheud dhiu sa chuir eul ri iodhol-aoraidh an dutheha, ‘sa rinn aoradh do’n fhor Dhia; agus a chruinnich cuid a dh-uairean maille ris na Iudhaich na ‘n sionagogaibh gu eolas De fhoghllum uatha, ged nach do ghabh iad ri pairt dheas-ghnathach do crabhadh nan Iudhach: dh’ fheudadh iad so gu cothromach a bhi air an cumail a mach mar “na daoiné ciurramach, na crabhadh nan Iudhach: dh’ fheudadh iad so gu cothromach a bhi air an cumail a mach mar “na daoiné ciurramach, na bacaich, agus na doill” ‘nan suidhe ann an sraidibh agus caol-shraidibh a bhaile. Ach na dheigh sin bha ‘n soisgeul air a thoirt chum nan oisnibh bu ro-dhuirche de ‘n talamh, far nach robh suim aon chuid air crabhadh Iudhach na Cinnach, ach a bha uile air dol fodha, anns an iodhol-aoraidh agus anns an aineolas bu ro-ghraineil; ni a dh’ fheudadh gu cothromach a bhi air a chumail a mach mar ‘na rathaidibh mora, agus na garachaibh. Faic Gniomh x. agus xiii. 42, 46, 49.
Tha againn anns a bhonn teagasg tri nithe. (1) A chrioch mhor a bhuineadh do mhinistearan a bhi aca fa chomhair an suil, ann an searmonachadh an t-soisgeul; agus is e sin, peacaich a thoirt a steach gu Criosd. Cha ‘n ann a mhain ga ‘n tarruing gu pairtidh, ach ga ‘n tarruing gu Criosd. Cha ‘n e mhain a bhi toirt orra a bhi ag atharrachadh an oibre na ‘n seirbheis, air dhoibh bhi fathast a fantuinn a muigh le bhi searmonachadh modhalachd a mhain dhoibh; ach is e a bhi toirt orra am maighstir atharrachadh mar an ceudna, le bhi ga ‘m faighail gu Criosd tre chreidimh. (2) Feumaidh ministearan an deagh aire a thoirt co ris a ta aca ri dheanamh gu ‘n toirt a steach; eadhon iadsan a ta na ‘n suidhe anns na rathaidibh mora agus anns na garachaibh, mar dheircich ann am broineagan agus fo chreuchdan, a chuid is neo-airidh agus is graineil do pheacaich. (3) An doigh a dh ‘f heumas iad a chleachdadh chum am faotainn a steach; “Co-eignich iad gu teachd a steach.” Cha ‘n ann le bhi deanamh ainneart air an cuirp. Chuir Criosd claidheamh an Spioraid ann an laimha mhinistearan, ach cha do chuir e claidheamh tiomail nan laimh. Feudaidh geurleanmhuinn le luchd airm, le pianadh, le croich, agus claidheamh, a bhi na meadhonaibh chum daoine iomain a stigh gus an ana-criosd, ach cha toir sin gu brath a stigh gu Criosd iad. Is co-eigneachadh modhail a ta againn sa bhonn-teagaig; a leithid ‘sa tha muinntir a cleachdadh ata cuireadh sluaigh gu cuirm, cha ‘n ann gan slaodadh a stigh le spairn, ach ga ‘n cuireadh le caoimbneas agus dian-iarrtus gus am faigh iad an aonta. ‘S ann mar sin bu choir do mhinistearan peacaich a cho-eigneachadh gu teachd gu Criosd, a’ buintinn riu gu teo-chridheach agus da rireamh, chum is gu faiceadh peacaich gu ‘m bheil ministearean ro-dhurachdach air gnothuch am Maighstir. Feumaidh sinn cuirdhean agus tairgsean caoimbneil an t-soisgeul, a thoirt dhoibh air an aon laimh, agus “uamhas an Tighearna,” air an laimh eile, air chor ‘s ma theid daoine chum ifrinn, gu ‘n teid iad an sin le fianuis na ‘m broilleach. Fadheoidh, tha lan eifeachd an Spioraid Naomh air a thoirt fainear an so, a ta cochuideachadh an fhocail, gu dheanamh eifeachdach chum iompachaidh an taghaidh; nach eil a deanamh spairn orra, ach gu caoimbneil ga ‘n n-eigneachadh gu teachd a steach.
Teagasg.—Is i obair mhor mhinistearain, peacaich a cho-eigneachadh ann an doigh soisgeulach gu theachd a stigh gu Criosd.
‘S ‘n doigh is fearr ann ‘s an urrainn dhomh am bonn-teagaig so a laimhseachadh, mo shuil a chumail air a’ ni sin a ta air a sparradh ann. Agus chum na criche sin, bheir mi fainear ciod a ta air fhilleadh ann. Anns
- Tha peacaich do thaobh naduir a mach. Mar biodh iad mar sin, cha bhiodh feum airson an co-eigneachadh gu teachd a steach. Eisdibh sibhse uile a ta ‘n diugh a mach a Criosd, co as a ta sibh a mach, agus c’aite am bheil sibh.
Air tus, A pheacacha, am bheil fhis agaibh co as a ta sibh a mach? (1) Sibhse uile a ta mach a Criosd, tha sibh amach a teaghlach Dhe—Eph. ii. 18, 19. Is e teaghlach Dhe teaghlach a chreidimh; cha bhuiu sibhse dhi. Feudaidh a thigh a bhi na thigh falamh air bhuir sonsa. Theich Adhamh ‘sa shlioichd uile maille ris, amach as an tigh; agus tha sibhse an sin fathast far an d-fhag Adhamh sibh. Agus nach dubhach an cor sin, a bhi ‘mach a teaghlach Dhe? Ged tha sibh ann an tigh ar mathair, cha chomasach dhuibh athair a ghairm dheth-san, do bhrigh nach eil sibh ann an Criosd a Mhac! cha’n urradh sibh cuibhrionn na oigbreachd na cloinne a thagar—Gal. iv. 30. (2) Tha sibh a mach o co-cheangal sith Dhe, agus mar sin gun dochas slainte, am feadh ‘sa ta sibh anns a staid sin—Eph. ii. 12. Tha sibh a leughadh mu charabad glormhor, ann an Dan Shol. iii. 9, 10. Is e sin cumhnant grais, cumhnant sith, mar air a chumail a mach anns an t-soisgeul shiorruidh; oir is e sin “focal na firinn, na macantach, agus na fireantach,” air am bheil Criosd a marcachd agus a toirt buaidh. Be cumhnant nan gniomh an carabad anns robh Adhamh agus a shlioichd gu bhi air an giulan do neamh: b’ann aig Adhamh a bha stiuireadh a charabad so, ach cha b’fhada mharcaich e, nuair a bhriseadh an carabad na bhloighdean. Nis a ta carabad nuadh air a dheanamh anns a bheil Criosd a’ giulan a shluagh uile gu gloir; ach tha sibhse a mach as. B’e Righ Solamh, an t-Eadar-Mheadhonair Criosd a rinn e; cha robh neach eile comasach air a dheanamh ach esan. Rinn se e air a shon fein, gu bhi foillseachadh a ghloir fein, agus anabarra saoibhreas a ghrais leis; agus “airson nigheanaibh Ierusalem, chum a cheile ghiulan dachaidh ann gu tigh Athair. Rinn se e do “fhiodh maireannach Lebanon,” oir is aill leis an carabad a bhi na chumhnant siorruidh nach teid a chaoichd a bhriseadh. Tha aig a charabad so “puist do airgid” na geallanna oirdheire sin a ta co sonruichte do chumhnant grais, mar tha geallach maitheanais, buannhair-eannachd sa leithid sin, oir ta e “air a dhaingneachadh air geallanna ni ‘s fearr.” Agus do bhrigh nach cudthrom beag a ta anns a charabad so nuair ata peacach ann. rinn e “iochdar do or” daingean agus laidir, air chor ‘s nach tuit neach ata ann gu brath troimh, ged bu truime iad na beann-taibh luaidh; “Oir a ta bunait Dhe a’ seasmhach daingean, aig am bheil an seula so, Is aithne do ‘n Tighearn an dream as leis”—Tim. ii. 19. Tha iad air an deanamh tearuinte le
ordugh siorruidh taghaidh Dhe. Cha tuit ðoinionn feirg gu brath orra san a ta sa charabad so, air a ta comhdach air do fhuil cro-dhearg Iosa Criosd. “Tha a mheadhon, an taobh a stigh dheth air a chomhdach le gradh:” tha gradh a linigeadh a charabaid; tha e os an cionn, air gach taobh dhiu; seadh tha e fodhpa, air chor is ged thuiteadh iad ann, nach fhaigh iad leithid do thuiteam craiteach, is nach comasach dhoibh eirigh a ris. Is sona iadsan a ta ann, ach, mo thruaigh a pheacacha tha sibhse a mach as. Tha sibh ‘nur luidhe far do leig a cheud charabad sibh nuair a bhris e. (3) Tha sibh a mach o fhabhor Dhe, air dhuibh a bhi mach a’ Criosd: nis tha sin uamhasach, “oir a ta ar Dia-ne na theine dian-loisgeach,” agus cha ‘n eil fasgaidh o fheirg Dhe, ach a bhi fo’ chomhdach ful an Eadar-mheadhonair—Eph. ii. 13. Tha ‘n aingear sgriosaidh a’ teachd seachad, ach cha’n eil ful crathta air ursanaibh bhuir dorsa. Tha Dia ann an Criosd a reiteachadh an t-saoghal ris fein; mar tig sibhse a stigh, agus a choinneachadh ‘an sin, ciod ris am bi duil agaibh ach gu’n coinnich e sibh mar mhathghamhuinn o’n do bhuineadh a cuileanan, gu’n reub e sgairt ‘ur eridhe, agus gu’n sluig e sibh mar leomhan—Hos. xiii. 8. Ciod am feum a ni ‘ur dleasdanais dhuibh, am feadh ata sibh mach a’ Criosd? an urrainn iad fabhor Dhe a chosnadadh dhuibh? Cha teid bhu deoir a chaoidh ‘na shearraig ni’ mo thig ‘ur uirnigh gu brath gu chluasan—Eoin xiv. 6.
San dara aite—Am bheil fhios agaibh, a pheacacha, c’aite am bheil sibh? Innisidh mi dhuibh c’aite. (1) Tha sibh air cluanaibh an diabhuil, air beanntaibh an diomhainis, mu fhaill nan leomhainn, agus air beanntaibh nan leopaird, far am bheil Satan a’g iomain a threud. Tha sibh a mach a’ tigh Dhe, air seacharan faondrach a’ gleidheadh arain, a’g iarraidh deire aig dorus an t-saoghal, ag radh, C’aite am bheil e? Cha’n aithne dhuidh Criosd aran na beatha; agus uime sin tha aolach taitneasan, agus buanachdan saoghalta co luachmhor ann ‘ur suilibh. Ach innis dhomh, a pheacaich am bheil thu uair sam bith sasuite? “Bu mhiann leat do bhuir a lionadh le plaosgaibh” an t saoghal, ach am bheil iad da rireamh ga d’ shasuchadh? Nach eil a bhrigh air fhasgadh as na nithe sin, air chor is gu ‘m bheil thu ga ‘m faotainn na’m plaosgan falamh? Ann a d’ uile shiubhal air beanntaibh an diomhainis, an tainig thu riarmh chum an aite sin mu ‘m b’urrainn thu radh—agus a dhearbadh—se so mo shuaimhneas, agus an so gabhaidh mi tamh. Cha tainig ‘s cha tig gu brath, ach an tig thu gu Criosd—Isa. iv. 2. (2) Tha sibh ann an ifrinn air thalamh. Is e bhi ann an ifrinn, a bhi an taobh a muigh—Taisb. xxii. 15; agus cha tainig sibhse a stigh, tha sibh air ‘ur diteadh a cheana—Eoin. iii. 18,—ceangailte anns a phriosan—Isa. lxi 1. Ciod
an t-eadar-dhealachadh a ta eadar sibhse, agus iadsan a ta ann an ifrinn. Tha sibh araon ‘nur priosanaich; amhain gu bheil sibhse sa phriosan a muigh, ach iadsan ‘sa phriosan a’s faide stigh. Tha sibh maraon air falbh o Chriosd; amhain so, tha sibhse falbh uath le’r deoin, ach is eigin dhoibhsan imeachd uath. Tha teine feirg Dhe, air a chuir ‘nur co-guisean araon, amhain cha’n eil e air a sheideadh suas na lasair, le anail an Tighearna mar shruth pronnusg ga lasadh annaibh-sa mar a ta e annta-san; ach cha ‘n eil fhios agaibh ciod cho luath ‘sa dh’ fheudas e bhi mar sin. Ach fathast tha eadar-dhealachadh eil ann; tha iadsan nam priosanaich gun dochas; tha sibhse ‘nur priosanaich an dochais. Uime sin theid mi air aghaidh gu puing eile.
II.—Is e gnothuch mhor cardean an Fhir-nuadh-phosda iadsan a ta muigh, a thoirt a stigh. Fheara, sibhse a ta muigh, tha sibh far nach bu choir dhuibh a bhi; tha sibh air talamh toirmeasgta. B’aill leinn sibh a bhi stigh, b’aill leinn bhur toirt gu Criosd, gu sibh aonadh ris, le creidsinn ann, is gabhail ris na uile ofgean. —
Sa cheud aite—Tha sinn ag innseadh dhuibh, gur e ar Tighearna amhain a ta air a sgeadachadh le ard ughdarras agus barrantas, gu bhi am Faidh, an Searornaich, agus am Fear-teagaig mor, a sheoladh na slighe gu tir Immanuel—Gniomh iii. 22, 23. Chuir e suas a thigh-foghlum ‘nar measg-ne, ach cha ‘n eil aig ach beagan fhoghluamaich; agus thainig sinne chum ‘ur co-eigneachadh gu teachd a stigh, gus am bi a thigh air a lionadh. Tha moran dheisciobul aig Satan; tha moran fhoghluamaich aig glicias feolmhor; mo thruaigh gu ‘m bheil! O fagaibh iad. Is e ar Tighearn a mhain, an Treoraiche mor, air a thoirt leis an Athair, gus’ a Chanain neamhaidh—Isa. iv. 4. Cha tainig, ‘s cha tig, neach riamh an sin, ach a luchd leanmhuinn-sa; thigibh a stigh uime sin, thugaibh sibh fein suas dha, gu bhi air ‘ur treorachadh leis. B’aill leibh uile a bhi sona; b’aill leibh uile a dhol do neamh fa-dheireadh; ach tha sibh uile air seacharan ann am fasach gu ‘n slighe; agus gu cinnteach caillidh sibh, sibh fein, mar gabh sibh esan mar ‘ur Treoraiche. Tha ‘n t-shlige gu gloir na shlighe dheacair, agus cha ‘n eil sibhse eolach uimpe, seadh, is luchd turuis dall sibh, ata an cunnart na h-uile tiota tuiteam thar craig-eigin. O! an gabh sibh fear iuil? Tha sibh a nis, mar gu ‘m b-ann ‘nur seasamh, far am bheil da sligh a’ coinneachadh, gu ‘n fhios agaibh co-aca a ghabhas sibh. Tha ‘ur glicias fein, ata na h-aimideas, a’ comharrachadh amach slighe fharsuing reigh, ag radh “Ge be neach a ta baoghalta thigeadh e stigh an so—Gnath. ix. 16. Ach na rachaibh a stigh an sin, oir “tha na mairbh an sin, agus ata a h-acoidhean ann an doimh-neachdaibh ifrinn,” rann 18. Tha glicias an athair, ar
Tighearn Criost, ag comharrachadh amach slighe chumhann dhuibh, ach tha i treorachadh chum beatha; agus tha e’n diugh ag-radh ribh, “Ge b’e neach a ta baoghalta thigeadh e an stigh an so,” rann 4. Thigibh a stigh uime sin, a’ cuir cul ri ‘r gliocas fein, thugaibh sibh fein dhasan, gu bhi air ur treorachadh, agus air stiuireadh leis, “Eisdibh agus mairidh ur n-anam beo.”
Illegal Roman Catholic Processions.*
IN view of the many Roman Catholic Parades (such as Corpus Christi processions) now taking place, every citizen should not the following statute law, says the “Churchman’s Magazine”:—
I. Roman Catholic Emancipation Act.
“And be it further enacted That if any Roman Catholic Ecclesiastic or any member of any of the Orders Communities or Societies hereinafter mentioned shall after the commencement of this Act exercise any of the Rites or Ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Religion or wear the Habits of his Orders save within the usual places of Worship of the Roman Catholic Religion or in Private Houses such Ecclesiastic or other Person shall being thereof convicted by due course of Law forfeit for every such offence the sum of 50 pounds.”—(Sec. 26, 10 George 4, c. 7, 1829).
II. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation.
“Whereas by the Act of Parliament passed in the tenth year of the reign of His Majesty King George IV., for the relief of His Majesty’s Roman Catholic subjects, it is enacted that no Roman Catholic Ecclesiastic, nor any member of any of the religious orders, communities, or societies of the Church of Rome, bound by monastic or religious vows, should exercise any of the rights or ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, or wear the habits of his order, save within the usual places of worship of the Roman Catholic Religion, or in private houses. And whereas it has been represented to us that Roman Catholic Ecclesiastics, wearing the orders, have exercised the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion in highways and places of public re-
* The above may be had as a leaflet from the Protestant Truth Society, 3 and 4 St Paul’s Church-yard, London, E.C., price 1s 2d per 100, post free.
sort, with many persons in ceremonial dresses, bearing banners and objects or symbols of worship, and procession, to the great scandal and annoyance of large numbers of our people, and to the manifest danger of the public peace. And whereas it has been represented to us that such violation of the law has been committed near places of worship during the time of Divine Service, and in such a manner as to disturb the congregations assembled therein, We have therefore thought it our bounden duty, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to issue this, our Royal Proclamation, solemnly warning all those whom it may concern that, whilst we are resolved to protect our Roman Catholic subjects in the undisturbed enjoyment of their legal rights and religious freedom, we are determined to repress the commission of all such offences as aforesaid, whereby the offenders may draw upon themselves the punishments attending the violation of the laws and the peace and security of our dominions may be endangered. Given at our Court, at Buckingham Palace, this Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, in the Fifteenth year of our reign.”