By Rev. EBENEZER ERSKINE.
(Continued from vol. xl., page 459.)
Does not this oblige you to entertain Him, and give Him welcome when He comes? Motive 4. If you quit your grips of Him, and suffer Him to depart, it may cost you very dear before you get another meeting with Him. It is true, His kindness shall never depart from thee, the covenant of His peace shall never be removed. His gracious presence can never be lost; but His quickening, comforting, strengthening, and upholding presence may be lost: and even this may be of very dreadful consequence. As His presence is a heaven upon earth, so sometimes a hell upon earth follows His absence. Job, through His hiding, is made to go mourning without the sun; yea, to such a pass is he brought, through the frowns of God’s countenance, that he is made to cry, The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. And see what a pass Heman is brought to under desertion (Psalm lxxxviii. 6, 7). Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and Thou hast afflicted me with all Thy waves. And again, verse 15, While I suffer Thy terrors, I am distracted. Let all these considerations, and many others I might name, quicken your diligence in holding the King in the galleries. 2. I come to offer you a few advices, in order to your holding the King in the galleries, and maintaining His presence with you. 1st. See that you keep His lodging clean, and beware of everything that may provoke Him to withdraw. This was the practice of the spouse after she had obtained a meeting with Christ, Cant. iii. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the fields, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till He please. Particularly, there are two or three evils that you would carefully guard against. Beware of security. If you were paying a visit to your relation, you
would think him tired of your company, if he would fall asleep beside you. Has Christ paid a visit to thy soul, and wilt thou fall asleep in His very presence and company? This is very provoking to the Lord Jesus. Cant. v. 3, the spouse there entertains Christ’s visit with sloth; I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? But what comes of it? Christ withdrew, verse 6. I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawn Himself, and was gone; I sought Him, but I could not find Him; I called Him, but He gave me no answer. Beware of turning proud of your attainments. Pride of gifts, pride of grace, pride of attainments, is what Christ cannot away with; He gives grace to the humble, but He resisteth the proud, and beholdeth them afar off. Beware of worldly-mindedness, or suffering your hearts to go out immoderately after the things of time; for this is displeasing to the Lord and intercepts the light of His countenance. Isaiah lvii. 17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him; I hid me and was wroth. The friendship of this world is enmity with God. Beware of unbelief, the root of all other evils, and particularly the root and source of distance and estrangement between Christ and the soul; for an evil heart of unbelief causes to depart from the living God. In a word, keep a strict watch, and guard against everything that may defile the lodging of Christ in thy soul. Under the law, God appointed porters to keep watch at the doors of the temple, that nothing might enter in to defile that house, which was the dwelling-place of His Name. Thy soul and body is the temple wherein Christ dwells by His Holy Spirit, and therefore guard against everything that may defile it, and provoke Him to depart; for if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I. Cor. iii. 17. Secondly, If you would hold the King in the galleries, it is necessary that grace be kept in a lively exercise; for these are the spikenard and spices that send forth a pleasant smell in His nostrils. Let faith be kept in exercise; let this eye be continually on Him; He is
exceedingly taken with the looks of faith. Cant. iv. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. Keep the fire of love burning upon the altar of thine heart; for Christ loves to dwell in a warm heart: I. John iv. 16. He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Maintain a holy and evangelical tenderness and melting of heart for sin; for the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. And let hope be kept up in opposition to a sinking despondency. Christ does not love to see His friends drooping in His company, no, no, He takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. Thirdly, if you would have Christ staying with you in the galleries, you must put much work in His hand; for Christ does not love to stay where He gets no employment. Hast thou any strong corruption to be subdued? Tell Him of it; for this is one part of His work, to subdue the iniquities of His people. Hast thou no sin to be pardoned, the guilt whereof has many times stared thee in the face? Tell Him of it; for His Name is Jesus, because He saves His people from their sins. Hast thou no want to be supplied? Tell Him of it, for there is all fulness in Him, fulness of merit and Spirit, fulness of grace and truth: He has a liberal heart, and He devises liberal things. Hast thou no doubts or difficulties to be resolved? Tell Him your doubts; for He is an interpreter among a thousand. Employ Him, not only for yourselves, but for others. Employ Him for your mother-church; entreat Him to come unto your mother’s house, and to the chambers of her that conceived you; that He would break these heavy yokes that are wreathed about her neck at this day; that He may build up the walls of His Jerusalem, make her a peaceable habitation, and the praise of the whole earth; that He may take the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, I mean, such teachers and preachers as are troubling the peace of the Church, and obstructing the progress of the gospel, with their new-fangled opinions. But I must not insist. Thirdly, a third sort
of persons I proposed to speak to, were these who are, perhaps, complaining, that they have been attending in the galleries of ordinances, and particularly at a communion table; yet they cannot say, dare not say, that they were privileged to see the King’s face. Alas! may some poor soul be saying, “I thought to have got a meeting with Zion’s King, but hitherto I have missed my errand.” The Comforter that should relieve my soul, is far from me; and I, whither shall I go? Answer. I shall only suggest a word of encouragement and advice unto such of the Lord’s people, who may be in this case. 1. A word of encouragement. First, then, do not think thy case unprecedented. Poor soul, what thinkest thou of David, Asaph, Heman, yea, of Christ Himself? Secondly, although Zion’s King may hide Himself for a little, yet He will not always hide, lest the spirit should fail before Him. Psalm xxx. 4, 5. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Isaiah liv. 7, 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord, thy Redeemer. Thirdly: Perhaps the King has been in the galleries with thy soul, when yet thou wast not aware that it was He. He was with Jacob at Bethel, and he wist it not; He was with the disciples going to Emmaus, and yet they mistook Him. Question. How shall I know whether the King has been in the galleries with my soul? For answer (1) Art thou mourning and sorrowing over thy apprehended loss? Does it grieve thee at the very heart to think, that thou shouldst be at Jerusalem, and not see the King’s face; at the King’s table, and not have the King’s company? If this be real matter of exercise to thee, thou dost not want His gracious presence, though thou art not aware; for He is ever nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. Christ is at Mary’s hand when she is drowned in tears for the want of His company, and
saying, “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” (2). Hast thou got a further discovery of thine own emptiness, poverty, and nakedness? and is thy soul abased and laid in the dust on this account? This says Christ has been present; for He comes in a work of humiliation, as well as in a work of consolation. Perhaps the devil is condemning, the law is condemning, conscience is condemning thee, and thou art condemning thyself as fast as any: be not discouraged, Christ is not far away, Psalm cix. 31. He stands at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. (3). Art thou justifying the Lord, and laying the blame of thy punishment upon thyself, as David, Psalm xxii. 1, 2, 3. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? why are Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest me not, and in the night-season, and am not silent. But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (4). Is thy hunger and thirst after Christ increased by thy apprehended want of His gracious presence? This says that He has been really present, for His blessing is upon thee: Matthew, v. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. And know for thy comfort, that He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with good things. (5). Art thou resolved to wait on Him, and keep His way, although He hide His face, and withdraw His sensible presence? Christ has not been altogether a stranger; no, He is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him; and is really nigh unto all that call upon Him in truth.
- A word of advice, and only in so many words. First: Give not way to despondency; argue against it, as David, Psalm xlii. 5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him, for the help of His countenance. Secondly: See that you justify God, and beware of charging Him foolishly. See what was David’s practice (and herein he was a type of Christ Himself), Psalm xxii. He is under hidings, verse 1. My God,
my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? etc. What follows? Verse 3. But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Thirdly: Trust in a hiding God, as Job did. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him, Job xiii. 15. This the Lord calls His people to under darkness, Isaiah 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
Fourthly, and lastly: Wait on Him in the galleries of ordinances, hang about the posts of His door. And when you do not find Him in public, seek Him in private, and in the retired galleries of secret prayer, meditation, and conference; and go a little further, like the spouse, above and beyond all duties and ordinances, to Himself: He is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. The spouse did so, and at length she found Him, whom her soul loved: Canticles iii. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found Him whom my soul loveth: I held Him, and would not let Him go. The Lord bless His Word.
The late Adam Black, Gerston, Halkirk.
FORTY years ago, “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,” beautified our beloved land to a comparatively greater extent than they do to-day. Where numerous then, they are now few but the few are outstanding (even as isolated trees are in a barren country) because of their fewness.
Two such “trees of righteousness” were removed from our midst recently by the death of Mr. Adam Black, Gerston, and Mr. Robert Sutherland, Scotscalder—both office-bearers in Halkirk Congregation for the past fourteen years. The Scripture says that such “are to be had in remembrance,” and we believe it is our duty to record some brief facts regarding them.
At the advanced age of 85, this worthy man passed away on 28th October last. His father came from Dumfries-shire to Caithness about a century ago. His mother was the seed of the righteous being descended from the pious “Jean Armadale.” Adam was born at Strathy. A day came, in the sovereign mercy of God, when he was awakened to a sense of his soul’s need. He realised that he sinned in the first Adam and fell with him. The want of original righteousness, the corruption of his whole nature, together with actual transgression became an intolerable burden to him. All attempts to improve “that depraved nature failed, and his one and only hope was in the last Adam” who was made a quickening spirit.
His knowledge of sheep, he was a sheep farmer, was profitably applied when speaking of the Good Shepherd and in giving marks of His sheep. Adam had seasons of deep conflict, but deliverance followed, and the psalm was fulfilled:—
“He out of darkness did them bring,
and from death’s shade them take;
Those bonds, wherewith they had been bound,
asunder quite he brake.”
He was a reader of good literature, and being confined to the house in his latter years, this was a comfort to him. He was very decided in his convictions, and appreciated a clear and definite testimony for truth. He would have no compromise with error and he witnessed accordingly. His latter days were marked by mellowness and a praying spirit. A week before the winter Communion he spoke of the approaching solemn season, and added: “I will not see it,” but with emphasis declared:—”All my hope is in the finished work of Christ.” The end came that week. His wife, family and relatives were by his beside. He asked the writer to have the 32nd Psalm sung:—
“O blessed is the man to whom
is freely pardoned;
All the transgression he hath done
whose sin is covered.”
Thus he departed this life, leaving an empty place in home and congregation. With the bereaved widow and family we sympathise and pray that the Lord will be the “widow’s stay and a father to the fatherless.”—William Grant.
The late Robert Sutherland, Scotscalder.
AT the comparatively early age of 60 years Robert Sutherland departed this life on 5th February last. He was born at Clatequoy, Halkirk, but his parents came from Dunbeath, where his father conducted a service for some years. About 10 years previous to his death Robert retired from farming. This was largely due to failing eyesight. Latterly his sight was entirely gone, but his memory did not fail, and well it was for him then, that he had memorised much of the Word of God. He could quote Scripture appropriately and accurately in his exercises, and was able to lead in singing. He was received into membership in Halkirk Congregation as a young man. A godly uncle, Joseph Munro to name, appears to have profitably impressed Robert’s mind early in life. “A companion of wise men shall be wise,” and of this wise counsellor he many times spoke with warm remembrance and deep affection. The school in which the children of God are taught is that of the Holy Spirit and there they grow in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He loved the gates of Sion but for the last year of his life he was more or less confined to his home. The coming down of the earthly tabernacle was accompanied with considerable pain, but a sustaining hand was underneath. This he indicated when to a question asked, he replied, “I have this, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.'” On one occasion during his illness he gave the writer a message for his worthy friend, Adam Black, saying: “Tell Adam, we have
the same faith, and we are on the same Rock.” This is “the Rock against which the gates of hell shall not prevail and those whose feet are set on it have a new song to the glory of God.”
About a month before the end, he expressed to friends visiting him his anxiety about the present difficulties in the Church, and, the words being quoted in Ezekiel, xxi. 27—”I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is: and I will give it to Him.” He replied: “By whom shall Jacob arise when he is small?” To this the answer was given (I. Cor. i. 27-28): “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.” In that he heartily acquiesced.
Scotscalder, where he resided, is a darker place by his removal. To others there and in the congregation, we would address the words of the prophet Haggai: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lies waste? Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord of Hosts; consider your ways.”
With his widow, in her prolonged illness we express our deep sympathy, in her loss and also with the sorrowing relatives.—
William Grant.
The late Mr. Hector Morrison, Missionary.
THE Parish of Eddrachilles, in common with many another parish in Sutherland has, within recent years, been bereft of some whose removal is not merely a loss to the place in which they resided, but a loss to the world, for the words of Christ—”Ye are the salt of the earth” and “Ye are the light of the world,” were applicable to them.
Of what we consider most precious we keenly feel the loss. It is greatly to be feared that now, as much as ever, the
removal of the Lord’s people to their everlasting rest does not make a very deep impression. “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.”
Eighty-four years ago last July Hector Morrison was born at Badcall, Scourie, and as far as we can learn, his youth and early manhood were spent “having no hope and without God in the world.”
He was strong physically, and, as a young man was most daring in the face of dangers to which he was often exposed on account of his having led a sea-faring life. On three occasions he had a most miraculous escape from drowning, and, it is likely, those terrifying experiences were used of God to make him think seriously of the awfulness of passing out of time unsaved. In any case he often remarked afterwards that had death overtaken him then, he would have had the eternity of the lost.
At the time the late Rev. D. Macfarlane and others saw, that in order to be faithful to God, to His Word and to the souls of men, it was essential to separate from the then Free Church, Hector became intensely interested in the testimony which was raised because of truth. Shortly after the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church the late Rev. N. Cameron visited Scourie, and Hector was privileged to hear him preach. After the service he approached Mr. Cameron and said to him—”If it is the truth you preached to-night then I am lost for eternity.” Mr. Cameron assured him it was the truth whatever results the declaration of it might bring forth.
He used to relate that on account of having come under a vow, when seeking baptism for his children, to hold family worship morning and evening, he was in the habit of “re-hearsing” his prayer before the time for worship, and that the sweat was oozing out through his body at the thought of having to pray in presence of his wife. Another day came upon Hector when he realised that his prayers were not uttered that
they might be heard merely by his fellow-sinners, but that they might be heard by Him out of whose presence, he was made sensible, he could never go.
It was at Stoer in 1898 he commemorated, for the first time, the dying love of his Lord and Saviour, and by a consistent life for nearly forty years thereafter, he manifested that his profession of the blessed name of Jesus Christ was not in name only. The divine injunction—”And be not conformed to this world,” was not an empty dogma with Hector, and it would be in vain for any one to attempt to make him believe that it is possible to serve God and Mammon.
In 1902, together with the late Mr. William Morrison, Kinlochbervie, and Mr. Lachlan Ross, Winnipeg, Hector was ordained an elder of the joint congregation of Scourie and Kinlochbervie. Nine years thereafter he was appointed missionary of that congregation. He carried out his duties conscientiously and faithfully, until about four years ago he was obliged to resign through failing health.
As a speaker he was gifted and most acceptable to the people. His sayings, particularly when speaking at fellowship meetings, were terse and pointed. As an example we may give the following:—”Though the natural man cannot lay hold of the truth the truth can lay hold of him.” “The witnesses are falling, but ‘The Witness’ does not, and will not fall.”
At one time, a friend, who knew very well Hector’s ability to give a very ready pointed answer, said to him, in the course of conversation—”I am sure your ministers cannot dance, anyway.” “Yes, they can dance,” Hector replied, “but you can’t supply the music.”
On a certain Sabbath, while on his way to Church, a representative of another denomination met him and suggested that they should hold a joint service in the local school, and thus get all or most of the people to attend. Hector was not to be drawn into useless argument on the Lord’s Day, but, in reply to the suggestion, quoted James i. 8—”A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
At an East Coast fishing port he rebuked a man who made a public profession and whom he found in vain company indulging in foolish jesting and boisterous mirth. Addressing him, Hector said—”What if you were suddenly called into eternity in that state.” “Oh,” the man said, “the Lord gives dying grace.” “Yes,” was the reply, “but to whom does he give it but to those to whom He has first given living grace.”
No man could be more diligent in anything pertaining to the cause of Christ than Hector was. For years he walked a distance of 11½ miles to and from the place of worship on the Sabbath. When he was no longer able to walk such a distance, through the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Ross, Scourie, a car was placed at his disposal, and thus he was enabled to continue longer as Missionary. The kindness shown him in this way he highly appreciated.
It is evident he enjoyed much nearness, during his last few days in the world, to Him whom he professed to love and serve. On waking at one time, he said to a friend, who was at his bedside—”I have had a sight of Him.” The friend replied; “Then you will be longing to be with Him,” to which he said—”We must be submissive and await His own time.”
On the 29th of January he passed away, we believe, “to be for ever with the Lord.” The large concourse of people who followed his remains to the place of interment in Scourie Cemetery, testified to the high respect with which he was held by young and old alike.
To all the members of the family at home, and in a distant land, we extend our heartfelt sympathy. May they all know the blessedness of that union which death cannot sever. “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance” (Ps. 112, 6).—D. J. Matheson.
Every public person has need to carry a spare handkerchief, to wipe off the dirt and disgrace and obloquy cast upon him for doing his duty.—John Trapp.