Bless’d John, on Patmos’ sea-girt isle, a revelation sure was given,
Of things on earth to be performed, that had their rise in heaven.
As scenes both awful and sublime, before his raptured gaze unfold,
A voice in Heaven’s bright glory sounded and sweet words to
him were told.
Bless’d are the dead who die in Jesus: from all their labours
they shall rest.
Yea, the Spirit beareth witness of the ransomed ever blest.
In this world they had temptations, trials, forsakings, sorrows,
pain;
These they counted light afflictions, for them to die was endless
gain.
As summer fruits, the goodly vintage, God’s redeemed are
gathered in;
Our friend has passed to life eternal, translated from this world
of sin.
A child of wrath, e’en as others, spiritual death o’er his soul
held sway.
Till by the Spirit’s mighty working, death and darkness fled away.
Tho’ tossed upon life’s stormy billows, eternal love the helm
grasp’d,
His barque has reached the desir’d haven, safely anchored, all
storms past;
All his warfare here has ended, and every toil beneath
the sun,
Thro’ Jesus Christ, his conquering Saviour, a noble victory he
has won.
Death! O death! thou could’st not hurt him; thy sting in grace
was surely drawn;
Devouring grave, where’s now thy victory; thy conquering power
o’er him is gone?
His soul unfettered rose to glory; in earth, we laid his mortal clay
To await the Spirit’s quickening summons at the resurrection day.
All the dead shall then awaken, at the trumpet’s awful blast;
The righteous ones to life eternal, the rest to bitter shame at last;
The redeemed of God shall then with Jesus, the endless joys of
Heaven know;
Whilst each Christ-rejecting sinner shall drink the cup of endless
woe.
They that be wise, in Heaven’s bright glory, shall as the stars
forever shine;
With God’s dear Son, the Sun, the Fountain of boundless Grace
and Light divine.
Let us remember, friends, in closing, if life eternal, we would win;
We must, by the Spirit’s working, turn to God, and die to sin.
May Israel’s God, in grace abounding, by His Spirit stir each
heart,
To seek from Him, the one thing needful, the good, the one
enduring part.—A. V. D.
Mr James Maciver, Craigview, Lairg.
WE record with deep regret the death of Mr. Maciver, who
was well-known throughout the Church, especially in the
counties of Ross and Sutherland. At Mellon Charles, Aultbea, he
was born in 1869, and on the 25th March of this year he passed
away from this world, thus having lived within one year of the
allotted span. It was evident in his life that the day of his
death was better than the day of his birth, for no one who knew
him intimately could doubt that he was among those who are
born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the HWord of God that liveth and abideth for ever.
While quite a young man he came to Sutherland where he was
engaged at his trade as a mason. He married a daughter of
the late Mr. Donald and Mrs. Mackay, Saval, Lairg, who were
both, we believe, of those who are the salt of the earth and the
light of the world. A wiser, more prudent and more unassuming person than Mrs. Mackay one would seldom meet. An obituary of her worthy husband appeared in the pages of this Magazine. A daughter, Mary, a twin sister of Mrs. Maciver, was also one of the meek of the earth. For a considerable number of years she was bed-ridden, but never at any time was she heard to complain. Often she would be heard repeating the last verses of the 138th Psalm, viz. :—
Though I in midst of trouble walk,
I life from thee shall have :
‘Gainst my foes’ wrath thou’lt stretch thine hand
Thy right hand shall me save.
Surely that which concerneth me
The Lord will perfect make :
Lord still thy mercy lasts : do not
Thine own hands’ works forsake.
James Maciver from a very early age took much interest in the cause of Christ and had a firm grasp of the contentions which led to the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church. He wholeheartedly approved of the action of the late Rev. D. Macfarlane in protesting against the infamous Declaratory Act of 1892 in the Free Church Assembly of 1893. From that time onwards he never once wavered. Lukewarmness and instability found no quarter with him, and one felt that to right principles and strong convictions his faithfulness was to be ascribed and not to the mere desire of being considered faithful.
Our friend was a wide reader. He took great delight in reading about the Covenanters and Martyrs “who endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”
Though he was elected to the eldership by the joint congregation of Lairg and Creich, some seven years ago he could not be prevailed upon to accept office owing to the consciousness he had of unfitness and of unworthiness. For years, however, even though he was far from well, he held the services in Lairg
during the minister’s absence, and though he was more than once asked to accept some remuneration from the Church for his much appreciated services, he invariably replied in words to this effect—Any thing I am enabled to do in that way I do for the cause and not for payment.
His home, when he lived in Bonarbridge and, also, since residing in Lairg, has been noted for its hospitality. Very many throughout the Church remember with thankfulness the great kindness shown by himself and Mrs. Maciver, especially at communion seasons. We never at any time met one who manifested greater delight in giving to others, than James Maciver. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
For the past few years he was in indifferent health, but was present at the public means of grace on Sabbath and week-day, up till a few weeks of his death. He loved the house of prayer. As a precentor he was much sought after, particularly when attending communion services. Two or three days before he passed away and a few moments before he lapsed into unconsciousness, he rose on his elbow in bed, and sang in Gaelic the following verse of the 69th Psalm:—
“An sin an nì nach d’ thug mi leam
Dh’ aisig mi uam gu beachd
Dhia ‘s fiosrach thu air m’ amaideachd
Chan fholuich ‘ort mo lochd.”
After having given out the first line of the next verse, viz., “Nàir air mo sgathsa Dhé na leig,” he fell backward on the pillow and never spoke again.
He is greatly missed in his home; he is greatly missed in the congregation where he worshipped; and he is greatly missed by such of the Lord’s people as were privileged to make his acquaintance.
To his sorrowing widow, to the two sons and to the two daughters we extend our heart felt sympathy. “There remaineth a rest to the people of God.”—D. J. M.