PAUL speaks of “those women which laboured” with him, “in the gospel.” A high tribute. They “laboured,” not in preaching the gospel, for he suffered not a woman to teach in the church, but by professing it, and bearing witness on its side, and suffering reproach and persecution. Our subject was one of those who did her own little bit of service in the camp of the “daughters of Israel” till she was taken to “the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense” above.
Mrs. Mackenzie was born at Melvaig where she ended her days on 23rd June, 1948, having passed the allotted span. In her young days she worked in the South where she came in contact with all sorts of persons. Her father was reckoned a good man, and she was brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The Lord had, evidently, given her a good measure of restraining grace in her youth, and her conduct was even then exemplary. It was, however, when well on in life’s journey that she discovered that her own righteousness was but “filthy rags” and that by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified. When she made a public profession in 1941, the Kirk-session was highly satisfied with her motives and experience. She manifestly knew the truth in its spiritual and saving power upon her soul.
Mrs. Mackenzie was much esteemed by all who knew her. She was truly a pious woman, and exemplified the Word of God in her daily life. Her aversion to display led to reticence of speech, especially in company, in regard to her own spiritual experience. She was a wrestler at the throne of grace on her own behalf and on behalf of others. Her Bible was her constant companion. She read it extensively, and being blessed with a retentive memory, she had it stored in her heart, and could say with the Psalmist: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” She had her favourite Psalms and chapters where she drank more deeply. The 23rd Psalm she quoted often, and from another Psalm she exclaimed an ejaculatory prayer:
“Whom have I in the heavens high
but thee, O Lord alone!
And in the earth whom I desire
besides thee there is none.”
(Psalm 73).
Apart from her Bible the “Pilgrim’s Progress” was her favourite book. Here she found in allegory the sore struggles and the triumph of the followers of the Lamb, and rejoiced that it was written. She was greatly attached to God’s people and her Lord’s cause on earth. The public means of grace were a special delight to her, and she made an effort to be there even in failing health when it was beyond her strength. She always reminded her family of what Torquil Paterson, the late respected elder at Melvaig once said, “It is better to go from your knees to the House of God than from the mirror.” An injunction to which she herself firmly adhered.
Her illness was long, covering several years. Latterly, she was completely confined to bed. She bore it all in meekness and patience; for she knew that to her heavenly Father it “seemed good.” In trouble she saw the goodness of the Lord and spoke of it in wonder; for in her own estimation she was an undeserving sinner. But the Word of God was her support during those weary days of bodily trouble. Some weeks before the end, she was awakened out of her sleep by the passage: “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” The words had a more than ordinary effect on her and after that she seemed more loose from the world and ready to depart. Step by step the last enemy did its work in her mortal body, but its triumph was but to plunge her into the ocean of Christ’s eternal love. Her “latter end was peace.” Her respected husband predeceased her by about ten years. There remain her two daughters to mourn.