Ceist.
Ach feoraichidh tu dhiom, Cia mar a tha’n Spiorad Naomh toirt dearbh-shoilleireachd dhomhsa mu fhireantachd Chriosd?
Freagaírt.
Tha’n Spiorad Naomh, an toiseach, a toirt do’n anam eolas na fireantachd oirdheire so, agus ean sin a cruthachadh làmh a chreidimh gu greim a dheanamh oirre, air dhith a bhi air a taigse. Sibhse a tha na’r peacach iorasal agus briste ann an cridhe, so dhuibh Chriosd. Cha’n e mhain gu bheil Spiorad Dhé a foillseachadh oirdheiceas Chriosd, ach gu’m buin so dhomhsa, gu bheil Chriosd air a thoirt air mo shon, agus tha foillseachadh sin an Spioraid ag aomadh an anama; seadh, ‘n uair nach ann an rathad coitcheann a tha’n Spiorad ag innse gur e Slànughear oirdheare a th’ann an Chriosd, ach a tha e’g innse do anam a Chriosduidh, “Thug Dia Chriosd air do shon.” Tha so ag aomadh a chridhe gu socrachadh air Chriosd, agus ann an sin tha’m pòsadh air a dheanamh eadar an t-anam agus Chriosd. Their an t-anam, “Is le Chriosd mise, agus tha mi ga’m thoirt fhein do Chriosd, agus do gach ni a tha leantainn Chriosd. Agus mar ann am pòsadh, tha’n dithis, do bhrigh an daimh sin, a gabhaill suim do sleafbh aon a chéile, mar sin, ‘n uair a tha’m pòsadh diamhair so air a dheanamh eadar Chriosd agus sinne, tha còir againn ann an Chriosd leis na h-uile còir, le còir ceannach agus saorsa. Cheannaich e neamh dhunne agus sinne air son neamh. Is leinne gach ni is le Chriosd; a mhaitheas uile is leinne; is leis-san ar peacaidhean-ne, agus is leinne fhireantachd-san. Mar sin ‘n uair a bheir an Spiorad Naomh dhomhsa dearbh-shoilleireachd mu fhireantachd Chriosd, agus a bheir e dhomh creidimh gu gabhaill rithe, an sin is leam-sa Chriosd maillle ris gach ni a th’aig. Tre so a labhair mi, chi sibh mar a th’an Spiorad a toirt dearbh-shoilleireachd. Smuaintichibh ciod e’n suidheachadh beannaicht’ anns am bheil an t-anam ‘n uair a tha’m pòsadh so deanta. Ach feoraichidh sibh dhiom e’ar son a dh’fheumas an Spiorad a bhi air a chur a chum dearbh-shoilleireachd a thoirt mu fhireantachd? Tha air son iomadh aobhar.
Aobhar 1.
Tha do bhrigh gu bheil e os cionn breithneachadh duine gu’m bithcadh a leithid a ni agus fireantachd an Dia-duine ann. Uime sin tha e air fhoillseachadh leis an Spiorad, agus ‘n uair a tha e air fhoillseachadh, feumaidh an Spiorad sùlean an anama fhosgladh gu faicinn, oir neo, cha bhi againn ach eolas nàdurra air nithean a tha os cionn nàduir: oir faodaidh duine, le eolas nàdurra, an tuigsinn air chor agus gur urrainn e labhairt orra; uime sin; chùm an t-anam atharrachadh, tha feum air fradhare a tha os cionn nàduir gu bhi faicinn nithean a tha os cionn nàduir. Faodaidh diabhul ‘s an fheoil eolas a bhi aig air na h-uile nithean, agus gidheadh a bhi dh’easbhuidh an eolais so. ‘S e’n Spiorad Naomh a mhain a bheir fradhare ‘s an taobh a stigh, sùlean ‘s an taobh a stigh, agus a dh’oibricheas creidimh gu bhi toirt a bhi faicinn gur leam Chriosd.
Aobhar 2.
A ris, tha feum air an Spiorad Naomh a bhi air a chur gu bhi toirt an dearbh-shoilleireachd so, do bhrigh gur esan a mhàin a dh’fheumas an t-anam a shoerachadh, agus a choguis a chiuinachadh, a chionn gur a moth a na’n choguis. Glaodhaidh a choguis, “Is peacach thu;” bheir an Spiorad dearbh-shoilleireachd, “Ann an Chriosd tha thu fireanta.” Aig an Spiorad Naomh a mhàin tha fios ciod a tha ann an eridhe Dhé an Athair, agus ann an eridhe gach duine. ‘Se Esan a mhàin da’m fios rùn an Athair do gach Criosduidh, agus da’m bheil e comasach a bhi freagairt gach nì a blitheas feoil agus fuil a togail an aghaidh an anama: uime sin tha feum air dearbh-shoilleireachd an Spioraid Naoimh. Ge be mar a dh’fheumadh Criosd ar sith a cheannach, ‘s e an Spiorad Naomh a dh’fheumas a co-chur, oir tha choguis cho làn agartasan, mar a co-chuir an Spiorad Naomh an ni rinn Criosd cha bhi choguis air a riaraichadh. Shuidhich Dia an t-Athair Criosd, agus rinn Criosd an obair, ach feumaidh an Treas Pearsa a co-chur ris an anam, gu dearbh-bheachd a thoirt dhuinn gum buin so dhuinne. ‘S e dreuchd shonraicht’ an Treas Pearsa bhi co-chur ris an anam na h-uile ni maith a dh’oibrich Criosd. Ann an gnothuichean siobhalt, cha’n e mhain gu’m feum ni bhi air a cheannach ach feumaidh e bhi air a sheulaichadh, agus, mar sin, ged a dh’oibrich Criosd ffreantachd air ar son feumaidh an Spiorad a sheulaichadh ris gach anam. Buinidh an fhreantachd so dhuit-sa; is leat-sa Criosd, leis gach ni is leis.
(Ri leantainn.)
FLYING FOR REFUGE.
A poor sinner, finding himself in a condition of guilt, surprised with a sense of it, seeing death and destruction ready to seize upon him, flies with all his strength to the bosom of the Lord Jesus, the only City of Refuge from the avenging justice of God, and curse of the law. Now, this flying to the bosom of Christ, the hope set before us, for relief and safety, is believing. It is here called “flying” by the Holy Ghost, to express the nature of it to the spiritual sense of believers. How now doth He declare Himself to be affected with their “flying for refuge,” that is, their believing? Why, He hath taken all means possible to show Himself abundantly willing to receive them. He hath engaged His Word and promise, that they may not in the least doubt or stagger but know He is ready to receive them, and give them strong consolation. And what is this consolation? Must it not be from hence that God is freely ready to receive us—that He will in no wise shut us out, but that we shall be welcome to Him.—Dr. Owen.
THE EXCHANGE.
Lord, the condemnation was Thine, that the justification might be mine; the agony was Thine, that the victory might be mine; the pain was Thine, and the ease mine; the stripes Thine, and the healing balm issuing from them mine; the vinegar and gall were Thine, that the honey and sweet might be mine; the curse was Thine, that the blessing might be mine; the crown of thorns was Thine, that the crown of glory might be mine; the death was Thine, and the life is mine; Thou paidest the price, I enjoy the inheritance.—Flavel.