At the Strathy Communion in September, 1957, the Question given out on Friday at the Question Meeting was: “And now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ”: (Ephesians chapter 2, verse 13). Mr. Alick MacDonald was there and was asked to speak. The following are verbatim notes taken down at the time by us while Alick was speaking. “Our first parents when in Eden before they sinned were not far off from God. Sin entered into the World and then they were very far off from God. When the devil saw the happiness of the man and the woman his malice was against the God of heaven and against Adam and the posterity that would come from him. They sinned and had no help of man at all. But the promise was given them: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis, 3, 15). By the blood of Christ the promise is given to all who flee to the hope set before them. No hope apart from Christ. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. Nothing in us—nothing but sin and corruption. ‘O! death where is thy sting. O! grave where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.’ Through Jesus Christ we must be dead to the law to be married to another. We have no desire to come to Christ. ‘Ye have not chosen Me but I have chosen you.’ The choosing was on His side. They were quickened and brought from death unto life. As to this life here it is not said they are perfect. “Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him.” They are perfect at death. ‘The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness and do immediately pass into glory.’ Would it not be good for us to be under the shelter of the blood? ‘The humble folk He not forgets that call upon His name.’ ‘Happy art thou O Israel, Who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord.’ What are the riches of this World: they perish. The riches laid up for His people continue for ever. They need no candle nor light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light. Has not Satan blinded the minds of men when they see not into these things. ‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ He said regarding Israel with all their wickedness: ‘My hand is still stretched forth.’ He has no desire for the death of the wicked. Samuel Rutherford speaks of the deep, sweet well of love. Blindness as happened to us all as the prophet says: ‘Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed.’ He suffered and died. ‘Herein is love, not that we loved God.’ None loved God till God put this love into their hearts. Marks were given in the sermon last night regarding Job that he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes. Job’s friends were not a comfort to him. If we see ourselves in the light of God’s Word we see ourselves as sinners. We must be brought nigh by the blood of Christ. Conviction is not conversion, but when the Lord will carry on the work it will be true of them given to Christ from a past Eternity. But what is to become of us, hearing the gospel since our youth onwards? Is it the Word only with us? It is the Spirit that giveth life. ‘Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people.’ Now is the day of salvation. Is it not wonderful He would look down upon lost sinners and pass by lost angels. We should be concerned about our souls. The redemption of the soul is precious. ‘Them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.’ Some of us will not be long here. We should be pressing forward for the prize. Some say the Free Presbyterian Church is narrow. But the Bible is not narrow. We are not narrow. Whosoever calleth upon the Lord shall be saved. A banner has been given to us.”—Editor.