(Air a leantuinn bho t.d. 342)
“As eugmhais naomhachd,” uime sin, “cha’n urrain neach air bith Dia fhaicinn.” Faodaidd àite bhi aig neach, agus àite mòr agus urramach, anns an eaglais fhaicsinneach air thalamh; faodaidd e’n Tighearn a ràdh ri Iosa; faodaidd e bhi’g altrum muinghin gu’n teagamh a bhi aige a thaobh maithreas a staid, faodaidd sùil a bhi aige a bhi aoibhneach ann an saoghal eile; ach bithidh e air a dhùnadh a mach a neamh Dhé.
Uime sin, a chàirdean gràdhach, feoraicheadh-mid dhinn fein an urrain sinn smuaineachadh air neamh, an t-àite anns an bheil beannachd iomlan, anns an t-sealladh so air—a faicinn an Tighearna, a bhi maille ris an Tighearna, air a leithid de dhòigh agus gu’n sealbhaich E sinn, agus gu’m bitheadh-mid air ar slugadh suas ann a bhi beachdachadh gu gràdhach air òirdheirceasan-san. Cha’n eil neamh eile ann ach an neamh a tha air a lionadh le glòir Dhé. Ma tha sinn a smuaineachadh, cho fad ‘s aithne dhuinn sinn fein, gu’m bitheadh so dhuine ‘n a neamh, an sin, am bheil sinn ag iarruidh a bhi gluasad anns an t-slighe ga ionnsuidh—a leantuinn naomhachd? Am bheil sinn a faicinn maise agus luachmhorachd ann an naomhachd, agus le làn rùn cridhe am bheil sinn ga leantuinn? Mar eil, cha’n eil aobhar againn ‘s an am a tha làthair a bhi creidsinn gu’m bi sinn air ar gabhail a stigh do’n neamh so. Ma tha sinn a smuaineachadh a dhol do neamh gun a bhi air ar naomhachadh, tha sinn a deanamh so ann an aghaidh gach uile rabhadh a tha ann am Focal Dhé. Ma tha sinn a smainteachadh gu’m bheil sinn air an t-slighe do neamh, am feadh ‘s nach do thòisich naomhachadh fathasd, am feadh a tha sinn fathasd ‘n ar peacaidhean, tha sinn a deanamh sin gun bharantas air bith againn bho Fhocal Dhé. Cha’n eil aig peacach gun Chriosd agus neo-ompaichte barantas air bith bho Fhocal Dhé air son a leithid sin de dhòchas. Ciod e’n grùnd a th’agaibh a bhi’n dùil gu’m bi ‘ur beatha air a cùmhnadh, gu’n lean Spiorad Dhé a bhi strì ribh, na gu’m faigh sibh Criosd agus ullachadh air son neamh am feadh ‘s a tha a sibh gu suidhichte a nis a diùltadh an t-Slànughear? Am bheil thu smuaineachadh air a ghaduiche a bàsachadh dha’n do nochd Criosd tròcair, agus a bha ann am beagan uaireanan goirid air a naomhachadh agus air ullachadh gu bhi comhla ri Criosd, an t-Aon Naomh, ann am parras? B’e obair ghloirmhor cumhachd Dhé bha’n so. Ach mo thruaigh! gu’m bitheadh a leithid de eisimpleir iongantach agus bheannaicht’ de shaoibhreas agus de chumhachd gràs Dhé, cho làn de mhisneachd do pheacaich—seadh, eadhon do pheacaich trom-luchdaichte air leabaidd bàis—ach gidheadh, nì ann a’ mòran de dhòighean nach eil a shamhail ann, gu suidhichte air a chur gu droch fheum gu bhi frithealadh do thearuinteach fheol-mhor, ann a bhi ga fhiaradh gu bhi beathachadh leisg agus aingidheachd cridhe, agus mar sin gu bhi nì’s motha a cur ann an cunnart agus a sgrios an anama. Nach e tha’n so gu dearbh ach a bhi tionndadh gràis Dhé gu macnus? Nach e tha’n so ach a bhi tionndadh trocair bheannaichte Dhé agus gach ni tha luachmhor anns an t-soisgeul agus ann an Slànughear saor, an aghaidh an anama fein, agus a bhi deanamh an t-soisgeil—a tha làn de bheannachd, làn de bheatha—gu bhi ‘n a fhàileadh bàis a chùm bàis? Ma tha mi labhairt ri neach aig am bheil fios gu’m bheil e mar so a fiaradh teagasg focal a ghràis, tha mi cur impidh ort sguir dhe bhi cuideachadh an droch aoin gu bhi milleadh t-anam luachmhor. O creid E. Ma tha thu “as eugmhais Chriosd” tha thu “as eugmhais dòchais;” ni mò tha tròcair air do shon, ach ann an teicheadh gu Iosa air son saorsa bho fheirg agus bho pheacadh. Ach a bhi tighinn ann am firinn ga ionnsuidh-san air son a shlàinte-san, ann an sin faodaidh dòchas a bhi agad, ann an sin faodaidh tu aoibhneas a dheanamh, ann an sin gheibh thu misneachd gu bhi leantuinn naomhachd; agus ann a’ measg uile dheuchainean agus dhuiligheadasan na slighe aith-leathainn anns na dòchasan agus na h-aoibhneas an a tha ann an eolas an t-Slànughear agus ann an co-chomunn Ris, na ni suas dhuit gach truaigh a bh’agad. O sguir, sguir dhe’n an fhiaradh so air trocair agus air an t-soisgeul bheannaicht’; agus an diugh, am feadh a ghoirear an diugh dheth, iarr air an Tighearna do shaoradh bho bhi cruadhachadh do chridhe, agus do tharruig dha ionnsuidh Fein, a chùm agus gu’n tigeadh tu ann am firinn gu Iosa air son tròcair.
Sibhse a tha miannachadh a bhi leantuinn as deigh naomhachd ri aghaidh gach duilgheadas, agus gu h-àraidh a thaobh fein-fhiosrachadh air cumhachd a pheacaidh a tha gabhail còmhnuidh annaibh, O, bithibh air ‘ur misneachadh agus air ‘ur neartachadh le bhi cuimhneachadh nach eil sibh an ceann ‘n a h-obair so ‘n ar n’aonar—an sin dh’fhaodadh sibh da-rìreadh a bhi ‘n eu-dòchas—ach gu’m bheil Iosa an t-Ard-Shagart mòr a deanamh eadar-ghuidhe aig deas-laimh an Athar, agus gur e iarratas sònraichte a tha e cur suas as leth a shluaigh, “Naomhaich iad tre t-fhlirinn.” Cuimnichibh gu’m bheil an Spiorad Naomh ceangailte a bhi gabhail còmhnuidh anns a chridhe, gun a bhi gu bràth a dol a mach as, ach ga naomhachadh gu h-iomlan. O, iarraibh a bhi fàgail obair bhur naomhachaidh, gach là as ùr, air a Chuspair bheannaichte so, a tha gu neo-chriochnach ullamh gu bhi ga giulain air adhart annaibh gus am bi sibh naomh ann an anam, spiorad, agus corp.
‘S an aite mu dheireadh, ma tha e ‘n a nl cho mòr a bhi naomh, an sin cuimhnichibh, gu’m bheil toiseach na h-obair a reir sin mòr, ‘s e sin, an ath-ghinmhuinn. Thugaibh an aire air eagal gu’m bi sibh air ar faotainn ‘n ar coigrich, ‘n ar coigrich gu toileach, do mheudachd na h-obair so, mar a tha mòran aig am bheil ainm a bhi beo am feadh a tha iad marbh. Ma tha neach air bith ris am bheil mi labhairt aig an am so, aig am bheil fios nach d’fhairich iad riamh a leithid so de atharrachadh, a dh’fhaodas a bhi’g eisdeachd ri briathran sgriobturail ann an dòigh mar nach bitheadh gnothuich aca ruitha-san, na mar gu’m bitheadh e eu-dòchasach gu’m bitheadh sùil gu’n ruigeadh a leithid so de atharrachadh orra-san, O suidh sios agus smuaintich, mar fodh shùil Dhé, na briathran mòr so aig Iosa, “Is eigin duibh a bhi air ‘ur breith a rithisd.” An sin cuimhnich gur e’n Spiorad Naomh Ughdar ‘n a h-ath-ghinmhuinn, agus ma tha Iosa saor dhuit mar Shlànughear, mar sin gu’m bheil an Spiorad Naomh saor. An sin cuimhnich nach eil thu air do ghairm gu suidhe sios gu diomhain, mar gu’m bitheadh agad ri feitheamh gus an tig an Spiorad a dh’ionnsuidh do chridhe gus do bheothachadh agus t-ath-nuadhachadh; ach tha thu air do ghairm gu ùrnuigh dhùrachdach agus dhian. Agus mar is mothá tha thu faireachadh t-fhuachd, do shaoghaltachd, agus do bhàs, agus gu’m bheil gach ni mu’n cuairt dhuit agus annad a bacadh cùram air son an aon ni fheumail, bi ni’s dian agus ni’s dùrachdaich ann an ùrnuigh air son an Spioraid Naoimh. O, ma thig an Cuspair beannaichte so ga’d ionnsuidh, iarr, iarr E ann an ùrnuigh; bheir E ort fhaireachadh gur e peacach thu, agus nochdaidh E dhuit an Slànughear. An do mhothaich thu riamh nach do chuingealaich Criosd a theagasg do Nicodemus ri teagasg na nuadh-bhreith, ach gu’n deachaidh E air adhart gu bhi labhairt air creidimh ‘n a ainm mar Slànughear, gu bhi teagasg dhuit-sa agus dhòmh-sa gu’m bheil obair an Spiorad Naoimh a co-sheasamh an toiseach ann a bhi toirt oirne fhaireachadh gu’m bheil sinn ‘n ar peacaidh, an sin a bhi sealltuinn Iosa, agus an sin ann a bhi ga’r cuideachadh mar pheacaich a tha dol a dhìth gu bhi’g amharc Ris-san air son slàinte?
Notes and Comments.
The Royal Birth.
Following the announcement on Friday, the 19th February, 1960, of the birth of a second son to Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, the Moderator of the Synod, Rev. William Grant, Halkirk, sent the following telegram to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, through the Private Secretary at Buckingham Palace—”The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland express gratitude to God and pray for the infant prince: ‘The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make His face shine upon thee; and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.'” The Moderator received the following reply on Tuesday, the 23rd of February—”The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sincerely thank you for your kind message of congratulations on the birth of a son to Her Majesty and His Royal Highness.” This reply came through the Private Secretary at Buckingham Palace, London.
World Council of Churches and Roman Catholicism.
The English Churchman for 4th March reports that a Dr. A. F. Carrillo de Albornoz, of Geneva, of the World Council of Churches has compiled a book, in conjunction with members of a special Commission, on “Roman Catholicism and Religious Liberty.” It is stated that this book makes out that an increasing number of Roman Catholic theologians, including members of the hierarchy, are said to favour complete religious freedom. Dr. Carrillo is quoted as saying, “There is still no authoritative and decisive statement of the highest Roman Catholic Hierarchy in favour of religious freedom, because it does not consider the actual controversy among Roman Catholic theologians as sufficiently ripe for making a final decision.” We wonder what the Roman Catholic Church thinks about the reference to controversy among their theologians. Religious freedom is enjoyed by Christians outside the influence of the Roman Catholic Church and Communism; and the World Council of Churches need not pride themselves in thinking that they are going to affect and water-down the evil principles of Rome that they might entangle their member Churches in a drift towards Rome and religious bondage. Some quotations from this book given by The English Churchman clearly reveal to us a subtle endeavour to weaken and break down a firm protestant attitude to Rome. What of the question of “Religious Freedom?” It is but one of many questions, including the blasphemy and delusion and deceit of the Mass. The World Council of Churches is a danger to the World.
Yugoslavia and Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Bakarie, President of Croatia, one of the six republics of Federal Yugoslavia, said at Zagreb on the 17th February, 1960, that the Tito Government would continue to fight against politics in the Roman Catholic Church, but was not waging war against the Church. This news item reveals what all knowledgeable protestants know, viz., The subtle, political activities of the Vatican and the Jesuits in every nation where they can obtain a hold. Whatever Tito’s own politics are, he is to wage war against the politics of religious deceivers and hypocrites in his own land. It is high time the Governments of Britain and the U.S.A. did the same as Tito. The secret politics of the Vatican are not designed for the advantage of Yugoslavia, Britain or the U.S.A. etc., but to the advantage of the coffers of the Pope and Cardinals of Rome.
Roman Catholics in Galloway and Church Unity.
Roman Catholic Churches in the Galloway area held recently a week of prayer for “unity” by the return of non-Catholic Christian churches to obedience of the Apostolic See of Rome. Services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Joseph McGee. These services, the report states, followed upon an urgent invitation from the present Pope that “supplications should be raised for the return of all to the one True Faith.” In a word, those who are officially heretic and fit for burning from the Vatican view, are for the time being called “Christian Churches.” They are invited to return to the Confessional, the blasphemy of the Mass, the prospect of purgatory as Christians, the worship of Mary, idolitry, and the darkness and corruption of a religion and a system from which the blessed Re-formations in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe, delivered multitudes of precious souls. But the report we are commenting on continues as follows—Rev. Dr. J. McGee, in a letter to all Roman Catholics in Galloway, drew the attention of the “Faithful” to the quater-centenary celebration which is to be held in Scotland this year by the Protestant Churches. His letter states: “To the Catholic this centenary must surely be, above all, an occasion for sorrow and regret—sorrow at the tearing away of our country from the unity of the one true church.” We wonder if Rev. Dr. McGee is a Scotsman as Scotland is so flooded with Irish Roman Catholics. The true Protestants of Scotland have nothing but joy and satisfaction at the thought of God’s work through John Knox in delivering this land from the power of bishops, priests and monks, and the rogues and vagabonds of the Jesuits. As we pointed out in the last issue of this Magazine, one of the Pope’s abolished and banned the Society of the Jesuits, they were such a plague and danger in the Roman Catholic Church itself. But the Jesuits are long since back at their evil work.
Anglican Bishops to Reply to Church of Scotland.
The press has reported that the Church of England is preparing what is called “an adequate answer” to questions asked by the Church of Scotland General Assembly which rejected the Bishop-in-Presbytery proposal etc. It is said that the Church of Scotland wished clarification on important points viz., (1) The meaning of unity, as distinct from uniformity; (2) Validity of ministerial orders; (3) The doctrine of the Lord’s Supper; (4) The meaning of the Apostolic Succession. Rev. Dr. Allison of the Church of England said that his Church would answer these points in due course so that talks between Anglicans and Presbyterians could be resumed—”which is the hope of us all,” he said. When these questions are answered by the Anglicans in their way, the situation will still remain the same, as far as the Anglicans’ demands for concessions on the part of the Presbyterians are concerned. We think it not difficult to foretell this. These questions and expected answers are just the means by which endeavours are still being made to undermine Presbyterianism and every good thing of the Reformation in Scotland.
The Arab World and Israel.
Since the beginning of this year, commentators on middle-East affairs have been putting on record that it has become increasingly clear that the Arab world is not only as determined as ever to destroy Israel, but it believes that its chances of doing so are better than ever before. One comment says that during the past two years a steady stream of weapons has been pouring into Syria and Egypt from Russia and Czechoslovakia. Whatever may happen and whatever the Lord may permit to afflict the Jews as a modern nation, they are a distinctive people in the eyes and providence of God. And they will yet have the Spirit of grace and of supplications poured upon them from on High. Those who afflict and hate the Jews, God will punish.
Edinburgh and Licensing Laws and the Sabbath.
We note with regret that the Edinburgh Town Council agreed in March to recommend to the Committee of Inquiry into the Scottish Licensing Law, that not only hotels and licensed restaurants but also public-houses should be open on the Lord’s Day for the sale of drink. This was agreed to by a majority of 2. An amendment by Councillor John Cormack calling for a 100 per cent ban on “Sunday” drinking was overwhelmingly defeated. Before the debate, a letter was read from the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, asking the Council to reject any move to open public-houses on the Lord’s Day. But from the result stated, this appeal was ignored, as are the advices and protests of the Church on many occasions by different authorities on different matters. It is the day of Judgment which will make manifest who were on the Lord’s side and who were against Him in the World.—We also understand that the Convention of Royal Burghs has supported the demand for the opening of public-houses on the Lord’s Day for restricted periods. There is the following sentence in a memorandum issued by the Convention viz., “However, the Convention considered Scottish religious susceptibilities a matter of some importance and that they should be respected.” And yet the Convention believed that the hours for supply of liquor on Sabbaths should be available equally to hotels, public-houses and licensed grocers. We wonder does this mean that the Convention envisage, not only public-houses being open but grocers also on the Sabbath? It appears in these matters that the irreligious and lax practice and example of England is used to introduce like practices in poor Scotland. The Convention of Royal Burghs has not acted according to the royal law of the Sabbath. What wonderful opportunities such Conventions have for witnessing on the side of truth and morality in the social order, and yet miserably fail; of course we do not know what the government committee may decide after consideration of views from many parties.
Earthquake in Morocco.
The town of Agadir on the coast of Morocco was, as readers know, devastated at the beginning of March by a terrible earthquake. Over 10,000 people lost their lives. One report said the earthquake struck the town about midnight. The Lord comes even in calamities of this nature as a thief in the night and in an hour that men think not of. Men are summoned into Eternity suddenly and without warning in many instances by a heart attack and as at Agadir by an earthquake. We must not think that the inhabitants of Agadir were greater sinners than others, although this appalling calamity overtook them. There probably were a great many, great sinners in this stricken town. But as Jesus said to men long ago, he still says to us: “Except ye repent; ye shall all likewise perish.” Death will overtake us whether upon our beds in ordinary circumstances, or whether by means of some outward calamity. The question is: are we prepared for death? It is being considered for several reasons as to whether the town of the earthquake should be razed to the ground or not. Agadir even is liable to disappear entirely. And it is written of us, that the place that knows us now shall soon know us no more for ever. May the poor, afflicted survivors of Agadir be brought to know that there is a God in heaven, and a Saviour in the Scriptures, and the hope of eternal life in the gospel.