- A ris tha na soisgeulaich ag radh “An sin thugadh clann bheag d’a ionnsuidh, chum gu cuireadh e a làmhan orra, agus gu’n deanamh e urnuigh; agus chronuich na deisciobuil iad. Ach thubhairt losa, fulain-gaibh do na leanabanaibh, agus na bacaidh dhoibh teachd a m’ionnsuidh: oir is ann d’an leithidibh sin, a ta rioghachd nèimhe. Agus an deigh dha a lamhan a chuir orra, dh-imich e as sin.” (Matt. xix. 13-15). “Agus ghlac e ‘na uchd iad, agus chuir e a lamhan orra, agus bheannuich se iad.” (Marc. x. 16).
The againn ri shocruchadh ma ta, co aca a labhair Criosd ‘s na briathraibh so mu-n rioghachd air an talamh, — ‘se sin an eaglais fhaicsinneach, na mu-n rioghachd shiorruidh — ‘se sin rioghachd na glòir.
Nis tha mi a’ deanamh dhe gu-m b’ann mu-n eaglais fhaicsinneach a labhair ar Fear saoruidh, o aon aobhar sonruichte — agus ‘se sin, gu-m bitheadh atharach so an aghaidh Scriobtuir eile. Cha choltach gu-m do labhair è mu rioghachd na gloir’, oir cha bhuin leanabana gu h-iomlan, do’n rioghachd so, do bhri’ ‘s nam buineadh gu-m bitheamaid uile ‘nar n’ oighreachan air neamh — a chionn gu-n robh sinn aon uair uile ‘n ar leanabana. Ach tha an Scriobtuir ag radh gu bheil sinn uile “a thaobh naduir ’nar cloinn na feirge,” agus ann an àite eile, nach ’eil an t-aireamh ach beag a ta dol a stigh air geata cumhan slighe aithlean na beatha. Nan d’thugadh naoidheanachd dhuinn còir air rioghachd spioraidail shiorruidh Dhè, cha rachadh a chòir air cùl, agus mar so, bhitheadh na h-uile air an sabhaladh. Ach ’si an fhèirinn mhuladach gu bheil teaghlach spioradail an Tighearn’ nan treud ro-bheag — air an deanamh suas dhe neach an sud is dhe neach an so — seadh gur ginnealach thaghta iad. Uime sin, tha e so-thuigsinn, ’nuair a labhair Criosd, mu na leanabanaibh a bha lathair — gu b’ann d’an leithide sin a ta rioghachd nèimhe — nach do labhair e mu rioghachd shiorruidh Dhè, ’se sin mu fhlaitheanas.
’Se am baisteach, comharadh co-cheangail nan gràs — comharadh air a bheannachdadh sin a thug Criosd a steach — comharadh air a bheannuchadh sin a ta e gach là a’ buileachadh — agus air an aobhar so tha mi a co-dhunadh, iadsan a ta a’ bacadh frithealadh na h-ordugh so do leanabanaibh, gu bheil iad a’ deanamh a cheart ni sin air-son an robh Criosd ro-dhiombach r’a chuid dheisciobul.
Tha mi a’ co-dhùnadh gu bheil ar Slanuighfhear anns an dà earrann so a’ dearbhadh gu soilleir gur coir naoidheana a ghabhail mar bhuill do’n eaglais fhaicsinnich — agus uime sin gu’m bheil — so a dhuiltadh dhoibh, a’ cur an aghaidh toil agus althn’an Ti uile bheannuichte. — Thaisbean Esan a ghradh do naoidheanaibh ’nuair a chuir e air chois ordugh an Timchioll ghearraidh, oir shuidhich e an t-ochdamh là chum an t-ordugh so a frithealadh. Thaisbean e a ris’ an gradh ceudna le bhi togail na leansbana maoth na uchd, agus le bhi ’gam beannachadh; agus, o na nithe so uile — cha chreid mi nach ann la suil dhiombach a sheallas e orrasan a ta cumail naoidheana air an ais uaidh — agus air an luchd teagaisg, d’ am bheil e mar chleachdadh a bhi bacadh do pharantaibh an toirt ’s a bhaisteadh, chum, gu-n cuireach esan, mar gu-m b’ann, a lamhan orra.
O! nach soilleir a dh-fheudas, an t-eadar dhealachadh eadar briathraibh agus cleachdadh Chriosd, agus briathraibh agus cleachdadh nam Baisteach, a bhi do na h-uile? Nach feud gach duine fhaicinn, nach ann le an leithide so do dheisciobuil a bhitheadh an Slanuighfhear toilichte? Nach iongantach nach deanadh eadhon gradh nadurra parantan a bhrosnuchadh gu cul a chuir ris an teagasg mhi-scriobturail so? Agus nach muladach, gu-m bitheadh cuireadh cosmhuil ri son, a ta air fhilleadh anns na briathraibh a dh’ainmich sinn, air a thoirt seachad le Criosd, ach gu-n deanadh mealltearachd air bith muinntir a chumail o bhi ’gabhail ris’.
Book Reviews
The Tender Blade and an Early Harvest. Price 55p postage paid.
This 50 page small hardback book gives an account of Mary Banfield of Hove who died in 1943 at the age of 13. Though young in years Mary Banfield gave evidences of the working of God’s Spirit in her and that the Word of God was precious to her. Mary’s parents, who have re-published this account of their daughter trust that, with God’s blessing, it will be especially useful to young people. The book also contains addresses by Mr F. Foster given at her funeral and a sermon preached by him at Galeed Chapel, Brighton, on the following Lord’s Day. May the account given here be used of God to stir up the hearts of the young to seek the Saviour who says: “I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Obtainable from Mr Norman Roe, 44 Queen’s Drive, Ossett, West Yorkshire WF5 0ND. D.B.M.
Alphabetical Index of the Scottish Metrical Psalms. Price 50p.
Miss E. Hainy, Glasgow, has compiled this 56 page alphabetical index of the Scottish Metrical Psalms. The first line of every 4-line verse of the Psalms in metre is contained in it. Altogether there are over 2,000 references including second versions. Copies are obtainable from the Free Presbyterian Church Bookroom, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6LE.
Notes and Comments
Air Disaster
On the last Sabbath of March, 574 people died when two jumbo jet aircraft crashed on the runway of the airport at Santa Cruz in Tenerife. One of the planes had started to take off before the other plane was clear of the runway. All the people aboard the plane which was taking off died in the crash.
Whatever was the cause of this awful tragedy, it is a reminder to us of the uncertainty of life. Few, if any, of these 574 passengers, no doubt, had any thought that in a short time they would be ushered into eternity. We do not know the day nor the hour when we may be called to our account. A particularly sad aspect of this tragic accident is that it happened on a Sabbath. How slow men are to give obedience to the divine law. The Sabbath law — “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” — is an integral part of that law. Men provoke the Most High when they violate the law of God. May we be preserved from provoking Him to destroy us.
President Carter and Russian Evangelicals
President Carter’s stand on civil rights has encouraged a group of Evangelicals in Russia to approach him seeking his help in their quest for the right to emigrate. They wish to emigrate because the Soviet authorities have made it impossible for them to practise their religion in Russia. There is no doubt that the Russian authorities have made determined efforts to stamp out religion in their own land. However, as it was with the Hebrews in Egypt — the more Pharaoh persecuted them the more they multiplied — so it is in Russia. The blood of the martyrs has always proved to be the seed of the Church.
The Russian leaders are already showing their resentment at what they take to be President Carter’s interference in their internal affairs. Let President Carter, however, stand firm as the Soviet leaders do not find it any easier to be unresponsive to world opinion than other national leaders do. Who can tell but, through firmness in this matter and by the Lord’s blessing with it, a wind of change will begin to sweep through Russia which will turn into such a gale that the leaders of that nation will not be able to resist it. Into what a beautiful land would the Gospel turn Russia. May that day be hastened.
Blasphemous Films
A spate of blasphemous films seems to have invaded the cinema screens lately. Film producers appear to vie with one another in trying to outdo one another in the blasphemous nature of their films. The dishonouring of Christ’s Name is viewed as a very minor matter by men who are blind to the glory of the divine Redeemer. That they can get people to watch these production is one sad aspect of the matter. To be catering for the depraved appetites of poor fallen sinners will be a costly matter when it comes to the day of account. Little do these purveyors of blasphemy realise what it will mean in that day to face the Saviour whose glory they have demeaned.
Dr Packer in Glasgow
On Monday, March 21st, in the Central Halls, Bath St., Glasgow, the Reformed Faith Fellowship, an interdenominational body professedly seeking to apply Scriptural principles to modern life, held its annual one-day conference. The guest speaker was Dr James I. Packer, associate principal of Trinity Theological College, Bristol. Three sessions occupied the day: the first was a lecture on ‘The Interpretation of Scripture’; the second was a seminar on ‘Evangelism’; the third was another lecture, on ‘The Authority of Scripture.’ All three sessions were well attended, especially by young men and women.
In the lecture on how to interpret the Scriptures, several points of value were mentioned: in studying the Bible, we were told, we must seek to understand what God was saying to the original hearers, what He is saying to us today, and how His revelation relates to our knowledge of Christ as the only Saviour of sinners; we were also reminded that God can and does speak to men through the Scriptures because man was made in the image of God, and was fitted for communion with his Maker, though now the Holy Spirit is needed to open our blind eyes that we may see both God’s testimony to His Son and the Son Himself presented and offered to us in Scripture. The plenary inspiration of the Scriptures was also insisted on, as was their canonicity as the rule of faith and life. We were also exhorted to interpret the Bible literally, i.e. discover just what the Author meant and said when the Truth was penned, and not impose on it allegorical senses which it was never meant to convey; and to interpret it organically, as the product of a single mind — thus, Scripture must never be set against Scripture, but rather Scripture must interpret Scripture. There were, however, several notable departures from the true Reformed view of Scripture: at one point, Dr Packer said that Genesis I is not to be read as a scientific statement of the stages in creation; elsewhere, he claimed that ‘much fruitful application of the Truth has sprung up from the waste land of the Bultmann legacy’, as if good fruit could ever come from a bad tree; he also remarked that for the exegesis of Scripture we need the commentaries, but for application we need the Holy Spirit — according to the Saviour, we need the Holy Spirit for everything (John 16:13). It was also disappointing to notice the complete absence of reference to the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture, and while referring to the instrumentality of Scripture as the means to our knowing God, Dr Packer failed to make it clear that the Word of God is the exclusive means of our knowledge of God unto salvation. Such an omission leaves the door wide open for the charismatic movement etc.
The seminar on evangelism was the most unscriptural presentation we have witnessed for some years. Dr Packer despatched the content of the ‘evangelistic message’ — God, man, Christ, faith and repentance, the Holy Spirit — in less than 5 minutes. Concentrating his remarks on method, he proceeded to advocate songs, drama, films, entertainments, skits, pictures, and the use of the ungodly’s language, as useful ways of creating interest in spiritual things before preaching the Gospel. Tent missions, D. L. Moody and Billy Graham were all mentioned, but not condemned, though ‘leaving the spiritual ministry to the minister’ was condemned, and the two-by-two, door-to-door kind of evangelism (not necessarily by converted persons) was highly recommended. No Scriptural proof was attempted on behalf of these counsels of error. The only valuable points to emerge from this travesty of Biblical method were Dr Packer’s condemnation of ‘ghastly dull’ preaching and his timely exhortation to Christians to make the Word of God visible by their lives. As Dr Packer’s ‘introductory’ remarks occupied almost all the time allotted for the session, little room was left for the intended seminar.
The evening lecture on the authority of Scripture was the best part of the day’s proceedings. Basing his remarks on Jer. 36:23-24, Dr Packer spoke of King Jehoiakim’s 4 fundamental mistakes in relation to the Word of God, and applied them to the present situation. First, he said, Jehoiakim rejected the Truth because he regarded it as a merely human product; it is, however, God’s words in man’s mouth. Because the Bible is inspired or God-breathed, it is one Book, not many; it is powerful; and it is authoritative for us all. In making reference to the now defunct Doctrinal Commission of the Church of England, of which he was a member, Dr Packer observed that the three views of authority represented on the commission are the only three views open to professing Christians: either we submit our minds and consciences to the Word of God, or we submit them to Church tradition, like the Anglo-Catholics, or we choose our own kind of Christianity. All of us are committed to one of these positions, but the true disciple of Christ will receive the whole Bible out of His hand as the rule of his faith and life.
Jehoiakim’s second mistake, Dr Packer continued, was to think that because he regarded the Scripture as a merely human product, it need not be believed. The root of his trouble, however, as with so many in the present day, was not any intellectual difficulties preventing his acceptance of it, but its holy moral demands, which condemned him as a lost and guilty sinner, warned him of the wrath to come, and urged him to flee to Christ for salvation. Men today, in every segment of society, are unwilling to be both rebuked and changed; they choose darkness rather than light, and in righteousness God will give them what they choose.
The King’s third error was that he thought the Word of God could be destroyed. That is why he cut up the prophet’s scroll. So also today, men would like to destroy not only the Word of God, but God Himself; because He crosses their carnal interests. But they cannot. Rather, God will destroy them. Within 10 years, Jehoiakim himself was struck down in judgment, according to the Lord’s own prediction. ‘Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.’ And as we as a nation turn our backs with increasing explicitness on God and His Word, we can expect no better treatment than Jehoiakim, unless we return to the Lord and learn wisdom.
Jehoiakim’s final mistake was that he regarded the Word of God as no secure basis for human society; rather, he put his trust in forbidden alliances with Egypt and Assyria. So today, men rush to destruction as they run away from God, whereas in fact the only safe course of action for any sinner is to return unto Him. Though Jeremiah was alone, he had joy and peace in believing; and though we may be alone, God is a promise-keeping God, and because He has said to His people: ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’, they may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’ (Heb. 13:5-6).
It may appear petty to some to offer adverse criticism on the Conference in view of such an excellent lecture as the foregoing, but it is very inconsistent in those professing the Reformed faith to use a pianoforte accompaniment to the singing of the Psalms, as was done on this occasion; also, the prayers of the ministers who chaired each meeting were conspicuous by their complete absence of all confession of sin; also, it is unseemly in a Christian scholar of Dr Packer’s reputation to address a promiscuous gathering as ‘brothers and sisters’, and to use slang terminology to explain Christian ideas. As a scholar, Dr Packer is held in high esteem amongst true lovers of the Word of God; as a prominent professor of the Reformed Faith, he would be held in even higher esteem were he to make a firm and uncompromising stand for the authority of Scripture, not merely in doctrine, but also in worship, discipline and practice.
J.M.B.
Christ by His death, gave to the Father a foundation on which to display His wisdom, in the highest perfection; His justice, in the deepest severity; His mercy in the clearest lustre; and His veracity, in the firmest stability.
John Jefferson.
Church Notes
Student Received by Southern Presbytery
At a meeting of the Southern Presbytery held at Glasgow on Tuesday, 19th April 1977, Dr James R. Tallach was accepted as a student studying for the ministry. Dr Tallach mentioned that he hoped eventually to do Mission work in Rhodesia, the medical side always being subservient to the ministerial.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Skye: At Portree on 21st June at 11 a.m.
Western: At Laide on 21st June at 12 noon.
Northern: At Dingwall on 21st June at 2.30 p.m.
Southern: At Glasgow on 28th June at 6 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 7th July at 11.30 a.m.
Resolution re the Dismissal of Mr D. C. C. Watson
The Southern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met at Glasgow on Tuesday the 19th day of April, 1977, views with grave concern the report that Mr David C. C. Watson of 9 Pinetree Close, Chalfont Street, Peter., Bucks., was dismissed from his post as teacher in Religious Education by the Hertfordshire County Council because he taught the historicity of the Genesis account of Creation instead of the conception that this account is a collection of myths, legends, etc.
The Presbytery would make the following observations:—
- The historicity of the Genesis account of creation is fully confirmed by the doctrine of the Creatorship of God, which pervades the whole of Scripture. That it is the clear doctrine of Christianity is asserted in Hebrews. Chap. 11 v. 3. where we read “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,” and confirmed by the creeds of the Churches of Christ down through the centuries.
- The conception that the Genesis account is non-historical is of comparatively recent origin and springs from the fundamentally atheistic evolutionary hypothesis. Such an hypothesis should have no place in religious instruction and should certainly not be introduced into Christianity, which has the Bible as its text-book.
- It is a well-known fact that the evolutionary hypothesis is both unproved and unprovable, even using the commonly accepted principles of scientific methodology. Consequently, many scientists who hold Professorial Chairs and Readerships in Science Faculties in Universities and Colleges, both at Home and Abroad, accept the historicity of Genesis I.
- It must be clear, therefore, that those who deny the historicity of Genesis only do so because of their faith in the evolutionary hypothesis with all its unproved data. Mr Watson, on the other hand, has faith in the Word of God in which is given a divinely-revealed account of creation. Mr Watson’s faith on this particular point is that of Christians down through the centuries, while the faith of the evolutionist is something which has only begun to have an existence in the past century. It is faith in an hypothesis which many believe is well on the way to being demolished.
The Presbytery are convinced that the children and young people of this Nation have an unalienable right to be taught divinely-revealed Truth, which is the only truth which will be beneficial to them. They therefore, have a right to be taught the truth about Creation and the historicity of the Genesis account. The dismissal of Mr Watson is an attempt to prevent the teaching of one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and to put in its place an unproved hypothesis as the only explanation of the origin of the world in which we live.
The Presbytery protests most emphatically against this outrage and hopes that the Industrial Tribunal will not only vindicate Mr Watson, but will do so in a way that will ensure that no Educational Authorities will make similar attempts to deprive the youth of Britain of the right to sound Christian teaching. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”
Donald Maclean
Clerk to the Southern Presbytery
Chesley Communion
The communion in Chesley, Ontario, Canada, will be held this year on the 1st Sabbath of July, D.V.
Synod Clerk’s Resignation
At the recent meeting of Synod, Rev. R. R. Sinclair resigned as Synod Clerk and Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow, was appointed to succeed him. A fuller notice will appear next month, D.V.