Even in the company of the godly, we often noticed how Mr Gillies used to be in deep meditation on the truth he was to declare the following day. When with him at Communions he often said, “Oh, I wish I could get a little manna, with the sweet wine of the Gospel for weary and longing souls tomorrow.” He found many of the Lord’s people throughout the Church a tremendous help while he expounded the truth from the pulpit, because he could detect, from the expression on their countenance, their joy in getting a draught from the wells of salvation. He used to say, “We have some men and women yet in our midst who can draw water out of dry wells.”
At one of the Breasclete (Lewis) Communions the portion given out on the Friday for the Fellowship meeting by Duncan MacKay, Missionary, was from the Song of Solomon 1:5, “I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem.” Duncan asked for marks of grace on those who were thus taught by the Holy Spirit, black, carnal, broken vessels, as well as poor and needy in their own estimation, and who so often cry with David, “I poor and needy am” (Psalm 70:5); as distinct from many making a profession while as yet ignorant of the Church’s petition, “Yea, wash thou me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Faith in living exercise in the former, however, caused her to conclude that she is comely in His sight.
As Mr Gillies proceeded to open the “Question”, he said: “The poor Pharisees were never black in their own eyes; oh no, but as white as driven snow on the Switzerland Mountains, just like the one in the temple with the poor Publican. The poor Publican, on the other hand, stood afar off smiting upon his breast praying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ During our sojourn here God will be showing to us how black we are at the heart, but remember that He will have eternity to manifest how white and beautiful you are, clothed in the righteousness of His dear Son.
‘Behold, the daughter of the King
all glorious is within,
And with embroideries of gold
her garments wrought have been’.” Psalm 45:13.
One Sabbath he had wonderful liberty while serving the Lord’s Table from the words “And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.” Isa. 25:8. You shall not have one regret throughout eternity, he said, because of the sorrows, tribulations and the disappointments which you encounter in this weary wilderness. The Lord Jesus Christ has a white silk handkerchief with which He shall wipe away all tears from your weeping eyes at death — but not before, I don’t think. He must have wiped David’s eyes with it when he said:
“Dumb was I opening not my mouth
because this work was thine.”
The eyes of the Church, too, must have got a good wipe of the heavenly handkerchief when she said, “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” You are today at His table and very often you feel lonely and as a speckled bird in the world. So did Mary Magdalene as she wept solitarily at the grave while the disciples went to their own homes. Jesus took notice of her weeping as she mistakenly said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him.” He, however, took the silk handkerchief, and with one wipe — “Mary” — wiped away her tears so that she recognised Him and said, “Rabboni.” He then, I believe, put her tears into His bottle. So shall He do to yours too, as you close your eyes in death, for “God shall wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth . . . ” You are at His table, and soon you shall be at the one above. You may be desiring that the minister would quote some truth that often comforted you. Well, that very often happens, but if not, be of good cheer, keeping your eye, by faith, focused on the promise in Revelation 7:17, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
Mr Gillies loved listening to the late Kenneth Maclean, missionary, Breasclete. Speaking to the Question at Achmore on one occasion, Kenneth gave as the first marks of saving faith in exercise in the soul of believers that of humility, sobriety and unfeigned love to Christ and His Cause in the world. It was a time of keen dispute over the validity of a Protest in the Supreme Court. In referring to the matter he pointed out the danger of pride and arrogance, some wishing to vaunt themselves above others in learning, wisdom and understanding. He illustrated the matter in this way. “The other day I was in a shop in the village” he said, “when an English lady came in holding a three year old boy by the hand. The wee fellow insisted on his being lifted up so that he could see what was on the other side of the counter, and pleaded with his mother, O Mother, Mother, lift me up high, lift me up high. Indeed no, answered his mother, not at all, you are high enough where you are.” After the Question I said to Mr Gillies, “Kenneth was very precious today.” “Yes” replied Mr Gillies, “he put the matter in a nut shell.”
Another note Kenneth told that day was as follows: “Last week a letter arrived addressed to my sister Catherine and I. When she opened it there was a sum of money enclosed with a wee note. In this we saw the good providence of God before a Communion season. Catherine continued remarking on the goodness and sovereignty of the Most High in this with which I fully agreed. But then I said to her, Well, Catherine, it is not the money enclosed which I marvel so much at, but that note at the foot of the letter which reads, ‘Kenneth and Catherine there is more to follow’.” In his application of this he said, “When the souls of true believers get a crumb from off the Gospel table they rejoice as they are lifted up in their soul with the sweet thought of ‘more to follow’. O Yes, here there is a little taste of the grapes of Canaan, and the remainder is on the other side of Jordan.”
As Assistant Clerk of Synod, as well as Clerk of Presbytery, Mr Gillies had much to do. The sound of his typewriter was heard early and late at night. One evening I read to him some Synod Minutes which he typed. I could see that he was in severe distress of mind as he often rubbed his hands together with his usual exclamation, “De so? De so?” (What’s this? What’s this?). The devil was very real to Mr Gillies. Turning round in his chair, he said, “Well, they will arrive here tonight.” With tears in my eyes I asked who they were who were to arrive. “Certain documents,” he replied, “which are not calculated to help the Cause and when you go out tomorrow you shall see a man delivering them.” This actually happened.
“The secret of the Lord is with
such as do fear His name;
And He His holy covenant
will manifest to them.” Psalm 25:14.
My last communion with Mr Gillies in time was at Breaslete, which I shall never forget. This is true also concerning many who heard him that Lord’s Day and are now with him inheriting the blessings which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9), and “where the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” On Saturday I asked him if he had a text for Sabbath morning. “Not yet” was his ready reply, “but I believe God will give me one.” I then left him alone and visited some old people in the congregation. When I returned he had this to say: “Well, John Angus, as I stood at the door, I was attracted and melted in my soul by the singing of those at the prayer meeting. I went up to the Church to refresh my soul further with this heavenly music as the congregation sang the Saviour’s words in Psalm 22, verse 11, with Kenneth Macdonald, Missionary giving out the line:
‘Be not far off, for grief is near
and none to help is found.
Bulls many compass me, strong bulls
of Basham me surround.’
I was also impressed with the fervent prayers and entreaties of the praying men on our behalf in view of tomorrow. I came back with a fresh text.”
Well may he have said so. His text on the Sabbath morning was the title to Psalm 22, which is also inspired, “Aijeleth Shahar.” “The hind of the morning”; in Gaelic “Ailet-sachar,” “The hind of the morning.” “The hind” he said, “has a wonderful power of resistance in whatsoever circumstances she may find herself. She can swim through lochs, rivers and seas until her hoof punctures her neck. Our blessed ‘hind of the morning’, the Lord Jesus Christ, during His ministry swam through rivers, lochs and seas of blood and sorrow.” He then quoted this beautiful and touching truth: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, where with the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” (Lam. 1:13). “Just think of the time” he said, “when it shall be enquired, ‘What are these wounds in thine hands?’ and the remarkable reply that shall be given, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’ However, not a bone of Him was broken, as was prophesied of Him. Oh, the blessed ‘hind of the morning,’ ‘Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not: but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously’.”
On the Monday he looked tired as he preached from the Song of Solomon 8:6, “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm . . .”, but in a similar frame of mind. The bus which took us back to Stornoway was packed with those returning from the mount of ordinances. He was the last to arrive and, sitting on the top step of the bus, closed the door. Many offered him a seat. He thanked them all, saying, “I am unworthy of the one I have.” He then took out his Bible. Let us sing Psalm 46, he said. He continued singing (giving out the line) all the way to the Manse. None realised that it was a farewell song to the communion seasons here below. He knew, we believe, that his next Communion would be where neither bread or wine will be handled any more. As the Saviour Himself said: “For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:16.