By Rev. Hugh Martin, D.D.
Edzell, Forfarshire, 28th May, 1878.
My Dear Friend, — I came here for change of air last week, and am happy to say that I have not had a touch of headache since I came. My old friend, Mr Inglis, shows me much kindness, and wishes me to remain a month at least.
That expression which I have just used, “shows me much kindness,” reminds me of a sight which I got lately of the dire unbelief of my heart. You know that when we say a man “shows us kindness,” we mean that he gave us, or bestowed on us, kindness. Well, I was the other day reading and pondering over the 85th Psalm, and on coming to the 7th verse, “Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation,” it struck me that “showing” and “granting” were here identical terms. Thus, if one is “shown” mercy by God, it means that mercy is granted to him and given to him. Hence those to whom God has in any measure shown His salvation, ought not to doubt of His granting it to them, revelation being communicative, as in those other words, “Show kindness and do good, O Lord, to Zion, thine own hill.” But I, in my dreadful unbelief, do often attribute less to God than I do to my fellow-creature, for while I may have obtained some view of God’s salvation in and through Christ, and have been “shown” it as glorifying to God and suitable for sinners, I yet too often doubt God’s willingness to grant or bestow it upon me. Yea, I may have obtained some spiritual knowledge of Christ and Him crucified, and after all may doubt His willingness to give Himself to me. As if the Holy One, the Fountain of all blessing and blessedness, should show His salvation to a poor sinner, and then in effect tantalise him by saying, “Do you not wish you may get it?” That be far from Thee, O Lord, Thou giver of all good; and yet that is in reality the language of unbelief! Oh, what would become of us if we had not a merciful and faithful High Priest, who has compassion on the ignorant and on those who are out of the way: “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”
Of course I am anxious today, and who is not, as to the debate in the Assembly? Being here I will be a day behind in getting the newspaper, and shall not know the result of the vote until Thursday, unless my brother William wires to me tomorrow. Although not a member this year, I have made known my mind pretty freely to some of the brethren who are members, and although not at present in the high places of the field, yet my voice may be listened to none the less from the quiet places, where one can speak more calmly. And, indeed, by God’s blessing that is already true, for my pamphlet on “The Inspiration of Scripture” has met with a good reception not only from able men in our own church, but also from honoured names in other churches, some of whom have written to thank me for what they are pleased to call “a service to the cause of truth.” No doubt a few extreme folks blame me for being too hard on the College Committee, but I can bear that, so long as the positions I have laid down are unassailed, which, indeed, they cannot be, except at the cost of the assailant. And yet last Assembly uttered no whisper when the “Report” of the Committee was laid before it, as to their divergence of view from that of the Confession, and in which I animadvert in my pamphlet. The Confession says: “It pleased the Lord to commit the revelation of Himself and of His will wholly unto writing,” etc. The Committee says: “The revelation of God and of His will are committed wholly to writing,” thus avoiding to state by whom they were committed to writing; and if divine authorship is not maintained, divine authority falls to the ground. Alas! I fear there will soon come to light throughout our church-courts an amount of sympathy with these unsound views such as will startle us. The U.P. Church, by her recent action, has, in my opinion, “made shipwreck” — neither more nor less. And the evils which she sanctions usually appear in the Free Church two or three years afterwards, so we may look out! Indeed — — has got into the habit of looking out, and paving the way for the evils as they come. How sad that men in important positions do not ask themselves as to any undertaking they are about to engage in, “How will this bear on the glory of God, and on the honour of His Word, which He has magnified above all His Name?” but ask, “How will this bear on our standing as before men?” We are all liable to regard the church of Christ too much as a “business concern,” to be managed by experts; whereas it is the ordinance of God for the custody of His truth, “set” in the world by His appointment and under His control “for the defence of the Gospel.” And as there is not in any land a nobler sight for the sun to shine on than a general assembly of a free, faithful, Scriptural church, for “there is the testimony of Israel, there do sit the thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David,” so, therefore, it is with overwhelming dread and sorrow of heart that we contemplate anything occurring that would tarnish, or even compromise, our profession of holding that high and solemn position.
I observe your question as to getting light on the path of duty. My own experience is, that if I believe a certain course to be warranted by the Word of God, I must go forward, although I have not light given me on probable issues and consequences. If, under a sense of my weakness, I stipulate for light and liberty before I go forward, the Lord may withhold it, because I am not yet in the actual need of it, and would most likely abuse it if I got it. It is usually in the performance of duty, and not before it, that the Lord vouchsafes that light and strength which supports the poor weakling, and confirms him in the all-graciousness of Him “under whose wings he hath come to trust.”
And now, “my right trusty and well-beloved cousin” (as the Queen says of the Lord High Commissioner), let me just add that I hope to hear from you soon. I do not know that I can visit you this summer, but if not, it will not be for want of grateful recollections of my former visit. Indeed, the remembrance of the extent to which I drew upon your kindness is often simply oppressive.
Hugh Martin