Question Day Communion in the district of Carloway — 27th September, 1878
The service having been conducted in the customary way, it was requested that one of the brethren present should give a portion of Scripture as the basis of the Question. The words given are in Colossians 3: 9th and 10th verses. “Lie not one to another seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Marks of “the new man” were asked, and the knowledge the brethren had of “the old man,” together with the troubles that they had as a consequence of that knowledge.
REV. JOHN MACRAE, DUIRNISH, SKYE
“opened the Question” and among other things said, “These were at one time living in sin, and doing service to many lusts etc. But the Holy Spirit was shed abundantly upon them by which they were regenerated, and renewed. Oh! the great love wherewith he loved us. The friends have come here, and well do they like to hear the marks of “the new man”. The way to crucify “the old man” is to be often looking to Christ the Mediator. They would prefer to have their lusts crucified than the riches of this world.”
The following were called to speak:
MURDO MACLEOD, CATECHIST, LOCHS
who said: There are two things before us here, “the new man” and “the old man.” The Scriptures throw light upon them, and there is a sense in which there are two parties or groups in this large congregation here today, “the old man”, and “the new man.” The latter seek a token from the Lord. If you would ask these if they had put off “the old man,” going by the feelings that they have of “the old man”, their mouths would be stopped — without answer. But “the new man” embraces Christ offered in the gospel. We need that the Lord would do this for us. Who would continue contentedly wearing the clothes of “the old man”, fallen away from God, when the law of God curses the soul that sinneth? The poor soul must acknowledge everything that the law accuses him of.
Christ is formed in their souls, as the “hope of glory.” They are endowed with the graces of the Spirit. Christ is precious to them in the steps (way) in which He suffered. Many an “Och! Alas! Conscience!” these have, due to the strength of “the old man”. If they would only manage to exhaust him! If they do this or that, all things not of faith are made sin to them, but “the new man” delights in the law of God, yea, delights in all that God has above, and that He has below. Another mark of “the new man” — he esteems the Lord’s people. “Thy people are my people” and “thy God, my God.” The Sabbath Day is the day above others that “the new man” delights in. Is the Lord’s Day your own delight? Some need it for a rest, but poor as you are you will go out (to church) to hear the Word of God. These desire to be clothed with their house from heaven although they are groaning while here.
ALEX MACIVER, LOCHS
who said: We read that there are three Persons in the Godhead, and each one has a hand in the salvation of the soul. Before God awakened this people, they were “the old man” only. These obtained a sore awareness of original sin, and of actual transgression, and they had need of the hand of God going through that experience. Some made preparation to end their own life going through that experience, but God Himself kept them from doing this. This man gave up all hope of being saved. Yet the time of God came, and He revealed Christ to them in His saving power. Their eyes were opened, their conscience was healed and they thought they would have no more tribulation. That place was like Bethel (Genesis 28: 19). He erected a memorial stone where he vowed “The commandments of my God, I will keep with special care.” Yea the place was a Peniel to the soul, where he and God were face to face, and he was saved. God has put a mark on this person since that day, his walk is slow (careful), the soul desires the first ripe fruit. These were at that time like Peter on the mountain, “Master it is good for us to be here, let us make three tabernacles.” That was the day of their espousals, in which their hearts were drawn to Christ, their Bridegroom. They are received into the family of God but the Holy Spirit now teaches them that they are in the neighbourhood of sin, that corruption dwells in them. Och, Och! You will see greater abominations (Ezek. 8). “The new man” grows in stature within and without . . .
DONALD MACLEAY, SHADER
who said: We have heard much about the dealing of the Lord with his people, the nature of “the old man” and of “the new man.” I will say first, that it was God who convinced them that they were sinners, and that the wages of sin is death. They acknowledged all that God had said, that they had sinned against him, and against their own soul. “Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.” They received Christ as sinners who were hell deserving. “They looked unto him and were lightened” (Psalm 34: 5). Their faith saw in Christ all that they needed for eternity. Their state is now altered, the person now begins to put off “the old man.” He begins to separate from the old companions, turns his back upon them and turns to follow the Lord, for the love of Christ constrains him. He came to have an agreement with God’s way of salvation, in Jesus Christ. You would not have known you had an “old man” till you obtained “the new man”. You thought then “the old man” had been slain, but he rose up again. Poor soul it appears to you that he is set free (let loose) when he is thrashing about. This made the apostle cry, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” This “body” follows them, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life.” These follow them, as God said to Israel that the heathen whom they did not cast out would be as thorns in their sides, etc. A mark on them is that they delight not in the company of the ungodly (Psalm 1: 1). They would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God and dwell in it, than be in the tents of wickedness. Psalm (84: 10). Christ is precious to them in the way the Church said “My beloved is white and ruddy.” “The new man loves the commandments of God.
DONALD GRANT, STORNOWAY
who said: The sharp two edged sword, law and gospel, in mercy broke their heart. They were wounded, and were healed in the day of effectual calling. “I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh . . .” These have to wage war against “the old man,” and in that way they grow in knowledge of the power of “the old man”, as a consequence of which they cry out, “Who shall deliver me . . .” But Christ is with them as He was with the three young men in the fiery furnace. They are conscious that they are weak and backward. “I am not,” said Ruth, “like unto the least of thine handmaids. Yet they delight in the saints on earth and the excellent . . .” (Psalm 16: 3).
KEITH MACKENZIE, CARLOWAY
who said: Referring to the question or portion of scripture, one of these got his being from sin, the other from grace. The Lord is the portion of “the new man.” He had a conscience (who is without it?), but these are conscientious in their dealings in all things, on Sabbath and week-day. The exercise of their faith is upon Christ, their Intercessor in heaven . . .
MALCOLM MACLEOD, BRAGAR
who said: I am afraid to stand up, and I am ashamed to speak. I am afraid that when I rise “the old man” will stand up with me. I am sick tired of him. It is not just “much speech” that “the new man” has. He will not make the most noise. What he had is the groan (unuttered). I remember John Macleod (Gaelic Schoolmaster) being asked to speak to the “Question” in the Parish of Uig. He was asked to tell if he had anything against Finlay. “It is my opinion” said the godly man “that my own hearth would first need to be swept, before that of any of the brethren.” The “old man” is so old that it was in fallen Adam we got him. Whatever people say, it is high time that I put off “the old man”. “The old man” will allow you to criticise him, but that will not take you to heaven. Christ will not be pleased with anything, except “the new man” for He is Himself wrought in that person as “the hope of glory.” The blood is sprinkled on these — “when I see the blood I will pass over you.” There are marks on “the new man.” He is warm, for if you have not love you have not God. The world ought to know these from the love they have toward each other. I ask you fishermen, would you set your fishing lines because of your love to God? And you women, would you sell a dozen eggs for your love to the Lord’s people, and your union with His Cause? When the Lord gave this people true faith, unbelief came following in its footsteps. The multitude is as ignorant of this as the brute (cows) over there opposite us. (The service may have been on the common pasture). Another mark of the “new man.” Although you would hit him in the face he would love you still. Another, if you have an enemy in the village you will not restrain prayer for him. A brother and sister may quarrel, but they have to forgive each other. One distinctive mark I give on these — they would not wish to have one thought of enmity against the brethren. Let us examine ourselves regarding this. “The new man” prays often when he is journeying. The Lord sometimes was better to him journeying on the highway than in secret. Many a time indeed was He better than in secret. I will confess this, that the Lord was for four years telling me that I was a great sinner before I saw that God was offering His Son to me without my own works. “The new man” has both a wakeful and humble nature, yea, the mind that is in Christ.
ALEXANDER MORRISON, STORNOWAY
who said: Regarding the people of God, one thing is true about them, as we have in the words of the “Question.” They desire to speak the truth one to another as brethren in Jesus Christ. It is very difficult to distinguish between “the old man” and “the new man.” We would desire to give a mark on the weakest of these. Some may attain to such a great height in the Church of God, when mere hypocrites, while the people of God are weak, and lowly, but the Lord will raise these up eventually. I could from natural ability spend many nights in watching. We cannot adequately give the light on how a person closes in with Christ when he was seeing on the one hand that God must be glorified and on the other that his poor soul must be saved. It was not because of all he heard from other folk but he did this upon the authority of the revealed will of God, that he had given His Son for him. He had now a right privilege from the word of God. The world appeared new to him, the hills and the glens as if they had a beauty they did not have till then. The soul imagined in the light of the love of Christ who covered the sins of his people, that these sins would no more trouble them. But a lust here and a lust there began to seek a place. He began to fear if it was the real work of God that was begun in him. The “Canaanites” are too strong for him. This people cannot bring anything now before God but His free grace. The feeling he has is “against Thee, Thee only have I sinned.” I will give one mark on them, — though God forgave their sins, they do not forgive themselves. Some take refuge under the “common mercy” of God, but I know some and they would desire a secret place so that they would get one word from God. I would accept that as a mark of those who seek Christ. Another mark: you seek Him in all the means of grace, you are inclined in your mind towards them and you would desire to have all the people of God in your arms. There are two things going along with “the new man,” a knowledge of the way of salvation and a godly watchfulness. We ought to be as “Galileans” to the world, as if we had been with Christ; and to our consciences that we are faithful to our profession. These seek to follow Christ’s example. They are sorrowful that they are so far behind.