Rev. L. MacLeod
This address was delivered on the occasion of the Induction, as noted above, of the late Rev. D.B. MacLeod to the pastorate of the Edinburgh Congregation. MR MACLEOD, I have great pleasure in welcoming you back again into the Southern Presbytery. We were sorry some years ago to lose you, but we are now very pleased indeed to welcome you back. I now have these few remarks to make.
You will remember that the apostle Paul, when addressing the elders of the church in Ephesus, said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Paul had just reminded them of what he had been doing among them: that he had been “serving the Lord with all humility of mind”. This shows us that those who serve the Lord in the ministry of the gospel have much need of humility and lowliness. Those who serve Him in this way have this promise, along with many other promises, “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”
You are to take heed to your life, walk and conversation, that they are as becometh the gospel of Christ – and it is only by the teaching of heaven that this can be achieved. Therefore you are to be much in prayer, seeking the Lord’s keeping continually. “Hold up my goings, Lord,” must be your prayer over and over again. I do not doubt for a moment but that your prayer is that the Lord would enable you to adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things, nevertheless you must continue to watch and pray so that you would be “kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time”.
You are to take heed to the flock, the charge of which you have been inducted to this evening by the authority of the Presbytery and in the name of the great Head of the church. The apostle reminded the elders of Ephesus that it was the Holy Ghost that had made them overseers of the church there. We believe the same is true here tonight – that it was the Holy Spirit, in answer to much prayer, who moved the Edinburgh Congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to address to you a unanimous call to become their pastor. We believe also that it was the Holy Spirit who directed you, after much prayerful consideration, to accept the call.
When the apostle laboured in Ephesus he fed the church there by expounding the word of God to them. He kept nothing back which was profitable to them. He preached law and gospel, testifying both to Jews and Greeks, repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. You are to do the same in Edinburgh. Declare to them the whole counsel of God. Say unto the righteous that it will be well with them, and to the wicked that it will be ill with them.
I need not remind you that it is your duty to visit the congregation, especially those in it who are ill and in hospital, and those who are old and are not able to attend the public means of grace. Pastors also have a duty to help the young, especially when they live in this wicked and adulterous age. There are also young people who have come from their homes to this city to study, and it would be your duty, and I’m sure it will be your pleasure also, to encourage them to attend the means of grace.
You have been a minister of the gospel now for more than thirty years, so you know from personal experience that there are difficulties and trials connected with the work. Satan is as opposed to the true gospel as ever he was, and is continually seeking to stir up trouble. However, you are to remember that the One who sent you to preach the gospel has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you. “Lo, I am with you always,” He says, “even unto the end of the world.”
You are also to remember that the servants of the Lord have this great promise, “No weapon that is formed against thee will prosper; and every tongue that shall arise against thee in judgement, thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
My desire and prayer for you is that your labours in this city will be blessed by the Lord and bear fruit to His glory.
“That man who, bearing precious seed,
in going forth doth mourn,
He doubtless, bringing back his sheaves,
rejoicing shall return.”