Rev Walter Scott
When the writer visited an aged member of Brushgrove Congregation (New South Wales), then nearing the close of his earthly pilgrimage, the conversation turned to the preparation needed for eternity. He was a widower and, in his loneliness, he felt the frailty of his condition and a greater isolation from the world. He brightened up, however, in speaking of spiritual things. When able, he had been a regular attender on the means of grace, along with his wife and her sisters (Skye ladies), whom for many years he was accustomed to drive some miles to the place of worship at Woodford Dale.
Now, in comparison, he felt that, for him, the years had no pleasure in them. He therefore longed all the more for private fellowship, and he always had the Bible ready when we entered. He himself dwelt much on the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and he loved to speak of the Christian warfare. On the occasion referred to he was much affected. He evidently felt that his time was short; and whilst recognising the solemnity of death and eternity – reference to which would bring tears to his eyes – yet he had that hope within him by which he was manifestly enabled to stay himself on God as his trust. As we conversed together alone on the nature of that hope, he was led, in his own simple, unaffected way, briefly to recount the manner of
1Taken with editing from The Free Presbyterian Magazine for April 1910. Rev Walter Scott was then minister of the Brushgrove Congregation, now the Free Presbyterian congregation in Grafton. After being received into the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, he became the minister of its Chesley congregation, in Canada.
his conversion, and the changed life which had been the result for him in subsequent years. He did so to this effect:
“I came from Bury St Edmunds, in the County of Suffolk, England. My surroundings there would do me no good. The preaching in the Church of England was dead. It was not a sermon therefore that first impressed me. God cried to me in His providence. A neighbouring man, returning from market with his cart, suddenly fell dead. I had known the man well, and the question came to my mind: Had it been myself, where would I have gone? Seeing, as the Bible tells us, God turns the wicked into hell and all the nations that forget God, I became greatly concerned. The commandment came to me wherein it is said, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind’. But I felt that I did not love God at all.
“I tried to improve myself in every way I could, by a more careful and serious life. But all was in vain. The law of God condemned me as a transgressor. It stung me to the quick. It continued thus with me for some time. I was then in great darkness and misery and cried to God for help. At last I was led to come to Jesus, and to look to the fountain opened in His blood for the cleansing away of my sin. And I rejoiced, believing in God.
“I now thought that I was done with sin. But I soon found out my mistake. The corruptions of my heart showed themselves, and I began to think that I was still lost and had never really come to Christ. This greatly exercised me, until I was driven to look away from myself to Christ for righteousness as well as pardon. I was made to see that I had no righteousness of my own – that it was not by works of righteousness of mine, but according to His mercy, that He saved me. And thus I was brought to look to Christ’s righteousness as a perfect and spotless righteousness, provided for me in Him. That has been my hope since then.”
He spoke with great feeling. After a pause he referred to Christ as “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever”; and added, “therefore He is a suitable Saviour for me, who am so changeful and inconstant. In my times of darkness I am enabled to hope in His Word. It is a lamp to my feet.” “Thy word hath quickened me” (Ps 119:50). The only book which he specially mentioned on this occasion as helpful to him was M’Cheyne’s Memoir.
Such was the testimony of Josiah Carter, spontaneously given when tottering on the border of the grave. His wife, Margaret Matheson, who had sat under Rev Roderick MacLeod of Snizort, Skye, in early life, had been a true helpmeet for him; and they were both loyal and devoted communicants in the Free Presbyterian Church2 on the Clarence River. For some time Josiah
2This would have been an Australian denomination.
Carter presided over Lower Southgate Mission Sabbath School in connection with the congregation, and the simplicity and earnestness of his opening and closing prayers were remarked upon at the time. He was latterly elected an elder, but age and failing health stood in the way of him accepting the office. However, he took time prayerfully to consider his duty, and communicated his decision in a kindly note to his pastor.
The above interview took place on 27 September 1902. Josiah Carter died soon afterwards. After his burial in the Grafton cemetery, it was found that, amongst many other bequests, he had left a small property for the benefit of Woodford Dale church, where he had so often worshipped.
A man of comparatively few words, Josiah Carter spoke deliberately, with an earnest gaze on the person addressed. This added to the impressiveness of his dying testimony. We took it as illustrative of that lively oracle: “The righteous hath hope in his death” (Prov 14:32). Clarence River readers will be interested in remembering one who so long went in and out amongst them. May it appeal to surviving relatives and others yet unawakened!