Removed by Death
Mr Murdo MacLean of Leurbost, Isle of Lewis, an elder in the Stornoway congregation for many years, passed away on September 25. We send our sympathy to the family.
Southern Presbytery
At its meeting on 25 June 2024 the Southern Presbytery received Mr Neil Campbell as a student studying for the ministry of the Church.
At its meeting on 25 September 2024 the Moderator, in the name and by authority of the Southern Presbytery, solemnly licensed Dr Alan McSeveney to preach the gospel. (Rev) Roderick Macleod, Clerk of Presbytery
Day of Humiliation and Prayer
On the motion of Rev D A Ross, the Synod in May 2024 appointed a Day of Humiliation and Prayer to be observed throughout the Church on Wednesday, 4 December 2023, as follows:
The Synod appoints a Day of Humiliation and Prayer to be observed throughout the Church on Wednesday, 4 December 2024. This is because of the deepening moral and spiritual darkness relentlessly encompassing Church and state. We are shown from the Word of God that in time of crisis the people of God always resorted to humbling themselves before God, asking for His deliverance. This continues to be the practice of our own Church and
indeed the visible Church, at least to some degree. Sadly, sections of it not only give consent to the vilest of sins, but openly engage in the same. When the Children of Israel were properly exercised during their time in the wilderness – and before and after that time – they resorted to bringing their troubles to the God of eternity. Indeed, we find this pattern throughout the Word of God.
It is distressing to observe the enduring purpose of our nation not only to continue in the way of transgressing the Moral Law, but also its purposeful rejection of Christ Jesus, the remedy to remove not only the guilt of individuals but also that of nations that are ripening for the judgement of God. It is a frightening reality that our nation would rather keep adding sin to sin and search out new forms of ungodliness, and loves to have it so. Alarmingly, we are a nation more and more given over to all kinds of wickedness and there seems to be no holding back. And worse, sections of the professing Christian Church not only show approval of such evils but dare to engage in these abominations.
This is a time indeed for us to pray more earnestly that the Lord would come over the mountains of our rebellion and not leave us to the inevitable, destructive consequence of sin. For any one of us to cry in true spiritual prayer to God for the mercy our poor sin-stained Church and state urgently need, we must have some awareness of our own sin and the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse us from our sin. Then we may all the more earnestly cry in prayer to God for Church and state, pleading that God would grant a spirit of repentance and a sense of our abiding need of the mercy of God in Christ, and thereafter endeavour to serve the Almighty God in the spirit of new obedience. “That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations” (Ps 67:2).
(Rev) Keith M Watkins, Clerk of Synod
New Book From Free Presbyterian Publications
A new book of sermons, entitled Union with Christ, by the noted nineteenth-century preacher Hugh Martin should be available from Free Presbyterian Publications before this issue of the Magazine is printed, God willing. The book may be ordered from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom; contact details are on the back cover.
Hugh Martin (1822-1885) was a native of Aberdeen. A brilliant scholar, he entered studies for the ministry in 1839 and joined the Free Church of Scotland at the Disruption of 1843. He was ordained at Panbride in 1844 before moving to Free Greyfriars, Edinburgh, in 1858, where he remained till ill health forced him to retire from the pastoral office at the age of 42. He
spent the remainder of his life, between bouts of ill health, supplying pulpits throughout Scotland. He also spent time writing the books on which his reputation is founded.
The sermons have been collected out of rare pamphlets and magazines, as well as some handwritten manuscripts never before published. Union with Christ is what every sinner needs for salvation, and the source of all the saved sinner’s vast blessedness. Drawing on a variety of texts, Hugh Martin invites us to find this blessing for ourselves. A few of the sermon titles are: “Accepted in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6), “Christ the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25-26), “All Spiritual Blessings” (Eph 1:3), and, “The Blessed Death of Those who Die in the Lord” (Rev 14:13).
The value of this new volume is enhanced by the inclusion of an account of Martin’s life written by Rev D W B Somerset. The volume also contains a list of Martin’s writings – not only books but also pamphlets, and articles in periodicals.
Meetings of Presbytery (DV)
Northern: At Dingwall, on Tuesday, November 5, at 2 pm.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway, on Tuesday, December 3, at 11 am.
Southern: At Glasgow, on Tuesday, December 3, at 2 pm.
Asia Pacific: At Grafton, on Thursday, 16 January 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
Acknowledgement of Donations
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Creich etc: Anon, £100. Communion Expenses (Bonar Bridge): Anon, £120, £40.
Fort William: Communion Expenses: Anon, £30.
North Harris: Communion Expenses: Anon, £60, £50.
North Tolsta: Door Collection: Anon, £300, £80, £60.
Perth: Estate of late Mr Alasdair M MacPherson, £5000; Anon, £2000.
South Harris: Anon, £1054.21.
Then do we honour the Trinity in unity, not when we conceive of the mystery, but when we make a religious use of this high advantage – to come to God, in the name of Christ, by the Spirit, and look for all from God in Christ through the Holy Ghost. Worship is not the task of slaves, but the duty of children.
Grace is young glory, and joy in the Holy Ghost is the suburbs of heaven. You enter upon your country and inheritance by degrees; fullness of joy is for the life to come, and joy in the Holy Ghost is the beginning of it.
In the creation there is no attribute so eminent as God’s power. There was wisdom and goodness shown in the creation, but the main attribute is power. God’s wisdom and His goodness appear in the creation, as they exist in created things; but God’s infinite power is in Himself.
Thomas Manton