G r a c e&

Tru t h“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”

Magazineof

North Uist & GrimsayFree Church of Scotland

(Continuing)

Vol. 7 No. 1

January-February 2014

Grace & Tru t hVol. 7 No. 1

January-February 2014

Contents

Minister’s Message: Light in the Darkness 1

Helps to Devotion: All Spiritual Blessings 2

Miracles of Jesus: 6. Feeding the Four Thousand 3

Sermon: Risen with Christ 4

Christian Doctrines Explained: 37. The Second Commandment (3) 13

The Reformation in Scotland: 37. Morton and the Church 14

Precious Psalms: 37. The Perfect Man 16

For Young People: Simon Peter: 4. Eternal Life 17

Gàidhlig: Chaidh am fogharadh seachad, tha’n samhradhthairis, ach chaneil sinne air ar saoradh 19

Congregational News 20

All correspondence relating to the magazine should be sent to the Editor:Rev. David M. Blunt, 17 Knockline, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5DT. Tel. 01876510305 Email: davidblunt@fccontinuing.org

Grace & Truth is published bimonthly and disbtributed free of charge.Donations towards costs are welcome and may be sent to the Treasurer(details on inside rear cover). Cheques, etc. should be made out to ‘North Uist& Grimsay Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)’.

Minister’s Message: Light in the Darkness

Over what felt like a long period recently (but was only a few shortweeks) we experienced some very gloomy conditions. Storms raged and

the heavens were black with rain clouds: sometimes it looked like nightwhen it was actually day. Now things have become a little brighter. Thedays are starting to lengthen and we are able to look forward to the Spring.

We can learn a lot from the natural world if we care to study it. WhenGod opens our spiritual eyes we understand that the universe is Hishandiwork and we see His imprint upon our own planet in particular. Inthe different times and seasons which God in His wisdom sends there arelessons for us. We may glean something from the darkness and the light.

In the first book of the Bible we have the account of creation. To beginwith there was darkness but when God said “Let there be light” the earthwas illuminated (Gen.1:2,3). Light was necessary if life was going to exist.God provided the sun to be a permanent source of light and eventually Hecreated man in His own image and likeness and placed him in a paradise.

As “God is light” and “in him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5) so thefirst man Adam was righteous in his character and holy in his walk. Thensin entered his heart and Adam and his posterity descended into spiritualand moral darkness. Fellowship with God was no longer possible for “whatcommunion hath light with darkness?” (2Cor.6:14). A reconciliation wasneeded and wonderfully even there in the garden of Eden a Saviour wasrevealed who in time would restore the broken friendship (Gen.3:15).

What began as a glimmer of gospel light became a bright beam whenthe Son of God entered our flesh and proclaimed, “I am the light of theworld: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have thelight of life” (John 8:12). When Christ suffered for our sins on the crossthere was a physical darkness over the whole earth yet a spiritual lightshone above the Saviour’s blessed head in the form of those words whichproclaimed, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38).

With our sin-darkened minds we can only know salvation by the powerof the Holy Spirit who through the gospel of Christ brings about a newcreation patterned after the original one: “For God, who commanded thelight to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the lightof the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor. 4 : 6 ) .This regeneration is of God’s irresistible grace and neither the darkness ofthis world, nor our own flesh, nor even the devil himself can overcome it.Therefore every believer in Christ may look forward confidently to theperfect state of heaven where “the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 2 1 : 2 3 ) .

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Things may appear dark for the cause of Christ in our land just now.The church is certainly passing through difficult times. Her numericalstrength and doctrinal purity are declining. There are changes in herworship and there is a growing worldliness among her members.Christians also face persecution from an increasingly ungodly society.

At the beginning of a new year we should not let such trends disheartenus. The church has a bright and glorious future! If as believers we trulywait upon the Lord then He will surely light our candle and enlighten ourdarkness (Psa.18:28). For Christians it is ever true: “weeping may endurefor a night, but joy cometh in the morning” ( P s a . 3 0 : 5 ) . o

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Helps to Devotion (Rev. James Smith)

A L L S P I R I T U A L BLESSINGS. “Blessed be the God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings inheavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

Go d ’s love to us is infinite. He considers nothing too good or too greatto confer upon us. Having chosen us in his Son, that we may be holy

and blameless before him in love, he blessed us with all spiritualblessings. He gave us grace in Jesus, before the foundation of theworld–grace for all times–grace for all trials–grace to be given to us as ourcircumstances may require. In going to the throne of grace, therefore, wemust go to receive what our heavenly Father has stored up in Jesus forus. What sweet encouragement is this! Well may the apostle say, “Let uscome boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help in time of need.” Blessed Lord, we thank thee, we praisethee, we bless thy glorious name, that thou hast put us into Christ, madeprovision for us in Christ, and wilt make us perfectly holy through Christ.Teach us to come with boldness and confidence to thy throne, that we mayobtain for our use what thou hast treasured up for us in Jesus. O give usmore faith in Christ–more love to thee and thy people–more humilitywhen at thy throne–more zeal for thy glory when in the world: and teachus to eat, drink, dress, and do everything to thy glory! O to be thoroughlyChrist-like! O to reflect the glory of God on all around us! O to live and actas on the confines of eternity, as if always impressed with this fact,–“Ishall soon be in heaven!” Gracious Saviour, raise me above this world, fixmy affection on thyself, fill me with thy Spirit, and enable me to lie downtonight with the assurance that all spiritual blessings are mine! o

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Miracles of Jesus: 6. Feeding the Four Thousand

(Please read Matthew 15:32-38)

This second feeding miracle occurred in the same locality as the first,near the Sea of Galilee, this time on a mountainside. The lessons are

similar to those of the first.

C o m p a s s i o nHuge numbers have flocked to Jesus, bringing with them afflicted folk.Over three days these needy cases are laid at Christ’s feet and He healsthem all to the wonder of the crowd who praise God. Then He tells thedisciples of His compassion for the people, now without food. He will notsend them away in case they faint.

It is good to know that there is a great healer and helper in heavenwho is able to succour us in our distresses. It is even better to know thatHe is also a great high priest who can “have compassion on the ignorant,and on them that are out of the way” (Heb.5:2), saving us from our sins.

D o u b tThe disciples cannot see how the people are to be fed. After all, they areright now in the wilderness, not in the town or city! Jesus asks themwhat they have to hand and the answer is, just seven loaves and a fewsmall fish.

What poor learners the disciples were! So very recently Jesus hadmultiplied such meagre supplies before their eyes and fed five thousand(Matt.14:19)! As believers do we not often merit the rebuke Christ gavethe two going to Emmaus: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all thatthe prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25)?

S e r v a n t sChrist commands the crowd to be seated on the ground. The disciplesgive Him the loaves and fishes. Jesus gives thanks, breaks the food andthen gives it to the disciples that they might give it to the hungry crowd.

Even though the disciples had just shown themselves to be sounworthy Christ nevertheless used them to bring relief to the people. Itis the privilege of the Lord’s servants today that He condescends to blessm e n ’s souls even through their poor and feeble efforts: “Who then isPaul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?”( 1 C o r. 3 : 5 ) .

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FillEveryone in the crowd eats his fill. There are four thousand men pluswomen and children. When the fragments are gathered up seven greatbaskets are needed to hold them. Jesus sends the crowd away satisfied.

While these individuals were doubtless pleased to have been fed wemay be sure that their stomachs were soon empty again. How sad that forso many this also represents the state of their souls! They seek happinessin work, leisure and entertainment, even in religion, but these are like the“husks” which the prodigal sought after to stem his hunger (Luke 15:16).There is only one food which will truly satisfy our soul. It is Christ in thegospel. Remember Christ’s own promise: “I am the bread of life: he thatcometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall neverthirst” (John 6:35). o

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Sermon: Risen with Christ ( R e v. J.H. Evans)

(Preached at John Street Chapel, King’s Road, London on April 3rd 1831.It appeared in a weekly magazine, The Preacher, and has been edited.)

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, whereChrist sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on thingsabove, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:1,2

The resurrection of Christ is one of the greatest events of the Gospel;perhaps the most glorious circumstance in it. It is, as it were, the

acceptance by the Father of the great work of atonement. It is the broad sealof heaven put upon the one sacrifice, by which he did for ever perfect themthat are sanctified. It is the open declaration, that the debt has been perfectlycancelled, that the ten thousand times ten thousand talents have all beenpaid, that he who was made sin for his church, though he knew no sin, hasbeen pronounced righteous, that they might be made the righteousness ofGod in him. But, in another point of view, the resurrection of Christ is in acovenant sense the resurrection of the church; for as every member of his bodywas in the Father’s eye crucified with him, when he hung upon the accursedtree, so that they suffered in their head; so also, in the resurrection of theirhead, do they all participate; and when he rose from the dead, it was, in aglorious sense, the church rising with him. I trust that this part of my subjectmay not be lightly thought by any that hear me; for it is one the greatestglories of the Gospel.

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His resurrection, too, was, as it were, the great example of our resurrection.The spirits of the just made perfect are now, I doubt not, unutterably happy;but the perfection their happiness shall be when their bodies are united tothem, and of this blessed event, which will be the perfection of the church, theresurrection of our dear Lord is the great pattern. And besides all this, it is theeffect of his resurrection, that every spiritual blessing descendeth to thechurch;–that any souls are converted, that any heart is quickened, that anywork is revived, that any backslider is restored, that we experience therenewings of the Holy Ghost, without which we should be of all men the mostwretched, is the blessed and immediate effect of our Lord’s resurrection. Hearose that he might intercede for blessings on his people; and he intercedethe v e r, and we want him ever, and we have that which we want.

In the passage that I have quoted as our text this morning, the argumentof the Apostle runs somewhat in this way–“I f ye then be risen with Christ.”He did not suppose, that all the Colossians were certainly the elect of God–hedid not know certainly that all the church of Colosse were made partakers ofsaving grace; that is more than could be said of the twelve, for there wasamong the twelve one that was not. Let this have its due effect upon oursouls–let no circumstances of an outward nature blind our minds to thesubject of personal religion. It is not outward things, however excellent–it isnot outward things, however in accordance with the mind and will of God,that will stand us in stead, or do us good in the trying hour. The question mustever be brought before the visible church of Christ, and the Apostle tells usthis; “i f ye then be risen with Christ; i f ye be among the blessed number, thenseek those things which are above.” In which I cannot but think that theA p o s t l e ’s argument seems to run in this way–“Since our Lord has nowascended–he did not tarry long–he had soon seen enough of earth–he is nowat the right hand of God–when he finished his work he went to his Father; doye not, then, set your affections upon a poor dying world–it did not satisfyhim–the moment he finished the work he wanted to be away–the momentthat he had done that which the Lord gave him to do, he wanted not to sojournlonger; and, if it be so, then do ye set your affections on things above.”

The First point that presents itself is this, that TH E BE L I E V E R I S O N E T H AT

I S R A I S E D F R O M T H E D E A D. He was once in the grave–the grave of his iniquities.He was dead in the iniquity of his nature. I cannot but refer you to thataffecting description of our nature, which is the same now as it ever was,though it was then spoken of the people before the flood, but it is precisely linefor line and feature for feature in us at the present moment, in every one in astate of nature. Now in the sixth of Genesis, you see what a horrible pit, whata dreadful grave is the iniquity of man’s nature. “And God saw that the

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wickedness of man was great in the earth”–He saw the act of sin–but then hes a w, that this stream came from a poisoned fountain–“God not only saw t h a tthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, but he saw, that everyimagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually;” And yet weare perpetually hearing men talk about the goodness of man’s heart. The Lordcould see no goodness. I think it is one of the most wonderful passages in theWord. Observe, it is not only the thoughts, but it is the i m a g i n a t i o n of thethoughts–not only the thing formed in the mind, but the very imagination,yea, e v e r y imagination–and that not only of his intellect but of his heart–andthat not only evil but, o n l y evil, evil continually. How easy it is for a man totake up the Bible and say, I believe it. But do you believe thoughtless, carelesssinner who hearest me, or thou who art trusting in thy self-righteousness tosave thee, dost thou believe that every imagination of the thoughts of thineheart is only evil, and that continually? Never dost thou believe it. If thou didstbelieve it, if that was brought within the reach of thy conscience, thou wouldstat this moment stand before God, and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner. ”

But not only is that grave to be looked at–there is another grave–there isthe grave of our actual enmity. Look at that first of Colossians, “And you thatwere sometimes alienated, and enemies”–enemies to whom?–enemies to God.My dear hearers, what a thing is it to be an enemy to the best of beings; nay,an enemy to Him who is the only good, perfectly good being. For what said ourLord? “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one that is God.” A sif he had said, All the goodness of my human nature I derive from God–I havebut a derivative goodness as man–I take that from God–why dost thou callme good? there is but one who is infinitely and perfectly good, and that is God.

My dear hearers, God is so good that there is nothing good out of him; andall the goodness of his creatures is but a little drop out of himself. We meetwith kindness–we meet with tenderness–we meet with sympathy–we meetwith affection–we meet with compassion; we find the saints of God prayingwhen one is brought low–when one is tried–when one is placed in thefurnace–when one seems ready to be burnt up–we find the saints of Godsympathizing with one, bearing one upon their hearts, yet all their kindnessis but a little drop out of the inexhaustible ocean. Their little spark does butcome out of the ocean of fire. It is but God’s goodness that he hascommunicated to them–it is but his kindness that he has put into theirhearts–it is but the overflowings of theircompassion that they feel; and if theyweep when we weep, and if they mourn when we mourn, it is but thecompassion of God communicated unto them by his blessed Spirit.

All that is good in the creature is of God; and there is but one that isperfectly good, and that is God himself; and yet the heart of man is enmity to

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God. What an awful thought! There is something deeply humiliating in ourhaving so much in common with the beasts that perish; but they are aboveus–no beast hateth God. See what sin has done for us–see what iniquity hasdone for us–see what corruption has done for us. We are placed by sin lowerthan the beasts that perish! May every thoughtless, careless sinner who hearsme, be made to feel that truth in his conscience this day. We lament that wehave so much in common with lost spirits, with devils; and yet be it known toyou, that preached as the Gospel is within these walls (I trust so), the nameof Jesus Christ lifted up–remission by his blood–the God that gave his ownSon to die for the ungodly–and that God proclaimed–the man that goeth awayand liveth in his sins is guilty of a sin that the devil himself committeth not,and he placeth himself below the very lost spirits themselves. Oh, what anawful truth is this! Let it be weighed well and looked into. Yes, beloved, we arein our natural state enemies to God.

But grace brings the dead soul out of its tomb. Think not of findingmaterials in man’s fallen nature. It is the mighty fiat of God–his sovereign,electing love that does it, and nothing short of it. It is the same mighty wordthat said, “Let Lazarus come forth,” that has made you, poor sinners, comeand bend before the cross of Christ. It was the same God that said, “Let therebe light, and there was light,” that has brought you to repentance, and madeyou to walk in newness of life. Look back on the past of your existence–lookback on the days that are gone–see if you can trace aught of cause of God’slove in yourselves! Away with the tinsel–away with that which passes currentwith God’s saints, because they cannot look beneath the surface–but whenyou and I come and turn beneath the surface–when we come in and communewith God in our chambers and are still–when we look in upon motives andprinciples and practices, then, I would ask w h y was it that you and I have notbeen permitted to remain still in that grave of iniquity? Because the eternalGod did say, “Lazarus, come forth.” “Let there be light, and there was light.”Oh, let God have the glory–let God have the praise due to him–glorify him inyour souls; and if any one of you have been led to quarrel with this most holy,precious, sanctifying truth, may the axe be laid at the root of that pride, whichwould bring down to your reasoning-bar the Judge Eternal, and make you acompetent witness concerning his motives. God Almighty grant that we maynever cease to feel the eternal debt of gratitude we owe to him, who callsthings that are not as if they were.

There is a resurrection, a spiritual resurrection; and when it is said, “If yethen be risen with Christ,” I would merely remind you of what I have beforespoken, that the church, in consequence of the resurrection of our dear Lord,are made in time partakers of the spiritual resurrection by the mighty

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pouring forth of the Eternal Spirit into their hearts. Happy they, amongstthose that hear me, that are made to feel the movement of inward life drawingthem from themselves to Christ, and from the world unto God.

But now observe, Secondly, TH E PR E C E P T. “If ye then be risen with Christ,seek those things which are above. Set your affections on things above, not onthings on the earth.” The precept must be looked at in a double point of view.There is a prohibition–there is an exhortation.

The prohibition is, “Set not your affections on things on the earth.” “Lovenot the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in theworld, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not ofthe Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lustthereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” I shall, however,take the prohibition in a somewhat wider circle than this, and say, set notyour affections on a n y thing on the earth. Your dearest comforts, vehicles, asthe Lord may make them, of spiritual comfort, they are frail, they are vain,they are perishable, they are not Christ. I do believe that there was in themind of the Apostle when he told them, “To set their affections on thingsabove, not on things on earth,” a tender prohibition to settle not down on anycreature, on any thing short of Christ himself–to set not the affections uponany perishable materials, even if they be made the vehicles of communicatingspiritual mercies to the soul. Pained have I sometimes been to hear theextravagancy of some in speaking of the ministers of Christ. I believe one wayfor continuing our mercies is to hold them loosely. The Apostle warns usagainst setting our affections on them, and that precept which he hasembodied in his own words, may God embody in our hearts.

But not only is there a prohibition, there is an exhortation. Theexhortation, observe, consists in seeking and in setting our affections uponthings above. There is an intenseness in the passage–there is not only a force,but there is an intenseness of expression in it. It reminds me of the words ofour dear Lord, a s k – s e e k – k n o c k. Aman may a s k and not s e e k–a man may s e e kand not k n o c k–a man may seek a thing, and yet not set his affections on thething. But the exhortation here is, seek and set your affections on thingsabove. Happy they who not only seek the Lord for good things, but who seekhim with such an importunity of desire, that they can say with Jacob, “I willnot let thee go, except thou bless me–the time I leave with thee, thou maystanswer me by contraries–the mode I leave with thee, thou mayst meet mewith a rough wind when I expect the gentle breath of evening, but that I leavewith thee, only Lord I cannot leave thee the blessing.”

It is one thing, beloved, to seek Lord, and another thing to set our affectionsupon the thing that we seek. The Lord is not displeased with importunity. I

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believe he is often displeased with our heartless seeking. There is too great aproneness in us to rest in the seeking. May the Lord stir us up to seek thethings that are above, and seek that we may find, to knock that it may beopened unto us.

Let me call your attention to three or four portions of Scripture on thismost interesting point; for I suppose most of us, alas! know the way to the bedof the sluggard. Let me remind you of the forty-second psalm. Happy theyamongst those who hear me, that are enabled to find an echo in their heartsto the words of the Psalmist. “As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, sopanteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the livingGod: when shall I come and appear before God.” “One thing have I desired,”said the Psalmist, “and that will I seek after.” I will not merely desire it, but Iwill seek after it. Look into the second of Proverbs and see how great a stressis laid by the Eternal Spirit on this point. “My son, if thou wilt receive mywords, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine earunto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding: yea, if thou criest afterknowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding: if thou seekest her ass i l v e r, and searchest for her as hid treasures”–digging into the mine afterit–toiling–labouring. Oh, for a laborious, prayerful reader of God’s word! youdo not find it every where. Oh, for a man to dig, as, if it were, to find silver,praying and looking upward–looking into God’s word for the heart of God, andthere led to open his heart to God, then do we find the word a blessing, andnot till then. “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hidtreasures: then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord; and find theknowledge of God.” My dear hearers, turn to the Song of Solomon. “By nighton my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found himnot. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad waysI will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.” Shedid not say, “Then the Lord has decreed I should not find him”–but she saidto the watchmen who go about the city, “Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? Itwas but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soulloveth.” And again, the very same truth in the fifth chapter–“I sleep but myheart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me,my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is filled with dew, andmy locks with the drops of the night.” She answers, “I have put off my coat,how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? Mybeloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were movedfor him. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh,and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. Iopened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone:

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my soul failed me when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; Icalled him, but he gave me no answer. I charge you, O daughters ofJerusalem, if you find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.”Then observe in the next chapter, “Whither is thy beloved gone, oh thoufairest among women? Whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seekhim with thee. My beloved is gone down into his garden,” that is, as I conceive,gone into his blessed promises–and then she says, “I am my beloved’s, and mybeloved is mine.”

Oh, happy souls, who are thus amongst those that hear me, I should sayhappy if the Lord laid his heaviest hand upon them, for his heaviest hand isbut love! Let him speak where he will–when he will–by what means he will,if the heart is but led to that posture I will seek my beloved; and if I find himnot, I will seek still, never resting in ordinances, never resting in means–Icannot rest till 1 find thee–thyself can alone satisfy. It is not mere prayer willdo for me, I want God in prayer–it is not praises that will satisfy me, I wantGod in praises–it is not this book that will satisfy me, I want God in this book.H a p p y, happy they who are led to experience this in ever so small a degree! Ishould say thy lot is mercy. The dealings of thy God have been the tenderestdealings to thy soul, and thou hast cause to bless him for it, with a joy that isunspeakable and full of glory.

Let me refer to one passage more. Phil. iii. 7-11. If I could point out oneinstance more strong than another of a man’s toiling diligently, painfully,l a b o r i o u s l y, up the steep ascent of the divine journey, I should point to thisc h a p t e r. Oh that blessed setting his affections on things above–counting allthings but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, his Lord!This was the starting point–the Lord Jesus had revealed himself–he haddisclosed his work–he had disclosed himself–he had put his hands throughthe hole of the lock–his fingers had dropped with myrrh. Paul had seen hisbeauty–he had been brought to taste his love, but that made him so far frombeing satisfied with short wretched attainments (and compared with his,what are yours and mine?) that it made him pant after God, the living God.“I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesusmy Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count thembut dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine ownrighteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith ofChrist, the righteousness which is of God by faith; that I may know him, andthe power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being madeconformable unto his death.” Do, my dear hearers, when a spirit of lethargyseems to be coming on, do see in this what a healthy posture of soul is?“Seeking and setting the affections on things above.”

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And, believe me, these things are worthy for which I speak. If the servantscould say of the Centurion, he is worthy for whom we plead, I can say thesethings are worthy for which I speak. Communion with God–near walking withGod–a life of faith in Christ–living on high–living not only, beloved, on Christ’sfulness, but on Christ himself, not only on what he has, or what he has done,but on what he is, in his godhead, in his humanity, in the tenderness of his heartas well as the fulness of his salvation. To live in the blessed anticipation of glory,and honour, and immortality. To rise up in the morning, and say, this day, andevery day, I would wish to consecrate to my God. These are things that areworthy of your regard. Having our affections set upon God A l m i g h t y, wins usfrom all undue and inordinate affection to any thing here below, and fixes andsettles our tenderest regard on those things that are imperishable and eternal.

But in the Third place, see TH E MO T I V E– CH R I S T S I T T I N G AT T H E R I G H T H A N D

O F GO D. There is something of inexpressible sweetness in that word s i t t i n g a tthe right hand of God. My dear hearers, some may say the second head wasthe most interesting, but I am constrained to acknowledge, Christ sitting atthe right hand of God is the most deeply interesting of all subjects to me, forwithout it we are lost to all eternity. Having finished his work–having finishedtransgression–having brought in an everlasting righteousness, he is nowsitting at the right hand of God; hence springs the genuine motive for allholiness. A dear man of God once said, when we take up our stand beneaththe cross of Christ, we have leisure to look at our sins. I believe of all posturesit is the holiest–of all postures it is the happiest–of all postures it is that whichbrings most fruit unto God.

When we are enabled to look at things above, to set our affections uponthem, remembering that Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, that he hasblotted out sin and made an end of it; and when his precious blood is sprinkledon our hearts, we can then say, with ardent desire, Lord God give me everygrace, make me like thyself, make me conformed in body, soul, and spirit tothee, dead to the world and alive to God, thirsting for God, and loving Gods u p r e m e l y, willing to do and suffer his will, so that at last I may be able tofinish my course with joy, and that which the Lord has committed unto me. Itis a sweet, and quiet, and happy posture of soul to look at Christ sitting at theright hand of God.

And, besides this, there is something delightful in the thought that he is atthe right hand of our Father, and that our Father is quite as willing to give ashe is willing to intercede, and he has gone there to take possession of heavenfor his church. So that every poor petitioner, every poor beggar (and that isour name, our character, and our glory) every poor beggar that goes to thatthrone of grace, for mercy, for grace, goes to Christ and sees him that has

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taken possession of heaven for his church, as their great head and gloriousr e p r e s e n t a t i v e .

My dear hearers, look at that passage and see that Christ is exalted at theright hand of God, for the very purpose of giving thee the things that thou dostwant. Dost thou want all manner of support, go to him for it, he has it to givethee, and it is his glory to give it thee–I would say, and I can appeal to thehearts of those that hear me, that never under any pressing emergency whenwe have been disappointed in creature helps and creature confidence, havewe been led in our poverty and extremity to cast ourselves on that faithfulHigh Priest, but what we must say, that he has a heart that can be touchedwith a feeling of our infirmities. It is no idle thing that Rutherford says,“When I sigh he sighs, when I mourn he mourns, when I look up herejoices”–it is truth, most blessed truth. What a proof of this had I in thatloving letter that you lately sent me–I mean the church, here within thesewalls! Could you not say, if one member suffers, all the members suffer withit! Could you send me that tender affectionate letter if this principle were nottrue in any measure in you?–What you felt for me–I thank God for it–it wasbalm to my heart; but let us look up to the great inexhaustible ocean that isin the heart of the Redeemer, and see that his grace is sufficient, because hisheart has infinite love. He has enough for all, and he has all for his people.

My dear hearers, the subject is vast, and most blessed. One must bebrought, I believe, into a certain posture to see the truths of the Gospel. Ifthere is a certain point of view in which one can look at earthly objects, andonly in that point of view, so, I believe, the Lord places the souls of his peoplein a certain point of view, that they may discover, by the teaching of hisblessed Spirit, the infinite value of certain truths. Most certainly the Lordteaches us a lesson day by day, that this is not our rest. He is showing us dayby day, that there is but one object on which our soul’s affections ought to beplaced. We are surrounded by a variety of temptations and trials the worldknows nothing of–they can judge only of the outward man, but the greatestcrosses are within. Those that most try a man, perhaps, never come out, assome of our worst diseases never show themselves upon our skins. But here,beloved, is our mercy, we have a risen Christ to go to–we have a Christ, thatgo when we will, will never say to us nay–we have a Christ who has enough,and whose glory it is to give whatever he has–and he gives freely–he giveswithout money and without price–it is his glory to give–and you never canexhaust what he has to give. As he is the joy of his saints in glory, so he is thejoy and glory of his saints on earth.

Happy they amongst those who hear me, who have had in some degree theaxe laid at the root of this world, if it is but in a degree–who have been willing

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to be taught, in some small measure, that Christ, and only Christ, can satisfythe soul, and Christ, and only Christ, can make us happy in time and ine t e r n i t y. God Almighty grant, that those among my hearers who have beenhitherto setting their affections on things below, and not on things above, maybe led to see and feel today somewhat of their poverty, and seek the true riches,where alone they can be found, in the bosom of our Father and our God. o

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Christian Doctrines Explained: 37. The Second Commandment (3)

Q.52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereigntyover us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.

We have seen that the second commandment concerns the m e a n s o fworship and noted what it requires of us and what it forbids. Now

we are to look at the words which are joined to the commandment. Theyare: “for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of thefathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of themthat hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,and keep my commandments.” In these words we see three reasons whywe are to worship God in the way He has appointed.

S o v e r e i g n t yThe first reason is God’s s o v e r e i g n t y or lordship over us. He says to us: “Ithe Lord.” By these words God reminds us that He is “the blessed andonly Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1Tim.6:15). God isfrom everlasting to everlasting, the highest Power and our creator.Therefore He has absolute authority over us. God may commandwhatever He wills; He may prescribe laws as seems good to Him alone.As the supreme Sovereign God is not obliged first to consult with Hissubjects to see what they are willing to do for Him; neither is it for us tofind fault with any of His ordinances. Rather our duty is to note God’sappointments and to heartily comply with them all. “For the Lord is agreat God, and a great King above all gods....O come, let us worship andbow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psa.95:3,6).

P r o p r i e t yThe second reason is God’s p r o p r i e t y or rights in us. He says to us: “I theLord thy God.” By these words God lays a special claim to the obedience

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of His own people. Believers belong to God in a double way – by creationand redemption. Through A d a m ’s sin mankind forfeited the divine favourbut God reveals His love for sinners in Jesus Christ, demanding a gratefulobedience in return. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Godin your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1Cor.6:20). Christiansare the bride of Christ and they are bound to love, honour and obey theirheavenly Husband, also in their worship. “So shall the king greatly desirethy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him” (Psa.45:11 ) .

J e a l o u s yThe third is God’s j e a l o u s y or zeal for His own worship. He says to us: “Ithe Lord thy God am a jealous God.” By these words God informs us thatHe observes our worship and notes whether we observe His ordinances.He threatens to punish those who walk in the ways of wicked parentsand show their hatred to Him by their disobedience, even to severalgenerations. But note, He promises to be merciful to those who showtheir love to Him by their obedience, even to thousands of generations!“If he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, andconsidereth, and doeth not such like...he shall not die for the iniquity ofhis father, he shall surely live” (Ezek.18:14,17). o

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The Reformation in Scotland: 37. Morton and the Church

(The articles in this series are taken from “History of the Church ofS c o t l a n d “ by William M. Hetherington, first published in 1842.)

The contest between Morton and the Church continued, the Regentbeing unwilling to relinquish his favourite tulchan system, and the

Church being equally determined to put an end to an abuse so manifestand pernicious. At the meeting of the Assembly in April 1577, A d a m s o nwas interdicted from the exercise of his prelatic authority, until he shouldbe regularly admitted by the Church; and a commission was appointedto summon him before them, investigate his case, and judiciallydetermine it. A committee was appointed to confer with the Regentrespecting the discipline and jurisdiction of the Church; and those whowere engaged in preparing the systematic work on these points, wererequired to proceed with their labours.

It was probably on this occasion that the Regent, irritated at thesteady opposition of the Church, and also at his failure to influence

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Melville by mercenary considerations, attempted to intimidate andoverbear him. Morton complained that the Church and the kingdomwere kept in a perpetual state of confusion and strife by certain persons,who sought to introduce their own private conceits and foreign laws onpoints of ecclesiastical government. Melville replied, that he and hisbrethren took the Scriptures, and not their own fancies, or the mode ofany foreign church, for the rule and standard of the discipline which theydefended. Morton said, as Queen Mary had formerly done, that theGeneral Assembly was a convocation of the King’s subjects, and that itwas treasonable for them to meet without his permission. To this Melvilleanswered, that if it were so, then Christ and his apostles must have beenguilty of treason, for they called together great multitudes, and taughtand governed them, without asking the permission of magistrates. TheRegent, unable to refute the reasoning of Melville, and almost losingcommand of his temper, biting the head of his staff, growled, in that deepundertone which marked his occasional fits of cold, black, ruthless anger,“There will never be quietness in this country till half-a-dozen of you behanged or banished.” “Tush, Sir, ” replied Melville, “threaten yourcourtiers after that manner. It is the same to me whether I rot in the airor in the ground. The earth is the Lord’s. My country is wherevergoodness is. I have been ready to give my life where it would not havebeen half so well expended, at the pleasure of my God. I have lived out ofyour country two years, as well as in it. Let God be glorified: it will notbe in your power to hand or exile his truth.”

Morton felt himself for once outdared; but, however indignant, he didnot venture to put his threats into execution. He seems to have beenaware, that to proceed to use force would be to ensure the defeat of hisintentions; and therefore he gave a comparatively favourable answer tothe Assembly respecting their labours in preparing a Book of Policy. Butas his intentions were by no means altered, he endeavoured to turn theAssembly aside from its endeavours to perfect its own policy, byemploying Adamson to frame a number of frivolous and captiousquestions, to which he wished answers to be given. He was also not alittle embarrassed in political matters. His administration had been sosevere, accompanied with so much of a base, avaricious spirit, that it hadbecome intolerable to a large portion of the kingdom, including many ofthe most influential of the nobility. He felt his power on the wane, andwould have been disposed to court the support of the Church, of which hegave some intelligible indications, had the crisis of his fate not come ontoo rapidly to give time for a sufficient modification of his measures. o

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Precious Psalms: 37. The Perfect Man

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that manis peace.” (Psalm 37:37)

This verse exhorts us to observe and study “the perfect man.” Wemay find him in Scripture, in this world and perhaps in ourselves.

But who is he?

IdentityThere are three senses to the word ‘perfect’ in the Bible. There issinlessness. This is true firstly of God in His holiness, seen in both Hiswork (Deut.32:4) and His ways (Psa.18:30). It is also true of theglorified spirits in heaven (Heb.12:23). Then there is completeness.Scripture is given to equip the believer to undertake every good work(2Tim.3:16-17). Finally there is uprightness, which is the sense here.The psalm identifies two sorts of men: the righteous and the wicked.The ‘perfect’ man is the man who has been justified by grace throughfaith; he is now being sanctified more and more by God’s Spirit.

CharacterThe perfect man is a man of integrity. The bias of his nature is Godwardand this is evident in his thoughts, desires and choices. He fears Godand he fears sin (1Thess.5:22). He is sincere, although not sinless. Jobwas perfect in that he was without hypocrisy and guile (Job 1:1,8; 2:3).David was perfect in that, though he sinned grievously his repentancewas serious and afterwards he began to walk closely with God onceagain (Psa.101:2-3).

ProspectThe perfect man is a man who has peace. Once he knew no peace(Isa.57:21). Then the Lord awakened him and brought him throughmany struggles into the liberty of the gospel. The believer has peacewith God (Rom.5:1): divine wrath has been pacified by the work ofChrist for him. He also knows the peace of God (Phil.4:7): he hasassurance of salvation through the work of the Spirit in him. Howeverthere is also peace to come at his latter end (Isa.57:2). In this life ourspiritual peace must be maintained with great care but in glory ourpeace shall be uninterrupted and unchangeable. Praise God, no sin ortemptation can spoil it there! o

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For Young People: Simon Peter: 4. Eternal Life

(These articles were first published in “The Explorer“, ourdenomination’s youth magazine)

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then SimonPeter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words ofeternal life.” (John 6:67,68)

If it is a miracle that any man begins to walk with the Lord in thissinful world then it is certainly a miracle that any man continues

with Christ. There are so many difficulties in the way. If we are left toourselves we tend to sink, as we have seen already with Simon Peter.We are reminded often that salvation is of the Lord. “For by grace areye saved through faith” (Eph.2:8).

Wonderful things are said about the grace of God in the Scriptures.There we learn that grace is exceedingly abundant, wholly sufficientand always triumphant. Paul was sure that the believers in Colossewere enjoying this marvellous grace: when the gospel came to themthey “knew the grace of God in truth” and brought forth the fruit of achanged life (Col.1:6).

Turning BackIn the Bible we see that not all who set out to follow Christ stayed withhim. John records an occasion when some departed from the Lord. Hesays: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked nomore with him” (v.60). Perhaps all except the twelve left the Lord Jesusand returned to the world. What brought about this sad event?

Some of Christ’s disciples had found fault with what the Lord waspreaching. “This is an hard saying” they said; “who can hear it?” (v.60).What was Christ teaching that made them stumble? He had told them:“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; andI will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and myblood is drink indeed.” (vv.54,55) Their complaint was that they couldnot understand Christ’s words (in reality his meaning was all too clear)and so they turned their backs upon him.

In the history of the church there have always been those who havefallen away from the faith: people like Cain, Balaam and Saul; placeslike Sodom and Gomorrah. There are times when the falling away isgreat. Today many are departing from Christ. Individuals, churches

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and even nations are rejecting the Saviour. It is common to hear theBible being mocked and its message scorned.

What is there in the Scriptures that is so offensive to men? The puregospel of grace! That is what the Lord Jesus Christ preached. Heshowed man’s inability to save himself when he said “the flesh profitethnothing” (v.63). He taught the need for a new heart when he said “thereare some of you that believe not” (v.64). He proclaimed the free andsovereign grace of God to be our only hope when he said “no man cancome unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (v.65).Salvation comes only to those who by faith feed upon a crucifiedSaviour so that he may be said to be their meat and drink. This is “theoffence of the cross” (Gal.5:11)!

A Searching QuestionAfter the false disciples have departed Jesus puts a searching questionto the twelve, Peter being among them. Christ’s concern was not somuch for the many who went away (he did not go chasing after them)but for the few who remained with him. The question was addressed toeach and every one of them and it is addressed to us: “Will ye also goaway?”

We must not think that Christ is ignorant of our hearts and what wewill do. He was aware that Judas Iscariot would betray him (vv.70,71).Rather Christ tests our faith so that we may know what is in ourhearts. True faith will always be tried and like gold when placed in thefurnace it will be purified by the trial.

A genuine Christian does not boast of his believing; instead he looksto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2). Neither doesa true believer say, “Because God has chosen me he will save me nomatter how I live.” Those who profess Jesus Christ cannot leadcareless, prayerless lives and still expect to get to heaven! Although weare “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1Pet.1:5)a faith which is without works is said to be “dead, being alone”(Jam.2:17). The faith which saves is a faith which “worketh by love”(Gal.5:6).

A Good AnswerChrist’s challenging question produces a good answer from the discipleswho remain. Not for the only time it is Peter who speaks for the twelve.No, they will not go away! Trusting in Christ as their Lord and Saviourthey possess a gift that only Jesus can give them. They have found

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something very precious in Christ that is to be found in no other:eternal life!

You may think that eternal life simply means to exist forever. It isfar more than that. Remember that those who refuse Christ and sintheir lives away exist forever: in hell they are punished eternally fortheir wickedness and die the second death (Rev.21:8). Eternal life isblessed life. Jesus said: “And this is life eternal, that they might knowthee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John17:3). The believer knows God through Christ the Redeemer. In him weenjoy God’s friendship and favour as the Spirit comes upon us in thepreaching of the gospel:

“As Hermon’s dew, the dew that dothon Sion’ hills descend:

For there the blessing God commands,life that shall never end.” (Ps.133:3)

How does eternal life begin in our souls? We must receive Christ byrepenting from our sins and believing on his name. If you have beenjoined to Christ by faith then you are the Lord’s and you may be surethat he will preserve you to everlasting life. “Being confident of thisvery thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will performit until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:6).

Have you come to Christ? Then strive to go on with him. If we arecontent to stand still then we are in danger of going back. Every wordand promise of Jesus believed and obeyed will be a cord to bind ourhearts closer to him. “But we are not of them who draw back untoperdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul”(Heb.10:39).

May you know eternal life in Jesus with Simon Peter! o__________

Gàidhlig: Chaidh am fogharadh seachad, tha’n samhradhthairis, ach chaneil sinne air ar saoradh (Ieremiah 8.20) (Seonaidh Mac’ill Eathainn)

Tha iomadh foghar agus samhradh air a dhol seachad do mhòranneach agus briathran an fhàidh a sior labhairt a mach riuthe mu

shiorruidheachd agus latha ‘m bais. Dh’fhaodadh seo a bhi fìor mu’dthimcheall fhein agus ma tha sin fìor mu’d thimcheall fhein nacheagalach gu firinneach do shuidheachadh. ‘S e àm airson fein-sgrùdadh

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a tha ann an crioch bliadhna sam bi agus a rithis aig toiseach bliadhnaeile. Anns an earrann a thogadh tha am fàidh a deanadh caoidh airsonsuidheachadh nan Iudhaich agus thog e breithaneasan fa’n comhairga’n cuir ann am faicail ma’s e gun lean iad na’n cuil-shleamhnachaidh.Tha e a toirt dealbh air bàs an àingidh agus a bhuaidh a bha aige seoair le dubh-bhròn air tighinn na bheatha agus uabhainn air a ghlacadh.Tha e a cuir na ceist riuthe: “nacheil ioc-shlaint ann an Gilead? Nacheilleigh an sin? Carson ma ta, nacheil slainte air a h-aiseag do nighinn moshluaigh-sa?”

Tha sinn air mòran fhòghlam anns a bhliadhna a dh’fhalbh agus arithis a measg ‘ur co-cheutairean chuala sinn mu shuidhichidheanbàsmhor ris nach ro dùil againn. A dh’aindeoin’s na chluinneas neothachras rinn na ur beatha tha aineolas agus greim a pheacaidh a sìormheudachadh agus a mealadh mhòran a dh’ionnsaigh latha ur bàis.Tha feadhain ann gu ta a tha coimhead air mhodh eile agus a thagreimeachadh air dòchas aig am bi a chrìoch, a bheatha mhaireannach.Tha iadsan air an glùin a lùbadh do’n Tighearna agus am peacaidheanair a maitheadh dhoibh. Tha Crìosd na fhear-saoraidh aca. Nach prìseildòchas!

Nach b’fhearr do gach aon againne ‘ur suidheachadh a chuir ann anlàmhan an Fhear-saoraidh agus gum bitheadh sinn anns a bhliadhnaseo a coimhead air adhart trè shuilean a dh’ionnsaigh beatha. Na leigle foghar neo samhradh eile a dhol seachad gun do ghlùin-sa a lùbadha chum an dòchais seo. o

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Congregational News

P r a y e rOne lesson the Bible teaches us concerning prayer is that we mustpersevere, even in the face of discouragements. Jesus told the parable ofthe importunate widow to His disciples, “to this end, that men oughtalways to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Let us continue to pray forthose in our congregation and others known to us who are unwell,grieving or otherwise burdened, that our gracious God would help themin their time of need. And in days when we hear more and more ofChristians suffering for their faith, even in our own land, may we beenabled to plead with the Lord that He would have mercy on us andbring us back to Himself in true repentance. “Turn us again, O God ofhosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (Psa.80:7). o

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North Uist & Grimsay Free Church of Scotland(Continuing)

Minister: Rev. David M. Blunt17 Knockline, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5DTTel. 01876 510305Email: davidblunt@fccontinuing.org

Session Clerk: Mr. John Maclean“Aignish”, Knockline, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5DTTel. 01876 510351Email: seonaidhmaclean@yahoo.co.uk

Clerk to Deacons’ Court: Rev. David M. Blunt17 Knockline, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5DTTel. 01876 510305Email: davidblunt@fccontinuing.org

Congregational Treasurer: Mr. Lachlan M. MacLeod11 Strumore, Lochmaddy, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5AGTel. 01876 500297Email: macleodlm@aol.com

Services:Sabbath: 12.00noon; 6.00pmWednesday: 7.30pmCommunions: 2nd Sabbath in April and SeptemberAll services are held in the church at Bayhead.

Website: www.northuistandgrimsayfcc.org.uk

Sermons preached in the congregation are recorded and may bedownloaded from the website. Alternatively they are available inCD or tape format. Please contact the minister for further details.

Issued by the Kirk Session ofNorth Uist & Grimsay Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)