THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER. OURSELVES. Ar one of its sittings the Synod decreed that the "Messenger" is not the Synod's organ. It declared that the periodical is private property, and that the Church is in no wise responsible for its opinions and statements. And in this deliverance no one acquiesces more heartily than the "Messenger" itself. The very name "Presbyterian organ has always sounded in our ear as a word of evil omen; and we thank the Venerable Court for authoritatively relieving us of a suspicious and ensnaring soubriquet. But lest our readers should imagine that in this decision we have sustained a heavy discouragement, we hasten to assure them that it was given in the most friendly spirit. It was not like an advertisement put into the papers, that Mr. So-and-so will no longer be answerable for the debts of his spendthrift son. Nor was it like a notice put into a shop-window by an angry tradesman, "No connexion with the house over the way." But it was an act of considerate delicacy on the part of the Synod, saying for us what we could not gracefully say for ourselves. The Church has now declared that the Synod is its own organ, and that each presbytery must be its own interpreter; and it has warned the public that they must not visit ecclesiastical errors on the meek and pure-minded " Messenger." In its judicial and historic functions the Synod could give no other deliverance; but we rejoice to say that the minds of the brethren, privately and personally, are with us as entirely as ever. Twice over they made our affairs the subject of a lengthened conference, and so many kind and flattering things were uttered that they nearly changed our blue physiognomy to a rosy red. On the spot one learned professor set down his name for five pounds' worth of copies, to distribute among his friends; and it being reported that in a single evening the new congregation at Southampton had subscribed for nearly forty copies, a member of Lancashire Presbytery promised that he would get as many additional readers among his own people. And so hearty were the promises of support volunteered from every quarter that our spirits rose considerably, and we mean to try it again. Among several improvements suggested there is one which we have introduced into the present number. It was stated that were a few columns devoted to our youthful readers, the "Messenger" might obtain an extensive circulation in our Sabbath-schools. One of the editors has undertaken this department, and we trust that it may render our little journal a more welcome visitor to many a fireside. No. 17.-New Series. M M VOL. I. BIOGRAPHY. THE REV. JOHN MACDONALD. (Concluded.) IN the Memoir of the Hindoo convert, Koilas, Mr. Macdonald notices how much one pupil may do to make his teacher happy, how much one hearer may do to make his minister happy. At Riverterrace, Mr. Macdonald soon found that he had such a hearer; he soon found that he had many. His first and dearest friend was his elder, John Somervell, "a man of God, wise, faithful, humble, and upright, who understood the truth and loved it well. I was glad," says his grateful pastor, "when he was a hearer of the word, for then I knew that faith united earth and heaven, and that prayer was transacting between the pulpit and the throne." But, though these devout and appreciating hearers did much to cheer his heart, they did not make him selfcomplacent, far less did they swerve him from his faithfulness and lofty zeal for his Master's honour. In the following letter to a friend, he describes London as it influenced his preaching : 66 - With regard to my position in London, I have found it a very needful one for myself; and my call here has been to me another evidence that God knew me better than I did myself. No place can, I think, be more calculated to subdue my vanity, or to crucify my early aspirations after mere popularity, than this is. Here I have had to encounter the world in all its iron and sinewy development against the truth. I have been constrained to lay aside my first armour, which was Saul's, and was cumbersome, and to pick up pebbles from the brook, and sling in God's name. Here I have been made to view man in his kaleidoscope, and to know how hopeless a thing it is to be preaching to such a changing, shifting mass as human nature is. It is in London that you can know fully what, as a minister, you have to contend with-to be convinced of the necessity of the Spirit's influences. What God's purposes regarding my future life may be, I know not; but I shall never regret the discipline of my sojourn in London. My charge continues to strengthen. If Providence bring us into our new place of worship, now erecting, I believe it will be much in our favour as to increase, and I hope usefulness also." Proportionally, however, to the increase of his congregation and to his growing reputation among the Churches, there strengthened in his mind a secret purpose to go far hence to the heathen. In order to the greater success of missions, he believed that there was need of "living sacrifices;" and in the attachment of his flock, and the esteem of Christian friends, he only saw new arguments for this self-surrender. He offered himself to the Foreign Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland, and his offer was accepted; and, after publishing one of the most solemnizing appeals on behalf of missions in his "Statement of Reasons," and after a solemn leave-taking with his beloved friends in Ross-shire and River-terrace, along with Mrs. Macdonald, he embarked for India, September, 1837. Our readers will be interested in a few extracts from his Diary at this period: or "In the evening (Sept. 12) there was a meeting of presbytery for prayer on my behalf, as going abroad. Afterwards, I addressed the numerous congregation present; and I made it a sort of general farewell to my London friends. It was peculiarly affecting to me after the service to bid farewell personally to a hundred two hundred persons, under every variety of emotion; but I was enabled to do it even cheerfully. My last farewell was with my dear friend and father, Mr. Somervell. He alone kissed me in silence, and departed. Many sweet hours of godly converse have I had with that dear man of God-yea, with none in London more than with him. God be with him, and may we meet in glory." 66 Saturday.-At nine, A.M., left London for Portsmouth. Several friends accompanied us to the extremity of London, and two dear friends came to Portsmouth, Miss Cotes and Mr. Anderson. But our chief comfort was in my dear father's company, who was quite cheerful, and seemed, as it were, happy in spirit, however sad in heart, in conducting us to our Master's work. Reached Portsmouth in the evening." "Sabbath, Sept. 17, 1837.-However reluctantly, we found ourselves compelled to embark on the Lord's-day. After spending the forenoon in reading, prayer, and religious conversation, at three, F.M., we were accompanied on board the 'Marion' by my dear father and the two other friends. After the interval of an hour, we were obliged to part, and thanks be to God that it was in some degree as conquerors: the last sight I saw of my beloved father, as the pilot-boat moved off, was smiling with one of his own sweet smiles, and I could not but smile too, with joy that the love of Christ was still triumphant." "1838.-At sea, about lat. 10° 54' south, and long. 84° west.-Monday, January 1.—In great mercy do I see the beginning of a new year, and although it be on the comfortless deep, yet this no wise impedes the exercise of faith, but rather incites it. For the fact that I am on a voyage but reminds us that life is the same. The dreariness of the ocean but proclaims the character of the world through which I pass, whose bottomless gulfs have swallowed up many a soul. The successive changes of winds and waves are as the fluctuating events of a sovereign Providence, whether prosperous or adverse, whether they be, like the billows, immediately connected with this present visible world, or whether, like the winds, they be of an invisible and superior kind. The expanse of the sails is as the outspreading of the soul's love, receiving all that God sends to propel it to glory. The constant movement of the rudder in correspondence with the compass spread before the helmsman's eye, is as the constant acting of true faith under the hand of the Holy Ghost, and in correspondence with the written Word. The unceasing movement of the ship reminds me of the soul's stedfast advance to glory. The haven before us, called by men the City of Palaces, is the rest that remaineth for the people of God. But what, or who is our ship? To the true Christian it is Christ himself. He is the ark, the vessel of mercy. Blessed are they that are found in him, for they shall sail safely over a present evil world, and finally, and without shipwreck, enter his rest, which is glory! Amen. O Lord, do thou thus bless me!" "Thursday, January 25.-For the last few days we have been coasting along in sight of India; but a thick haze rested over it, so that its outline was like that of a dim cloud. Yesterday, however, the veil was, for the first time, removed by our proximity to land. I could see the huts and the palm-trees; nay, could see between their foliage. The coast was that of Ganjam and Manikapatam. The outline was beautiful as to nature; but the fruits of industry did not appear. This morning we have been in sight of the great pagoda of Juggernaut, so infamous for its murderous idolatry. Its external appearance at a distance is imposing, but to the Christian it is as a monument over entombed humanity, and yet as a finger beckoning to us, Come over and help us.' "This day, in reading with my wife, we read in course Acts xvii., describing Paul's visit to Athens, and the effect which the sight of its idolatry had upon him; and our joint prayer to the Lord was, that he would quicken us into a conformity of spirit. O when shall Juggernaut, like Dagon, fall before the ark? O Lord, how long? "It was on yesterday twelvemonth at night that I gave in to my presbytery my final decision as to going abroad; and it seems a coincidence not unworthy of notice, that on that day year, and the morning following, I should have so clear a view of India and its chief fabric of idolatry. May the result of the minuteness of God's works towards me be, that I shall live more nearly to him, and see him in all things." "Friday, February 2.-Here we are, aground since yesterday, in this intricate and dangerous channel. This is a new cause of delay, but will be overruled for good. On Tuesday evening we went ashore for the first time, and went through a part of the village of Kedgeree. I felt, of course, much interested in everything I saw. The houses looked clean, and their little bazaar was tidy. The people look well-made, intelligent, and goodnatured; but, at the same time, [offensive] from their nakedness, like savages. We saw a fakir sitting by a tomb, where there was a light burning-he was a squalid, wretched-looking creature, with misery in his very face, or else hypocrisy perhaps both, the former flowing from the latter.. I feel no impatience at our tedious movements up this noble stream. I find enough to do; and I am enabled gradually to habituate my mind to my change of place and circumstances. I know not what is before me in Calcutta, but I desire to fix and determine the following principles, which, if upheld by grace, will guide me to present duty and for my time, and one door opening after future glory: - "1. To abide in Christ-as in John xv. "2. To yield myself to the Holy Spirit, for all his ends. "3. To walk with God, in true fellow ship. 4. To hold all things and relations as God's own property. 5. To count every thing loss in order to fulfil my ministry. "6. To make Christ crucified my theme." A characteristic letter to his sister describes his impressions of Calcutta, after a sojourn of several years:— 66 Although people at home think it not, India is just as monotonous as Scotland under ordinary circumstances, and Calcutta is usually as unmoved as an inland, mountain-girt lake. Day after day, in domestic life, in social life, in ministerial life, in missionary life, passes on as with you, in your corresponding home spheres; and those who expect anything strange here, except a burning sun, a half-naked people, and rupees instead of shillings, will find themselves soon and much disappointed. Alas! I might have added as another strange thing, or, rather, I might have mentioned as the one strange thing, the worship of objects sillier than children's toys, as the one living and true God, the Creator, preserver, and ruler of all things! But really, my dear sister A idolatry, when you see it, is so very childish in its externals, that it is a most difficult thing to maintain in the soul anything like a sense of its internal and intrinsic enormity. Children's dolls at home are not only beauties as compared with the images of India, but also children's sports with them are matters of gravity, compared with the grotesque, or rather burlesque, worship of idols here. But with this subject you are now all familiar at home, only I can assure you, that on the spot everything looks meaner than in books and speeches-the Ganges itself but a large, dirty river! You see I am no sentimentalist, and that all my poetry has run into prose; and so much the better, for I am never disappointed since I became a matter-of-fact man. I have now been several years in this country, and they have been with me happy years, in all respects, except one, the seeing every day myriads of sinners whom I cannot reach or deliver, and for whom all that we do seems comparatively nothing. I have ever had full occupation another. My work, too, has been of a very varied sort, so that my mind has not been allowed to flag, nor my natural spirits to weary in my Master's work, nor have I been without tokens of acceptance from my God, in various forms; and though my name is still, and ever will be (what is safest), unknown in the published lists of popularity, and most of my work has been without any further notice than an occasional worldly abuse, yet, on this account, has my work been sweeter, and my spirit happier. Christ's eye, Christ's ear, Christ's acceptance, is enough for me, so that, with these alone, I have far more enjoyment than some others possess who have everything else beside. The wise Lord whom I serve has seen it good always to keep me down in the eyes of the world and of the Church; and many times have I sincerely thanked him for the peculiar care he has thus taken of me. With that absence of romance, and with that abiding reference to a beloved Saviour which the foregoing letter exhibits, Mr. Macdonald prosecuted for ten years his manifold labours in Calcutta. The spiritual instruction of the young men in the Assembly's Institution was his especial department, and here he was cheered with repeated seals of his ministry. But he was not content to discharge his official duties. Fondly clinging to his exalted designation as a minister and ambassador of Christ, he was instant in season and out of season in his efforts for his Master's honour, and in his care for his Master's business. All invitations to preach in the Scotch and other congregations he gladly accepted, and at the house of Mr. Hawkins and other Christian gentlemen he enjoyed opportunities of expounding and exhorting in the audience of many influential civilians; and when the disruption left the adherents of the Free Church without a pastor, for upwards of three years he continued to divide amongst them weekly the bread of life. There is abundant evidence that in these labours he reaped their blessing "who sow beside all waters;" and, although by his published protests against balls, theatres, and oratorios, and by the friendly severity with which he refused the advances of temporizing professors, he incurred the reproach of fanaticism, he frequently earned the reward of faithfulness. After ten years of blameless consistency and self-spending labours, Mr. Macdonald had attained a high position as a missionary and minister. In the words of his biographer: "His influence in a large sphere was thoroughly established. The contumely with which he had formerly been assailed was in a great measure hushed, and, to man's dim eye, it appeared as if long years of usefulness stretched out before one who was still only forty years of age, and busy, in the full vigour and maturity of manhood, working out the purposes for which the Saviour died. He held that the Bible is the mind, and providence the work, of one God, and when these two meet, light will arise upon the soul and in that light he joyously walked. 'O how rich, how blessed, how glorious is this land of faith? how manifold the objects of our communion!' was his exclamation; and in that communion he was happy, in a measure, as unfallen Adam was in Eden with his God. But, while his friends rejoiced in his counsel, and his own soul thus grew in grace, the messenger was on the wing that was to summon him away from the world of faith to that of fruition. His incessant bodily and mental activity, in such a climate as that of India, had, we cannot doubt, affected his physical system, which had never been robust, and gave to whatever ailment might be sent an advantage against his constitution. Perhaps the symptoms of that malady which came to call him hence favour that opinion. It commenced on Wednesday the 25th of August, 1847, on which day he appeared, as usual, at the Institution, and prayed with a fervour which was uncommon even in him, that the youth assembled might be delivered from the aggravated sin of continuing to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and his freely-offered salvation." On the afternoon he visited an afflicted friend, aud, on his return to his residence, prepared for the duties of the prayermeeting of that evening. He felt feverish, however, and unwell, and was induced to remain at home. Next day, also, he was confined to his house, though, in the evening, he was able to receive a visit from a valued brother in the ministry, the Rev. A. F. Lacroix, who has for many years been a zealous missionary of the London Missionary Society at Calcutta. On Friday and Saturday, Mr. Macdonald was worse, and his mind began to be occasionally unsettled. On the Sabbath, His however, he was better, and, on that and the following day, his own impression was that the violence of the attack was spent. But in the course of Monday he relapsed into his former state-his mind again began to be disturbed, and refused to obey his wishes, or rest on the topics on which he desired to meditate. At night his fever continued; towards the morning of Tuesday it abated, but unfavourable symptoms returned with greater violence than before, and though he himself had no apprehension of danger, those about him, especially the anxious partner of his sorrows and his joys, began to be alarmed. He enjoyed some sleep on Tuesday, but that sleep passed into a stupor, and, except in a single word, he never spoke again. All that medical skill, stimulated by personal affection, could devise, was tried, without success, and Mr. Macdonald sank into a comatose state. breathing became deep and difficult, and, in spite of the incredulity of affection, it was too apparent that death had been commissioned to do its work. As he lay, apparently unconscious of all that was passing, the friends who fondly loved him gathered round his dying bed, while the silence of that chamber, in which death was preparing to triumph, was broken only by the loud sound of the sufferer's labouring respiration. Towards midnight on the 31st, his fever returned, and that appeared to render the breathing more easy. It gave a deceitful gleam of hope. Life was ebbing fast. The help of man was signally vain. Soon after midnight he fell asleep and was satisfied when he awoke in the likeness of the Lord whom he had loved and served so well. Christ was then completely and for ever his ALL." Once more do we thank Mr. Tweedie for this worthy labour of his earnest and emphatic pen, and with tender and venerating emotions do we take leave of an apostolic minister-a martyr-minded hero of the school of Antipas. And those readers who desire insight to the hidden life, and who would fain have their own devotion purified and quickened, will read with solemn interest the revelations of these pages. Nor will they lay down the book without breathing a petition for that orphan family,-the mother and her seven children,-whom the removal of their earthly head has bequeathed to "the fatherhood of God," and the affection of the Christian Church. |