Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Again he was in the fields, preaching to thousands of people, and so near the city that the sound of their psalms was borne to the very streets. And, through all the trouble and fear of the land, Cargill was busy still,

Then came a brief triumph-a battle won at Drumclog, and hope and fear of greater sorrow, and a muster on Bothwell moor. And Monmouth had come down from England with high powers from the king to crush the Covenanters, and banish Presbyterianism from the king's realm.

It was in the early summer time of 1679, on that wide wavy moor, which is no moorland now, but rich and pleasant as a garden, that the Covenanters suffered their greatest defeat. The bridge of Bothwell then spanned the Clyde where it spans it still. It is widened and levelled, but yet on one side, you may see the same plain, old massive piers which supported it in the days of Cargill. The bridge was narrow then. It might be kept by a few. But the few who kept it were countrymen—not soldiers; and their leaders had only bravery, not skill to aid them. And their psalms had filled the summer night; their trust was in God. Must sorrow be the echo of faith once more?

The royal troops rode down upon themproud and glittering and gay-rode over the young moorland flowers, and met them three men to one. And the little army of the Covenanters, headless and unprepared, scarcely disputed the bridge, but fled before the king's men.

Donald Cargill was with the rest, and was struck down with a sword. He already bore many wounds, and thought death had come. But another strange escape was given him.

'Your name?' asked the soldier who held him.

And when he heard it-Donald Cargillthe soldier let him go-from whatever motive it might be-from pity or from fear. His wounds were dressed by some kindly hand.

'Are they mortal?' he asked.

For he still desired eagerly to live, and

help the poor Church of Scotland in her need. And his wounds were not mortal; they healed, and he recovered strength. Many long days of work and danger were before him.

'Some time after the battle at Bothwell,' writes John Howie, 'he was pursued from his own chamber out of town, and forced to go through several thorn-hedges. But he was no sooner out than he saw a troop of dragoons just opposite to him. Back he could not go, soldiers being posted every where to catch him; upon which he went forward, near by the troop, who looked to him, and he to them, until he got past. On coming to the place of the water at which he intended to go over, he saw another troop standing on the other side, who called to him, but he made them no answer; and going about a mile up the water, he escaped, and preached at Langside without interruption. At another time, being in a house beset with soldiers, he went through the midst of them, they thinking it was the good-man of the house."

After the battle of Bothwell Bridge, Cargill went to Holland. How long he remained there has not been told. Holland had been for many years the refuge of all oppressed for their religion. And Leyden, a new University, had also drawn many by its fame.

But he was not long in Holland. Perhaps the sorrows of his own land brought him back once more. He is preaching in Glasgow, and at Rutherglen, and then in Edinburgh, and gathering eager fieldmeetings among the lonely moors.

Then there is a small encounter of Covenanters and soldiers at Queensferry. And Cargill is in the battle and wounded, and left by the way-side. A lonely woman found him, and tended him, and bound his wounds. And the Sabbath following, still weak and ghastly pale, and his head with the lint-binding round it, he preached in the Loudon woods. He chose his text from the Hebrews

"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae;

NEW HOME MISSION HYMN.

21

of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets;

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."

And at night, when the woods were still, and the people had gone stealthily to their homes

'Sir,' said some who lingered with the minister we think preaching and praying go best with you when your danger and distress are greatest.'

And Cargill answered with a psalm: "The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and is become my salvation."

After this, for a little time, he is associated with Richard Cameron, preaching in Darmeidmuir, and many another solitary place. Then came the battle of Airsmoss, where Richard Cameron fell. And Cargill henceforth is a lonely_figure, with a price set upon his head. For the dreadful sorrows and persecutions had waled the best from the land, the goodness and the strength. Donald Cargill is nearly alone Most of the other ministers either scattered or dead. Yet he did in his extremity the boldest thing which could have been done in Scotland.

It was in the Torwood, not far from Stirling a bit of ancient forest, which was full of brave traditions of Sir William Wallace. And it was on a September Sabbath when the leaves were drifting in the wind, and the red and white fungi were springing in the gnarled roots of the trees A great crowd had gathered to hear Donald Cargill preach. And when the sermon was over he solemnly pronounced a sentence of excommunication on the king, and all those lords and courtiers who had signed and renounced the Covenant.

[graphic]

H. W. H. W.

NEW HOME MISSION HYMN.
BY A LADY OF VIRGINIA.'

SAINTS of God! the dawn is brightening,

Token of our coming Lord;

O'er the earth the field is whitening,
Louder rings the Master's word,
'Pray for reapers

In the harvest of the Lord.'
Feebly now they toil in sadness,

Weeping o'er the waste around, Slowly gathering grains of gladness, While their echoing cries resound, 'Pray that reapers

In God's harvest may abound,' Now, O Lord, fulfil Thy pleasure,

Breathe upon Thy chosen band, And, with pentecostal measure, Send forth reapers o'er the landFaithful reapers, Gathering sheaves for Thy right hand. Ocean calleth unto ocean,

Spirits speed from shore to shore, Heralding the world's commotionHear the conflict at our door; Mighty conflict

Satan's death-cry on our shore;
Broad the shadow of our nation,

Eager millions hither roam;
Lo! they wait for Thy salvation,
Come, Lord Jesus! quickly come!
By Thy Spirit

Bring Thy ransomed people home.
Soon shall end the time of weeping,
Soon the reaping time will come:
Heaven and earth together keeping
God's eternal Harvest Home.
Saints and angels!

Shout the world's great Harvest Home.

[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

I

PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS.

THE BROKEN BRIDGE. HAD been away from home for some months, and was just preparing for my return, when a letter reached me saying that during my absence there had been a great flood, and that 'our bridge' had been swept away. Our bridge' we called it, with a fond feeling of proprietorship, because it led up home.

I could not realise it; it was like hearing of the sudden death of a friend. Other bridges I knew had been destroyed, but that our own should be swept away just like any other, it was past belief. I could not acknowledge it to myself as a fact till I came and stood upon the edge, and looked down into the great gap, where three central arches had stood, and where now nothing remained but the rocky foundation of the piers.

Away up in the heart of the mountains there had been a heavy fall of rain. The little tarns were filled, and overflowed in tiny rivulets; these fell into streams that leaped from rock to rock down the hillsides, till they reached the river. The river gaining force with each fresh supply, rose and swelled, and rushed fiercely along down into the valley-higher and higher, stronger and stronger, broader and broader, till at last, in the height of its fury, there came one loud passionate sound, a heavy rumbling crash, and only a shapeless mass of ruins remained to trouble the sullen waters!

In little more than a week after, the flood was gone, the sky and mountains looked as bright, the trees as green as ever, and people might have forgotten that anything had happened, but for that great broad silent gap, standing like a sad reproachful witness, to tell that work of a moment.'

They say it will be rebuilt, made broader, and perhaps altogether improved. Maybe so. But, to us, will it ever be the same? Shall we ever feel towards it as we did to the dear old friend we had known from our infancy; across which we had passed and repassed as we grew older and wiser, more sorrowful and more strong; from whose walls we had watched and waited to

23

catch the first glimpse of dear ones returning home; which seemed to know and welcome us all individually? Will the newcomer ever be quite the same? Ah, never!

And now, is not my little parable very easy to interpret? Is it not plain to see that unless we check the first little thought of anger, away up in the very furthest corner of the heart, it will rise, and swell, and gain strength, and finally hurry us along till we say or do something that can never be recalled? A hard word spoken, a cruel act committed, and, do what we will, we can never repair the injury caused by a hasty moment! We may be very kind, very gentle, very generous for ever after, but we can never bring back quite the old feeling of trust and love again. 'The broken bridge' will always mark the spot. O let us watch our temper and our tongues, that we may be 'swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."'

J. G. M. K.

PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS.

IN the first, or Senior division, competitors not to be above eighteen years of age.

In the second, or Junior division, Competitors not to be above thirteen years of age; and in both divisions the answers must be honestly the work of the individuals competing.

All answers to be addressed, not later than the 18th of each month, to the Rev. JOHN KAY, Coatbridge.

The answers may be written on post cards. Be careful in all cases to give the name and address of the competitor.

SENIOR DIVISION.

4 The fact that Jesus committed His mother to the care of John leads us to infer that Joseph had died before the crucifixion. Give a passage that leads us to infer that Joseph had died before Christ entered on His public ministry.

5 When was the sickness of one member of a family blessed for the conversion of the whole? 6 Much of the wealth of eastern nations consists of splendid dress,-what one word in a warning uttered by Jesus shows this?

JUNIOR DIVISION.

4 Where do we find seven consecutive ques tions put to shew the necessity of God's judgments?

5 In seven words, which occur five times in one chapter of one of the prophets, give God's complaint against Israel?

6 In which verse from one of the prophets are four questions put to shew how unwilling God is to execute judgment?

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Pi-ty Thy err-ing ones, Soothe Thou their pain, Back to the way of peace Bring them again.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »