“I was sitting in my study one Saturday evening when a message came to me that one of the godliest among the to shepherds who tended their flocks upon our Highland hills was dying and wanted to see his minister. Without loss of time, I crossed the wide heath to his comfortable little cottage. When I entered the low room, I found the old shepherd propped up with pillows and breathing with such difficulty that it was apparent he was near his end.
“ ‘Joan,’ he said to his wife, ‘gie the minister a stool and leave us for a bit, for I wad see the minister alone.’
“As soon as the door was closed, he turned the most pathetic pair of gray eyes upon me I ever looked into, and, said, in a voice shaken with emotion: Minister, I’m dying, and—and I’m afraid!’ “I began at once to repeat the strongest promises with which God’s Word furnishes us, but in the midst of them he stopped me.
“‘I ken them a’,’ he said mournfully; I ken a’, but, somehow, they dinna gie me comfort.’
“‘Do you believe?’
“‘Wi’ a’ ‘my heart,’ he replied, earnestly.
“‘Where, then, is there any room for fear with such a saving faith?’
“‘For a’ that, minister, I’m afraid, I’m afraid.’
“I took up the well-worn Bible which lay on his bed, and turned to the twenty-third Psalm. You remember the twenty-third Psalm?’ I began.
“‘Remember it!’ he said vehemently; I kenned it long afore ye were born; ye need’na read it; I’ve conned it a thousand times on the hillside.’
“But there is one verse which you have not taken in.’
“He turned upon me a half-reproachful and even stern look ‘Did I na tell ye I kenned it every word lang afore ye were born?’
“I slowly repeated the verse, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me,’
“‘You have been a shepherd all your life, and you have watched the heavy shadows pass over the valleys and over the hills, hiding for a little while all the light of the sun. Did these shadows ever frighten you?’
“‘Frighten me?’ he said quickly. ‘Na, na! Davie Donaldson has Covenanters’ bluid in his veins; neither shadow nor substance could weel frighten him.’
“ ‘But did those shadows ever make you believe that you would not see the sun again, and that it was gone forever?’
“Na, na; I could not be sic a simpleton as that.’
“‘Nevertheless, that is just what you are doing now.’ He looked at me with incredulous eyes.
“ ‘Yes,’ I continued, the shadow of death, is over you; and it hides for a little the Sun of Righteousness, which shines all the same behind it; but it’s only a shadow. Remember, that is what the Psalmist calls it—a shadow that will pass; and, when it has passed, you will see the everlasting hills in their unclouded glory!’
“The old shepherd covered his face with his trembling hands, and for a few moments maintained an unbroken silence; then, letting them fall straight on the coverlet, he said, as if musing to himself: A’weel, a’ weel! I ha’ conned that verse a thousand times among the heather’, and I never understood it so afore; afraid of a shadow, afraid of a shadow?’ Then, turning upon me a face now bright with an almost supernatural radiance, he exclaimed, lifting his hands reverently to heaven: Ay, ay! I see it a’ now Death is only a shadow, with Christ’ behind—a shadow that will pass. Na, na! I’m afraid nae mair.’” — DR, BANKS.
And now, good-bye, dear friends, for another-month. Do read the last page of Message prayerfully, and may God lead you to help in His work if it be His will. We have only one desire in all our work, and that is the glory of the Son of God and the salvation of the lost. Help us by your prayers, we beseech you, for Christ’s sake. ―
HEYMAN WREFORD.