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1 2 3

4 5 6

MEMOIR

Daniel Arthur McGregor

LATE PRINCIPAL

TORONTO BAPTIST COLLEGE

U-bUglteb by iht Alumni Jtseodation ot

'Eoxonto §iipti0t €olitQt

SECOND EDITION. '^

TOROKTO:

DuDLBV & Burns, Pp.iNTitRs

1891

Could I have said while he was here,
"My love shall now no further raw^c ;
There cannot come a mellower chango,
For now is love mature in ear."

Love then had hope of richer store ;
What end is here to my complaint?
This haunting whisper makes me faint,
"More years had made me love thee more."

But death returns an answer sweet :
" My sudden frost was sudden gain,
And gave all ripeness to the grain
It might have drawn from after-heat."

PREFACE.

The Alumni Association of Toronto Baptist College,
at its annual meeting in April 1890, decided to under-
take the preparation and publication of a Mamoir of
Principal McGregor, then recently deceased. " It was
resolved to raise by subscription such a sum as would,
when added to a small amount in the treasury of the
Association, defray all the expenses of publication, and
to bestow upon Mrs. McGregor the entire proceeds of
the sale of the book. For the carrying out of this
undertaking two committees were appointed : an Edit-
ing Committee, consisting of Professors Newman and
Campbell, and a Finance Committee, consisting of Rev.
W. C. Weir and Rev. J. L. Gilmour.

After a few months of joint effort on the part of the
I'inance Committee, the removal of Mr. Weir to a dis-
tant Province left the chief financial responsibility on
Mr. Gilmour's shoulders. By dint of well directed and
persistent effort the needful amount of money has been
secured, and arrangements have been made, which, it
is expected, will result in the prompt sale of the entire
edition. To those who have generously contributed to
the publishing fund the thanks of the Association and
of the Denomination are due.

PREFACE.

As the work of editing was not very burdensome
and was scarcely susceptible of advantageous division,
most of it naturally devolved upon the first-named
member of the committee. Professor Campbell was
frequently consulted as to the general features of the
book ; but he cannot fairly be held responsible for
the execution of the editorial task. The committee
decided at the outset to adopt the co-operative plan in
the preparation of the biographical sketch, as likely to
secure the best results, with the least delay and the
least expenditure of individual effort. Rev. Malcolm
MacGregor, of New York, the eldest brother of Princi-
pal McGregor, cheerfully undertook and faithfully,
lovingly and ably executed the task of preparing
Chapters I. and V. Chapter IT. was assigned to Rev.
E. W. Dadson, whose long acquaintance with Principal
McGregor and his profound admiration for his charac-
ter enabled him to write sympathetica llj/ and intelli-
gently of the period of his life under consideration.
Chapter III. was written by Rev. D. G. Macdonald,
who as a student came to know and to love Principal
McGregor, and as the beloved and efficient pastor of
the Stratford church was in a position to judge of his
work as a pastor and to exhibit this portion of his life
in its true setting and its true light.

To Mrs. McGregor more than to any other individ-
ual are any excellencies that the memoir may possess

PREFACE.

due. She not only aided ai the selection and securing
of writers, but she furnished each writer with much
valuable material and many valuable suggestions, and
caivifuUy examined the various chapters before they
were given to the printer. To her also is due the
selection of materials for Chapter VI. and the selec-
tion for publication of the essays, addresses, sermons,
etc., contained in Part II. In an important sense she
may be regarded as the Editor of the book.

The work of all, whether in collecting or contri-
buting money, in furnishing materials, in writing, or
in editing, has been from first to last a l^bor of love.
That the little book may be a means of keeping fresh
in the memory of our Canadian Baptists the life and
work of one of the noblest and most Christlike of men,
and thus of advancing in some humble measure the
kingdom of Christ, is the earnest desire of all who
have had to do with its publication.

•

CONTENTS.

PART I.

BiooiiAPiiK'AL Sketch 7-144

CiiAJ'TKii I.— Ancestry and Early Life .... 9

CuAi'TKR II.— Student Life 22

Cfiai'Tkh II I. —The Pastorate ....... 40

Chai'teu IV.— Professor and Principal .... 66

CirAi'TER v.— Last Illness 94

Chaptek VI.— Tributes of Respect .... 123

i-'V ■ —

PART II.

Literary Remains 140-245

Does Poetry Necessarily Decline with the Advance

of Civilization ? j^y

What Constitutes a Regular Baptist Church '^ . . 162

The Inspired Estimate of Orthodoxy .... 169

A Home Mission Address j^yy

Man's Questionings about God's Promises . . 185

The Holy Spirit's Agency in Revival Work . . 200

Worthy is the Lamb 210

The Unexpected Way 226

Poetical Pieces 239

9
22
40
66
94
123

PART I.

145

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

CHAPTER I.

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

A D. 1847-70.

In undertaking, at the request of those having the
matter in charge, to write certain chapters in tlie
volume to be prepared and published in memory of
Daniel A. McGregor, it is with the utmost diffidence
and shrinking of heart that his eldest brother, inti-
mately associated with him through many changeful
years, addresses himself to the unlooked-for, delicate
and painful task. Perhaps, in the circumstances, a
direct and familiar method of narration may, on the
whole, embarrass the writer less and serve the pur-
poses of the story more.

Whenever the character and life of a departed
person become matters of general interest, there is in-
variably a desire to know something of his ancestry,
however undistinguished, and of his surroundings,'
however commci-place— such is mankind's instinctive
recognition of the significance both of heredity and of
environment in the development of individual human

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

life. As, in this instance, the later ancestry and the
earlier surroundings are considerably interwoven witli
important threads of the Baptist history of the Ottawa
Valley, some reference to them may not be undesi-
rable.

Both the parents of ^' e subject of this memoir were
of Scottish birth. As certain family traditions and
heir-looms attest, the line of his paternal ancestors
descended from him who, after the Gaelic manner,
was called " The Man of Royston " — Crag Royston
near Ben and Loch Lomond, in the hereditary lands
of the " Clan Mi.cGregor " : that is, the line descended
from the " Rob Roy MacGregor " of whom Sir Walter
Scott, in his way of mingling history and fiction, has
so vividly and entertainingly written. In the latter
part of the last century, Daniel's paternal great-grand-
father, Robert, removed from Crag Royston to Glen
Lyon, where, in allusion to his business pursuits, he
was long and honorably known, in Gaelic phrase, as
Robert the merchant. It was here and about 1809
that Robert's second son, Malcolm, married Miss Chris-
tian Blaikie, who, about the year 1816, was converted
to Christ, baptized upon profession of faith, and united
to the then infant Baptist church in Glen Lyon, which
sprang into existence directly or indirectly through
the evangelical movement originated and sustained
by the Faldane brothers. Thus early was this family
brought into contact with spiritual Christianity and
Nesv Testament Church principles; and greatly blessed
through many afte r years was the influence of her
whose heart and life were then consecrated to the

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

muy
and

issed
her
the

vSaviour ; and long will she be remembered as " a
mother in Israel " and as a fervent lover of Christ
and of souls.

In LSI 7, this wedded pair, with the four children
])orn to them in Scotland, (the second of whom was
Alexander, the future father of Daniel), left the land
of their birth, for Canada, the land of their adoption,
and spent the first three years after their arrival in
Montreal. At some point in this period of time, the
first Baptist communion service ever held in that city
was observed in their house. On leaving Montreal
the family moved up into the northern side of the
Ottawa Valley and settled on a " forest farm " in the
" Rear of Chatham " in the County of Argenteuil,
where their children increased to the number of
twelve, of whom four sons and four daughters are
still living. Here settled also a number of other
Scottish families from the neighborhood of Glen
Lyon, — the McPhails, the McArthurs, the McGib-
bons, the McFarlanes, the McCallums and others.
The renewal of old acquaintanceship in a new land,
and in circumstances sometimes of peculiar hardship,
was exceeilingly grateful and helpful to all concerned.
A Baptist church, of primitive type and spiritual tone,
afterwards known as the Dalesville Church, was
speedily formed, of which Duncan McPhail, a man
" mighty in the Scriptures " and who had studied
for a ti . under the Haldanes in Edinburgh, was the
founder and leader, and informally the pastor ; and
tlirough the efforts of himself and the brotherhood
generally, the church grew in kxiowledge and in gract

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

and was privileged to bring a goodly number of peo-
ple to Christ, among whom were the pastor's son,
Daniel McPhail, afterwards for the third of a century
a singularly devoted and fruitful minister of the New
Testament, Mrs. MacArthur, mother of the gifted and
successful Dr. R. S. MacArthur, and Mr. McCallum,
grandfather of the McEwens, well and favorably
known in the Canadian Baptist ministry.

About the year 1834, the Breadalbane church, of
which the future veteran Rev. William Fraser was
pastor, was blessed, after a long and discouraging
season of barrenness, with an extensive and glorious
revival. In the good work the pastor was ^eatly
assisted by Rev. John Gilmour of Montreal, whose
own field of labor was visited a little later with copi-
ous showers of refreshing. The Dales ville church
had given itself to prayer for a similar work of grace,
and upon its earnest request Mr. Gilmour went in the
winter of 1835 to its assistance. Here also he con-
ducted a series of religious meetings through which
a great number of people were brought to the Saviour,
baptized, and added to the church. Among the con-
verts of that time were Malcolm McGregor, ever after
known as a noble and fruitful Christian, and all his
older children, including Alexander, subsequently the
father of Daniel. The personal influence and importu-
nate prayers of Mrs. Malcolm McGregor were largely
instrumental ^" i the conversion of her husband and
children.

Some few years after the Dalesville revival, Alex-
ander McGregor,'5moved by the desire of doing more

.0-

ANCESTRY AND EARLY MINISTRY.

efficient work for Christ, and influenced by the coun-
sel of several brethren, including his pastor Rev. John
Edwards then settled in Dalesville, became a student
in the Montreal Baptist College, with the intention of
preparing himself, if so it might be, for the work of
the gospel ministry. After about two years of suc-
cessful study, though possessed of naturally vigorous
and fertile powers of mind, he desisted froin the pro-
ject and turned to other pursuits, fearing that he
would be unable to overcome a partly constitutional
hesitancy of speech. From these circumstances he was
led in after life, when father of a family, to make it
habitually a matter of earnest secret prayer that it
might please God to call some of his sons into the
ministry in his stead — as anciently He had appointed
Solomon to erect the temple which David had not
been permitted to build.

On the same day, early in February 1842, that
Catherine his eldest sister was married to Rev. Daniel
McPhail, Alexander McGregor was united in mar-
riage, at the same place, Dalesville, and b}^ the same
minister, Rev. John Edwards, to Miss Clementine
Mc Arthur, then of Montreal. She was born in 1815,
in Glen Lyon, Scotland, and was the daughter of
Daniel McArthur, a man of sincere and ardent piety,
who took a deep interest in vital Christianity and in
the work of Christian missions then being prosecuted
in Scotland under the Haldanes and others ; and,
though he was a member and a precentor in the Pres-
byterian church, he manifested a great and tender
regard for the little Baptist church in his neighbor-

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

^Ii

hood, often throwing open his house for its meetings.
Had his life not been cut off prematurely, he would
in all likelihood have united himself with this body
of Christians, which was greatly to his mind; but
before Clementine, his only daughter then surviving,
was eight years old, he passed away from earth in the
triumph of faith, to be followed in like manner a few
years later by his widow. With her only surviving
near relatives, her brother and her grand-uncle, Clem-
entine came, when about sixteen years of age, to Mon-
treal, where, under the ministry of Rev. John Gilmour,
she was converted, baptized and united to the Baptist
church ; and it was there, during his student days,
that she first made the acquaintance of her future
husband. Through all her career subsequent to her
conversion, till her blissful departure from this life,
August 20th 1876, she was a spiritually-minded and
tenderly conscientious Christian. For cheerful cour-
age amid the disappointments and ills of life, and for
gentleness and fervent good-will toward every one,
she was remarkable ; while for loving and whole-
souled devotion to the best interests of the children
whom God had given her, she was unexcelled.

Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander McGregor went to the township of Osgoode
and there for some six years settled upon a forest
farm. In 1848 they moved away from Osgoode, and
— as the husband's various pursuits, school -teaching,
lumbering, milling and farming, required — lived suc-
cessively in Dales ville, Rigaud, Lochiel, Breadalbane,
Duncan ville, Winchester, returning in 1860 to Os-

■/■ ' •■ ''■'■■

etings.
would

■ - 4:

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1

s body
i; but

;fg'

skiving,

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in the

• a few
viving

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ilmour,

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baptist
) days,
future

- J^A

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

to her
is life,
d and
I cour-
nd for
y one,
whole-
lildren

Mrs.

3goode
forest
e, and
ching,
d suc-
Ibane,
o Os-

goode where they remained till several years after
Daniel left home to study for the ministry. In all,
seven children were born to them, the third of whom
died in infancy. Daniel was born December 13th,
1847, during the first residence in Osgoode, '.nd was
the younger of twin brothers and the fifth child in
the family. During child-life, though not very robust,
he was quite healthy, having no illness but a single
short and sharp attack of fever from which he quickly
recovered. In moi o advanced boyhood and in early
manhood he developed an excellent physique and
great muscular strength. In the mill, in the forest,
on the farm, and on the lumber-laden streams, he had
up to and including his twenty -second year his full
share of arduous toil, attended at times with more
than ordinary privations.

Among Daniel's characteristics there were several
real, yet sufficiently consistent contrasts, which were
perceptible in early life and which developed them-
selves strikingly through his maturer years. He was
deferential yet independent ; diffident yet determined.
He enjoyed solitude ; and he loved society. He was
(juite indisposed to tolerate unwarranted encroach-
ments upon his personal rights ; and he was in a re-
markable degree self-sacrificing and chivalrous in the
interests of others. He was so tender-hearted that,
without some practical object in view he could scarcely
even bear to hea,/ recitals of suffering ; but he could
endure suffering itself with exemplary fortitude, when-
ever the providence of God demanded, and even inflict
it, with a degree of unction, when persuaded that the

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

claiiiiH of justice and order rei^uired. He had native
to him a faint tinge of melancholy, a slightly plain-
tive air, and a ready sympathy with things solemn
and awe-inspiring ; and yet, though not exceptionally
witty himself, nor much the occasion of wit in others,
he had an exquisite sense and a hearty appreciation
of both wit and humor, severely governed, however,
by considerations of time and place. Like the alter-
nations of major and minor strains in certain forms
of Celtic music, the modulations of his temperament,
which was essentially Celtic, often produced quite
varied and interesting effects.

Until after he was twenty-two years of age Daniel's
opportunities for attending school were few and unim-
portant, amounting in all, after his twelfth year, to
but a few weeks. But though he was at S(> critical a
period, through force of circumstances, largely de-
prived of school advantages, he developed a keen taste
for reading and made himself thoroughly acquainted
with the contents of all manner of books within his
reach in private and circulating libraries. For many
years, at night, and during intermissions of physical
toil, he studied the English poets earnestly and with
great relish. It was long the practice of himself and
his younger brother, at intervals in the labors on
the farm and in the forest, to compete with each other
in reciting the poems, or in repeating the substance of
books which they had been reading aloud to each
other the evening before. In these ways Daniel's
memory, and his mental powers generally, we^'e greatly
quickened and strengthened ; and he thus acquired a

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

mass of general int'orniation, which, when he became a
college student, was recognized as exceptionally ex-
tensive and valuable, and which in after life was
often of great service to him. His memory was stored
in the same way with the gems of the British poets,
especially those of Tennyson, whose density of thought
and delicacy of diction liad great attraction for him
and greatly influenced his literary taste and feeling
through all his after life.

It seems appropriate at this point to remark, for
the encouragement of the young readers of this nar-
rative, that a mind animated by the noble desire of
self improvement and of becoming useful in the world
may find implements and opportunities always and
everywhere ; and that by suppressing all inordinate
desire for amusements and trivial gratifications, and
using diligently whatever fragments of time and
means are available one may come in the course of
years to possess mental power, discriminating taste,
extensive knowledge, practical wisdom, and, if conse-
crated to C'lrist, capacity to serve efficiently God and
humanity.

In order to indicate the type of Daniel's conversion
and religious character, it will be helpful to refer for
a moment to certain important religious influences
that came upon him from the past and from his sur-
roundings at the time of his becoming a Christian.
The great revivals in Breadalbane, Dalesville and
Montreal, from 1834 to 1886, in which his father and
mother, then unknown to each other, were converted,
were of such a powerful and radical nature that they

1<S

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

(leterniinod the general type of all the religious work
(lone subsequently among the Baptists in the Ottawa
Valley. Unquestioning deference towards the word
of God, profound conviction of sin, much awe of the
sterner aspects of the character and law of God, ador-
ing and trustful recognition of the person and work
of Christ, reverential regard for the Holy Spirit's per-
sonality and influence, and an emotional experience
as intense and tender as it was unostentatious and
self-contained, — such were the characteristics which
according to all competent testimony, strongly pre-
dominated in that early religious movement, and
which have to this day plainly perpetuated them-
selves, in a remarkable degree, in those and in neigh-
boring communities.

It was during this revival period in Dalesville,
though he was previously converted and accustomed
to address religious assemblies, that young Daniel
McPhail, now of blessed memory, developed that mar-
vellous intensity and power of spirit, in gospel work,
which afterwards characterized him as a Christian
minister and made him the Elijah of the Ottawa Val-
ley, where, employing the church in Osgoode, of which
he was pastor for twenty -seven years, as an operating
centre, he was privileged to see greatly multiplied,
through the blessing of God upon his labors, converts,
churches and recruits for the ministry, largely after
his own type. In close association with him in the
great work done in his day in various parts of that
religiously favored region, were several singularly
excellent and loyal ministers of the gospel — the

■ M

■t

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

sturdy and faithful Jolni King, the gentle and genial
John Edwards, now in glory, the enthusiastic and
fiery John Dempsey, the loving and kindly William
K. Anderson, and, for a shorter and at an earlier
period, the noble-hearted Robert A. Fyfe, afterwards
through long years of varied and self-sacrificing toil
till the hour of his untimely lecease, the Moses of the
Baptist denomination in Canada. The labors of this
evangelical "band of brothers" were the means under
God of setting up a standard of Christian piety singu-
larly lofty, and of developing a type of Christian
character of the rarest excellence. In the Osgoode,
Ormond, and West Winchester churches, which for so
long a period shared the pastoral care and evangelistic
labors of Mr. McPhail, there came to be a large number
of persons whose minds were fairly saturated with
gospel truths and principles, and whose influence in
their respective communities was of the very strongest
and best.

Under such influences, converging upon him from
the home, the socird life, the church services, and from
the personality of his uncle, Pastor McPhail, Daniel's
earlier religious convictions and aspirations were
formed ; and to his latest day they largely determined
his ideals of Christian excellence and of the kind of
young men to be prayed for, sought out, and trained
fcT the gospel ministry. When about twelve years
of age he was the subject of very deep and tender
religious impressions, which, though, they did not
at the time issue in assured faith in Christ, lingered
on for some seven years, neither permitting him the

MEMOIR OF D. A. M (iREGOU.

«._^

dead iiidift'erence of tlie worldling nor yielding him
the living*- hope and joy of tlie Christian.

Early in the summer of 1807 lie was very desirous
of becoming a true Christian, but he ahnost despaired
of ever finding the way to attain to that end. On
Sunday, June 16th, of that year, he had been wishing
that some one would come and explain to him clearly
the way of salvation. That evening, the writer, then
a student-preacher on a neighboring field, came, after
his day's labor, and spent that balmy sunnner night
with him in the open air, unfolding to him the way
of life and persuading him to trust in Jesus. Daniel's
principal difficulty, like that of many other religious
inquirers, arose from regarding emotional experiences
instead of gospel declarations, invitations and pro-
mises, as the true warrant for faith in Christ. But
about the break of day there came day-break into his
soul, and he believed on Christ for salvation because
of His character, work and word. In after years
Daniel became very skilful in dealing with inquirers
beset with the same or kindred difficulties ; and tiie
experience of that night has often helped the writer,
furnishing him with a convincing instance and illus-
tration, when endeavoring to induce in(|uirers simi-
larly perplexed to surrender themselves trustingly
and unconditionally to Christ.

Daniel's twin brother, Robert, having found the
Saviour a few weeks later — on Sunday, August 25th
— they were both baptised on the following Sunday
afternoon, September 1st, in the Castor River, by
Rev. P. G. Robertson, who, as the successor of Rev. D.

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE.

McPhail, w»i.s having, at the time, a season of reaping
on the Os^oode field.

During the next tliree years Daniel made connnen-
dable progress in Christian knowledge, character and
consecration ; and after much exercise of soul and
much counsel from worthy brethren as to whether he
should devote himself to the work of the ministry, he
came to the conclusion that, through the voice of his
own heart and the voice of the Christian brotherhood,
he was called of God — speaking through them and
him — to labor in that vocation. Accordingly, in Sep-
tember, 1870, with the cordial recommendation of the
Osgoode church, of which he was a member, he left
his father's home for Woodstock, there to pursue^
studies preparatory for his life-work.

Other hands will trace the story of his life as a
student, as a pastor, and as a theological professor,
when it will remain for the present writer to give
some account of his last illness.

CHAPTER II.

STUDENT LIB'E.

A.D. 1870-'81.

Before saying anything of his education proper it
will be well to note some features of that earlier
drill which in almost every case has so powerful an
influence upon after life .ind which generally lies
at the foundation of one's education. Most men of
any note in the world can point back to certain cir-
cumstances in early life, and name them as the chief
factors of their after achievement. Mr. McGregor
could do so. He recognized very clearly, as did others,
that whatever attainments he made in his after career
began long before he had any thought of a technical
education, and in a school which if not famous in the
opinion of the schoolmen has nevertheless a record
in the practical world to which very few of the
learned institutions have attained. Ancestry counts
for something as an educative force, but he who can
trace to himself a clear strain of ancestral intellectu-
alism, good judgment and common sense, may know
that he has something to thank besides the schools
for what advances he may have made. Mr. McGregor
had this derived intellectualism in good measure. His
father is known to the older men in our ministry as a

'"^

STUDENT LIFE.

gov

:<ft

sound tlieoloirian who.so coiur.i; Jit the Montreal Col-
le^'e numifcsted brain power, and whose suhseiiuent
life has been one of thought fulness. Those who knew
his mother knew a won in of very superior excellence,
whose chief characteristic was strong connnon sense ;
and this, prominent in a disposition marked by unu-
smil tenderness and full-measured love, could not fail
in leavin<^^ the strong impressions it did upon her son.
Whatever he was as to heart, mind, or])0(ly, he was a
man preeminently of strong connnon sense. Some
features of his intellectual life nuiy then be said to
have been inherited.

But intellectual or moral force thus had, every one
knows, is not necessarily retained. Indeed it vanishes
easily and early uidess it be specially conserved.
Young- McGregor's life was thrust into surroundings
which providentially were best fitted to preserve his
native endowments, and strengthen them. The family
consisted, besides the parents, of four boys and two
girls, and these all having upon them the same ances-
tral marks, became in themselves a school in which
intellectual and moral drill of no mean order was
daily exercised. Often have I heard from D. A.'s lips
the story of the mother influence and the paternal
example, the process of w4t-sharpening indulged in
throughout the family circle, and his estimate of the
value of the home schooling.

But perhaps the schooling which most affected his
Avhole career w^as the character of the Osgoode envi-
ronment in which his early life was passed. The
Osgoode Baptist Church and its revered pastor, Rev.

■I

STUDENT LIFE.

Daniel McPhail, have had upon the Canadian Baptist
denomination, and upon Baptists elsewhere also, an
influence which, though perhaps unknown to many,
is nevertheless even to-day at work. Out of that
church and from the influence of one of the most
s „intly men God ever gave to the churches, Osgoode
men have preached the gospel throughout Ontario for
• the last thirty years. A remarkable people were the
Osgoode church at the time of which we write. Scotch
to a man, and theologians all, God and the Bible were
the first thought throughout the community — or that
part of it at least which threw its influence over
young McGregor. The street-corner gathering as
likely as not discussed points in theology in prefer-
ence to horse-flesh. Every dinner table was a theolog-
ical class, and with the pork and potatoes went Cal-
vinism and Arminianism in due course. The Bible
was the family hand-book, and, handled reverently, it
was the arbiter of the daily discussion. How the old
men loved the book, and how the youngsters had it
heaped into them, pressed down, and running over,
with porridge-and-milk regularity. And this was
characteristic not of a few families but of the church,
so that there was no escaping God and the Bible in
that community. And what shall be said of the influ-
ence of the pastor, the man who went in and out of
these homes, who served them their daily portion of
spiritual meat, who directed their discussions and led
them in their searching of the word of God, who
was the constant and honored guest in every home,
the counsellor of strongmen and the children's guide ?

STUDENT LIFE.

We make much of the vantage ground offered by the
city as the position where the minister of the gospel
may do his largest work ; and in thought perhaps we
esteem lightly the country pastorate, and teach our
young men to look to the apparently larger fields for
influence. Here is the man, Daniel McPhail, who was
content to spend his best days in Osgoode. And be-
sides the thousands brought to Christ by his own per-
sonal ministry, he being dead yet speaketh in India
wherever McLaurin for eighteen years preached the
gospel in Telugu ; along the Ottawa where Brierly for
all too short a time told the old story ; in New York
where MacGregor is gathering his spiritual harvest ;;
in Manitoba and Dakota where McDonald's pioneer
work is still bearing fruit, and where McCaul's grave
has scarcely grown green ; in Glasgow and Liverpool
where D. P. McPherson still labors ; and in Ontario
and Quebec wherever Walker, Dewar, and McDonald
prosecuted their ministry. Scarcely another man in
our ministry ,^ Dr. Fyfe alone excepted, did the work
which this man accomplished, and it was done from
the vantage ground of the country pastorate. His
ministry was not wdiat to-day would be called
scholarly — it partook rather of the richness of the
deep things of God, which scholarly research is apt to
miss or has no time for. It was true to God and
wondrously kind, and stamped itself upon a wdiole
community. Under this ministry and among the sur-
roundings of this church Bro. McGregor took his pre-
paratory theological training and received the impulse
of heart and mind which made him what we knew

MEMOIR OF D. A. MGtlEGOll.

him to be. He was familiar with deep theological
questions from his early youth, and well practised in
polemics. God and the Bible were from the first his
sacred thoughts, and the Christian ministr}. was to
him the summit of power and responsibility.

One other thing as an element in his schooling
must not be passed by if we would accurately gauge
the forces which made up the man. Osgoode, though
preeminently the place of the one theme and the one
book, opened its doors to thought not strictly theolog-
ical, and there appeared from time to time upon the
tables and shelves of the people books of poetry, his-
tory, biography and travel, to which Bro. McGregor
had ready access, and which he read and re-read until
the entire selection was mastered — not only mastered
as to the thought, but in many cases verbally. Many
of us know how apt he was at quotation ; how he
was never at a loss for the appropriate passage of
Scripture ; how he was surprisingly saved the neces-
sity of reference, even extended selections being
furnished by his memory : and how he astonished us
by his ready familiarity with poetry. He had de-
voured Tennyson, and, as the breath of kine is sweet
with the odor of spring grasses, so, even his sponta-
neous utterances were redolent of In Memoriam. The
value of the few good books has often been empha-
sized. Mr. McGregor's mental furnishing is an ex-
ample of what they make possible to him who uses
them well.

Perhaps in the foregoing may be found the chief
factors of Mr. McGregor's mental and religious make-

STUDENT LIFE.

iological

3tised in

first his

was to

chooling

y Sauge

, though

the one

theolog-

ipon the

stry, his-

[cGregor

jad until

nastered

Many

how he

ssage of

le neces-

being

ished us

had de-

s sweet

sponta-

,m. The

empha-

an ex-

10 uses

^e chief
make-

up, and perhaps also the schools which more than any
other trained him for his after work. Now comca
however the period in his experience which called for
complete change of plans and of life. Converted to
God in his young days, the thought grew daily upon
him that he must give himself to God in the special
work of the ministry. In his twenty-third year this
thought took definite form, and mainly through the
encouragement and assistance of his twin brother it
was made possible to him to plan a college course.

With the training above outlined, then, and devoid
in most part of even the elementary learning of the
schools, Mr. McGregor arrived at Woodstock in the
autumn of the year 1870, purposing to prepare him-
self for the work of the Canadian Baptist ministry.
Many of us can recall his appearance and demeanor
at that time. His ruddy face that had got its glow in
the Osgoode out of door life. Hands large and homy,
that evidenced long familiarity with the axe, and a
physical build that was of the sturdiest. His near
friend McDiarmid used to say of him tht.t he walked
upon two young trees. But he was very modest, and
very retiring. For a long time after his arrival at
school he scarcely ventured an opinion. He blushed
so easily, shrank into himself so painfully, and was
embarrassed so constantly, that at the first he was a
puzzle tc not a few. This excessive discomfort how-
ever belonged only to his earlier course. It wore oflf
gradually, and those who were inclined to think
lightly of the timorous young student, if there were
any, and those who were accustomed to pass him by

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

!;•

unnoticed, soon came to understand that beneath that
painful bashf ulness and incomprehensible reserve there
dwelt a great power which was always to be respected
and which could assert itself in line fashion if ever
trifled with. Mr. McGregor was a master of self-depre-
ciation — the genuine thing is here meant, not the mis-
erable subterfuge which so often does duty as a pre-
face to self-appreciation. He really was ashamed
because he was so ignorant, or because he fancied he
was. His idea of a college, conceived upon the Os-
goode farm, was an exalted creation indeed. The
teachers were dread inapproachables and the students,
all of them, quick-witted and learned to a degree.
The place where the ministers were made was to him
holy ground, and all its inhabitants after some sort
superior beings ; and it took some time before the
process of disenchantment was complete. Poor fellow,
what throes he suffered on account of his fancied igno-
rance ! He could not take part in conversation freely
for fear of this being betrayed. And the least kind-
ness from a senior student was regarded as a distin-
guished condescension. And how he loved to praise
others and blushed if any word of praise to himself
were heard, have often been remarked by his fellow-
students. But his throes were unnecessary bitterness
surely, for certain it is that very few even among the
seniors were as well ec'ucated as he. His Osgoode life
had not been lived to no purpose, and very soon were
discovered in him powers far above the average en-
dowment. His first year at Woodstock had not passed
away when students in all classes and teachers had

STUDENT LIFE.

learned to expect great things from the modest Os-
goode boy.

In his class work at Woodstock Mr. McGregor was
not noticed so much for his quickness and brilliancy
as he was for his grasp of a subject and power to re-
tain it. He had immense capacity for plodding, and
this, together with his sound understanding, of course
resulted for him in first-class work in all departments.
His work was not as burdensome to him as he at first
supposed it would be, and it was not long before he
found he could fairly measure himself, in ability and
power to work, with the best of his fellows. It was
not in his class-room work, however, that Mr. McGregor
was specially distinguished, though in that he never
failed in reaching an honorable position. It was in
the society work and the religious and social life of
the school, and in the public life among the churches,
that he specially made his mark. Some of his best
literary work was done for the Adelphian Society of
Woodstock College. He was the essayist yar excellence;
the president who ever gave weight and dignity to
the proceedings ; the critic whose review of the even-
ing's worl. was always the treat of the programme ;
and at those feasts, graciously permitted by the
Faculty, when a few oysters went further and faster
than ever they did in their native element, the incom-
parable postprandial orator. How his early training
always stood him in good stead in these society affairs !
What use he made of his acquaintance with the poets,
i>,nd how reason feasted while his soul flowed during
the peregrinations of the oyster aforesaid, all old stu-

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

dents will remember. He was ever the life of the
company, exuberant in his wit as in his modesty.
There can be no doubt that a college man, such as ho,
has tne power to help or to hinder, in great measure,
both the efficiency of the college and the progress of
his fellow students. One old Brooke at Rugby was
alike efficient support to Arnold and to Brown. One
Flashman is ever a source of anxiety. Masters are
expectant of mischief, and students are either ready for
it or dreading it, and the institution thus disorganized.
Brooke should be sought out, invited, pressed into the
school, and retained there at all cost ; and Flashman,
in every guise and of any parentage, should be made
go without excuse or delay. The one makes for the
benefit of all ; the other is a nuisance pure and simple.
The foregoing verges on platitude certainly, if it be not
entirely across the boundary ; but the truth contained
in it is not yet sufficiently recognized to be at all times
acted upon. Young McGregor's clear head and warm
heart had no small place in bringing about the whole-
some atmosphere which was breathed by teachers and
students in Woodstock College during the early 70's.
But the activity of his religious life was perhaps
his most noteworthy characteristic. Conversion with
him meant much more than salvation ; and religious
doctrine much more than an intellectual pastime, to
be engaged in with solemn visage. He recognized the
Christ-life as the serious business of his life, and
sought day by day in his own humble and beautiful
way to do something which would tell upon the king-
dom. His hushed earnestness in prayer, as he led the

STUDENT LIFE.

of the
lodesty.
^1 as he,
leasure,
;Tess of
by was
One
iers are
ady for
anized.
nto the
shman,
e made
for the
simple.
; be not
itained
1 times

warm
whole-
rs and

r 70'S.

3rhaps
1 with
igious
me, to
ed the
and
utiful
king-
id the

students' devotions ; his quiet passion as lie spoke the
praises of his Redeemer in their prayer meetings ; his
constant and unobtrusive "personal dealing," who
that knew him as a Woodstock student can fail to
recall ? And who did not personally, in some fashion,
receive the touch of his quiet spirit, and become a
better man through receiving it ?

Mr. McGregor, as a student, made much of the day
of rest, and always entered upon its services with
(juiet and holy joy. Mr. Bates and Mr. Goodspeed
were his pastors in his Woodstock days ; and if it
may be said that few students have had more instrur?-
tive pastors, it may also be said that few pastors
have had a more receptive listener. Mr. McGregor
revelled in the sermon, and carried with him to his
room for rehearsal and the spiritual profit of others
not only divisions and illustrations, but also the force
and spirit of the discourse His was a wholesome
college life. It developed kindred spirits and multi-
plied the agencies for good which at that time resulted
so conspicuously in the conversion of students to God.

In his early preaching and in the spiritual work he
did outside of the college he soon made it manifest to
those who were intimate with his spirit and methods
that he would be, and not many years in the future,
a strong man in the pulpit and in denominational
work. He set the pulpit before him as that to which
he must make everything bend. It was the great
object, so he thought, for all who were called to the
work of the ministry. And he regarded it not more
specially as that which demanded the best he could

.^2

MEMOIR OF D. A. M OREGOR.

give, than as that which ought to compel others to
yield np their best also. And in this serious business
of seiiAonizing he was always solicitous for others as
for himself. Was he not always ready to work with
a tyro over his sermon plan ? Was he not generally
appealed to in the matter of exegetical doubt ? And
was he not ever modestly suggestive in reply to inter-
rogations ? And so interested was he in others' work,
that he has been known to tramp eight miles with a
young brother who was going to that bodeful experi-
ment — his first sermon — to encourage him, and eight
miles back, to bear up his drooping spirits withal,
after the initial deed was done. And his comforting
was as sweet as a mother's, and his words of encour-
agement as well timed.

It is unnecessary to follow him through his prepa-
ratory collegiate and theological courses. These were
all completed at Woodstock. His progress was easy
and definite. His capacity for w^ork and for acquisi-
tion increased with the years ; as did also his mental
grasp, and the power to utilize what he had attained.
In the department of theology particularly his matur-
ing powers found a congenial sphere, and here he did
his best work and had his greatest joy. How well he
worked, and how much he was enamoured of this
department a few years were to show. He graduated
in April, 1878, and his address upon "The Divine Esti-
mate of Orthodoxy " was considered one of the most
thoughtful and purposeful of the many addresses for
which the platform from wdiich he spoke was famous.
In connection with Mr. McGregor's Woodstock

STUDENT LIFE.

.1?

career there remains to be noted that which, more
than anything else, put upon him the stamp of tlie
genuine manhood which was so apparent to all who
came near to his life. Bro. McGregor's native endow-
ments were moulded at the college by a master spirit.
Dr. Fyfe was his revered preceptor of whom he used
to speak as the greatest influence which ever encoun-
tered his life ; at whose feet his theological instirct
was quickened and strengthened ; and in whose com-
panionship the great graces of humility, gentleness
and rugged virility were fostered to the refinement of
strength. The remark is familiar, that colleges con-
sist of men and not of facilities. Given the man of
sound understanding, of true heart, simple, brave and
earnest, and whether he has at his command brick
and mortar, apparatus, or other much desired acade-
mic facilities or not, there will be a college at his hand
in which men may be trained. The facilities of Wood-
stock College, in Bro. McGregor's time, were not re-
markable — adequate however ; but there was the great
collegiate force notwithstanding — a great man. Mr.
McGregor fully appreciated the advantages of pursu-
ing his theological training under Dr. Fyfe, and this
appreciation continued unabated even when he him-
self was Professor in the same department.

In the foregoing pages nothing has been said of Ero.
McGregor's faults ; this paragraph shall be devoted to
one of the serious blunders of his student life.

Friend M(;Gregor did not take kindly to the cam-
pus. He was innocent of athletics in any form, if he
had not indeed a decided distaste for anything of the

.34

MEMOIR OF I). A. M <iKEGOR.

kind. When ho arrived at Woodstock, as has been
said, he was fresh from the farm, broad-chested, sturdy-
le^ged, and muscular, as few young men are. His
occupation hitherto Iiad given him an out of door life,
and constant play to his superb physi(jue. He was un-
wise, as many young men are, in fancying he could let
go any special care of the body. His exercise was limit-
ed to the sidewalk between the college and the town,
with the unfailing result, physical collapse — at leust
partially so — necessitating a year's absence from his
studies for purposes of recuperation. This, however,
affected less or more his bodily comfort ever after-
ward. Not that he became valetudinarian by any
means, but that the stamina, the powers of endurance
which he once possessed so abundantly had left him
forever ; and doubtless in some measure this blunder
of his life had not a little to do with the sad untime-
liness of his end.

It is to be supposed that Mr. McGregor planned for
himself a thorough collegiate course, and a theological
course, and then liberty to enter upon his much loved
work. This was the extent of preparation commonly
received by ministerial students at that time; and had
he, when he formed his plans, had anything more ex-
tensive in mind, he would hardly have pursued his
theological before his arts course. It is presumed that
he discovered what so many others have also discov-
ered, that for the ministry of Jesus Christ every pre-
paration possible is demanded. And sadly feeling his
further need, even after he had completed his Wood-
stock studies he resolved upon University work. The

STUDENT LIFE.

. His

or life,

airryin^ out of such a resolution recjuired persistent
grace an<l pluck. Mr. McGregor had no funds, and
but few friends of the funde<l sort on whom he might
rely for assistance. It meant for him that he nmst go
through a sclieme of work re< quiring the full time of
the average man, and at the same time he must earn
his bread. He was not daunted, however, ])ut bravelv
faced what he knew the years following would bring
to him. He entered the second year of University
work, taking the honor course in metaphysics, and
with it some required subjects of the first year. One
looking back at the curriculum of '78 will see that to
compass satisfactorily the work there laid down as
above indicated, would not give to the best of men
many spare days during the year. But Mr. McGregor
must take, in connection with it, the pastoral charge
of two churches. It will easily be seen that he was
thus greatly handicapped. He went personally every
second week to Whitby and Brooklin, and frequently
on the alternating Sunday, from inability to secure a
supply, leaving Toronto on Friday generally, and re-
turning Monday. His Sabbath work consisted of
three preaching services and a drive of between seven
and eight miles. Occasionally the pastoral work was
so pressing that much more extended draughts upon
his time were ::iade necessary. At one time he did
not begin his University work until after Christmas.
From his conception of the Christian ministry it could
not be otherwise than that he should give to his
church work good and honest service, whatever might
come of his studies, and that he gave such work those

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOK.

who enjoyed his ministry in 78 and 70 can ^ive glad
testimony. Go<l l^lessed him abunchintly, and many
were added to the churches. Ov Monday mornings
he would return to the city exhausted, and not until
the following day was he in any tit state to begin his
work. '

At the beginning of his last year in the University
he resigned the charge of the churches, that he might
have less care and more time to devote his energies
to the final struggle; but he found it necessary to
supply surrounding churches as vacancies occurred,
and finally he arrived at the end of his course, having
made a hard fight of it but finishing triumphant. He
was lauriated in Convocation Hall in May, 1881, to-
gether with J. H. Doolittle, P. K. Day foot, D. Grant,
and J. J. Baker, kindred spirits with whom he had
read and prayed and preached during many a year
of student labor. In a letter to a friend he makes
playful allusion to the final scene of his student life.
" Here am I sitting alone in the night looking to that
piece of parchment or pelt, seeking in vain for some
transmogrifying influence which, alas, never comes. If
that parchment be genuine sheepskin then I perceive
the wisdom of the Senate of the University in choos-
ing such significant material upon which to inscribe
degrees. In all likelihood they have also chosen, or
had suggested to them, the title of B.A. from the ex-
piring cry of the original owner of the wondrous
pelt." So ended the years of technical study — through
them all he had done well, and he entered upon his
Stratford pastorate a strong man well furnished.

STUDENT LIFE.

Some few chiimcterisucH of his University life will
be in place before bringing this chapter to a close. In
his mental make-up Bro. McGregor was nothing if not
logical ; yet in his habits of study strange to stiy he was
the most illogical of men. Restlessly nervous, he wouM
become fevered in his anxiety to accomplish his task,
and would read furiously very freijuently all the night
long. So conscientious was he that the prescribed
reading must be done at any cost, and it was done often
at the expense of that which ought to have been care-
fully guarded. Only an unusual physical vigor could
stand the strain, and he did not go unscathed.

The incessant toil of over pressing study is never in
itself conducive to pronounced spirituality. There are
very few students who have not to confess a sad de-
cadence of zeal and a manifest waning of the glow
and force of the religious impulse during a protracted
term of study. Not even do they escape whose atten-
tion is devoted almost exclusively to the study of
sacred things. Divinity students as well as others
must be on guard lest the light within them become
darkness. Our brother was an exception to this too
common rule. Through the long period of his devo-
tion to special studies his spiritual powers suffered no
eclipse. Indeed it is had upon very good testimony,
that in all that characterized his religious life he grew
daily and manifestly towards the ideal. His faithful-
ness to God's word, and his love for it, never weak-
ened through these years ; and those intimate with
his life knew him to be ever increasingly a lover of
Jesus Christ. He had passed the period of doubt and

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

lit

(

;|r

of questioning earlier than most men, and upon his
graduation his feet were upon the rock, to abide there
ever more. In this experience he owed much to his
early training, and surely he went to his work better
conditioned in every way than the graduate who has
still before him the encounter with the unrest of
doubt. Not that everything was clear to his spiritual
vision, by any means, and not that he had not his share
of perplexity ; but his faith had deepened wondrously,
and was unmovably rooted upon the Eternal ; so that
he had but one answer to his own or to another's in-
terrogation upon all matters affecting providence or
faith — " The day will declare it." Strong in this con-
clusion which he ha d found in the subsoil of Christian
thought, he was contented to go on every day with
bis day's work and have faith in God.

And here another thing should be said of him. He
sat at the feet of Dr. Young throughout his Univer-
sity career, and came through that ordeal with the
Christian life broadened and deepened, certainly with
no mark of any philosophy" upon him that would re-
move his thought from God. This statement is made
because something more tangible than hint has been
floating through air reflecting upon the tendency of
the late Dr. Young's philosophical teaching. Bro.
McGregor benefited vastly under his instruction, and
was accustomed to speak of him in terms indicating
his reverence for the man and his appreciation of the
irspiration of his instruction. ^

This chapter must now close, and as the last words
are lueing penned there comes to the writer the mem-

- ii

STUDENT LIFE.

ory of him who has left us just as he was when he
stepped from the restraints of college into the full
activities and responsibilities of manhood life. Student
habits, and years of absence from the conditions of his
earlier life, had left their impression upon him physi-
cally. The ruddy face had gone, and the horny hand.
Mingled with the lines of uncommon strength of char-
acter, which were always manifest, there were the in-
dications of sweetness and gentleness. Of stout
physical build still, yet he lacked the sturdiness of his
early manhood — flesh as abundant, but not muscular
as of yore. Through the blunder referred to else-
where he had allowed his clav, even while it w^as re-
fined perhaps, to deteriorate. Strong mentally even
at the first, he now had developed unusual mental
vigor, and was admitted facile princeps by all who
worked with him. He was no longer as we first
knew him, the retiring, blushing, self-depreciative
student ; but one who had become aggressive and as-
sertive, one who knew his powers and had trained
them for use, and did use them, always kindly and
gently, but with tremendous force, as we all know
when right was to be maintained, or any righteous
cause to be championed. As the Christian man how-
ever, first and last, he was distinguished. He entered
school filled with the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus:
he graduated, if suc'i a thing could be, a still more
simple-minded and humble man. He had gotten
wisdom and understanding, but characterizing him
through and through, in thought, word, and deed, was
the fear of the Lord his first and last acquisition.

CHAPTER III.

THE PASTORATE.

A.D. 1878-'80.

In attempting to write on the pastoral work of our
lamented brother, any one who has not been his con-
stant companion in labor must feel himself unequal to
the undertaking. The difficulty is greatly increased
by the excessive modesty which characterized his life.
The one who, above all others, knew his life and work
writes: "Mr. McGregor worked so quietly and had
such a humble estimate of himself and his work that
it is difficult to fix upon items of special interest.
Even with myself, although the tenderest confidence
existed between us, he would refer half-shrinkingly
to interesting matters in his work as if fearful that it
might seem like self-praise."

Another, from whom information has been sought,
writes : " He was such a reticent man that after a
whole day's visiting amongst his people he rarely
uttered a word about his experiences;" and the testi-
mony of a third is, that " his modesty made him slow
to feel that what related to himself would be of in-
terest to others." These are qualities which, excellent
in themselves, compel the biographer to leave the re-
cord much more barren than the life has been. Not^

THE PASTORATE.

withstanding this difficulty, enough can be written to
show that our brother possessed, in an unusual degree,
the elements of a true leader of God's hosts in each
and every phase of an office vested in one person by
the Great Head of the church, and termed bishop, elder,
presbyter and pastor — not different offices, as some
think, but different appellations designating the several
phases of the one heaven-appointed office, each signi-
ficantly setting forth a part of the leader's work, and
all combined presenting the sacred calling in its many-
sided character.

The qualities of mind and heart necessary to the
fulfilment of an office requiring such diversity of gifts
were, in an extraordinary degree, the endowment of
pastor McGregor. As bishop (in the Gospel concep-
tion of that term), how he labored to take heed unto
himself and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit
had made him bishop (R.V.), to feed the church of God,
which He purchased with His own blood ! He spared
neither time nor effort to prepare himself to give unto
the flock "the sincere milk" and "strong meat" of the
word of life. Publicly and from house to house his
ministry was such as to stimulate and encourage the
faintest desires after the better life, and feed the most
advanced Christian with wholesome diet As presby-
ter or elder, he manifested the true gravity and dignity
pertaining to his sacred calling. As pastor, he proved
himself a true shepherd, ever careful to imitate the
life of Him who is, in the highest sense, "the Shepherd
and Bishop of our souls."

The pastoral work of our beloved brother com-

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GBEGOR.

menced with the churches in Whitby and BrookHn,
on the 28th day of April, 1878 — less than one year
after his graduation from Woodstock College. In
Whitby he was publicly ordained to the ministry on
the sixth day of the following June. In this field he
labored in the Gospel until October, 1880. During
this pastorate the amount of work done by him was
simply prodigious. He preached three times every
Lord's day, did a large amount of other pastoral work,
and, at the same time, prosecuted his studies at che
University of Toronto ; and every part of his work
was thoroughly done. His fidelity to his work as a
student, and his mastery of the subjects of the course
pursued are not within the province of this chapter.
We are glad to be able to say that the faithful atten-
tion to his studies that gained for him the respectable
standing that was his, was never allowed to interfere
with the best possible preparation for his pulpit work.
So much was this the case, that his successor in the
field of his first pastorate writes : "By many of the
people here he is still looked upon as the 'Prince of
Preachers,' while as a pastor he endeared himself to
every one with whom he came in contact." Nor did
his class and pulpit preparation absorb all his time
and thought. In his note-book we find a detailed
account of the Christian experience and baptism of
sixteen persons during his short pastorate at Whitby
and Brooklin. Few persons appreciated the power of
the pulpit and the need of preparation for meeting its
exalted claims more than he; yet he regarded the
pastoral visitation which gave opportunities for

THE PASTORATE.

personal contact with souls, resulting in gathering into
the church of God "hand-picked fruit," as not one whit
less important, and perhaps even more important, than
the pulpit, and for this department of the pastoral
office he showed rare tact and ability. In his note-
book are to be found the following wise suggestions
which grew out of his own experience :

"Would it not be well in pastoral work, especially
among members of the church, to get from them the
time of their conversion, the ground of their hope, and
their Christian experience, difficulties and joys, etc.,
noting this down for future reference ? This would
keep in memory what it is well for pastors to know,
and what we otherwise should forget. It would help
us to help them, and would be a source of profit to us
in comparing the experiences of Christians, in helping
those in doubt, and in discerning the working of the
Spirit in the hearts of the unconverted." So thoroughly
was he acquainted with the experiences of his church
members, and so rare were his skill and tact in dealing
with the anxious and unconverted, that he must have
carried these suggestions into practice in his own work.

The success of his pastorate in Whitby is not to be
measured by the number added to the church roll
during his term of service, nor was the influence of
his life confined to the church to which he directly
ministered. The present pastor of these churches
writes, that "more than one, who are now members of
otlier churches in this town, remember him as the
instrumental cause of their conversion. His influence
was widely felt outside of his own congi*egation, and

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

I often hear him spoken of as a man of great piety
and singular winsomeness."

His resignation of the charge of these churches
in October, 1880, was caused solely by the conviction
that the closing studies of his University course must
have his undivided attention. "His resignation here,"
writes one that knows, "was received with profound
regret, while the great work he was afterwards per-
mitted to do in Stratford and Toronto was a source
of great rejoicing to the friends he left upon this
field." In January, 1881, a call came from the church
in Stratford, Ontario. After some hesitation, caused
by want of acquaintance with the field, the call was
accepted, on condition that he be permitted to com-
plete his course of studies in Toronto University be-
fore entering upon his work.

Shortly after accepting the call to Stratford, Mr.
McGregor received a letter from the Secretary of the
American Baptist Missionary Union, urging him to
accept an appointment to Japan, to superintend the
work of Bible translation. Coming just as he was
completing his University work, this call occasioned
considerable wavering in reference to his plans for
future work. But having already given his promise
to Stratford he felt constrained to abide by that
decision ; the more so perhaps as his thoughts had
been drawn towards India as the most desirable field
for missionary labor. During all his college course
there was a secret longing for and looking to India,
and had the way been open when he finished his
course, to India no doubt he would have gone.

THE PASTORATE.

He writes to a friend concerning the beginning of
his work in Stratford, in the following words: "I
wrote my last examination on the morning of May
the 23rd, and the evening of that day found me walk-
ing the streets of Stratford. My first pastoral duty
was the uniting in Hymen's bonds of two young lives
who had decided to continue the voyage of life in one
canoe." Auspicious beginning of five and one-lialf of,
perhaps, the happiest years of his bright and happy
life. On reaching the field he writes : "The cause
here is neither large nor strong. I think, however,
that there are in the church the elements of power,
and that the field is one where labor will not be in
vain. I think I shall like much to labor in Stratford."
With intense interest and Christlike consecration he
took up his work here, preaching publicly and pri-
vately. Three weeks after he entered upon his work
he writes : "I have visited over fifty families and have
not yet covered the field," Fifty families in three
weeks ! How does that compare with the work of
the ordinary pastor ? Yet he never appeared before
his people on Lord's day with unbeaten oil ; nor were
his pastoral visits formal calls with no higher motive
than to keep on popular terms with his congregation.

Pastor McGregor went to his pastorate prepared to
love the fllock over which the Ho^y Spirit made him
overseer, with the same kind of love which the Great
Shepherd Himself, whom he constantly sought to
imitate, manifested. Because he loved them he yearn-
ed to be helpful to them ; in order to help them he
must know them; and to know them he must be among

it ■

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

them, in their homes and at their work, when their
work would not be hindered by his presence.

One of his Stratford members gave me recently the
following incident, which deserves to be recorded as
a tribute to his memory ; it also serves to bring out
one of the essential characteristics of the true pastor.
The good brother, being a farmer, suffered severely
from a terrific hail-storm that destroyed all his crop.
The church on hearing of his loss collected quite a
sum of money for the impoverished brother, the pas-
tor taking an active part in the work. He drove ten
miles to visit his parishioner with the gift, and found
him downcast and discouraged. After a few words
of sympathy and cheer he threw off his coat, and
with the sunshine of his presence and the assistance
of his arm he spent the day with that brother in the
field, driving away his despondency and turning his
sorrow into joy. When seated in his carriage to
leave, he placed in the hand of him whose heart was
already overflowing with gratidude a roll of bank bills,
which scattered the few clouds that yet remained on
his financial sky. Next year, instead of the hail-
stone, came the sunshine and the gentle shower upon
this brother's crop, and at the next annual meeting of
the church, with gratidude to his brethren, especially
to his pastor, he placed the amount of money at the
disposal of the church. This body magnanimously
bestowed the amount upon the pastor, and thus the
bread cast upon the waters returned after many days.

The joy of his people was his joy, and if sorrow
or reverses darkened the home of any of them the

THE PASTORATE.

shadow crossed his threshold also. Even in his last
illness, when news came concerning two Stratford
homes that had been visited with sore trial, he had
brokenness of spirit to an alarming degree. For many
days he mingled prayer and tears in behalf of the
troubled ones. Again his heart was filled with joy
just as intense as the preceding sorrow, when vv'ord
come to him as he lay suffering in St. Luke's Hospital,
New York, that Stratford was enjoying a season of
revival. From the very beginning of his ministry in
Stratford he stole the hearts of the people, not with
the deceitful methods of a designing Absalom, but
with the magnetism of a life surcharged with the
spirit of Jesus the Christ. I cannot conceive it pos-
sible for any man to be more deeply entrenched in
the affections of any people than is the lamented D.
A. McGregor, even to-day, in the affections of he
people of Stratford.

Here, permit one of his honored deacons to speak :
"As a minister he was on the most cordial terms
with ministers of other denominations, and in meet-
ings of a union nature he took his place amongst
them with a grace and modest dignity peculiarly his
own. His preaching was characterized by intense
earnestness, profound reasoning and a clear logical
presentation of the truth. He relied upon no trick
of the would-be orator for effect, but on the living
truth of God, which he so faithfully proclaimed.
With earnest words and grave he reasoned of right-
ousness, temperance and judgment to come, and with
deep pathos and winning tenderness he besought men

HHH

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

to be reconciled to God ; while the doctrines of our
holy religion and the distinguishing tenets of the
denomination he loved so dearly and served so well
found in him an earnest champion and a valiant and
successful defender. But higli as he ranked as a
preacher, it was perhaps as a pastor that he even more
excelled. He was at once the wise and judicious
counsellor and the faithful and sympathetic friend.
The weak and the erring were encouraged and re-
proved by him with rare tact and discrimination. He
had the happy faculty of winning the esteem, love
and confidence of his flock to an unusual degree ; so
much so, that he was looked upon by all as a dear
personal friend. In social life, the sparkle and glow
of his ready wit and delicate humor made him a most
agreeable companion ; yet he never forgot that true
dignity which so well becomes the Christian minister,
and the unfailing result of intercourse with him was
to be lifted into a higher plane. With the duties of
the Secretaryship of the Home Mission Board and
the cares of the pastorate, his was a busy life ; yet he
was never too busy to respond to the call of duty,
or so engrossed with his OAvn cares as to be unmindful
of the cares of others. He was the very embodiment
of constancy and loyalty to what he believed to be
duty."

His ministry in Stratford from its very commence-
ment was one of power and blessing. Perpetual
manifestations of God's smile were the lot of pastor
and people. In addition to his regular work, he
organized a weekly meeting with the young men of

THE PASTORATE.

his church, for the purpose of assisting them in Bible
study, of helping them in their spiritual difficulties,
and of developing the desire and ability to attempt
and pursue Christian work. He was an ardent lover
of the young. They had in him a tender-hearted
sympathizer and a true friend. Whenever he met a
young man who gave any promise of power, he covet-
ed him for the gospel ministry.

He also conducted a normal class, comprising the
entire church membership, for the study of Bible
doctrine. Through his whole pastorate he urged upon
his people the necessity of being able to give to every
one that asked them a reason for their hope and belief,
and he spared no pains to assist them so to do. He
believed that no man should be a Baptist simply
because he happened to have been cradled in a Baptist
home, but rather that every one should have a " thus
saith the Lord" for his faith and practice ; and he was
determined, so far as his people were concerned, that
they should know what they believed and why they
believed it. The "sword of the spirit" was a tried
weapon in his own hand, and with remarkable skill
and power he wielded it. He labored that the
membership of his church also should be acquainted
with the word and should know how to use it.

His views of God's word were remarkaldy clear,
and his grasp of truth was that of a giant. His ability
to deal with men in every shade of spiritual difficulty
was marvelous. No honest inquirer could have an
interview with him without being benefited. Power
and ienderness were peculiarly blended in his nature.

Vi
r.

L .

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

Every one that entered into conversation with him was
at once captivated by the wonderful condjination of
Ids unique character. While he ^ave special attention
to the building of Christian character in those who
were within the fold, he by no means neglected those
that were without. Like his blessed Master, his heart
yearned over lost souls. He believed the teachings
of God's word in regard to eternal punishment
awaiting the finally impenitent, as well as in relation
to the blessed immortality of the saved. He shud-
dered at the doom of the wicked, and sought with
intense earnestness to pluck them as brands from
the burning. He was naturally of a buoyant spirit
and rarely depressed, but on these rare occasions the
cause almost invariably found expression in words
like these : " What a burden it would lift from life

could we

'* But trust that good will fall
At last — far off — at last to all."

But he never could find any scriptural ground for
such trust, though he sought it diligently. He read
widely in reference to " the larger hope," bringing the
utterances of men under the touchstone of God's word,
and having gone over the ground thoroughly he
remarked, " I find nothing in revealed truth to favor
' the larger hope.' "

He had unbounded faith in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ as the power of God unto the salvation of souls,
and he often expressed surprise that men would not
accept its provisions and secure its gifts. His feelings
in this regard are couched in Faber's beautiful lines :

THE PASTOKATE.

•' Soiils of men why will ye scatter
Like a crowd of frightened HJjeep ?
Findish hearts ! w hy will ye wander
From a love so true and deep ? "

He was restless to present the gospel to needy souls
on every possible occasion. Not only was he a lover
of souls, it pleiised God to make him essentially a
winner of souls. This was the business of his life.
Wooing men by his love, convincing them by his
logic, it was his joy to see many submit themselves to
Christ. In his note-book he writes : " Must we wait
for an introduction before speaking to a person about
his soul ? Must the watchman be introduced to a citi-
zen before he can tell him that his house is on fire?"
Upon this principle he ever acted. He waited not
for an introduction, but in the market, in shop or
store, in the banker's office or in the livery stable,
wherever there was a soul he saw an opportunity for
presenting the gospel and he took advantage of it.
Bright and cheerful though he was, there was, never-
theless, in his manner and conversation a pleasing
seriousness that caused one to expect him to talk of
Christ and His gospel, and that made it easy for him
to turn any conversation into serious channels. It was
interesting to watch with what delicacy and tact he
would approach people in regard to their souls' in-
terest. Barriers of pride, haughtiness and sullenness
gave way at once, and stern business men and ultra-
fashionable women, not a few, have been known to
put away all reserve, and converse freely with him of
doubts and hopes and felt needs.

In conversation on difficulty in reaching men, he

■raa

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

was once asked if he ever met with a rebuff. " Why
no," he replied, " I don't think I ever have," and it
seemed to dawn upon him for the first time that it
was strange that he had not. People trusted him in-
stinctively and were led, almost unconsciously, to re-
veal to him on slightest acquaintance thoughts and
aspirations that are carefully guarded, in many cases,
even from those of one's own household. Two exam-
ples of this spontaneous confidence may be given-
Passing hurriedly along the street one morning this
soul-lover overtook an old man whom he had seen in
church a short time before. He shook hands with the
old gentleman, asking about his health. Appealingly,
tremuously the answer came — " Mr. McGregor, I wish
it were as well with my soul as it is with my body."
Briefly and tenderly the way of life was set before
this troubled one. Passers by guessed not the import
of the earnest words exchanged by those two men on
the public highway that morning, but a soul entered
into peace. Two or three years afterwards word came.
" Old Mr. R. passed away triumphantly saying, * I am
going home.'"

Another day, on his way to the post-office, he met
an Indian evidently in great distress of mind. Before
he 1 ad time to speak the poor alarmed fellow said
to him, " Can you forgive my sins, sir ?" " No," was
the reply, " only God can forgive sins," and he quoted
several passages in relation to forgiveness. " Well,
said the excited man, " that must be true, I know it
is true (this Indii.n was intelligent, and had some
knowledge of the Bible), • it I have just come from

THE PASTORATE.

tlie priest, and he told me that he alone could forgive
my sins and I would have to pay ten dollars. I hadn't
that much money and he said I must go to hell then,
and I am so afraid of the big fire." Drawing a silver
rosary out of his pocket he threw it into the street,
saying, " I'll never confess to the priest again." His
new spiritual adviser told him, if he was sincere in
his determination to seek forgiveness, he would like
to retain the rosary as a pledge of his sincerity. The
Indian, now quiet and composed, said he meant what
he promised. After some searching they found the
rosary in the dust, and Mr. McGregor preserved it in
memory of this trophy of Divine grace. He never
heard of his new friend after this; but he often spoke
of him and wondered if in " that day " he will be
found among the number who shall have escaped the
" big fire." He was instant in season and out of season.
The writer has vivid recollections of him a few weeks
before his last illness as he stood on a railway plat-
form, awaiting the coming train, aixd with a counte-
nance aglow with earnestness and eyes moist with soul
emotion he sought to direct an anxious soul into the
way of salvation. The soul struggling towards the
light was sure to be assisted in his company. His
own hope had but a fet ble beginning, and the memory
of that fact made him very careful lest his words to
the anxious should have a tendency to " break the
bruised reed or quench the smoking flax." "I seemed,"
he said, referring to his own conversion, " to have
grasped a thread only and all the way home I feared
lest it should break ; but it held." He also knew^ in

If)

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

common with other true Jhristians what doubts were.
In an old letter he writes, "I can understand the
blinding power of feeling, how it can make the most
living experience of life appear unreal. Therefore I
cannot wonder that doubts should sometimes rise with
bewildering power, causing one to be suspicious of the
reality of the most incontestable experiences of life."
He often said that he would be very fearful for the
life that had never known a doubt, saying

*' There is no shadow
Where there is no sun."

He prized John's Epistles and recommended them to
the fearful. " There is," said he, " so much to encour-
age and assure in the oft reiterated * we know.' "

Faithful and mighty as a preacher, and effective as
a winner of souls, he was also wise and considerate as
a disciplinarian. In dealing with difficulties between
members of the church he never permitted any feel-
ing of sensitiveness or delicacy on his own part to
prevent the carrying out of our Lord's instructions in
Matthew xviii : 15-17. If any were unwilling to take
these steps he regarded it as conclusive evidence that
spiritual life was at a very low ebb. Naturally he
was very sensitive, but in every thing that pertained
to the welfare of the church he lost sight of self en-
tirely. He did not look for offences, and they rarely
came. Did he give offence himself, he lost no time in
seeking an interview and offering apology if he were
in fault. Nor did he feel that this course of conduct
belittled his calling or detracted from his proper per-

THE PASTORATE.

sonal dignity. Writing to a friend in reference to
church matters he says : " I think there would be
fewer difficulties between pastor and people if we, as
pastors, so lived as to impress our people with this
thought, that we are constantly about our Master's
business."

As he brought power to the pulpit and wisdom to
the counsels of his brethren, so he brought sunshine
and consolation into the home of the sick and the
otherwise afflicted. Among those who were blessed
with his cheerful and helpful visits on such occasions
his memory is very fragrant.

During his pastorate in Stratford the war against
intemperance waged hotly, and this hater of all evil
threw himself into the fight with great enthusiasm.
He had watched the results of intoxicating liquors in
the lives of men until his heart grew sick. It was a
rule in his home, that no beg'^;ar or " tramp " should
be turned hungry from his door. While the physical
wants were being supplied he busied himself in find-
ing the cause of their impoverished or homeless con-
dition, never failing to direct them to Him who,
" though he was rich yet for our sakes became poor,
that we through his poverty might be made rich," and
who prepared a home for the wanderer and opened
wide its door. Almost without exception every such
case, and they were very many, he found to be the
product of drink. He opposed the evil on every pos-
sible occasion, by precept and example, and one of the
most humiliating things to him in his last illness was
to be compelled to take brandy as a stimulant. " Oh

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

■'. i

it ;
11 ^

'«

how I hate the stuff ! " he would exclaim, and he did
hate it both for what it is in itself and for what it is
doing. >

During his work in the College it gave him great
joy to be permitted to return to either of the fields on
which he had labored, the only trouble being the diffi-
culty of parting again with the people, many of whom
were his spiritual children and as dear to him as his
own life. A fuw days before his death, speaking of
the prospect of returning to his work in the autumn
(as the physicians hoped), he remarked : " If it were
merely a question of personal pleasure the pastorate
would be more inviting"; but he felt that the College
work presented a broader field of usefulness. Once
again, while in the hospital, he spoke of the pastorate
with great tenderness. It seemed to give him pecu-
liar pleasure to take a backward glance at the years
thus spent ; not because he gloried in the work done,
but because he rejoiced in having been allowed the
privilege of doing it. As to his estimate of his own
work he wrote : " In some few things I think my
heart does not condemn me, but I should rejoice
in recovery if so be that I might redeem the time.
Still I have decided not to mourn always over past
failures, but to strive to find rest and comfort in the
truth that salvation is all of grace and not at all of
works."

Notwithstanding his wonderful adaptability to
every department of the pastor's work, it ought to be
recorded for the benefit of others, that during the
first year of his pastorate a natural timidity, increased

THE PASTORATE.

it
)f

bo
)e

by a clear apprehension of awful responsibility, gave
him more than a little trouble. He often walked to
and fro for some minutes in front of the house he
was about to visit, seeking to overcome the natural
shrinking from meeting and conversing with the in-
mates ; but he struggled against this feeling until
family visitation became to him, perhaps, the most
delightful and to his people the most helpful depart-
ment of the many-sided office. He loved the pastorate
and in all its departments he magnified his office..
With adoring gratitude he thanked Christ Jesus the
Lord that he counted him faithful, appointing him to
His ser /ice. A keen sense of his own un worthiness
was ever present with him, but the fullest apprecia-
tion of the worthiness of Jesus Christ and his true
relation to Him was a large factor in making him
the humble, faithful, and successful pastor that he
was. "He is the best man," says Dr. Sti:art — "the
fullest of God and of human brotherhood — in whose
heart is deepest written, ' Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain.'" No one could be long in Mr. McGregor's
company without feeling that this precious truth was
deeply written on his heart, and that its impress
found expression in the actions of his consecrated life.
Among his papers are to be found four sermons, and
more than twice that number of partly prepared
plans of sermons, on this soul-touching text — ''Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain." '

The sentiment here expressed will be confirmed by
the follow^ing extract from a letter received a few
weeks ago from the beloved and sorely bereavetl

ii 1 f

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

partner of his youth, and sharer of his joys and sor-
rows : "I went into his room one day and found him
deeply absorbed in thought. He said, *I am working-
over that text, * Worthy is the Lamb.' How wonder-
ful it is !' Going into the study on another occasion
to put his papers in order, I picked up a scrap written
over with the words 'dear Jesus,' 'dear Jesus,' oft re-
peated. I scanned them with tender reverence, for well
I knew that the pen had unconsciously written the
sentiment of the writer's heart as he studied and exulted
in the matchless beauty of the person and character
of Christ."

Seven months after Mr. McGregor settled down to
liard work in Stratford a fresh impetus was given
to the work by his marriage, on the 28th day of
December, 1881, to Miss Augusta J. Hull, eldest
daughter of James H. Hull, Esq., of Princeton, Ontario.
This new home set up in the midst of his people had
in it all the elements of an ideal home, and from it
emanated influences that are not yet lost upon the
homes of the congregation. The already happy home
was made happier by the advent, on the 28th of
September, 1882, of their first-born daughter, Edith
Louise. In all, five children were born into the family,
two in Stratford and three in Toronto : Gertrude
Clementina on May 13th, 1884; Arthur Robert on
July 8th, 1886 ; Enid (who died the day of her birth),
July 2nd, 1888 ; and Enid Augusta, June 14th, 1889.
On September 7th, 1888, only two months and five
days after the death of the first Enid, the parents
were called upon to suflTer a calamity and a shock of

THE PASTORATE.

extraordinary Severity. Their bright, their beautiful, ^
their promising and only boy, Arthur, the delight and
hope of their hearts, was suddenly snatched from their
embrace by that fell disease diphtheria. That wound
was never healed. Under it Mr. McGregor almost
succumbed ; and such was the prolonged pain of it
that, to his dying day, he scarcely ever could trust
himself to speak of it to any one.

Reference has been m.ade to the increase of joy
that came into the home when Edith Louise was born,
but pen cannot record the ecstasy with which the
afflicted father, prostrated in a New York hospital,
received the tidings that Edith Louise was, in her
eighth year, horn again. A short time before his
departure he wrote to his wife the following beautiful
sentences concerning the loved ones who passed
through their happy home to the happier one over
yonder: "I often think of our little ones who are
in the upper fold. Some day, O some day we shall
see them, and know them, and they shall not be igno-
rant of us. They and we shall rejoice together, and
our joy no one will take from us." This joy is now
his. Reader, will you join them and share the joy
which is unspeakable and full of glory ?

Although the pastorate of the Stratford church
was ample to fill the mind and tax the energies of
any man who could content himself with an ordinary
share of service, he by no means confined his work
to Stratford. The village of Sebringville was one of
the places that shared in his extra labors. As he
was sitting in his study one day in the spring of

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

1884, an elderly gentleman called to say that the
little German church in the village of S. was becoming
so weak that they found it very difficult to sustain
the ministry of the word, and that many of the young
people were anxious for English preaching. The pur-
pose of his visit was to see if it were possible for
Mr. McGregor to visit them occasionally. In this
request he promptly and cheerfully acquiesced, visit-
ing the village frequently during the summer; and
in November of that same year, assisted by members
of his own church, he held a series of special meetings,
which resulted in a very gracious and genuine
awakening. On December 14th, 1884!, fourteen happy
converts were baptized as a partial result of this work,
and the little struggling cause received an impetus
which has continued unto this day. His own work
at home was never allowed to flag. Constant
evidences of the divine approval were his joy ; but
the most remarkable ingathering of souls followed
the special work at Sebringville, thus proving that in
more ways than one there is that scattereth and yet
increaseth.

Added to his manifold duties as pastor and mis-
sionary was the work of preparing the notes on the
Sunday School lessons for the Canadian Baptist,
which work he prosecuted to the satisfaction and
profit of all his readers ; and yet again his brethren,
evidently recognizing the fact that his many and
brilliant talents were accumulating by their constant
use, pressed upon him, in April, 1884,an appointment to
thii Home Mission secretaryship for Ontario. His

THE PASTORATE.

make-up was such that he found it exceedingly diffi-
cult to refuse to bear any burden tending to advance
the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom. On this new
field he saw a great work to be done and he bent all
the reserved energy of his many-sided life to its
accomplishment. This appointment was no mere sine-
cure. The labor and anxiety entailed by it were suffi-
cient to tax the energies of an ordinary man with
nothing else to attend to, and the work he did in con-
nection with this appointment was simply enormous.
All his former work in the pastorate he continued,
with the exception of his Young Men's Bible-class
which he was compelled, very reluctantly, to abandon.

The more familiar he became with the state of the
mission fields, the stronger grew the conviction that a
secretary who was at the same time a pastor could not
do justice to this work. "We need," he said, "a
strong, earnest man to give his whole time and atten-
tion to the development of our Home Mission work,
opening up new fields, strengthening weak causes, etc."
He used every possible effort to bring this about, and
when, in the autumn of 1884, Rev. Alexander Grant
was appointed General Superintendent of Home Mis-
sions, no one rejoiced more than he. The appointment
of Mr. Grant may not have lightened the work of the
Secretary very materially, for the correspondence
steadily increased, but he felt that there was at least
a sharing of the responsibility.

As in the pastorate he endeared himself to every
member of his church, so in the secretaryship of Mis-
sions he endeared himself to every missionary on the

MEMOIK OF D. A. M GREGOR.

field. The hard-working, poorly-paid, oft-discouraged
missionary found in the secretary a true sympathizer
— an invaluable friend and helper. The onerous duties
of this office he performed with marvellous skill and
ability. Should any misunderstanding arise between
the Board and one of its missionaries, the presence of
this man would prove as oil upon the troubled waters,
or even a letter from his facile pen would turn the
storm into a calm. In viewing the proud position held
by the Home Mission work of the denomination to-
day, the name of Daniel Arthur McGregor must be
remembered as a powerful factor in attaining to it.

In the year 1885 Mr. Timpany, of precious memory,
died, and the call came forth for some one to fill the
gap in our ranks in India. Some time passed with
no response, and Mr. McGregor felt the pressure to
such a degree that in complete self-abandonment ho
gave himself up to God's disposal with India in view.
He pleaded with the Lord for direction. The convic-
tion grew upon him that he should offer himself to
the Foreign Mission Board. He laid the matter be-
fore his brethren, and though but a short time before
they warmly resented the approaches of another
church that had called him, they now showed a wil-
lingness to release him, though with sad hearts. Hav-
ing written to his brother in reference to the care of
his little girls, he went to Woodstock to offer himself
to the Board. While there some subtle influences
arising fron circumstances outside his control changed
his purpose entirely. The desire to go to India was
completely removed and he returned to his home and

THE PASTORATE.

his charge with mind at rest. He felt impelled to re-
trace his steps, and subsequent events confi>- led him
in the assurance that he did right. His people in
Stratford gladly welcomed him back, knowing how
unflinchingly he ever moved in the pathway of duty
as it was made plain to him. They rightly judged
that these rapid changes in his plans were not the
outcome of a vacillating mind, but that God was prov-
ing His servant.

Notwithstanding the large amount of time and
thought that he gave to the work of the kingdom
outside the limits of his own pastorate, his work at
home was never neglected and the blessing of success
was never withheld. During the five and one-half
years of his ministry in Stratford, it was his privilege
to receive into the fellowship of the church by bap-
tism one hundred and twenty-one persons, and by
letter and experience sixty-two. "He was repeatedly
approached by other churches offering larger material
support," writes one of his honored deacons, " but
believing his work here not yet completed to all of
them he turned a deaf ear, and amply did he feel
repaid in the rich blessing that attended his ministry.
But when, on the Oth day of June, 1886, the appoint-
ment to a professorship in Toronto Baptist College
was with such unanimity pressed upon his acceptance,
he resigned his pastorate. The church recognizing in
him a peculiar fitness for the work to which he had
been called released him from his charge by passing
unanimously the following resolution : " Whereas, our
beloved pastor, Rev. D. A. McGregor, B. A., has tendered

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

his resignation of the pastorate of this church to
accept a professorship in the Toronto Baptist College,
Resolved, that we accept the same, recognizing as we
do in him an eminent fitness for the performance of
the duties of the responsible position to which in the
providence of God he has been called.

" But while we accept his resignation, we cannot
but give expression to our feelings of deep regret at
the severance of the tie that has bound together pas-
tor and people in the Master's service for the last five
years, notwithstanding that efforts have been made to
woo and win him from us by those in a position to offer
higher pecuniary inducements. Gratefully we review
the frequent tokens of Divine approval which have
marked the union, and we trust that in our memories
will ever linger fragrant recollections of a life that
has been amongst us a constant proof of the truth
and power of those principles which he has so faith-
fully proclaimed ; and we can ssure him that our
earnest prayers will follow him to his new field of
labor ; and our hope and trust is, chat God's richest
blessings may be abundantly bestowed upon him, his
partner in life and his family in the home to which

they go." , .::-::_.._.,....^{ /::....:.

His future career was watched with much interest
by his Stratford friends, and when the principalship
of the College was conferred upon him none were
more sincere in their congratulations than they. Dur-
ing his long and wasting illness "prayer was made
earnestly of the church unto God for him," that,
if in accordance with God's will, his valuable life

THE PASTORATE.

might be spared to his family, to the denomination,
and to the work to which he had been called ; and, if
not, that like gold purified by fire he might through
suffering be fitted for nobler service in the higher
sphere. And when the sad news of his death came
with all its crushing force, even then, in that sad hour,
we could look up through our tears and thank God
for such a life, and that more than five years of it
were lived amongst us. Truly " the memory of the
just is blessed."

At a special meeting of the church it was unani-
mously resolved that pastor Macdonald and deacon
Sharman represent the church at his funeral in
Toronto. But such was the sympathy manifested,
that six others volunteered to accompany them to
take one more look at the face they loved so well and
to follow his remains to their last resting place.

He rests from his labors, but his works follow him.

CHAPTER IV.

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

A. D. 18S6-'90.

For some years before Mr. McGregor's appointment
to a professorship in Toronto Baptist College there
had been a growing conviction among those best ac-
quainted with his intellectual and spiritual capabili-
ties and attainments, that he could most efficiently
serve the denomination and the cause of Christ in the
professoriate of the College. It will interest readers
of this memoir to know that long before Dr. Fyfe,
who beyond most men knew what was in the men
w^ith whom he came into close contact, had marked
Mr. McGregor as one whom the Lord would use in
carrying forward the educational work to which he
himself had given the best years of his life. An
hono:-'ed minister, who served as theological examiner
at the Institute the year of Mr. McGregor's graduation
from the Theological Department, has kindly furnished
UR with some reminiscences of the final examination
in Systematic Theology : " I have a most vivid recol-
lection," he writes, " of that examination. The room
was crowded with visitors and a large number of

(66)

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

pastors were present. The examination was very
thorough. The answers given by the class were usu-
ally prompt and correct ; but every now and then a
question was put that staggered them, and one after
another acknowledged Ins inability to answer it, until
it came to D. A. McGregor; and every time such a ques-
tion came he struggled with it. At such a time every
eye in the room was upon him, and the examiners
and professors were listening with deepest attention.
Dr. Fyfe and Dr. Cooper were sitting near me. I
very well remember the satisfaction and pleasure
manifested in the countenances of these two brethren
when the answers were given. In speaking with Dr.
Fyfe after the examination was over, [ asked him if
Bro. McGregor had been as successful in the study of
other subjects as in the study of Theology. He an-
swered : ' He is a good student, he has made satisfac-
tory progress in every subject he has taken up.' I
expressed my great satisfaction with the examination
of the class and added that I was especially pleased
with the answers of Mr. McGregor and the intellec-
tual power manifested therein. * Yes,' said he, * taking
him all in all he has the best mind yet given to us.'
After characterizing his mind as ' strong, clear and
well-balanced,' he expressed the hope that Mr. Mc-
Gregor might be long spared to serve the cause of
God."

One who was present gives the following account
of a conversation that occurred during the session of
the Ottawa Association at Thurso, about 1877: "It
was in the evening. A number were sitting around

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GRpGOR.

chatting over the day's work. Dr. Fyfe had spoken
on the subject so dear to his heart — Education — at
the evening meeting, and continued in the same strain.
In speaking of Woodstock the question came up as
to whom he would like to have succeed him in the
principalship in the event of his being compelled by
failing health to relinquish his work. Looking around,
he said, ' I would like to see D. A. McGregor principal.'"
It is probable that Dr. Fyfe often expressed himself
in this way ; for on the occasion of Mr. McGregor's
appointment to the principalship a minister in a dis-
tant province wrote him, congratulating him on his
appointment and referring to " Dr. Fyfe's prophecy
and its fulfilment." Though Mr. McGregor was very
reticent on such matters, one in whom he confided re-
members his account of a conversation with Dr. Fyfe
shortly before he entered upon his University course.
As the two were journeying eastward from Woodstock
by rail to meet their Sunday appointments, " Dr. Fyfe
crossed over to Mr. McGregor's seat, sat beside him,
and asked him if he had decided as to his course for
the future. Mr. McGregor said he had decided to
take the metaphysical course in the University of
Toronto and after that he would probably take a pas-
torate. Dr. Fyfe was opposed to his students' spend-
ing time on a University course and Mr. McGregor
expected to receive counsel along the line of disap-
proval ; but not so. Dr. Fyfe remained silent a few
moments and tlien said ; ' Bro. McGregor, you know
my views on this matter, as a rule. In your case I
have come to think that you will be doing a wise

PROFESSOK AND PRINCIPAL.

thing in taking the metaphysical course. Have you
ever thought of teaching as a life-work ? ' Mr. Mc-
Gregor said he had not, and then the Doctor requested
and urged that he should work with a view to teach-
ing Theology, encouraging him with the statement
that, in his opinion, he possessed peculiar fitness for
such work, and suggesting the possibility of his some
day taking up the work that he must soon relinquish.
He was so given to undoi. estimating himself, that such
words from Dr. Fyfe were a grateful surprise to him,
and years after Dr. Fyie had passed away, and when
Mr. McGregor was happily at work in a pastorate
with no other thought vhan that the pastorate would
be his life-work, lie would refer to that conversation
in the car, humbly grateful that one whom he so much
revered should have cherished such thoughts concern-
ing him."

When the chair of Homileiics in Toronto Baptist
College became vacant in 1886, through the decision
of Rev. J. W. A. Stewart, then pastor of the Hamilton
church, to remain in the pastorate, the Faculty of
Toront' ■ Baptist College naturally felt deep solicitude
as to til efficient filling of the position. At the
close of a chapel service, Dr. Castle announced Mr.
Stewart's decision, and asked, in an informal way,
who would be the next man. One of the profes-
sors answered with much confidence and with-
out hesitation, " D. A. McGregor." In this answer
the other members of the Faculty concurred. The
sentiments of the Faculty with reference to Mr.
McGregor's fitness for the position were informally

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

I ■

I*'

communicated to one or two members of the com-
mittee of the Senate, whose duty it was to take the
initiative in the matter of filling vacancies. Here also
the suggestion met with the heartiest approval. The
I'ecommendation was made by the committee at the
April meeting of the Senate, and Mr. McGregor was
unanimously nominated to the Board of Trustees.
Just at this time a crisis had been reached in the
history of Woodstock College. After prolonged con-
ference between representatives of Woodstock College
and of Toronto Baptist College, it had been decided,
with the approval of Senator McMaster, that strenuous
efforts should be made for the endowment and equip-
ment of Woodstock College, and that one of the seven
professorial salaries that Senator McMaster was pay-
ing in connection with Toronto Baptist College, should
be used for the support of a principal at Woodstock.
Professor Stewart's withdrawal left a Faculty of six.
If one of the remaining professors should accept the
principalship of Woodstock College, the chair of
Homiletics could be filled, and the Board would
unanimously appoint the nominee of the Senate.
Strong pressure was brought to bear upon Prof. T. H.
Rand, D.C.L., whose rich educational experience was
thought to make him preeminently the man for the
crisis, by Senator McMaster and others ; and, though
he was reluctant to relinquish his work in Toronto
Baptist College, it was confidently expected that he
would accept the Woodcock principalship. Meanwhile
Mr. McGregor was for weeks kept in suspense. Sym-
hizinar with him in w^hat must have beer

path

greatt

PROFESSOR AND PRi., ""AL.

or less def^ree of anxiety, one of the professors wrote
him imparting such information as he possessed with
respect to the probability of a speedy settlement of the
matter in favor of his appointment. In a letter by
way of reply, Mr. McGregor expressed his gratitude
for the interest and sympathy shown, and while not
denying that the suspense was somewhat unpleasant,
said that he was by no means weary of the pastorate,
and that he could be content to continue in that work.
He was no doubt strongly attracted by the professor-
ship ; but even after his nomination by the Senate
he would probably have submitted without a murmur,
had providential circumstances prevented his appoint-
ment, and would have continued the quiet, unassuming,
devoted, self-sacrificing, wise, successful pastor that
for years he had been. Dr. Rand's acceptance of the
Woodstock principalship soon made Mr. McGregor's
appointment certain ; but the next meeting of the
governing bodies of the College was deferred for some
time and the suspense continued. His appointment
was made with much confidence and heartiness, and
believing that thus most efficiently he could serve his
Master, he promptly accepted the position.

The chair of instruction to which he was at iirsfc
called, that of Homiletics, was not that which he
would probably have chosen, or for which his peculiar
gifts and attainments best fitted him. But he cheer-
fully undertook the work and did it with complete
success. In addition to the work of his own depart-
ment Professor McGregor gave instruction, during the
session 1886-'87, to classes in Rhetoric and Oratory

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GBEGOR.

KM' !'

and in Mental Science. By the next year Dr. W. N.
Clarke's resignation had reduced the Faculty to live
members. At this juncture it was decided to extend
and systematize the College course in the interpreta-
tion of the English Bible, and Dr. Mac Vicar having
been placed in charge of this work, Professor McGre-
gor v/as asked to take, in addition to his work in
Homiletics, the department of Apologetics, which had
formerly been assigned to Dr. MacVicar. This de-
partnient was no doubt far more in accord with his
tastes and aptitudes than that to which he was origi-
nally appointed. He cheerfully accepted the burden,
and applied himself most diligently to the work of
the new department. His mind was a highly meta-
physical and logical one, and he felt entirely at home
in defending the truth against its. adversaries and in
overthrowing the bulwarks of error.

In 1888, Dr. Castle's health having already begun
to fail, a redistribution of the work of the College
was recommended by a committee of which Dr. Castle
was a member, and was determined upon by the Sen-
ate. In this redistribution Professor McGregor was
requested to take the department of Systematic The-
ology in conjunction with Apologetics. It is needless
to say that this change of work was wholly unsought
by Professor McGregor. But none the less, he must
have felt that now at last he had the department in
which he was capable of doing the most efficient ser-
vice, and to which he would gladly give the remainder
of his life. He threw himself with great enthusiasm
into his work, and although he was permitted to labor

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

only for one brief year after the change had been
made, it was a year of strenuous effort crowned with
success.

From the first, Professor McGregor enjoyed the
liighest respect and esteem of Faculty and students.
We all felt that we had among us one of the choicest
spirits, a man of keen, penetrating, comprehensive
intellect, of adequate scholarship, of profound con-
victions, of absolute loyalty to the truth, an unselfish,,
warm-hearted, thoroughly loveable man. The students
were enthusiastic in their admiration. As Secretary
of the Home Mission Society, he had much dealing
with the students with reference to Home Mission
work, and in this relation, as well as in others, he
inspired the fullest confidence. When he led in the
daily worship, or took part in the monthly missionary
meetings of the College, it was with power and in
demonstration of the Spirit. As a member of the
Executive of the Fyfe Missionary Society, his counsel
was always most helpful. In the meetings of the
Faculty, while he showed no disposition to unduly
urge his own views, and was for the first year or two
more reticent than might have seemed desirable, it
was soon evident that he had deep convictions of his
own, and that he was ready at the right time to make
his influence profoundly felt along the lines of educa-
tional policy. As a member of the Senate, he was
fearless in advocating the views he had reached and
in criticising what seemed to him unwise and harmful
measures. The utterances of few members of that
body carried with them more of weight than his.

jt^

HI'

I !»

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

. /

Professor McGregor had an intense conviction of
the supreme importance to the denomination and to
the cause of Christ of the efficient maintenance of To-
ronto Baptist College. Any scheme that involved, or
seemed to him to involve, a subordination of theologi-
cal to other work, was sure to find in him a deter-
mined opponent. The theological course should, he
thought, be made richer and broader ; an adequate
number of chairs should be maintained ; and a library,
not simply commensurate with the immediate needs
of the students but so rich in sources as to furnish in-
ducement for learned research, should be provided :
such in brief was his policy as regards our work in
theological education. Not that he for a moment
doubted the value of academic and Arts work — few
men had a higher appreciation than he had of literary
culture in and for itself and especially as a prepara-
tion for theological study ; but with him the first and
most pressing duty of the denomination lay in mak-
ing the best possible provision for the theological
training of students for the ministry. He believed
that suitable provision should be made for the theolo-
gical instruction not simply of well endowed and well
trained men, but of men of inferior ability and infe-
rior literary culture as well. He felt deeply, as we all
must feel, the urgent need of a large increase in the
number of young men consecrating themselves to the
work of the ministry and submitting themselves to
the most thorough training within their reach. He
shared with others the conviction that a far larger
proportion of the best life in our churches should be

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

.76

consecrated to the ministry; an<i lie believed that
much could be accomplished in this direction by the
earnest, persistent efforts of professors, pastors and
others. While he laid great stress on intellectual pre-
paration for the work of the ministry, he laid even
greater stress on moral and spiritual preparation. The
slightest deviation from moral rectitude, or the slight-
est manifestation of any other than the highest and
noblest aims and motives, destroyed whatever satis-
faction he would otherwise have felt in the most bril-
liant intellectual gifts. Yet his keenness to detect
blemishes did not make him censorious or unsympa-
thetic. On the contrary, when he perceived a fault in
a brother, he was impelled by a desire to do all in his
power, by sympathetic, helpful counsel, and by prayer
for and with him, to secure amendment.

As Home Mission Secretary, Professor McGregor
had become widely known and had l:;een l)rouglit into
intimate relations with many ministers and active
layman throughout the country. As he continued to
hold this position during the first two years of his
College career, he received frequent visits and still
more frequent letters from brethren and churches in
need of counsel. Such labor, always cheerfully be-
stowed, could not fail to absorb much of his time and
strength.

While occupying the professor's chair he preached
almost as nmch as if he had been pastor. He loved
the pulpit and did not have it in his heart to refuse
to his brethren in the ministry the help that they
were very ready to solicit. Sununer and winter,

•■-\

^'1
i

^' m

MEMOIR OF 1). A. M GllEGOR.

almost without intermission, lie toiled day and night,
seven days in the week. Long before his health had
perceptibly Inoken, he was earnestly warned against
subjecting himself to such severe and constant sti'ain.
But, alas ! the v/arning was not heeded. To the very
last, his powerful will forced his exhausted and pro-
testing body and mind to fulfil engagements that
should never have been made.

When Dr. John H. Castle — renowned and venera-
ble name ! — had been led by declining health to resign
the Pri^icipalship of Toronto Baptist College in the
spring of 1 880, all eyes seem to have been turned at
once to Professor McGregor as ^' e most available
man for the position. It is a source of satisfaction to
one of his colleagues to remember that, before he had
heard it suggested by any one else, he expressed to
members of the Senate his conviction tliat, under all
the circumstances, this would be the best appointment
that could be made. His deep convictions as to the
importance of the theological work, the high esteem
in which he was held by Faculty and students, his
thorough acquaintance with the denomination and its
needs, and the large measure of confidence that was
accorded to him by his brethren throughout the de-
nomination, along with the gifts and graces that
qualified him for the Professor's chair, made it certain
that his appointment to the Principalship would be
hailed with delight by the constituency of the College.
This expectation was more than realized. There was
general rejoicing that the position which Dr. Castle
had so ably and successfully filled was henceforth to

;

PROFESSOU AND PRINCIPAL.

be occupied by this rising yoang Canadian tin ologian.
L(;ttei's flowed in upon him from all parts of Canada,
and fr(ym several places in the United States, expres-
sive of th< liiofhest satisfaction. The enthusiasm of
the studeiits was unbounded. Alas ! what seemed to
be the opening up of a most brilliant and useful career
as leader in the theological education of our denomi-
nation in Canada was really the end of a short but
singularly beautiful and useful life of Christian ser-
vice.

The loss of his only son, an .attractive and promis-
ing child of three years, in the summer of 1888, was
a severe blow to Professor McGregor. This, along
with other sorrows and anxieties, almost prostraterl
him, and the College year of 1888-'89 w^as thus one of
consuming toil amid manifold trials and afflictions.
The strain on his nervous system must have been
enormous. The disease that finally proved fatal nmst
have been already doing its secret work, and was no
doubt aggravated by overwork and anxiety. Those
who were with him from day to day could see only
too plainl}^ that he was " burning the candle at both
ends." What seemed to be an iron constitution gave
way. The last illness and death of the beloved Prin-
cipal shall be described in another chapter.

The follow^ing description of Mr. McGregor's private
life during this period could only have been written
by one who shared with him day by day the joys and
the sorrows of life : " At the time of his appointment
to the Principalship and several times after — once or
t ice wdiile lying in the hospital — he said ' one of the

MEMOIR OF I). A. M GREOOlt.

f ,'1

3 1

1^'

» 'A

happiest thou^'lit.s to mc in connection with this up-
pointniont is tliis : I will now l)e in a position, influen-
tially and financially, to do something for the aged
men in our denomination. I do so long to see them
so placed that their declining years will not be made
painful hy want and dependence upon others. He
said, that at our Conventions, where young men were
pressing to the front, and so few old men were heard,
he often felt oppressed with tlie fear that we might
become so engrossed in educational and missionary
interests as to forget the fathers in Israel — a most
serious calamity.

"He loved the students, and entered with all his
heart into everything that tended to their advance-
ment and welfare. It pains me to think how he
labored day and night, year after year, never resting,
but searching constantly for rich mines of truth into
which he might bring his students. I can truthfully
say that every lecture which he delivered in McMas-
ter Hall cost him many hours of close application to
work. He never went before the students with any
but the most careful preparation. He depended little,
if at all, on the writings of others ; his lectures, in
Theology especially, being wrought out by himself,
Bible in hand. He stood very near to the students
in sympathy — sympathy with them as young men and
as students. He desired to be helpful to them in
every possible way. To this end he would visit them
in their rooms, invite them to walk with him or to
visit him in his home. Often when I would ask him
if he was at liberty to w^alk with me in the afternoon

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

or evening,' he would siiy, 'I can't tcxlay, — Mr. A. is
astray on the coininnnion question, and I have asked
him to walk witli nie to-ni^dit. I want to set liini
ri^dit,' or 'Mr. B. is depressed, thinks lie isn't called to
the ministry, and I have asked him over to talk ahout
it.' Only himself and the students whom he thus
helped knew how he worked along such lines. One
oi' the most touching inci«lents in his long illness was
just before his departure for New York. The students
had a prayer meeting in his room ; after the meeting
a nund)er lingered to say to him — some with tears —
how helpful he had been to them. After they had
gone from the room I went in, and he said eagerly :

'G , these young men have spoken strange words

to me to-night. . . . G , do they mean it, or

is it just because I'm sick and they want to say kind
things' ? He longed to be helpful to them, but hardly
dared to hope that he had been so. Yet while striving
to be thus helpful, he was careful to avoid any show
of familiarity or any sacrifice of the dignity wdiich he
felt belonged by right to the teacher. It was his firm
conviction that wlien students began to place them-
selves on the same level with the teacher, patronizing
rather than respecting him, they and he had better
part company. I believe every student yielded him
the profoundest respect even while confiding in him
as in an elder brother. They wrote to him individu-
ally and in a body, while he lay in the hospital, always
assuring him of their regard for him and of their ear-
nest desire that God would restore him to them."
A sketch of Mr. McGregor's career as Theological

«0

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

1 1 i

Professor and Principal should contain some expres-
sion, in their own words, of the sentiments and impres-
sions of those for whose advancement he so earnestly
and so unsparingly labored. Several of those who for
two or three years enjoyed daily intercourse with him
in the class-room and were objects of his constant care
out of the class-room as well, have furnished us with
written statements of the impressions left upon them
by our departed brother. To insert these statements
in full would unduly extend this chapter ; selection
and condensation, therefore, must needs be resorted to.
A foi'mer student writes : "I ren^arded Mr. McGregor
as a safe man, because his cast of thought was, in my
opinion, neither unduly conservative nor unduly
rationalistic, and further because his intimate personal
ac(iuaintance with our denomination qualified him to
i^peak without a peradventure about those things
which our churches needed. I often admired his
power to make clear-cut distinctions and nice dis-
criminations in the subjects which we handled. He
was, however, more than a cold thinker. He not only
thought out the system of doctrines upon which he
lectured, but he felt their power, and falling tears
often evinced his emotion while he spoke of some par-
ticular aspect of the truth. This made us all feel that
we had before us not only a theological professor but
also a Christian man whose life was swayed by the
great principles about which he spoke. I find it hard
to estimate the value of such a view of Christian
doctrines. He must be a brilliant botanist who can
not only give to his students a strictly accurate scien-

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

tific knowledge of flowers, but can also inspire in
them an enthusiastic admiration for their a3sthetic
beauty. This was what Professor McGregor succeeded
in doing. Ke not only made us see the truth, but he
made us feel its power, and perceive its beauty. I
found him however to ])e more than a professor. He
was a personal friend. Jn cases when I needed advice
he was ready, very ready, to give it. In one case in
particular — a case of peculiar difficulty, J availed my-
self of his readiness to help, and I feel that his cleai*
and careful advice aided largely in the successful man-
agement of a very difficult matter. In this respect I
have more than ordinary reason for gratitude, since,
as J m informed, one of the last occasions on which
he left his house w^as Avhcn he went to secure for me
some information which my pastoral work required.
In short, I have met very few men who have better
deserved that very high encomium pronounced on
Brutus in Julius Ccesar :

His li.o was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up
And say, this was a man ! "

Another : " As a lecturer on Hcmiletics, New Tes-
tament Interpretation and Apologetics he w^as always
helpful and satisfactory ; but in my opinion it was in
the work of Systematic Theology that he found liis
element and rendered his most distinguished service.
I consider that Professor McGremjr's distin£uishinx>-
characteristic as a teacher was his insistence upon ac-
curate definitions. This he demanded of himself and
sought from his classes. With him the first thing in

MEMOIR OF D. A. M f^EGOR.

i i

teaching was definition and tlie second thing was defi-
nition and the third thing was definition. He never left
a subject until he showed how it was differentiated
from others closely related to it. I believe it was to
his felicity in definition that his success as a teacher
was largely due Another noteworthy characteristic
was his unvaryivf/ patience. He never grew impa-
tient with a slow and feeble thinker. If he found one
of his class in any perplexity he would take the ut-
most pains to determine the cause and afford relief
Sometimes after leading us, as he supposed, along an
easy path to a desired point he would find that some
careless one had strayed into a by-patli and got caught
among the brambles. Yet he would retrace his steps
and bring up the delinquent so tenderly and lovingly
that he would almost feel tempted to repeat the
offense. Professoi McGregor taught us not only sys-
tematic theology but systematic Chridianity. I might
also mention his iviiisomeness. Perhaps this is in-
volved in what has gone before : but I would like to
emphasize it. He was a winsome teacher. I some-
times wonder whether teachers realize what a great
thing it is to gain the hearts of their students. Pro-
fessor McGregor won our love and made us desirous
of winning his approbation."

Another : " Humility was a prominent characteristic
in his life and bearing. This is shown by his cool re-
ception of a warm congratulation accorded him on his
becoming Principal, Sincerity was another of his vir-
tues. He was just what he appeared to be, despising
all forms of hypocrisy, as is shown by the following

1 i I.
it t^

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

}

circumstance : in a letter to the •graduating class,
shortly before his death, he strongly warned them
never to preach fur popularity or emolument, but to
seek some other calling, if their great ol)ject was not
the salvation of souls. The student felt that he had
not only an able teacher but also a loving friend w^ho
was deeply interested in all his plans and prospects,
and who thoroughly sympathized with the student's
arduous struggles with poverty and inexperience.
Also may be mentioned his unselfishness in Christian
giving, loyalty to principle in not accepting ministers'
exemptions, absence of a self-seeking spirit which is
ever striving for position and advancement, afral)ility
and kindness to all. He was a spiritually-minded,
meek and trustful disciple of the Lord Jesus. He
strongly impressed the student w^ith his devotional
attitude even in dealing with the most abstruse theo-
logical problems. His Christlike spirit, grow^th in
grace, and submission to whatever the Holy Spirit
pointed out as God's will, are prominent factors in his
character. The latter (juality is shown in his offer to
go to India. He was a wonderfully clear-headed,
logical thinker. He took a firm grip' on truth, and
possessed the remarkal)le powder of plucking the kei'-
nel of truth from the husk and shell of confusion sur-
rounding it. Not only could he clearly conceive, but
he could also briefly, pointedly and forcibly express
the truth. His language was elegant and appropriate
and sounded as if previously studied, so wtU placed
was* every w^ord. He did not use superfluous words.
His mind was both destructive and constructive. As

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

A i.

f \t

a teacher he was clear, systematic, thorough, slow to
cover ground, encouraging independent thinking. He
paid much attention to the connection of the different
parts of Hcripture, and to particles, such as, for, there-
fore, etc. He treated his students not as children l)ut
as men ; he did not tear to pieces every thought to
which they might give utterance, in order to get up a
discussion, and leave them at the end of the lecture
with nothing to carry away.*'

Another writes : ' The nieniory of Professor Mc-
Gregor shall ever be cherished by me as one of the
brightest reminiscences in my College life. It must
ever prove an inspiration for good. I have always
felt that to come into his presence was to come under
the sway of a master spirit. He seemed to be able
with ease to enter into our difficult and perplexing
problems, placing himself as it were in the student's
place, and then with a look of pain, mingled with
the tenderest sympathy, he would unfold to us his
explanation and way out of the difficulty. At the
same time he gave to us the most agreeable conscious-
ness of our own powers and faculties expanding to
the light like the morning flowers. He never seemed
to dictate, yet his powers of presenting his views were
such that his opinions and judgments were the most
easy and delightful to harmonize. It seemed almost
like presumption to question his position, or oppose
his views, which of course we sometimes did. His
decision of character was marked. In every subject
he undertook to discuss he was firm and (leCid^u,
thoroughly prepared to meet attack from everj t|\if>/ •

!i if ■ i

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

ter. At the same time there was perfect freedom
from arrogance in the announcement of his positions,
of which he appeared to be al)Sohitely confident.

" Moreover, this firnmess of character was always
tempered with a mildness and tenderness of manner
which is rarely possessed by humanity. He was
always one of the most unselfish of men. The memory
of his life and character must ever prove an incentive
and an encouragement to holiness and consecration.
The accompanying lines, which I have had in my pos-
session for a long time, very fully express my senti-
ments and impression of Professor McGregor. I do
not know where I got them, nor who the author is.

Ah ! how shall we proclaim his worth,

His virtues how unfold ?
Of tender thoughts there is no dearth,

But written words are cold.

A meek and holy spirit .set

A modest shrine within,
And eloquence whose pleading yet

Ne'er failed our hearts to win.

A mantle of humility

That's never cast aside,
A heart where truth and dignity

And charity abide.

A soul in which a constant flame

Of love for men burned clear ;
In whose ^^ rre light a seltish aim

Ignoble did appear.

Thccie gifts in perfect union blent

Have cast a wondrous spel..
And many hearts to-day are rent

With grief too deep to tell.

But in their voiceless depth will sleep

One germ as strong as death,
A memory that will freshness keep

While love has life and breath."

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

i '^i'

! ';

Another: "I wish I could analyse the causes that
made nie love Professor McGregor better than any
man other than my father. His (|ualitication for suc-
cess was not so much his teaching power as his ])eau-
tiful character. He was preeminently pious, an<l yet
his piety was not self-assertive but evidently genuine.
He was loving. His knowledge of the students and
their hopes and fears was not acquired from a sense of
duty but from real interest. He believed in us too.
Our weaknesses did not cause his anger but awoke a
longing to help us, while earnest purpose caused him
real joy. He was bold and never shrank from
examining his belief from foundation to coping, nor
was lie afraid to consider a new interpretation of
Scriptural passages. If a student sought to enter the
realms of dangerous thought he did not hold him back
but went with him and guided him. He had abund-
ance of animal spirits, his gladness was overflowing.
Thus his life was symmetrical. To live under its in-
fluence was like breathing a pure spiritual air, if I
may so speak. His earnestness was a constant inspi-
ration, and so thoroughly permeated all his actions
that little details received as much attention as larger
things."

Another : "Among the many (pialities possessed by
him whom I had the privilege of knowing as more
than an ordinary friend were two that should be
specially noted in reference to his work in the profes-
soriate. First, there was the power he possessed of
enlisting the confidence of the students and others
with whom he had to do. His Christian manliness,

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

his undoultted al)ility, his genuine syni])athy, all con-
tributed to inspire one with confidence in liim, and
thus proved a help to him and to those in any way
related to him. Another (quality worthy of mention
was the patience and intered he manifeded when
listenino- to the opinions and convictions of those
whom he taufjht. However meai>Te miffht Ije the
thoughts of the students in his classes they always
received the attention and respect of the professor.
Xo student was ever 'crushed' hy him Ijecause of
difference of opinion. He ever sought in a manly and
Christian way to lead into what he believed to be
the light."

Another writes : " I was glad when the appijint-
ment came to a position in the College, and I began
no College year with more readiness and liking than
that second year of my course. We had not got back
to work very long before he came to me (I suspect
because of our previous ac(|uaintance) and wished to
know all he could about the work of his classes from
a student's standpoint. He then told me of the hopes
he cherished regarding the work. The ideal he had
was far above the mere teaching of prescribed lessons
.st» many days a week. He wrought to get us to see the
honor of our work, and the spirit we should cherish
in the doing of it. 1 will not forgc>t how he set him-
self to tind out the best way in which he could be
helpful to us. It was always a precious hour when
he came to visit our rooms, for lie not only interested
himself in the studies we liad, but he also took the
deepest interest in the health -»f the spiritual life.

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

There was no trouble ever showed itself in our faces,
but his eye saw, and he became not only a sympathetic
brother, but also a wise and loving father in counsel."

Another : " Strange as it may seem, in view of the
readiness of students to speak out what they think,
or in short to grumble, I never heard a complaint of
Professor McGregor, and more and more his word was
coming to be regarded as law."

Another : " I always admired and revered him on
account of his great power, mental, spiritual and as a
teacher ; also for his kindly and devotional spirit in
the class room r,nd everywhere. Tears would often fill
his eyes as he discussed some point in theology with
us. The solemn relation of every truth to the wefd
or woe of man seemed ever present in his mind and
heart, and he travailed in birth, so to speak, till the
same mind should be formed in us. His last iiour
with us in the Senior Theology class was a fitting and
natural close to the College career. After about a half
hour's lecture he called on three members of the class
to engage successively in prayer. When these had
done he prayed himself. His prayer was so searcliing,
so touching, that I think every one of us left the room
in tears."

Another : " His loving nature, his friendly disposi-
tion, the wisdom of his counsel, and his unquestiona-
ble ability have made impressions on my mind that
time cannot obliterate. ... I was greatly impressed
with his ability to repeat the word of God."

Another: "The unassuming. Christlike grandeur
of his character, the amiability of his depovtiuent, the

«f

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

vigor and rugged, forceful logic of his intellect, his
thorough mastery of the most difficult theological
problems, his book-like precision of statement in eluci-
dating these problems, his student-like geniality, his
approachable disposition, coupled with his unassertive
firmness, have left an impression upon me which the
wreckinjis of time shall never obliterate. Few such
personalities grace the canvas of a single generation."
The following letters, written by Prinripal McGregor
in St. Luke's hospital, Nev/ York, slu^rtly before his
death, and addressed, the one to the acting Principal,,
the Faculty and the students of Toronto Baptist
College, and the other to the Graduating Class of 1890,
show how deep was his solicitude even to the last for
the College, and how anxious he was that the students
should keep proper ideals before them : -

" I \u\\ a iMit written to you hitherto btniause I knew
yritl WilIlM llflVft information regarding my condition
from Mi's. Mi'iiw^m', Hhe has nv.t reached New York
yet, lull, I hope to H<ie her within a couple of hours.

"You will notice by place of date that I have
cliaiiged ]ius[»itals. The reason is that I asked Dr.
AIjIjo in operate in my case. Dr. Weir, whom I ex-
pected to perform the operation, is now in Europe, but
I am (juite as well satisfied with the present arrange-
ment. I am to have my spine opened next Wednesday.

" I know that I am nearing a great crisis. I am
not confident as to how it may go with me ; yet in my
condition of growing helplessness I think I am justi-
fied in accepting the risk. I know you all have been

MEMOIU OF D. A. M OBEGOR.

praying for me and I thank you very nincerely for
this. I know y(ju will pray for me and for those wliose
])urden will be very heavy hIiouW it go ill with me.

" I trust that through the infinite mercy of Ood in
Christ I shall be al)le to face the approaching issues
without fear ; yet I have a very strong desire to live
and labor with you. I confess that I would like to
have a better filled day of service ere I go home.
Perhaps God may grant me this desire.

" My dear young brethren, believe in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ with all your hearts, and give yourselves
as living sacrifices to Him, that He may work through
^•Mll mightily in life's brief da}''. O le^ nothing turn
you aside from the great work to \ aich you have
Ifiv^n yoill' Ijvf's, and in that work let no motive have
place (hai would not stand the light of the all-
i/iillijfcsting day.

" Now, dour teachers and students, farewell. I have
loved you and shall continue so to do. I havo loved
to labor w ith you and perhaps this joy may even yet
be restored to me. But, if not, His will be done.

" I will not write more to-day. I wish you all the
bliss of Christ's ser^'^ice on earth and his glory in
heaven.

"Your fellow-laborer,

" D. A. McGregor."

(1^ 4

" Dear Biiethren, — I received your welcome letter
yesterday, and thank you for the thoughtful kindness
that prompted you to send it, as well as for the warm
sympathy and assurance of kindly regard which it

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

contained. I tluuik you too for your photog-i-aphs,
with which, Mi>i. McGregor inlunns me, you have
favored us.

" I tliink you know how 1 hoped and longed to
spend at least a part of this year with you in class-
room work. This desire did not arise froui tlie thought
that I might impart sometlimg to you which you liave
not otherwise t)btained. I wished, if possible, through
continued intercourse, especially in tlie last year of
your College work, to cement more closely a friend-
ship, which might bind us together in ■ brotherhood
of service fur Christ however distanced we might be
one from another in the field of toil ; yet I trust, my
brethren, if future of life and service on earth may be
mine,that you will permit me to stand not less closely to
youi lives than if I had had the opportunity I desired
of daily fellowship with you in your efforts to gain
further fitnevSs for the gi'eat life-work that opens uj)
before you in the realm of Gospel enterprise.

" My brethren, I know that I may now be writing
farewell words tu you, and what shall I say ? Be true
to the ministry which you have received of the Lord
Jesus. Let the power of the great unselfish life come
more and more into your own lives. The worst of all
disasters that can possibly overtake you is that you
should stand at the end of life having made shipwreck
of the greatest trust that was ev^er committed to
creature life — the preaching of the Gospel of the Grace
of God.

" Never, never, never use the cross of Christ to exalt
yourselves. If any are ambitious of self-display, O

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

let them choose other themes than the Gospel, and
other places than the pulpit and the church of God.
Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, who made Himself of no reputation Adorn
the Gospel j'^ou proclaim with its own matchless graces
in- wrought in your lives. O ! glad at the end of
life's brief day will you all be if you have not sought
your own things, but the things of Jesus Christ. I
pray for you, my brethren. May you all have a very
fruitful ministry, and may your work abide. May
Jesus say to each one of you as He greets you beyond
the shores of the present life, * Well done, good and
faithful servant.'

" And now, my dear brethren, farewell. I thank
you for 3'^our kind letter ; it has cheered me. I thank
you for your prayerful remembrance of me during all
these months. I thank you for the kindness you have
shown to Mrs. McGregor in the long season of painful
anxiety. The God of power and grace and comfort
bless you all.

" Yours in the everlasting bonds,

" D. A. McGregor."

The words in which John Gerson, the famous
Chancellor of the University of Paris about the
beginning of the fifteenth century, characterized
Bonaventura, "the Seraphic Doctor," may fittingly
be applied to D. A. McGregor : " If I were asked, who
among other teachers seems more capable, I should
reply without prejudice. Master Bonaventura, since he
is solid and safe in teaching, pious, just and devout.

PROFESSOR AND PRINCIPAL.

Moreover, he recedes as far as possible from vain
curiosity, not mingling extraneous positions, or
doctrines secular, dialectical or philosophical, shadowed
over with theological terms, after the manner of many,
but, while he diligently seeks the illumination of the
intellect, he refers everything to piety and to produc-
ing a right condition of the heart. . . .No teach-
ing is for theologians more sublime, none more divine,
none more salubrious and agreeable."

*' Fearlessly dad he walked in Truth's highway
Who joined hinx there, liad fellow stout to eheer ;
Who crossed, met foe behooved his weal to fear ;
His quick, keen, urgent, sinewy, certain thrust '
Those knights well knew who felt it in the joust.
Ideal-Christian teacher, master, man,
.Severely sweet, a gracious Pui'itan,
Beyond my praise to-day, beyond their blame,
He spurs me yet wi^h his remembered name. "

W, C. WILKINSON'.

CHAPTER V.

LAST ILLNESS.

A.D. 1889-'90.

When, in the autumn of 1870, the subject of this
memoir exchanged a sphere of physical labor in the
open air for one of secluded and mental toil, he was
possessed of rugged bodily health and strength ; and,
excepting for a few days upon a single occasion in
early boyhood, he had never been seriously ill. His
physical vigor enabled him to endure the strain of so
radical a change in his way of life, begun at so ad-
vanced a period of his youth, and involving severe
and protracted application, much better than might
have been expected. Apart from an attack somewhat
of the nature of nervous prostration, lasting for sev-
eral months in the summer and autumn of 1872, his
health suffered no material injury during his career as
a student ; and though heavily freighted, for a large
part of the time, with the extra work of preaching
and pastoral care — \\ liich was necessary to his main-
tenance — he completed his literary and theological
studies in Woodstock, Apnl 1878, and his University
course in Toronto, May 1881, considerably exhausted,
indeed, but apparently without damage to his consti-
tution.

LAST ILLNESS.

From this time forward, through all his maiiifokl
labors as pastor, Home Mission secretary, and theolog-
ical professor, his health remained sound and good,
excepting that about once a year, for a number of
years previous to his last illness, he suffered severe
" bilious " attacks, in which not merely bile, but dark
blood also, was thrown off' from the stomach, and
which w^ere always attended with several hours of
hiccough. But firmly believing that he was a man of
exceptionally strong constitution and vigorous health,
and that sickness and medicine were not for him, he
<lid not consult a physician about the matter, nor
attach any importance to it whatever.

This ailment, however, trivial though it seemed to
the subject of it, may have been the reason of Divine
Providence in suddenly and utterly expunging from
his mind both the purpose and the desire of going as
a missionary to India, which for a time he had seri-
ously entertained ; for, an eminent physician, to whom
the symptoms were casually mentioned by a friend,
said, " that man could never live in India." Not that
this occasional stomachic disturbance weighed an atom
v^ith the subject of it, in his decision of the (|uestion ;
for, unfortunately, it was never a matter of more than
the slightest conseciuence : but during the progress of
a Foreign Mission meeting held in Woodstock in 1885,
to which he w^ent with the intention of offering him-
self for the work, clear and satisfying light broke in
upon his mind and firmly and finally convinced him
that he ought not to take the step, but to continue his
work for the Master in Canada. That this same ail-

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

ment, however, should reappear, after a year's absence,
at the very time when he was rapidly and hopefully
convalescing from a critical surgical operation and by
the persistent hiccough, which the affection always in-
duced, should combine with other incidental ailments
to weary and wear the life out of him, is one of the
stranjjest and saddest of sad and strange thing's.

Early in Jul}'^ 188(5, when a heavy piano was being
moved into his house in Toronto, he went under it to
adjust the pedal, when, accidentally, it was let down
upon him with a great part of its weight, giving a
violent wrench to his back, though after a few days
he felt no ill effects from it. Six months later, when
shoving the same instrument across a room, he was
seized with an excruciating pain, at the same point
in the back. This, also, soon passed away ; but, in
the judgment of eminent physicians who studied his
case, these accidents were the primary cause of the
spinal disease in his last illness.

The sudden death of his only, his bright and in-
tensely-loved little son, Arthur, in September 1888,
was a most crushing and perilous blow to his highly
susceptible organization. Important changes occur-
ring about this time and at a later period in his work
as professor taxed his strength to the full during the
next College year. For several months previous to
the middle of June 1889 he was overwhelmingly bur-
dened with anxiety over a peculiarly terrible domestic
calamity that was threatening and imminent. In a
letter written about that time he speaks of it as " a
strain of anxiety beyond expression." Through these

LAST ILLNESS.

later circumstances, his strength was much run dov.n
when his last illness began to take possession of him.

Sometime in June 1889, he began to complain of a
peculiar pain in his back. By the first of July it had
considerably increased, and was attended with some
loss of power in the evacuative organs. On seeking
advice, he was thought to be suffering simply from
muscular rheumatism, and was treated accordingly,
but without relief. It soon became difficult for him
to move about, or to do mental work ; yet on Lord's
Day evening July 14th, at one of the opening servi-
ces in the Parkdale church, Toronto, he preached a
tender and impressive gospel sermon, which proved,
however, to be his last. His text on this occasion
was the Saviour's saying in John vi : 37, " Him that
Cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." The ser-
mon was spoken of as " simple, affectionate, earnest";
as strongly contrasting " the one coming and the One
to whom he comes"; as emphasizing the welcome ex-
tended by the Saviour and the impossibility of his
rejecting a sinner who comes to him ; as appealing
earnestly to the unconverted to accept of Christ ;
" and thus," says one, " in keeping with the character
of our brother, was closed his last service of intense
love for, and sympathy with those who were in need."
Though weak and in pain, he walked from the Col-
lege to the service and back, thinking that perhaps
the exercise might beneiit him ; but all through the
service he suffered greatly, and he reached home dis-
tressed and exhausted.

The pains in his back, and the loss of power, already

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREOOR.

it '

referred to, continued to inciease ; and loss of power
and of control in the use of his lower limbs soon
became manifest, and made such marked progress that
shortly he was led to suspect that something more
serious than had been supposed, possibly some spinal
affection, might be the matter with him. Thus with
weakness and pain, aggravated by doubt and appre-
hension, the time in the sick-room dragged w^earily
on.

But one sad night, near the end of August, while
alone in his chamber bravely endeavoring to carry
out urgent advice to take exercise, which he did by
sliding chairs about while leaning on them for support,
he fell prostrate and was unable to rise. The next
day, after a medical consultation, his disease was pro-
nounced paralysis. Complete paralysis of the lower
half of the body had set in, and for a few days he lay
n t tlie point of death. On Sunday morning, the third
day after the crash, he thought himself, and was
thought by all who were about him, to be upon the
very point of departure ; i;,nd, being in a state of
mental and spiritual exaltation, he took a peculiarly
tender r.nd affecting farewell of his loved and loving
family and friends. But the event was ordered other-
wise, and, for the time being, his life was spared.

His paralysis remained unchanged, but his strong
vitality asserted itself, and enabled him in a few
weeks to regain a goodly measure of strength in the
upper half of his body and to use his mind vigorously,
and with as much originality and clearness as ever.

Thiough the kindness and liberality of the Board

LAST ILL. ESS

of Governors of the College, an eminent specialist in
nervous diseases, Dr. Seguin, of New York, was sent
for, a^ out the mitldle of October, to examine and pro-
nounce upon his condition and prospects, and to
recouimend a course of treatment. After sifting the
history and symptoms of the case, and applying the
re(|uisite tests, he came to the decided and encourag-
ing conclusion that the paralysis was not caused, as
had been feared, by myelitis, that is, inflammation
and deterioration of the spinal cord, but to Potts'
disease, a tubercular affection of spinal bone and not
of spinal marrow, a disease far more amenable to
treatment, often cured by proper mechanica' ppliances
skilfully employed, and sometimes, latterly, when all
else failed, by surgical operations upon the spine.
Dr. Seguin strongly hoped that, by thorough use of
such means and remedies as he recommended, recovery
might soon be secured ; but, if these should fail, he
advised that the patient be sent to New York, that
he might undergo, at the hands of the first surgeons
of the day, an operation in spinal surgery. It is
but fair to say that the specialist's diagnosis was sub-
sequently confirmed by the most eminent surgeons in
New York, and demonstrated in the process of surgical
operation.

During the many weeks of waiting in vain for
recovery before leaving his home for a hospital in
New York, the mind of the patient was unclouded
and active, and ranged and ruminated freely over a
variety of important subjects — sociological, metaphy-
sical, poetical, theological and spiritually experimental.

':» '• U'V'

MILLS MEMORIAL LiB'.v
McMASTER MMI^^FRSiT^

«»

100

MEMOIR OF D. A. MGREGOR.

Not long before his great illness set in he had been
appointed to prepare, and to read before the Baptist
Congress of 1889, a paper on the "Authority of
Christian Consciousness," a subject which interested
liim deeply, and for which his metaphysical talents
and attainments specially qualified him. To his very
great disappointment he was prevented by his disal)led
condition frcm attempting the task.

Among his sick-bed papers there has been found a
small pocket memorandum -book, which, among other
matters, contains a few hasty jottings on the subject,
almost illegible because of abbreviatior'-' and the un-
steadiness of a bed-ridden hand, which were evidently
designed merely for the jogging of his memory and
for sugge^^tion in research should he ever again be well
enough to take hold of the subject. These rough and
fragmentary notes indicate, at least to those who read
between the lines, somewhat cf the bent of his mind,
the temper of his intellect, and his eager desire for
work even when in the grasp of a fell disease.

Had it pleased God to spare his life and restore his
health, there seems reason to believe that, sooner or
later, he would have had something important to say
on this subject.

In close and in rather unusual harmony with the
philosophic faculty, there was in him also a poetic
vein, how extensive and fertile cannot now be known,
but of whose genuineness and fineness there is some
positive evidence in the fragments that he has left
behind. Shortly before leaving home for the last time
alive it was noticed by his affectionate wife that his

LAST ILLNESS.

101

miml was joyfully simmering over some subject very
precious to him, and that with tenderly playful
secrecy he was silently concealing from her the mental
product while in course of preparation. He was
composing a hymn expressive of adoring love and
ardent longing for the Saviour. For its own sake
and for the sake of indicating the lofty spiritual ex-
periences of soul which in latter years had been his,
and which specially characterized the last months of
his life, it is now placed in the narrative : —

Jesus, wondrous Saviour !

Christ, of kings the King !
An^^els fall before Thee,

Prostrate, worshipping ;
Fairest they confess Thee

In the heaven alx)ve.
We would sing Thee fairest,

He e in hymns of love.

Fairer far than sunlight

Unto eyes that wait.
Amid fear and darkness,

Till the morning break.
Fairer than the day-dawn,

Hills and dales among.
When its tide of glory

Wakes the tide of song.

Sweeter far than music

Quivering from keys
That unbind all feeling

With strange harmonies,
Thou art more and dearer

Than all minstrelsy.
Only in Thy presence

Cai; joy's fulness be.

All earth's flowing pleasures

Were a wintry sea ;
Heaven itself without Thee

Dark as night would be.

102 MEMOIR OF D. A. M'gUEGOR.

Liiinl» of (}o(l ! Thy glory;

Ih tins light above;
Lamh of (Jod ! Thy glory

Is tho lifo of love.

Life is death, if severed

From Thy throl)l)ing heart,
Deatli vvitli life al)Uiidant

At Thy touoh would start.
Worlds and men and angels

All consist in Thee ;
Yet Thon comest to us

In humility.

Jesus ! all perfections

Rise and end in Tliee,
Brightness of (liod's glory

'JMiou, eternally.
Favor'd beyond measure

They Thy face who see ;
May we, gracious Saviour,

Share this ecstasy.

•

No relief whatever from the paralysis having come
during two and a half months after Dr. Seguin's visit,
the patient, in accordance with further advice from
him, was taken to New York in order to receive treat-
ment, mainly through mechanical appliances at the
hands of orthopedic experts, and, if thereafter it should
be deemed necessary, to undergo a surgical operation.

He arrived on the 28th day of December, the eighth
and, in view of the strange and trying circumstances,
a not very joyous anniversary of his marriage.

It was arranged that he should receive treatment
under the care and oversight of the celebrated Dr.
R. S. Weir, Surgeon in New York Hospital, and Con-
sulting Surgeon in St. Luke's ; and, if a surgical
operation should become necessary, that it should be
performed by his hands.

A- \

LAST IIJA'ESS.

loa

Ah all the private rooms of the New York Hospital
were occupied, Dr. Weir kindly manaf^ed to procure
liiiii one in St. Luke's ; Imt in order to reduce expenses
to a niininiuni, which the severe pecuniary drain of
the lon<j;; illness rendered necessary, it was sooti dcter-
iiiiuLMl to excliauiife it for a hed in a ward. In order
that the patient nii^dit he more innnediately under
the supervision of Dr. Weir, and that, at the same
time, he mioht have the ])enefitof the orthopedic skill
of Dr. Adoniram B. Judson, a son of tlie great mis-
sionary, the patient, after a week's residence in St.
Luke's was removed, January 4th (1890), to a ward
in the New York Hospital, where he remained till
March LSth. During the nearly ten weeks of his stay
in that hospital. Dr. Judson attended him with the
greatest fidelity and tenderness, and exhausted the
possibilities of orthopedic appliances in his behalf ;
and he could not be persuatled to make a charge for
his services, though they did not belong to the inter-
nal economy of the institution.

Life in the surgical ward of a crowded hospital in
a great city was, at first, a startlingly strange experi-
ence for our invalid ; and it presented to him many
new and suggestive phases of human character and
existence. It can scarcely be regarded as an ideal
kind of life, for an earnest Christian man, of positive
and solemn beliefs concerning the future state, of
quick sensibilities and sympathies, to lie, himself a
helpless sufferer, in a iarge ro'^m filled with suflfering
patients, not always patient sufierers — many of them
about to undergo, many of them having recently un-

104

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREOOR.

ilert^one, sui\<]jical operations, v.'liieh, Liken together,
varied in kind and de<i^ree, from the ordinary to the
most severe and terrible — some of them recovering
and departing to their liomes ; othei*s of them suc-
cumbing, and departing, prepared or unprepared, to
the eternal world. Neverth jss, it brought to the
sick one, whose fortunes we are following, the merci-
ful compensation of drawing liim out of nimself and
of relieving him from the pains and perils of habitual
and excessive introspection. During a considerable
part of his hospital life he was able to enjoy the read-
ing of books, the visits of friends, and the reading,
and to some extent the writing, of letters. His attend-
ants, hi both hospitals, took great and kindly interest
in him. He was much cheered and comforted many
a time by tiie visits of Rev. Dr. J. F. Elder, Rev. Dr.
Edward Juilson, Rev. Leighton Williams, Rev, John
L. Campbell, and other pei*sons of New York ; and
of Mr. Thomjus Leeming and Rev. A. P. McDiarmid of
Brooklyn ; and it need scarcely be said that his rela-
tives resident in the former city regard it as a great
providential favor that it wjis possible for them to be
nmch at his bedside.

The condition of the patient, instead of improving,
grew worae. The paralysis was not relieved in any
degree whatever, and the dangerous kidney and blad-
tler disorders consequent upon the paralysis became
more and more serious and urnnanageable ; and so
acute were tlvyy at times that, on two occasions during
his stay in New York Hospital, they very nearly
swept him away. As tiiese secondary complaints.

LAST ILLNESS,

105

couKl not be overcome except by tlie cure of the para-
Ivsis, and as it had become manifest that the paralysis
could not be cu)*ed except by sur^iciil interference, and
as there wjis considerable <;round of liope, in the na-
ture of thinf]^ and in the liistory of several recent,
cjuses, that by this means his life might be spared and
his health restored, he became thoroughly convinced
that it was his duty at no distant day to submit to an
operation.

In all circumstances and vicissitu<les his lieart was
constantly set upon his distant home ; and liis love
and longing fot his family, from \vhom never before
had he been nnich separated, were now often pain-
fully intense and tender. One who witnessed can
never forget the inexpressible and overpowering g^rati-
tude and joy with which he received the news of the
conversion of his first-born child. It may perhaps be
well here to take the reader into confidence and partly
to draw Jiside the veil from the most sacreil affections
of the husband and father. Accordingly some letters
to his wife and children are now given ; to which a
few to other relatives are added.

These and other letters from him reveal, besides his
tender love and concern for his family, his firm trust
in Christ, his jreat desire to live for Christ's service,
his profound submivssion to the will of God whatever
it migh^ ^^vove to be, and his resolution and courage
in facing die dread ordeal awaiting hinx.

i t

106

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

Dear Wife:

Your letter telling me of Edith's experi-
ence reached me and gladdened \ne last night. It has
left me all broken up in feeling since I read it, and
re-read it, but I would not be without the brokenness,
for it is gladness. I trust her experience is conversion
— her conscious acceptance of and yielding to Christ
as Saviour and Lord. And yet, there has been a good
deal in Edith's life which has led me to think that
her regeneration had been wrought, and was the hid-
den cause of much that lay half concealed and half
revealed, in her anxious little life. God grant that
the light that has arisen upon her niay shine more
and more unto the perfect day. O how thankful we
should be, if He makes our little ones, in their early
youth, His own — the gems of His kingdom

D. A.

My dear, dear Edith :

I received a letter from mamma last night and
it was nearly all about you. She was telling me of
the talk you and she had on Sunday night after you
came home from church, and how you believe that
now you have begun to be a Christian. My dear little
Edith, I have read tl at letter over and over again and
have cried with g idness every time I read it. O
Edith, how I long to put my arms round you and
draw you to my heart and kiss you and talk to you
aiid you to me about your becoming a Christian.

LAST ILLNESS.

107

and
le of
you
ihat
ittle
and
O
and
you
Bian.

Some day God may let us meet agaixi and then we
will talk much about it. I am praying for you, Edith,
that you may be a very happy and a very useful
Christian. I am sure it will make you happy to
know that God loves you and that Jesus is your
friend, near to you every day and every night, and
that he has given you a new heart to trust and love
and serve him, and that you are saved because he died
for you. You can be happier now when you play, or
study, or rest, and Jesus will help you in everything
to do what is right. Yet you will often find, dear
Edith, that Satan will tempt you to do wrong, per-
haps to get angry, perhaps to want to have your own
way too much. Sometimes he may tempt you to be
selfish, perhaps to quarrel with Gertie or to think
thot mamma does not love you because she does not
let you do anything you want to, and in many other
ways Satan will tempt you. But, dear Edith, Jesus
is stronger far than Satan, and He is always ready to
help you whenever you ask him, and when you for-
get and do wrong he will gladly forgive you, if you
with sorrow for the wrong, go to him and ask him to
forgive you. I know that you will try to be a true
Christian, and be happy and loving, and obedient, and
trustful, all the day. T am glad that you are going to
try to help Gertie to be a Christian ; and O I shall be
so glad to know that dear little Gertie has become a
Christian too. I wish I were near you both and well
again so that I could help you ; but I know that Jesus
is always with you ; and he can and will help you far
more than I can. Dear little ones, may He ever lead
you and may you ever follow His leading, and be

108

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOIl.

saved from all the clangers of life. It is so good to
become a Christian when you are young ; for then by
serving Jesus from day to day you will be saved from
many bad habits and many temptations. Now, my
Edith, you belong to Jesus. You are more His than
mine. You will never break your word to Him, that
from this time you will trust and love and serve Him,
and He will never break His word to you that He will be
with you always, that He wid never leave you. I shall
be glad to hear from you. You can tell mamma what
you want her to write — if j^ou find it happy to be a
Christian, if you are able to heip Gertie any, and if
you find that Jesus helps you. I will be glad, Edith,
if you will pray for papa that God may make him
well if it is best, and that he may help me to be a
better Christian day by day. Will you kiss mamma
and auntie and Gertie and Enid for me ; and mamma
will kiss you for me.

Dear Edith, I have been made very glad by mam-
ma's letter which told me that you now are a Chris-
tian. I pray and hope that some day I may see you.

With much love to my dear little Edith.

Papa.

My dear Wife :

• • ■ • • •

I often, often, think of our little ones that are
in the upper fold. O some day, some day, we shall
meet and know them ; .ind they shall not be ignorant
of us ; and our hearts shall rejoice, and our joy no one
shill take from us.

With tender love,

D. A.

LAST ILLNESS.

109

To THE SAME :

I know the present suspense must tell heavily
upon you ; ^^et I am unable to give you further defi-
nite information to-day. I expect to have further ad-
vice to-day ; but not in time for the mail. Yet, dear,
He who has given you patience and strength, thus far,
will not fail you now, nor in coming days. I can as-
sure you that the days are passing quietly with me ;
and I have not any trouble about what may be to
come. I long to live and labor ; I long to live for and
with you and the little ones ; and it may be God's
good pleasure to grant this.

Do not fear the thought of the operation. I am not
troubled by it. It may be a means to some recovery
of power.

How are the dear little ones ? Are they still hold-
ing by their Christian hope ? Dear little children,
may they, from this time forth, ever be disciples of
Jesus.

Friends here have been very kind to me. Mr. Wil-
liams, whom you met in Toronto, comes frequently to
see me and brings me interesting reading matter. His
sister-in-law has called on me twice. His mother, an
elderly woman, is unable to comt; to see me, but has
felt drawn to make my case one of special prayer.
Others here have done and are doing the same. How
much there is to be thankful for in this ! ^

Now, dear, let courage and patience have their per-
fect work. Do not fear. Love to you all.

Yours, D. A.

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

To THE SAME :

Your letter which reached me Saturday night,
has done me much good. . . . We will trust God.
He cannot err, and it may be that in His mercy
happy days on eaith are before us. . . .

D. A.

To THE SAME

Your letter of last night has been very helpful
to me. You spoke of a feeling akin to assurance re-
garding my return to you, and you wrote that you
could not want anything contrary to His will. Now
His will may be along the line of the assurance, for
He hears prayer. If His will should be otherwise,
that will would still be best. Yet I think we are ri^ht

in hoping and praying for recovery

Do not fear and do not be discouraged.

I know you will hope in God, and I know He will
not put your hope to shame God's peace

be with you and with the little ones.

• *••••

D. A.

To THE SAME :

Another day of this strange school-life
has passed for you and for me. O what are the les-
sons He would have us learn and what is His purpose
with regard to the future of our lives? We don't

LAST ILLNESS.

Ill

know, we can't know what is to be the future for
physical life and health. But we do know that He,
who spared not his owm Son when our interests re-
(piired His sacrifice, is not bringing to bear upon us
purposeless pain. The sufferings of this present time
— and yours are not less than mine — have something
to do in working out that wdiich we are called to, and
I think it must be through the change which discip-
line effects in life.

I feel glad to think of the little ones as interested
in spiritual things. O may the unseen verities be not
less real to them as the years pass by.

I think that I may ask you to pay me a visit, ere
many w eeks go by, for I think that I shall not very
long delay the surgical operation, and I shall be glad
to see you and talk with you before I take the step
which I think w^ill be necessary and which I think
my case fully justifies. However, nothing w^ill be
done in a hurry; and please cast this with every
other burden on Him who careth for us.

Now, dear Gussie, I am conscious of your love and
of the love of the little ones ; and I know that this
enforced absence has told me how much my wife and
little ones are to me.

With tender love to you all, and to Louise,

I am your husband,

D. A.

To THE SAME :

Another day, and another letter, without
anything very new to write. Yet the days as they

112

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

III

go by must bring some kind of change, and perhaps
that cannot be better expressed than Ge^'tie has done
it, " If he doesn't get better he'll come back, and he'll
come if he does." .......

. I had a letter from Prof. Wells last
evening. He is such a busy man that I did not ex-
pect to hear from him, but his company has always
been so pleasant and profitable to me, that I was
specially glad when I noticed that the letter was from

Be strong and of good courage. I cannot forecast the
future, but if God be with us we can be courageous in
the dark. . . ......

D. A.

To THE SAME:

The retrospect for me is far from
gratifying. In some few things, I think my heart
does not condemn me, but I would rejoice in recovery,
if so be that I might redeem the time. Still, I have
decided not to mourn always over past failures, but
to strive to find rest and comfort in the truth that
salvation is all of grace and not at all of works.

D. A.

To THE SAME :

. . May He who
is able, under all circumstances, to give peace and
gladness, make the little home evermore a place of

LAST ILLNESS.

113

(juiet joy. ......

Dear little ones, how the heart longs for them and for
you all — but patience must have her perfect work. .

t • • • • •

D. A.

My Dear Little Gertie :

Papa has been thinking about you and pray-
ing to Jesus for you every day. I hope that you will
soon be quite well again. Mamma wrote to me that
you are trying to be a good little girl and it has made
me glad. How glad I would be to-day to take you
in my arms and kiss you. Well perhaps Jesus will
make me well enough and keep you well enough that
this may be some day. We will pray to Him for this.
Will you and Edith kiss mamma and auntie and dear
little baby for me ? And will my little Gertie trust
and love and serve Jesus day by day?

My little darling, good-bye, in hope to see you
some day.

Lovingly, Papa.

Dear folks at home:

Just a few lines to-day. I am not without
hopes that I may see you again ; but in case I may
noi^., I would like to drop this note and say, good-bye.
Gussie is with me and will stay till the crisis is over.
She is calm and brave. She is a dear little woman,
full of courage and tenderness. You will know ere
this reaches you that the operation is to take place on

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOlt.

Friday afternoon; and probably tliat time will have
arrived ere this reaches you. What results may fol-
low, it is impossible to foretell. It may bring back a
measure of power; it may leave me as I am; and
there is a possibility that it may end life. I trust
that in any event all is well. It will be pleasant, very
pleasant, if I may be permitted to see you all again in
this life. I would like much, too, to see the little ones
at home. God will do what is best. I will see that
Malcolm will let you know at an early date what the
result of the operation is, so far as result can be told
soon after the operation.

Much love to you, rather, Maggie, Crissie and child-
ren.

Good-bye for a little while, I know not for how
long ; but I hope to see you yet in the flesh.

Very affectionately,

D.A

MoMaster Hall, Toronto,

Dec. 11th, 1889.
My owx twin Brother:

It is coming near the 13th, and for this reason

I write you.

• • • • • •

Some months ago I did not expect to write you
again on the anniversary of our birth. I therefore
write to-day with a feeling of tenderness that is deeper
than it otherwise could be. My dear Robert, with a
heart that makes my eyes run over, I write to you

LAST ILLNESS.

115

to-day. Tliii God who lias Messed and prospered you
thus far multiply His favors still more in days and
years to come. May you have a happy, happy 13th,
and let it not be clouded by the thought that I am
lying here in comparative helplessness ; but rejoice
with me that God has been pleased thus far to spare
my life to loved ones here and to loved ones with you.
I dc'sire to live, even though I may be encompassed
with great infirmity. I think it will be better for my
family ; I think it will spare them a great sorrow ;
and I can be glad in the possibility of some service to
do here on the earth. I cannot well endure the thought
of being called away now, as I look on life with its
poor and meagre service. Pray God, with me, that 1
may, as I hope, be spared to do work on earth for
years to come.

• • • • • t

Shall we both see another 13th of December here
on earth ? I know not. God knows. Whether this
may be or not, may we spend a blessed eternity, hand
in hand, on high. God gather all our loved ones into
that blessed home, and may we have fellowship with
Him and with them evermore.

With a heart of love.

Your twin Brother,

D. A. McGregor.

My dearest Brother

I think if there is any hope for me, that hope lies in
the operation, humanly speaking. I know that much

Ill

116

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

prayer ha« been offered to God for me, yet I know not
what His will i.s, save that it is the outcome of His
wisdom and love. To Him I resign wife and little
ones, and my own life. Yet I pray for recovery if I
may thereby accomplish not less by living than by
<lying.

AfTectionately, your Brother,

D. A. McG.

My dear Robert

Just a little note to yo'u to day.

I know, dear Robert, that I am about to undergo a

very serious operation God may bring

me safely through it, and it may be the means to the
recovery of some strength. I know, too, that in it I
may end life. Yet my condition is such that I think
it right for me to accept the risk. If I can I will
write you again ere the operation takes place. If I
should not, this may be my last letter to you. I trust
that all is well, if life for me should soon end. I love
you, Robert, as we have always loved each other ; and
in that love I embrace yours as well as you. Good-
bye, dear Robert. I hope to see you on earth again,
yet I know there is t^he other possibility.

With fond love, farewell.

Your Brother,

D. A.

LAST ILLNESS.

117

Early in March it became evident that tlie sur/^'ical
operation could not witli safety he much lon«,'er de-
hiyed. As some time before this Dr. Weir had been
called suddenly away to Europe, it was resolved, in
accordance with his iiitstructions, should necessity
t)ccur, to proceed at once with the operation without
waiting for him. Fortunately his partner, Dr. Ab])e,
an expert of large experience and of the highest stand-
ing in spinal surgery, had now returned, after six
months' absence, to his post as surgeon in St. Luke's
Hospital. He was asked to take the case. After
repeated examinations, to determine more fully the
advisability of operating, the patient was removed to
St. Luke's to be directly under Dr. Abbe's care. His
loving and beloved wife was sent for, and she was
thus enabled, for the last six weeks of his life, to the
great comfort of them both, to be daily at his bedside.
After quickly building up the patient's strength to
prepare him for the ordeal, liis physician set a time
for the operation ; but a violent attack of kidney and
bladder complaint supervening compelled postpone-
ment and once more very nearly ended his life ; and
a little later, the same disappointing and perilous
experience was repeated. But after several weeks of
delay, thus rendered compulsory, the patient was
found to be in a condition suitable for the operation ;
and, accordingly, the afternoon of Wednesday, the 16th
of April, was chosen for the purpose. Dr. Weir had
in the meantime returned, and generously arranged to
be present to counsel and assist. It was no ordinary
comfort and satisfaction to the sufterer, that these two

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118

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

of tbo brightest lights in spinal surgery were together
to do their utmost to save his life and bring him back
to healtli ; and he regarded it as ground for the pro-
founde^t gratitude that without remuneration they
should, at such cost of valuable time and earnest
thou,o-ht, and in so benevolent and kind a manner,
render him such i^npoitant and responsible services
as scarcely any money could adequately repay.

With assured trust in his Saviour, and with a cour-
age at once calm and cheerful, the patient gave him-
self up to the critical undertaking. He was borne to
the operating table, etherized to unconsciousness, and
laid on his face on the operatirig table. Dr. Abbe,
after giving to tlie assembly of physicians present a
brief history of the case, stated that, with Drs. Seguin
and Weir, he believed it to be a case of Pott's disease;
and tliat ho expecteti to find the spinal bones in the
neighborhood of the eighth dorsal (a point midway
l)etween the shoulder-blades), partly degenerated
thiough tubercular disease, and to find also inside of
the eighth dorsal, a tubercular tumor, whose pressure
upon the spinal cord was the cause of the paralysis.
With the utmost swiftness and precision, he then pro-
ceed(Ml to cut into the spine, with various keen blades,
some of which had powerful leverage, a trench about
live inches long and three inches deep, and to remove
such parts of the bones as he found to be diseased.
Laying bare nearly three inches of the spinal cord,
he pointed out to those who were about him, a tough
and purplish tubercular tumor, which had grown out
of the diseased bones, and by its direct pressure on

LAST ILLNESS.

Ill)

the cord lia«l caused the paralysis. On removal, the
tumor was found to be in bulk nearly the size of a
hen's eo-rr ; but the spinal cord itself was believed to
be free from di.ease ; and from this it was inferred
with consideral)le confidence that recovery mi((ht be
looked for. The wound was (piickly tilled in with
antiseptic gauze, and loft unsewed in order that it
might be properly dressed from time to time, and to
permit the healing process to be a healthy growth
from within ; and withii. an hour from the first pass
of the knife, he was lying quietly in his bed in the

For several hours during the night that followed,
the invalid w^as in much peril from the shock ; but in
the morning he rallied, and his convalescence w^as so
rapid and steady that on Saturday he had regained
much strength, was in much physical and mental
comfort, and was al)le easily to converse with his wife
and brother. But on Sunday, thougli his strength
was still increasing and his spirit was cheerful as a
lark, a very slight hiccough set in ; which, at the time,
appeared to be too insignificant a maUer to occasion
apprehension. It continued, however, and increased
day after (hiy, being incited and maintained l)y severe
stomachic disturl)ance and by a fresh and serious at-
tack of kidney disorder ; so that, V)y Friday morning,
it absolutely wore him out, in spite of all that medical
science could do. —

During tlui greater part of the last night of his life,
he was in profound slundjer medically induced. But
in the earlier part of the night before the soporific

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MEMOIR OF D. A. m'GREGOh.

took effect, and toward morning when its force was
spent, his eldest brother prayed and conversed with
him, briefly, several times ; and always found him
clinging confidingly to his Saviour. When the peti-
tion was offered that the suffer might have " quiet-
ness and rest" (for whether awake or asleep, the ex-
hausting convulsive sob of the hiccough went steadily
on), he took up the phrase and repeated it like a re-
frain, and rang the changes on it, like a chime, till he
fell asleep, when, for the first time, the hiccough stop-
ped for a while. But, as the event proved, the hic-
cough was becoming feebler simply because the vital
forces were nearly spent.

When the morning was well advanced, his brother,
desiring to apprise him that, in all probability, death
was close at hand, asked him a question, which began
the following series of questions and replies, " Daniel^
do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your
heart?" "Yes, I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But does your question mean that the end of life has
come for me ? " *' Yes, I fear that the end is very
near." " Do you mean to say that there is absolutely
no hope ?" * No, I do not say there is absolutely no
hope ; for while you continue to breathe and the hic-
cough no longer is present, there is, apparently, a very
slight chance that you may recover. But I fear that
you have only a few hours to live." He seemed then
to be expressing to himself, in indistinct soliloquy, his
surprise at the result, and at the same time his soul's
trust in his Saviour. When the house-surgeon sug-
gested that, if he could only get to sleep, he might

LAST ILLNESS.

121

possibly rally, even yet, the sick and dying man
turned his head upon his pillow and instantly went
to sleep. When he wakened, which was not long
afterwards, he appeared to be quietly resting; but
soon he suddenly flung back his arms, gave one deep
inspiration, and he was gone : for, though two physi-
cians, who were present, instantly injected under the
skin the most powerful stimulants, the heart refused
to beat another stroke. Thus, at about eleven in the
morning of Friday, April 25th, 1890, after a long and
brave struggle with complicated and powerful disease^
his ransomed spirit passed away from earth into the
life and light beyond.

That evening his body, accompanied by his now
widowed wife and his eldest brother, was on its way
to Toronto. Over the scene of grief and desolation,
upon its arrival in the now shattered home, we must
draw a veil.

On Monday, April 28th, after a most devout, solemn
jind tender funeral service, in which many valued
friends of the departed participated, and present at
which a deeply symppi/hizing and sorrowing company
filled the hall of the College, where the deceased Prin-
cipal, but recently appointed, had earnestly hoped to
do Icng and efficient service for Christ and His people,
his earthly remains were borne to the not distant
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where the dust of his two
departed children was lying, and committed to the
ground "till the heavens shall be no more." - --

Of the mystery of the Divine procedure, in prepar-
ing a man through long and trying processes and

122

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

setting him apart for an important work, and then
almost immediately laying him aside by fell disease ;
in putting it into the hearts of the people of God to
pray, with unwonted unanimity and earnestness, for
his recovery and continuance in service, and then dis-
appointing their profoundest desires and hopes ; in
granting, eventually, to his physicians, marked success
in removing the great primary cause of his physical
ailments, and in bringing him into encouraging con-
valescence, and then baffling their utmost efforts to
overcome a merely incidental complaint, it can only
be said, that it lies hidden in the sovereign and infi-
nitely wise and holy counsels of Him whose " way is
in the sea," whose " path is in the great waters," and
whose " footsteps are not known." The vastness of
the Divine plans, comprehensive alike of all time and
of all space, the invincible limitations of the human
mind, and the deliberate purpose of God, in certain
things, to conceal Himself, preclude the possibility of
our comprehending many things which we would
greatly desire to understand. To employ certain
peculiarly significant words of Holy Writ, which were
oft-repeated as a v/at'^hword, on the lips, and potent
as a spell, in the heart of the departed, this mystery
must remain sealed till

"the day shall declare it."

CHAPTER VI.

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

The following announcement of Principal McGre-
gor's death and account of the funeral services are
taken from the Canadian Baptist:

" The blow has fallen. The fond hopes of a host of
loving friends have been disappointed and the gravest
fears realized. The beloved Principal of our Theolog-
ical College is dead. The letter from his brother in
our last, giving a clear and graphic account of the sur-
gical operation, its success in locating and removing
the tumor which was the immediate cause of the dis-
ease, and the cheering prognostications of the atten-
dant surgeons, enabled us to say that we awaited
further tidings with hopeful anxiety. For a few daj's
the telegrams continued to bring the most cheering
accounts of progress. Then change for the worse
came. The painful disease which had twice since his .
entrance into the hospital brought him to the very
gates of death, again attacked him, w^ith fatal results.
All that medical skill could do to avert the issue was
done, but in vain. On Thursday came the ominous
message 'Prepare for the worst,' and on Friday the

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124

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

news that he who had for the past nine months been
the object of so much loving and prayerful solicitude
had peacefully gone to the eternal rest."

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" The earthly remains of the late Principal McGre-
gor were laid in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Monday
afternoon. A solemn and impressive service was held
at Mc Master Hall, commencing at 3 p.m. Rev. Dr.
Welton, Acting Principal of the Theological Depart-
ment, presided. After an invocation by Rev. R. G.
Boville and singing, a portion of Scripture was read
by Rev. Dr. Mac Vicar, Chancellor of the University.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Thomas, of Jarvis St.
Brief addresses were then delivered by Rev. Messrs.
John McLaurin, E. W. Dadson, Thomas Trotter, and
Elmore Harris, acquaintances of long standing and
intimate friends of the deceased.

" Rev. Mr. McLaurin said that he had known Mr.
McGregor from early childhood, they having been
born and brought up on adjacent farms, and having
been members of the same church after their conver-
sion and baptism. The influences of those early days
had never passed away. Afterwards Mr. McGregor
went to College, while he went to the far East as a
missionary. The early intimacy was renewed in 1886,
when Mr. McGregor wrote to him in India, expressing
his desire to give himself to missionary work and
asking his advice. Believing that his scholarly abili-
ties would enable him to be more useful in his own
land, Mr. McLaurin urged him to remain in Canada.

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

125

He loved the departed because the latter had believed
in and loved his native land ; had believed in and
loved the young men of Canada and had dedicated
his life to them. Mr. McGregor's theological views
were conservative. He thought Christ and his apos-
tles knew all about the nineteenth century, and its
discoveries and wants, and were safe guides to follow.
He was gentle, genial, generous, clear-headed, warm-
hearted, manly. There was an exuberance of love in
his character. He was incapable of a mean or ignoble
action. May God give Canada many such men.

" Rev. Mr. Dadson knew that anything that he
might say in praise of the departed "would find an
echo in every heart. He had been pondering on the
mysterious providences of God, as he remembered the
number of men holding leading positions in the de-
nomination that had been cut down in the prime of
life. Dr. Fyfe had been taken away, Professors Yule
and Torrance had been taken, and now Principal
McGregor. The lesson was brought home with tre-
mendous power that God can do without individual
men, however useful or indispensable they may ap-
pear to be. His work will go on, whoever falls. They
had, perhaps, depended too much on men instead of
on God. If this work of Christian education is to be
well done, it must be through the power of God.
When Christ departed this life he commissioned his
disciples to carry on his work. He appealed to the
teachers and students and to the Baptist people not
to let the work in which Mr. McGregor had fallen
flag, or cease to progress.

126

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

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'iW.

" Rev. Mr. Trotter felt that it would not be fitting to
use extravagant eulogy, but he wished to speak of
what he knew of their departed friend. Mr. McGre-
gor was not a perfect man, but he knew few things
that could be justly said about the greatest and best
men that could not justly be said about their brother.
He said this after an intimate accjuaintance of over
eighteen years. He referred to Mr. McGregor's intel-
lectual endowments. These gave him a high place at
College and University, made him a man strong in
the faith, a noble vicar of Christ, an able Professor in
the College, and finally Principal. His great conscien-
tiousness led D. A. McGregor to desire above all things
to know the right, and nothing could deter him from
following what he believed to be right. He was a
Christian man. One ideal was ever before him, one
impulse urged him on, one life he wished to live. The
strength of his convictions was great. Though he had
probably accepted the Christian faith traditionally, he
had verified it by deep thought and personal experi-
ence. Simplicity and modesty were native to him.
There was an entire absence of self-seeking in his
course. As a friend he loved intensely, and was loved
intensely in return. What he had accomplished had
been accomplished in comparative youth. Had his
life been spared he must have fulfilled its great pro-
mise.

" Rev. Mr. Harris said that in the death of Mr. Mc-
Gregor he had lost a wise counsellor and a dear friend.
He spoke feelingly of the part the deceased had taken
in connection with the establishment of the Walmer

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

127

Road church. The death of Mr. McGregor left a great
l)lank in his life. Did he not remember that this life
is but a preparation for eternity, he would be utterly
unable to comprehend such a bereavement. He be-
lieved their brother was now before the throne. His
thoughts were full of the resurrection, while their
hearts were full of grief. There was also room for
Christian axultation, and they might well exclaim,
"O grave, where is thy victory?" Mr. Harris, in
closing, referred touchingly to the widow and children
of the departed, in their overwhelming sorrow.

" After the singing of another hymn and prayer by
Rev. J. Alexander, the casket was borne to the hearse
by the pall-bearers. Professor Newman, Professor
Campbell, Rev. E. W. Dadson, Rev. Thomas Trotter,
Rev. Ira Smith, Rev. J. J. Baker, Rev. S. S. Bates,
and Principal Huston. The remains were followed
to Mount Pleasant Cemetery by the brothers. Rev.
Malcolm MacGregor, of New York, and Mr. Robert
McGregor, of Ottawa, by Mr Hull, of Princeton,
father-in-law. Rev. Mr. Corkery, of Wisconsin, and
young Mr. Hull, brothers-in-law of the deceased, as
chief mourners, and by a large number of sympathiz-
ing friends, including the forty students of the Col-
lege. Prayer at the grave was offered by the Rev. W.
K. Anderson, a former pastor of the deceased."

V it

After giving an appreciative sketch of Principal
McGregor's life, the Editor of the Canadian Baptist

128

MEMOIll OF D. A. M GREGOR.

proceeds to give his own estimate of the character of
the deceased, based on an intimate acquaintance of
several years' duration.

"The writer had the happiness of knowing Mr.
McGregor long and intimately, during the eight years
of his student-life at Woodstock, and during three
years since his appointment to a professorship in
McMaster Hall, and could say much, most conscien-
tiously and sincerely, in his praise. This would he
superfluous in view of the testimony of several of
those who were his fellow -students and most intimate
College friends, which will be found in another column.
Their words of eulogy are strong. We have seldom
read or listened to the words of admiring and loving
friends, uttered in praise of one just taken from them,
without fearing that there was more or less tendency
to exaggeration and extravagance. We can honestly
say, on this occasion, that we have not that feeling in
any appreciable degree. We feel that the words of
affectionate eulogy are at the same time the words of
truth. Take him all in all, we have never known a
better balanced or more estimable character, or one in
which we thought we could discern surer promise of
future usefulne^^s of no common order, than that of the
deceased. It often happens, is in fact almost a rule,
that superior mental endowments are to a greater or
less extent marred by defects on the social or moral
side of the character, and vice versa. The man of
superior intellect is often irascible, reserved, or domi-
neering ; the man marked by special amiability fre-
quently lacks mental acumen, or intellectual force.

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

129

The beauty of Mr. McGregor's character was its syiu-
inetry. Without being exactly brilliant he was one of
the clearest thinkers, as student and as teacher, whom
it has been our privilege to know. With a most loving
and lovable nature were combined great strength botli
of intellect and of will. While constitutionally dis-
posed, as his friend Mr. McLaurin observed, to be con-
servative in his theological views, his conservatism
was not of that narrow kind which maintains itself
by persistently looking on one side of (juestions, and
reading one school of writers.

"During the early months of his illness, his mind
seemed at times to be almost abnormally active. We
sat sometimes by his bedside and discussed the hard
problems of the age, until we felt it necessary repeat-
edly to ask him to desist, or to break off our visit
abruptly, lest his mental activity should prove too
much for his physical strength. Those earnest talks
revealed a depth and intensity in that quiet nature
which a cursory acquaintance would scarcely have
suggested. Two complementary yet contrasted phases
of this inner nature were delightfully brought to view.
One was his earnest desire to know truth as truth, to
have as clear conceptions of it as possible, in its meta-
physical and theological aspects. The other was his
earnest desire, too often not sufficiently associated with
the former, to understand and use that truth in its
practical applications to the needs, physical and social,
as well as moral and religious, of suffering humanity.
The condition of the masses, their poverty, hardships
and temptations, the struggle between labor and capi-

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GIIEGOR.

tal, — such f|nestions as these he was coming more and
more to see were most intimately related to the Chris-
tian life and the work of the Gospel ministry. His mind
was earnestly occupied, amongst other things, with a
j)lan for a series of lectures for the students in which
the relations of the preacher of the Gospel to these and
kindred problems of the age were to have been discussed.

"It was one of the rare excellencies of our departed
brother's character, that it was not necessary always
to agree with him in order to retain his cordial friend-
ship. Like most strong characters he was tenacious of
his own opinions, and we sometimes differed both on
mere speculative points and in regard to such practical
(juestions as the best mode of organizing and carrying
on our educational work, and the proper relations of
its different departments. But no such differences,
however frankly discussed, ever produced the slightest
manifestation of ruffled feeling, or interfered in the
least with a warmth of friendship and affection which
will be among the most cherished recollections of a
lifetime. Long intercourse, first as teacher and student,
and afterwards as friends and neighbors, w^ill, we trust,
excuse the personal tone of these reminiscences.

"On the religious side of our departed friend's spirit
and life we need not dwell. His devout piety was
well known by all who knew the man, for it was
a part of his very life. To one fact we may refer. His
burning desire to live and work for the Master in his
chosen sphere was remarkable. To the last it never
waned. He did not w^eary of the struggle as many
do, and in his sense of weakness long for the coming

TRIHUTES OF RESPECT.

131

rest. Above all and always he desired to live and
work, to develop to the utmost the powers God had
^iven him, and to consecrate them more fully in years
of lovinf( service. And yet thrre was no murmuring-
at the lot which decreed otherwise. Blended with all
his strong desire was a will submissive, meek, resigned^
to the good and perfect w ill of the Master. This feel-
ing was well expressed in the words of his favorite
hymn, — Faber's : "I worship Thee, sweet will of God."
He believed with perfect trust that —

* He always wins who sides with (rod,

To him no chance is h)st ;
(tod's will is sweetest to him wl.en
It triumphs at his cost.'"

In many of our churches in Toronto and througliout
the Province reference was made to the great denomi-
national loss, and a number of memorial sermons wei'e
preached. It would be impracticable to reproduce any
of these in full, even if they were available. We limit
ourselves to a newspaper report of the sermon preached
h^^ Rev. B. D. Thomas, D.D., in the Jarvis St. church :

"Know ye not that there is a prince fallen this day in Israel ?"

"I have chosen these words for my text this evening
in view of the event which has bowed the hearts of
our whole Baptist Israel in this Province with sorrow.
Daniel Arthur McGregor, so recently appointed Princi-
pal of McMaster Hall, and who was recognized through-
out the denomination as one of the choicest spirits in
our ministry, has, after many weary months of patient
suffering, passed into the unseen. No event that has

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132

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

occurred in j'^ears has touched our sensibilites more
keenly. The circumstances connected with it have
been such as to make it thrillingly pathetic. He was
a man in the very prime of his manhood. He had
been chosen to a high responsibility. He possessed
rare qualities of both head and heart, which he had
hoped to consecrate to the accomplishment of the
work entrusted to his hands. He had the confidence
of his brethren in a marked degree. The efficiency
which he exhibited as a professor in one of the depart-
ments of McMaster Hall, led to his appointment to the
Principalship on the resignation of Dr. Castle. Scarcely
had he entered upon this enlarged sphere of usefulness
and possibilities, when he was stricken down. At the
moment when life was opening out before him with
radiant promise, the fatal symptoms appeared. Is it
a strange thing that we should stand beneath the
shadow of such a Providence with mournful hearis ?
Could it be otherwise ? While love burns with fer-
vent glow within our souls ; while noble qualities
command veneration and esteem ; while sympathy
with the aspirations of ability and worth abide ; while
hearts beat warm to all that is high and noble, there
must be sorrow, in view of the swift ending of this
life so rare and promiseful.

" There is an aspect of this event which it would be
vain on mere philosophical principles to seek to un-
derstand. Looked at with a mere human vision, it is
inoxpacable. It is a profound enigma, the elucidation
of which can come to us from no earthly sense. Why
all those years of unflagging industry, of great enthusi-

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TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

133

asm, of earnest preparation for high and grand achieve-
ments, to culminate in irrevocable disappointment ?
Why all this blossoming of exuberant nature to un-
dergo a cruel blight, as the fruit was only ripening ?
Why all these rare qualities of intellect and heart
to be buried in an untimely sepulchre ? To stand in
the presence of such a spectacle without a clear appre-
hension of the infinite purpose of life, would be sad
indeed. But we sorrow not as 'those without hope.
We are sustained and comforted with the conviction
that it is not all of life to live nor all of death to die.
When we shall have spent the years we are to live,
we are embraced in the infinite plan of eternity. What
we mourn over to-day is not a failure, but a change
leading to a higher fruition and development. What
is to us a sad ending, is to him for whom we mourn a
loftier beginning. Nothing has been lost. The very
weariness and pain have been beneficent ministrations
in the unfolding of the Divine purpose. All the years
of toil and study have entered into the nature of his
soul with a beneficent and purposeful intent.

" The speaker then applied the words of the text to
the deceased man, pointing out that, as an earnest
Christian, he was of royal birth — a prince to be
honored. He had a royal nature. He had a royal
education. He had a royal sphere. He had a royal
fellowship. He has a royal crown. We should be
thankful that God gave us such a life. Its sweet
purity and guilelessness, its manly earnestness and
fidelity, its quiet strength and fascinating sweetness
will long abide with us as a rich legacy of blessing.

134

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'gUEGOR.

Lot them all strive so to live, that, when their own time
came to pass away to the unseen, they might be as
ready to depart as was D. A. McGregor. He was a
prince who had fallen, and for him there awaited a
crown of glory which would never fade."

I'rom the Woodstock College Monthly we copy the
follov ing editorial notice :

" He has gone. Many sad hearts are feeling more
and more their sorrow and realizing more and more
their loss. The life of D. A. McGregor was so strongly
calm and peaceful that even in his death his influence
is felt in the nature of the sorrow it has created.
There is on all hands a deep abiding sorrow, full of
anguish, and yet tempered and controlled by a deep
abiding peace, full of glory. In death as in life our
brother was a peace-maker ; in these last sad days
his character has received another crown of praise in
that it has governed and channelled our sorrow.

" Principal McGregor will be missed. Toronto Bap-
tist College will miss him. He was ever true to the
interests of ministerial education, of which he had a
high ideal. His place as a leader may be supplied —
some of the qualities of originality, of foreseeing and
providing, he may not have possessed to the highest
degree — but as a strong teacher, and as a friend of
ministerial students, as a clear-headed dispassionate
adviser, as firm and yet gentle, soothing and yet per-
suasive, he was alone.

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

135

" The churches will miss him. * Blessed are the peace-
makers for they shall be called the children of God.'
D. A. McGregor was essentially a peace-maker. He
never stirred up strife and bitterness. Never afraid
nor slow to state his views, he was aways temperate
and never harsh, always considerate, always sincere.
How often have his words thrown a spell of peace
over our agitated meetings, and caused bitterness to
melt away into rivers of love. Surely the churches
may exclaim.

' When conies such another.'

"The Home and Foreign Missions will miss him.
His heart was filled with sympathy for every enter-
prise that had for its object the good of the world, in
the upbuilding and saving of souls. His influence as
Secretary of the Home Mission Society will not die.

" Woodstock College will miss him. The College
interests are mentioned last because they are dearest
to our hearts. We at Woodstock do indeed alreadv
miss our brother. He did not live with us. He was
associated with another branch of our educational
work, but he was for us. His sympathy was a power
to us all. To some of the masters he hid been a col-
lege companion, to none of them was he unknown,
and to none of them had he failed to give strength
by his quiet indication of sympathy and of fidelity to
the college cause. The college flag that hung at half-
mast, the college bell that tolled its mournful notes at
the hour appointed for the funeral, the deputation
that represented the college at that funeral, meant

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

more than merely tha death of an old boy; they repre-
sented the sadness and sorrow that come to those that
realize that they have lost a portion of themselves.
We are not what we were. We have, in the times
that are gone, been encouraged by his interest and
cheered by his counsel ; we felt him to be one of our-
selves. He is gone.

"And yet his strong life still lives. He is not dead.
Apart altogether from existence in a land of purer
delight, in a home of greater possibilities, he is still
living. His example, his memory, his character, his
own self, are with us, and we move forward inspired
by the thought that comes from the backward look
upon his life. v

• We were weary, and we
Fearful, and in our march
Fain to drop down and to die.
Still thou turnedst, and still
Beekonedst the trembler, and still
Gavest the weary thy hand.
If in the paths of the world,
Stones might have wounded thy feet,
Toil or dejection have tried
Thy spirit, of that we saw
Nothing ; to us thou wast still
Cheerful, and helpful, and firm j
Therefore to thee it was given
Many to save with thyself.
And at the end of thy day,
faithful shepherd ! to come
Bringing thy sheep in thy hand. ' "

The Messenger and Visitor, whose honored editor
has succeeded Mr. McGregor in the chair of System-
atic Theology and Apologetics, and who had known

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

137

him intimately at Woodstock, published the following
notice:

" It is with a sad heart that we write these mourn-
ful words. As our Ontario correspondent writes, an
operation was performed upon his spine. About three
inches of the spinal cord were laid open by cutting
through the backbone. A tumor nearly as large as an
egg, which had been pressing upon the great nerve
centre, was removed, and strong hopes were had that
he would recover. On Saturday came the tidings that
he was dead. In his death the world has lost one of
its truest men, and the work of our denomination one
of its strongest but most unassuming workers. Very
many of us feel we have lost one of our best friends.
It was our privilege to know him intimately as a stu-
dent at Woodstock College, during the years of our
ministry with the church there, and for few did we
ever grow to have a greater respect or warmer love.
His unaffected sincerity, his unswerving loyalty, his
deep piety and devotion, all blended with a loving
gentleness and modesty, formed a character of ster-
ling worth and beauty. We cannot recall without
emotion the last time we saw him. It was on our
visit to Toronto last autumn. He was completely and
cheerfully submissive to the divine will, while longing
to have the privilege of continuing his work. He was
much moved by the sympathy and good-will of his
brethren. Before leaving he asked us to have wor-
ship with him. As we leaned over him to bid him
good-bye, he drew us down, and we feel that the part-
ing was indeed holy. As we turned at the door for a
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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

last look, his eyes were fixed upon ii« with a wistful,
intent gaze, prompted, we have no doubt, by the feel-
ing that, probably we should never meet again on
earth. Is it any wonder that we shall always cherish
the memory of that half -hour as most sacred ?

"McMaster Hall has met with a very severe loss,
and his growing power will be missed in all the work
of our brethren in the west Already strong in mental
and heart power, he had that humility which would
ever have kept him striving to become better and
stronger for his work.

" So the workmen fall : how comforting the thought
that the work goes on, assured of triumph because
raised above peradventure by Him who is all-power-
ful and all- wise." "

The Senate and the Board of Governors of
McMaster University passed the following resolution
and sent a copy thereof to Mrs. McGregor :

'• We, the Board of Governors and Senate of Mc-
Master University, desire to take the earliest oppor-
tunity of expressing our deep sorrow at the death of
Professor D. A. McGregor, B.A., late Principal of
Toronto Baptist College. In our deceased brother and
fellow-laborer we recognized a man of superior men-
tal and spiritual endowments who by his many gifts
and virtues commanded universal confidence and love.
His work as a Professor was highly valued. In the
Principalship of the College to which he had been

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

139

80 recently appointed we confidently hoped to see him
achieve a great work for God. His early death, re-
moving him from his great work almost before he had
touched it, and cutting him off in the very prime of his
manhood, has filled us with disappointment and sorrow.
We bow submissively to the Divine appointment, but
our sense of loss is very great. To Mrs. McGregor,
who has been so sorely bereaved, and under such
painful circumstances, we would tender our deepest
sympathy, praying that the consolations of God may
abound towards h 9r, and that upon her and her dear
children in all their future the special blessing of
heaven may abide."

The students of McMaster Hall addressed the
following letter of sympathy to Mrs. McGregor:

" The sad death of our dear Principal has stricken
us with grief. During his brief connection with our
College, we learned to esteem him for his talents, to
honor him for his sterling worth, and to love him for
his sympathy. A year ago when the Principalship
became vacant, all eyes turned toward him and our
hearts throbbed with joyful satisfaction when it was
announced that he had been appointed to this position,
for we knew how his heart yearned to help his breth-
ren and the good his gentle influence would work in
our lives. But he has been taken from us. No longer
shall we listen to his voice nor feel his heart beat in
sympathy with ours. The Lord has called him from

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

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this life. But he still lives in many lives and in them
he will influence multitudes for good. Our loss is
great, our sorrow keen. How heavy therefore must
your affliction be ! You have lost a loving husband,
your little ones are fatherless. Kindly accept our
deepest sympathy in your sad loss. We pray that
He who erreth not will comfort and sustain you by
his grace. In love He has afflicted you.

♦

' He chose this path for thee
And well he knew that thou must tread alone
Its gloomy vales and ford each flowing stream ;
Knew how thy bleeding heart would, sobbing, moan,
Dear Lord, to wake, and find it all a dream.
Love scanned it all, yet still could say, ' I see

This path is best for thee.'"

From a large number of sympathetic letters ad-
dressed to the relatives of the deceased three have
been selected for reproduction here. Rev. J. F. Elder,
D.D., and Rev. Leighton Williams, of New York,
whose letters addressed to Rev. Malcolm MacGregor
follow, knew Principal McGregor only as an invalid,
and showed him much kindness during his hospital
life:

" It was with deep sorrow that we learned last Sun-
day that our hopes and prayers for your brother's
recovery had not in God's good providence been an-
swered according to our expectations. He has ordered
it otherwise, and we will believe that it is well, for
He doeth all things well — well for your brother — well
for his widow and children — well for the work from
which he is taken, and well for us all to whom he was

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

141

dear. Yea, doubtless, it ^s well, and far better if we
could but see it, for our Father's ways are higher than
our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts, and
they are thoughts of inexpressible tenderness and in-
finite concern for our greatest blessedness. If there
were no death, where would the glorious resurrection
be ? " He that loseth his life shall find it." Oh to
realize this truth in the daily life, so that like Paul
we 'die daily,' that the life also of Jesus might be
manifest in our bodies. God bless and comfort you.
II Kings iv: 26, and II Cor. 1: 3-7.

Affectionately yours,

Leighton Williams."

"It made me feel very sad to see the announcement
of your brother's death. I greatly enjoyed the few
calls I made upon him and have seldom met one to
whom I felt so drawn on brief acquaintance. His
enthusiasm for his work, his patient submission to
the will of God, and a certain undefinable charm of
manner made him very engaging to me. My first
visit gave me a sermon. He spoke freely and calmly
of the terrible ordeal he was to pass through ; and in
reply to a suggestion of mine, that, even if the opera-
tion for his relief should result fatally, he would but
be transferred to other service for his Lord, he said
quickly and softly " I believe that : ' His servants
shall serve Him.' "

" If we could but forget our own sense of loss, how

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

we could rejoice for him, called to service in the im-
mediate presence of Christ — a service for which his
very afflictions have been preparing him. Nor is his
influence for Christ spent here below. Such a man
lives on in those who have felt the charm of his pre-
sence and the inspiration of his enthusiasm.

" My heart goes out to the widow and orphans in
their affliction. May he who is the Father of the
fatherless and the widow's God make them to feel
that the eternal God is their refuge and underneath
are everlasting arms.

" May the God of all comfort give you adequate
balm for your own wounded spirit: and may we both
be the better servants of our Master for the example
of him who was so lot ely and pleasant in his life.

Yours truly,

J. F. Elder."

We have purposely reserved till the last the tender,
affectionate, beautifully w^ritten letter addressed by
Dr. John H. Castle, himself rapidly approaching the
end of earthly life, to Mrs. McGregor :

" Only this morning on opening the Examiner did
I learn of your great sorrow in the death of my
dear, dear friend, your beloved husband. I was ex-
pecting just as soon as his brother gave me the word
that it was safe for h-'m to converse with a friend to
run over to New York and see him, and was looking
forward to next week or the week following as the
time when he would be sufficiently recovered from

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

143

the shock of the operation to aifortl me the great
privilege of another interview. But this was not to
be, already he had gone *to be with the Lord.' I
had continued to pray for him a whole week after he
had entered into his rest. I need not tell you how
sincerely I loved and trusted him. He had my full
confidence long before his connection with the College,
and in the years we wrought together every day en-
hanced my affection for him as a sincere, self-denying,
strong and faithful fellow -laborer. How little a year
ago we could have anticipated the change which has
occurred. No one would have been surprised, if I had
gone 'the way of all the earth,' but he seemed strong
and well, and just entering on a career of highest use-
fulness and honor. I remain, with health so much
improved that I have been doing partial work in the
ministry with unspeakable joy. He has finished his
course. And yet to our view his life was so much
more valuable than mine. But you know how firmly
he beli'eved that the inscrutable ways of God are holy
and good. In the pure light of heaven he praises God
for every step of the journey. It is now quite certain,
I suppose, that he could only have survived a little
while without the operation ; so his friends cannot re-
gret that he bravely faced the ordeal which promised
possible recovery and usefulness. In your deep grief
you have our warmest sympathy. We too have lost
a precious friend whose memory is embalmed in recol-
lections of love, purity, principle and Christlike action.
Commending you to Him who sustains his children in
their keenest sorrows, Mrs. Castle joins in mingling
our grief with yours."

PART II.

LITERARY REMAINS.

mi J

DOES POETRY NECESSARILY DECLINE
WITH THE ADVANCE OF CIVILI-
ZATION?*

In Lord Macaulay's essay on Milton, we find the
position taken, that, " As civilization advances, poetry
almost necessarily declines " ; and that superior men-
tal culture, so far from bein^ an advantage to the
poet, is one of his greatest hindrances. We know
that he is not exceptional in the position he has taken ;
for other writers of distinction, among whom is Lord
Jeffrey, have maintained the same : yet we cannot but
feel doubtful with regard to its correctness. Lord
Macaulay admits that hife statement is rather paradox-
ical ; but he advances arguments to prove that it is
nevertheless true. He notices the facts that the poet-
ical element of a nation's literature is the first to de-
velop itself ; that it attains to a considerable degree
of perfection while yet science is comparatively un-
known ; and that science and philosophy are only
developed in an enlightened age. While the truth of
these statements is evident to every reader of history,
yet we fail to see that they afford any basis for the
conclusion, that with the advancement of philosophy
there will necessarily be a decline in poetry ; that " in
an enlightened age there will be much science and
philosophy, but little poetry ;" that ''in proportion as

*From The Tyro, of April 1874.

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

men know more and think iiore, they will make bet-
ter theories and worse poems." That philosophy does
advance with civilization, no one need doubt; but
does its advancement involve the decline of poetry ?
We fail to see how the culture and refinement which
promote the one prove injurious, rather than benefi-
cial, to the other. While we think that no one who
lacks the natural qualifications can become a true poet
by culture, we are not at all prepared to admit that a
thorough education and a high state of social refine-
ment prove detrimental to the poetic art. On the
contrary, we think that the culture which is neces-
sary to the full appreciation of true poetry, is also
necessary to its production. Every other occupation
advances with the civilization and higher education of
the people. Every other sphere of literary effort is
enriched by mental discipline. It is but natural to
expect that the growing efficiency of the power exer-
cised should be followed by improvement in the work
performed ; and we fail to see what there is in poetry
which causes it so to clash with Nature's universal
law. If that excellency of thought, purity of taste,
and power of expression, all of which are essential to
true poetry, are to be found in their highest perfection
in the ages of ignorance and barbarity, and decline as
civilization advances, what is mental culture ? what is
social refinement ? and what are their benefits ? Yet
the statement that " the earliest poets are generally
tho best," Lord Macaulay caiis " the most orthodox
article of literary faith." One of the arguments which
the author uses in support of his position is, the effect

DOES POETRY NECESSARILY DECLINE ?

149

which the poetry of the early ages produced on the
minds of the people. It is true that the wild effusions
of a fiery brain in an age when superstition held the
throne of reason, would rouse more terribly the minds
of the people, than would any poem in an enlightened
age. But are we to ascribe this to the perfection of
the poetic art, or to the uncultivated taste of a people
who knew no criterion of excellence but the wild agi-
tation of feeling harrowed by scenes of horror ? The
author might argue in the same manner, that because
any commonplace distribution of glaring colors on
canvas would produce livelier sensations in many an
untrained mind, than would an exquisite picture in
that of a skilled artist, therefore the ruder painting
displays a higher perfection of the art. In the early
stages of literature, the most extravagant outburst of
an untrained imagination would, in all probability, be
preferred to the well-wrought imagery and chaste
expression of later times. So also would the common
commingling of sounds in music be more appreciated
by the untrained ear, than would the grander sym-
phonies of Beethoven; yet a true judge of music would
decide very differently with regard to their merit. In
the same manner, though an uncultivated people might
prefer the meaningless verses of a ballad-monger to
the choicest stanzas of Tennyson, yet no person of
good taste would come to the same conclusion ; and
we cannot think that Lord Macaulay himself, though
he places the golden age of poetry in the past, would
exchange the choice thoughts and pleasing expressions
of the poets of the last centuries for the vague pro-
ductions of earlier times.

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The author advances another argument and says,
that "language, the machine of the poet, is best fitted
for his purpose in its rudest state." If the rudeness
of language only meant that rugged style which makes
up in strength what it lacks in beauty, the argument
would be one of force ; but when we take into consid-
eration that baldness and vulgarity, so characteristic
of language in its earliest forms, and remember that
on account of its poverty, the nicest shades of thought
could never be expressed, we fail to see how he, whose
themes are the most a3sthetic, can find it the best
adapted to his purposes.

The author again argues, that the progress of philo-
sophy involves the decline of poetry, because the mode
of thought necessary to the one is injurious to the
other. This would probably be true in the case of a
single individual, as no one can be truly successful in
any one occupation who distributes his power among
many ; but when it is applied to a nation's progress,
we think it proves faulty. It might as well be argued,
that because ao-riculture is now carried on more efli-
ciently and extensively than it was in the earlier ages,
therefore there necessarily is a decline in the mercan-
tile businesj, while, in reality, the one is the assistant
of the other.

He also speaks of the very thorough education that
Milton received — and it certainly was one of the first
order — and then, from the position that literary pro-
ficiency is a hindrance to the highest attainments in
poetry, he argues, that no poet has ever triumphed
over greater difficulties than did Milton. If intellec-

DOES POETRY NECESSARILY DECLINE ?

151

tual culture be detrimental to the poetic art, then
almost all poets of distinction have had to contend
with the same difficulty. How is it, then, that they
so strangely burst the bonds of their fate and soared
to eminence, while those who never had such difficul-
ties to hinder their progress scarcely ever rose above
the common level ? Arguing from the same stand-
point, we would legitimately conclude, that the fii-st
attempts of a poet at metrical composition would be
his most successful ; yet this would not agree with
common experience and observation. Is it not more
likely that the training which enables us to perceive
the beauty of thought, would also cultivate the power
of its conception and expression ? We fail to see how
that discipline which quickens mental activity, gives
breadth and energy of thought, grace and beauty of
expression, can be a hindrance to him whose themes
are the most aesthetic, and who therefore requires the
rarest capabilities. We believe that there is much
truth in the adage, " Poeta nascitur non fit," yet we
as fully believe that England's poetry would never
have sparkled so brightly on her literary page, had her
poetic talent been unaided by thorough discipline. And
we venture to say that, if it were not for that thorough
culture, which Lord Macaulay calls a poet's hindrance,
Milton's sublimest epics would lack that highest per-
fection which their able critic so much admires. We
believe that a thorough education would prove a benefit
to poetry, by ridding the world of much contemptible
rhyme ; and while it might lessen, to a certain extent,
the quantity of lyric poetry, yet, as a general rule, its

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

quality would be improved. We think that both
poetry and philosophy will be found in their highest
degree of perfection in an enlightened age ; and that
the thorough control over the intellectual faculties,
which severe discipline alone can secure, cannot fail
to have a beneficial influence on poetic productions.

I
i

WHAT CONSTITUTES A REGULAR BAPTIST

CHURCH ?*

If a Christian makes his choice of church connection
a matter of conscience toward God, and not simply one
of personal convenience, then a knowledge of what a
church is, in faith and practice, must precede his en-
trance into its fellowship. If he unites with one body
of Christians rather than with another — if he invites
fellow-Christians to union with that body rather than
with another — the only worthy reason for his doing
so must be his conviction that the body with which
he is connected is a truly Scriptural Church. But how
can he know this if he be not acquainted himself with
the accepted beliefs of the body with which he stands
identified ? There must be some knowledge of church
belief or practice as a ground of preference between
different systems of church organization, else the up-
holding of one rather than another differs not from the
blindest partyism. If churches are not to take their

*A paper read at the Ministerial Institute, in Jarvis St. Church,,
1880. ' ■ ,^

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

153

scripturalness as a thing for granted, they must prove
it by comparison with the Divine standard. But how
can such comparison be instituted if there be not defi-
nite knowledge of the positions held ? Since correct-
ness of faith and practice may be known only by
comparison with Scripture — and since there cannot be
comparison without a knowledge of the things to be
compared — it cannot be unimportant to inquire into
what constitutes a regular Baptist Church. As, by
the wording of this question, I shall be brought to the
frequent repetition of the term, " Regular Baptist
Church," I wish to state that I use it not by way of
ostentatious title. The name in itself is nothing. It
is used simply as the briefest description of the parti-
cular organization now under discussion.

In stating the various elements which, in their
combination, constitute a Regular Baptist Church, we
mention first the essential character of its membership.

A Regular Baptist Church is a society of converted
persons. Regeneration is not only a doctrinal belief,
but an indispensable qualification for church fellow-
ship. By this we do not mean that a church exercises
an omniscience which guards it from all deception,
but that none are received into its fellowship without
first having given satisfactory evidence, so far as the
church can judge, of personal salvation through faith
in the Son of God. A Regular Baptist Church is not
composed of believing parents and their children, but
of believers, and believers only. Christian parentage
gives no title to and no fitness for its fellowship. The
question is not one of youth or age, of Christian cr
lo

154

MEMOIR OF

A. M GREGOR.

un-Christian birth, but of a personal quickening from
a state of spiritual death to^ life in Christ. The sons
and daughters of the Lord God Almighty are not so
by mere natural birth. There is no sonship in God's
family, and no true membership in His church, apart
from the reception of Christ. To as manj' as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name, which
were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God. A manifest desire
to flee from the wrath to come is, in itself, no qualifi-
cation for its membership. The church presents itself
not as the sinner's refuge, but as the home of the
saved. It is not the sphere in which conversion is to
be wrought, but is itself the converted and converting
agency which works under God for the salvation of
the world. But if the church is thus to be, under
God, the light of the world, its members cannot be
the children of darkness. The living temple for God's
indwelling cannot be composed of those who are dead
in trespasses and sins. Believing, therefore, that the
church of God is a spiritual body, a spiritual birth and
a spiritual life are, in a Regular Baptist Church, made
a condition and a characteristic of membership. This,
and this alone, can satisfy the apostolic description of
the churches of God : "Ye are all the children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus ; for as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." No
body of Christians can, therexore, be acknowledged as
a Regular Baptist Church, if it has not made a regen-
erated life a test question of membership.

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

155

rOd

lave
No

Id as
ren-

But further. A Regular Baptist Church is composed
not simply of those who are regenerated, but of those
regenerate persons who have submitted themselves to
Christian baptism, upon a profession of faith. By
Christian baptism we mean the immersion of a believe* *
in water, into the name of tiie Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. If the act be any other than
immersion, then it is not that which Christ instituted.
Jf the person be any other than a believer, then he is
not the person Christ designates. If the person be a
believer, and the act be immersion, yet, if the baptism
be not in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost, it is not Christian baptism. It is
not what Christ commanded to be done. The formula
of Christian baptism is not less important than the
act enjoined or the subject specified ; and that is not
Christian baptism which, in any way, either by change
or omission, interferes with the Divine institution.
Therefore no persons are scrip turally baptized but
those who, on a profession of faith, have been im-
mersed in water, into the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This is not only
Regular Baptist Church belief, but as Christ has
placed baptism at the threshold of church relations, so
none are received into Regular Baptist Churches but
those who have thus submitted to His ordinance.
Any church which administers any other rite in the
name of baptism, or receives into its membership any
others than those who are thus baptized, is not a
Regular Baptist Church.

But more than this. Regeneration and baptism,

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GllEGOIl.

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though indispensable prerequisites to church member-
ship, do not in themselves constitute their subjects a
Regular Baptist Church. Men may be regenerated
and baptized, and yet be members of no visible church
whatever. They thus have fitness for membership,
but there can be no membership without organization.
A Regular Baptist Church is, therefore, an organized
body. It is not only an organized body, but a local
organization. The expressions, " Regular Baptist
Church," and " Regular Baptist Denomination," are
by no means synonymous. Though the words are
often used interchangeably, such usage embodies an
unscriptural assumption. The Regular Baptist deno-
mination is not a church ; nor is any denomination a
church. Denomination is nothing but a term whicii
distinguishes or designates various churches of the
same faith and order. A church of Christ on earth
in no sense comprises all those who hold similar views
of Gospel truth. The churches of Christ were many
in apostolic times, when there was a perfect unity of
belief. The churches of Christ are still many, as dis-
tinct local assemblies, and they can blend their identi-
ties in no other unity than that of the church invisible.
A Regular Baptist Church is, therefore, a local organ-
ization of baptized believers, associated by mutual
consent, in the faith, and love, and labor of the Gospel
— for the maintenance of the pure worship of God,
for the spread of His truth, and for the proper observ-
ance of His ordinances. Thus far, we have found the
essential elements which enter into the constitution of
a Regular Baptist Church to be a regenerated life and

A REGULAR BA}*TIST CHURCH.

157

a scriptural baptism, witliout which there r-.nnot be
proper subjects for church membership ; and those
subjects united in local organization, without wliich
there cannot be church existence.

The second essential element, which we would men-
tion as entering into the constitution of a Regular
Baptist Church, is tJte doctrinal basis of its unity.

That a definite form of doctrinal belief is requisite
to Regular Baptist Church existence, is seen from the
simple fact that there are church organizations which
are one with us in their beliefs concerning the ordi-
nances, and who differ from us only on doctrinal
grounds — and yet with them we have no church fel-
lowship. If there were no doctrinal differences, the
denominations would be one. If doctrinal belief were
not a test question with Regular Baptist Churches,
these differing denominations would still be one. The
fact that they are not one, while doctrinal belief is the
only difference, proves mainly that in Regular Baptist
Churches doctrinal belief is regarded as an indispen-
sable basis for church unity.

I cannot here state in full the teachings which, in a
doctrinal point of viow, characterize a church as one
of Regular Baptist faith. This would be work not
for a short address, but for a treatise on theology.
Yet, perhaps, the briefest outline of that faith is here
necessary.

The faith of Regular Baptist Churches, concerning
God, is, that there is one, and only one, living and
true God — the infinite, intelligent, eternal, self-exist-
ent Spirit — the first cause of all things — glorious in

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M OREOOR.

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i

His perfections, tri-pcrsonal in His existence, and yet,
at the same time, essentially and eternally one.

Their beliefs concerning man are, that he is the
creation of God. By the will of his Maker he is to
remain a living, conscious being forever. His eternal
blessedness, not his eternal existence, was conditioned
upon his obedience. By sin, he involved himself and
all his race in hopeless ruin, under the curse of law
and the reign of death.

They believe that the Holy Scriptures, as originally
given, are God's revelation to man, and are the infal-
lible guide and supreme standard of all creeds and of
all conduct.

The faith of a Regular Baptist Church, in reference
to the law of God is, that it is that system of moral
government under which man was placed in his crea-
tion, and under which he still lives. That same law,
the unchanged standard of perfect life, was afterwards
given to man in written record b; the pen of inspira-
tion. The law is holy, just, and good, and is incumbent
upon all mankind. All its claims had to be satisfied
before salvation could be offered to any of the human
family ; therefore, all men must be, by nature, under
its condemning power. Its penalties still rest on all
who are not redeemed from its curse. Nor has Christ,
in His vicarious work, in any way abrogated that
law. It is by His fulfilment of law that he has
brought his people out from under its condemnation.
And He has brought them out from under its con-
demnation, not that it might be no longer their rule
of life, but that the righteousness of the law might be

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

159

fulfilled in us, who walk not after the Hesh but after
the Spirit. But the righteousness of the law could
not be fulfilled in us ii it were not our rule of life.
It is, therefore, in its unchanged perfection of holiness,
justice and goodness, the glorious standard of all moral
excellency, the abiding rule of all Christian life. Do
we then make void the law through faith ? God for-
bid ! yea, we establish the law.

The faith that characterizes a Regular Baptist
Church, in reference to the way of salvation, may be
briefly designated as Pauline or Calvinistic. By the
election of grace, by the redemption of Christ, by the
power of the Spirit, by belief of the truth, apart from
any human merit, men are made new creatures in
Christ Jesus, and preserved unto the day of His
coming.

The Sabbath is believed to be an Edenic institu-
tion, and as such, it was designed for the whole human
family, and for all time. The Sabbath was made for
man, and not simply for a small section of the human
race. It was given to man as needful for him even
in his innocency. How much more after his fall. It
is a divine institution which has never been abolished,
and, therefore, carries with it perpetual obligation.
The ceremonies connected with its observance by
ancient Israel were exclusively national, and ceased
with the abolition of the ceremonial law : but the
original Sabbath, which, in its primitive simplicity,
was not for the Jew only, but for man universally,
could not perish in the dissolution of that which was
merely national. The Lord of the Sabbath saw fit

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to chanfre the day of its observance, and to make it
commemorative, not only of the works which were
finished from the creation, but also of the completed
redemption which crowned the resurrection morn.
The first day of the week is, therefore, now observed,
by His appointment, as the Lord's Day or Christian
Sabbath. It is to be spent in freedom from secular
toil, and in the special worship of God. Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.

In reference to the doctrine of last things, the faith
of Regular Baptist Churches is, that, at the last day,
Christ, the appointed judge of men, shall descend from
heaven. The dead that are in their graves shall hear
His voice, and come forth ; they that have done good
unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done
evil unto the resurrection of damnation. Christ will

then give to all their final awards.

The righteous

will be adjudged to endless blessedness, and the wicked
to equally endless misery. These shall go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life
eternal.

I have thus striven, with the greatest brevity I
could com?nand, to present the faith of a Regular
Baptist Church, concerning God and man, law and
gospel, 251'esent institutions, and final things. I am
conscious of the very great imperfection of the pre-
sentation, but the time allotted to me will not permit
me to do more.

It may be objected that a deiinite system of doc-
trine cannot be an essential element in the constitu-
tion of a Regular Baptist Church, since many persons

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

161

ar€! members in our cliurches wlio are not able to pro-
nounce definitely, even upon tlie few articles of faitli
wo have here enumerated. It is true that many,, per-
haps the majority, of those reccised into the fellow-
ship of Baptist churches need clearer preception of
the things which are mont surely believed among us
as a body. Yet this does not invalidate the statement
that a definite system of doctrine is an essential ele-
ment in the constitution of Regular Baptist Churches.
In schools of instruction, there are those who, either
from inability or inapplication, fail to attain to a
knowledge of the principles which the schools seek to
inculcate. Yet this is far from proving that no such
principles are taught. The most positive and definite
system of truth may be propounded, and yet, some
may fail to apprehend it. The question, then, is not
to be decided on the ground of the pupil's want of
comprehension, but by an examination of the author-
ized system of instruction. So tiie cjuestion as to
whether a church has a definite form of doctrine, and
whether that form be regularly Baptistic, is not de-
cided by tlie erroneous belief of a private member,
but by an examination of the teachings which the
church, as a body, accepts and sanctions. Churches
may thus have in them members who know not the
certainty of the things wherein they have been in-
structed, and yet be Regular Ba[)tist Churches, but
they cannot teach different systems of doctrine, and
yet be said to have but one faith. If there were not
a oneness of faith, as a ba.*is of church unity, then
church organization would be but a mockery of the

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GBEGOR.

Most High. The Gospel is a positive system of truth,
or it is nothing ; and a church is a church of God's
institution only in so far as it holds the doctrines and
ordinances which the Gospel reveals and enjoins. A
Gospel church has one faith as truly as it has one
Lord and one baptism. Its unity io a unity of the
faith. Its members are knit together in belief of the
truth. If doctrinal belief were no condition for church
membership, but simply professed attachment to the
person of Christ, then might the doors of our churches
be flung open to Unitarian, Universalist, Antinomian
and Annihilationist, and the doctrine of devils might
be accepted as the faith of God's elect. If Regular
Baptist Churches can fellowship every form of doc-
trine under the sun, then they are no longer the
churches of the living God. The church of the living-
God is a pillar and ground of truth. But a church
cannot be at the same time the pillar and ground of
truth and the home of heresy. If Regular Baptist
Churches be the pillar and ground of truth, then they
cannot be the careless introducers of false doctrine ;
and if they can lend their patronage to false doctrine,
then they are no longer a pillar and ground of truth.
But if they are not the pillar and ground of the truth,
they are no longer the churches of the living God.
And if they be not the churches of the living God,
then what do we here in prayer and effort for their
promotion ? In our belief, then, at least, they must
be the pillar and ground of the truth, else we sin in
seeking their prosperity. But how can we esteem
them to be the pillar and ground of the truth, if it be

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

1G3

true that doctrinal belief is no condition of member-
ship ? If the declarations of faith of the Regular
Baptist Churches may read thus : — We do, and we do
not, believe the following doctrines; we teach this
definite system of truth, and we teach the contrary ;
we have one faith and one order, and yet can accom-
modate every variety of belief and lawlessness ; how
can such churches be the pillar and ground of the
truth ? If our faith is m> de up of such degenerate
folly, then Regular Baptist Churches are not tlie
churches of the living God. Let us then either resign
our high claims to be apostolic churches, or let us re-
cognize the essentiality of our doctrinal beliefs to our
church existence.

Another characteristic of a Regular Baptist Church,
is the nature and number of its permanent offices.
Its distinctly official positions are two, the pastoral
and the diaconal. The church hc..s power to elect per-
sons to, or depose them from, these official positions,
but it has no power to change the offices themselves.
It may exist, as a chnrch, under such circumstances,
that for a time, it may be without fit persons to fill
the vacant • ffices, and yet, so long as the offices them-
selves are rt'^ognized, the church is, in this respect.
Regular. Bu the moment it interferes with these
divine appointments by discarding any of the offices
as unnecessary, or by sul)stituting for them any other
svstem of manacement, that moment it ceases to be a
Regular Baptist Church. It has violated God's insti-
tution. I shall make no further statement in refer-
ence to this position, as the thought is to be elabo-
rated in another address.

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

Another factor, essential to Regular Baptist Church
existence, is its foroii of government, which is that of
congregational independency. Free from State aid
and State legislation, it leans not on the arm of poli-
tical power. Within itself it submits to no hierarchi-
cal or episcopal supremacy. It is under the legislative
authority of no organized body on earth, wliether
Conference, Presbytery, Association or Union, but be-
lieves the laws of Christ to be all-sufficient for its
guidance apart from all human interference. Each
church is thus in itself an independent democracy, or
rather, it has no supremacy exercised over it, but the
supremacy of Christ. It acknowledges no authority
under Christ to be higher than itself, in reference to
its own duties. Prelatic orders and legislative Assem-
blies are alike repudiated, on the ground that Christ
has established no such vicarship over his heritage.
Associations and Unions may meet for conference
upon Christian work, but they can exercise no gov-
ernmental functions. Individual churches are the
highest executives of Christ on earth. If an offend-
ing brother hear not the church, there is no higher
court of appeal. An aggregation of churches can have
no dominion over tlie faith of an individual church.
If a church do err from the faith, sister churches may
labor for its reclamation, but can exercise over it no
coercive power. Their only course in cases of persis-
tent error is simply a withdrawal of church fellow-
ship. Yet while Regular Baptist Churches are mutu-
ally independent they may consistently seek counsel,
one from another, in times of difficulty. Nor does

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

165

their independency absolve them from the claim of
common honesty that each do consider the interests
and opinions of sister churches as well as its own, in
all matters which may in any way affect the general
well-being. Nor does this independency in any way
hinder sister churches from uniting, by nmtual con-
sent, on a basis of common faith, for the advancement
of all Christian enterprise which requires co-operative
labor; and in so far as they unite for mutual co-
operation, in so far must there be mutual inter-depen-
dency. Thus Regular Baptist Churches, in their
independency, possess all the advantages of individual
freedom and united strength.

Another essential and distinctive principle which
characterizes an organized body of Christians, as a
Regular Baptist Church, is absolute non-interference
with divine institutions.

This holds true in reference to the laws which Christ
has instituted for the government of His Kingdom.
Regular Baptist Churches maintain that Church legis-
lation is not only unnecessary, but that any attempt
in this direction is a daring assumption of the prero-
gatives of the King of Zion. Christ is sole Legislator.
The laws of His Kingdom are already established by
Himself. His churches are called upon not to enact
laws for self-government, but simply to observe all
things whatsoever He has commanded. The authority
with which His churches are invested is simply
executive. So emphatically does Christ forbid any
interference with the laws which He has instituted
that He declares the person who presumes to make

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GUEGOR.

even the slightest alteration, if he be Christian at all,
to be the lowest subject in His realm. Whosoever,
therefore, shall break one of these least command-
ments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the light of such
declaration, every Christian must acknowledge that
Divine institutions may not be changed by man. No
one who believes the Bi])le can acknowledge less. But
he who makes this acknowledgment thereby surrenders
that for which Regular Baptist Churches contend, and
must also accept what his acknowledgment involves.
Thus, if Divine institutione may not be changed, there
follows, first, that the churches of Christ must observe
the Christ -established conditions of membership.
When Christ, therefore, declares that none but the
regenerate may enter the Kingdom, what man dare
violate His commands by introducing the unregen-
erate ? When Christ institutes baptism as His ordi-
nance, who may change it to sprinkling ? When
C'hrist says that none but believers are fit subjects
for Christian baptism, who may add, "and their
children ? "

But further, he who admits, as every Christian
must, that man has no right to interfere with Divine
institutions, must accept another conclusion which
this acknowledgment involves, and, in so doing, must
abandon every position on which open communion
rests. If Christ has established an order in the ob-
servance of gospel ordinances, man may no more vio-
late that order than he may violate any other of the
institutions of God. That Christ has established order

A REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

167

in the gospel system is seen from the fact that regen-
eration, by his command, precedes baptism, and bap-
tism, by his command, precedes church-fellowship.
But, if baptism precedes church-fellowship, it must
also precede the Lord's Supper, which is observed only
within the fellowship of the church. A Regular Bap-
tist Church, therefore, believes, in common with other
bodies of Christians, that, in the order of observance,
baptism precedes the Lord's Supper. This is the order
in which they were instituted by Christ. This is the
order in which they stand enjoined in the great com-
mission. This is the order in which they were ob-
served in the apostolic practice. Here, then, is the
real question at issue between Regular Baptist churches
and open communionists : "Shall we keep the ordi-
nances as they were delivered ? " But, if it be true,
as we have already shown, that there must be abso-
lutely no interference with divine institutions, how
can we, in God's name, invite to a course which is sub-
versive of divinely established order ? Examine the
statue book of the King of Zion and if you can find
one instance in which He has, either my precept or
example, reversed the order which He instituted in
the observance of the ordinances, then take that sin-
gle exception and argue from it against the general
law. But if there be not, as there is not in the Word
of God, a single recorded example where the Lord's
Supper preceded baptism, then those who fight against
this order are simply at war with the Almighty. The
man who hurls his censures against the observance of
this rule must remember that he implicates thereby,

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

I* If!

not the subject whose duty is obedience, but the great
Lawgiver Himself, and thus, with imputations of un-
christian narrowness, assails the character of the Most
High. The test of the communion question, as of
every other article of Christian faith and practice, is
not personal feeling, but the Word of God. So far
as personal feelings are concerned. Regular Baptist
Churches cherish Christian love toward every Chris-
tian denomination, but they do not believe that they
are called upon to give expression to that love by
breaking the laws of Christ, nor do they think him
fit for communion who would seek it by such a means.
They believe that the truest love to God and man is
that which, even amid misrepresentations and censure,
preserves inviolate so divine a gift as gospel truth.
They therefore accept and assert, as an indispensable
principle in the constitution of a truly scriptural
church, absolute non-interference with divine institu-
tions.

Thus I have spoken what, to me, appears essential
to Regular Baptist Church existence. I take it that
no body is a truly Regular Baptist Church where any
of these principles is wanting. I take that body to
be a Regular Baptist Church where all these princi-
ples are found united. I have not spoken these be-
liefs in the hope of their universal acceptance, nor
have I spoken them with any other prompting than
that of sincerest conviction. If my statements are
incorrect, let them be proved so, and no one will be
more grateful than I for their refutation. If they are
correct, as I believe they are, then I leave them with
you to be maintained.

THE INSPIRED ESTIMATE OF ORTHODOXY.*

A low human estimate of orthodoxy is the present
curse of Christendom. Every department of religious
thought and feeling is marked by a carelessness of
theological belief. The loose-reined speculation, now
so prevalent in reference to fundamental doctrines,
would find a much narrower limit, if there were a
higher reverence for truth. Doubt may, for a time,
take possession of the sincerest mind, but while it re-
mained doubt, it would never be flung broad -cast upon
the world by anyone who had any just appreciation
of sound doctrine. While there is real earnestness for
human salvation in the great evangelistic movement
of the present day, there is yet an utter recklessness
of correct belief. How many are ready to praise the
liberality of him who can say, " If you are only con-
verted I care not what church you join." Yet those
who are pleased with this sentiment know full well
that the fundamental doctrines held by one denomi-
nation are flatl}' denied by another, and that there-
fore the beliefs of both cannot be true. The human
estimate of uncorrupted doctrine is so low, that utter
indifference as to whether men hold truth or error is
accounted a perfection of Christian life. How many
look with careless eye upon the rending of the seam-
less robe of truth, into what are called its essential
and non-essential parts ! How many are ready to in-

^ Valedictory Address, Woodstock College, 1878.

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOll.

^ 1

dulge in a sweet self-complacency, because they can
find it in themselves to sacrifice their sincerest con-
victions, upon the altar of a falsely-named Christian
charity ! Let us turn from such grovelling vahijition
of correct belief and view the Inspired Estimate of
Ortho( loxy.

We read this estimate in the care taken to impart
correct doctrinal knowledge. For thousands of years
the world was undergoing a course of preparation for
the reception of the truth. Language was brought to
its highest degree of perfection, that it might l)e a
veliicle fit for such a communication. Then the great
Instructor appears upon the sc^ , commissioned to
te;ich men definite doctrines. He I tears with him the
credentials which attest his divine authority Wliile
he repeats and enforces the lessons he would imitart,
he, yet, abides so closely by the letter of the Father's
commandment, that in closing his earthly ministry he
can say : I have given unto them the very wor<ls
which thou hast given me. Though his presence is
dearer than life to his people, he tells them that there
is an end to be gained by his departure, which makes
it better for them that he should go away. The end
in view is, that, by another course of teaching, they
may be led into all the truth. He proves his estimate
of his doctrine, in that he dies a martvr to the truths
he proclaimed. As he is about to seal his testimony
with his blood, he thus emphatically declares the great
purpose of his mission : " To this end was I born, and
for this cause came I into the world, that I should
bear witness to the truth." Another Person of the

THE INSPIRED ESTIMATE OF ORTHODOXY. 171

divine trinity is now cunnnissioned to carry on the
work bef^un. He is to lead his followers, not so much
into new helds of thouirht, as to hrinir to their renieni-
brance, and unfold to them, the tmths alrea<ly de-
liv^ered. To guard against any possilnlity of change
or loss, he gives a written record for all time. In this
work he makes choice of the human mind as a me-
dium, HO that truth imparted through the ordinary
cliannels of connnunication may be understood by all.
He makes use of various minds, so that, by every
style of thought, men may apprehend more closely his
meaning. He so guides each chosen writer, by his
own immediate influence, as to secure an unerring-
testimony to his people, and then pledges his presence
to them forever, to guide them into all the truth re-
vealed. This wondrous course of instruction, under-
taken in order that men might know tlie truth, reveals
the inspired estimate of a correct knowledge of divine
things.

The high value attached, by the divine mind, to
orthodoxy is seen in the means employed to perpetu-
ate its existence. The church is made the pillar and
ground of truth in the world. Her glorious work is
to preserve and extend the knowledge of the truth.
For this purpose the gifts of the Spirit are lavished
upon her. There are given unto her apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers, that, thus editied,
sh(! may be strong " in the unity of the faith," un-
mo\ed by the shifting winds of false doctrine. Those
who have embraced the truth are commanded to hold
it fast, to keep it pure, to receive from neither man

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGCHl.

nor an^el any contrary teacliin^. They are bidden to
part with all tilings else, if need be, for its sake, l)ut
on no condition to part with the trnth : to die for it
rather tlian renounce it. He wlio thus connnits tlie
sacred trust to his people's keeping declares his excel-
lence, in that he has given to it innnutahility. No
other system shall supersede the form of doctrine de-
livered. No change shall be wrought in it. The most
solenni threatenings are recorded against any who
would dare to take from, or add to, its divine perfec-
tion. That the world may know the exceeding pre-
ciousness of the doctrines which Christ has taught, he
contrasts them with all created things, and shows
their pre-eminent value, in that he accords to them
alone perpetual existence. " Heaven and earth shall
pass away, bat my words shall not pass away."

The inspired estimate of orthodoxy is seen in the
position assigned to it, in the scheme of redemption.
All the vital interests of the Christian religion are
secured to man on no other condition. Salvation is
dependent upon, and effected through, belief of the
truth. One of the degenerate tendencies of the age,
arising, in part, out of a misapprehension of the source
of power in the present evangelical movement, is to
accept the fervid utterances of false doctrines as a
means through which conversion may be wrought, as
if human earnestness could accomplish the work of
the living word. Let the Church of God cease to dis-
honor the truth. Sincerity is not orthodoxy. If sin-
cere belief were an equivalent for correct doctrine,
then might the very devotees of heathenism ascend in

THE INSPIRED ESTIMATE OF OllTIlODOXY. 173

lie chariots of salvation even to the throne of God.
Earnestness has no efticacy in itself. Gospel doctrine
is the only means of ^'ospel blessin^^ Error may be a
factor in man's creed, but it can be no factor in his
salvation. The truth, the truth only, the truth ri((htly
apprehended, is that by which a soul is saved.

In the work of sanctitication the same instrumen-
tality is used. It is by the clear li^ht of truth that
the ^reat artist photographs the divine ima^e upon
the soul. It is by the power of Christian (loctrine,
operating upon the heart, that we have the result of
Christian character and life. Men may say, "It makes
little difference what man believes providing he lives
right." Such empty philosophy amounts to no more
than this, that, there is no necessity for a cause, so
long as we have an effect. The only possibility of
right life is through belief of the truth. That man
may be "perplexed in faith, but pure in deeds" is a
statement which receives little sanction from divine
authority. The fruit of perfect deeds is not a growth
from doubtful principles. "Either make the tree
good and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt
and his fruit corrupt." The faith which purifies the
heart is not that which rests on false assumptions,
not even that which dwells in "honest doubt," but that
which draws its life from the uncorrupted spring.
The sanctification of the Spirit is through belief of
the truth.

Apart from sound doctrine, there can be no God-
accepted service in life. This is not saying that a
perfect knowledge of all revealed truth is necessary

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

to any single act of Christian worship, but that tlie
sphere of acceptable service is limited to that of ap-
prehended truth. If the object of our worship be not
the God of the Bible, but merely our mistaken notions
of deity, then we bow down to a god of our creation.
The object is false, and the homage rendered, howevx^r
sincere and correct in itself, is nothing but idolatry.
If, having a true knowledge of God, we adopt other
forms of worship than those which he has enjoined,
then the service is false, and however devoutly offered
can be nothing but an abomination. The human esti-
mate of orthodoxy may be so low, that men may think
lightly of having violated the perfection of the divine
arrangement; but God says, "In vain do they worship
me, teaching for dov^.trines the commandments of men."
Orthodoxy is give;^ as the only bond of Christian
union. The attempt to effect harmony in the Chris-
tian world on any other basis, either by a compromise
witli error, or by a suppression of principle, is an un-
hallowed experiment, altogether foreign to the truth-
loving spirit of the Gospel. Truth and error can never
be made one. Such unholy wedlock of what God hath
not joined together is not Christian union. It is false
in name, and false in principle. The fellowship of saints
is a fellowship of heart, in truth, not a sinful reticence
of belief. It is not by concealing differences, but by
coming to the truth, that the church is to gain her
real concord. Departure from the trutli is the cause
of all the schisms in Christendom. A j*eturn to the
uncorrupted faith can be the only cure. He, who
steadfastly opposes error, and faithfully declares all

THE INSPIRED ESTIMxVTE OF ORTHODOXY. 175

the truth, may be branded as narrow and sectarian,
but he is really the true champion of Christian union.
The divided Church of God cannot be one till it finds
completeness "in the unity of faith." In the fact that
salvation, sanctilication, all acceptable service, and all
real Christian union, are conditioned, for all time, and
for all people, upon belief of the truth, we read once
more the high importance attached to orthodoxy, by
Him whose estimate is infallible.

The corroborative testimony to this written esti-
mate is given, by the Spirit, in the whole history of
the church. Truth believed anu prochiimed is that
alone by which the divine conquests are effected. None
other than the living blade is acknowledged by the
hand of Him whose might alone can give success. The
sword of t.. J Spirit is the word of God. How he proves
the power of this weapon through all time ! A few
fishermen are called from their nets, and, by tiie sim-
ple declaration of the truth, they shake the world as
conqueror never shook it before. While that truth is
held uncorrupted the church advances, nor can the
combined opposition of all her foes retard her pro-
gress. But when once the standards of orthodoxy
are fallen, she sinks, nevertheless, into the darkness
of the middle ages. Once more the Reformers lay
firm hold upon the great doctrines of the Gospel. The
same accounts which first shook the world are heard
again. They are tlie very trumpet-blast of lieaven
summoning divine might to the confiict. The Spirit
acknowledges the truth and the world trembles before
liis power. Through all subsequent time the same

lif

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

invariable testimony is ^iven. Every awakening of
Christian life and thought that marks the centuries,
every conquest that the church has effected in the
world, has been accomplished through the truth. Lest
such results should be attributed to mere human
power, lofty genius is permitted to exhaust itself in
fruitless effort, while attempting reformation by "en-
ticing words of man's wisdom." Then the divine Spirit
compelfi: acknowledgment of the superiority of gospel
doctrine, in that he sends it forth dependent on no
excellency of speech, to revolutionize the world.

While the worth of orthodoxy is thus clearly
attested, what more execrable daring, than that the
professed ambassador from God to men should tone
down the message fraught with life and death, lest it
might grate too harshly upon the ears and hearts of
those to whom it is delivered ? What more sinful pre-
sumption than to venture change in any department
of Jehovah's plan ? Ye who are musicians, what think
ye of the mere juvenile performer who would throw
in his own variations, while attempting to render the
sublimest strams of Handel or Mozart ? Ye who are
painters, what think ye of the raw beginner who
would daub the finished works of Raphael into his
own ideas of perfection ? Ye who are Christians,
what think ye of the finite creature who would dare
to work his own ideas of improvement upon the
crowning effort of infinite skill ? It is not a small
thing, that men should apply the distorting rack of a
biased mind to the faultless form of truth, and mar
its God-given beauty. It is not a thing of little mo-

A HOME MISSION ADDRESS.

177

ment, that men should fail to embrace any part of
truth, or, by specious argument, lead others from it.
When the divine Instructor propounded the laws of
the kingdom he was about to establish, he said, that
he who would break one of the least of his commands,
and teach men to do so, should be least in His king-
dom ; but that he who obeyed and taught His com-
mands, should be accounted great. While this simple
condition of divine approval and preferment is thus
plainly declared, by Him who is king in Zion, if we
prize the honor which cometh from above, let us
strive to win it, by holding fast, and holding forth,
the truth as it is in Jesus. Let us scorn the attempt
to attract human attention by mere novelty of thought.
Let it be ours to proclaim " the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth." Let it be our high am-
bition, as it is our highest honor, to hold taintless and
intact the doctrines committed to our trust, to contend
earnestly for the faith delivered once for all.

A HOME MISSION ADDRESS.*

" Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall
tread shall be yours," — this was God's word to the
ancient people. The Holy Land of promise lay before
them, and " every place whereon the soles of your feet
shall tread," — this was the extent of their possibility.
" Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall

^Delivered at the Couventiou, in 1882.

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178

MEMOIR OF I). A. M'GREGOR.

ii I

tread," — this was the simple cuiiditjon of C()n(|uest
and possession. This also was the unqualified assur-
ance of success : every place thus occupied shall be
yours. Sucli is our own position. As a denondnation
we stand with our fair land of promise before us. We
have received of God the right of possession, the title
deeds of truth. And how shall we enter upon the
inheritance ? Again the divine conditions are pre-
sented. Make it yours by possession. " Every place
whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be
yours." However correct may be our faith, however
important may be our principles, they shall never ex-
tend in our land apart from our effort. Let us be con-
fident as we may in the ultimate triumph of truth,
yet tliat triumph will never be achieved apart from
the agency divinely appointed If our faith is to
spread in our country it nmst do so through our Home
Mission enterprise. Principles if they are to prevail
must be propagated by those who hold them. Obser-
vation and experience reveal no other method of pro-
gress. There are two factors recognizable in every
advance of doctrine, whether that doctrine be true or
false. One fact is the creed itself, the other is the
human agency by which it is promulgated. Principles
are not epidemic, but are spread through the corita-
gious influence of mind on mind. Let a doctrine be
absolute truth and let it cease to be proclaimed and it
becomes a forgotten thing. Yet at the same time the
most egregious system of error in the world to-day
flourishes, propagates itself through the zeal of Orr--=ir^
who espouse it. Read the history of any nio\'<.; n<;iit

A HO^IE MISSION ADDRESS.

179

whether in secular or religious thought, and there
stand before you the living advocates as truly as the
princi2:)les for which they contended. The principles
of free trade were as true tlu'ough the centuries that
Kuglnnd starved herself by wretched corn-laws, as
they were in the middle of the present century, when
she repealed them and made the world's granaries
contributory to her people's good. The principles she
then accepted were as true before their adoption as
they were then and are now, but they would have
slumbered forever had not men arisen and advocated
them, an* chus agitated and enlightened the public
mind, and enabled England to proudly lead the van
of nations in the grand march of economic science.
The birthright of human freedom was man's inalien-
able possession from the beginning, but that birthright
was not acknowledged or accorded, even in the hands
of boasted civilization, till Wilberforce advocated
emancipation for England, and in America Lincoln
spoke freedom to the slave. Justification by faith
was a truth as old as the gospel, but it needed the
energies of a Luther and of his fellow-reformers to
drag it from the darkness of papal error, and to thrust
it forth upon a world that lay in spiritual darkness.
The history of truth reveci''^ no other method whereby
we may propagate the faitli of our church, the faith
of the gospel in our land. If we would propagate it,
we nmst proclaim it. Li the nature of things there
can be progress for us only as we disseminate the
truth. In the physical world there can be n(3 growth
of fruit if the seed be not planted in the soil. Grain

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180

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

the most living and productive may be stored in barns
of plenty, but it cannot multiply till it is taken forth
and sown upon tlie fields. In the same way our
churches may be possessed of the precious seed, even
the incorruptible seed of the word which liveth and
abideth forever, but they may not expect to multiply
and fill the land unless they cast forth that seed upon
the fields which lie open to their toil and care. In
the realm of secular education the growth in know-
ledge is l:)y teaching. Truth nmst be presented before
it can be received. It is different in spiritual things ?
Does not faith come by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God ? Our faith must be known before it
can be accepted. How can they beiiev(> that which
they have not heard, and how can they hear without
a preacher, and how can they preach except they be
sent ? God never designetl that His truth should ad-
vance otherwise than through tlie advocacy of them
that hold it ; it has pleased Him through the foolish-
ness of preaching to save them that believe. Ye are
tlie light of the world. God's angel may go to the
house of Cornelius to tell him that his prayers and his
alms are come up for a memorial, but it is not his to
instruct him in the words of truth and life. This is
reserved for human agency.* " Send men to Joppa to
inquire for one Simon whose surname is Peter ; he
shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." There is
but one agency appointed, as truly as there is but one
gospel to proclaim. If our Home Mission fields are
ever to receive our principles, they must receive them
at our hands. Nor is the fact that other denomina-

A HOME MISSON ADDRESS.

LSI

tions occupy these fields a reason wliy we should not
enter. We really owe the proclamation of our faith
to our God and to our country. If it is God's truth
we surely need not be ashamed to oljtrude it upon
the attention of other denominations. God's word
needs no apology for its entrance into any community,
and if it ever is to have prevalence, it must be intro-
duced by those who hold it. It would be a lil>el and a
sin against the truth-loving spirit of scientific in([uiry
to keep back the light of advancing knowledge lest it
might overthrow some theories already accepted. The
cry of every truth -loving spirit would be, " Let in the
light, let in the light." However much it might con-
flict with cherished opinion, the truths of revelation
are infinitely more important and needful to man
than the truths of science. He would be a traitor to
that truth, to the highest interests of his country,
whose false courtesy would advise non-entrance upon
such fields of missionary enterprise. If then our prin-
ciples are to advance in Home fields, we must plant
new causes, and of necessity plant them in weakness,
and care for them till they grow to strength. The
trees that are planted in the rainless deserts '• ast not
only be bonie thither for plantation, but must be
watered copiously and <.H>ntiuuv>usly by those who
have planted them, till their roots take deep hold
upon the soil and their leaFy branches spread out
towards heaven. But let this work be done, and there
comes a time when it will repay labor; theie comes n
time when these trees will rccljuni the desert by at-
tracting the rains of heaven and thun turning the

182

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

ii a.

V ^

t t

l)aiTen solitudes into fields of fruitfulness. So in
Christian enterprise, we nnist bear the truth to the
fields that are needy and sustain the causes planted
in weakness, till they rise to strength and reclaim the
deserts l)y bringing the spiritual wastes under the
power of gospel husbandry, and calling down there
the times of refreshing that come from the presence
of the Lord. The denomination that does not propa-
gate its principles must die. In this day of high
pressure in business enterprise, no one need hope for
success in such a calling who resigns himself to case
and indolence. The reins of trade are grasped and
held by those wlio are entliusiastic in their depart-
ments, who are ready to endure the mental strain, to
watch for opportunities and meet them with means
commensui'ate to their undertakings. So also it is in
the fields of Christian endeavor, where the keenn»«s
and rivalry of denominational competitions pievail.
The body that will not rise to lay hold of the oppor-
tunities of progress must sink to relative insignifi-
cance. Though for a time there may not be numerical
decrease in a body that fails to lay hold of fresh
ground, yet if it fail to make progress, while other
denominations are pressing onward with rapid marches
and occupying extended fields of Christian enterprise,
it must become relatively weaker and must accept a
position of comparative obscurity. Still further, let
a denomination fail to make progress while others are
advancing with rapid strides, and even its own adher-
ents will lose faith in it. That which remains at a
standstill in a day of activity ceases to ha\ e inspira-

A HOME MISSION ADDRESS.

183

tion and is soon relegated to the past. Let a school
of training that iiolds a foremost position neglect its
work and make a poor record, while competing col-
leges are winning high distinction, and it thereby
l)lasts its highest possibilities. It has lost that pres-
tige which was an essential element in its prosperity
— an element moreover which is much more easily
lost than won. The principle is true in its application
in every department of life, "There is nothing suc-
ceeds like success"; and there is nothing f-iiis like
failure. It may be objected that it is a worthless
gain to enlightened Christian principle which is drawn
merely by attraction. The objection would be valid
if there were nothing further contemplated for those
who iivo thus brought within the reach of influence.
Hut wliile a denomination draws by its popularity, it
thus gains the l)eKt opportunity to mould by its teaeh-
higs. and so atlaeh by the power of principle, those
who wei'n |||r Wy^\, i|j(iwii only by the nuvgnetism of
success. Thus the llelds i/l Home Mis.slon toil which
give toniir (jhurelicH Mift jjoHsibility v)f extended influ-
ence in the land, are thcjse that, when occupied, must
hy tluit iulluence, re-act powerfully for the well- being
ot those who have planted them. There is that scat-
tereth and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth
Inore than is meet and it tendeth to poverty. In the
very nature of things the body that does not cultivate
the missionary spirit cannot expect to live, for if the
Spirit does anything it impai'ts the spirit of missions.
The denomination that does not pi'opagate its princi-
ples abroad must die at home. He that saveth his

184

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'fiREGOR.

3' 1^

111 !.?

life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life in f^ospel
enterprise the same shall find it. The lil)oral sonl
(leviseth liberal thint^'^s, and hy liberal things shall he
stand. The propaf^ation of principles apai't fi-om the
I'beral consecration of means is an impossibility. No
company on earth could expect to establish and ex-
tend new branches of its industr}' ami equip them for
efficient service without expending nnich capital upon
the enterprise.. England's late campaign in the East
for the restoration of law and order coidd never have
)»een a possibility apart from her readiness to meet all
hiilii>HHtivy demands on men and toil and treasure. Elven
if it be but a short political contest in iir country,
Ih/dj {mvf.y l!n}f}}t}i expect to find its principles domi-
nant, which makes no sacrifice for their lawful advo-
tiiby. 'fbe Church of Ood, divinely inaugurated for
the spreail of the gospel, can in this respect be no
exception Her principles cannot prevail apart from
the contriljiition of the gold and silver that are need-
ful for dissennnation. " Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse that there may be meat in my house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven and
pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room
enough to receive it." While God himself thus calls
«ts to the acceptance and proof of his conditions and
blessing, while the opening fields of our country are
crying to us for laborers, while principles purchased
by the death of Christ and held through the centuries
by the blood of saints are ours for propagation, we
prize not as we ought the sacred trust. We piove

QUESTIONINGS A ROUT GOD's PROMISES. 185

ourselves nnworthy of so divine an hon«»r, if now, in
the (lay (if our highest possibilities, we strive not to
plant the faith of our clmrches in the hearts and
homes of our country.

MAN'S QUESTIONINGS AB( )UT GOD'S

PROMISES.*

Whatsoever ye shall ask in my iiaine, that will I do. If ye sh-ill
ask anythiii/4 in my name, I will do it. Jno. xiv : 1.3- 14. How can
tliese things be V Jno. iii : 9.

I do not place these texts together because of any
special connection of thought existing between them,
but simply to suggest some of man's questionings in
reference to God's promises. The pledge here given
is startling in its freeness and its vastn<ss, and man
unaccustomed to such liberality, overborne by its
magnitude may be led almost to doubt its genuine-
ness. If this promise be true, then nothing is too
great to ask. No petiti(3n can be too all-embracing,
for no creature can stretch the arms of faith beyond
the bounds of this declaration. " Whatsoever," with-
out any limitation, " whatsoever ye shall ask in My
name, that will I do." Nor, on the other hand, can
there be any want or difficulty too small to bring to
God in prayer. The child can bow down before the
throne of grace lisping his little troubles with the
assurance that they are not too small to engage the
attention of Him who made and who rules the worlds

ove

*A Sermon preached before the Midland Counties Association, in
1882.

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MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

There is notliing beneath his notice, " If ye shall ask
anything in My name, I will do it." Or man may
come in the maturity of his power, when his best
efforts have been baffled, knowing assuredly that
there is not a perplexity too dark or a need too great
to bring in faith and hope before the Father of spirits.
In the blackest night of human sorrow, when life like
a troubled sea beats its rock-bound coast in wild un-
rest, then in the midst of my distresses I will come to
thee, Thou whose arm is strong to save. When all
creature aid is unavailing, then I will rise and take
hold on the AlmiMitv. From the ends of the earth I
will cry unto thee, " When my heart is overwhelmed
within me, lead me unto the rock that is higher than
I." Nor shall I seek thine offered aid in vain, for thou
hast said, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that
will I do. If ye shall ask anything in My nam-e I will
do it." Nor do these promises refer to spiritual bless-
ings only. They cover all human need. There is not
a real want in human experience, but comes justly
within the embrace of their limitless assurance. They
that trust in the Lord shall not want any good thing.
My God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. There is absolutely
no good thing in God's universe, that is placed beyond
the reach of believing prayer. Here are the divine
promises : " Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,
that I will do. If ye shall ask anything in My name,
I will do it." Here too is the human questioning in
reference to them : " How can these things be ?" Let
us strive to-day to meet some of man's questionings

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GOD S PROMISES.

187

)mngs

in reference to God's promises and the efficacy of
prayer. The first and humbler phase of unbelief is
that of

I. Doubting the availability of the divine promises,
through a sense of personal unworthiness.

In this form of doubt, the validity of the promises
remains unquestioned. The enquirer heartily acknow-
ledges that they are worthy of all acceptation, but
distrusts his own interest in them. The promises are
worthy, all-worthy, but self-unworthiness forbids
*appropriation. The difficulty here presented is not
imaginary. The Christian hears the voice of Christ
saying, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that
will I do." but while he asks, he is conscious that his
expectations are not equal to the promise given. It
is not easy to lift undeserving" hands and lay hold,
with confidence, on so rich an inheritance. This form
of doubt is almost inevitable in Christian experience.
Are the exceeding great and precious promises of God
unlimitedly mine ? Am I called to the throne of
grace and irrespective of any personal merit bidden
to ask whatsoever I will ? How can these things be ?

(a) These things can be, because the economy under
which the promises are given is one of grace. If it
were one of works, then its promises would be, "What-
soever ye have earned that shall ye receive." But
since it is one of grace its blessings are no longer con-
ditioned upon or measured by human merit, but are
just as free and as vast as is the sovereign favour of
God. The doubt that rests on self -judgment is mis-

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188

MEMOIK OF D. A. M GREGOR.

placed. Man cannot argue his possibilities from the
premises of personal merit, for they are not the con-
dition of his acceptance. Merit he has none, but the
King, who has a right to do what he will with his
own may be graciously pleased in the exercise of his
sovereignty, to bestow blessings where they are un-
merited. Thus the promises which are utterly incon-
sistent with a system of works are perfectly consistent
with a system of sovereign grace The extent of man's
possibility is the extent of divine favour and the ex-
tent of this favour is read in the proclaimed will of
the King, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that
will I do."

(6) These things can be, because the Christian asks
in the name of Him who has purchased the promised
blessings. The infinite merits of Jesus Christ are the
accepted purchase-price of all the possible good that
God can bestow upon his people. He who goes by
the authority of Christ to the mercy-seat and there
asks in Jesus' name for purchased and promised bless-
ing, may do so in all the confidence that the worth of
Christ can inspire. When a Rothschild signs a cheque
it makes no difference whether he be a pauper or a
king who presents it at the banking-house for acknow-
ledgment. The draft is honored, not because of any
real or supposed worth in him who presents the paper,
but soleh for the value of the name it bears. So the
Christian who comes to the throne of grace, finds his
petitions honored, not because of his personal excel-
lency, but solely in virtue of the name he pleads.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall
ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GOD S PROMISES.

189

(c) These things can be, for the Ahnighty can know
no limitation in the fulfihnent of his promises. He is
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
are able to ask or think. Moreover, his willingness is
not less than his ability. God delights in giving. All
his works, in all places of his dominion, receive from
him ail that they are and all that they enjoy. But
there are no creatures in his universe that he more
delights to bless than his people. His love to his
children will not suffer them to want any good thing.
Here is the resistless logic of his own word : If ye
being evil know how to give good gifts to your chil-
dren, how much more will your Father whicb is in
heaven give g\ )od things to them that ask him ? He
that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for
us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things ? Surely then this first phase of doubt is
answered. The promises of God are available, to their
ut nost extent, for all his people. Whatsoever ye shall
ask in my name, that will I do.

The second and darker form of unbelief, in refer-
ence to the divine promises and Christian prayer, is

II. Doubting the ijossihil'dy of their fulfihnent
through the liniitations of human knowledge.

The question no longer is, whether these exceeding
great and precious promises are available for me, but,
can God make good his word ? The doubt here is in
reference to the validity of the divine promises, be-
cause man can see no way v\diereby God can fulfil
them. Christ says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My

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190

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

name, that will I do. If 5'^e shall ask anything in My
name, I will do it," and man responds, " How can
these things be ?" How can such unqualified promises
be made good ? How can my asking have any influ-
ence upon the divine mind ? If God engages to hear
all prayer, how can he govern the universe with fixed
laws ? — I cannot reconcile such a promise with his
pre-arranged schemes of providence, and therefore I
doubt its possibility. Show me some way whereby
the fulfilment of such a promise is possible, and I will
nob withhold trust, but on no other condition will I
yield belief. Here is the darker form of doubt. Be-
cause I cannot understand the ways of the Almighty,
I will therefore doubt his declarations. Because I can
see no way whereby he can fulfil his promises, I will
therefore doubt the all-prevalence he has attached to
prayer, " Except I see I will not believe."

(a) The unwarrantable folly of such pretentious
doubt is not far to seek. Man need not think that,
where his little knowledge strikes its boundary, he
has found a limit beyond which the Almighty cannot
cross. Even if man should find himself shut up to
inevitable contradictions, in his attempts to conceive
how Jehovah can fulfil his promises, he surely cannot
think th«,t, therefore, there is no way possible to God.
Until the finite can comprehend the infinite, man need
not expect to rest his faith in God's ability to do what
he promises, on man's finite and imperfect knowledge
of what is possible. My ways are not your ways,
neither are your thoughts my thoughts, saith the
Lord, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GOD's PROMISES. 191

}dge

1, so

are my ways higher than your ways and my tlioughts
than your thoughts. O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearch-
able are his judgments and his ways past finding out.
The limitations of man's knowledge are no boundaries
of divine possibility. They are, therefore, not the
boundaries of Christian faith, and they afforri no rea-
son for questioning the validity of the divi/^e promises.

(h) Again, man finds, day by day, that seeming
impossibilities are rendered possible by man. That a
surgeon could amputate a limb from the human body
and the patient feel no pain during the operation,
would have been laughed at as an impossibility, until
it became a fact through scientific achievement. That
man should be able to transmit messages co the utter-
most parts of the earth in the space of a few minutes,
would have been deemed a thing incredible, until the
electric telegraph proved the possibility beyond all
contradiction. While advancing knowledge shows
thus, in ten thousand cases, that long-supposed impos-
sibilities are possible and easy to him that understand-
eth, need man wonder that he who&d knowledge is
perfect should have some way of accomplishing His
purposes, even though that way may not be open to
human sight ?

(c) Nor is this claiming anything which is not again
proved by the facts of inspired history. Abraiiam
might have doubted the divine promise which was
given to him when he was about an hundred years
old, for the human conditions under which it was
spoken were such as would argue impossibility. But

\ .

192

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GllEGOR.

the father of the faithful never dreamed of measuriuff
God's power by man's knowledge of what was possible.
Looking unto the promise of God he wavered not
through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith
givuig glory to God, being fully persuaded that what
God had promised he was able also to perform. Man
could not have told how God could justify a sinn^^r
whom his law condemned, while that sinner could
provide no righteousness and while that law could not
relax its claims. The challenge might have been
thrown out, "How can man be just with God?"
"How can this thing be ?" Yet God has made plain
to the simplest understanding the way whereby he
can be just and yet the justifier of the ungodly. Christ
said to his disciples, " It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of God." The disciples, aston-
ished beyond measure, exclaim, "Who then can be
saved ? " The answer is simply this, " With men it is
impossible but not with God, for with God all things
are possible." So Christ says, " Whatsoever ye shall
ask in My name, tiiat will I do. If ye shall ask any-
thing in My name, I will do it." Does man question
" How can these things be ? " Does he doubt these
promises because the possibility of their fulfilment
transcends the limitations of human knowledge ? Be
it so : this is no objection to their validity, for the
things that are impossible with men are possible with
God.

The third and darkest stage of doubt in refLr( nee
to God's promises and the efficacy of prayer, is

I>T.*

lice

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GOD's PROMISES. 193

III. Declaring the iniiwssihiiity of their fulfilment
on the ground that they are contradicted by human
knowledge.

Here, in this darkest form of doubt, unbelief grows
positive and not simply questions, but denies, the va-
lidity of the divine promises and the efficacy of prayer.
The objection no longer rests on the limitations of
human knowledge, but upon its supposed sufficiency.
Man imagines that he has involved the Almighty in
contradictions. He now questions thus : Are these
promises verified in experience ? As a matter of fact
does God grant unto his people whatsoever they ask ?
Have not God's people often, in tearful -^nxiety, prayed
for the recovery of a loved one from death and yet no
recovery came ? Have not his people often in per-
plexity in the business of life, asked liim to help
them through a financial crisis and yet they have
become insolvent even in the midst of their askings,
and that too in the face of the reiterated declaration,
" Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I
do. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do
it." Does this plain promise meet its fulfilment in
experience ? Still further, how can God fulfil this
promise, while he governs the world by unchangeable
laws ? Can he promise to grant whatsoever his peo-
ple may ask, when that asking may not be in accord-
ance with his unchano'eable will ? If this be the
form of doubt presented, then let us seek its answer.

(a) Let us recognize first that these promises are
made only to true prayer. Christ does not pledge

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194

MEMOIll OF D. A. M GBEGOR.

rf ■

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(|!l

himself to answer every petition that man may offer,
but every petition that is offered in his name. His
merit is the only condition on which prayer may be
answered. God grants his favors to man for Jesus*
sake. For how many soever be the promises of God
in him is the Yea ; wherefore also through him is the
Amen. Before man presumes to question the faith-
fulness of God's promises to prayer, let him first en-
(juire, what prayer is that which God has promised to
answer ? Certainly not every desire that man may
breathe before the throne of grace. Certainly not all
prayer that is characterized by sincerity and fervor.
Christ has not promised this. But, Whatsoever ye
shall ask in My name — mark the condition — in My
name, — Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that
will I do. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I
will do it. The promise is limited to that which is
offered up by faith, in Jesus' name. He never came
in Jesus' name who came not in faith, and he never
came in faith who came not in Jesus' name, and with-
out faith it is impossible to please God. Man cannot
go to him and ask for a blessing to see if there be
truth in his promise. He must believe. The man
who goes in faith will return saying, " It was just as
I expected," and the man who goes without faith will
return saying, " It was just as I expected," for let not
that man think that he shall receive anything from
the Lord. But whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, be-
lieving, that ye shall receive. The first step in the
answer to the objection presented, then, is this. These
promises are given not to every petition, but only to

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GODS PROMISES.

19^

true prayer, that is, to prayer offered tlirou^h, in,
Jesus' name.

(h) The second step in the arj^ment is this. Tliere
can be no ^true prayer without the aid of the Holy
Spirit. Man cannot draw nigh unto God apart from
the Spirit's leading. Even the taking of the name of
God acceptably upon our lips is his gift. He is the
Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
" Our Father who art in heaven," is a cry which no
human heart can raise, except as the Spirit of adop-
tion voices it with us. But because ye are sons, God
hath sent forth the Spirit of the Son into our hearts,
crying, Abba, li'ather. Thus we cannot call upon God
in prayer apart from the aid of the Holy Spirit. Again,
the reasons which give acceptance to any petitions at
the throne of gi-ace, are such as prove that there can
be no true pra;y er without the Holy Spirit's aid. The
infinite merits of the incarnate Saviour form the l)asis
of all true prayer. No man can expect blessing if he
ask it not in the name of Jesus Christ as his Lord.
And no man can so ask apart from the assistance of
the Holy Spirit, for no man calleth Jesus Lord, but by
the Holy Ghost. Still further, our weakness and
ignorance are such that we know not what petitions
to present before the throne of grace. We know not
how or what to pray for as we ought. But the Spirit
helps our infirmities, he maketh intercession for us
and within us with groanings that cannot be uttered,
and thus enables us to pray. The desire for prayer,
the desire for holiness and every good and perfect gift
received through prayer, is the Holy Spirit's creation.

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196

MEMOIR OF D. A. M OHEOOR.

He works in uh both to will and to do, to ask and to
receive, according to his ^ood pleasure. Thus we are
entirely indehted to the Holy Spirit, for the ability to
call God our Father, to call Jesus ('hrist our Lord, for
the inclination to pray and for the intercession by
which he enables us to offer acceptable prayer. It is
evident therefore that there can be no true prayer
without his aid.

(c) But, a third step in the argument. He who
thus intercedes within us makes intercession for the
saints according to the will of God, even as he himself
is God. This intercession of God the Spirit, in man,
breathed before the throne of grace, from liuman
hearts, constitutes the sum of all true prayer, even as
no true prayer is offered without his aid. But all
prayer, thus offered, is in accordance with the will of
God, is in line with his unchanging purpose, and will
meet its answer as surely as the divine purpose meets
its fulfilment. This then is the conclusion. The pro-
mises of God are only given to true prayer. All true
prayer is by the Holy Spirit's aid. All true prayer is
therefore in accordance with God's will. Whatsoever
is thus asked, that, says Christ, will I do. This then
is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask
anything, according to his will, he heareth us. If ye
shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.

I do not say that we are able to distinguish between
the prayer that we offer by the Spirit's aid and that
which we offer without his aid. We may think that
to be true prayer, which is not true prayer. We may
think that to be his mind, which is not his mind. Man

QUESTIONINGS AROUT GODS PROMISES.

197

kveeu
that
that
may
Man

knows not, hut God knoweth. He that searclictli tlie
liearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, he-
cause ho maketh iiiterceHsion for the saints accord-
ing to the will of God. Nor is such prayer less an
act of man than any other exercise of i)ower. Every
holy thought, every good desire, that springs in all
freeness and spontaneity from the Christian heart, is
neither more free nor more human than prayer. All
these things worketh the self-same Spirit, and there-
fore all these things man is ahle freely to perform,
since God works in him both to will and to do accord-
ing to his good pleasure.

IV. The queHtion then arises, What profit is there
in _/>r«?/er since it effects no chanr/e in the divine-
purposes, but asks simply that which GoiVs hand and
God's counsel determined before to be done ?

I dwell not here on the unspeakable benefits which
are realized through the re-action of prayer upon the
human spirit, but refer only to the power which it
may exert for the obtaining of the direct object
sought.

(a) In the first place, he entertains false views of
prayer who looks upon it as a means of effecting
change in the immutable purposes of God. The design
of prayer is not to inform him of anything which
was before to him unknown. He, surely, needs not
to borrow information from man wherewith to re-
arrange tb*^ all- perfect system of his providence.
Known unto God are all liis works from the begin-
ning. But he who knows all things and has ordered

198

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

all things for the highest gooc', cannot change the
perfection of his purposes, because of the asking of
human short-sightedness and folly. Prayer may not
then be looked upon as a means by which the mind
of God may be changed.

(h) But he also en' tains false views of prayer
who thinks that since it effects no change in God, it
therefore exerts no influence up' n him. The fact
that the premises of God are all divinely connected
with numan askings, and that all his highest gifts are
bestowed only in answer to prayer, clearly proves
that prayer does exert some influence upon God. If
it exerted no influence upon him, it could in no sense
be said to prevail with him. Influence it exerts, but
that influence is not the influence of change. It is
the touch of faith which cal/S forth the blessing God
designs to give. God is moved by prayer, moved, not
out Oi the course in which he designs to tread, but
moved in it, to grant unto his people that which he
had purposed for them, in Christ Jesus, before the
world began. It is poor philosophy to argue that
there is no value in prayer, since all things are certain
to come to pass according to God's unchanging pur-
pose. All things v/ill not only come to pass as he
designs, but the way in which they will come to pass
will also be as he designs. He chooses the means by
which a thing shall be, as truly as he chooses that it
shall be. He leaves nothing to haphazard. He has
chosen prayer as the means by which he will bestow
blessing. I the Lord have spoken it, I will doit. Yet
will I be enquired of by the house of Isreal to do it

■ Li

QUESTIONINGS ABOUT GODS PKOMISES.

199

for them. He chooses to bless the earth v/ith showers
and he will do so, but he has chosen also that he will
do it through the earth's own agency. Its power of
attraction is that which shall draw the rain-drops to
itself. The earth may not say, " I need not exert my
force for the rain will descend anyway, since God has
willed it." Nay, God has not only willed that the
rain shall descend, but also that it shall descend
through the exercise of earth's attraction. So God
has purposed to out-pour his blessings upon his peo-
ple, but has designed to do so through the agency of
prayer. Ask and it shall be given you. Whatever
ye shall ask m My name, that will I do. If ye shall
ask anything in My name, I will do it. Thus the
verdict of truest reason is one with the voice of Scrip-
ture. The conclusion is not that prayer is worthless
since no amount of it will change the divine purpose,
but, since any amount of prayer carries with it the
fulfilment of the divine purpose, therefore it is price-
less, for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.

Here then the unfailing promises of God invite his
people to the throne of grace. The darkest question-
ings of human doubt cannot obscure the light that
breaks upon the mercy-seat. The simplest Christian
faith is the profoundest of all philosophy. Prayer is
the loftiest exercise of human reason. In it man puts
fort' a energy that is itself divine. By it he pre-
vails with God, " More things are wrought by prayer
than this world dreams of."

The world that walks i^: darkness may queiition

(

200

MEMOIR OF D. A. m'gREGOR.

experiences it has never known, may doubt the valid-
ity of the divine promises and the efficacy of believing-
prayer. But thou, Christian, enter not into the sha-
dow-land of its spectral objections. Enter into thy
closet and when thou hast shut to thy door, pray
to thy Father which is in secret and he shall recom-
pense thee. In everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
unto God, for, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,
that will I do. If ye shall ask anything in My name,
I will do it."

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S AGENCY IN REVIVAL

WORK.*

If we may distinguish between the work of revi-
vals and ordinary gospel labor, the distinction is not
one of different agency or of different operations, but
of different degrees in the same methods and by the
same agencies. The human and the divine elements
in Christian labor are not otherwise associated in re-
vival work than they are in ordinary ministrations.
There may be different departments of work and
vastly different degrees of success in labor, but in
these human and divine elements are not diffv^.rently
related. Tl ore are diversities of workings, but all
these work oh the one and the same Spirit, dividing
to each one severally even as he will. The relation

* Published in the Canadian Baptist, 1883.

revi-
noi
but

the
lents
a re-
ions.

and
it in
sntly
t all

ding

tion

THE HOLY spirit's AGENCY IN REVIVAL WORK. 201

existing between the divine and human workers is
not different in the midst of revival from what it is
in ordinary efforts for human salvation. There cer-
tainly is greater intensity of effort at such times on
the part of the human worker, and just as truly is
there greater power of the Spirit crowning Christian
labor, but in each case the difference is one of degree
and not of kind. The agency of the Holy Spirit in
revival work is not the exercise of unusual forces, but
the unusual or higher energies of those continuously
employed. Yet while making no distinction in the
relations of the persons and no distinction in the
modes of operation, but claiming simply for revival
work the higher use of the same powers in the same
relations as are found in ordinary effort, it may be
well to view the Spirit's agency in human salvation
as exhibited in the work of revivals.

In the first place, the Holy Spirit gives the word of
God, without ivhich revival work is an iniijossihility.

No human worker can accomplish anything for the
salvation of men apart from the word of truth, the
gospel of salvation. Man may read God's eternal
power and divinity in the works of creation. He
may preach to men the God of creation, but no revi-
val can possibly be effected through such working.
God in redemption must be manifested to men before
they can have any authority for approach unto Him,
or any desire so to do. Man may not only read, and
preach God as revealed in creation ; he may read and
preach God's will as revealed in natural law. For

) i

202

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

J^il:

herein that will is revealed, in that transgression of
law brings punishment and obedience its reward. Yet
proclaim as he may the truth herein made known, no
salvation is wrought. The voices of nature may speak
of God and law, but they cannot tell how one who has
broken law and sinned against God may be restored
to the divine favor. They cannot tell a guilty sinner
of a way of approach to a mercy-seat. They may
speak of an offended deity, but they cannot speak of
a pardoning God. Do away with the knov/ledge that
is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and you do
away with the possibility of salvation. " The heavens
are telling the glory of God and the firmament showeth
his handiwork. Day unto day is gushing forth speech,
and night unto night is whispering knowledge " ; but
vain preachers are they all to a guilty sinner. They
exert no renewing powers upon his nature. It is only
the law of the Lord which is perfect, that converteth
the soul. The Holy Spirit in his word gives to man
a true knowledge of self — a knowledge of self in rela-
tion to God — and above all he gives in that Book of
books the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He tells the
sinner of his sin and of a Saviour who is given speci-
ally for sinners. He tells men of their utter helpless-
ness, and yet speaks to them of One who is able to
save unto the uttermost all them that come unto God
by him. He tells us that God in his justice has already
condemned the sinner, and at the same time he tells
us that God car be just and yet the justifier of him
that believeth in Jesus. Thus he gives knowledge
through the word which is able to save our souls

THE HOLY spirit's AGENCY IN REVIVAL WOR;v.

r o

?03

through faith which is in Christ Jesus — l^nowledge
by which the human agent in revival work is enabled
to persuade men. V7ere this truth not given, revival
work would be an impossibility. There can be no revi-
val where there is no gospel. The sword of the Spirit
is the word of God.

But the word of God given by inspiration of the
Spirit has relation not only to the workers but to the
subject operated upon in revival work. The know-
ledge of the truth is an indispensable pre-requisite to
the acceptance of the Saviour. No one ever yet
believed in Christ apart from the divine revelation
concerning him. " How can they believe in him of
whom they have not heard ? " Man cannot exercise
faith in that of which he is ignorant. The Saviour is
given freely and fully for men, but he is presented
solely for the acceptance of faith. Without faith
Christ is no Saviour to any man. How then is that
faith possible without which there is no salvation ?
" Faith cometl: by hearing, hearing by the word of
God." Thus the Holy Spirit's agency in giving the
revealed truth which is able to save our souls is an
indispensable element in all true revival work. There
may be wild excitement, and there may be happy feel-
ing resulting from mere human effort in religious
work. Man— a naturally religious being — may be
aroused, alarmed, and quieted again, yes, even rejoiced
by the skilful swaying of his emotions, but unless
men have been begotten by the word of truth, unless
they have been begotten again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God,

ili

fii'!

204

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

which liveth and abideth, they have no life in them.
They remain, even in their rejoicings over their fan-
cied salvation, dead through trespasses and sins. All
genuine revival murt be effected through the procla-
mation and reception of the truth as it is in Jesus. Let
us then, in the first place, recognize the agency of the
Holy Spirit in revival work in that he has given to us
the word of God, without which revival work is an
impossibility.

In the second 2^lcics, we recognize the Holy Spirit's
agency in revival work as operating upon and exer-
cised through the huonan agency employed.

He dwells in his people, sanctifying them and fit-
ting them for revival work. He even gives desire by
which we are led to engage in such blesc employ. It
is he who wakens and inspires the prayer that calls
down the blessing. It is he that draws forth that
service which is at the same time a result and a cause
of revival to those engaged in it, and those upon
whom it is exerted. "He works in us both to will
and to do of his own good pleasure." No man ever
yet was fitted to do such work for God, and no man
ever yet felt inclination to do such work for God apart
from the working of the Holy Spirit in him. It is
only as we are led by the Spirit of God that we can
or do enter upon filial service. The revival work that
is entered upon without his leading is spurious. He
not only fits his people for this work by the renewing
and sanctifying of their natures, and by leading them
to consecrated service and fervent prayer ; He oper-

THE HOLY spirit's AGENCY IN REVIVAL WORK. 205

ates on their minds with liis enlightening power. He
opens their understandings that they may understand
the Scriptures. He guides his people into all the
truth. " He takes of the things of Christ and reveals
them unto us." Thus he gives, through the light
which he imparts through his truth, the necessary
knowledge by which the human agent in revival
work becomes a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of life. Again,
he emboldens and empowers his people so that they
may speak the word of God with boldness. No one
can think of a greacer transformation in this respect
than that which took place in the lives and labors of
the apostles after they had received the promise of
the Father. Then those men, craven-hearted, who
deserted their Lord in his agonies, charge home with
words of burning conviction the guilt of the death of
Christ upon their Jewish rulers. Under the force of
a moral necessity they cannot but speak the things
which they have seen and heard. Even he who
denied his Lord with curses because of his fear, when
accosted by a servant-girl, now boldly confronts the
very Sanhedrim of his people and charges home the
murder of God's Messiah upon them. The unlettered
fishermen of Galilee fear not to stand in the temple
and preach unto the people all the words of this life.
What has so eminently fitted them for this great
revival work, where thousands under their preaching
are convicted and converted unto God ? Here is the
simple answer to this question. They are acting
under the Holy Spirit's agency. Without this they

206

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

were even forbidden to work. "Behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in
Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on
high. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you." Thus, in all revival work,
the power that makes men strong for service is the
same. Men who are mighty for God labor under the
power of his Spirit, strengthened with all might by
his Spirit in the inner man. Even Christ himself
was not in this respect an exception, but an example
to his people. God gave not the Spirit by measure
unto him, and as he enters on his mission after the
temptation, this is the record of Scripture concerning
him : " Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into
Galilee, and there went out a fame of him into all
the region round about." The Spirit of the Lord God
is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel. Then even Christ himself was fitted for his
ministry.

But the Holy Spirit's agency is still further seen in
the exercise of his power through his people's effort.
His people may have zeal and knowledge and bold-
ness, and yet all this must go for naught unless the
Holy Spirit not only fits the worker for service, but
afterward works through him. The Holy Spirit dwell-
ing in his people exerts his power through their effort-
In every awakening of religious enquiry, in every in-
gathering of souls, there are two exercises of power.
The Holy Spirit is working, else God's people could
do nothing, and God's people are working, else there
is nothing done. God works and man works. Man

THE HOLY spirit's AGENCY IN REVIVAL WORK. 207

works because God works in him. God works through
man's working. Thus the words spoken in human
weakness are yet spoken with the demonstration of
the Spirit and with power. Thus it is that the gospel
comes not in word only, but in power and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance. The Holy Spirit ap-
plies the truth with convicting and convincing power.
It is he who makes the written word a living word. He
in man speaks, speaks through man, speaks through
man's speaking, speaks to man, and only as men hear
his voice is salvation effected. Only through his
agency is the agency of man successful. Not by
might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the
Lord. Thus is the weakness of human agency asso-
ciated, interfused with the Spirit's mighty working.
In the closest of all possible partnerships in labor we
labor together with him. "We are laborers together
with God." Thus the Holy Spirit works in and
through his people for the conversion of men. Thus
revival work becomes a possibility, and without him
we can do nothing.

In the third place, we would emphasize the Holy
Spirit's agency in revival work in his immediate
working on the hearts of the unregenerate, disposing
them, to receive the truth.

It is his work not only to apply the word with
power, but to prepare the heart for its reception. The
regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit are exerted
directly upon the human soul. He opens the heart
to attend to the things that are spoken. It is by his

f*;

,.■■' ■

1:1

,1-'

208

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

I '!

renewing power that the carnal mind, which is en-
mity against God, is brought to a loving acceptance
of the Saviour. He so acts upon the heart that the
sinner who, if left to himself, would ever have gone
on rejecting the Christ, and hardening his heart, is
willingly constrained to embrace offered mercy. Nor
is this constraint one that operates in antagonism to
the human will. The Holy Spirit's agency, either
upon saint or sinner, is so subtle and so mysteriously
blended with the action of the human will, that man
is voluntarily active, even while acting under the
Spirit's control. It is through the effectual working
of his mighty power that men are brought to the
obedience of faith, but his people are a willing people
in the day of his power. Thus it is that the renewed
soul's activities, while truly human and truly volun-
tary, are at the same time the fruits of the Spirit.
"He works in us both to will and to do of his good
pleasure." Repentance and faith are truly human
activities, but there never yet was genuine faith or
genuine repentance apart from the renewing power
of the Holy Ghost. The manner of his operations in
his direct influence upon human hearts is to us un-
known. We know that he works, but we cannot tell
the way of the Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it
listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so is
every one that is born of the Spirit." Thus it is that
the indications of his presence and working are clearly
visible through the work of regeneration by which a
soul passes from death unto life, and which is deep in

THE HOLY spirit's AGENCY IN REVIVAL WORK. 209

the method of its operation beyond all human scrutiny.
Yet, apart from this, his gracious working, no soul
ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet
may cry to the dry bones in the valley of vision, saying,
" O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord " ; but
no flesh clothes them, no movement is felt or seen
among them. How can these spiritually dead be
quickened ? " Come from the four winds, O breath,
and breathe upon these slain that they may live."
Thus it is that they are made to live who were dead
in trespasses and sins. This then is a third operation
of the Spirit in revival working. Apart from this,
his promised agency, all human working is in vain.
In conjunction with this, his agency, he who preaches
the gospel, though in weakness and in fear and in
much trembling, will yet see the pleasure of the Lord
prospering in his hand. We have not dwelt upon
any special agency of the Holy Spirit, which is ex-
clusively limited to revival work. We have spoken
only of work that is evident in every case of indi-
vidual conversion. We have done so because we
believe that in stating the agency of the Holy Spirit
in individual conversion, we state the agency em-
ployed in the greatest revival. The work is in its
every feature the same in character or kind, the only
difference is that of degree. He who is now in his
people and in his churches is the same, and his work
is the same in all human conversion. He gives the
word, he enables his people to speak it, and he opens
the heart for its reception.

210 MEMOIR OF D. A. M'gREGOR.

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

Worthy i8 the Ijainb that was slain. — Rev. v. 1*2.

A babe was born into our world in bitterest poverty.
His mother wrapped him in coarse scanty clothing and
laid liim in a manger, because there was no room for
him in the inn. That child grew up despised and re-
jected and died amid shame and torment. That poor
babe of Bethlehem is now highest in heaven's honors.
His name is above every name. The greatest homage
that the universe of God can give is poured out before
him. A man may be praised in some little community
when he has but limited worth ; an ordinary work of
art may win recognition in local competition, but it is
a very different thing to stand foremost and win high-
est renown in a world's exhibition. In higher worlds
than ours, Jesus Christ is praised. In a world's com-
petition, one may be awarded foremost position in his
work and yet there may be diversity of opinion among
judges ; but here, with the acclaim of creation, the pre-
eminent worth of Christ is celebrated. In exhibitions
of this world, one may win the prize, and yet others
may stand so close to him in merit as to deserve hon-
orable mention. But here, no name, however worthy,
is associated with that of Christ. He alone is praised.
A man may borrow praise from inherited position.
The honors which are accorded to the Queen of Eng-
land are gathered to her from the position which she
holds. Christ is praises for his inherent worth. Some-
times persons are led in ignorance to give praise to

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

211

one who, after all, may not much merit it. Here, as
the all-revealing light of heaven breaks upon charac-
ter, and as highest ami holiest intelligences behold
there is but one cry, Worthy is the Lamb. Sometimes
persons grow wea, y in sad satiety of that which once
was accounted most worthy, but here it is forever and
forever with increasing emphasis. Worthy is the Lamb.
Sometimes a party may be loud in the praises of its
favorite, and yet the object of that praise be as bit-
terly contemned by others ; but here, every creature
which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
the assembled voices of the universe, all-impassioned,
proclaim him worthy of all that can be won by worth.
In every department he eminently leads. Worthy art
thou to receive blessing and honor and power and do-
minion and glory. Many a life may be judged worthy
of honor, but to be embalmed in the everlasting song
of one's country ! So all-worthy is he of all honor and
power and glory, that there is no song in heaven like
the song that ascribes all honor to him. He has mag-
netized all heaven's hearts. Now, I ask a question :
Did Jesus Christ by that despised life on earth win
that honor which he now wears ? How could one so
low rise so high ? It is true that Jesus Christ is God
and as God is worshipped. Had he never undertaken
the work of man's redemption still heaven's adorations
were ever and would ever be his as the uncreated, all-
creating God. But the praise here offered to Christ
is gathered from his life on earth. The glory here
ascribed to him is to him not as uncreated God but as
the person who became man and died on Calvary

212

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

He is worshipped as the Lamb that was slain. Let us
look to-day at the Saviour's preeminent worth, where-
bv he is entitled above all others to this exalted hom-
age. The text says that he is worthy of all the
perferment which is given him. Let us test the worth
of it by the laws of promotion which he has estab-
lished in his own kingdom, and see if they do not
proclaim him entitled to the honors wherewith he is
crowned. I ask no ground of promotion, no reasons
for perferment for the Redeemer other than the laws
of his own kingdom. I ask not that any honor be
accorded to him for his divinity except as that
divinity is revealed in th j worth of his redemptive
work. Let him be simply the Babe of Bethlehem, and
let him do what he has done and be what he has been,
and by the laws which determine all perferment in
his ovjn kingdom Jesus Christ has won the transcen-
dent honors which he wears. The Babe of Bethlehem,
the Man of Calvary, is not only highest in heaven's
honors but, judged by the laws of his own kingdom,
he is there by the preeminent worth of his own in-
carnate life. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

Let us look to-day at the preeminent work of
Christ. Judged by the laws of his own kingdom
Jesus Christ holds the throne of honor by transcen-
dent worth.

I. It is a law of the Jdngdovi (Christ has said) ^haf
the honors conferred in it shall be according to work
done, ^ „

(a) I will give unto every man according as his

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

213

work shall be. Man does not enter the kingdom by
his works of righteousness, but the man who works
righteousness in the kingdom finds reward,, and reward
proportionate to service lendered. He that can say,
" Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds," shall hear
his King and Judge say, " Have thou authority over
ten cities." We may live life as if no such law
existed. We may fritter away our possibilities
thoughtless of that great law of the kingdom, but
the law holds and operates all the same. We may be
saved, yet saved with loss, and go empty-handed into
the kingdom ; be saved yet so as by fire, as a man
that has lost all escaping barely with his life. The
fire shaH try every man's work of what sort it is. If
any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon
he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be
burned he shall sufier loss. Yes, the law holds with
inevitable sway : I will render to every man accord-
ing to his works.

(6) Not only does the law exist, but it is eminently
righteous. The man who, above all others, has ren-
dered important service to his king and country, has
reason to expect that merit shall meet with its appro-
priate reward. So much is this so that the honor of
the throne and of the kingdom would be compromised
if his claims were carelessly ignored. It was a right-
eous thing in Pharoah to take Joseph, the slave, from
the dungeon, and place him second only to himself in
the realm, when he rendered such service as none other
could, such service as saved the whole realm from
destructive famine. The monuments wdiich nations

214

MEMOIR OF D. A. M IJREGOR.

uprear for their illustrious dead do not crown the
graves of unworthy, aimless, indolent life, but of those
who have won high achievement on the plains of war
or in the arts of peace. Even nature's law is that
reward must crown labor, and that if a man work not
he must come to poverty. So the man who has
wrought most for the kingdom, not necessarily the
man who has been most conspicuous in its service,
shall stand highest in the day of rewards. It is a
righteous law that decrees that the faithful and un-
faithful shall not be rewarded alike. Every one shall
receive according to that he hath done. They that be
wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars
for ever and ever.

(c) But if it is righteous that rewards should be
proportionate to labor, Christ's work infinitely exceeds
and transcends all other service.

How insignificant do all other works appear when
compared with that which Christ has done ! How
vast and important beyond all conception must that
work be which enfolds in its vast embrace even the
universe of God, angels and men ; that broke the
power of sin in God's universe, accomplished eternal
salvation for multitudes that no man can number,
lifted them to untold heights of glory and eternal
safety, and established all the holy forever in their
sinless perfection — a work that, in its influences
touches every creature and comprehends eternity.

Let all holy beings in heaven and on earth combine
their power in effort to wipe out a single sin, and in

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

215

their failure learn the value and the vastness of the
work of him who beareth away the sin of the world.
Let all strive to lift one soul from sin and its destruc-
tion, and in their failure learn the greatness of that
work by which the vilest sinners of all ages and
peoples are saved and presented faultless in glory.

A king may reign prosperously while there is no
revolt of subjects in his realm, and his power is not
known because it is not tested. But let unlawful and
wicked rebellion rage, and the king, who r;ot only
subordinates all, but by a mighty triumph makes all
future rising impossible — he out of this conflict shall
achieve his highest glory. So Christ.

A king that can so overcome as to make revolting
subjects his foremost allies, love-loyal even unto death
for his honor, — he has honor out of his work. He that
could go forth alone in an alien world, and engage all
opposing powers, and get glorious victory in that
highest conquest of love, — O how infinitely are all holy
beings and all redeemed from among men indebted to
the triumph he has won ! If there is any child of God
on earth striving to work righteou axiess, if there are
saved sinners loving holiness now in heaven, it is all
Christ's work. Among all the faithful who have con-
quered sin and who are now promoted to reign in
glory, surely he is first who opened up the way for
them, who conquered their own wills, and thus en-
abled them to pursue the right way, and then, by his
power and grace, brought them off more than con-
querors. Now, let Christ take the place of a subject
under the laws of his own kingdom, and let the pre-

216

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

ferment be according to merit ; if everyone is to re-
ceive according to that he hath done, then by the laws
of that kingdom, the highest honors are evermore his
due. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. .

IT. It is a law of Christ's kingdom and of God's
universe that character determines destiny.

(a) The disclosures of the judgment of the last day
reveal that it is grounded on character. He that is
righteous let him be righteous still, he that is filthy
let him be filthy still. This is true not only of the
distinction between the righteous and the wicked, but
however little or much our lives are controlled by the
thought, it is true that the characters we as Christians
are forming in this life and that we bear with us into
the world to which we go, shall determine for us our
position in the kingdom. Character is certainly a
condition of preferment in glory. It is not the ground
of their acceptance, but it is a condition of fulfilment.
These shall walk with me in white, for they are wor-
thy. As one star differeth from another star in glory^
so shall it also be in the resurrection. Character cer-
tainly determines position in the kingdom.

(b) It is befitting in any kingdom that excellence
of life should be a condition of preferment to r)ositions
of honor. It is a disgrace to earthly governments,
when besotted and vicious life is raised to positions of
public trust. It is the chiefest glory of nations when
their rulers are men of righteousness, when the crown
royal rests on the head of one who rules in righteous-
ness, one who wears "the white flower of a blameless

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

217

life." But it is preeminently befitting that, in the
kingdom of rigliteousness, character should be a con-
dition of preferment. It would be a strange and
anomalous thing if, in such a kingdom, a life of little
personal worth should hold the reins of government.
The ideal kingdom must have the ideal king.

(c) If then character can be and is a condition of
preferment in the kingdom of redemption, think of
the matchless worth of the character of Christ. Who
is there that can compare with the Saviour ? In
every department of life he eminently leads. He
passed through the moral contagion of this sinfal
world, where all had fallen 'neath its baneful power.
He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet with-
out sin. By the power of his holy life he became sin's
destroyer. The severest tests that ever were applied
to character were brought to bear upon him, and
there is absolutely no flaw in his character — not the
slightest fleck or stain. God is well pleased for his
righteousness' sake. His hatred of sin and his love
of holiness caused him to enter the very charnel-house
of human sin, that he might w^ash it from its dismal
stains in his own most precious blood. The wisdom
and the power displayed in his atoning work have
become the wonder of the universe and of eternity.
He is the power of God and the wisdom of God. In
him we have all the treasures of wisdom and know-
ledge. In him all glories meet. He is the chiefest
among ten thousand, the altogether lovely. His right-
eousness is not simply superior to that of all others
in the kingdom. They have all discarded their own

218

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

righteousness as a ground of acceptance and stand
justified simply through his infinite merit. O the
transcendent and the unspeakable worth of Christ !

Now since character determines destiny, let the
question be, Who is entitled by inherent worth to
the exceeding honors connected with the kingdom of
redemption ? Let ever^ life be a privileged candi-
date. Let Christ resign his native right to the throne
and let the place of honor be awarded solely on the
ground of merit. Let the mighty angel cry aloud,
Who is worthy to take the book and to loose the
seals ? Who is worthy to rule in the kingdom of
redemption ? Judged by the laws of his own king-
dom, Christ alone is King. No one in heaven or on
earth or under the earth w^as found worthy to open
the book or to look therein. But see ! there stands
in the midst of the throne a Lamb as it had been
slain. Hear the acclaim of creation. Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive the honor and the
power and the glory and the dominion and the bless-
ing.

Worthy thy hands to hold the keys,
Guided by wisdom and by love ; ^

Worthy to rule o'er mortal life,

O'er worlds below and worlds above.

Despised Galilean, by preeminent work thou hast
won the throne. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

III. It is a law in Christ's kingdom that the life that
is freest from self-seeking, nay, more, the life that can
and does stoop lowest for others' good — the life of pre-
eminent unselfishness — is the life that is fitted and
destined for the highest exaltation.

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

219

He that exaltetli himself shall be abased and he
that humbleth hhnself shall be exalted.

(a) The world in which we live is a self-seeking
wn'ld. The effort of human life to-day is largely a
grasping of the good things for self, or an effort for
personal aggrandizement in the positions of promi-
nence and power. How . many are the moves in all
departments of activity that have no higher motive
than selfishness. The world is full of selfishness. The
human heart is full of selfishness. " Look not every
man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others " is a precept that is very lit'Ie re-
garded in the conduct of life. Selfishness is the essen-
tial principle of the world's activity. Yet selfishness
is the essential principle of all sin. By this base
ambition to be chiefest Satan fell. By this setting
of self-will above the will of God man fell. To this
same principle of selfishness in the conduct of the
world's affairs the sorrow and suffering and wretch-
edness of the race are largely due. What principle
underlies the organized clashing of capital with labor
and of labor with capital ? What is the spirit of mo-
nopolies and of chartered rights and protective tariffs ?
Is it " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ? " What
mean those walls of social separation between the more
and less favored members of society — those distinctions
which, though one in nature and operation with the
caste of the heathen, are also far from being outgrown
even within the charmed circle of church fellowship ?
Is this the recognition of the principle that one is our
master, even Christ, and all we are brethren ? Is this

220

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

JiX.

lowliness of mind that esteems others better than
one's self ? Is this the fulfilment of that royal law,
" As ye would that others should do unto you, do ye
also even unto them " ? Or is it not in its spirit and
action the very essence of selfishness ? This is simply
the spirit of the world.

(b) O how different is the law * f life in the king-
dom of redemption from that which sinfully ol)tains
in worldly society ! Ye know that they v/hich are
accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
But it is not so among you ; but whosoever would be
great among you shall be your servant, and whoso-
ever would be first shall be servant of all. For verily
the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.
Thus it is that the principle and the practice of un-
selfishness are fundamental in the kingdom of Jesus
Christ. O what a kingdom that must be where every
life is free from this great root of all evil ! But who
is fitted to be king in such a kingdom as this ? The
law of the kingdom says. He that is at the farthest
remove from all self-seeking, he that can and does
stoop lowest for others' good, he who stands foremost
in the nobility of unselfish life, he is fitted and des-
tined for this highest exaltation.

(c) Now let Jesus Christ stand divested of all native
right, stand as one among all the creatures in God's
universe, and let the question be, Who is worthy of
this crown ? What life has most unselfishly fulfilled
its mission ? Again let the mighty angel issue the
challenge, " Who is worthy ?" \\':'':: \^/^^'--'::^-''y

I /

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

221

esus
jvery

who

The
thest

does
jmost

des-

O was there ever unselfishness like to that which
exchanged the throne of Godhead and the worship of
all the holy for the manger of Bethlehem and the
derision of sinners and the cross of Calvary'- ? Jesus,
being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be
on an equality with God, but he emptied himself
taking the form of a servant, and being made in the
likeness of men, and boing found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself (infinite stoop !) and became
obedient to death, even the death of the cross (O
mightiest triumph of unselfish life !) Take the king-
dom, O Christ, for thou hast won it by the triumph
of unselfish life. It is done. Because of this God
hath highly exalted him and given him a name that
is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every
knee shall bow. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

IV. It is a law of Christ's kingdom that he ivho
would (tspire to any eminence in it, inust he '/possessed
\of a mighty love — a love that can embrace even ene-
m,ies.

(a) How unnatural this is to the human breast !
How the enmity of life kindles and burns when
wrongfully entreated. What life-long feuds, what
deadly hatreds, ^vhat wide-spreading animosities in
the dark world, the ideal maxim of which was sim-
ply, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine
enemy." Even the twelve chosen disciples of Christ
were slow to understand and yield obedience to a
higher law. When the Samaritans refused to receive
Christ as he journeyed through their country, the

222

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

disciples hastily said, Lord, shall we command fire to
come down from heaven and consume them, as Elias
did ? He simply answered : " Ye know not what
spirit ye are of." Many a one who knows full well
how to love a friend, knows not and dreams not of
loving enemies.

(b) But the teaching of the principles of the king-
dom is this : " Ye have heard that it hath b^en said,
•Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy,'
but I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you and pray for thon that persecute you.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward
have ye ? do not even the publicans the same ?" Here
is the law of the kingdom. The kingdom is itself a
kingdom of love, its laws are love, and he who can
come nearest to the fulfilment of its royal law must
stand foremost in its honors.

(c) Let the highest honors of the highest kingdom
be given according to the laws of the kingdom to him
who merits them most. Let the crown of the kingdom
be given, not by inheritance, but unto him, whoever
he be, who is mightiest in love. Come forward, ye
sons of light, care ye not for this crown ? forward, ye
that have basked in love from almost everlasting
days ! Nay ! ye come not, ye blessed spirits. Ye
know that there is no love like Immanuel's love. O
love beyond degree, that brought the Saviour from
the throne of the universe to the cross of shame ! O
love that ope'd thy side, in the face of blackest hate
and didst give life-blood for enemies ! O love infinite
that hast bought thy church at such ransom to be thy
bride !

.ye

ting ,

rom

late

nite

.-.. --

thy

WORTHY IS THE LAMB. 223

"Jesus, thy boundlesa love to me

No thought can reach, no voice declare."

There is no love that can be brought into comparison
with this. Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friend ; but thou, O
Christ, hast laid down thy life for thine enemies. By
the laws of the kingdom, all honors belong to Christ,
for he has won them by the con(|uest of love. Wor-
thy is the Lamb that was slain.

V. It is a law of GhrUt's kingdovi that .mfering
tend self -sacrifice for the kingdom of God's sake shall
he a condition of distinction in it.

(a) When the two apostles in their childish strife
with their brethren as to which should be greatest,
came to Christ, saying. Grant that we may sit, one on
thy right hand and one on thy left in thy glory. He
asked them if they were able to fulfil the conditions
on the ground of which such preferment is secured.
Are ye able to suffer for this ? Are ye able to drink
of the cup that I drink of and to be baptized with the
baptism wherewith I am baptized ? If we suffer with
Christ we shall also be glorified with him. He that
saveth his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life
for my sake, the same shall find it. The apostle speaks
in the 11th of Heb. of those who were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection. Christ said, when enumerating the laws
of his kingdom, Blessed are ye when men shall revile
you and persecute you and say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice in that day

224

MEMOIll OF D. A. M GKEGOR.

an<l 1)0 exceediiif^ ^'I'kI, for ^reat is your reward in

heaven. The shunned patliway of sutierin^ is the
patliway of promotion in Christ's kin^nloni.

(b) It is surely a righteous principle in government
that they who have suffered most for the sake of the
kingdom shall share most largely' in its honors. Do
we expect that the Christian who has shrunk from
suffering and sacrifice for the cause of Christ, who
has never given even of worldly goods without grudg-
ing, can take rank in the kingdom with apostles,
prophets and martyrs wdio hazarded their lives for
Jesus Christ ? While a (^arey and Judson, a Timpany
and Currie and McLaurin and their helpers gave them-
selves to lonely isolation, some to privation and suffer-
ing and death for the cause of Christ in distant lands,
can the careless Cliristian, living in luxurious ease,
expect such honor as they shall win, or such honor as
shall be to those wlio, in the destitute parts of our
own country, have given themselves to privation and
almost beggary for the kingdom of God's sake ? Then
the principle is a righteous one, that they who have
suffered most for the kincfdoin shall in it be honored
most.

(c) Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
how that though he was rich yet for your sakes he
became poor. Never before and never again shall or
can be such sacrifice as he made. He emptied himself
of all the wealth of the universe, and when reduced
to beggary his own great life was freely sacrificed
for the kingdom's sake. Ye know the sufferings --
which he endured, nay, ye know them not ; ye know

WOKTHY IS THE LAMB.

225

of them only. Prince of suflferers, Liinib of God for
sinners wounded, no one has begun to Macritice or
suffer as thou liast done. Tliere are no burdens borne
like unto the burdens which thou didst bear for us.
There are no shame and indignity endured such as
that which was cast upon thee. There is no death
like unto that which thou didst die. To thy willing
sacrifice the kingdom owes all it is and all it evermore
can be. If the law of the kingdom be that deepest
sacrifice and suffering for it shall win highest honor
and renown, then take the kingdom, for by preenu-
nence in sacrifice and suffering it is justly thine own.
Worthy art thou to receive the power and riches and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing,
for thou wast slain and didst purchase unto God with
thy blood men of every tribe and tongue and people
and nation. Thus every law that operates in the
kingdom of redemption proclaims the transcendent
worth of Christ. Among the kings of the nations
and the heirs of glory there is none that can be com-
pared with him. Let us rejoice in his courts and in
our homes to-day that such a King and Saviour is
ours. Let us give to him the highest throne of honor
in our hearts and o'er our lives. Let us take up
heaven's verdict even here on earth and make this
lost world vocal with the knowledge of the Saviour's
worth — with the passionate tenderness of love-loyal
life, let us take up even here redemption's song —
Worthy, worthy beyond expression and to eternity.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

1 !:i

' 'I

226 MEMOIR OF D. A. M'GREGOR.

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.

— Isaiah xlv : 32.

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts. While thus the ways and the thoughts of
God are so far above the thoughts and ways of mor-
tals, it follows that man never can anticipate God in
the outworkings of his purposes. In pathways alto-
gether unlocked for by mortals, he moves for the
accomplishment of his unsearchable counsels. God's
thoughts are not our thoughts, and thus while man
may be mapping out for himself ways in which he
expects the Almighty to tread, he finds that God's
ways are not his ways. Even expected blessing comes
in most unexpected ways. Man can never anticipate
the Almighty. Let us view this thought to-night,
simply in refei'ence to God's way of salvation as dis-
played in the verse before us. While the way of
human salvation is so simple and plain that the way-
faring man though a fool cannot err in reference to it,
yet at the same time there is not a step in the whole
redemption scheme which man could even have
dreamed of before God revealed it to him.

Let us view the unexpectedness of God's tvay of
salvation as jyresented in the verse before us : " Look
unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth
for I am God."

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

227

I. How unexpected to man is the source of human
salvation.

(rt) Men never would have thought of looking to
God as the source of their salvation He was so great
and so exalted, so far above all human affiiirs, that
they never could have thought of him as one who
would make them the objects of his special concern.
He was occupied in the creation and controlling of
unnumbered worlds ; how could he stop to make the
little creature, man, the object of his special regard, —
he before whom all heaven's angels bow, acknowledg-
ing their utter unworthiness in his presence ? How
then could a sinful creature, man, think that God
would appear in his behalf ? Rebelling angels who
swerved from their allegiance to God's government,
were never delivered by him : how then could man
hope that God's mercy would be exercisv^d in his be-
half, when it was never thus exercised before ? In ay,
if God were such a being as man, he never would have
interfered, and as men could only judge of him by
themselves, they could never think of him as the
source of their salvation.

(Jb) They never could have thought of salvation
from such a source, for men were not only sinners
and therefore abhorrent in God's sight, but they were
sinners by breal ing his holy law. Men might look
creation o'er to find some one who might propitiate
God in their behalf ; but to think that the person
against whom they had sinned should l)e the one to
originate a way of mercy, this was most foreign to
human thought.

228

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

Not only was their sin committed against God, but
God himself was he that pronounced the sentence of
death upon them because of sin. But if he has thus
passed sentence of death upon them, and he is the
unchangeable one, how can man hope that salvation
can originate with him ? Nay, men might fear God
and seek for salvation from his wrath, but how could
they seek for salvation from that wrath in him alone
whose wrath they feared ?

It was God's divine justice that cried for vengeance
against human sin. God's holy law declared, " the
soul that sinneth it shall die." God himself declared
that not one jot or one tittle should in anywise pa3§
from the law till all should be fulfilled. The curse of
God is thus upon man. Where then shall man seek
deliverance therefrom ? Under such circumstances,
would not mortals count him a raving madman who
would counsel, saying, seek refuge from the wrath of
God in God himself, whose wrath burns like a con-
suming fire ? Would not human counsel run in the
very opposite direction ? If there be anywhere in
the universe of God where a creature can find absence
from God, then seek that place as a refuge from his
wrath. Yes, this would be the highest human con-
ception of a possible way of salvation. This is man's
way and man's thought. Now when the words of
God break in upon man, do they not reveal an unex-
pected source of salvation ? Sinner, crying, whither
shall I go from thy Spirit, and whither shall I flee
from thy presence ? listen, hear, and you shall live :
Look unto me and he ye saved, for I am God. Man

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

229

111
ice
lis
)n-
In's
of

ler
Lee

Ian

might say : Nay, thou art God, and I have sinned,
therefore thou art my destruction. God says ; 1 am
God and thou hast sinned, therefore I am thy salva-
tion. Look unto me and be ye saved, for I am God.
(c) Men never would have thought of God as the
source of their salvation, for all had formed false con-
ceptions of God's thoughts concerning them. They
thought that God hated them for their rebellion
against him. They knew that as judge he had con-
demned but they did not know his fatherly pity.
They hated God and knew* that he knew it, and
therefore they thought that he hated them. They
never had even asked God for salvation, and never of
themselves would humble themselves to ask it of him,
and he is the great God whom man has offended.
How then can he lay his anger by while man's hate
and pride and sin are unsubdued, while man will not
even submit to ask God for his salvation. While man
continues sinning, and while God says the soul that
sinneth it shall die, how can God save ? God would
be the most unexpected source of salvation to man in
the whole universe. Yet to man's inquiry after a way
of salvation — yes the voice of God to man preceding
such inquiry — is, Look unto me and be ye saved for I
am God. , -

II. But not only is the source of salvation an unex-
pected one, the kind of salvation is one so utterly
unexpected that faith itself is unable to grasp its
vastness even after it has been declared.

(a) Think of it, that God should not only save a

230

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

guilty rebel but that the salvation wherewith he
saved him should be of such a kind that the creature
should be unspeakably better off than before he fell !
The redeemed of a fallen race are raised to a far
higher glory than ever Adam possessed in his prime-
val innocency. Rebel sinners are brought from the
depth's of sin's degradation not simply to enjoy an
earthly paradise but to enter heaven itself and there
to stand conspicuous among the armies of light,
crowned as conquerors with Christ in his glorious
victory, made kings and priests unto God to reign
forever and ever, to be the living temples of the Holy
Spirit, to be transformed into the image of God's own
Son, to be honored beyond all others by Christ in that
he assumes human nature and even wears it in honor
of redeemed humanity, to be made such special objects
of the unspeakable love of God that even angels
are to learn the most they are to know of God's
Christ from the exhibitions of grace and love given
CO fallen man. There is no creature even in heaven
so honored as redeemed humanity. Tell me, is not
this an unexpected kind of salvation ? If human
tliought had labored till reason reeled in its citadel
could it ever have imagined such a salvation as this ?
Nay, from the beginning of the world men have not
heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath eye
seen, O God, beside thine, what he hath prepared for
sinners saved by grace.

(d) Still further that he should not only so unspeak-
ably exalt and bless, but that he should place the crea-
ture thus blessed forever beyond the reach of any such

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

231

eye
for

eak-
irea-
mch

disaster as that by which he previously fell. Man in
Eclenic probation lived simply day by day by a tested
obedience of his own, and failing once in that obedi-
ence forfeited forever his right to divine favor. Man
redeemed stands no longer on the chance-work of his
own efforts. He is not simply reinstated in the posi-
tion occupied prior to the fall and to try a second
chance of life through an attempt to render a perfect
obedience. His final salvation is already secured
through the finished work, the perfect obedience of
Jesus Christ. The salvation of the true believer is
made as certain and as eternal as the life of God.
Because I live, ye shall live also : I give unto them
eternal life and they shall never perish. Not only
that life should thus be forever secured, but that a
progressive work of sanctification should be carried on
in each one till at last all shall stand holy and blame-
less before him in love, to stand forever established
in holiness, an elect race, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye
might thenceforth know the excellences of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light. how meagre and how paltry are men's ideas
of salvation compared with that of God ! Men talk
about annihilation, about cessation of conscious sufier-
ing. Yes, this is the most golden dream that mere
human thought can devise concerning a future state
and deliverance from the curse of sin ; salvation by
extinction, the promise of eternal but unconscious va-
cancy and dreamless death. It hath not entered into
the heart of man to conceive the things which God

232

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

hath prepared for them that love him. From all such
vain philosophies and empty dreamings God bids the
dying sinner turn his eyes : Look unto me and be ye
saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God and be-
side me there is none else.

III. In the third place, how unexpected is the way
or method which God has provided and presented for
human salvation.

(a) The universe of God might have been challenged,
but neither man nor angel could have guessed the way
of salvation, that God himself — in Christ — should take
upon him the sinner's guilt and make expiation for it
through the suffering of death, and then bid the sin-
ner look unto him and see his salvation thus effected ;
that Christ should become inc«rnn,tpi. the manifested
God, that men might behold him ; that he should make
his soul an offering fo^ sin and render in his own per-
son complete satisfaction to broken law, and then bid
a sinner look and see his full salvation perfectly se-
cured in the atoning work of Calvary ! Look unto me
all the ends of the earth and be ye saved, for I am
God. Now tell me, could mortal thought have ever
guessed such a plan of salvation : that God should
assume human nature, that he should humble himself,
and, as God-man, become obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross, and through that death open
up a way of life for guilty man ! O wonder of won-
ders ! O unexpected way of salvation !

^ -— Lord, shall our grief or joy prevail ? . . -

Our hearts are rent amidst the strife ;
Shall we the victim's death bewail?
Or hail it as the v/ay to life ? -

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

233

This way of life is so utterly unexpected, that men
are not ready, not able to believe it, even when told.

(b) No one would ever have thought that human
works would have no factor in human salvation.
God's way is so entirely different from all precon-
ceived human opinion, that, even when seeking souls
profess to be coming to God in his own way, they
are mistaken, by introducing ways and methods of
their own. The first effort of every soul that enters
the kingdom is to work for its own salvation, and it
ceases not so to do until it finds proof of the worth-
lessness and frui^lessness of self's doings in a bitter
experience of unsuccessful endeavor. Even while
Christ proclaims from the cross, It is finished, men go
about to add their own doings to a Saviour's finished
rightcGusneso, and add the polluted patchwork of their
own self -righteousness to the sacred completeness of
the stainless robe of Christ. How difficult it is, even
for Christie is who have entered the kingdom, to dis-
abuse their minds of these false theories of the way
of life, even while the heart may have accepted Christ
as the only Saviour. Half of Christendom failing to
comprehend the vastness and freeness of gospel grace
are yet found proclaiming a salvation partly by faith
and partly by works, and this even in the very face
of Scripture statement : that it is not of works, lest
any man should boast ; but by grace are ye saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God. The apostle argues that salvation must
either be exclusively by works or exclusively by grace,
that it cannot be an intermixture of both. If it be by

234

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

works, then it is no more of grace, otherwise grace is
no more grace ; and if it be by grace, it is no more of
works, otherwise work is no more work. The fact
that a man must be saved before he can perform any
God-accepted service, is proof that God's way of sal-
vation is solely by grace. Yet, so foreign are God's
ways from man's ways and his thoughts from man's
thoughts, that men can scarcely be brought to believe
the repeated statement of Scripture, that salvation is
a free gift. God's way is an unexpected way of life.
That salvation should be obtained simply by looking
with the eye of faith to God — not by doing, but by
looking — is that which confounds human reason.
Such a gospel is to the Jew a stumbling-block and to
the Greek foolishness. Yet this and this only is the
God-appointed way of life. There is life in a look at
the crucified one. As Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. Look unto me all the ends
of the earth and be ye saved, for I am God.

IV. God's salvation is unexijected to Tuan in the
time in which it is effected.

(a) God's salvation is effected instantaneously
through looking. Look and in looking be saved.
Saved by looking at a work already done ? Yes, and
saved even while thus you look. Now this is so
different from man's way, so foreign to all human
thought concerning the great salvation, that unsaved
ones here to-night are not ready to believe that even

THF UNEXPECTED WAY.

235

the

lusly

Lved.

and

IS so

Iman

Lved

jven

now, by a look of faith, a dying sinner may pass from
death unto life. Man's thought is that there must be
a long time of self-preparation before sinners can
come to God. God says man cannot begin to prepare
until first he comes to God, and that therefore his
only hope is to look away from self at once and for-
ever, to God as a source of salvation. Man plans,
saying, I must do this and that, I must feel this and
that ; God says nothing about doing and feeling as a
means of salvation. He says, Look unto me and be
saved. God's way is not man's way. You may think
that salvation is not 'an instantaneous act, that a man
attains to it only through many days and months of
toil ; and you may spend days and months of anxious
toil in seeking salvation and at the end be no more
saved than when you began ; but the moment you
look by faith to Christ, that moment you are sa v ed,
passing from death to life at his call. Not merely a
future hope, but a present salvation. Verily, verily,
I s?y unto thee, he that heareth my word and be-
lieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and
shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from
death unto life. A present blessing, not merely a
promise to be fulfilled at the close of life.

(h) Not only instantaneous, but carrying with it
the co: viction of present certainty. Men who pro-
fess to have accepted Christ as the great salvation,
yet often are heard to say, that you cannot be certain
of your salvation till you get past this present life.
Yet God pledges present salvation to him who looks

236

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

I .

•:

!■

by faith to Christ. Look unto me and be ye saved,
for I am God.

I hear the words of love,

I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice

And I have peace with God.

V. Again God's salvation is unexpected in the uni-
versality of its offer, Look unto nie all the ends of the
earth and he ye saved.

(a) He fixes no geographical boundaries beyond
which the gospel message may not pass. All the ends
of the earth are invited to look to him, and all the
ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
How different is this, God's gracious purpose, from all
the narrow preconceptions of men. The Jew in the
exclusiveness of his national religion could not think
of the Gentile as being partaker with him of the
same benefits. It was a mystery that had been hid
for ages, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and
of the same body, and partakers of the promise in
Christ by the gospel. How difficult it was for even
the apostles to comprehend the full scope of the great
commission, that common salvation was to be preached
to every creature. All nations were to be blessed in
him. All the ends of the earth were to see the salva-
tion of our God. Yet this was so different from nar-
rowing national prejudices that Christians had to be
driven by persecution from Judea in order that they
might thus be made to preach among the heathen the
unsearchable riches of Christ. Yes, and when these
heathen looked unto God from all the ends of the

THE UNEXPECTED WAY.

237

ley
Ithe
lese
[the

earth and were saved, even an apostle wondered at
the marvel of grace so far outreaching and transcend-
ing all human thought. Astonished when the great
fact of not simply a national but a w^orld's salvation
dawned unto them they exclaimed, Then hath God
granted unto the ^Gentiles also repentance unto life !
Yes, the great salvation was unexpected in the uni-
versality of its offer embracing every creature, all the
ends of the earth in its universal call.

(6) In another sense was its universality unex-
pected. God excluded none from the offer of the gos-
pel because of the vileness of personal character. The
proud Pharisee who looked upon himself as exclusively
the favorite of heaven might draw closely around him
the garments of his self -righteousness, lest he should
come in contact with the publicans and sinners of his
day. Yes, this is man's idea. His offer of salvation
would be based on excellency of personal character,
and since salvation is a salvation from sin he would
thus exclude from it those who need it most. God
says. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel
to every creature. Does not even the Christian of
to-day sometimes shrink from declaring the gospel to
the most abandoned of the vile ? O let us learn and
act upon the unexpected breadth of God's great salva-
tion ! Let every creature in the habitable globe be
assured that, however unworthy, he is embraced in
the world-wide invitation of our God. Look unto me
all the ends of the earth and be ye saved, for I am
God.

Now, unconverted soul, whatever be your state or

238

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

: =

place, are you not included in this offer. This world-
wide call of mercy comes this night to you.

(c) Does not this way of salvation, so priceless, so
easy, place eternal life within your reach however
poor or helpless you may be ? If you cannot do any-
thing, if you cannot pay anything, can you not look
unto God ? This is the simple condition on which
your salvation rests : Look unto me and be ye saved.

{d) Does not this present opportunity, while God
is calling to you from his word, make it possible to
look to Christ and be saved ?

There is life in a look at the crucified One,

There is life at this moment for thee,
Then look sinner look unto Him and be saved,

Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.

Look unto me all the ends of the earth and be ye
saved, for I am God and beside me there is none else.

POETICAL PIECES.

239

POETICAL PIECES.

A REVERIE.

A weary day of unsuccessful toil, departing with its sad and
changeless record,

Was moving through the cloud-crowned gates of evening
to the eternal past.

The glaring sun slow-sinking in the folds of western cloud
was lost,

And twilight's gathering shadows deepened into darkness
For him who is not blinded by the veil of commonness,
departing day

Hath awful glories. Oh how much of beauty dwells behind
time-woven curtains ?

I had gazed upon the changing splendors as they rose before
me,

Grasping for something vaster, all forgetful of my littleness
When like an Alpine torrent thought rolled back on self,
And in the darkness of that lonely hour I felt my nothing-
ness.

One of the countless myriads of things who dwell upon an
atom.

Poised in boundless space, 'mid worlds innumerable.
Incapable to move to other spheres, incapable to know my-
self or aught beside ;

240

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

Thus ran my thoughts, and then I think I justly spake
against my kind :

Oh man cf science ! scientific worm, circling around a little
spot of dust.

Boasting of knowledge, prating of what thou knowest, send-
ing thy boastful breath abroad.

Asserting that there is no Clod in heaven, or,- if there be,
that thou

Hast proved His Word untrue by thy far-reaching wisdom,

Who art thou, vile thing of weakness, that in thy presump-
tuous folly dar'st to s't

In judgment, and condemn as false the words of Him,

Who, throned above the rolling spheres, is Ruler over all.

And God of truth ? Who art thou, replying against thy
Maker ?

Asserting, on thy veritable knowledge, that He lays false
claim

To thy creation.

Here, again, in viewing littleness in others I forgot myself,

And grew to fancied greatness. Then again the tide of
thought

Roird back on self, with memory of the day's defeats.

And suffering from comparison e'en with those who toiled

together with me,
Feeling how much of all things must remain unknown to

all.
How i.'uch of all that's knowable unknown to me,
Who scarce can grasp the little sands that lie upon the

boundless beach ■

Of knowledge.

Then the conscious cry of weakness rising up within me
Died in weakness, and I said : Lord, what is man that

Thou - -: "

POETICAL PIECES.

241

Art mindful of him? What the son of man that Thou

should'st visit him ? v- '

Father, I bless Thee that Thou dost descend to dwell with

men. ■-- ' ."■. , /^ 'iJi' '■.-'-^
Father ! What word is this I breathe ? Am I His child ?
Then I am born for endless years and glorious destiny ;
Joined by the closest bonds to perfect life and noblest being,
Nor all created things can make a boast like mine.
Oh, mystery ! myself am veriest littleness, yet inccmparable

greatness.
And through the consciousness of littleness is this greatness

known.

QUEEN ESTHER.

The festal days are come in Persia's royal halls,
The glittering court is filled with noble peers.

There's revelry of joy ; mirth loud and louder calls.
But captive Israel answers back through tears.

Still swells the feast convivial ; orient wealth is str ewn,
And royal wine is poured from golden bowls ;

The light corruscant blazes, and the lofty dome
Mirrors its splendors as the scene unrolls.

The king in regal state parades his glorious power.
And Persia's courtiers quaff the foaming wine. •

But see ! another cup is mingled in this hour ;
O captive Israel, draughts of death are thine.

The subtle son of Agag gains the dread degree,

The seal irrevocable marks the 'loom ;
The race of captives blotted from the earth shw.ll be, >

And naught may change the fiat of the throne.

242

MEMOIR OF D. A. M GREGOR.

From Persia's broad realm .cends a bitter cry.

A death-doomed people prays and fasts in tears ;
The fervent prayer is heard by Him who rules on high,

The star of hope, on sorrow's night appears.

A youthful exile, frail, yet fair as morning light,
A daughter of captivity, is Persia's queen.

And queen through peerless beauty: in her beauty bright
Fairest of all that royal halls have seen.

Hadassa, Esther, from the height of matchless charms.
With royal crown and Persia's highest praise.

Views her despised people in their last alarms.
Then looks on death, and ventures life to save.

"They live not, who approach the king, except he call,
Not even Vashti might transgress his word, , -

Yet I will go unto the king, what'er befall.
E'en though I perish. Pray ye to the Lord."

O Israel, fervent be thy prayers, for see, her form

Is trembling, and she moves with quickening breath ;

Like some lone bird on weary wing, against the storm.
She presses on, and enters. Is it death ?

Like a fair lily, see she stands before the throne.
The extended sceptre hails her welcome guest.

But now the crisis past, white as the ocean's foam,
Breathless she sinks ere heard in her request.

She wakes, the palace swims before her dreamy sight.
But fears are flown ; it is the king's own hand

And voice that comfort : " Ask all thy delight.

For half my kingdom is at thy command."

POETICAL PIECES.

243

Soon the request is made ; she hears with gladdening thrill,

" Thy people and thy foes I give to thee,
Take this reverseless seal, and write ye what ye will."

Tis done ; her people now are free, are free.

O, Israel, ne'er forget deliverance so sweet.

As turned death-darkness into joy-crowned days.

And unto Him, to whom your highest thanks are meet.
In glad remembrance chant Queen Esther's praise.

WILD FLOWERS.

Sweet little gems that deck earth's rugged brow,
When first to gentle spring bleak winter yields,
No kindly hand your tender beauty shields,
And yet ere verdure clothes the cultured fields.
Ye bloom on mountain cold, and valley low. '

How strange, the woodland chill should be your home !
That ye should blossom in a lonely wild !
That craggy rocks in wild confusion piled,
Should be a home for Nature's tenderest child —
Ye forest beauties on your mountain throne !

I've seen you when mid storm and tempest wild
Ye bowed and fell, with leaves all rent and torn,
And thought how I adversity had borne :
My heart drank in the blackness of the storm :
Ye, crushed to earth, looked up again and smiled.

244

MEMOIR OF D. A. M'OREGOR.

Your little lives so pure are not in vain,
Your tender forms in stainless beauty drest,
Your calm repose, amid the world's unrest,
Are words by which God hath Himself express'd,
And leads the seeking mind to Him again.

Fair family of God, your loving forms

Make deserts like to Eden's blissful bowers ;

In deep ravines and over mould'ring towers

Your beauty shines, like sunbeams, 'mid the showers.

Like wreaths of rainbov/, 'mid the frown of storms.

Choice leaves in nature's volume, in the hours
Of converse with you, the rapt soul ascending,
With thoughts of you and the hereafter blending,
Looks up to yon bright world of bliss unending, -
With the sweet prospect of unwithering flowers. ;

ALBUM VERSES.

Choose thou the light, the pure and holy light — Jno. xii: 36.
And in God's light thou light shalt clearly see — Ps. xxxvi : 9.
Live in the light, a child of day and light — Thess. y : 5.
And ever growing light thy path of light shall be — Prv. iv : 18.
Let shine your light, the world-illuming light — Matt, v : 16.
And Christ who is the light shall shine on thee — Eph. v : 14.
Walk in the light as He is in the light — i John i : 7.
And evermore His light thy light shall be — Rev. xxii : 5.

POETICAL PIECES.

Serious thoughts are sometimes seen in merry faces,

Sadness often looks from laughter lighted eyes ;

Naughty guests could never have such pretty dwelling
places,

So I guess they're angels coaxing to the skies.

245

The darkest night ne'er kept the dawning day

From gaining noonday brightness in the heights above •

JVor can beclouding fears keep back faith's morning ray '
From gaining light effulgent in the life of love