Hew Morrison Collection > Reminiscences of the life and labours of Dugald Buchanan, formerly teacher and evangelist at Rannock, Perthshire

EEMIXISCEXCES OF DUGALD BUCHAXAX. 27
clearer views of Christ, and are enabled to believe in
Him more strongly. Others are weaker in faitli. As
the manslayer, hasting for his life to one of the cities
of refuge, was ordered to flee to that which was nearest
to him, so it is the duty of sinners to flee immediately
to Christ, and to that in Him, of which they have the
clearest discernment ; and which in that respect is
nearest to them. Though the distinct actin,o-s of faith
may vary, yet in the main they agree ; inasmuch as it
is in the one Christ they believe for justification of
life. They all flee to the one Christ, the one refuge,
and so are safe. " This passage," he says, " was the
means of showing me several mistakes into which
I had fallen."
From Comrie he went to Kilsyth. '' On ^londay,"
he says — the Monday after the communion — '' I was
suddenly enlarged in prayer, and my suul was drawn
out after a whole Christ. I came away rejoicing in
the Lord and in His goodness."
But the clouds returned after the rain. " I soon
became vain and proud of my duties. The Lord did
not suffer my pride to swell. He discovered to me
the iniquity that was in my heart, which was the
means of humbling me in the dust. He blasted my
gifts. I could scarcely ask a blessing on common
mercies. He withdrew from me in some measure His
restraining grace ; and left me to wrestle with my
heart idols. Then arose such a darkness and dead-
ness in my spirit, that I could not think, desire, or
do anythiijg." This, he thinks, was a chastisement
for spiritual pride.
" Was greatly encouraged by reading Philip, i. G.