查理.馬金多 (Charles Henry Mackintosh, 1820-1896)
查理。馬金多(CharlesH。Mackintosh),或被人簡稱為“C.H.M。”,于1820年10月出生在愛爾蘭威克洛郡的格倫馬魯爾兵營(Glenmalure
Barracks of County Wicklow)。
父親是一位陸軍上尉。母親則是愛爾蘭著名世家韋爾頓女士(LadyWeldon)的女儿。在18歲那年,馬金多藉著姐姐的來信(當她悔改歸主后),經歷了屬靈的蘇醒;并藉著閱讀達秘(J。N。Darby)的作品,“圣靈的運作”(Operations
of the Spirit),獲得心靈的平安。
馬金多重生得救,主要是藉著姐姐多次的來信(及達秘的作品)。這點對姐妹而言,是何等大的啟發和鼓勵。雖然按圣經的教導,姐妹不能在召會中公開講道或教導,但她們仍可在私下為主作見證,勸勉人信主,勉勵及造就圣徒。主也能使用這私下的事奉來成就大事。深愿姐妹們(弟兄也不例外)緊記這點,“私下的事奉,可比講台上的講道更具影響力”。也許你在私下所幫助的那人,就是“第二位馬金多”,一位將被神所重用的仆人!所以讓我們不要輕忽每一個私下事奉主的机會。 投入教育的事工 年輕的馬金多喜歡閱讀,博覽群書,是位年少有為的青年。早在24歲那年(即1844年),他已在威斯泊特(Westport)開辦了一所學校,熱心地投入教育的工作。雖然他忙于教育工作,但他仍讓基督和他的圣工在生命中高居首位。在1853年,由于害怕他的學校和教育事工成為他生命中的主要興趣,所以馬金多為主坦然放棄這一切,全時間地事奉主。 馬金多的榜樣值得我們學習。世上有許多事(例如職業,嗜好,消遣等),以圣經的角度來看是合法的(lawfulorlegitimate),沒有圣經的禁止,例如從事教育的事工。可是一旦這些合法的事在我們的生命中占居首位,取代了主耶穌基督,控制了我們的生命時,我們必須立刻調整,甚至在情況需要時离棄它。這正是保羅所說的:“凡事我都可行,但不都有益處。凡事我都可行,但無論那一件,我總不受他的轄制”(林前6:12) 從事寫作的事奉 与此同時,馬金多忙于書寫摩西五經的注解。經過多年的勞苦,他終于出版了六冊的“馬金多摩西五經注解”(NotesonthePentateuch)(從創世記至民數記各一冊,申命記則兩冊)。此著作充滿福音的精髓,強調“人在罪中的全面墮落,神在基督里的完美救贖”。這部卓越的著作已全被香港的基督徒閱覽室(現今改名為“福音書局”)翻譯成中文,并同樣以六冊出版,是所有信徒應讀之物。 此外,馬金多也寫了許多屬靈作品,例如“圣經:它的足夠性和优越性”;“基督的職事:過去,現在与將來”;“大衛的生平”;“禱告和禱告聚會”;“大使命:路24:44-49”;“基督徒的祭司職分”;“主的再來”及其他許多的文章。 以上這些文章的題目足證他寫作的題目范圍甚廣。這些文章被收集在長達908頁的“馬金多文庫”(TheMackintoshTreasury)中。馬金多的作品,激起了許多信徒對圣經的興趣,幫助了許多圣徒更深入明白神的話語。甚至舉世聞名的美國大布道家慕迪(D.L.Moody)也宣稱:“(在幫助了解神的話語方面)是馬金多給我最大的影響。” 馬金多深知文字事工的重要,并設立了一本基督徒期刊(定期刊物),名為“新舊的東西”(ThingsNewandOld)。他作了這期刊的主編長達21年。此期刊把許多當代的屬靈作品和信仰精華借文字留給后人。現今的基督徒和召會也該效法馬金多的心志和榜樣,按主所賜的能力,投入寫作的事奉,設立基督徒的期刊,來把神賜于我們的話語傳給下一代,“交托那忠心能教導別人的人”(提后2:2)。 公開講道的事奉 馬金多到了都柏林(Dublin)后,便開始公開講道的事奉。他放膽辯護神的福音,并極力宣揚神的真理,神也大大使用他的講道來造就許多圣徒。在1859-1860年, 多結果子的晚年 在馬金多臨終前的最后4年,他住在切爾滕納姆(Cheltenham)。當他因著年邁而無法在講台上傳道時,他仍繼續寫作。他的著作在屬靈上,影響深遠。他不斷收到世界各地的信徒所寄來的信件,表明他們從他的作品,特別是摩西五經的注解中,獲益良多。
他于1843年寫了第一份單張,命名為“神的平安”。在1896年,在臨終前的几個月,他寫了最后一份單張,題目為“平安的神”。這點充分表明他屬靈的成長經歷,從認識神所賜的平安,進深到認識賜平安的神本身。所以讓我們也學習不但追求和認識神賜于我們的各樣恩賜,更力求深入認識那賜于我們各樣恩賜的神! 在主怀中的安息
馬金多于1896年11月2日安睡主怀,享年76歲。4天以后,他被葬于切爾滕納姆墳場(CheltenhamCemetery),在他愛妻墓旁。在葬禮上,沃爾斯頓醫生(Dr。Wolston)以亞伯拉罕的埋葬(取自創25:8-10)作為葬禮的信息。結束前,會眾高唱 哦,何等光明有福的一幕, 從我們現今所漫行的地上, C.
H. Mackintosh (1820-96)
It
is interesting and curious that just as Mr.
F. E. Raven appears to be the least known of those used in an
outstanding way in the recovery of the truth,
G.
A. R.
In
October, 1820, Charles Henry Mackintosh was born in Glenmalure Barracks,
County Wicklow, Ireland.
When
he was eighteen young Charles was awakened spiritually through letters from
his sister after her own conversion.
Around
1874, he wrote, "I had not the honour of being among the first of those
who planted their feet on the blessed ground occupied by Brethren.
He
opened a school at Westport in 1844, and enthusiastically threw himself into
his educational work.
When
Mr. Mackintosh came under attack for the use of the expression
"heavenly humanity" in regard to the Lord, JND said in a letter of
July 1962,
For
some twenty-one years, Mr. Mackintosh edited a periodical, 'Things New and
Old', in which many of his own writings appeared.
In
presenting to the reader the first number of our periodical, we feel called
upon to state our reasons for entering upon such a service, and also the
objects which we hope by the grace of God, to effect. We
do not deem any apology necessary for adding another to the numerous
publications already extant, having for their object the circulation of pure
truth. We want them all, and thousands more, if we could get them.
1.
For, first of all, it is a lamentable fact that the enemy of souls
has wrought, far more diligently, at the printing press, than the servants
of the living God. o
Numerous
as are the books, the pamphlets, the tracts, and the periodicals in which
the words of eternal truth shine, for the instruction and comfort of souls, o
yet are
they outnumbered, to an appalling amount, by the publications of an infidel,
an immoral, and irreligious tendency. 2.
We believe that the art of printing was designed, by a gracious
Providence, as a powerful engine for the diffusion of scriptural knowledge; o
but we
cannot shut our eyes to the startling fact that the enemy is making diligent
use of that very art, for the purpose of corrupting, in all directions, the
springs of thought and feeling. o
He is
publishing, in the cheapest and most atrractive form, gross evil,
soul-destroyong error, and perverted truth. o
And, we
may safely say, if positive error has slain its thousands, perverted truth
has slain its tens of thousands. 3.
Now, we are fully assured that, notwithstanding all the enemy's
efforts, the Lord is gathering out His own – that He is accomplishing His
purpose, and hasting His everlasting kingdom. o
But should
this be a reason for slackness, coldness, and indiference, on the part of
the servants of Christ? The very reverse; yea, the assurance thereof is the
basis of "stedfast" and "unmovable" service. o
It is
because we know, on divine authority, that "our labour shall not be in
vain in the Lord", that therfore we work. o
It would
be sad, indeed, if what our God has graciously given as a soul-stirring
encouragement to work should be used as a plea for inactivity,
if the assurance of reaching God's end were to be a reason for neglecting
God's means. o
This would
be a grievous use to make of the goodness and faithfulness of God. 4.
But, further, we undertake this service because we feel bound to
serve and testify, while the time for service and testimony lasts. o
The day is
rapidly approaching, in the which we shall not be called upon to render such
fruits. o
When we
get into the Master's presence, we shall admire and worship; but now, in
"the little while", in the night of His absence, it is our holy
and happy privilege to be "always abounding in the work of the
Lord", 1 Corinthians 15: 58. o
We are
responsible to let the light shine forth, in every possible way – to
circulate the truth of God, by all means, by word of mouth, by 'paper and
ink', in public and private, "in the morning and in the evening",
"in season and out of season"; we should "sow beside all
waters". o
In a word,
whether we consider the importance of divine truth, the value of immortal
souls, or the fearful progress of error and evil, we are imperatively called
upon to be up and doing, in the name of the Lord, under the guidance of His
word, and by the grace of His Spirit.
The
preface to each volume of the 'Notes' was written by his friend Andrew
Miller – author of 'Short Papers on Church History'.
and
'The Brethren – Their Origin, Progress and Testimony' – who is said to
have encouraged their writing and to have largely financed their
publication. AM
said of CHM's expositions that, "Man's complete ruin in sin, and God's
perfect remedy in Christ, are fully, clearly, and often strikingly
presented".
His
first tract in 1843 was on 'The Peace of God'. His last article – written
in 1896, just a few months before deparing to be with Christ – was
entitled 'The God of Peace'.
Despite
appeals and pressures from many quarters – and from the Continent
especially – Mr. Mackintosh remained in fellowship with Mr. F. E.
Raven to the end.
He
resided at Cheltenham for the last four years of his life.
On
April 3, 1896, just seven months before the Lord took him, CHM wrote from
Cheltenham:
He
fell asleep peacefully on November 2, 1896. On
November 6, 1896 – in his own last days, just six months before being
taken by Christ – Mr. J. B. Stoney said of CHM, "He is now where love
is satisfied".
The
Lord took CHM on November 2, 1896. Four days later a large company from many
places gathered for his burial at Cheltenham Cemetery.
O
bright and blessèd scenes, J.
N. Darby | ||||||||||||