St Columba - The Life of - by The Rev Dr John Smith, Campbeltown - 1824 - 218-Pages

8/14/2019 St Columba - The Life of - by The Rev Dr John Smith, Campbeltown - 1824 - 218-Pages

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THELIFE

OF

SAINT COLUMBA,THE

APOSTLE OF THE HIGHLANDS.BY

JOHN SMITH, D.D.WITH

A RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE,BY

WILLIAM DUNN, A.M.AUTHOR OF " THE FARMER S DAUGHTER," &C.

GLASGOW:PRINTED FOR CHALMERS & COLLINS;\VM. WHYTE AND CO. AND WM. OLIPHANT, EDINBURGH ;

W. CURBY, JUN. AND CO. DUBLIN ; AND G. AND W. B.WHITTAKKR, F. WESTLEY, AND J. NBBET, LONDON.

1824.


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TOTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE THEEARL OF MORAY,

ANDTHE MEMBERS

OF THESociety for the Support of Gcdic Schools.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,THERE are none to whom I can, with

greater propriety, Dedicate the followingEdition of the LIFE of ST. COLUMBA, thanto you. In the zeal and activity which you"have displayed, in affording the elements ofknowledge, and the means of grace and salvation, to that interesting part of our countrymen, the inhabitants of the Highlands andIslands of Scotland, you are engaged in thesame glorious work which flourished so successfully in the hands of that pious and indefatigable man of God, whose Life I am pre-

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senting to you. You are attempting to dispel that cloud of ignorance which has satdown so densely on the minds of many ofour countrymen. And I hope your efforts,and other means, which your example maycall forth, will spread widely that heavenlylight which shone so brightly, in that partof our country, for ages after the days ofSt. Columba, but which has since been solamentably eclipsed.

My Lords and Gentlemen,Your Lordship sMost obedient and humble Servant,

WILLIAM DUNN.Cupar Angus, June, 1824.


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RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE.

THE work of redemption is the greatest andthe most glorious of all the works of theAlmighty with which we are acquainted.Stupendous as the works of creation andprovidence are, they are, to the work of redemption, but as the scaffolding to the building inferior in their nature, and very temporary in their duration. The grand designof the creation of this inferior world, and ofthe providence of God towards it, is to besubservient to the rearing of the glorious andeternal building of salvation. Whenever thebuilding of salvation is completed, the worksof creation will be dissolved and laid aside.When the whole of the people of God arebrought home to him, his purposes with thispresent world will be then accomplished." The heavens shall pass away with a greatnoise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth, also, and the works that

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are therein shall be burnt up." The work ofredemption shall then only be brought to perfection, and appear in all its splendour, during the endless ages of eternity. Since thework of redemption is of such importance,equally important it must be for every oneof us to he interested in it; and indescribablyimportant must the office of those be whocontribute in carrying it on. " They thatturn many to righteousness, shall shine asthe stars for ever and ever." The office ofthe Gospel ministry is the most exalted, andthe most important office in which any of thehuman race can possibly engage. The Gospel minister is a worker together with Godin the great work of redemption ; and theadvantages which result to his fellow-menfrom the success of his labours, rise indescribably above any other advantage whichhe could confer on them. When all otheradvantages are lost and forgotten, this shallcontinue, to the comfort of both the ministers of the Gospel, and the saints of Godwhile eternal ages roll on.Who is the person whose fame shall bemost lasting, and whose deeds shall be mostesteemed by competent judges, yea, by the


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vnDivine Being, who seeth not as man seeth,but who judgeth righteously? Not the manwho has encountered dangers in the acquisition of wealth, and has heaped up silver asthe dust. Not the man who has conqueredkingdoms, and extended his territories, butspread devastation and death around him.No; but the man who has encountered dangers and surmounted difficulties, and hassteadily persevered in civilizing the barbarous, in instructing the ignorant, in reclaiming the erring, and in carrying the light ofthe Gospel to those who have long sat indarkness, and in the region and shadow ofdeath. He has carried along with him, deliverance from the worst of slavery, restoration from the most dreadful degradation; andsafety, happiness, and peace have followedin his train. " The wilderness and the solitary place has been made glad for him ; andthe desert has rejoiced and blossomed as therose. It has blossomed abundantly, and rejoiced even with joy and singing." To thosewho have been brought under the influenceof the Gospel, " the Lord has become theirlight, and the eternal God their glory." Andil is not the happiness of those individuals


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vmalone, who, by the first preachers of Christianity, in any country, are brought fromdarkness to light, we have to contemplate,but the happiness of thousands of thousandsin the generations which are to come. Thefirst preaching of the Gospel in any country,where it has any influence at all, is the" handful of corn on the top of the mountains, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon;" it shall not only extend more widely,but descend to the generations which areyet unborn.

Honoured singularly in this great and eternal work was St. Columba, whose life I amattempting to set before the public in a compendious form. It is a work which everyone, who wishes well to the glory of God, tothe civilization and happiness of man in thepresent world, and his perfection and felicityin the world to come, will, under the influences of the spirit of God, read with pleasureand with profit. It is impossible that a manof genuine piety can rise from the readingof it, without comfort and elevation of mind,and some degree of self-reproach, for hisown indolence and inferiority. And manywill not rise from it, without an ardent


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desire of rising to higher degrees of attainment in the divine life, and of doing morefor the glory of God and the salvation ofsouls than he has yet done. St. Columbaseems to have come as near to the Apostles,in simplicity of manners, in heavenly mind-edness, in ardent piety and devotion, and undaunted zeal for the glory of God and thesalvation of souls, as any individual whom weread of since their days.The qualifications which are desirable in aChristian missionary, who is to carry the gladtidings of grace and salvation to those whosit in darkness ; and the qualifications whichare desirable in a minister of the Gospel,where religion has already found its way,were possessed by St. Columba in an eminent degree. And, it will surely be allowed,that these qualifications are neither few, norof an inferior order. The Christian missionaryand the minister of the Gospel, are ambassadors between earth and heaven. They areto address God on behalf of perishing sinners,and they are to address sinners on the behalfof God and of themselves. They are to pleadat the court of heaven, and at the court ofthe sinner s conscience. They can say, " We


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are ambassadors for Christ, as though Goddid beseech you by us ; we pray you inChrist s stead be ye reconciled to God."

If it be necessary for an ambassador between two earthly princes, to be well acquainted with the laws and the interests ofboth countries, and the relations in whichthey stand to one another; if clearness ofhead, and quickness of penetration, to discern the interests of his king and countryif firmness and fidelity, vigilance and perseverance, be necessary, lest the honour of hiscountry, and the interests of its inhabitants,be sacrificed how well acquainted oughtthe ambassador of heaven to be with thenature, the purposes, and laws of God withthe state ofhuman nature, and the importanceof salvation! How heavenly minded, zealous, and active ought he to be, in the discharge of his duty, " that he may show himself approved unto God, a workman thatneedeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividingthe word of truth."

St. Columba possessed very superior naturaltalents, and all his schemes for promoting theglory ofGod, and the civilization and salvationofmankind, displayed an uncommon greatness


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of soul ; the execution of these schemes, too,were conducted with wisdom, zeal, and perseverance. When once convinced, that, bythe help of God, what he set before him waspracticable and important, nothing earthlycould deter him from the execution of it.And no individual that I have read of, sincethe Apostles days, was blessed with suchremarkable success. Notwithstanding of allthis, he was remarkable for humility, modesty,and condescension, tenderness of heart andaffability. He had really imbibed the spiritof the Apostle s exhortation, " Mind not highthings, but condescend to men of low estate.Recompense to no man evil for evil. Providethings honest in the sight of all men. If itbe possible, as much as lieth in you,, livepeaceably with all men."His natural talents were highly cultivatedby the best education which the time in whichhe lived could afford. A particular accountof his studies, says his learned biographer,Dr. Smith, is not transmitted to us; but theyseem, by no means, to have been confinedto that profession which he followed, but tohave extended much farther into the generalcircle of science. For his knowledge of me-


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dicine, and his skill in curing diseases, wereso great that many of his cures in those dayswere considered as miracles. And in thehistory, laws, and customs of different countries, he was so well versed, that he made aprincipal figure in a council of princes andnoblemen, that was held to settle betweenthe Scottish and the Irish kings, the rightof succession to the Dalriadic Province inUlster.

But the great subject of his studies wasthe Sacred Scriptures. These he delightedto explore, when the other parts of his ministerial duties would permit. It was not, however, merely from a love of study, nor a pridein the acquisition of knowledge, that he prosecuted his studies, but that he might be thebetter qualified for the great and eternal workin which he was engaged. Almost the wholebent of his superior, cultivated, and ardentmind, was to bring mankind to the knowledgeof the truth, as it is in Christ Jesus ; to aidthem in their intercourse with heaven, in theirpresent state, and in their preparation forthe full enjoyment of it when death releasesthem.He cultivated an uniform spirit of piety,


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and habitual reverence towards God. Andso far was he from resting in any measure ofholiness already attained, that he labouredincessantly after higher degrees of it, to theend of his life. Paul s sentiments were eminently his. " I count all things but loss, forthe excellency of the knowledge of ChristJesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered theloss of all things, and do count them but dross,that I may win Christ, and be found in him,not having mine own righteousness, whichis of the law, but that which is through thefaith of Christ, the righteousness which is ofGod by faith; that I may know him, and thepower of his resurrection, and the fellowshipof his sufferings, being made conformableunto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Theexample of the apostle was ardently followedby him. " Forgetting those things whichare behind, and reaching forth unto thosethings which are before, I press toward themark, for the prize of the high calling of Godin Christ Jesus." What, next unto the directinfluences of the Spirit of God, excited himto this devotion and activity, was a strongimpression on his spirit, and a lively sense of


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the continual presence of God. Thoughupon earth, he was almost continually conversant with heaven. This intercourse hemaintained by habitual prayer and praise.He engaged in no duty, without previouslyimploring the counsel and the direction ofGod in the discharge of it, and the divineblessing to render it effectual. And everyblessing which he received, from the smallestarticle of food, to the highest spiritual enjoyment, excited in his mind the feelings ofadoration and praise.He considered the things of a present

world, in their just, but inferior light. Heset no value on them, except so far as theywere necessary for his present support, andas they enabled him to promote the glory ofGod, and the welfare of his fellow-men. Hewas born heir to a kingdom, but he allowedit to devolve on his three uncles, without anyreservation. At the same time letting themknow, that he would cheerfully receive whatthey chose to give him, in order to endowhis first monasteries. When he visited theContinent of Europe, Sigibert, then king ofFrance, made him large promises, to inducehim to remain with him; but he told the


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king, that he was so far from grasping at theriches of others, that, for Christ s sake, hehad already relinquished his own.His whole time and his attention were employed in promoting the glory of his DivineMaster in the welfare of mankind. He considered nothing below him, that could contribute either to their present comfort, ortheir eternal felicity. Low as he rated thethings of a present world, he knew that something of them was necessary in the presentstate; that unless the body be comfortable,the great concerns of the soul will not likelybe so well attended to; he, therefore, endeavoured to instruct them in the useful arts.The sweeping charges of ignorance and indolence, which have been brought against allmonks, are by far too general, and in manycases unjust. " To them we owe the preservation of almost all that has reached us,of the learning, arts, and sciences of theancients. To them we owe many useful inventions, and especially the first lessons inagriculture, the most important of all arts tomankind. In the rude and predatory age ofColumba, with what pleasure must we readof his monks at their daily labour in the field

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>f heaps of grain in his granary of presents of it sent to his neighbours to sow theirland, and of his having a Saxon baker in hismonastery, when there was not another, wemay believe, in the whole kingdom? Weare still more agreeably surprised to findmonasteries, in those times, furnished withorchards, as appears from the mention madeof their apple trees."Columba and his disciples were so far frommonopolizing their knowledge, and the effects of it, that " many of them employedthemselves occasionally in teaching the usefularts ; taking every method to make themselves acceptable and useful, in order to benefitand civilize mankind. Hence, some of themare designated by the arts which they occasionally taught and practised. One of theSt. Ciarans is called Saighr, or the carpenter;and St. Senach is denominated Faber, thesmith, or rather a maker of iron; as may beinferred from a passage in Odonellus, inwhich he is said to have been, on a certainoccasion, employed in melting and forgingthat metal. This gives some probability tothe current tradition, that the Highlanderspossessed the art of making their own iron ;


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that the dross, frequently to be met with onthe mountains, marks the stance of theirforges; and that the posterity of those artists are those who still bear the surname ofMac-an-Fhuibher, or Mac-an-Fhaibher, andcall themselves, in English, MacNuier andMacXair; the fh and bh being mute in theGaelic words."Though Columba maintained a uniformdignity, and the firmest authority over hisfollowers, his whole conduct was marked withuncommon tenderness and affection. " Heseldom addressed them without using theendearing names of brother, son, or child, orsome expression of the same amount. Besides other evidences, this may be inferred,from the singular esteem and regard in whichhe was held by all ranks; but especially byhis monks and servants." " This general loveand regard," says Dr. Smith, " is seldom procured by the severer virtues, or even by goodoffices alone; they must be accompanied bythe softer graces of affability, meekness, condescension, and tenderness. For, though wemay give our esteem to the former, we giveour love only to the latter; and these Columba possessed in a very high degree."

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The purity and the importance of the gospel ministry, were matters with which Co-lumba s mind was deeply impressed. He was,therefore, peculiarly attentive in the choiceand instruction of the men who were to beadmitted into the sacred office. He carefullyexamined into their talents, views, morals,and earliest habits of life ; and was anxious toknow if they were descended of pious parents. " He would even inquire if themother, who has the first moulding of thesoul in the cradle, was herself religious andholy. Mothers have much in their powerin forming the young mind; and if they bepious themselves, it may be expected thatthey will do all they can to make their children pious also. On the mother it much depends, whether the children shall, througheternity, have their portion with angels ordevils." How important is their trust! howsolicitous should they be to discharge itwell!The course of education which he pre

scribed to those whom he intended to take ontrials for the ministry, was long and particular. " This contributed much to their usefulness, as well as to the fame which they


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acquired for learning, when the clergy ofother parts of Europe were wofully ignorant.In the life of St. Munn, one of Columba sdisciples, it is mentioned, that his educationtook up eighteen years ; in which there is noreason to think that he was singular." Onthe other hand, whenever Columba perceivedpersons of talents and piety, he was carefulto cherish them himself, and recommend themto others, that they might be promoted tousefulness, when their talents were sufficiently cultivated, and their piety well proved.

If he was thus careful of the previous qualifications of those whom he admitted into thesacred office, he was no less careful, in enforcing diligence and fidelity in the dischargeof their duties, when they were inducted intoa charge. That they might, as much as possible, keep free of every incumbrance, andguard against every temptation, he exhortedthem to avoid the company of the ungodly,unless with a view to promote their improvement, and where there was some rationalprobability of success. He was aware of theforce of this exhortation, " Enter not intothe path of the wicked, and go not in the wayof evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn


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structions, prayers, and benediction. Evenbefore they were capable of learning, he wasstudiously solicitous to conciliate their favourby the most endearing tenderness and condescension; that having once gained theiraffection and their confidence, he mightmore easily convey instruction when theywere capable of receiving it. The practiceof some nurses, and even some parents, ofterrifying children, with the clergyman andthe doctor, in order to secure a momentaryobedience, is very pernicious; as it fills theyoung mind with prejudices against thesecharacters, which may prove hurtful both tothe souls and the bodies of those who arethus prejudiced. It is with great difficulty,in some instances, that these prejudices areovercome; some of them have not been overcome till the person had arrived at manhood,and others of them never; as the person hadlaunched on the ocean of vice, under the impression that all was irksome and terrific thatwas connected with strict virtue and piety;

and it is often persons of very superiorminds who are thus driven astray.The spiritual instruction of the young, inevery point of view, is a subject of the high-


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XXIVest importance. Among other inducementswhich we have to this great and importantwork, it must have struck every one, wholaments the spiritual deadness and formalityof the age in which we live, that if ever weenjoy a revival of religion, it is highly probable it will begin among the young, and bythem be the more extensively spread. Theyoung, are, in many respects, of singular importance. They are to society, and to generations which are to come, what the springis to the other seasons of the

year. It is whatis sown in spring, that we have the greatesthope of coming to maturity.Of late years, also, British Christians haveunited and exerted their energies, to obtainthe abolition of

slavery. For this also Co-lumba particularly exerted" himself. " Hewas moved with compassion, alike towardsthe souls and the bodies of men. If theywere in prison, he visited and comfortedthem; if in bondage, he redeemed them.Silver and gold he had not often; but whathe had he cheerfully gave away. A valuablespear, embellished with ivory, is the price ofone ; and the attempt to restore a sick master to health, was undertaken, on condition


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XXVof obtaining release to another. Slavery isutterly inconsistent with the spirit of thegospel; and so hostile to it was Columba,that, contrary to his usual practice, he notonly refused to give medicines to a masterthat was sick, but also assured him that hisdisease would soon prove fatal, if he did notaccept the condition on which he offered hisassistance, and give liberty to his femaleslave, which till then he could not prevailwith him to do. Of slaves, or captives, thereseem to have been but a few instances in thejurisdiction of Columba, and his zeal in theirbehalf must have soon procured their liberty.We do not find that this kind of slavery prevailed afterwards in the Highlands of Scotland. In Ireland it did; and Giraldus Cam-brensis says, that, at a general convocation ofthe clergy in 1170, the calamities which theIrish then suffered, were ascribed to theirhaving been in the practice of buying slavesfrom England, partly stolen, and partly soldby their parents ; and that it was then ordained that all the English slaves in Irelandshould have their liberty. Colgan, who citesthe passage, wishes that the English would, intheir turn, follow this example; lest, as theyc


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were deeper in the guilt, their punishmentwould be the more severe." It must be comforting to every friend of humanity, that whatColgan here wishes, is now considerably accomplished, and it is to be hoped will be fullyobtained.The spread of the Gospel, in unenlightened

countries, is another object that has calledforth the united exertions of the church ofChrist in our day. But this also was an object particularly attended to by the churchin the early ages of the Gospel ; and wasprosecuted with zeal by Columba and hisfollowers. " The Saint meeting one daywith a prince of the Orkneys, at the palaceof Brude, king of the Picts, told the kingthat some monks had lately sailed with a viewof making discoveries in the northern seas,and begged he would strongly recommendthem to the prince who was then with him,in case they should happen to land in theOrkneys. They did so, and owed their livesto the recommendation of Columba. Theobject of this voyage, undoubtedly, was todiscover any land, the inhabitants of whichhad not yet enjoyed the Gospel, that theymight preach to them the glad tidings ofsalvation."


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xxvn" For many ages, some of Columba s fol

lowers were found in almost every countryin Europe; and their learning and sanctityalways procured them respect and honour.The number of them that went to France,Italy, and other foreign countries, was sogreat, that the Bollandine writers observe,that * all saints whose origin could not afterwards be traced, were supposed to havecome from Ireland or Scotland. The zeal ofthe monks of lona, in disseminating knowledge and true religion in those dark ages, isindeed astonishing. It glowed in the bosom ofage, no less than in the breasts of youth.Cumian, at the age of seventy, set out forItaly, where he became a Bishop; and Colu-man, afterwards Bishop of Lindisfarn, whichsituation he resigned rather than change hisway of keeping pasch, could not have set outfor England from lona, before he arrived atthe age of eighty, as may be inferred fromthe account of his life by Colgan."The life and the conduct of St. Columbaafford as bright an example to our missionaries to follow, and as great an encouragement for them to persevere, as is to be foundin the biography of any individual that hasc2


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been handed down to us since the Apostlesdays. To the zealous and pious missionary,therefore, the life of St. Columba must, nextunto the sacred Scriptures, be as a guide inan unknown and dangerous path; and will,in the midst of dangers, inspire him with hopeand courage as he goes along. Columba hadthe same path to tread that our missionarieshave, and similar dangers to encounter. Hehad to contend with the deep-rooted superstition of a people sitting under heathendarkness, and the powerful opposition of theDruidical priesthood. Several times his lifewas in imminent danger. " At one time anenemy, in the dead of the night, set fire tothe village in which he slept. At anothertime, in the Isle of Himba, a ruffian rushedupon him with his spear, which one of hisdisciples, hastily stepping in to save his master, received in his own bosom, and was savedonly by the thickness of his cuculla, or leathern jacket, from being transfixed." TheBards, also, from their connection with theDruids, whose superstition was to be set aside,were very troublesome to the first preachersof Christianity, and laid several schemes a-gainst their lives. In Columba s time, these


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XXIXBards were become a nuisance to society ingeneral, and so extremely hostile to the Christian religion, that at the great council ofDrimceat, the whole members, except Columba. agreed upon their being put to death,and an end being put to the order. He interceded in their behalf, hostile as they wereto him, and by his great influence their liveswere spared. Ever afterwards, they werevery grateful for his intercession on their be.half; and Dalian, the chief of them, exertedall his skill to praise him. He composed apoem to this effect, and recited a part of itto the Saint, who seemed to be much pleasedwith it. Columba was fond of their poetry,and was possessed of no mean poetical talentshimself. His friend, Baithan, seeing himelated with the recital of this poem in hispraise, was afraid of the consequences, andput him upon his guard, by telling him thathe saw a black cloud of cacodaemons, or evilspirits, hovering over his head. Columba tookthe hint, ordered the poet to stop, and neverto repeat the poem afterwards; adding, thatno man should be praised until he had reached the goal and finished his course. Dalianwaited till Columba died, and then publishedc 3


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XXXhis poem, which was well known in Irelandtill very lately, if not still, by the name ofthe " Eulogy of Collumkille." Many andstriking were the interpositions of Providencefor Columba s safety and protection, all ofwhich he very carefully observed and improved to the glory of his divine Protector,and for the encouragement of the pious toput their trust and confidence in God.The life and the success of St. Columbamust also be a great encouragement to allwho are the friends and supporters of missions, and to all who have the salvation ofperishing sinners at heart. Laudable andcomforting is the zeal of numbers for thesalvation of all who are destitute of the Gospel. But, in many places, the hopes of success are as yet but very faint ; and even whereour missionary efforts have been blessed withconsiderable success, the victory is not yetcompletely gained; but in the life of St.Columba the whole detail of the campaign isbefore us, and a complete and lasting victorygained over darkness, superstition and error,a victory which lasted for hundreds of years ;yea, the effects of which we are, perhaps,in some measure, reaping at the present day;


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XXXIfor the savour of St. Colurnba s piety, andthat of his followers, were not altogether lastin Scotland in the dark ages that precededour glorious Reformation.When I contemplate with gratitude andcomfort the noble exertions of Christian benevolence for the instruction, the civilization,and tl:o christianizing of mankind in foreignlands, I look round with affection and anxietytowards the interesting inhabitants of thoseextensive territories which Columba once cultivated, but which now stand so much in needof our sympathy and our exertions in theirbehalf. Surely the Highlands and Islands ofScotland, and Ireland also, ought to call forthour benevolence, both for their temporal andspiritual comforts, more extensively than hasyet been manifested. In St. Columba s days,those interesting parts of our country weresuperior in religious knowledge and genuinepiety to any other part of the known world.It surely becomes England and the Lowlandsof Scotland to endeavour to shed that divinelight over the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and the sister kingdom of Ireland, whichthe inhabitants of these regions for many agesshed towards them.


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No antiquary who loves to dwell on whatwas amiable and excellent in ancient timesno patriot who wishes that his country shouldbe the most powerful, the most united, andthe most happy on the face of the earth noperson of humanity, who sickens at the misery of his fellow-rnen no saint who wishesthat the whole human race should possess thelight and the comforts of the gospel, butmust think of the present state of Ireland,and much of the Highlands and islands ofScotland, with grief, and cheerfully co-operate in any plan that is calculated to increasetheir temporal and spiritual happiness. I donot grudge the exertions which are made,nor the sums which are collected for the civilization and the spiritual instruction of foreign nations may the Lord increase theman hundred fold; but consistency of character, love to our immediate neighbour, yea,in a certain sense, love to ourselves, the facility and the encouragement which we haveto attempt the more regular and permanentinstruction of the inhabitants of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, demand ourexertions. There we have a field ripe forthe harvest, but the labourers are few. There


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we have a people of strong mental powers,generous and affectionate hearts a peoplesensible of the value of early education, andof the gospel of grace, and eager to obtainthem. Laudable as it is to attempt the salvation of the most careless and supine, andeven of those who are enemies to the gospel,it is surely more imperiously incumbent uponus to afford it unto those who are destituteof it, and eagerly seeking after it ; and whoconstitute a part of the community to whichwe belong.

Notwithstanding the regular means ofgracewhich the inhabitants of the Highlands andIslands of Scotland enjoy under their parishministers, and those supported by the royalbounty, and by the society for promotingChristian knowledge notwithstanding theeducation which is afforded by the Societyfor the support of Gaelic Schools, there remains yet much to be done to afford that interesting part

of our countrymen, any thinglike regular education, and the preaching ofthe gospel, in such stations as they mighteasily reach them. Though the parish ministers were as zealous, active, and indefatigable as we would wish, and such of them


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XXXIVas I have the pleasure of being acquaintedwith, are so, there are numerous and extensive districts where the people can scarcelyever reach their parish church. Some of theparishes are nearly an hundred miles in circumference, and many of the people arenearly forty, others nearly fifty, and someeven sixty miles from their parish church ;and it is not only the distance which thepeople have to travel, but they are separatedfrom their pastors, and their pastors fromthem, by lakes and mountains, which it isdifficult, and often dangerous to cross.

Incalculable good has been done in theeducation of the people by itinerant teachers,remaining for a few months in one place, andthen removing to another. And, till something be done, either by the religious public,or by the Government, for stationing andsupporting zealous preachers of the gospelin the most destitute places of the country,itinerant preachers, by the divine blessing,would do incalculable good. Were a surveytaken of the destitute places of the Highlands, and the circumstances set clearly before the public, and, in addition to this, ifthe co-operation of Government were ob-


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XXXVtained, it would not be impracticable to obtainand support preachers, who would teach theyoung at some stated times during the week,and preach on the Sabbath. I shall conclude this paragraph with one quotation insupport of what I have said, from the lastReport of the Society for the support of GaelicSchools, and another from the Report of theiryouthful Auxiliary in Glasgow.

After describing, in the most patheticmanner, the destitute situation of much ofthe Highlands of Scotland. The writer ofthe first Report says, " What a powerfulappeal do the circumstances now broughtbefore you, make to the hearts and consciences of those, who not only look to theforlorn and miserable condition of their countrymen with an eye of pity for suffering humanity, but regard, with much deeper interest, the almost tangible darkness which envelopes the soul, and which shuts out fromimmortal beings, beings capable of perfectfelicity, that light which is sent to rescue them from eternal perdition ! Could we,or would we concentrate our whole facultiesinto one focus, and there contemplate theindescribable destruction to which we have


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exposed so many of our benighted brethren,how would our consciences smite us underan acute sense of our culpable indifferencehow earnest would be our determination todischarge our trust more faithfully for thetime to come ? Should we not feel that nownecessity was laid upon us, in as far as in uslies, to diffuse the knowledge of the gospel ?Yea, that woe would be unto us, if we spreadnot the knowledge ofthe gospel? but thoughwe cannot realize the awful scene, we havenot the less assurance of the melancholytruth ; and by the terrors of the Lord, aswell as by the gentle smiles of his mercy,your committee would urgently call upon theScottish public, to put forth their energies forthe relief of their brethren."

Says the writer of the Report of the Glasgow Youths Auxiliary Society, " Shall wethen allow so brave a portion of our countrymen men whose hearts glow with a loveof their native land, and who are ready, whencalled on, as were their fathers, even to die fortheir country ; shall we allow these and theirlittle ones, to perish at our very doors forlack of knowledge ? Would it not be a muchmore worthy return of us, who call ourselves


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XXXV11Christians, to seek to the utmost of our ability,to communicate to the children and the kinsfolk of those who have died for us, the knowledge of that Saviour who died for them?"

" A popular belief has for ages obtainedamong many of the inhabitants of the Highlands, that the Island of lona may yet recover its ancient splendour. That belief isfounded on the following verse ascribed toSt. Columba:

An I mo chridhe, I mo gliraidhAn aite guth manaich bidh geum ba ;Ach mun tig an saoghal gii crich

Bithidh I mar a bha.O Sacred dome, and my beloved abode !Whose walls now echo to the praise of God jThe time shall come when lauding monks shall cease,And lowing herds here occupy their place:13ut better ages shall thereafter come,And praise re-echo in this sacred dome." The first part of the prophecy was literally

fulfilled forages, till the father of the presentnoble proprietor, the Duke of Argyll, causedthe sacred ground to be enclosed with a sufficient wall. Before then, the cathedral was

D


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XXXVlli

used sometimes as a penn for cattle." Fromthe increasing attention which is paid by theChristian public to the destitute state of theHighlands and Islands of Scotland, may wenot expect that the last part of the prophecywill be accomplished also.With regard to Ireland, much more is necessary to render its inhabitants contented

and happy, than instruction and the means ofgrace. The peasantry must be relieved fromthat degradation and servitude under whichthey are held by their superiors. Some regulations by the legislature may be necessaryto accomplish this, but a great part of it canbe accomplished only by the landed proprietors, in the given circumstances in which theyand the poor around them are placed. Tomake a people contented and comfortable,they must be made industrious and intelligent. And never will a people be industrioustill they are allowed to reap the fruits of theirown labour. The amelioration of the stateof Ireland is a subject that is not only worthyof the British Legislature, and the BritishPublic, and the landed proprietors in that,distracted country; but is imperiously neces-


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XXXIXsary, for the peace of the state, and the temporal and spiritual happiness of the inhabitants themselves May he who holds thereins of universal government, hasten it in hisgood time.The whole of Dr. Smith s notes which wereof a pious and practical nature have been preserved, either in their original form, or engrossed in this preface, or in the body of thework, where they could with propriety forma part of it. A few of the Doctor s notes,which related more to the general history ofthe country than to the life of Columba, havebeen left out; as they would have been valuable only to literary readers and for moreextensive information on both the generalhistory of the country, and the state of religion under Columba s followers, I refer theliterary reader, to Dr. Smith s Gaelic Antiquities, Chalmers Caledonia, and to the Article Culdees in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia,and the books which are there quoted ; andalso to the notes on Dr. Kennedy s poem entitled < Glenochle.

Dr. Smith has very fully quoted his authorities for all that he has advanced on the lifeD2


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xl

of St. Columba. For the sake of brevity, Ihave left out some of these notes and quotations. But if any person would wish to readthe work with all these authorities appendedto it, he may still have an opportunity of doing so in Dr. Smith s edition, published in theyear 1798.Well as Dr. Smith had stripped the ancient records of St. Columba s life ofwhat waslegendary and superstitious, the Editor hasdeemed it necessary to leave out of this edition a few sentences still, which by manywould have been considered of that character.What induces the Editor to republish thiswork at the present time, is a conviction that

it may be a very useful companion to ourmissionaries, in whatever quarter of the worldthey may labour, that it may afford additional encouragement to the friends of missions at home, to go on with increasing ardourin the work of the Lord, that it may behelpful to the pious and godly in their advancement in the divine life If those whoread it, feel but nearly the same elevation andcomfort of mind desire of walking moreclosely with God ^nd of performing more


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diligently the various duties of religion incumbent upon them, which the Editor hasdone in the perusal of it, they will bless Godthat the book has been put into their hands.May God of his infinite mercy and grace,

through the merits of Christ, and by theagency of his Spirit, bless it abundantly forthe revival of that ardent piety, which glowedin the heart of that eminent saint whose lifeit records. W. D.


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CONTENTS.

CHAP. I. Of the parentage and education of Co-lumba, ....... 4-oCHAP. II. His removal from Ireland to lona, . 52CHAP. III. His character, ... 59

For piety, 66prayer, ...... 72heavenly-mindedness, . . .83heavenly conversation and conduct, . 87diligence and zeal, . . .92love of peace, . . . . 98attention to discipline. . . . 103meekness and benevolence, . . 109hospitality, 122charity, . . . . 129cheerfulness, 137humility, ..... 139CHAP. IV. His Doctrine, .... 144CHAP. V. His Death, 157


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xliv CONTENTS.Page

APPENDIX,No. I. Account of Columba s writings, . ib.No. II. Account of his monasteries and

churches, 18^No. III. Account of his disciples, . . 185No. IV. Chronicle of some events connected with

lona, . . v * 198


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THELIFE

OF

SAINT COLUMBA.CHAPTER I.

COLUMBA S PARENTAGE AND EDUCATION.THE life of St. Columba, the apostle of theHighlands and Western Isles of Scotland,and the founder and first abbot of the famousmonastery of lona, was written by two of hissuccessors, Cummin and Adomnan. The former of these wrote about sixty, and the latter about eighty-three years after the deathof the saint; so that they had very good opportunities of coming at the knowledge ofevery part of his life and character.

But, unhappily, it seems not to have beenthe object of these good men to delineate the


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47a barbarous people, and to contend withpowerful and artful priests, we cannot, without presumption, say how far it might be fitthat God should countenance the labours ofhis faithful servant, and vouchsafe him evenby signs and wonders, as he often did to hisministers in such cases, a clear and decidedvictory.But of these matters, as we must allow our

selves to be very incompetent judges, it is ourwisdom to be silent. The life of Columba isabundantly uncommon and interesting without them; and his example, as it will in thatcase be the more imitable, will be also themore useful: and with a view to imitation inusefulness only do I attempt to unfold thisholy man s life and character.Columba \vas a native of Ireland, descendedfrom the royal family of that kingdom, andnearly allied to the kings of Scotland. Hisfather was Felim the son of Fergus, who wasgrandson of the great Nial, king of Ireland;and the mother of Felim was Aithne, daughterof Lorn, who first reigned in conjunction withhis brother Fergus, over the Scots or Dal-reudini in Argyllshire. In those times, noble-


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48men were not seldom the preachers, of thegospel ; and it is probable they may be soagain, when the promise shall be accomplished," Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people :and they shall bring thy sons in their arms,and thy daughters shall be carried upon theirshoulders." " And kings shall be thy nursingfathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers."Columba was born in the year 521, evenin his childhood, his parents perceiving hisgenius and early disposition to piety, devotedhim to the Christian ministry; and lost notime in providing him with such education astended to qualify him for the sacred office.They first put him under the care of Crui-nechan, a devout presbyter, who discovered, ashe thought, in his disciple while yet a child,extraordinary symptoms of his future gloryand greatness.Some time after he studied under Finnian,Bishop of Clonard, a man (according to Ware)of considerable learning, who was so muchcharmed with the piety of Columba, thatthough he was yet but a youth, he used to givehim the appellation of SAINT ; and believed,


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49trom his unitbrmly holy and regular life, thathe had obtained from God an angel fromheaven to be his companion and guardian.

Fenbar, also a bishop and saint, is mentioned as one of Columba s masters ; and likewiseGemman, a teacher of Leinster, who, like hisother masters, used to give his pupil the nameof SAINT; and notwithstanding the great disparity of their years, seems to have treatedhim rather as a companion and friend, thanas a scholar; sometimes asking his opinionabout the most dark and mysterious dispensations of Providence. Under him the pietyof Columba, now in deacon s orders, becameso distinguished, that his fame was alreadyspF-ad over a great part of the kingdom.Our saint spent also some time under St.

Ciaran, the father and founder of the monastery of Clon, upon the Shenan. He preachedto the Attacotti or Dalreudini of Kintyre,and died in 594. From him the parish ofKil-chiaran, of late called Campbeltown,takes its name. For this man, so venerablefor his piety and zeal in preaching the gospel,Columba retained always the strongest affec-


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50tion, and wrote a sacred ode upon his death,in which he celebrates his virtues.How much Columba was loved and reveredby his companions, during his stay in thisplace, appears from the wonderful venerationwith which he was received when he cameto visit them some time afterwards. All thepeople in the monastery and its neighbourhood poured out to meet him, kissed himwith the utmost reverence and affection, andsinging hymns and psalms of praise, led himto their church, surrounded with a rail ofwood, carried by four men, to prevent hisbeing incommoded by so immense a multitude.Whether he remained in the monastery ofClon till the death of Ciaran is not mentioned; but in the succeeding year, the 28th of

his age, we are told that he founded the monastery of Darmagh or Durrough, where acopy of the four Evangelists, which he hadtranscribed, was extant, according to Ware,in the last century, when this author wrotehis history.

It was probably in the interval, betwixt


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51founding this monastery and coming to Britain, that Columba visited several foreigncountries, in which his piety, learning, andother accomplishments, procured him thehighest regard and esteem. From some ofthe eastern churches he is said to have borrowed the model of his monastic rule; in Italyhe is said to have founded a monastery ; andin France he was solicited by King Sigibert,who made him large promises, to remain withhim. But Columba, whose ambition was tobe useful rather than great, told him, that hewas so far from coveting the wealth of others,that for Christ s sake, he had already renounced his own.How much time Columba spent in travelling, or when he returned home, we cannotsay. Indeed, the chronological notices, inthe memoirs of his life which are left to us,are so few as to preclude every attempt at aregular series of his history. We have, however, abundant materials for developing hislife and character ; and this is what we havealready professed to be our object.


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CHAPTER II.COLUMBA S REMOVAL FROM IRELAND TO

IONA.

IRELAND had now for a long time enjoyedthe light of the Gospel, and abounded insaints and learned men, while the isles andnorthern parts of Scotland were still coveredwith darkness, and in the shackles of superstition. On those dismal regions, therefore,Columba looked with a pitying eye, and, however forbidding the prospect, resolved to become the Apostle of the Highlands. Accordingly, in the year 563,

he set out in a wickerboat covered with hides, accompanied bytwelve of his friends and followers, and landedin the Isle of Hi or lona, near the confinesof the Scottish and Pictish territories. Thecommon name of it now, is I-colum-kill, theIsle of Colum of the Cells, included in one ofthe parishes of the Island of Mull. Thisplace he probably chose, as being conveniently situated for his attending to the important


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53Concerns which lie had to manage in Ireland,as well as for carrying on the work which hehad in view in Scotland. It was probablyfrom the twelve associates who accompaniedColumba, that his followers got the name ofthe Apostolic order, to which none were better entitled.^-" This was the origin of theorder of the Culdees in Scotland ; an order ofwhich Columba was the founder. He andhis followers were distinguished for learning,purity of faith, and sanctity of life. Bede, inwhat he meant as a censure, commends themhighly, when he says, They preached onlysuch works of charity and piety as they couldlearn from the prophetical, evangelical, andapostolical writings. They firmly opposedthe errors and superstitions of the church ofRome, till towards the end of the 12th century, when they were at length overpoweredand supplanted by a new race of monks, asinferior to them in learning and piety, as theysurpassed them in wealth and ceremonies."Columba was now in the 42d year of hisage, and needed all his vigour of mind andbody in encountering those difficulties whichpresented themselves, when he undertook the

i: 3


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54conversion of the northern Picts to Christianity. The nation was in so barbarous a state,that some of them, regardless of the sanctityof his character, made more than once an attempt upon his life ; and the king, not morecivilized than his people, ordered his gate tobe shut when the holy man first approachedit. The priests or druids, too, as they weremost interested, so they were most forwardto oppose him, and wanted neither eloquence,influence, or art, to effect their purpose. Thecountry itself was wild, woody, and mountainous, and greatly infested with wild beasts,from which the life of the saint seems to havebeen more than once in imminent danger.And, what appears to have been the greatestdifficulty of all, he was so little master of thedialect of that people, at least of some amongthem, or for the first while, as to need an interpreter when he preached to them the wordsof salvation.

Besides all this, the austerity of his ownmanners, sometimes fasting for whole days,and watching and praying for whole nights ;submitting to constant fatigue of body andanxiety of mind abroad, or the most intense


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55application to study at home; and withal soself-denied and crucified to the world, as toreject what we are now accustomed to consider as its innocent comforts and enjoyments.At the age of 76, Columba s bed was the hareground, and a stone his pillow. These were,all of them, circumstances very unfavourablein appearance to his making many proselytes:And we may add, that the strictness of hismonastic rule, which imposed heavy spiritualtasks, enforced by

the sanction of bodily chastisements, would also seem an insurmountablebar to his gaining many disciples to his cloisters.

Notwithstanding all this, however, the labours of Columba were attended with a veryastonishing degree of success. In the courseof a few years, the greater part of the Pictishkingdom was converted to the Christian faith;monasteries were erected in many places, andchurches every where established. Columba,as Primate, superintended and directed allthe affairs of the Pictish, and much of theScottish and Irish churches.

Notker says, he was " Primate of all theIrish churches ;" which he was made at the


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56council of Drimceat. Forbes observes, thathe and his successors extended their jurisdiction not only over all the ecclesiastics ofthe Highlands and Isles, but also over themonasteries of Dunkeld, Abernethy, Kilri-mont, or St. Andrews, Abercorn, Monimusk,Kirkcaldy, &c. Bede and many others haveremarked as singular, that Columba and hissuccessors, though only abbots, should exercise a jurisdiction over bishops. But thoughColumba was not ambitious of high titles, hehad the best right to the superiority of all thechurches and monasteries which he himselfhad founded; and these were very many, bothin Scotland and Ireland. Magnus Odonellussays that above 300 churches had been established by Columba. Jocelin calls him" the founder of 100 monasteries ;" and theIrish Annals say, that, next to St. Patrick,he was the chief instrument of establishingthe gospel in almost all Ireland.He was highly reverenced not only by the

king of the Picts, but also by all the neighbouring princes, who courted his acquaintance, and liberally assisted him in his expensive undertakings. Wherever he visited


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57abroad, he was received with the highest demonstration both of respect and joy; crowdsattended him on the road ; and to the placewhere he lodged at night, the neighbourhoodsent stores of provisions to entertain him.And when the multiplicity of his business allowed him to stay at home, he was resortedto for aid and advice, as a physician both ofsoul and body, by multitudes of every rankand denomination. Even the place of his residence was considered as peculiarly holy;and to sleep in the dust of it became, for ages,an object of ambition to kings and princes.His monastery was the chief seminary oflearning at the time, perhaps in Europe, andthe nursery from which not only all the monasteries, and above 300 churches, which hehimself had established, but also many ofthose in neighbouring nations, were suppliedwith learned divines, and able pastors.How then are we to account for this greatand rapid success of Columba; for their is nocertainty of his having been endowed eitherwith the gift of prophecy, or with the powerof working miracles? No doubt the Providence of God smiled upon his labours; and


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58perhaps we might discover a coincidence offavourable circumstances in the history of thetimes. But we are more concerned to seekfor the cause in the character and conduct ofthe man ; by which he was rendered so eminently qualified for the sacred office, and sosuccessful, under God, in the discharge of it.The investigation of this subject is deservingof the attention of ministers, and not unwoi>thy of the curiosity of men.


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CHAPTER III.COLUMBA S CHARACTER, &c. &c.

THAT Columba s talents were of a very superior kind, is not to be doubted. An uncommon greatness of soul is marked in everypart of his extensive schemes; and the happyexecution and success of them are pregnantproofs of wisdom, perseverance, zeal, andabilities.

Firmness and fortitude are no less conspicuous in Columba s character. When he cameto Britain, he seems to have been well awareof the difficulty of his undertaking, and of thetime and toil which it should cost him to accomplish it. But instead of shrinking back,he only prayed to God to give him thirtyyears of life, which he devoted to his service,hoping that by the aid of Divine grace, heshould in that period accomplish his designs.We must also allow Columba a very extraordinary share of address, personal accomplishments, and colloquial talents, when he


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60could so effectually recommend himself wherever he went, though a perfect stranger, as tobe soon respected, loved, and cherished; andwhen he could gain such ascendency over somany princes, as to be revered and patronizedby all of them, when all of them were in astate of barbarism, and seldom at peaceamong themselves ; a sure proof this, thathis conduct was always guarded with the utmost caution and prudence; that he neverstepped out of his own line, nor took anyconcern whatever in state affairs, when hecould by any means avoid it. Once, indeed,he put the crown on the head of the Scottishking Aidan: but he seems to have done itwith reluctance, and pleads the strong necessity of having been compelled to it by asupernatural agent.The same prudence and address may bediscovered in his having been able to maintain good discipline, order and subordinationin so many monasteries, and so remote fromone another to direct the religious affairsof a great part of several nations, differingconsiderably in language and customs tosuperintend the education of youth, and fur-


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61nisli so many churches with fit pastors andto do all this in such a manner that the growing love and veneration of men seem to haveinvariably kept pace with his years. Towhich we may add, that his sagacity in discovering probable effects from known causes,may have probably acquired him the reputation of being a prophet.To these talents, which were accompaniedwith the most engaging address, and a pleasant cheerful countenance, was joined another very essential property in a preacher, amost powerful and commanding voice, whichAdomnan says he could on occasions raise soas to resemble peals of thunder, and make itto be distinctly heard at a mile s distance,when he chanted psalms.That these natural endowments of Columbawere highly cultivated, by the best educationand learning which the times could afford, isclear, from the mention already made of somany of his masters. A particular accountof his studies, indeed, is not transmitted tous ; but they seem by no means to have beenconfined to that profession which he followed,but to have extended much farther into the


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62general circle of science. For his knowledgeof physic, or skill in healing diseases, was sogreat that his cures were often considered asmiracles. And in the history, laws, and customs of different nations, he was so wellversed, that he made a principal figure in thegreat council held at DRIMCEAT, about theright of succession to the Dalriadic provincein Ulster.

But whatever degree of knowledge andeducation Columba might have received inhis earlier years, he never ceased, by intensestudy and application, to add to it. Everymoment which so active and pious a life couldspare from its main business, was devoted tostudy. Sometimes he heard his disciplesread, and sometimes he read himself; sometimes he transcribed, and sometimes readwhat had been transcribed by others. It wasby thus teaching the use of letters, and establishing a seminary of learning, that Columbadid the greatest service to his country. Hethus kindled a light which shone in a darkplace for many generations, and by its kindlybeams cherished the seed which he had sowed, and brought it forward to an abundant


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G3harvest. Without this, all his personal virtues and personal labours could have produced but a comparatively small and temporary effect.

In his life, we find mention made occasionally of various books of his writing andcopying; and as he wished his usefulness toman to be commensurate with the momentsof his life, and to make a part of the ultimatepreparation for heaven, he spent some timein transcribing the Psalter, on that very nighton which he knew and told he was to betranslated to eternal day.

His PIETY. In the character of Columba,talents, learning, and a constant applicationto study, make a very conspicuous figure;but a still more striking part of it, is an early,uniform, and strong spirit of piety. Devotedfrom his birth to the service of God, and ardently bent on the pursuit of holiness, heseems to have almost reached the goal beforeothers think of starting in the race. The appellation of saint was given him, as we havealready seen, whik he was yet a child. Butfar from resting in any measure of sanctity

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64acquired in early life, he incessantly labouredafter higher and higher degrees of it to hislatest, day. In every moment, in every motion, and in every action of his life, heseems to have maintained upon his spirit alively sense, a strong impression, and almosta clear vision of the presence of God. Andsurely a saint, without being accounted avisionary, may be allowed to see with theeyes of the mind, and by the light of divinetruth, the presence of spiritual essences,with as clear and satisfying a conviction oftheir reality, as that which he has of outwardobjects, in open day. Such seems to havebeen the case with Columba; and thereforewe need not wonder, if, in every thing, smalland great, he had so constant a regard toGod. " When do you purpose to sail, Columba?" said the Magician or Druid, Broi-chan. " On the third day hence," replied thesaint, if it be the will of God, and that I amthen alive." " You cannot," says Broichan," for I will raise contrary winds, and spreadover you mists and darkness." " All things,"answered the saint, " are under the controlof the Omnipotent God; and every motion


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65of mine is undertaken in his name, and entirely guided by his direction."

In every affair of lesser moment, Columbashows the same regard to God, and the samespirit of piety. If he only ascended his littlecar, when a car became necessary, he implored upon it the benediction of Him who onlycould give it power to carry, and whose providence could keep it from falling. If themilk from the fold passed him every day, every day it had his solemn benediction. Ifhe looked on the corn by which his familywas to be fed, he could not fail of saying,Blessed be God! or God bless it! If thewind blew this way or that, he took occasionfrom it either to pray to God, or to thank him .with an eye to such of his friends as the courseof it concerned. If he visited a pious friend,the first salutations were mixed with allelu-iahs, and the soul had its spiritual entertainment before the body was yet refreshed.

" Saint Columba, or Columkil," says theauthor of the Life of Kentigern, " left hisisland of IV, to see the saint of Glasgow.When he approached the monastery, all wentforth with sacred songs to meet him; while heF3


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66and his party also came forward, singing theirmelodious alleluiahs. And after these godlymen had met, abundance of spiritual entertainment preceded their bodily refreshment.

Perhaps some, who judge only by the manners of modern times, may suppose some ostentation is here mixed with piety. But themanners even of saints, taking a tincturefrom the times, are very different now fromwhat they were then; and piety, even whereit may be genuine and true, is much less fervent. In those primitive and pious times, iftwo good men walked together on the road,they could solace themselves under the fatigues of their journey by singing the Psalmsof David, and refresh themselves when theysat down by reading a portion of the Scriptures. If they did so now, they would berated as wrong-headed enthusiasts, or chargedwith ostentation, and perhaps hypocrisy. Co-lumba s piety, however, was so far from beingostentatious, that its lustre was nowhere soconspicuous as in retirement and solitude.Hence the strong desire of some of his disciples to find an opportunity of being sometimes the secret witnesses of the earnestness,


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or rather ecstacy of their master s private devotion. And from the accounts which theygive us of what they saw and heard, we cannot greatly blame their curiosity.These accounts, it is true, have somewhatof a miraculous air, in the relation of Cuminand Adomnan; and perhaps they ought tobe received witli some grains of allowance.Yet it is not for us to say, whether a man ofsuch exalted piety, and of so heavenly a frameof mind, under labours which needed uncommon support and consolation, might not. onsome special occasions, have enjoyed a higherdegree of communion with God, and strongermanifestations of his favour, than fall withinthe experience, or perhaps belief of ordinaryChristians. In these accounts, we find frequent mention of a heavenly light seen attimes to shine around him, while engaged indevotion. This is so foreign to our experience, that we might find it easier to doubt ordeny the truth of the fact, than to give a satisfying account of it. But in things that aretoo high for us, modesty becomes us. Weknow that such appearances were familiar toother holy men, when those angels who wore


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68their ministering spirits did, for wise and gracious purposes, manifest their presence. Thus,when the angel who instructed Daniel manifested himself, it was as the appearance oflightning; when the angel appeared to Peter,a light shone in the prison; and when our Saviour, after his ascension, manifested his presence to Saul in the way to Damascus, andto John in Patmos, a heavenly glory shonearound with so much brightness, that mortaleyes could not endure its splendour. It isnot for us to limit the Holy One of Israel,and say when, or when not, such manifestations were necessary or proper. It is not forus to say, whether God might not favoursuch a man as Columba, and in such circumstances, with some extraordinary manifestations of his presence, and with some sensiblemanifestations of the presence and society ofcelestial beings. Adomnan says, that one ofColumba s private praying places was, fromthese manifestations, called in his time Cnoc-aingeat, the Hill of the Angels; which nameit still retains. Be this as it may, he himself,as well as his disciples, was under the influence of such a belief, as appears from his


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69having been heard (when not aware of it) asaddressing his speech to attendant spirits.It may be observed here, that Columba addresses angels in a style the very reverse ofprayer or invocation, considering them onlyas fellow-servants or ministering spirits. Andit is certain, that this belief would greatlycontribute to enliven his piety, and animatehis devotion. Nor is it improbable that itwas founded in reality, if we consider thathe was so far from wishing to have these matters published, that, under the sanction ofa solemn promise or oath, he commonlycharged the few who accidentally came toknow them, that, in his lifetime at least, theyshould never speak of them.

His SPIRIT OF PRAYER Of Columba spiety, however, a more unequivocal proofwas, his having lived, I may say, a life ofprayer and of praise. To public prayers,morning and evening, he was so attentive,that he seems never to have allowed himselfto dispense with the performance of them, inany place, or on any pretence whatever.


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70Thus, in the midst of infidels, enemies, scoffers and disturbers of his devotion, when hehad no house to cover him, we find him keepup his custom of glorifying God by statedand public worship. When at home, thisservice was performed by him in the church,where we find him punctually attending, evenon the last day of his life.

Besides these public prayers, the monasticrule of Columba enjoined other very considerable exercises. It required the monks to" assemble thrice every night,

and as oftenin the day. In every office of the day theyvv-re to use prayers, and sing three psalms.In the offices of the night) from October toFebruary, they were to sing thirty-six psalmsand twelve anthems at three several times :through the rest of the year, twenty-onepsalms and eight, anthems ; but on Saturdayand Sabbath nights, twenty-five psalms andas many anthems." And all this the sainthimself performed with such alacrity, that hewas the first to enter the church to midnightvigils on the very night on which he died.Of Columba s private prayers no particular


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71account can be expected. But from the frequent mention which is occasionally made ofhis praying in his closet, and in his little oratory, and of his retiring frequently in theday time to solitary places, remote from thetumult and interruption of men; and of hisgoing to the church, or some retired place, inthe night time, while others slept, we see thathis life and soul was in this holy exercise.So much so, indeed, that, though at timeshis private prayers were not prolix, yet whenin places in which he could attend to prayerand contemplation without being interrupted,we find him sometimes continuing in it forwhole nights and days, without either eatingor drinking. A fast of three days, upon extraordinary and important occasions, was notin those times uncommon. The other Co-lumbanus, when he and his companions formed a purpose of going to convert the Sclavi,kept such a fast.

It is remarkable that most of these saintslived to extreme old age: this died in his96th year. Many lived to 100, St. Patrickto 120.

It seems also to have been his invariable


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72rule, to undertake no work, nor engage inany business, without having first invokedGod. If about to officiate in any ministerialduty, he would first implore the Divine Presence and aid to enable him to discharge itproperly. If he himself, or any of his friends,were to go any place, whether by sea or land,their first care was to implore God to be propitious, and their last words at parting weresolemn prayer and benediction. If he administered medicines for the cure of any disease,he accompanied them with prayer to the Godwho healeth. If he administered even counselor advice, he would accompany it with prayerto him who disposeth the heart to listen ; andsometimes he would accompany that prayerwith fasting. His best advices, for instance,could not remove some unhappy differencebetween Lugne and his wife in Rachlin. Hetherefore adds, " You two and I must spendthis day in prayer and fasting." This produced the desired effect; for the penitent wifeat length confessed, that she found he couldobtain from God what to man seemed almostimpossible.


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73In seasons of danger and alarm, whether

public or private, he always had recourse toprayer, as the most effectual way to prevent,or cure, or bear, every evil to which man issubject. And the better to recommend thesame course to others, he used to observe andinstance the return of prayer. Thus, he ascribes it to uncommon wrestling in prayer,that a raging pestilence passed by his monastery; and to the same cause (their havingprayed and fasted) he ascribes its having carried off only one in the monastery of that manof prayer, Baithen.He recommended prayer still further, byrepresenting it as extending its efficacy tofuture times, and to generations yet unborn:and Adomnan gratefully acknowledges, thatat least Columba s own prayers were in hisdays productive of signal blessings. " In ourtimes," says he, " we are preserved from another pestilence, so that though it ragedthrough all Europe, it hath not visited ourterritory ; and though we walked, for twoyears, in the midst of its repeated devastations and ruined villages in England, the

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74kingdom of our good friend Alfred,* none ofus was ever hurt by it. Thanks be to God,the efficacy of our venerable Father s prayershath surely reached us."Can any one conceive such virtue to be in

prayer, and not be devoted to it ? It is certain none could be more so than Columba;yet he never neglected the use of ordinarymeans, in conjunction with prayer. Thus, ata time when he was in imminent danger atsea, we find him labouring hard in oozing theboat with a bucket. The mariners, however,more pious than many of their brethren in ourtimes, insisted on his betaking himself to his

* The people of Northumberland were converted tothe Christian faith in the reign of Oswald, by Aidanand other pious monks of lona, iri consequence ofwhich there was much intercourse between them fora long time after, and many of the churches and monasteries throughout England were planted with divinesfrom this seminary. We learn from Bede, that Adorn -nan, on the occasion here alluded to, had been mediating for a peace between Alfred and his countrymen ;that he had presented Alfred with a copy of his Description of the Holy Land, and obtained from himmany presents.


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77the son of Beognn, be just no\v in

such jeopardy in the eddying gulf of Coin -Trccain, lifting both his hands to Heaven forassistance, yet God will not leave him toperish, his purpose being only to excitehim to pray more fervently for his deliverance."

Thus, in the most unpromising situations,he encouraged a trust in Providence, andcheered men with the hopes of deliverancefrom their dangers, if they prayed and didnot faint. This trust he had in the highestdegree himself, and expressed the highestsatisfaction whenever he perceived it firmlyfixed in the heart of a disciple. " A hugesea monster has been seen last night in thecourse which you are to take to-day, mydear Baithen, and it may probably meetyou."

" And if it should," replied Baithen," both it and I arc in the hands of God."" Go in peace, my son ; thy faith is sufficientto save thee from the danger."

This Baithen, the cousin, favourite disciple,and immediate successor of Columba as abbotof lona, was also much renowned for his wisdom, learning and sanctity. In a very ancient

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78account of his life, it is said that no man eversaw him idle, but always engaged in reading,praying, or working : That, next to Columba,he was deemed to be the best acquainted withthe Scriptures, and to have the greatest extent of learning of any on this side of theAlps: That, for his zeal, prudence, sanctity,strict discipline, and primitive simplicity ofmanners, Columba himself used to comparehim to John the Evangelist: That he was somuch given to prayer, that even in the necessary intercourse and conversation with hisfriends, his hands, though concealed underhis mantle, might be observed to be everymoment lifted up to that praying attitude towhich they were so much habituated : Thatwhatever work he was engaged in, his communion with God was so close, and his attention to prayer so constant, that he would notallow so much time as intervened betweenhis swallowing two morsels of meat, or between his reaping a handful of corn and putting it in the sheaf, to pass without his puttingup an ejaculation to Heaven ; and that hishumility was such, that none could be morecareful to conceal his earthly treasures than


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71)

lie was to avoid all ostentation of his heavenlygraces. After this account of him, we neednot wonder at his biographer hinting, thateven the devil was obliged to keep his distance, and to leave the district of Baithen.On one occasion, however, we find him peeping through the windows, to observe whethereach and all in the family devoutly imploredthe blessing of God upon their meal beforethey began it, and solemnly returned thankswhen they had done. If he still follows thispractice (and there is no reason to think thathe has slackened his diligence), he must behighly gratified by seeing these matters managed now pretty much in the way that hewould wish.The intercession and prayers of the church,or congregation of Christians, he especially

recommended, and regarded so much, thaton the greatest emergency, by night or byday, he had always immediate recourse to it.Thus when, on a certain day, he had noticeof Aidan king of the Scots, one of his friends,being about to engage in battle, he quicklyordered the bell to be rung to summon allhis monks to the church, in order to join


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80their united prayers for victory and safety toAidan.Columba judged, that when the state protects the church, it owes to it, in return, itsprayers, and a ready co-operation in maintaining the good order of society. St. Pauldirected Christians to pray for kings andrulers, when the king was Nero, and therulers his cruel instruments of persecution.How much more should the church obey theApostolic precept, when its kings and queensare its nursing fathers and nursing mothers?

Nay, the better to recommend the prayersof the church, he ascribed to them not onlymore efficacy than to those of any one saint,however dear to God, but the power of almost changing the determined purpose ofGod himself. One day, as two of his disciples talked to him, they observed his facebrighten with unusual and incomparable joy;and in a moment after saw this placid andangelic sweetness of countenance changedinto grief and sadness. With difficulty theyextorted from him the following account ofthese various appearances, on condition thatthey should keep it a secret till after his


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81death: " Thirty years which I prayed Godto give me in Britain, are now expired ; andI have much longed, and prayed, and hoped,that at the close of them I should obtain mydismission, and be called to my everlastinghome with God; and just now I was abovemeasure glad, on seeing the descent of theholy angels to conduct my spirit. But on asudden they are stopped at yonder rock; forthe united prayers of the churches to sparemy life a few years longer, have prevailed,over my most earnest requests, and changedthe purpose of God with regard to me.Four years more I must remain on earth;and then, without sickness or pain, this frameshall be dissolved, and I enter into the joyof my Lord."

It was the custom of Columba, to remarkhow, and when, God answered his prayers;and failed not, on such occasions, to acknowledge his goodness with praise and thanksgiving. Sometimes, too, he would call hisfriends to join him, especially if they hadjoined in the request: " God, my brethren,hath heard the voice of our supplication atsuch a time ; he hath delivered our friends


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82from danger; and it becomes us now to render to him our united thanks." It is stillcustomary for persons in distress to ask theprayers of the congregation: I never hearda congregation asked, by any one, to returnthanks for having obtained relief, but once.Compare Luke xvii. 15.But what throws the most beautiful lustreon this part of our saint s character, andshows how much his pure spirit was engagedin the high concerns of his ministry, is, thateven in his sleep, his mind, all awake, usedto go on with the continuation of thoseprayers and intercessions which he had beenurging at the throne of mercy through theday. When the weakness of the body required rest, the willing spirit still carried onthe delightful work, and pleaded the causeof his people with his God.The prayers of Columba were not more remarkable for their frequency than for theirfervency, which was strongly marked by hisattitude, voice, and countenance. His attitude, though he sometimes stood, and wasoften prostrate, was commonly that of kneeling, with his eyes raised up, and his hands


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83spread towards heaven. From his extremesensibility of heart, and earnestness of spirit,his voice was often attended with cries andtears; and devotion shone in his face with sovivid a lustre, that the by-standers used to ascribe the uncommon fervency and animationwhich appeared in it to some irradiation ofthe Divine Presence upon his countenance,as well as upon_his spirit. Who can wonder,if a business, called the pleasure of the Lord,prospered so astonishingly in the hands of aman so zealous and active, and at the sametime so devoted to prayer, and to suchprayer too as we have been describing ? Tothe minister who thus iiveth, and thus pray-eth, all thinks are possible.

HlS HEAVENLY M1NDEDNESS. So pioUSand devout a man as Columba, must, havebeen possessed of a heavenly mindednessrarely to be met with. Accustomed so muchto be in company with God, and impressedwith so lively a sense of the presence of angels or ministering spirits, he must have beendeeply tinctured with their likeness; and inhis temper and conduct resembled, while he


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84was yet on earth, the holy inhabitants ofheaven. Elevated as he was above everyselfish and sublunary view, he had no endor aim but to glorify God and to save souls.It is not therefore without reason that hisbiographers compare him to one of the prophets or apostles of God, for he had no ordinary share of their spirit.

Besides, it has been already observed thatColumba was descended of noble parents, andnearly allied to the royal families of bothScotland and Ireland; so that he must havehad large worldl

St Columba - The Life of - by The Rev Dr John Smith, Campbeltown - 1824 - 218-Pages

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