PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Bonar, Andrew A. (Andrew Alexander), 1810-1892 · 73,789 words · 98 reading sections
Part 61
"MY DEAR FRIEND,--Now that we are in the most wonderful spot in all this world,--where Jesus lived and walked, and prayed and died, and will come again,--I doubt not you will be anxious to hear how we come on. I am thankful that ever He privileged us to come to this land. I heard of my flock yesterday by a letter from …
750 wordsSECTION 62Part 62
"We left Alexandria on 16th May 1839, parting from many kind friends in that strange city. We and our baggage were mounted on seventeen donkeys, like the sons of Jacob, when they carried corn out of Egypt. Our saddle was our bedding, viz. a rug to lie on, a pillow for the head, and a quilt to wrap ourselves in. We afte…
738 wordsSECTION 63Part 63
"Wandering alone, we were quite surprised to find great mounds of brick, and pottery, and vitrified stones. Andrew at last came upon beautiful obelisks. Next morning we examined all carefully, and found two sphinxes and many Egyptian obelisks. How wonderful to be treading over the ruins of the ancient capital of Egypt!…
2,552 wordsSECTION 64Part 64
When the two elder brethren of the deputation left us for Europe, we turned southward again from Beyrout, to visit the regions of Phoenicia and Galilee. Never did Mr. M'Cheyne seem more gladsome than in gazing on these regions. At Tyre, he remembered the request of an elder in the parish of Larbert, who had written to…
833 wordsSECTION 65Part 65
At the foot of Lebanon, in the town of Beyrout, he was able to expound a chapter (Acts 10.) at a prayer-meeting of the American brethren. This quite rejoiced his heart; for it seemed as if the Lord were restoring him, and meant again to use him in preaching the glad tidings. But shortly after, during the oppressive hea…
919 wordsSECTION 66Part 66
When we met, after an eight days' separation, on board the vessel at Constantinople, he mentioned as one of the most interesting incidents of the week, that one evening, while walking with Mr. Lewis, they met a young Greek and his wife, both of whom were believed to be really converted souls. It created a thrill in his…
808 wordsSECTION 67Part 67
At Jassy, after a deeply interesting day, spent in conversation with Jews who came to the inn, he said, "I will remember the faces of those men at the judgment-seat." When he came among the more educated Jews of Europe, he rejoiced to find that they could converse with him in Latin. His heart was bent on doing what he …
890 wordsSECTION 68Part 68
The danger which he incurred from the shepherds in this region, and other similar perils to which he was exposed in company with others, have been recorded in the _Narrative_. Out of them all the Lord delivered him; and not from these perils only did He save him, but from many severe trials to his health, to which vari…
670 wordsSECTION 69Part 69
Mr. M'Cheyne listened with deepest interest to the accounts given of what had taken place in Dundee during the month of August, when he lay at the gates of death in Bouja. The Lord had indeed fulfilled his hopes, and answered his prayers. His assistant, Mr. Burns, had been honored of God to open the floodgate at Dundee…
562 wordsSECTION 70DAYS OF REVIVAL.
"_They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses_"--Isaiah 44:4 His people, who had never ceased to pray for him, welcomed his arrival among them with the greatest joy. He reached Dundee on a Thursday afternoon; and in the evening of the same day,--being the usual time for prayer in St. Peter…
905 wordsSECTION 71Part 71
"My Dear A.,--I begin upon note-paper, because I have no other on hand but our thin travelling paper. I have much to tell you, and to praise the Lord for. I am grieved to hear that there are no marks of the Spirit's work about Collace during your absence; but if Satan drive you to your knees, he will soon find cause to…
907 wordsSECTION 72Part 72
"And now, dear A., I must be done, for it is very late. May your people share in the quickening that has come over Dundee! I feel it a very powerful argument with many: 'Will you be left dry when others are getting drops of heavenly dew?' Try this with your people. "I think it probable we shall have another communion …
781 wordsSECTION 73Part 73
That many, who promised fair, drew back and walked no more with Jesus, is true. Out of about 800 souls who, during the months of the Revival, conversed with different ministers in apparent anxiety, no wonder surely if many proved to have been impressed only for a time. President Edwards considered it likely that, in su…
791 wordsSECTION 74Part 74
The work of the Spirit went on, the stream flowing gently; for the heavy showers had fallen, and the overflowing of the waters had passed by. Mr. M'Cheyne became more than ever vigilant and discriminating in dealing with souls. Observing, also, that some were influenced more by feelings of strong attachment to their pa…
857 wordsSECTION 75Part 75
"_Jan. 1, 1840._--Awoke early by the kind providence of God, and had uncommon freedom and fervency in keeping the concert for prayer this morning before light. Very touching interview with M.P., who still refuses to be comforted. Was enabled to cry after a glorious Immanuel along with her. How I wish I had her bitter c…
849 wordsSECTION 76Part 76
"_July 30._--One lad came to me in great distress, wishing to know if he should confess his little dishonesties to his master." About this time, he has noted down, "I was visiting the other day, and came to a locked door. What did this mean? 'Torment me not, torment me not!' Ah, Satan is mighty still!"--referring to Ma…
894 wordsSECTION 77Part 77
The only notice of his last Communion, January 1, 1843, is the following:--"Sabbath.--A happy communion season. Mr. W. Burns preached on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings--the first and last very solemn. Mr. Baxter (of Hilltown Church) on the Friday. A. Bonar on Saturday, on Rom. 8:--The spirit of adoption. I f…
770 wordsSECTION 78Part 78
All with whom he was intimate still remember with gratitude how faithfully and anxiously he used to warn his friends of whatever he apprehended they were in danger from. To Mr. W.C. Burns he wrote, _Dec. 31, 1839_: "Now, the Lord be your strength, teacher, and guide. I charge you, be clothed with humility, or you will …
646 wordsSECTION 79Part 79
To many it was a subject of wonder that he found time to write letters that always breathed the name of Jesus, amid his innumerable engagements. But the truth was, his letters cost him no expenditure of time; they were ever the fresh thoughts and feelings of his soul at the moment he took up the pen; his habitual frame…
910 wordsSECTION 80Part 80
He set out for Ireland on the 7th, and on the 10th witnessed at Belfast the union between the Synod of Ulster and the Secession. He speaks of it as a most solemn scene--500 ministers and elders present. During his stay there, he pleaded the cause of the Jews in Mr. Morgan's church, Mr. Wilson's, and some others; and al…
851 wordsSECTION 81Part 81
The Court of Session had adopted a line of procedure that was at once arbitrary and unconstitutional. And now that Court interdicted, under the penalty of fine or imprisonment, all the ministers of the Church of Scotland from administering ordinances or preaching the word in any of the seven parishes of Strathbogie, wh…
896 wordsSECTION 82Part 82
I find him proposing to a minister who was going up to the General Assembly that year, "that the Assembly should draw out a _Confession of Sin_ for all its ministers." The state, also, of parishes under the direful influence of Moderatism, lay much upon his spirit. In his diary he writes: "Have been laying much to hear…
644 wordsSECTION 83Part 83
"DEAR SIR,--I have received a letter from my friend Mr. M'Farlane of Collessie, asking what I would do if the people of Kettle were to write desiring me to be their minister. He also desires me to send an answer to you. I have been asked to leave this place again and again, but have never seen my way clear to do so. I …
724 wordsSECTION 84Part 84
"DEAR FRIEND,--You ask me a hard question. Had you asked me _what I would do in the case_, I could easily tell you. I love the Lord's day too well to be marking down the height of the thermometer and barometer every hour. I have other work to do, higher and better, and more like that of angels above. The more entirely …
829 wordsSECTION 85THE LATTER DAYS OF HIS MINISTRY.
"_My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work._"--John 4:34. During the summer of 1842, he was exposed to several attacks of illness, experienced some severe personal trials, and felt the assaults of sore temptation. His own words will best express his state: "_July 17._--I am myself much tem…
885 wordsSECTION 86Part 86
The sunsets during that autumn were peculiarly beautiful. Scarcely a day passed but he gazed upon the glowing west after dinner; and as he gazed he would speak of the Sun of Righteousness, or the joy of angels in his presence, or the blessedness of those whose sun can go no more down, till his face shone with gladness …
735 wordsSECTION 87Part 87
He had a decided abhorrence of Erastianism. When the question was put to him, "Is it our duty to refuse ordination to any one who holds the views of Erastianism?" he replied,--"Certainly, whatever be his other qualifications." He was ever a thorough Presbyterian, and used to maintain the necessity of abolishing lay pat…
898 wordsSECTION 88Part 88
He was never satisfied with his own attainments in holiness; he was ever ready to learn, and quick to apply, any suggestion that might tend to his greater usefulness. About this period he used to sing a psalm or hymn every day after dinner. It was often, "The Lord's my shepherd," etc.; or, "Oh may we stand before the L…
864 wordsSECTION 89Part 89
"I find that the devil often makes use of the confession of sin to stir up again the very sin confessed into new exercise, so that I am afraid to dwell upon the confession. I must ask experienced Christians about this. For the present, I think I should strive against this awful abuse of confession, whereby the devil se…
926 wordsSECTION 90Part 90
"I am tempted to think that I am now an established Christian,--that I have overcome this or that lust so long,--that I have got into the habit of the opposite grace,--so that there is no fear; I may venture very near the temptation--nearer than other men. This is a lie of Satan. I might as well speak of gunpowder gett…
862 wordsSECTION 91Part 91
"I ought to study the Comforter more,--his Godhead, his love, his almightiness. I have found by experience that nothing sanctifies me so much as meditating on the Comforter, as John 14:16. And yet how seldom I do this! Satan keeps me from it. I am often like those men who said, They knew not if there be any Holy Ghost …
905 wordsSECTION 92Part 92
"There is a fearful tendency to omit _confession_, proceeding from low views of God and his law, slight views of my heart and the sins of my past life. This must be resisted. There is a constant tendency to omit _adoration_, when I forget to whom I am speaking--when I rush heedlessly into the presence of Jehovah, witho…
826 wordsSECTION 93Part 93
"I ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with God. It is my noblest and most fruitful employment, and is not to be thrust into any corner. The morning hours, from six to eight, are the most uninterrupted, and should be thus employed, if I can prevent drowsiness. A little time after breakfast might be gi…
737 wordsSECTION 94Part 94
He set out, says one that saw him leave town, as unclouded and happy as the sky that was above his head that bright morning. During the space of three weeks, he preached or spoke at meetings in four-and-twenty places, sometimes more than once in the same place. Great impression was made upon the people of the district.…
691 wordsSECTION 95Part 95
On Sabbath the 12th, he preached upon Heb. 9:15 in the forenoon, and Rom. 9:22, 23, in the afternoon, with uncommon solemnity; and it was observed, both then and on other late occasions, he spoke with peculiar strength upon the sovereignty of God. These were his last discourses to his people in St. Peter's. That same e…
904 wordsSECTION 96Part 96
At one time, during the delirium, he said to his attendant, "Mind the text, I Cor. 15:58--'Be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,'" dwelling with much emphasis on the last clause, "_forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord_." At another time he seemed to feel himself a…
885 wordsSECTION 97Part 97
It has been more than once the lot of Scotland (as was said in the days of Durham) to enjoy so much of the Lord's kindness, as to have men to lose whose loss has been felt to the very heart--witnesses for Christ, who saw the King's face and testified of his beauty. We cannot weep them back; but shall we not call upon H…
531 wordsSECTION 98TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
Underscores (_text_) indicate text italicised in the original book, as in the last line of printed book (above). Footnotes were moved from individual pages to the end of the affected paragraph. This e-book is a reproduction of an original that itself is an excerpt of a larger work, as stated in the Publisher's Prefac…
120 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.