Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne

MEMOIR AND REMAINS

OF THE

REV. ROBERT MURRAY M‘CHEYNE

MINISTER OF ST. PETER’S CHURCH, DUNDEE

BY THE

REV. ANDREW A. BONAR, D.D.

MINISTER OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, GLASGOW

HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIXTH THOUSAND

EDINBURGH & LONDON

OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER

1894

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

IN this Memoir, very much has been preserved of Mr. M‘CHEYNE’S own

words as well as feelings. Still there is a defect quite apparent. All who

knew him not only saw in him a burning and a shining light, but felt also

the breathing of the hidden life of God; and there is no narrative that can

fully express this peculiarity of the living man. Yet, nevertheless, as I have

had the prayers of many, and have myself throughout asked the Lord to

guide me with His eye, I believe He will not let this record of His servant

go forth unblessed. Many of his most precious Letters will be found, in

whole or in part, in this volume. The Portrait is not an exact likeness: it was

executed after his death from a very imperfect sketch by himself; but it will

recall his form to all who knew him. It is now a year since he rested from

his labours; and this Memoir is a record of some of those works that follow

him.

CONTENTS

MEMOIR

CHAP I. HIS YOUTH AND PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY

II. HIS LABOURS IN THE VINEYARD BEFORE ORDINATION

III. FIRST YEARS OF LABOUR IN DUNDEE

IV. HIS MISSION TO PALESTINE AND THE JEWS

V. DAYS OF REVIVAL

VI. THE LATTER DAYS OF HIS MINISTRY

LETTERS

1. To Rev. R. MACDONALD, during illness, before going to Palestine

2. Mrs THAIN, during the continuance of the same

3. Do. before going on the Mission

4. Miss COLLIER. How his silence may be useful

5. Rev. W. C. BURNS, on his coming to supply his place

6. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 1. View of what has happened

7. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 2. Past times of Privilege

8. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 3. How God works by Providences

9. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 4. God the Answerer of Prayer

10. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 5. Returns made to God, Isaiah 5

11. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 6. Self-devotedness

12. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 7. Unexpected Calls

13. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 8. Warnings to the Unsaved

14. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 9. From Leghorn. Travels

15. PASTORAL LETTERS, NO. 10. From Breslau. Travels

16. To Rev. J. ROXBURGH. From Jerusalem—Account of the Land

17. Rev. R. MACDONALD. From Carmel, Do

18. Rev. W. C. BURNS. Inquiries about the Revival

19. Miss COLLIER. Riches of Christ

20. Mr J. T. JUST. Prayer-meetings

21. A PARISHIONER IN SICKNESS. Troubles sanctify

22. A SOUL WHOM HE NEVER SAW. Looking to Jesus

23. Rev. W. C. BURNS. A Minister’s Afflictions

24. Rev. DAN. EDWARDS. What a Missionary must Seek

25. Do. Holiness and Success

26. To Mrs THAIN. When invited to Rest a while

27. ONE WHOSE FACE WAS ZIONWARD

28. A. S. L. The Person and Heart of Jesus

29. Mr W. C. BURNS. Awakenings—Personal Holiness

30. Rev. P. L. MILLER. On beginning his Ministry

31. Mr G. SHAW. The Jews—Studies

32. HIS SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS

33. BLAIRGOWRIE SOCIETY. Advices

34. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 1. Corruption

35. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 2. The Righteousness of Christ

36. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 3. Joy in Believing

37. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 4. Christ is Precious

38. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 5. Found in Christ

39. A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 6. Leaning on Jesus

40. THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER-MEETING. The Sower

41. M. S. Trying Dispensations

42. E. R. Corruptions Drive us to Christ

43. J. T. A Boy Anxious about his Soul

44. A. T. On the Death of his Brother

45. Rev. D. CAMPBELL. Advice to a Brother in Sickness

46. Rev. HOR. BONAR. Breathings after Holiness

47. Rev. R. MACDONALD. Words of Counsel

48. THE TEACHER OF A FEMALE SCHOOL. Do what you can

49. ONE AWAKENED FROM SLEEP. Call to Jesus

50. A SOUL INQUIRING AFTER JESUS. What is in Christ?

51. Do. do. Trials—Atonement in Christ

52. ONE WHO HAD BEGUN TO SEE JESUS

53. Rev. P. L. MILLER. A Word to the Weary

54. Rev. JOHN MILNE. Another Word to a Brother

55. Do. Breathings of Heart

56. ONE WHO HAD LATELY TAKEN UP THE CROSS

57. ONE OF HIS FLOCK DESERTED IN SOUL

58. Rev. ALEX. GATHERER. Visit to the North

59. ONE WHO HAD SUFFERED BEREAVEMENT. Sorrow of the World

60. ANOTHER TO ONE BEREAVED. Christ the same

61. To ONE COMPLAINING OF HEART PLAGUES. Passing to Glory

SERMONS

1. John 14:6. Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life

2. Hebrews 3:1, Christ the Apostle and High Priest

3. Song 2:2, 3. Christ and the Believer

4. Ezekiel 21:9, 10. The Sword over the Ungodly

5. Proverbs 8:4. The Gospel Call

6. 1 John 1:1–4. John’s Preaching of Christ

7. Song 4:12. The Church a Garden and Fountain

8. Song 8:5, 6, 7. The Church coming up from the Wilderness

9. Revelation 7:9, etc. The Great Multitude

10. Hebrews 2:16–18. The Merciful High Priest

11. 2 Timothy 4:1, 2. Ordination of a Minister

12. 1 John 4:18–21. The Perfect Love of God to us

13. Galatians 6:14. Glorying in the Cross

14. Micah 6:6–8. The Good Way of coming before God

15. Romans 7:22. The Inward Experience of Believers

16. Psalm 51:17. The Broken Heart

17. Psalm 58:3–5. Human Corruption

18. Hosea 6:4. The Impressions of Natural Men Fading

19. Mark 14:8. Do what you can

20. Song 3:4. Holding Christ fast

21. Colossians 1:27. Christ in you

22. 1 Cor. 9:26, 27. A Castaway

23. A COMMUNION SABBATH IN ST PETER’S:

1. Action Sermon. John 17:24. “Father, I will,” etc

2. Fencing the Tables. Acts 5:1–14

3. Table Service

4. Address at the close of the day

24. THE VOICE OF THE BELOVED. Song 2:8–17. Preached the first day he was

in St Peter’s

25. OUR DUTY TO ISRAEL. Sermon on Romans 1:16, after returning from

Palestine

26. “BLESSED ARE THE DEAD.” Preached in the Summer of 1840

27. Hosea 14:8. What have I to do with Idols?

28. Jude 20, 21

SPECIMENS OF HIS SKETCHES OF SERMONS

Isaiah 48:18

Romans 4:4–8

Proverbs 14:9

1 John 4:7–13

Zechariah 12:10

Jeremiah 33:16

Revelation 20:11–15

LEBANON—ITS SCENERY AND ALLUSIONS

NOTES ON THE TYPES FOUND IN THE TABERNACLE

OTHER PIECES ALREADY PUBLISHED

EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS

ANOTHER LILY GATHERED—CONVERSION OF JAMES LAING

THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD

REASONS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD FLY TO CHRIST

WHY IS GOD A STRANGER IN THE LAND?

I LOVE THE LORD’S DAY

LETTER ON SABBATH RAILWAYS

LETTER ON COMMUNION WITH BRETHREN OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS

TO THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK

DAILY BREAD

SONGS OF ZION

1. The Barren Fig Tree

2. Jehovah Tsidkenu

3. They Sing the Song of Moses

4. On Mungo Park’s finding a tuft of Moss

5. I am a Debtor

6. Children called to Christ

7. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet

8. The Fountain of Siloam

9. The Sea of Galilee

10. To Yonder Side

11. On the Mediterranean Sea, at Acre

12. The Child coming to Jesus

13. Oil in the Lamp

14. On J. T., a Believing Boy

CONCLUDING MEMORIALS

MEMOIR

CHAPTER I

HIS YOUTH, AND PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY

“Many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord”.—LUKE 1:14.

IN the midst of the restless activity of such a day as ours, it will be felt by

ministers of Christ to be useful in no common degree, to trace the steps of

one who but lately left us, and who, during the last years of his short life,

walked calmly in almost unbroken fellowship with the FATHER and the SON.

The date of his birth was May 21, 1813. About that time, as is now

evident to us who can look back on the past, the Great Head had a purpose

of blessing for the Church of Scotland. Eminent men of God appeared to

plead the cause of Christ. The Cross was lifted up boldly in the midst of

Church Courts which had long been ashamed of the gospel of Christ. More

spirituality and deeper seriousness began a few years onward to prevail

among the youth of our divinity halls. In the midst of such events, whereby

the Lord was secretly preparing a rich blessing for souls in all our borders,

the subject of this Memoir was born. “Many were to rejoice at his birth;”

for he was one of the blessings which were beginning to be dropt down

upon Scotland, though none then knew that one was born whom hundreds

would look up to as their spiritual father.

The place of his birth was Edinburgh, where his parents resided. He

was the youngest child of the family, and was called ROBERT MURRAY, after

the name of some of his kindred.

From his infancy his sweet and affectionate temper was remarked by all

who knew him. His mind was quick in its attainments; he was easily taught

the common lessons of youth, and some of his peculiar endowments began

early to appear. At the age of four, while recovering from some illness, he

selected as his recreation the study of the Greek alphabet, and was able to

name all the letters. and write them in a rude way upon a slate. A year after,

he made rapid progress in the English class, and at an early period became

somewhat eminent among his schoolfellows for his melodious voice and

powers of recitation. There were at that time catechetical exercises held in

the Tron Church, in the interval between sermons; and some friends

remember the interest often excited in the hearers by his correct and sweet

recitation of the Psalms and passages of Scripture. But as yet he knew not

the Lord, he lived to himself, “having no hope, and without God in the

world.” Eph. 2:12.

In October 1821 he entered the High School, where he continued his

literary studies during the usual period of six years. He maintained a high

place in his classes, and in the Rector’s class distinguished himself by

eminence in geography and recitation. It was during the last year of his

attendance at the High School that he first ventured on poetical

composition, the subject being, “Greece, but living Greece no more.” The

lines are characterized chiefly by enthusiasm for liberty and Grecian

heroism, for in these days his soul had never soared to a higher region. His

companions speak of him as one who had even then peculiarities that drew

attention: of a light, tall form—full of elasticity and vigour—ambitious, yet

noble in his dispositions, disdaining everything like meanness or deceit.

Some would have been apt to regard him as exhibiting many traits of a

Christian character; but his susceptible mind had not, at that time, a relish

for any higher joy than the refined gaieties of society, and for such pleasures

as the song and the dance could yield. He himself regarded these as days of

ungodliness—days wherein he cherished a pure morality, but lived in heart

a Pharisee. I have heard him say that there was a correctness and propriety

in his demeanour at times of devotion, and in public worship, which some,

who knew not his heart, were ready to put to the account of real feeling.

And this experience of his own heart made him look with jealousy on the

mere outward signs of devotion in dealing with souls. He had learnt in his

own case how much a soul, unawakened to a sense of guilt, may have

satisfaction in performing, from the proud consciousness of integrity

towards man, and a sentimental devotedness of mind that chastens the

feelings without changing the heart.

He had great delight in rural scenery. Most of his summer vacations

used to be spent in Dumfriesshire, and his friends in the parish of Ruthwell

and its vicinity retain a vivid remembrance of his youthful days. His poetic

temperament led him to visit whatever scenes were fitted to stir the soul. At

all periods of his life, also, he had a love of enterprise. During the summer

months he occasionally made excursions with his brother, or some intimate

friend, to visit the lakes and hills of our Highlands, cherishing thereby,

unawares, a fondness for travel, that was most useful to him in after days. In

one of these excursions, a somewhat romantic occurrence befell the

travellers, such as we might rather have expected to meet with in the

records of his Eastern journey. He and his friend had set out on foot to

explore, at their leisure, Dunkeld, and the highlands in its vicinity. They

spent a day at Dunkeld, and about sunset set out again with the view of

crossing the hills to Strathardle. A dense mist spread over the hills soon

after they began to climb. They pressed on but lost the track that might have

guided them safely to the glen. They knew not how to direct their steps to

any dwelling. Night came on, and they had no resource but to couch among

the heath, with no other covering than the clothes they wore. They felt

hungry and cold; and, awaking at midnight, the awful stillness of the lonely

mountains spread a strange fear over them. But, drawing close together,

they again lay down to rest, and slept soundly till the cry of some wild birds

and the morning dawn aroused them.

Entering the Edinburgh University in November 1827, he gained some

prize in all the various classes he attended. In private he studied the modern

languages; and gymnastic exercises at that time gave him unbounded

delight. He used his pencil with much success, and then it was that his hand

was prepared for sketching the scenes of the Holy Land. He had a very

considerable knowledge of music, and himself sang correctly and

beautifully. This, too, was a gift which was used to the glory of the Lord in

after days,—wonderfully enlivening his secret devotions, and enabling him

to lead the song of praise in the congregation wherever occasion required.

Poetry also was a never-failing recreation; and his taste in this department

drew the attention of Professor Wilson, who adjudged him the prize in the

Moral Philosophy class for a poem, “On the Covenanters.”

In the winter of 1831 he commenced his studies in the Divinity Hall

under Dr Chalmers, and the study of Church History under Dr Welsh. It

may be naturally asked, What led him to wish to preach salvation to his

fellow-sinners? Could he say, like Robert Bruce, “I was first called to my

grace, before I obeyed my calling to the ministry?” Few questions are more

interesting than this; and our answer to it will open up some of the

wonderful ways of Him “whose path is in the great waters, and whose

footsteps are not known,” Psalm 77:19; for the same event that awakened

his soul to a true sense of sin and misery, led him to the ministry.

During his attendance at the literary and philosophical classes he felt

occasional impressions, none of them perhaps of much depth. There can be

no doubt that he himself looked upon the death of his eldest brother, David,

as the event which awoke him from the sleep of nature, and brought in the

first beam of divine light into his soul. By that providence the Lord was

calling one soul to enjoy the treasures of grace, while He took the other into

the possession of glory.

In this brother, who was his senior by eight or nine years, the light of

divine grace shone before men with rare and solemn loveliness. His

classical attainments were very high; and, after the usual preliminary

studies, he had been admitted Writer to the Signet. One distinguishing

quality of his character was his sensitive truthfulness. In a moment would

the shadow flit across his brow, if any incident were related wherein there

was the slightest exaggeration; or even when nothing but truth was spoken,

if only the deliverer seemed to take up a false or exaggerated view. He must

not merely speak the whole truth himself, but he must have the hearer also

to apprehend the whole truth. He spent much of his leisure hours in

attending to the younger members of the family. Tender and affectionate,

his grieved look when they vexed him by resisting his counsels, had (it is

said) something in it so persuasive that it never failed in the end to prevail

on those with whom his words had not succeeded. His youngest brother, at

a time when he lived according to the course of this world, was the subject

of many of his fervent prayers. But a deep melancholy, in a great degree the

effect of bodily ailments, settled down on David’s soul. Many weary

months did he spend in awful gloom, till the trouble of his soul wasted

away his body: but the light broke in before his death; joy from the face of a

fully reconciled Father above lighted up his face; and the peace of his last

days was the sweet consolation left to his afflicted friends, when, 8

July

1831, he fell asleep in Jesus.

The death of this brother, with all its circumstances, was used by the

Holy Spirit to produce a deep impression on Robert’s soul. In many respects

—even in the gifts of a poetic mind—there had been a congeniality between

him and David. The vivacity of Robert’s ever active and lively mind was

the chief point of difference. This vivacity admirably fitted him for public

life; it needed only to be chastened and solemnized, and the event that had

now occurred wrought this effect. A few months before, the happy family

circle had been broken up by the departure of the second brother for India,

in the Bengal Medical Service; but when, in the course of the summer,

David was removed from them for ever, there were impressions left such as

could never be effaced, at least from the mind of Robert. Naturally of an

intensely affectionate disposition, this stroke moved his whole soul. His

quiet hours seem to have been often spent in thoughts of him who was now

gone to glory. There are some lines remaining in which his poetic mind has

most touchingly, and with uncommon vigour, painted him whom he had

lost,—lines all the more interesting, because the delineation of character

and form which they contain cannot fail to call up to those who knew him

the image of the author himself. Some time after his brother’s death he had

tried to preserve the features of his well-remembered form, by attempting a

portrait from memory; but throwing aside the pencil in despair, he took up

the pen, and poured out the fulness of his heart.

ON PAINTING THE MINIATURE LIKENESS OF ONE DEPARTED.

ALAS! not perfect yet—another touch,

And still another, and another still,

Till those dull lips breathe life, and yonder eye

Lose its lack lustre hue, and be lit up

With the warm glance of living feeling. No—

It never can be! Ah, poor, powerless art!

Most vaunting, yet most impotent, thou seek’st

To trace the thousand, thousand shades and lights

That glowed conspicuous on the blessed face

Of him thou fain wouldst imitate—to bind

Down to the fragile canvas the wild play

Of thought and mild affection, which were wont

To dwell in the serious eye, and play around

The placid mouth. Thou seek’st to give again

That which the burning soul, inhabiting

Its clay-built tenement, alone can give—

To leave on cold dead matter the impress

Of living mind—to bid a line, a shade,

Speak forth, not words, but the soft intercourse

Which the immortal spirit, while on earth

It tabernacles, breathes from every pore—

Thoughts not converted into words, and hopes,

And fears, and hidden joys, and griefs, unborn

Into the world of sound, but beaming forth

In that expression which no words, or work

Of cunning artist, can express. In vain,

Alas! in vain!

Come hither, Painter; come,

Take up once more thine instruments—thy brush

And palette—if thy haughty art be, as thou say’st,

Omnipotent, and if thy hand can dare

To wield creative power. Renew thy toil,

And let my memory, vivified by love,

Which Death’s cold separation has but warmed

And rendered sacred, dictate to thy skill,

And guide thy pencil. From the jetty hair

Take off that gaudy lustre that but mocks

The true original; and let the dry,

Soft, gently-turning locks, appear instead.

What though to fashion’s garish eye they seem

Untutored and ungainly? still to me,

Than folly’s foppish head-gear, lovelier far

Are they, because bespeaking mental toil,

Labour assiduous, through the golden days

(Golden if so improved) of guileless youth,

Unwearied mining in the precious stores

Of classic lore—and better, nobler still,

In God’s own holy writ. And scatter here

And there a thread of grey, to mark the grief

That prematurely checked the bounding flow

Of the warm current in his veins, and shed

An early twilight o’er so bright a dawn.

No wrinkle sits upon that brow!—and thus

It ever was. The angry strife and cares

Of avaricious miser did not leave

Their base memorial on so fair a page.

The eyebrows next draw closer down, and throw

A softening shade o’er the mild orbs below.

Let the full eyelid, drooping, half conceal

The back-retiring eye; and point to earth

The long brown lashes that bespeak a soul

Like his who said, “I am not worthy, Lord!”

From underneath these lowly turning lids,

Let not shine forth the gaily sparkling light

Which dazzles oft, and oft deceives; nor yet

The dull unmeaning lustre that can gaze

Alike on all the world. But paint an eye

In whose half-hidden, steady light I read

A truth-inquiring mind; a fancy, too,

That could array in sweet poetic garb

The truth he found; while on his artless harp

He touched the gentlest feelings, which the blaze

Of winter’s hearth warms in the homely heart.

And oh! recall the look of faith sincere,

With which that eye would scrutinize the page

That tells us of offended God appeased

By awful sacrifice upon the cross

Of Calvary—that bids us leave a world

Immersed in darkness and in death, and seek

A better country. Ah! how oft that eye

Would turn on me, with pity’s tenderest look.

And, only half-upbraiding, bid me flee

From the vain idols of my boyish heart!

It was about the same time, while still feeling the sadness of this

bereavement, that he wrote the fragment entitled

“THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH, AND NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART.”

A grave I know

Where earthly show

Is not—a mound

Whose gentle round

Sustains the load

Of a fresh sod,

Its shape is rude.

And weeds intrude

Their yellow flowers—

In gayer bowers

Unknown. The grass,

A tufted mass,

Is rank and strong,

Unsmoothed and long.

No rosebud there

Embalms the air;

No lily chaste

Adorns the waste,

Nor daisy’s head

Bedecks the bed.

No myrtles wave

Above that grave;

Nor heather-bell

Is there to tell

Of gentle friend

Who sought to lend

A sweeter sleep

To him who deep

Beneath the ground

Repose has found.

No stone of woe

Is there to show

The name, or tell

How passing well

He loved his God.

And how he trod

The humble road

That leads through sorrow

To a bright morrow

Unknown in life,

And far from strife,

He lived:—and though

The magic flow

Of genius played

Around his head,

And he could weave

“The song at eve,”

And touch the heart,

With gentlest art;

Or cares beguile,

And draw the smile

Of peace from those

Who wept their woes;

Yet when the love

Of Christ above

To guilty men

Was shown him—then

He left the joys

Of worldly noise,

And humbly laid

His drooping head

Upon the cross;

And thought the loss

Of all that earth

Contained—of mirth,

Of loves, and fame,

And pleasures’ name—

No sacrifice

To win the prize,

Which Christ secured,

When He endured

For us the load—

The wrath of God!

With many a tear,

And many a fear,

With many a sigh

And heart-wrong cry

Of timid faith.

He sought the breath:

But which can give

The power to live—

Whose word alone

Can melt the stone,

Bid tumult cease,

And all be peace!

He sought not now

To wreathe his brow

With laurel bough.

He sought no more

To gather store

Of earthly lore,

Nor vainly strove

To share the love

Of heaven above,

With aught below

That earth can show

The smile forsook

His cheek—his look

Was cold and sad;

And even the glad

Return of morn,

When the ripe corn

Waves o’er the plains,

And simple swains

With joy prepare

The toil to share

Of harvest, brought

No lively thought

To him.

* * * * * * * * * * *

And spring adorns

The sunny morns

With opening flowers,

And beauty showers

O’er lawn and mead;

Its virgin head

The snowdrop steeps

In dew, and peeps

The crocus forth,

Nor dreads the north.

But even the spring

No smile can bring

To him, whose eye

Sought in the sky

For brighter scenes.

Where intervenes

No darkening cloud

Of sin to shroud

The gazer’s view.

Thus sadly flew

The merry spring;

And gaily sing

The birds their loves

In summer groves.

But not for him

Their notes they trim.

His ear is cold—

His tale is told.

Above his grave

The grass may wave—

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The crowd pass by

Without a sigh

Above the spot.

They knew him not—

They could not know;

And even though,

Why should they shed

Above the dead

Who slumbers here

A single tear?

I cannot weep,

Though in my sleep

I sometimes clasp

With love’s fond grasp

His gentle hand,

And see him stand

Beside my bed,

And lean his head

Upon my breast,

And bid me rest

Nor night nor day

Till I can say

That I have found

The holy ground

In which there lies

The Pearl of Price—

Till all the ties

The soul that bind,

And all the lies

The soul that blind

Be * * * * * * * * *

Nothing could more fully prove the deep impression which the event

made than these verses. But it was not a transient regret, nor was it the

“sorrow of the world.” He was in his eighteenth year when his brother died;

and if this was not the year of his new birth, at least it was the year when

the first streaks of dawn appeared in his soul. From that day forward his

friends observed a change. His poetry was pervaded with serious thought,

and all his pursuits began to be followed out in another spirit. He engaged

in the labours of a Sabbath school, and began to seek God to his soul, in the

diligent reading of the word, and attendance on a faithful ministry.

How important this period of his life appeared in his own view, may be

gathered from his allusions to it in later days. A year after, he writes in his

diary: “On this morning last year came the first overwhelming blow to my

worldliness; how blessed to me, Thou, O God, only knowest, who hast

made it so.” Every year he marked this day as one to be remembered, and

occasionally its recollections seem to have come in like a flood. In a letter

to a friend (8

July 1842), upon a matter entirely local, he concludes by a

postscript: “This day eleven years ago, my holy brother David entered into

his rest, aged 26.” And on that same day, writing a note to one of his flock

in Dundee (who had asked him to furnish a preface to a work printed 1740,

Letters on Spiritual Subjects), he commends the book, and adds: “Pray for

me, that I may be made holier and wiser—less like myself, and more like

my heavenly Master; that I may not regard my life, if so be I may finish my

course with joy. This day eleven years ago, I lost my loved and loving

brother, and began to seek a Brother who cannot die.”

It was to companions who could sympathize in his feelings that he

unbosomed himself. At that period it was not common for inquiring souls to

carry their case to their pastor. A conventional reserve upon these subjects

prevailed even among lively believers. It almost seemed as if they were

ashamed of the Son of man. This reserve appeared to him very sinful; and

he felt it to be so great an evil, that in after days he was careful to encourage

anxious souls to converse with him freely. The nature of his experience,

however, we have some means of knowing. On one occasion, a few of us

who had studied together were reviewing the Lord’s dealings with our

souls, and how He had brought us to himself all very nearly at the same

time, though without any special instrumentality. He stated that there was

nothing sudden in his case, and that he was led to Christ through deep and

ever-abiding, but not awful of distracting, convictions. In this we see the

Lord’s sovereignty In bringing a soul to the Saviour, the Holy Spirit

invariably leads it to very deep consciousness of sin; but then He causes this

consciousness of sin to be more distressing and intolerable to some than to

others. But in one point does the experience of all believing sinners agree in

this matter, viz. their soul presented to their view nothing but an abyss of

sin, when the grace of God that bringeth salvation appeared.

The Holy Spirit carried on his work in the subject of this Memoir, by

continuing to deepen in him the conviction of his ungodliness, and the

pollution of his whole nature. And all his life long, he viewed his original

sin, not as an excuse for his actual sins, but as an aggravation of them all. In

this view he was of the mind of David, taught by the unerring Spirit of

Truth. See Psalm 51:4, 5.

At first light dawned slowly; so slowly, that for a considerable time he

still relished an occasional plunge into scenes of gaiety. Even after entering

the Divinity Hall, he could be persuaded to indulge in lighter pursuits, at

least during the two first years of his attendance; but it was with growing

alarm. When hurried away by such worldly joys, I find him writing thus:

—“Sept. 14.—May there be few such records as this in my biography.”

Then, “Dec. 9.—A thorn in my side—much torment.” As the unholiness of

his pleasures became more apparent, he writes:—“March 10, 1832.—I hope

never to play cards again.” “March 25.—Never visit on a Sunday evening

again.” “April 10.—Absented myself from the dance; upbraidings ill to

bear. But I must try to bear the cross.” It seems to be in reference to the

receding tide, which thus for a season repeatedly drew him back to the

world, that on July 8, 1836, he records: “This morning five years ago, my

dear brother David died, and my heart for the first time knew true

bereavement. Truly it was all well. Let me be dumb, for Thou didst it: and it

was good for me that I was afflicted. I know not that any providence was

ever more abused by man than that was by me; and yet, Lord, what

mountains Thou comest over! none was ever more blessed to me.” To us

who can look at the results, it appears probable that the Lord permitted him

thus to try many broken cisterns, and to taste the wormwood of many

earthly streams, in order that in after days, by the side of the fountain of

living waters, he might point to the world he had for ever left, and testify

the surpassing preciousness of what he had now found.

Mr Alexander Somerville (afterwards minister of Anderston Church,

Glasgow) was his familiar friend and companion in the gay scenes of his

youth. And he, too, about this time, having been brought to taste the powers

of the world to come, they united their efforts for each other’s welfare. They

met together for the study of the Bible, and used to exercise themselves in

the Septuagint Greek and the Hebrew original. But oftener still they met for

prayer and solemn converse; and carrying on all their studies in the same

spirit, watched each other’s steps in the narrow way.

He thought himself much profited, at this period, by investigating the

subject of Election and the Free Grace of God. But it was the reading of The

Sum of Saving Knowledge, generally appended to our Confession of Faith,

that brought him to a clear understanding of the way of acceptance with

God. Those who are acquainted with its admirable statements of truth, will

see how well fitted it was to direct an inquiring soul. I find him some years

afterwards recording:—“March 11, 1834.—Read in the Sum of Saving

Knowledge, the work which I think first of all wrought a saving change in

me. How gladly would I renew the reading of it, if that change might be

carried on to perfection!” It will be observed that he never reckoned his soul

saved, notwithstanding all his convictions and views of sin, until he really

went into the Holiest of all on the warrant of the Redeemer’s work; for

assuredly a sinner is still under wrath, until he has actually availed himself

of the way to the Father opened up by Jesus. All his knowledge of his

sinfulness, and all his sad feeling of his own need and danger, cannot place

him one step farther off from the lake of fire. It is “he that comes to Christ”

that is saved.

Before this period he had received a bias towards the ministry from his

brother David, who used to speak of the ministry as the most blessed work

on earth, and often expressed the greatest delight in the hope that his

younger brother might one day become a minister of Christ. And now, with

altered views,—with an eye that could gaze on heaven and hell, and a heart

that felt the love of a reconciled God,—he sought to become a herald of

salvation.

He had begun to keep a register of his studies, and the manner in which

his time slipt away, some months before his brother’s death. For a

considerable time this register contains almost nothing but the bare

incidents of the diary, and on Sabbaths the texts of the sermons he had

heard. There is one gleam of serious thought—but it is the only one—

during that period. On occasion of Dr Andrew Thomson’s funeral, he

records the deep and universal grief that pervaded the town, and then

subjoins: “Pleasing to see so much public feeling excited on the decease of

so worthy a man. How much are the times changed within these eighteen

centuries, since the time when Joseph besought the body in secret, and when

he and Nicodemus were the only ones found to bear the body to the tomb!”

It is in the end of the year that evidences of a change appear From that

period and ever onward his dry register of every-day incidents is varied

with such passages as the following:—

“Nov. 12.—Reading H. Martyn’s Memoirs. Would I could imitate him,

giving up father, mother, country, house, health, life, all—for Christ. And

yet, what hinders? Lord, purify me, and give me strength to dedicate

myself, my all, to Thee!”

“Dec. 4.—Reading Legh Richmond’s Life. ‘Pœnitentia profunda, non

sine lacrymis. Nunquam me ipsum, tam vilem, tam inutilem, tam pauperim,

et præcipue tam ingratum, adhuc vidi. Sint lacrymæ dedicationis meæ

pignora!’ ” [“Deep penitence, not unmixed with tears. I never before saw

myself so vile, so useless, so poor, and, above all, so ungrateful. May these

tears be the pledges of my self-dedication!”] There is frequently at this

period a sentence in Latin occurring like the above in the midst of other

matter, apparently with the view of giving freer expression to his feelings

regarding himself.

“Dec. 9.—Heard a street-preacher: foreign voice. Seems really in

earnest. He quoted the striking passage, ‘The Spirit and the bride say,

Come, and let him that heareth say, Come!’ From this he seems to derive

his authority. Let me learn from this man to be in earnest for the truth, and

to despise the scoffing of the world.”

Dec. 18.—After spending an evening too lightly, he writes: “My heart

mast break off from all these things. What right have I to steal and abuse

my Master’s time? ‘Redeem it,’ He is crying to me.”

“Dec. 25.—My mind not yet calmly fixed on the Rock of Ages.”

“Jan. 12, 1832.—Cor non pacem habet. Quare? Peccatum apud fores

manet.” [“My heart has not peace. Why? Sin lieth at my door.”]

“Jan. 25.—A lovely day. Eighty-four cases of cholera at Musselburgh.

How it creeps nearer and nearer like a snake! Who will be the first victim

here? Let thine everlasting arms be around us, and we shall be safe.”

“Jan. 29, Sabbath.—Afternoon heard Mr Bruce (then minister of the

New North Church, Edinburgh) on Malachi 1:1–6. It constitutes the very

gravamen of the charge against the unrenewed man, that he has affection for

his earthly parent, and reverence for his earthly master, but none for God!

Most noble discourse.”

“Feb. 2.—Not a trait worth remembering! And yet these four-and-

twenty hours must be accounted for.”

Feb. 5, Sabbath.—In the afternoon, having heard the late Mr Martin of

St George’s, he writes, on returning home: “O quam humilem, sed quam

diligentissimum; quam dejectum, sed quam vigilem, quam die noctuque

precantem, decet me esse quum tales viros aspicio. Juva, Pater, Fili, et

Spiritus!” [“Oh! how humble, yet how diligent, how lowly, yet how

watchful, how prayerful night and day it becomes me to be, when I see such

men. Help, Father, Son, and Spirit!”]

From this date he seems to have sat, along with his friend Mr

Somerville, almost entirely under Mr Bruce’s ministry. He took copious

notes of his lectures and sermons, which still remain among his papers.

“Feb. 28.—Sober conversation. Fain would I turn to the most

interesting of all subjects. Cowardly backwardness: ‘For whosoever is

ashamed of me and my words,’ ” etc.

At this time, hearing, concerning a friend of the family, that she had

said, “That she was determined to keep by the world,” he penned the

following lines on her melancholy decision:—

She has chosen the world,

And its paltry crowd;

She has chosen the world,

And an endless shroud!

She has chosen the world

With its misnamed pleasures,

She has chosen the world,

Before heaven’s own treasures.

She hath launched her boat

On life’s giddy sea,

And her all is afloat

For eternity.

But Bethlehem’s star

Is not in her view;

And her aim is far

From the harbour true

When the storm descends

From an angry sky,

Ah! where from the winds

Shall the vessel fly?

When stars are concealed,

And rudder gone,

And heaven is sealed

To the wandering one

The whirlpool opes

For the gallant prize;

And, with all her hopes,

To the deep she hies!

But who may tell

Of the place of woe,

Where the wicked dwell,

Where the worldlings go?

For the human heart

Can ne’er conceive

What joys are the part

Of them who believe;

Nor can justly think

Of the cup of death,

Which all must drink

Who despise the faith.

A way, then—oh, fly

From the joys of earth!

Her smile is a lie—

There’s a sting in her mirth.

Come, leave the dreams

Of this transient night.

And bask in the beams

Of an endless light.

“March 6.—Wild wind and rain all day long. Hebrew class—Psalms.

New beauty in the original every time I read. Dr Welsh—lecture on Pliny’s

letter about the Christians of Bithynia. Professor Jameson on quartz. Dr

Chalmers grappling with Home’s arguments. Evening—Notes, and little

else. Mind and body dull.” This is a specimen of his register of daily study.

March 20.—After a few sentences in Latin, concluding with “In meam

animam veni, Domine Deus omnipotens,” he writes, “Leaning on a staff of

my own devising, it betrayed me, and broke under me. It was not thy staff.

Resolving to be a god, Thou showedst me that I was but a man. But my own

staff being broken, why may I not lay hold of thine?—Read part of the Life

of Jonathan Edwards. How feeble does my spark of Christianity appear

beside such a sun! But even his was a borrowed light, and the same source

is still open to enlighten me.”

“April 8.—Have found much rest in Him who bore all our burdens for

us.”

“April 26.—To-night I ventured to break the ice of unchristian silence.

Why should not selfishness be buried beneath the Atlantic in matters so

sacred?”

May 6, Saturday evening.—This was the evening previous to the

Communion; and in prospect of again declaring himself the Lord’s at his

table, he enters into a brief review of his state. He had partaken of the

ordinance in May of the year before for the first time; but he was then living

at ease, and saw not the solemn nature of the step he took. He now sits

down and reviews the past:—

“What a mass of corruption have I been! How great a portion of my life

have I spent wholly without God in the world, given up to sense and the

perishing things around me! Naturally of a feeling and sentimental

disposition, how much of my religion has been, and to this day is, tinged

with these colours of earth! Restrained from open vice by educational views

and the fear of man, how much ungodliness has reigned within me! How

often has it broken through all restraints, and come out in the shape of lust

and anger, mad ambitions, and unhallowed words! Though my vice was

always refined, yet how subtile and how awfully prevalent it was! How

complete a test was the Sabbath—spent in weariness, as much of it as was

given to God’s service! How I polluted it by my hypocrisies, my self-

conceits, my worldly thoughts, and worldly friends! How formally and

unheedingly the Bible was read,—how little was read,—so little that even

now I have not read it all! How unboundedly was the wild impulse of the

heart obeyed! How much more was the creature loved than the Creator!

——O great God, that didst suffer me to live whilst I so dishonoured Thee,

Thou knowest the whole; and it was thy hand alone that could awaken me

from the death in which I was, and was contented to be. Gladly would I

have escaped from the Shepherd that sought me as I strayed; but He took

me up in his arms and carried me back; and yet He took me not for anything

that was in me. I was no more fit for his service than the Australian, and no

more worthy to be called and chosen. Yet why should I doubt? not that God

is unwilling, not that He is unable—of both I am assured. But perhaps my

old sins are too fearful, and my unbelief too glaring? Nay; I come to Christ,

not although I am a sinner, but just because I am a sinner, even the chief.”

He then adds, “And though sentiment and constitutional enthusiasm may

have a great effect on me, still I believe that my soul is in sincerity desirous

and earnest about having all its concerns at rest with God and Christ,—that

his kingdom occupies the most part of all my thoughts, and even of my

long-polluted affections. Not unto me, not unto me, be the shadow of praise

or of merit ascribed, but let all glory be given to thy most holy name! As

surely as Thou didst make the mouth with which I pray, so surely dost Thou

prompt every prayer of faith which I utter. Thou hast made me all that I am,

and given me all that I have.”

Next day, after communicating, he writes: “I well remember when I was

an enemy, and especially abhorred this ordinance as binding me down; but

if I be bound to Christ in heart, I shall not dread any bands that can draw me

close to Him.” Evening—“Much peace. Look back, my soul, and view the

mind that belonged to thee but twelve months ago. My soul, thy place is in

the dust!”

“May 19.—Thought with more comfort than usual of being a witness

for Jesus in a foreign land.”

“June 4.—Walking with A. Somerville by Craigleith. Conversing on

missions. If I am to go to the heathen to speak of the unsearchable riches of

Christ, this one thing must be given me, to be out of the reach of the baneful

influence of esteem or contempt. If worldly motives go with me, I shall

never convert a soul, and shall lose my own in the labour.”

“June 22.—Variety of studies. Septuagint translation of Exodus and

Vulgate. Bought Edwards’ works. Drawing—Truly there was nothing in me

that should have induced Him to choose me. I was but as the other brands

upon whom the fire is already kindled, which shall burn for evermore! And

as soon could the billet leap from the hearth and become a green tree, as my

soul could have sprung to newness of life.”

June 25.—In reference to the office of the holy ministry; “How apt are

we to lose our hours in the vainest babblings, as do the world! How can this

be with those chosen for the mighty office? fellow-workers with God?

heralds of His Son? evangelists? men set apart to the work, chosen out of

the chosen, as it were the very pick of the flocks, who are to shine as the

stars for ever and ever? Alas, alas! my soul, where shalt thou appear? O

Lord God, I am a little child! But Thou wilt send an angel with a live coal

from off the altar, and touch my unclean lips, and put a tongue within my

dry mouth, so that I shall say with Isaiah, ‘Here am I, send me.’ ” Then,

after reading a little of Edwards’ works: “Oh that heart and understanding

may grow together, like brother and sister, leaning on one another!”

“June 27.—Life of David Brainerd. Most wonderful man! What

conflicts, what depressions, desertions, strength, advancement, victories,

within thy torn bosom! I cannot express what I think when I think of thee.

To-night, more set upon missionary enterprise than ever.”

“June 28.—Oh for Brainerd’s humility and sin-loathing dispositions!”

“June 30.—Much carelessness, sin, and sorrow. ‘Oh wretched man that

I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death?’ Enter thou, my

soul, into the rock, and hide thee in the dust for fear of the Lord and the

glory of his majesty.” And then he writes a few verses, of which the

following are some stanzas:—

I will arise and seek my God,

And, bowed down beneath my load,

Lay all my sins before Him;

Then He will wash my soul from sin,

And pat a new heart me within,

And teach me to adore Him.

O ye that fain would find the joy—

The only one that wants alloy—

Which never is deceiving;

Come to the Well of Life with me.

And drink, as it is proffered, free,

The gospel draught receiving.

I come to Christ, because I know

The very worst are called to go;

And when in faith I find Him,

I’ll walk in Him, and lean on Him,

Because I cannot move a limb

Until He say, “Unbind him.”

“July 3.—This last bitter root of worldliness that has so often betrayed

me has this night so grossly, that I cannot but regard it as God’s chosen way

to make me loathe and forsake it for ever. I would vow; but it is much more

like a weakly worm to pray. Sit in the dust, O my soul!” I believe he was

enabled to keep his resolution. Once only, in the end of this year, was he

again led back to gaiety; but it was the last time.

“July 7, Saturday.—After finishing my usual studies, tried to fast a

little, with much prayer and earnest seeking of God’s face, remembering

what occurred this night last year.” (Alluding to his brother’s death.)

“July 22.—Had this evening a more complete understanding of that

self-emptying and abasement with which it is necessary to come to Christ,

—a denying of self, trampling it under foot,—a recognising of the complete

righteousness and justice of God, that could do nothing else with us but

condemn us utterly, and thrust us down to lowest hell,—a feeling that, even

in hell, we should rejoice in his sovereignty, and say that all was rightly

done.”

“Aug. 15.—Little done, and as little suffered. Awfully important

question, Am I redeeming the time?”

“Aug. 18.—Heard of the death of James Somerville by fever, induced

by cholera. O God, thy ways and thoughts are not as ours! He had preached

his first sermon. I saw him last on Friday, 27

July, at the College gate;

shook hands, and little thought I was to see him no more on earth.”

“Sept. 2, Sabbath evening.—Reading. Too much engrossed, and too

little devotional. Preparation for a fall. Warning. We may be too engrossed

with the shell even of heavenly things.”

“Sept. 9.—Oh for true, unfeigned humility! I know I have cause to be

humble; and yet I do not know one-half of that cause. I know I am proud;

and yet I do not know the half of that pride.”

“Sept. 30.—Somewhat straitened by loose Sabbath observance. Best

way is to be explicit and manly.”

“Nov. 1.—More abundant longings for the work of the ministry Oh that

Christ would but count me faithful, that a dispensation of the gospel might

be committed to me!” And then he adds, “Much peace. Peaceful, because

believing.”

Dec. 2.—Hitherto he used to spend much of the Sabbath evening in

extending his notes of Mr Brace’s sermons; but now, “Determined to be

brief with these, for the sake of a more practical, meditative, resting,

sabbatical evening.”

“Dec. 11.—Mind quite unfitted for devotion. Prayerless prayer.”

“Dec. 31.—God has in this past year introduced me to the preparation

of the ministry,—I bless Him for that. He has helped me to give up much of

my shame to name his name, and be on his side, especially before particular

friends,—I bless Him for that. He has taken conclusively away friends that

might have been a snare,—must have been a stumbling-block,—I bless Him

for that. He has introduced me to one Christian friend, and sealed more and.

more my amity with another,—I bless Him for that.”

Jan. 27, 1833.—On this day it had been the custom of his brother David

to write a “Carmen Natale” on their father’s birth-day. Robert took up the

domestic song this year; and in doing so, makes some beautiful and tender

allusions.

Ah! where is the harp that was strung to thy praise,

So oft and so sweetly in happier days?

When the tears that we shed were the tears of our joy,

And the pleasures of home were unmixed with alloy?

The harp is now mute—its last breathings are spoken—

And the cord, though it was threefold, is now, alas, broken!

Yet why should we murmur, short-sighted and vain,

Since death to that loved one was undying gain?

Ah, fools! shall we grieve that he left this poor scene,

To dwell in the realms that are ever serene?

Though he sparkled the gem in our circle of love,

He is even more prized in the circles above.

And though sweetly he sung of his father on earth,

When this day would inspire him with tenderest mirth,

Yet a holier tone to his harp is now given,

As he sings to his unborn Father in heaven.

Feb. 3.—Writing to a medical friend of his brother William’s, he says,

“I remember long ago a remark you once made to William, which has

somehow or other stuck in my head, viz. that medical men ought to make a

distinct study of the Bible, purely for the sake of administering conviction

and consolation to their patients. I think you also said that you had actually

begun with that view. Such a determination, though formed in youth, is one

which I trust riper years will not make you blush to own.”

“Feb. 11.—Somewhat overcome. Let me see: there is a creeping defect

here. Humble, purpose-like reading of the word omitted What plant can be

unwatered and not wither!”

“Feb. 16.—Walk to Corstorphine Hill. Exquisite clear view,—blue

water, and brown fields, and green firs. Many thoughts on the follies of my

youth. How many, O Lord, may they bet? Summed up in one—

ungodliness!”

“Feb. 21.—Am I as willing as ever to preach to the lost heathen?”

“March 8.—Biblical criticism. This must not supersede heart-work.

How apt it is!”

“March 12.—Oh for activity, activity, activity!”

“March 29.—To-day my second session (at the Divinity Hall) ends. I

am now in the middle of my career. God hold me on with a steady pace!”

“March 31.—The bull tosses in the net! How should the Christian

imitate the anxieties of the worldling!”

April 17.—He heard of the death of one whom many friends had

esteemed much and lamented deeply. This led him to touch the strings of

his harp again, in a measure somewhat irregular, yet sad and sweet.

“WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF.”

SHE LIVED—

So dying-like and frail,

That every bitter gale

Of winter seemed to blow

Only to lay her low!

She lived to show how He,

Who stills the stormy sea,

Can overrule the winter’s power,

And keep alive the tiniest flower—

Can bear the young lamb in his arms

And shelter it from death’s alarms.

SHE DIED—

When spring, with brightest flowers,

Was fresh’ning all the bowers.

The linnet sung her choicest lay,

When her sweet voice was hush’d for aye

The snowdrop rose above the ground

When she beneath her pillow found,

Both cold, and white, and fair,—

She, fairest of the fair,

She died to teach us all

The loveliest must fall.

A curse is written on the brow

Of beauty; and the lover’s vow

Cannot retain the flitting breath,

Nor save from all-devouring death.

SHE LIVES—

The spirit left the earth;

And he who gave her birth

Has called her to his dread abode,

To meet her Saviour and her God.

She lives, to tell how blest

Is the everlasting rest

Of those who, in the Lamb’s blood laved,

Are chosen, sanctified, and saved!

How fearful is their doom

Who drop into the tomb

Without a covert from the ire

Of Him who is consuming fire!

SHE SHALL LIVE—

The grave shall yield his prize,

When, from the rending skies,

Christ shall with shouting angels come

To wake the slumberers of the tomb

And many more shall rise

Before our longing eyes.

Oh! may we all together meet,

Embracing the Redeemer’s feet!

“May 20.—General Assembly. The motion regarding Chapels of Ease

lost by 106 to 103. Every shock of the ram is heavier and stronger, till all

shall give way.”

“June 4.—Evening almost lost. Music will not sanctify, though it make

feminine the heart.”

“June 22.—Omissions make way for commissions. Could I but take

effective warning! A world’s wealth would not make up for that saying, ‘If

any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.’ But how shall we that

are dead to sin live any longer therein?”

“June 30.—Self-examination. Why is a missionary life so often an

object of my thoughts? Is it simply for the love I bear to souls? Then, why

do I not show it more where I am? Souls are as precious here as in Burmah.

Does the romance of the business not weigh anything with me?—the

interest and esteem I would carry with me?—the nice journals and letters I

should write and receive? Why would I so much rather go to the East than

to the West Indies? Am I wholly deceiving my own heart? and have I not a

spark of true missionary zeal? Lord, give me to understand and imitate the

spirit of those unearthly words of thy dear Son: ‘It is enough for the disciple

that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.’ ‘He that loveth father

or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.’ Gloria in excelsis Deo!”

“Aug. 13.—Clear conviction of sin is the only true origin of dependence

on another’s righteousness, and therefore (strange to say!) of the Christian’s

peace of mind and cheerfulness.”

“Sept. 8.—Reading Adams’ Private Thoughts. Oh for his heart-

searching humility! Ah me! on what mountains of pride must I be

wandering, when all I do is tinctured with the very sins this man so

deplores; yet where are my wailings, where my tears, over my love of

praise?”

“Nov. 14.—Composition—a pleasant kind of labour. I fear the love of

applause or effect goes a great way. May God keep me from preaching

myself instead of Christ crucified.”

“Jan. 15, 1834.—Heard of the death of J. S., off the Cape of Good

Hope. O God! how Thou breakest into families! Mast not the disease be

dangerous, when a tender-hearted surgeon cuts deep into the flesh? How

much more when God is the operator, ‘who afflicteth not from his heart

[ובלמ], nor grieveth the children of men!’ Lam. 3:33.”

“Feb. 23, Sabbath.—Rose early to seek God, and found Him whom my

soul loveth. Who would not rise early to meet such company? The rains are

over and gone. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Feb. 24.—He writes a letter to one who, he feared, was only

sentimental, and not really under a sense of sin. “Is it possible, think you,

for a person to be conceited of his miseries? May there not be a deep leaven

of pride in telling how desolate and how unfeeling we are?—in brooding

over our unearthly pains?—in our being excluded from the unsympathetic

world?—in our being the invalids of Christ’s hospital?” He had himself

been taught by the Spirit that it is more humbling for us to take what grace

offers, than to bewail our wants and worthlessness.

Two days after, he records, with thankful astonishment, that for the first

time in his life he had been blest to awaken a soul. All who find Christ for

themselves are impelled, by the holy necessity of constraining love, to seek

the salvation of others. Andrew findeth his brother Peter, and Philip findeth

his friend Nathanael. So was it in the case before us. He no sooner knew

Christ’s righteousness as his own covering, than he longed to see others

clothed in the same spotless robe. And it is peculiarly interesting to read the

feelings of one who was yet to be blest in plucking so many brands from the

fire, when, for the first time, he saw the Lord graciously employing him in

this more than angelic work. We have his own testimony. “Feb. 26,—After

sermon. The precious tidings that a soul has been melted down by the grace

of the Saviour. How blessed an answer to prayer, if it be really so! ‘Can

these dry bones live? Lord, Thou knowest.’ What a blessed thing it is to see

the first grievings of the awakened spirit, when it cries, ‘I cannot see myself

a sinner; I cannot pray, for my vile heart wanders!’ It has refreshed me more

than a thousand sermons. I know not how to thank and admire God

sufficiently for this incipient work. Lord, perfect that which Thou hast

begun!” A few days after: “Lord, I thank Thee that Thou hast shown me

this marvellous working, though I was but an adoring spectator rather than

an instrument.”

It is scarcely less interesting, in the case of one so gifted for the work of

visiting the careless, and so singularly skilled in ministering the word by the

bedside of the dying, to find a record of the occasion when the Lord led him

forth to take his first survey of this field of labour. There existed at that

time, among some of the students attending the Divinity Hall, a society, the

sole object of which was to stir up each other to set apart an hour or two

every week for visiting the careless and needy in the most neglected

portions of the town. Our rule was, not to subtract anything from our times

of study, but to devote to this work an occasional hour in the intervals

between different classes, or an hour that might otherwise have been given

to recreation. All of us felt the work to be trying to the flesh at the outset;

but none ever repented of persevering in it. One Saturday forenoon, at the

close of the usual prayer-meeting, which met in Dr Chalmers’ vestry, we

went up together to a district in the Castle Hill. It was Robert’s first near

view of the heathenism of his native city, and the effect was enduring.

“March 3.—Accompanied A. B. in one of his rounds through some of

the most miserable habitations I ever beheld. Such scenes I never before

dreamed of. Ah! why am I such a stranger to the poor of my native town? I

have passed their doors thousands of times; I have admired the huge black

piles of building, with their lofty chimneys breaking the sun’s rays,—why

have I never ventured within? How dwelleth the love of God in me? How

cordial is the welcome even of the poorest and most loathsome to the voice

of Christian sympathy! What imbedded masses of human beings are

huddled together, unvisited by friend or minister! ‘No man careth for our

souls’ is written over every forehead. Awake, my soul! Why should I give

hours and days any longer to the vain world, when there is such a world of

misery at my very door? Lord, put thine own strength in me; confirm every

good resolution; forgive my past long life of uselessness and folly.”

He forthwith became one of the society’s most steady members,

cultivating a district in the Canongate, teaching a Sabbath school, and

distributing the Monthly Visitor, along with Mr Somerville. His experience

there was fitted to give him insight into the sinner’s depravity in all its

forms. His first visit in his district is thus noticed: “March 24.—Visited two

families with tolerable success. God grant a blessing may go with us! Began

in fear and weakness, and in much trembling. May the power be of God.”

Soon after, he narrates the following scene:—“Entered the house of ——.

Heard her swearing as I came up the stair. Found her storming at three little

grandchildren, whom her daughter had left with her. She is a seared, hard-

hearted wretch. Read Ezekiel 33. Interrupted by the entrance of her second

daughter, furiously demanding her marriage lines. Became more discreet.

Promised to come back—never came. Her father-in-law entered, a hideous

spectacle of an aged drunkard, demanding money. Left the house with

warnings.” Another case he particularly mentions of a sick woman, who,

though careless before, suddenly seemed to float into a sea of joy, without

being able to give any scriptural account of the change. She continued, I

believe, to her death in this state; but he feared it was a subtile delusion of

Satan as an angel of light. One soul, however, was, to all appearance,

brought truly to the Rock of Ages during his and his friend’s prayerful

visitations. These were first-fruits.

He continues his diary, though often considerable intervals occur in the

“May 9.—How kindly has God thwarted me in every instance where I

sought to enslave myself! I will learn at least to glory in disappointments.”

“May 10.—At the Communion. Felt less use for the minister than ever.

Let the Master of the feast alone speak to my heart.” He felt at such times,

as many of the Lord’s people have always done, that it is not the addresses

of the ministers in serving the table, but the Supper itself, that ought to

“satiate their souls with fatness.”

May 21.—It is affecting to us to read the following entry:—“This day I

attained my twenty-first year. Oh! how long and how worthlessly I have

lived, Thou only knowest. Neff died in his thirty-first year; when shall I?”

May 29.—He this day wrote very faithfully, yet very kindly, to one who

seemed to him not a believer, and who nevertheless appropriated to herself

the promises of God. “If you are wholly unassured of your being a believer,

is it not a contradiction in terms to say, that you are sure the believers’

promises belong to you? Are you an assured believer? If so, rejoice in your

heirship; and yet rejoice with trembling; for that is the very character of

God’s heirs. But are you unassured—nay, wholly unassured? then what

mad presumption to say to your soul, that these promises, being in the

Bible, must belong indiscriminately to all! It is too gross a contradiction for

you to compass, except in word.” He then shows that Christ’s free offer

must be accepted by the sinner, and so the promises become his. “The

sinner complies with the call or offer, ‘Come unto me;’ and thereafter, but

not before, can claim the annexed promise as his: ‘I will give thee rest.’ ”

“Aug. 14.—Partial fast, and seeking God’s face by prayer. This day

thirty years, my late dear brother was born. Oh for more love, and then will

come more peace!” That same evening he wrote the hymn. “The Barren

Fig-tree.”

“Oct. 17.—Private meditation exchanged for conversation. Here is the

root of the evil,—forsake God, and He forsakes us.”

Some evening this month he had been reading Baxter’s Call to the

Unconverted. Deeply impressed with the affectionate and awfully solemn

urgency of the man of God, he wrote—

Though Baxter’s lips have long in silence hung,

And death long hush’d that sinner-wakening tongue,

Yet still, though dead, he speaks aloud to all,

And from the grave still issues forth his “Call:”

Like some loud angel-voice from Zion hill,

The mighty echo rolls and rumbles still.

Oh grant that we, when sleeping in the dust,

May thus speak forth the wisdom of the just!

Mr M‘Cheyne was peculiarly subject to attacks of fever, and by one of

these was he laid down on a sick-bed on November 15

. However, this

attack was of short duration. On the 21

he writes: “Bless the Lord, O my

soul, and forget not all his benefits. Learned more and more of the value of

Jehovah Tzidkenu.” He had, three days before, written his well-known

hymn, “I once was a stranger” etc., entitled Jehovah Tzidkenu, the

Watchword of the Reformers. It was the fruit of a slight illness which had

tried his soul, by setting it more immediately in view of the judgment-seat

of Christ; and the hymn which he so sweetly sung reveals the sure and solid

confidence of his soul. In reference to that same illness, he seems to have

penned the following lines, November 24

:—

He tenderly binds up the broken in heart,

The soul bowed down He will raise:

For mourning, the ointment of joy will impart:

For heaviness, garments of praise.

Ah, come, then, and sing to the praise of our God,

Who giveth and taketh away;

Who first by his kindness, and then by his rod,

Would teach us, poor sinners, to pray.

For in the assembly of Jesus’ first-born,

Who anthems of gratitude raise,

Each heart has by great tribulation been torn,

Each voice turned from wailing to praise.

“Nov. 9.—Heard of Edward Irving’s death. I look back upon him with

awe, as on the saints and martyrs of old. A holy man in spite of all his

delusions and errors. He is now with his God and Saviour, whom he

wronged so much, yet, I am persauded, loved so sincerely. How should we

lean for wisdom, not on ourselves, but on the God of all grace!”

“Nov. 21.—If nothing else will do to sever me from my sins, Lord send

me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly

slumbers. It must always be best to be alive to Thee, whatever be the

quickening instrument. I tremble as I write, for oh! on every hand do I see

too likely occasions for sore afflictions.”

“Feb. 15, 1835.—To-morrow I undergo my trials before the Presbytery.

May God give me courage in the hour of need. What should I fear? If God

see meet to put me into the ministry, who shall keep me back? If I be not

meet, why should I be thrust forward? To thy service I desire to dedicate

myself over and over again.”

“March 1.—Bodily service. What change is there in the heart! Wild,

earthly affections there are here; strong, coarse passions; bands both of iron

and silk. But I thank Thee, O my God, that they make me cry, ‘Oh wretched

man!’ Bodily weakness, too, depresses me.”

“March 29.—College finished on Friday last. My last appearance there.

Life itself is vanishing fast. Make haste for eternity.”

In such records as these, we read God’s dealings with his soul up to the

time when he was licensed to preach the gospel. His preparatory discipline,

both of heart and of intellect, had been directed by the Great Head of the

Church in a way that remarkably qualified him for the work he was to

perform in the vineyard.

His soul was prepared for the awful work of the ministry by much

prayer, and much study of the word of God; by affliction in his person; by

inward trials and sore temptations; by experience of the depth of corruption

in his own heart, and by discoveries of the Saviour’s fulness of grace. He

learnt experimentally to ask, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he

that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5. During the four

years that followed his awakening, he was oftentimes under the many

waters, but was ever raised again by the same divine hand that had drawn

him out at the first; till at length, though still often violently tossed, the

vessel was able steadily to keep the summit of the wave. It appears that he

learnt the way of salvation experimentally, ere he knew it accurately by

theory and system; and thus no doubt it was that his whole ministry was

little else than a giving out of his own inward life.

The Visiting Society noticed above was much blessed to the culture of

his soul, and not less so the Missionary Association and the Prayer Meeting

connected with it. None were more regular at the hour of prayer than he,

and none more frequently led up our praises to the throne. He was for some

time Secretary to the Association, and interested himself deeply in details of

missionary labours. Indeed, to the last day of his life, his thoughts often

turned to foreign lands; and one of the last notes he wrote was to the

Secretary of the Association in Edinburgh, expressing his unabated interest

in their prosperity.

During the first years of his college course, his studies did not absorb

his whole attention; but no sooner was the change on his soul begun, than

his studies shared in the results. A deeper sense of responsibility led him to

occupy his talents for the service of Him who bestowed them. There have

been few who, along with a devotedness of spirit that sought to be ever

directly engaged in the Lord’s work, have nevertheless retained such

continued and undecaying esteem for the advantages of study. While

attending the usual literary and philosophical classes, he found time to turn

his attention to Geology and Natural History. And often in his days of most

successful preaching, when, next to his own soul, his parish and his flock

were his only care, he has been known to express a regret that he had not

laid up in former days more stores of all useful knowledge; for he found

himself able to use the jewels of the Egyptians in the service of Christ. His

previous studies would sometimes flash into his mind some happy

illustration of divine truth, at the very moment when he was most solemnly

applying the glorious gospel to the most ignorant and vile.

His own words will best show his estimate of study, and at the same

time the prayerful manner in which he felt it should be carried on. “Do get

on with your studies,” he wrote to a young student in 1840. “Remember you

are now forming the character of your future ministry in great measure, if

God spare you. If you acquire slovenly or sleepy habits of study now, you

will never get the better of it. Do everything in its own time. Do everything

in earnest; if it is worth doing, then do it with all your might. Above all,

keep much in the presence of God. Never see the face of man till you have

seen his face who is our life, our all. Pray for others; pray for your teachers,

fellow-students,” etc. To another he wrote: “Beware of the atmosphere of

the classics. It is pernicious indeed; and you need much of the south wind

breathing over the Scriptures to counteract it. True, we ought to know them;

but only as chemists handle poisons—to discover their qualities, not to

infect their blood with them.” And again: “Pray that the Holy Spirit would

not only make you a believing and holy lad, but make you wise in your

studies also. A ray of divine light in the soul sometimes clears up a

mathematical problem wonderfully. The smile of God calms the spirit, and

the left hand of Jesus holds up the fainting head, and his Holy Spirit

quickens the affection, so that even natural studies go on a million times

more easily and comfortably.”

Before entering the Divinity Hall, he had attended a private class for the

study of Hebrew; and having afterwards attended the two sessions of Dr

Brunton’s college class, he made much progress in that language. He could

consult the Hebrew original of the Old Testament with as much ease as

most of our ministers are able to consult the Greek of the New.

It was about the time of his first year’s attendance at the Hall that I

began to know him as an intimate friend. During the summer vacations,—

that we might redeem the time,—some of us who remained in town, when

most of our fellow-students were gone to the country, used to meet once

every week in the forenoon, for the purpose of investigating some point of

Systematic Divinity, and stating to each other the amount and result of our

private reading. At another time we met in a similar way, till we had

overtaken the chief points of the Popish controversy. Advancement in our

acquaintance with the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures also brought us

together; and one summer the study of Unfulfilled Prophecy assembled a

few of us once a week, at an early morning hour, when, though our views

differed much on particular points, we never failed to get food to our souls

in the Scriptures we explored. But no society of this kind was more useful

and pleasant to as than one which, from its object, received the name of

Exegetical. It met during the session of the Theological classes every

Saturday morning at half-past six. The study of Biblical criticism, and

whatever might cast light on the word of God, was our aim; and these

meetings were kept up regularly during four sessions. Mr M‘Cheyne spoke

of himself as indebted to this society for much of that discipline of mind on

Jewish literature and Scripture geography which was found to be so useful

in the Mission of Inquiry to the Jews in after days.

But these helps in study were all the while no more than supplementary.

The regular systematic studies of the Hall furnished the main provision for

his mental culture. Under Dr Chalmers for Divinity, and under Dr Welsh for

Church History, a course of four years afforded no ordinary advantages for

enlarging the understanding. New fields of thought were daily opened up.

His notes and his diary testify that he endeavoured to retain what he heard,

and that he used to read as much of the books recommended by the

professors as his time enabled him to overtake. Many years after, he

thankfully called to mind lessons that had been taught in these classes.

Riding one day with Mr Hamilton (now of Regent Square, London) from

Abernyte to Dundee, they were led to speak of the best mode of dividing a

sermon. “I used,” said he, “to despise Dr Welsh’s rules at the time I heard

him; but now I feel I must use them, for nothing is more needful for making

a sermon memorable and impressive than a logical arrangement.”

His intellectual powers were of a high order: clear and distinct

apprehension of his subject, and felicitous illustration, characterized him

among all his companions. To an eager desire for wide acquaintance with

truth in all its departments, and a memory strong and accurate in retaining

what he found, there was added a remarkable candour in examining what

claimed to be the truth. He had also an ingenious and enterprising mind—a

mind that could carry out what was suggested, when it did not strike out

new light for itself. He possessed great powers of analysis; often his

judgment discovered singular discrimination. His imagination seldom

sought out objects of grandeur; for, as a friend has truly said of him, “he had

a kind and quiet eye, which found out the living and beautiful in nature,

rather than the majestic and sublime.”

He might have risen to high eminence in the circles of taste and

literature, but denied himself all such hopes, that he might win souls. With

such peculiar talents as be possessed, his ministry might have, in any

circumstances, attracted many; but these attractions were all made

subsidiary to the single desire of awakening the dead in trespasses and sins.

Nor would he have expected to be blessed to the salvation of souls unless he

had himself been a monument of sovereign grace. In his esteem, “to be in

Christ before being in the ministry” was a thing indispensable. He often

pointed to those solemn words of Jeremiah (23:21): “I have not sent these

prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if

they had stood in my counsel, and caused my people to hear my words, then

they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their

doings.”

It was with faith already in his heart that he went forward to the holy

office of the ministry, receiving from his Lord the rod by which he was to

do signs, and which, when it had opened rocks and made waters gush out,

he never failed to replace upon the ark whence it was taken, giving glory to

God! He knew not the way by which God was leading him; but even then

he was under the guidance of the pillar-cloud. At this very period he wrote

that hymn, They sing the song of Moses. His course was then about to

begin; but now that it has ended, we can look back and plainly see that the

faith he therein expressed was not in vain.

CHAPTER II

HIS LABOURS IN THE VINEYARD BEFORE ORDINATION

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him”.—Ps. 126:6.

WHILE he was still only undergoing a student’s usual examinations before

the Presbytery, in the spring and summer of 1835, several applications were

made to him by ministers in the Church, who desired to secure, his services

for their part of the vineyard. He was especially urged to consider the field

of labour at Larbert and Dunipace, near Stirling, under Mr John Bonar, the

pastor of these united parishes. This circumstance led him (as is often done

in such cases) to ask the Presbytery of Edinburgh, under whose

superintendence he had hitherto carried on his studies, to transfer the

remainder of his public trials to another Presbytery, where there would be

less press of business to occasion delay. This request being readily granted,

his connection with Dumfriesshire led him to the Presbytery of Annan, who

licensed him to preach the gospel on 1

July 1835. His feelings at the

moment appear from a record of his own in the evening of the day:

“Preached three probationary discourses in Annan Church, and, after an

examination in Hebrew, was solemnly licensed to preach the gospel by Mr

Monylaws, the moderator. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within

me, be stirred up to praise and magnify his holy name!’ What I have so long

desired as the highest honour of man, Thou at length givest me—me who

dare scarcely use the words of Paul: ‘Unto me who am less than the least of

all saints is this grace given, that I should preach the unsearchable riches of

Christ.’ Felt somewhat solemnized, though unable to feel my unworthiness

as I ought. Be clothed with humility.”

An event occurred the week before which cast a solemnizing influence

on him, and on his after fellow-traveller and brother in the gospel, who was

licensed by another Presbytery that same day. This event was the lamented

death of the Rev. John Brown Patterson of Falkirk—one whom the Lord

had gifted with preeminent eloquence and learning, and who was using all

for his Lord, when cut off by fever. He had spoken much before his death of

the awfulness of a pastor’s charge, and his early death sent home the lesson

to many, with the warning that the pastor’s account of souls might be

suddenly required of him.

On the following Sabbath, Mr M‘Cheyne preached for the first time in

Ruthwell Church, near Dumfries, on “the Pool of Bethesda;” and in the

afternoon on “the Strait Gate.” He writes that evening in his diary: “Found

it a more awfully solemn thing than I had imagined to announce Christ

authoritatively; yet a glorious privilege!” The week after (Saturday, July

11): “Lord, put me into thy service when and where Thou pleasest. In thy

hand all my qualities will be put to their appropriate end. Let me, then, have

no anxieties.” Next day, also, after preaching in St John’s Church, Leith:

“Remembered, before going into the pulpit, the confession which says, ‘We

have been more anxious about the messenger than the message.’ ” In

preaching that day, he states, “It came across me in the pulpit, that if spared

to be a minister, I might enjoy sweet flashes of communion with God in that

situation. The mind is entirely wrought up to speak for God. It is possible,

then, that more vivid acts of faith may be gone through then, than in quieter

and sleepier moments.”

It was not till the 7

of November that he began his labours at Larbert.

In the interval he preached in various places, and many began to perceive

the peculiar sweetness of the word in his lips. In accepting the invitation to

labour in the sphere proposed, he wrote: “It has always been my aim, and it

is my prayer, to have no plans with regard to myself, well assured as I am,

that the place where the Saviour sees meet to place me must ever be the best

place for me.”

The parish to which he had come was very large, containing six

thousand souls. The parish church is at Larbert; but through the exertions of

Mr Bonar, many years ago, a second church was erected for the people of

Dunipace. Mr Hanna, afterwards minister of Skirling, had preceded Mr

M‘Cheyne in the duties of assistant in his field of labour; and Mr M‘Cheyne

now entered on it with a fully devoted and zealous heart, although in a weak

state of health. As assistant, it was his part to preach every alternate Sabbath

at Larbert and Dunipace, and during the week to visit among the population

of both these districts, according as he felt himself enabled in body and

soul. There was a marked difference between the two districts in their

general features of character; but equal labour was bestowed on both by the

minister and his assistant; and often did their prayer ascend that the

windows of heaven might be opened over the two sanctuaries. Souls have

been saved there. Often, however, did the faithful pastor mingle his tears

with those of his younger fellow-soldier, complaining, “Lord, who hath

believed our report?” There was much sowing in faith; nor was this sowing

abandoned even when the returns seemed most inadequate.

Mr M‘Cheyne had great delight in remembering that Larbert was one of

the places where, in other days, that holy man of God, Robert Bruce, had

laboured and prayed. Writing at an after period from the Holy Land, he

expressed the wish, “May the Spirit be poured upon Larbert as in Bruce’s

days.” But more than all associations, the souls of the people, whose

salvation he longed for, were ever present to his mind. A letter to Mr Bonar,

in 1837, from Dundee, shows us his yearnings over them. “What an interest

I feel in Larbert and Dunipace! It is like the land of my birth. Will the Sun

of Righteousness ever rise upon it, making its hills and valleys bright with

the light of the knowledge of Jesus!”

No sooner was he settled in his chamber here, than he commenced his

work. With him, the commencement of all labour invariably consisted in the

preparation of his own soul. The forerunner of each day’s visitations was a

calm season of private devotion during morning hours. The walls of his

chamber were witnesses of his prayerfulness,—I believe of his tears as well

as of his cries. The pleasant sound of psalms often issued from his room at

an early hour. Then followed the reading of the word for his own

sanctification; and few have so fully realized the blessing of the first Psalm.

His leaf did not wither, for his roots were in the waters. It was here, too, that

he began to study so closely the works of Jonathan Edwards,—reckoning

them a mine to be wrought, and if wrought, sure to repay the toil. Along

with this author, the Letters of Samuel Rutherford were often in his hand.

Books of general knowledge he occasionally perused; but now it was done

with the steady purpose of finding in them some illustration of spiritual

truth. He rose from reading Insect Architecture, with the observation, “God

reigns in a community of ants and ichneumons, as visibly as among living

men or mighty seraphim!”

His desire to grow in acquaintance with Scripture was very intense; and

both Old and New Testament were his regular study. He loved to range over

the wide revelation of God. “He would be a sorry student of this world,”

said he to a friend, “who should for ever confine his gaze to the fruitful

fields and well-watered gardens of this cultivated earth. He could have no

true idea of what the world was, unless he had stood upon the rocks of our

mountains, and seen the bleak muirs and mosses of our barren land; unless

he had paced the quarter-deck when the vessel was out of sight of land, and

seen the waste of waters without any shore upon the horizon. Just so, he

would be a sorry student of the Bible who would not know all that God has

inspired; who would not examine into the most barren chapters to collect

the good for which they were intended; who would not strive to understand

all the bloody battles which are chronicled, that he might find ‘bread out of

the eater, and honey out of the lion.’ ”—(June 1836.)

His anxiety to have every possible help to holiness led him to notice

what are the disadvantages of those who are not daily stirred up by the

fellowship of more advanced believers. “I have found, by some experience,

that in the country here my watch does not go so well as it used to do in

town. By small and gradual changes I find it either gains or loses, and I am

surprised to find myself different in time from all the world, and, what is

worse, from the sun. The simple explanation is, that in town I met with a

steeple in every street, and a good-going clock upon it; and so any

aberrations in my watch were soon noticed and easily corrected. And just so

I sometimes think it may be with that inner watch, whose hands point not to

time but to eternity. By gradual and slow changes the wheels of my soul lag

behind, or the springs of passions become too powerful; and I have no

living timepiece with which I may compare, and by which I may amend my

going. You will say that I may always have the sun: And so it should be; but

we have many clouds which obscure the sun from our weak eyes.”—(Letter

to Rev. H. Bonar, Kelso.)

From the first he fed others by what he himself was feeding upon. His

preaching was in a manner the development of his soul’s experience. It was

a giving out of the inward life. He loved to come up from the pastures

wherein the Chief Shepherd had met him—to lead the flock entrusted to his

care to the spots where he found nourishment.

In the field of his labour he found enough of work to overwhelm his

spirit. The several collieries and the Carron Ironworks furnish a population

who are, for the most part, either sunk in deep indifference to the truth, or

are opposed to it in the spirit of infidelity. Mr M‘Cheyne at once saw that

the pastor whom he had come to aid, whatever was the measure of his

health, and zeal, and perseverance, had duties laid on him which were

altogether beyond the power of man to overtake. When he made a few

weeks’ trial, the field appeared more boundless, and the mass of souls more

impenetrable, than he had ever conceived.

It was probably, in some degree, his experience at this time that gave

him such deep sympathy with the Church Extension Scheme, as a truly

noble and Christian effort for bringing the glad tidings to the doors of a

population who must otherwise remain neglected, and were themselves

willing so to live and die. He conveyed his impressions on this subject to a

friend abroad, in the following terms: “There is a soul-destroying cruelty in

the cold-hearted opposition which is made to the multiplication of ministers

in such neglected and overgrown districts as these. If one of our Royal

Commissioners would but consent to undergo the bodily fatigue that a

minister ought to undergo in visiting merely the sick and dying of Larbert

(let alone the visitation of the whole, and preparation for the pulpit), and

that for one month, I would engage that if he be able to rise out of his bed

by the end of it, he would change his voice and manner at the Commission

Board.”

A few busy weeks passed over, occupied from morning to night in such

cares and toils, when another part of the discipline he was to undergo was

sent. In the end of December, strong oppression of the heart and an irritating

cough caused some of his friends to fear that his lungs were affected; and

for some weeks he was laid aside from public duty. On examination, it was

found that though there was a dulness in the right lung, yet the material of

the lungs was not affected. For a time, however, the air-vessels were so

clogged and irritated, that if he had continued to preach, disease would have

quickly ensued. But this also was soon removed, and, under cautious

management, he resumed his work.

This temporary illness served to call forth the extreme sensitiveness of

his soul to the responsibilities of his office. At its commencement—having

gone to Edinburgh “in so sweet a sunshine morning that God seemed to

have chosen it for him”—he wrote to Mr Bonar: “If I am not recovered

before the third Sabbath, I fear I shall not be able to bear upon my

conscience the responsibility of leaving you any longer to labour alone,

bearing unaided the burden of 6000 souls. No, my dear sir, I must read the

will of God aright in his providence, and give way, when He bids me, to

fresh and abler workmen. I hope and pray that it may be his will to restore

me again to you and your parish, with a heart tutored by sickness, to speak

more and more as dying to dying.” Then, mentioning two of the sick: “Poor

A. D. and C. H., I often think of them. I can do no more for their good,

except pray for them. Tell them that I do this without ceasing.”

The days when a holy pastor, who knows the blood-sprinkled way to

the Father, is laid aside, are probably as much a proof of the kindness of

God to his flock as days of health and activity. He is occupied, during this

season of retirement, in discovering the plagues of his heart, and in going

in, like Moses, to plead with God face to face for his flock, and for his own

soul. Mr M‘Cheyne believed that God had this end in view with him; and

that the Lord should thus deal with him at his entrance into the vineyard

made him ponder these dealings the more. “Paul asked,” says he, “ ‘What

wilt Thou have me to do?’ and it was answered, ‘I will show him what great

things he must suffer for my name’s sake.’ Thus it may be with me. I have

been too anxious to do great things. The lust of praise has ever been my

besetting sin; and what more befitting school could be found for me than

that of suffering alone, away from the eye and ear of man?” Writing again

to Mr Bonar, he tells him: “I feel distinctly that the whole of my labour

during this season of sickness and pain should be in the way of prayer and

intercession. And yet, so strongly does Satan work in our deceitful hearts, I

scarcely remember a season wherein I have been more averse to these

duties. I try to ‘build myself up in my most holy faith, praying in the Holy

Ghost, keeping myself in the love of God, and looking for the mercy of the

Lord Jesus unto eternal life.’ That text of Jude has peculiar beauties for me

at this season. If it be good to come under the love of God once, surely it is

good to keep ourselves there. And yet how reluctant we are! I cannot doubt

that boldness is offered me to enter into the holiest of all; I cannot doubt my

right and title to enter continually by the new and bloody way; I cannot

doubt that when I do enter in, I stand not only forgiven, but accepted in the

Beloved; I cannot doubt that when I do enter in, the Spirit is willing and

ready to descend like a dove, to dwell in my bosom as a Spirit of prayer and

peace, enabling me to ‘pray in the Holy Ghost;’ and that Jesus is ready to

rise up as my intercessor with the Father, praying for me though not for the

world; and that the prayer-hearing God is ready to bend his ear to requests

which He delights to hear and answer. I cannot doubt that thus to dwell in

God is the true blessedness of my nature; and yet, strange unaccountable

creature! I am too often unwilling to enter in. I go about and about the

sanctuary, and I sometimes press in through the rent vail, and see the

blessedness of dwelling there to be far better than that of the tents of

wickedness; yet it is certain that I do not dwell within.”—“My prayers

follow you, especially to the sick-beds of A. D. and C. H. I hope they still

survive, and that Christ may yet be glorified in them.”

On resuming his labours, he found a residence in Carronvale. From this

pleasant spot he used to ride out to his work. But pleasant as the spot was,

yet being only partially recovered, he was not satisfied; he lamented that he

was unable to overtake what a stronger labourer would have accomplished.

He often cast a regretful look at the collieries; and remembering them still

at a later period, he reproached himself with neglect, though most unjustly.

“The places which I left utterly unbroken in upon are Kinnaird and Milton.

Both of these rise up against my conscience, particularly the last, through

which I have ridden so often.” It was not the comfort, but the positive

usefulness of the ministry, that he envied; and he judged of places by their

fitness to promote this great end. He said of a neighbouring parish, which

he had occasion to visit: “The manse is altogether too sweet; other men

could hardly live there without saying, ‘This is my rest.’ I don’t think

ministers’ manses should ever be so beautiful.”

A simple incident was overruled to promote the ease and fluency of his

pulpit ministrations. From the very beginning of his ministry he reprobated

the custom of reading sermons, believing that to do so does exceedingly

weaken the freedom and natural fervour of the messenger in delivering his

message. Neither did he recite what he had written. But his custom was to

impress on his memory the substance of what he had beforehand carefully

written, and then to speak as he found liberty. One morning, as he rode

rapidly along to Dunipace, his written sermons were dropped on the

wayside. This accident prevented him having the opportunity of preparing

in his usual manner; but he was enabled to preach with more than usual

freedom. For the first time in his life, he discovered that he possessed the

gift of extemporaneous composition, and learned, to his own surprise, that

he had more composedness of mind and command of language than he had

believed. This discovery, however, did not in the least degree diminish his

diligent preparation. Indeed, the only use that he made of the incident at the

time it occurred was, to draw a lesson of dependence on God’s own

immediate blessing rather than on the satisfactory preparation made. “One

thing always fills the cup of my consolation, that God may work by the

meanest and poorest words, as well as by the most polished and ornate,—

yea, perhaps more readily, that the glory may be all his own.”

His hands were again full, distributing the bread of life in fellowship

with Mr Bonar. The progress of his own soul, meanwhile, may be traced in

some of the few entries that occur in his diary during this period:—

“Feb. 21, 1836, Sabbath.—Blessed be the Lord for another day of the

Son of man. Resumed my diary, long broken off; not because I do not feel

the disadvantages of it,—making you assume feelings and express rather

what you wish to be than what you are,—but because the advantages seem

greater. It ensures sober reflection on the events of the day as seen in God’s

eye. Preached twice in Larbert, on the righteousness of God, Rom. 1:16. In

the morning was more engaged in preparing the head than the heart. This

has been frequently my error, and I have always felt the evil of it, especially

in prayer. Reform it, then, O Lord.”

“Feb. 27.—Preached in Dunipace with more heart than ever I

remember to have done, on Rom. 5:10, owing to the gospel nature of the

subject and prayerful preparation. Audience smaller than usual! How happy

and strange is the feeling when God gives the soul composure to stand and

plead for Him! Oh that it were altogether for Him I plead, not for myself!”

“March 5.—Preached in Larbert with very much comfort, owing

chiefly to my remedying the error of 21

Feb. Therefore the heart and the

mouth were full. ‘Enlarge my heart, and I shall run,’ said David. ‘Enlarge

my heart, and I shall preach.’ ”

In this last remark we see the germ of his remarkably solemn ministry.

His heart was filled, and his lips then spoke what he felt within his heart. He

gave out not merely living water, but living water drawn at the springs that

he had himself drank of; and is not this a true gospel ministry? Some

venture to try what they consider a more intellectual method of addressing

the conscience; but ere a minister attempts this mode, he ought to see that

he is one who is able to afford more deep and anxious preparation of heart

than other men. Since the intellectual part of the discourse is not that which

is most likely to be an arrow in the conscience, those pastors who are

intellectual men must bestow tenfold more prayerfulness on their work, if

they would have either their own or their people’s souls affected under their

word. If we are ever to preach with compassion for the perishing, we must

ourselves be moved by those same views of sin and righteousness which

moved the human soul of Jesus. (See Psalm 38 and 55.)

About this time he occasionally contributed papers to the Christian

Herald: one of these was On sudden Conversions, showing that Scripture

led us to expect such. During this month he seems to have written the Lines

on Mungo Park, one of the pieces which attracted the notice of Professor

Wilson. But whatever he engaged in, his aim was to honour his Master. I

find him, after hearing sermon by another, remarking (April 3), “Some

things powerful; but I thirst to hear more of Christ.”

On Sabbath 16, he writes: “Preached with some tenderness of heart. Oh,

why should I not weep, as Jesus did over Jerusalem? Evening—Instructing

two delightful Sabbath schools. Much bodily weariness. Gracious kindness

of God in giving rest to the weary.”

“April 13.—Went to Stirling to hear Dr Duff once more upon his

system. With greater warmth and energy than ever. He kindles as he goes.

Felt almost constrained to go the whole length of his system with him. If it

were only to raise up an audience, it would be defensible; but when it is to

raise up teachers, it is more than defensible. I am now made willing, if God

shall open the way, to go to India. Here am I; send me!”

The missionary feeling in his soul continued all his life. The Lord had

really made him willing; and this preparedness to go anywhere completed

his preparation for unselfish, self-denied work at home. Must there not be

somewhat of this missionary tendency in all true ministers? Is any one truly

the Lord’s messenger who is not quite willing to go when and where the

Lord calls? Is it justifiable in any to put aside a call from the north, on the

ground that he wishes one from the south? We must be found in the position

of Isaiah, if we are to be really sent of God.

“April 24.—Oh that this day’s labour may be blessed! and not mine

alone, but all thy faithful servants all over the world, till thy Sabbath come.”

“April 26.—Visiting in Carron-shore. Well received everywhere. Truly

a pleasant labour. Cheered me much. Preached to them afterwards from

Proverbs 1.”

“May 8.—Communion in Larbert. Served as an elder and help to the

faithful. Partook with some glimpses of faith and joy. Served by a faithful

old minister (Mr Dempster of Denny), one taught of God. This morning

stood by the dying—evening, stood by the dead, poor J. F. having died last

night. I laid my hand on her cold forehead, and tried to shut her eyes. Lord,

give me strength for living to Thee!—strength also for a dying hour.”

“May 15.—This day an annular eclipse of the sun. Kept both the

services together in order to be in time. Truly a beautiful sight to see the

shining edge of the sun all round the dark disc of the moon. Lord, one day

thy hand shall put out those candles; for there shall be no need of the sun to

lighten the happy land: the Lamb is the light thereof; a sun that cannot be

eclipsed—that cannot go down.”

“May 17.—Visited thirteen families, and addressed them all in the

evening in the school, on Jeremiah 50:4, ‘Going and weeping.’ Experienced

some enlargement of soul; said some plain things; and had some desire for

their salvation, that God might be praised.”

“May 21.—Preparation for the Sabbath. My birth-day. I have lived

twenty-three years. Blessed be my Rock. Though I am a child in knowledge

of my Bible and of Thee, yet use me for what a child can do, or a child can

suffer. How few sufferings I have had in the year that is past, except in my

own body. Oil that as my day is my strength may be! Give me strength for a

suffering and for a dying hour!”

“May 22.—O Lord, when Thou workest, all discouragements vanish;

when Thou art away, anything is a discouragement. Blessed be God for

such a day—one of a thousand! Oh! why not always this? Watch and pray.”

Being in Edinburgh this month, during the sitting of the General

Assembly, he used the opportunity of revisiting some of his former charge

in the Canongate. “J. S., a far-off inquirer, but surely God is leading. His

hand draws out these tears. Interesting visits to L.; near death, and still in

the same mind. I cannot but hope that some faith is here. Saw Mrs M.;

many tears: felt much, though I am still doubtful, and in the dark. Thou

knowest, Lord!”

“June 11.—Yesterday up in Dunipace. It would seem as if I were afraid

to name the name of Christ. Saw many worldly people greatly needing a

word in season, yet could not get up my heart to speak. What I did failed

almost completely. I am not worthy, Lord! To-day sought to prepare my

heart for the coming Sabbath. After the example of Boston, whose life I

have been reading, examined my heart with prayer and fasting. 1. Does my

heart really close with the offer of salvation by Jesus? Is it my choice to be

saved in the way which gives Him all the praise, and me none? Do I not

only see it to be the Bible way of salvation, but does it cordially approve

itself to my heart as delightful? Lord, search me and try me, for I cannot but

answer, Yes, yes. 2. Is it the desire of my heart to be made altogether holy?

Is there any sin I wish to retain? Is sin a grief to me, the sudden risings and

overcomings thereof especially? Lord, Thou knowest all things—Thou

knowest that I hate all sin, and desire to be made altogether like Thee. It is

the sweetest word in the Bible: ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you.’ Oh,

then, that I might lie low in the dust,—the lower the better,—that Jesus’

righteousness and Jesus’ strength alone be admired! Felt much deadness,

and much grief that I cannot grieve for this deadness. Towards evening

revived. Got a calm spirit through psalmody and prayer.”

“June 12, Sabbath.—To-day a sinner preached Jesus, the same Jesus

who has done all things for him, and that so lately! A day of much help, of

some earnest looking-up of the heart to that alone quickening power, of

much temptation to flattery and pride. Oh for breathing gales of spiritual

life! Evening—Somewhat helped to lay Jesus before little children in his

beauty and excellency. Much fatigue, yet some peace. Surely a day in thy

courts is better than a thousand.”

“June 15.—Day of visiting (rather a happy one) in Carron-shore. Large

meeting in the evening. Felt very happy after it, though mourning for bitter

speaking of the gospel. Surely it is a gentle message, and should be spoken

with angelic tenderness, especially by such a needy sinner.”

Of this bitterness in preaching, he had little indeed in after days; yet so

sensible was he of its being quite natural to all of us, that oftentimes he

made it the subject of conversation, and used to grieve over himself if he

had spoken with anything less than solemn compassion. I remember on one

occasion, when we met, he asked what my last Sabbath’s subject had been.

It bad been, “The wicked shall be turned into hell.” On hearing this awful

text, he asked, “Were you able to preach it with tenderness?” Certain it is

that the tone of reproach and upbraiding is widely different from the voice

of solemn warning. It is not saying hard things that pierces the consciences

of our people; it is the voice of divine love heard amid the thunder. The

sharpest point of the two-edged sword is not death, but life; and against

self-righteous souls this latter ought to be more used than the former. For

such souls can hear us tell of the open gates of hell and the unquenchable

fire far more unconcernedly than of the gates of heaven wide open for their

immediate return. When we preach that the glad tidings were intended to

impart immediate assurance of eternal life to every sinner that believes

them, we strike deeper upon the proud enmity of the world to God, than

when we show the eternal curse and the second death.

“June 19, Sabbath.—Wet morning. Preached at Dunipace to a small

audience, on Parable of the Tares. I thank God for that blessed parable.—In

both discourses I can look back on many hateful thoughts of pride, and self-

admiration, and love of praise, stealing the heart out of the service.”

“June 22.—Carron-shore. My last. Some tears; yet I fear some like the

messenger, not the message; and I fear I am so vain as to love that love.

Lord, let it not be so. Perish my honour, but let thine be exalted for ever.”

“June 26.—True Sabbath-day. Golden sky. Full church, and more

liveliness than sometimes. Shall I call the liveliness of this day a gale of the

Spirit, or was all natural? I know that all was not of grace; the self-

admiration, the vanity, the desire of honour, the bitterness—these were all

breaths of earth or hell. But was there no grace? Lord, Thou knowest. I dare

not wrong Thee by saying—No! Larbert Sabbath school with the same

liveliness and joy. Domestic work with the same. Praised be God! Oh that

the savour of it may last through the week! By this may I test if it be all of

nature, or much of grace. Alas! how I tremble for my Monday mornings—

those seasons of lifelessness. Lord, bless the seeds sown this day in the

hearts of my friends, by the hand of my friends, and all over the world—

hasten the harvest!”

“July 3.—After a week of working and hurried preparation, a Sabbath

of mingled peace and pain. Called, morning before preaching, to see Mrs

E., dying. Preached on the Jailor—discomposedly—with some glimpses of

the genuine truth as it is in Jesus. Felt there was much mingling of

experience. At times the congregation was lightened up from their dull

flatness, and then they sunk again into lethargy. O Lord, make me hang on

Thee to open their hearts, Thou opener of Lydia’s heart. I fear Thou wilt not

bless my preaching, until I am brought thus to hang on Thee. Oh keep not

back a blessing for my sin! Afternoon—On the Highway of the Redeemed,

with more case and comfort. Felt the truth sometimes boiling up from my

heart into my words. Some glimpses of tenderness, yet much less of that

spirit than the last two Sabbaths. Again saw the dying woman. Oh when

will I plead, with my tears and inward yearnings, over sinners! Oh,

compassionate Lord, give me to know what manner of spirit I am of! give

me thy gentle Spirit, that neither strives nor cries. Much weariness, want of

prayerfulness, and want of cleaving to Christ.” Tuesday the 5

being the

anniversary of his licence to preach the gospel, he writes: “Eventful week;

one year I have preached Jesus, have I? or myself? I have often preached

myself also, but Jesus I have preached.”

About this time he again felt the hand of affliction, though it did not

continue long. Yet it was plain to him now that personal trouble was to be

one of the ingredients of that experience which helped to give a peculiar

tone to his ministry.

“July 8.—Since Tuesday have been laid up with illness. Set by once

more for a season to feel my unprofitableness and cure my pride. When

shall this self-choosing temper be healed? ‘Lord, I will preach, run, visit,

wrestle,’ said I. ‘No, thou shalt lie in thy bed and suffer,’ said the Lord. To-

day missed some fine opportunities of speaking a word for Christ. The Lord

saw I would have spoken as much for my own honour as his, and therefore

shut ray mouth. I see a man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches

Christ for Christ’s sake—until he gives up striving to attract people to

himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ. Lord, give me this! To-

night some glimpses of humbling, and therefore some wrestling in social

prayer. But my prayers are scarcely to be called prayer.” Then, in the

evening: “This day my brother has been five years absent from the body

and present with the Lord, and knows more and loves more than all earthly

saints together. Till the day break and the shadows flee away, turn, my

Beloved!”

“July 10.—I fear I am growing more earthly in some things. To-day I

felt a difficulty in bringing in spiritual conversation immediately after

preaching, when my bosom should be burning. Excused myself from dining

out from other than the grand reason; though checked and corrected myself.

Evening—Insensibly slid into worldly conversation. Let these things be

corrected in me, O Lord, by the heart being more filled with love to Jesus,

and more ejaculatory prayer.”

“July 17, Sabbath.—Oh that I may remember my own word this day:

that the hour of communion is the hour for the foxes—the little foxes—to

spoil the wine. Two things that defile this day in looking back, are love of

praise running through all, and consenting to listen to worldly talk at all. Oh

that these may keep me humble and be my burden, leading me to the cross.

Then, Satan, thou wilt be outwitted!”

“July 19.—Died, this day, W. M‘Cheyne, my cousin-german, Relief

minister, Kelso. Oh how I repent of our vain controversies on

Establishments when we last met, and that we spoke so little of Jesus! Oh

that we had spoken more one to another! Lord, teach me to be always

speaking as dying to dying.”

“July 24.—Dunipace Communion—Heard Mr Purves of Jedburgh

preach, ‘Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of

salvation.’ The only way to come to ordinances, and to draw from the well,

is to come with the matter of acceptance settled, believing God’s anger to be

turned away. Truly a precious view of the freeness of the gospel very

refreshing. My soul needs to be roused much to apprehend this truth.”

Above (July 3) he spoke of “mingling experience with the genuine truth

as it is in Jesus.” It is to this that he refers again in the last paragraph. His

deep acquaintance with the human heart and passions often led him to dwell

at greater length, not only on those topics whereby the sinner might be

brought to discover his guilt, but also on marks that would evidence a

change, than on “the glad tidings.” And yet he ever felt that these blessed

tidings, addressed to souls in the very gall of bitterness, were the true theme

of the minister of Christ; and never did he preach other than a full salvation

ready for the chief of sinners. From the very first, also, he carefully avoided

the error of those who rather speculate or doctrinize about the gospel, than

preach the gospel itself. Is not the true idea of preaching that of one, like

Abimaaz, coming with all-important tidings, and intent on making these

tidings known? Occupied with the facts he has to tell, he has no heart to

speculate on mere abstractions; nay, he is apt to forget what language he

employs, excepting so far as the very grandeur of the tidings gives a glow

of eloquence to his words. The glorious fact, “By this man is preached unto

you the forgiveness of sins,” is the burden of every sermon. The crier is sent

to the openings of the gate by his Lord, to herald forth this one infinitely

important truth through the whole creation under heaven.

He seems invariably to have applied for his personal benefit what he

gave out to his people. We have already noticed how he used to feed on the

word, not in order to prepare himself for his people, but for personal

edification. To do so was a fundamental rule with him; and all pastors will

feel that, if they are to prosper in their own souls, they must so use the

word,—sternly refusing to admit the idea of feeding others, until satiated

themselves. And for similar ends it is needful that we let the truth we hear

preached sink down into our own souls. We, as well as our people, must

drink in the falling shower. Mr M‘Cheyne did so. It is common to find him

speaking thus: “July 31, Sabbath.—Afternoon, on Judas betraying Christ;

much more tenderness than ever I felt before. Oh that I might abide in the

bosom of Him who washed Judas’ feet, and dipped his hand in the same

dish with him, and warned him, and grieved over him,—that I might catch

the infection of his love, of his tenderness, so wonderful, so unfathomable.”

Coming home on a Sabbath evening (Aug. 7

) from Torwood Sabbath

school, a person met him who suggested an opportunity of usefulness.

There were two families of gypsies encamped at Torwood, within his reach.

He was weary with a long day’s labour; but instantly, as was his custom on

such a call, set off to find them. By the side of their wood-fire, he opened

out the parable of the Lost Sheep, and pressed it on their souls in simple

terms. He then knelt down in prayer for them, and left them somewhat

impressed, and very grateful.

At this time a youthful parishioner, for whose soul he felt much anxiety,

left his father’s roof. Ever watchful for souls, he seized this opportunity of

laying before him more fully the things belonging to his peace.

“LARBERT, August 8, 1836.

“MY DEAR G. ——. You will be surprised to hear from me. I have often

wished to be better acquainted with you; but in these sad parishes we cannot

manage to know and be intimate with every one we would desire. And now

you have left your father’s roof and our charge; still my desires go after

you, as well as the kind thoughts of many others; and since I cannot now

speak to you, I take this way of expressing my thoughts to you. I do not

know in what light you look upon me, whether as a grave and morose

minister, or as one who might be a companion and friend; but really, it is so

short a while since I was just like you, when I enjoyed the games which you

now enjoy, and read the books which you now read, that I never can think

of myself as anything more than a boy. This is one great reason why I write

to you. The same youthful blood flows in my veins that flows in yours, the

same fancies and buoyant passions dance in my bosom as in yours; so that

when I would persuade you to come with me to the same Saviour, and to

walk the rest of your life ‘led by the Spirit of God,’ I am not persuading you

to anything beyond your years. I am not like a grey-headed grandfather,—

then you might answer all I say by telling me that you are a boy. No; I am

almost as much a boy as you are; as fond of happiness and of life as you

are; as fond of scampering over the hills, and seeing all that is to be seen, as

you are.

“Another thing that persuades me to write you, my dear boy, is, that I

have felt in my own experience the want of having a friend to direct and

counsel me. I had a kind brother as you have, who taught me many things.

He gave me a Bible, and persuaded me to read it; he tried to train me as a

gardener trains the apple-tree upon the wall; but all in vain. I thought myself

far wiser than he, and would always take my own way; and many a time, I

well remember, I have seen him reading his Bible, or shutting his closet

door to pray, when I have been dressing to go to some frolic, or some dance

of folly. Well, this dear friend and brother died; and though his death made

a greater impression upon me than ever his life had done, still I found the

misery of being friendless. I do not mean that I had no relations and worldly

friends, for I had many; but I had no friend who cared for my soul. I had

none to direct me to the Saviour—none to awaken my slumbering

conscience—none to tell me about the blood of Jesus washing away all sin

—none to tell me of the Spirit who is so willing to change the heart, and

give the victory over passions. I had no minister to take me by the hand, and

say, ‘Come with me, and we will do thee good.’ Yes, I had one friend and

minister, but that was Jesus himself, and He led me in a way that makes me

give Him, and Him only, all the praise. Now, though Jesus may do this

again, yet the more common way with Him is to use earthly guides. Now, if

I could supply the place of such a guide to you, I should be happy. To be a

finger-post is all that I want to be—pointing out the way. This is what I so

much wanted myself; this is what you need not want, unless you wish.

“Tell me, dear G., would you work less pleasantly through the day—

would you walk the streets with a more doleful step—would you eat your

meat with less gladness of heart—would you sleep less tranquilly at night—

if you had the forgiveness of sins, that is, if all your wicked thoughts and

deeds—lies, thefts, and Sabbath-breakings—were all blotted out of God’s

book of remembrance? Would this make you less happy, do you think? You

dare not say it would. But would the forgiveness of sins not make you more

happy than you are? Perhaps you will tell me that you are very happy as

you are. I quite believe you. I know that I was, very happy when I was

unforgiven. I know that I had great pleasure in many sins—in Sabbath-

breaking, for instance. Many a delightful walk I have had,—speaking my

own words, thinking my own thoughts, and seeking my own pleasure on

God’s holy day. I fancy few boys were ever happier in an unconverted state

than I was. No sorrow clouded my brow—no tears filled my eyes, unless

over some nice story-book; so that I know that you say quite true, when you

say that you are happy as you are. But ah! is not this just the saddest thing

of all, that you should be happy whilst you are a child of wrath,—that you

should smile, and eat, and drink, and be merry, and sleep sound, when this

very night you may be in hell? Happy while unforgiven!—a terrible

happiness. It is like the Hindoo widow who sits upon the funeral pile with

her dead husband, and sings songs of joy when they are setting fire to the

wood with which she is to be burned. Yes, you may be quite happy in this

way, till you die, my boy; but when you look back from hell, you will say, it

was a miserable kind of happiness. Now, do you think it would not give you

more happiness to be forgiven,—to be able to put on Jesus, and say, ‘God’s

anger is turned away?’ Would not you be happier at work, and happier in

the house, and happier in your bed? I can assure you, from all that ever I

have felt of it, the pleasures of being forgiven are as superior to the

pleasures of an unforgiven man, as heaven is higher than hell. The peace of

being forgiven reminds me of the calm, blue sky, which no earthly clamours

can disturb. It lightens all labour, sweetens every morsel of bread, and

makes a sick-bed all soft and downy; yea, it takes away the scowl of death.

Now, forgiveness may be yours now. It is not given to those who are good.

It is not given to any because they are less wicked than others. It is given

only to those who, feeling that their sins have brought a curse on them

which they cannot lift off, ‘look unto Jesus,’ as bearing all away.

“Now, my dear boy, I have no wish to weary you. If you are anything

like what I was, you will have yawned many a time already over this letter.

However, if the Lord deal graciously with you, and touch your young heart,

as I pray He may, with a desire to be forgiven, and to be made a child of

God, perhaps you will not take ill what I have written to you in much haste.

As this is the first time you have been away from home, perhaps you have

not learned to write letters yet; but if you have, I would like to hear from

you, how you come on—what convictions you feel, if you feel any—what

difficulties, what parts of the Bible puzzle you, and then I would do my best

to unravel them. You read your Bible regularly, of course; but do try and

understand it, and still more, to feel it. Read more parts than one at a time.

For example, if you are reading Genesis, read a psalm also; or, if you are

reading Matthew, read a small bit of an epistle also. Turn the Bible into

prayer. Thus, if you were reading the 1

Psalm, spread the Bible on the

chair before you, and kneel, and pray, ‘O Lord, give me the blessedness of

the man,’ etc. ‘Let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly,’ etc. ‘This is

the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible, and of learning to pray.

In prayer confess your sins by name—going over those of the past day, one

by one. Pray for your friends by name—father, mother, etc. etc. If you love

them, surely you will pray for their souls. I know well that there are prayers

constantly ascending for you from your own house; and will you not pray

for them back again? Do this regularly. If you pray sincerely for others, it

will make you pray for yourself.

“But I must be done. Good-bye, dear G. Remember me to your brother

kindly, and believe me your sincere friend,

“R. M. M.”

It is the shepherd’s duty (Ezek. 34:4), in visiting his flock, to

discriminate; “strengthening the diseased, healing that which was sick,

binding up that which was broken, bringing again that which was driven

away, seeking that which was lost.” This Mr M‘Cheyne tried to do. In an

after-letter to Mr Somerville of Anderston, in reference to the people of

these parishes, whom he had had means of knowing, he wrote, “Take more

heed to the saints than ever I did. Speak a word in season to S. M. S. H. will

drink in simple truth, but tell him to be humble-minded. Cause L. H. to

learn in silence; speak not of religion to her, but speak to her case always.

Teach A. M. to look simply at Jesus. J. A. warn and teach. Get worldliness

from the B.’s, if you can. Mrs G. awake or keep awake. Speak faithfully to

the B.’s. Tell me of M. C., if she is really a believer, and grows. A. K., has

the light visited her? M. T. I have had some doubts of. M. G. lies sore upon

my conscience; I did no good to that woman: she always managed to speak

of things about the truth. Speak boldly. What matter in eternity the slight

awkwardnesses of time!”

It was about this time that the managers and congregation of the new

church, St Peter’s, Dundee, invited him to preach as one of the candidates;

and, in the end of August, chose him to be their pastor, with one accord. He

accepted the call under an awful sense of the work that lay before him. He

would rather, he said, have made choice for himself of such a rural parish as

Dunipace; but the Lord seemed to desire it otherwise. “His ways are in the

sea.” More than once, at a later period, he would say, “We might have

thought that God would have sent a strong man to such a parish as mine,

and not a feeble reed.”

The first day he preached in St Peter’s as a candidate (August 14

) is

thus recorded: “Forenoon—Mind not altogether in a preaching frame; on

the Sower. Afternoon—With more encouragement and help of the Spirit; on

the voice of the Beloved, in Cant. 2:8–17. In the Evening—With all my

heart; on Ruth. Lord, keep me humble.” Returning from St Peter’s the

second time, he observed in his class of girls at Dunipace more than usual

anxiety. One of them seemed to be thoroughly awakened that evening.

“Thanks be to Thee, Lord, for anything,” he writes that evening; for as yet

he had sown without seeing fruit. It seems to have been part of the Lord’s

dealing with him, thus to teach him to persevere in duty and in faith, even

where there was no obvious success. The arrow that was yet to wound

hundreds was then receiving its point; but it lay in the quiver for a time. The

Lord seemed to be touching his own heart, and melting it by what he spoke

to others, rather than touching or melting the hearts of those he spoke to.

But from the day of his preaching in St Peter’s, tokens of success began.

His first day there, especially the evening sermon on Ruth, was blessed to

two souls in Dundee; and now he sees souls begin to melt under his last

words in the parish where he thought he had hitherto spent his strength in

vain.

As he was now to leave this sphere, he sought out, with deep anxiety, a

labourer who would help their overburdened pastor, in true love to the

people’s souls. He believed he had found such a labourer in Mr Somerville,

his friend who had shared his every thought and feeling in former days, and

who, with a sharp sickle in his hand, was now advancing toward the harvest

field. “I see plainly,” he wrote to Mr Bonar, “that my poor attempts at

labour in your dear parish will soon be eclipsed. But if at length the iron

front of unbelief give way, if the hard faces become furrowed with the tears

of anxiety and of faith, under whatever ministry, you will rejoice, and I will

rejoice, and the angels, and the Father and God of angels, will rejoice.” It

was in this spirit that he closed his short ten months of labour in this region.

His last sermons to the people of Larbert and Dunipace were on Hosea

14:1, “O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God;” and Jeremiah 8:20, “Harvest

is past.” In the evening he writes, “Lord, I feel bowed down because of the

little I have done for them which Thou mightest have blessed! My bowels

yearn over them, and all the more that I have done so little. Indeed, I might

have done ten times as much as I have done. I might have been in every

house; I might have spoken always as a minister. Lord, canst Thou bless

partial, unequal efforts?”

I believe it was about this time that some of us first of all began our

custom of praying specially for each other on Saturday evening, with a

reference to our engagements in the ministry next day. This concert for

prayer we have never since seen cause to discontinue. It has from time to

time been widened in its circle; and as yet his has been the only voice that

has been silenced of all that thus began to go in on each other’s behalf

before the Lord. Mr M‘Cheyne never failed to remember this time of

prayer: “Larbert and Dunipace are always on my heart, especially on the

Saturday evenings, when I pray for a glorious Sabbath!” On one occasion,

in Dundee, he was asked if the accumulation of business in his parish never

led him to neglect the season of prayer on a busy Saturday. His reply was,

that he was not aware that it ever did. “What would my people do if I were

not to pray?”

So steady was he in Sabbath preparations, from the first day to the last

time he was with them, that though at prayer-meetings, or similar occasions,

he did not think it needful to have much laid up before coming to address

his people; yet, anxious to give them on the Sabbath what had cost him

somewhat, he never, without an urgent reason, went before them without

much previous meditation and prayer. His principle on this subject was

embodied in a remark he made to some of us who were conversing on the

matter. Being asked his view of diligent preparation for the pulpit, he

reminded ns of Exodus 27:20: “Beaten oil—beaten oil for the lamps of the

sanctuary.” And yet his prayerfulness was greater still. Indeed, he could not

neglect fellowship with God before entering the congregation. He needed to

be bathed in the love of God. His ministry was so much a bringing out of

views that had first sanctified his own soul, that the healthiness of his soul

was absolutely needful to the vigour and power of his ministrations.

During these ten months the Lord had done much for him, but it was

chiefly in the way of discipline for a future ministry. He had been taught a

minister’s heart; he had been tried in the furnace; he had tasted deep

personal sorrow, little of which has been recorded; he had felt the fiery darts

of temptation; he had been exercised in self-examination and in much

prayer; he had proved how flinty is the rock, and had learnt that in lifting

the rod by which it was to be smitten, success lay in Him alone who enabled

him to lift it up. And thus prepared of God for the peculiar work that

awaited him, he had turned his face towards Dundee, and took up his abode

in the spot where the Lord was so marvellously to visit him in his ministry.

CHAPTER III

FIRST YEARS OF LABOUR IN DUNDEE

“Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all

seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations”.—ACTS

20:18, 19.

THE day on which he was ordained pastor of a flock, was a day of much

anxiety to his soul. He had journeyed by Perth to spend the night preceding

under the roof of his kind friend Mr Grierson, in the manse of Errol. Next

morning, ere he left the manse, three passages of Scripture occupied his

mind. 1. “Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on

Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.”—Isaiah 26:3. This verse was

seasonable; for, as he sat meditating on the solemn duties of the day, his

heart trembled. 2. “Give thyself wholly to these things.”—1 Tim. 4:15. May

that word (he prayed) sink deep into my heart. 3. “Here am I, send me.”—

Isaiah 6:8. “To go, or to stay,—to be here till death, or to visit foreign

shores, whatsoever, wheresoever, whensoever Thou pleasest.” He rose from

his knees with the prayer, “Lord, may thy grace come with the laying on of

the hands of the Presbytery.”

He was ordained on November 24, 1836. The service was conducted by

Mr Roxburgh of St John’s, through whose exertions the new church had

been erected, and who ever afterwards cherished the most cordial friendship

towards him. On the Sabbath following he was introduced to his flock by

Mr John Bonar of Larbert, with whom he had laboured as a son in the

gospel. Himself preached in the afternoon upon Isaiah 61:1–3, “The Spirit

of the Lord is upon me,” etc.; of which he writes, “May it be prophetic of

the object of my coming here!” And truly it was so. That very sermon—the

first preached by him as a pastor—was the means of awakening souls, as he

afterwards learnt; and ever onward the impressions left by his words

seemed to spread and deepen among his people. To keep up the

remembrance of this solemn day, he used in all the subsequent years of his

ministry to preach from this same text on the anniversary of his ordination.

In the evening of that day, Mr Bonar again preached on “These times of

refreshing.” “A noble sermon, snowing the marks of such times. Ah! when

shall we have them here? Lord bless this word, to help their coming! Put

thy blessing upon this day! Felt given over to God, as one bought with a

price.”

There was a rapid growth in his soul, perceptible to all who knew him

well, from this time. Even his pulpit preparations, he used to say, became

easier from this date. He had earnestly sought that the day of his ordination

might be a time of new grace; he expected it would be so; and there was a

peculiar work to be done by his hands, for which the Holy Spirit did

speedily prepare him.

His diary does not contain much of his feelings during his residence in

Dundee. His incessant labours left him little time, except what he

scrupulously spent in the direct exercises of devotion. But what we have

seen of his manner of study and self-examination at Larbert, is sufficient to

show in what a constant state of cultivation his soul was kept; and his habits

in these respects continued with him to the last. Jeremy Taylor

recommends: “If thou meanest to enlarge thy religion, do it rather by

enlarging thine ordinary devotions than thy extraordinary.” This advice

describes very accurately the plan of spiritual life on which Mr M‘Cheyne

acted. He did occasionally set apart seasons for special prayer and fasting,

occupying the time so set apart exclusively in devotion. But the real secret

of his soul’s prosperity lay in the daily enlargement of his heart in

fellowship with his God. And the river deepened as it flowed on to eternity;

so that he at least reached that feature of a holy pastor which Paul pointed

out to Timothy (4:15): “His profiting did appear to all.”

In his own house everything was fitted to make you feel that the service

of God was a cheerful service, while he sought that every arrangement of

the family should bear upon eternity. His morning hours were set apart for

the nourishment of his own soul; not, however, with the view of laying up a

stock of grace for the rest of the day,—for manna will corrupt if laid by,—

but rather with the view of “giving the eye the habit of looking upward all

the day, and drawing down gleams from the reconciled countenance.” He

was sparing in the hours devoted to sleep, and resolutely secured time for

devotion before breakfast, although often wearied and exhausted when he

laid himself to rest. “A soldier of the cross,” was his remark, “must endure

hardness.” Often he sang a psalm of praise, as soon as he arose, to stir up

his soul. Three chapters of the word was his usual morning portion. This he

thought little enough, for he delighted exceedingly in the Scriptures: they

were better to him than thousands of gold or silver. “When you write,” said

he to a friend, “tell me the meaning of Scriptures.” To another, in expressing

his value for the word, he said, “One gem from that ocean is worth all the

pebbles of earthly streams.”

His chief season of relaxation seemed to be breakfast-time. He would

come down with a happy countenance and a full soul; and after the sweet

season of family prayer, forthwith commence forming plans for the day.

When he was well, nothing seemed to afford him such true delight as to

have his hands full of work. Indeed, it was often remarked that in him you

found—what you rarely meet with—a man of high poetic imagination and

deep devotion, who nevertheless was engaged unceasingly in the busiest

and most laborious activities of his office.

His friends could observe how much his soul was engrossed during his

times of study and devotion. If interrupted on such occasions, though he

never seemed ruffled, yet there was a kind of gravity and silence that

implied—“I wish to be alone.” But he further aimed at enjoying God all the

day. And referring on one occasion to those blank hours which so often are

a believer’s burden,—hours during which the soul is dry and barren,—he

observed, “They are proofs of how little we are filled with the presence of

God, how little we are branchlike in our faith.”

This careful attention to the frame of his spirit did not hinder his

preparation for his people; on the contrary, it kept alive his deep

conscientiousness, and kept his warm compassion ever yearning. When

asked to observe a Saturday as a day of fasting and prayer, along with some

others who had a special object in view, he replied, “Saturday is an

awkward day for ministers; for though I love to seek help from on high, I

love also diligently to set my thoughts in order for the Sabbath. I sometimes

fear that you fail in this latter duty.”

During his first years in Dundee, he often rode out in an afternoon to

the ruined church of Invergowrie, to enjoy an hour’s perfect solitude; for he

felt meditation and prayer to be the very sinews of his work. Such notices,

also, as the following, show his systematic pursuit of personal holiness:—

“April 9, 1837, Evening.—A very pleasant quietness. Study of the

Epistle to the Hebrews. Came to a more intelligent view of the first six

chapters than ever before. Much refreshed by John Newton; instructed by

Edwards. Help and freedom in prayer. Lord, what a happy season is a

Sabbath evening! What will heaven be!”

“April 16, Sabbath evening.—Much prayer and peace. Reading the

Bible only.”

“June 2.—Much peace and rest to-night. Much broken under a sense of

my exceeding wickedness, which no eye can see but thine. Much

persuasion of the sufficiency of Christ, and of the constancy of his love. Oh

how sweet to work all day for God, and then to lie down at night under his

smiles!”

“June 17, 1838.—At Dumbarney communion. Much sin and coldness

two days before. Lay low at his feet; found peace only in Jesus.”

“Sept. 25.—Spent last week at Blairgowrie; I hope not in vain. Much

sin, weakness, and uselessness; much delight in the word also, while

opening it up at family prayer. May God make the word fire. Opened 1

Thessalonians, the whole; enriching to my own mind. How true is Psalm 1!

yet observed in my heart a strange proneness to be entangled with the

affairs of this life; not strange because I am good, but because I have been

so often taught that bitterness is the end of it.”

“Sept. 27.—Devoted chief part of Friday to fasting. Humbled and

refreshed.”

“Sept. 30, Sabbath.—Very happy in my work. Too little prayer in the

morning. Must try to get early to bed on Saturday, that I may ‘rise a great

while before day.’ ” These early hours of prayer on Sabbath he endeavoured

to have all his life; not for study, but for prayer. He never laboured at his

sermons on a Sabbath. That day he kept for its original end, the refreshment

of his soul. (Exodus 31:17.)

The parish of St Peter’s, to which he had come, was large and very

destitute. It is situated at the west end of the town, and included some part

of the adjacent country. The church was built in connection with the Church

Extension Scheme. The parish was a quoad sacra parish, detached from St

John’s. It contains a population of 4000 souls, very many of whom never

crossed the threshold of any sanctuary. His congregation amounted, at the

very outset, to about 1100 hearers, one-third of whom came from distant

parts of the town.

Here was a wide field for parochial labour. It was also a very dead

region—few, even of those who were living Christians, breathing their life

on others; for the surrounding mass of impenetrable heathenism had cast its

sad influence even over them. His first impressions of Dundee were severe.

“A city given to idolatry and hardness of heart. I fear there is much of what

Isaiah speaks of: ‘The prophets prophesy lies, and the people love to have it

so.’ ”

His first months of labour were very trying. He was not strong in bodily

health, and that winter a fatal influenza prevailed for two or three months,

so that most of his time in his parish was spent in visiting the sick and

dying. In such cases he was always ready. “Did I tell you of the boy I was

asked to see on Sabbath evening, just when I got myself comfortably seated

at home? I went, and was speaking to him of the freeness and fulness of

Jesus, when he gasped a little and died.”

In one of his first visits to the sick, the narrative of the Lord’s singular

dealings with one of his parishioners greatly encouraged him to carry the

glad tidings to the distressed under every disadvantage. Four years before, a

young woman had been seized with cholera, and was deprived of the use of

speech for a whole year. The Bible was read to her, and men of God used to

speak and pray with her. At the end of the year her tongue was loosed, and

the first words heard from her lips were praise and thanksgiving for what

the Lord had done for her soul. It was in her chamber he was now standing,

hearing from her own lips what the Lord had wrought.

On another occasion, during the first year of his ministry, he witnessed

the death-bed conversion of a man who, till within a few days of his end,

almost denied that there was a God. This solid conversion, as he believed it

to be, stirred him up to speak with all hopefulness, as well as earnestness, to

the dying.

But it was, above all, to the children of God that his visitations seemed

blessed. His voice, and his very eye, spoke tenderness; for personal

affliction had taught him to feel sympathy with the sorrowing. Though the

following be an extract from a letter, yet it will be recognised by many as

exhibiting his mode of dealing with God’s afflicted ones in his visitations:

“There is a sweet word in Exodus (3:7), which was pointed out to me the

other day by a poor bereaved child of God: ‘I know their sorrows.’ Study

that; it fills the soul. Another word like it is in Psalm 103:14: ‘He knoweth

our frame.’ May your own soul, and that of your dear friends, be fed by

these things. A dark hour makes Jesus bright. Another sweet word: ‘They

knew not that it was Jesus.’ ”

I find some specimens of his sick visits among his papers, noted down

at a time when his work had not grown upon his hands. “January 25, 1837

—Visited Mt. M‘Bain, a young woman of twenty-four, long ill of decline.

Better or worse these ten years past. Spoke of ‘The one thing needful’

plainly. She sat quiet. February 14—Had heard she was better—found her

near dying. Spoke plainly and tenderly to her, commending Christ. Used

many texts. She put out her hand kindly on leaving. 15

—Still dying like;

spoke as yesterday. She never opened her eyes. 16

—Showed her the

dreadfulness of wrath; freeness of Christ; the majesty, justice, truth of God.

Poor M. is fast going the way whence she shall not return. Many neighbours

also always gather in. 17

—Read Psalm 22; showed the sufferings of

Christ; how sufficient an atonement; how feeling a High Priest. She

breathed loud, and groaned through pain. Died this evening at seven. I

hardly ever heard her speak anything; and I will hope that thou art with

Christ in glory, till I go and see. 20

—Prayed at her funeral. Saw her laid in

St Peter’s churchyard, the first laid there, by her own desire, in the fresh

mould where never man was laid. May it be a token that she is with Him

who was laid in a new tomb.”

He records another case: “January 4, 1837—Sent for to Mrs S——.

Very ill; asthmatic. Spoke on ‘No condemnation to them that are in Christ.’

She said, ‘But am I in Christ?’ seemingly very anxious. Said she had often

been so, and had let it go by. 5

—Still living; spoke to her of Christ, and of

full salvation. (Myself confined in the house till the 16

.) 16

—Much

worse. Not anxious to hear, yet far from rest. Dark, uneasy eye. Asked me,

‘What is it to believe?’ Spoke to her on ‘God, who made light shine out of

darkness.’ She seemed to take up nothing. Lord, help! 17

—Still worse;

wearing away. No smile; no sign of inward peace. Spoke of ‘Remember

me.’ Went over the whole gospel in the form of personal address. She

drowsy. 18

—Quieter. ‘My Lord and my God.’ She spoke at intervals. More

cheerful; anxious that I should not go without prayer. Has much knowledge;

complete command of the Bible. 19

—Spoke on ‘Convincing of sin and

righteousness.’ Rather more heart to hear. 20

—Psalm 51. Her look and her

words were lightsome. 23d—Faintish and restless; no sign of peace. ‘I am

the way,’ and Psalm 25 24

—Still silent and little sign of anything. 26

—

Psalm 40. ‘The fearful pit.’ Very plain. Could not get anything out of her.

February 1—Died at twelve noon; no visible mark of light, or comfort, or

hope. The day shall declare it.”

One other case: “February 5, 1839.—Called suddenly in the evening.

Found him near death. Careless family. Many round him. Spoke of the

freeness and sufficiency of Jesus, ‘Come unto me,’ etc., and ‘The wrath of

God revealed from heaven.’ Told him he was going where he would see

Christ! asked him if He would be his Saviour? He seemed to answer; his

father said, ‘He is saying, Yes.’ But it was the throe of death. One or two

indescribable gasps, and he died! I sat silent, and let God preach. 7

—

Spoke of the ‘Widow of Nain,’ and ‘Behold I stand at the door’ ”

Attendance at funerals was often to him a season of much exercise.

Should it not be to all ministers a time for solemn inquiry? Was I faithful

with this soul? Could this soul have learnt salvation from me every time I

saw him? And did I pray as fervently as I spoke? And if we have tender pity

for souls, we will sometimes feel as Mr M‘Cheyne records: “September 24.

—Buried A. M. Felt bitterly the word, ‘If any man draw back,’ etc. Never

had more bitter feelings at any funeral.”

All who make any pretension to the office of shepherds visit their

flocks; yet there is a wide difference in the kind of visits which shepherds

give. One does it formally, to discharge his duty and to quiet conscience;

another makes it his delight. And of those who make it their delight, one

goes forth on the regular plan of addressing all in somewhat of the same

style; while another speaks freely, according as the wounds of his sheep

come to view. On all occasions, this difficult and trying work must be gone

about with a full heart, if it is to be gone about successfully at all. There is

little in it to excite, for there is not the presence of numbers, and the few

you see at a time are in their calmest, every-day mood. Hence there is need

of being full of grace, and need of feeling as though God did visit every

hearer by your means. Our object is not to get duty done, but to get souls

saved. 2 Cor. 13:7. Mr M‘Cheyne used to go forth in this spirit; and often

after visiting from house to house for several hours, he would return to

some room in the place in the evening, and preach to the gathered families.

“September 26, 1838.—Good visiting-day. Twelve families; many of them

go nowhere. It is a great thing to be well furnished by meditation and prayer

before setting out; it makes you a far more full and faithful witness.

Preached in A. F.’s house on Job, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ Very

sweet and precious to myself.”

Partly from his state of health, and partly from the vast accumulation of

other labours, and the calls made on him for evangelizing elsewhere, he was

never able to overtake the visitation of the whole district assigned him. He

was blessed to attract and reclaim very many of the most degraded; and by

Sabbath schools and a regular eldership, to take superintendence of the

population to a great extent. Still he himself often said that his parish had

never fully shared in the advantages that attend an aggressive system of

parochial labour. Once when spending a day in the rural parish of Collace,

as we went in the afternoon from door to door, and spoke to the children

whom we met on the road-side, he smiled and said, “Well, how I envy a

country minister; for he can get acquainted with all his people, and have

some insight into their real character.” Many of us thought that he

afterwards erred, in the abundant frequency of his evangelistic labours at a

time when he was still bound to a particular flock.

He had an evening class every week for the young people of his

congregation. The Catechism and the Bible were his text-books, while he

freely introduced all manner of useful illustrations. He thought himself

bound to prepare diligently for his classes, that he might give accurate and

simple explanations, and unite what was interesting with the most solemn

and awakening views. But it was his class for young communicants that

engaged his deepest care, and wherein he saw most success. He began a

class of this kind previous to his first Communion, and continued to form it

again some weeks before every similar occasion. His tract, published in

1840, This do in remembrance of Me, may be considered as exhibiting the

substance of his solemn examinations on these occasions.

He usually noted down his first impressions of his communicants, and

compared these notes with what he afterwards saw in them. Thus: “M. K.,

sprightly and lightsome, yet sensible; she saw plainly that the converted

alone should come to the Table, but stumbled at the question, If she were

converted? Yet she claimed being awakened and brought to Christ.”

Another: “Very staid, intelligent-like person, with a steady kind of anxiety,

but, I fear, no feeling of helplessness. Thought that sorrow and prayer

would obtain forgiveness. Told her plainly what I thought of her case.”

Another: “Knows she was once Christless; now she reads, and prays, and is

anxious. I doubt not there is some anxiety, yet I fear it may be only a self-

reformation to recommend herself to God and to man. Told her plainly.” “A.

M., I fear much for him. Gave him a token with much anxiety; warned him

very much.” “C. P. does not seem to have any work of anxiety. He reads

prayer-books, etc. Does not pray in secret. Seems not very intelligent.”

He sought to encourage Sabbath schools in all the districts of his parish.

The hymn, Oil for the Lamp, was written to impress the parable on a class

of Sabbath scholars in 1841. Some of his sweet, simple tracts were written

for these schools. Reasons why Children should fly to Christ was the first,

written at the New Year 1839; and The Lambs of the Flock was another at a

later period. His heart felt for the young. One evening, after visiting some of

his Sabbath schools, he writes: “Had considerable joy in teaching the

children. Oh for real heart-work among them!” He could accommodate

himself to their capacities; and he did not reckon it vain to use his talents in

order to attract their attention, for he regarded the soul of a child as

infinitely precious. Ever watchful for opportunities, on the blank leaf of a

book which he had sent to a little boy of his congregation, he wrote these

simple lines:—

Peace be to thee, gentle boy!

Many years of health and joy!

Love your Bible more than play,

Grow in wisdom every day.

Like the lark on hovering wing,

Early rise, and mount and sing;

Like the dove that found no rest

Till it flew to Noah’s breast,

Rest not in this world of sin,

Till the Saviour take thee in.

He had a high standard in his mind as to the moral qualifications of

those who should teach the young. When a female teacher was sought for to

conduct an evening school in his parish for the sake of the mill-girls, he

wrote to one interested in the cause: “The qualifications she should possess

for sewing and knitting you will understand far better than I. She should be

able to keep up in her scholars the fluency of reading, and the knowledge of

the Bible and Catechism which they may have already acquired. She should

be able to teach them to sing the praises of God with feeling and melody.

But, far above all, she should be a Christian woman, not in name only, but

in deed and in truth,—one whose heart has been touched by the Spirit of

God, and who can love the souls of little children. Any teacher who wanted

this last qualification, I would look upon as a curse rather than a blessing,—

a centre of blasting and coldness and death, instead of a centre from which

life and warmth and heavenly influence might emanate.”

It was very soon after his ordination that he began his weekly prayer-

meeting in the church. He had heard how meetings of this kind had been

blessed in other places, and never had he any cause to regret having set

apart the Thursday evening for this holy purpose. One of its first effects was

to quicken those who had already believed; they were often refreshed upon

these occasions even more than on the Sabbath. Some of the most solemn

seasons of his ministry were at those meetings. At their commencement, he

wrote to me an account of his manner of conducting them: “I give my

people a Scripture to be hidden in the heart—generally a promise of the

Spirit or the wonderful effects of his outpouring. I give them the heads of a

sermon upon it for about twenty minutes. Prayer goes before and follows.

Then I read some history of Revivals, and comment in passing. I think the

people are very much interested in it: a number of people come from all

parts of the town. But, oh! I need much the living Spirit to my own soul; I

want my life to be hid with Christ in God. At present there is too much

hurry, and bustle, and outward working, to allow the calm working of the

Spirit on the heart. I seldom get time to meditate, like Isaac, at evening-tide,

except when I am tired; but the dew comes down when all nature is at rest

—when every leaf is still.”

A specimen of the happy freedom and familiar illustrations which his

people felt to be peculiar to these meetings, may be found in the notes taken

by one of his hearers, of Expositions of the Epistles to the Seven Churches,

given during the year 1838. He had himself great delight in the Thursday

evening meetings. “They will doubtless be remembered in eternity with

songs of praise,” said he, on one occasion; and at another time, observing

the tender frame of a soul which was often manifested at these seasons, he

said, “There is a stillness to the last word,—not as on Sabbaths, a rushing

down at the end of the prayer, as if glad to get out of God’s presence.” So

many believing and so many inquiring souls used to attend, and so few of

the worldlings, that you seemed to breathe the atmosphere of heaven.

But it was his Sabbath-day’s services that brought multitudes together,

and were soon felt throughout the town. He was ever so ready to assist his

brethren, so much engaged in every good work, and latterly so often

interrupted by inquiries, that it might be thought he had no time for careful

preparation, and might be excused for the absence of it. But, in truth, he

never preached without careful attention bestowed on his subject. He might,

indeed, have little time—often the hours of a Saturday was all the time he

could obtain,—but his daily study of the Scriptures stored his mind, and

formed a continual preparation. Much of his Sabbath services was a

drawing out of what he had carried in during busy days of the week.

His voice was remarkably clear,—his manner attractive by its mild

dignity. His form itself drew the eye. He spoke from the pulpit as one

earnestly occupied with the souls before him. He made them feel sympathy

with what he spoke, for his own eye and heart were on them. He was, at the

same time, able to bring out illustrations at once simple and felicitous, often

with poetic skill and elegance. He wished to use Saxon words, for the sake

of being understood by the most illiterate in his audience. And while his

style was singularly clear, this clearness itself was so much the consequence

of his being able thoroughly to analyse and explain his subject, that all his

hearers alike reaped the benefit.

He went about his public work with awful reverence. So evident was

this, that I remember a countryman in my parish observed to me: “Before he

opened his lips, as he came along the passage, there was something about

him that sorely affected me.” In the vestry there was never any idle

conversation; all was preparation of heart in approaching God; and a short

prayer preceded his entering the pulpit. Surely in going forth to speak for

God, a man may well be overawed! Surely in putting forth his hand to sow

the seed of the kingdom, a man may even tremble! And surely we should

aim at nothing less than to pour forth the truth upon our people through the

channel of our own living and deeply affected souls.

After announcing the subject of his discourse, he used generally to

show the position it occupied in the context, and then proceed to bring out

the doctrines of the text, in the manner of our old divines. This done, he

divided his subject; and herein he was eminently skilful. “The heads of his

sermons,” said a friend, “were not the mile-stones that tell you how near

you are to your journey’s end, but they were nails which fixed and fastened

all he said. Divisions are often dry; but not so his divisions,—they were so

textual and so feeling, and they brought out the spirit of a passage so

surprisingly.”

It was his wish to arrive nearer at the primitive mode of expounding

Scripture in his sermons. Hence when one asked him, If he was never afraid

of running short of sermons some day? he replied, “No; I am just an

interpreter of Scripture in my sermons; and when the Bible runs dry, then I

shall.” And in the same spirit he carefully avoided the too common mode of

accommodating texts,—fastening a doctrine on the words, not drawing it

from the obvious connection of the passage. He endeavoured at all times to

preach the mind of the Spirit in a passage; for he feared that to do otherwise

would be to grieve the Spirit who had written it. Interpretation was thus a

solemn matter to him. And yet, adhering scrupulously to this sure principle,

he felt himself in no way restrained from using, for every day’s necessities,

all parts of the Old Testament as much as the New. His manner was first to

ascertain the primary sense and application, and so proceed to handle it for

present use. Thus, on Isaiah 26:16–19, he began: “This passage, I believe,

refers literally to the conversion of God’s ancient people.” He regarded the

prophecies as history yet to be, and drew lessons from them accordingly as

he would have done from the past. Every spiritual gift being in the hands of

Jesus, if he found Moses or Paul in the possession of precious things, he

forthwith was led to follow them into the presence of that same Lord who

gave them all their grace.

There is a wide difference between preaching doctrine and preaching

Christ. Mr M‘Cheyne preached all the doctrines of Scripture as understood

by our Confession of Faith, dwelling upon ruin by the Fall, and recovery by

the Mediator. “The things of the human heart, and the things of the Divine

Mind,” were in substance his constant theme. From personal experience of

deep temptation, he could lay open the secrets of the heart, so that he once

said, “He supposed the reason why some of the worst sinners in Dundee had

come to hear him was, because his heart exhibited so much likeness to

theirs.” Still it was not doctrine alone that he preached; it was Christ, from

whom all doctrine shoots forth as rays from a centre. He sought to hang

every vessel and flagon upon Him. “It is strange,” he wrote after preaching

on Revelations 1:15: “It is strange how sweet and precious it is to preach

directly about Christ, compared with all other subjects of preaching.” And

he often expressed a dislike of the phrase “giving attention to religion,”

because it seemed to substitute doctrine, and a devout way of thinking, for

Christ himself.

It is difficult to convey to those who never knew him a correct idea of

the sweetness and holy unction of his preaching. Some of his sermons,

printed from his own MSS. (although almost all are first copies), may convey

a correct idea of his style and mode of preaching doctrine. But there are no

notes that give any true idea of his affectionate appeals to the heart and

searching applications. These he seldom wrote; they were poured forth at

the moment when his heart filled with his subject; for his rule was to set

before his hearers a body of truth first,—and there always was a vast

amount of Bible truth in his discourses,—and then urge home the

application. His exhortations flowed from his doctrine, and thus had both

variety and power. He was systematic in this; for he observed: “Appeals to

the careless, etc., come with power on the back of some massy truth. See

how Paul does (Acts 13:40), ‘Beware, therefore, lest,’ etc., and (Hebrews

2:1), ‘Therefore we should,’ ” etc.

He was sometimes a little unguarded in his statements, when his heart

was deeply moved and his feelings stirred, and sometimes he was too long

in his addresses; but this also arose from the fulness of his soul. “Another

word,” he thought, “may be blessed, though the last has made no

impression.”

Many will remember for ever the blessed Communion Sabbaths that

were enjoyed in St Peter’s. From the very first these Communion seasons

were remarkably owned of God. The awe of his presence used to be upon

his people, and the house filled with the odour of the ointment, when his

name was poured forth (Song 1:3). But on common Sabbaths also many

soon began to journey long distances to attend St Peter’s,—many from

country parishes, who would return home with their hearts burning, as they

talked of what they had heard that day.

Mr M‘Cheyne knew the snare of popularity, and naturally was one that

would have been fascinated by it; but the Lord kept him.

He was sometimes extraordinarily helped in his preaching; but at other

times, though not perceived by his hearers, his soul felt as if left to its own

resources. The cry of Rowland Hill was constantly on his lips, “Master,

help!” and often is it written at the close of his sermon. Much affliction,

also, was a thorn in the flesh to him. He described himself as often “strong

as a giant when in the church, but like a willow-wand when all was over.”

But certainly, above all, his abiding sense of the divine favour was his

safeguard. He began his ministry in Dundee with this sunshine on his way.

“As yet I have been kept not only in the light of his reconciled countenance,

but very much under the guiding eye of our providing God. Indeed, as I

remember good old Swartz used to say, ‘I could not have imagined that He

could have been so gracious to us.’ ” I believe that while he had some sorer

conflicts, he had also far deeper joy after his return from Palestine than in

the early part of his ministry, though from the very commencement of it he

enjoyed that sense of the love of God which “keeps the heart and mind.”

(Phil. 4:7.) This was the true secret of his holy walk, and of his calm

humility. But for this, his ambition would have become the only principle of

many an action; but now the sweeter love of God constrained him, and the

natural ambition of his spirit could be discerned only as suggesting to him

the idea of making attempts which others would have declined.

What monotony there is in the ministry of many! Duty presses on the

heels of duty in an endless circle. But it is not so when the Spirit is

quickening both the pastor and his flock. Then there is all the variety of life.

It was so here. The Lord began to work by his means almost from the first

day he came. There was ever one and another stricken, and going apart to

weep alone.

The flocking of souls to his ministry, and the deep interest excited, drew

the attention of many, and raised the wish in some quarters to have him as

their pastor. He had not been many months engaged in his laborious work

when he was solicited to remove to the parish of Skirling, near Biggar. It

was an offer that presented great advantages above his own field of labour

as to worldly gain, and in respect of the prospect it held out of comparative

ease and comfort; for the parish was small and the emolument great. But as

it is required of a bishop, that he be “not greedy of filthy lucre,” nay, that he

be “one who has no love of money” (ἀφιλαργυρος, 1 Tim. 3:3) at all, so

was it true that in him these qualifications eminently shone. His remarks in

a letter to his father contain the honest expression of his feelings: “I am set

down among nearly 4000 people; 1100 people have taken seats in my

church. I bring my message, such as it is, within the reach of that great

company every Sabbath-day. I dare not leave 3000 or 4000, for 300 people.

Had this been offered me before, I would have seen it a direct intimation

from God, and would heartily have embraced it. How I should have

delighted to feed so precious a little flock,—to watch over every family,—

to know every heart,—‘to allure to brighter worlds and lead the way!’ But

God has not so ordered it. He has set me down among the noisy mechanics

and political weavers of this godless town. He will make the money

sufficient. He that paid his taxes from a fish’s mouth, will supply all my

need.” He had already expressed the hope, “Perhaps the Lord will make this

wilderness of chimney-tops to be green and beautiful as the garden of the

Lord, a field which the Lord hath blessed!”

His health was delicate; and the harassing care and endless fatigue

incident to his position, in a town like Dundee, seemed unsuitable to his

spirit. This belief led to another attempt to remove him to a country sphere.

In the summer of this same year (1837) he was strongly urged to preach as a

candidate for the vacant parish of St Martin’s, near Perth, and assured of the

appointment if he would only come forward. But he declined again: “My

Master has placed me here with his own hand; and I never will, directly or

indirectly, seek to be removed.”

There were circumstances in this latter case that made the call on him

appear urgent in several points of view. In coming to a resolution, he

mentions one interesting element in the decision, in a letter to me, dated

August 8

. “I was much troubled about being asked to go to a neighbouring

parish at present vacant, and made it a matter of prayer; and I mention it

now because of the wonderful answer to prayer which I think I received

from God. I prayed that in order to settle my own mind completely about

staying, He would awaken some of my people. I agreed that that should be a

sign He would wish me to stay. The next morning I think, or at least the

second morning, there came to me two young persons I had never seen

before, in great distress. What brought this to my mind was, that they came

to me again yesterday, and their distress is greatly increased. Indeed I never

saw any people in such anguish about their soul. I cannot but regard this as

a real answer to prayer. I have also several other persons in deep distress,

and I feel that I am quite helpless in comforting them. I would fain be like

Noah, who put out his hand and took in the weary dove; but God makes me

stand by and feel that I am a child. Will God never cast the scenes of our

labour near each other? We are in his hand; let Him do as seemeth Him

good Pray for me, for my people, for my own soul, that I be not a cast

away.”

Few godly pastors can be willing to change the scene of their labours,

unless it be plain that the Cloudy Pillar is pointing them away. It is perilous

for men to choose for themselves; and too often has it happened that the

minister who, on slight grounds, moved away from his former watch-tower,

has had reason to mourn over the disappointment of his hopes in his larger

and wider sphere. But while this is admitted, probably it may appear

unwarrantable in Mr M‘Cheyne to have prayed for a sign of the Lord’s will.

It is to be observed, however, that he decided the point of duty on other

grounds; and it was only with the view of obtaining an additional

confirmation by the occurrences of providence, that he prayed in this

manner, in submission to the will of the Lord. He never held it right to

decide the path of duty by any such signs or tokens; he believed that the

written word supplied sufficient data for guiding the believing soul; and

such providential occurrences as happened in this case he regarded as

important only so far as they might be answers to prayer. Indeed, he himself

has left us a glance of his views on this point in a fragment, which (for it is

not dated) may have been written about this time. He had been thinking on

Gideon’s Fleece.

When God called Gideon forth to fight—

“Go, save thou Israel in thy might,”—

The faithful warrior sought a sign

That God would on his labours shine.

The man who, at thy dread command,

Lifted the shield and deadly brand.

To do thy strange and fearful work—

Thy work of blood and vengeance, Lord!—

Might need assurance doubly tried,

To prove Thou wouldst his steps betide.

But when the message which we bring

Is one to make the dumb man sing;

To bid the blind man wash and see,

The lame to leap with ecstasy;

To raise the soul that’s bowed down,

To wipe away the tears and frown

To sprinkle all the heart within

From the accusing voice of sin—

Then, such a sign my call to prove,

To preach my Saviour’s dying love,

I cannot, dare not, hope to find.

In the close of the same year 1837, he agreed to become Secretary to

the Association for Church Extension in the county of Forfar. The Church

Extension Scheme, though much misrepresented and much misunderstood,

had in view as its genuine, sincere endeavour, to bring to overgrown

parishes the advantage of a faithful minister, placed over such a number of

souls as he could really visit. Mr M‘Cheyne cheerfully and diligently

forwarded these objects to the utmost of his power. “It is the cause of God,”

said he, “and therefore I am willing to spend and be spent for it.” It

compelled him to ride much from place to place; but riding was an exercise

of which he was fond, and which was favourable to his health. As a

specimen—“Dec. 4, 1838. Travelled to Montrose. Spoke along with Mr

Guthrie at a Church Extension meeting; eight or nine hundred present. Tried

to do something in the Saviour’s cause, both directly and indirectly. Next

day at Forfar. Spoke in the same cause.”

How heartily he entered into this scheme may be seen from the

following extract. In a letter of an after date to Mr Roxburgh, he says:

“Every day I live, I feel more and more persuaded that it is the cause of God

and of his kingdom in Scotland in our day. Many a time, when I thought

myself a dying man, the souls of the perishing thousands in my own parish,

who never enter any house of God, have lain heavy on my heart. Many a

time have I prayed that the eyes of our enemies might be opened, and that

God would open the hearts of our rulers, to feel that their highest duty and

greatest glory is to support the ministers of Christ, and to send these to

every perishing soul in Scotland.” He felt that their misery was all the

greater, and their need the deeper, that such neglected souls had no wish for

help, and would never ask for it themselves. Nor was it that he imagined

that, if churches were built and ministers endowed, this would of itself be

sufficient to reclaim the multitudes of perishing men. But he sought and

expected that the Lord would send faithful men into his vineyard. These

new churches were to be like cisterns—ready to catch the shower when it

should fall, just as his own did in the day of the Lord’s power.

His views on this subject were summed up in the following lines,

written one day as he sat in company with some of his zealous brethren who

were deeply engaged in the scheme:

Give me a man of God the truth to preach,

A house of prayer within convenient reach,

Seat-rents the poorest of the poor can pay,

A spot so small one pastor can survey:

Give these—and give the Spirit’s genial shower,

Scotland shall be a garden all in flower!

Another public duty to which, during all the years of his ministry, he

gave constant attention, was attendance at the meetings of presbytery. His

candour, and uprightness, and Christian generosity, were felt by all his

brethren; and his opinion, though the opinion of so young a man, was

regarded with more than common respect. In regard to the great public

questions that were then shaking the Church of Scotland, his views were

decided and unhesitating. No policy, in his view, could be more ruinous to

true Christianity, or more fitted to blight vital godliness, than that of

Moderatism. He wrote once to a friend in Ireland: “You don’t know what

Moderatism is. It is a plant that our heavenly Father never planted, and I

trust it is now to be rooted up.” The great question of the Church’s

independence of the Civil Power in all matters spiritual, and the right of the

Christian people to judge if the pastor appointed over them had the

Shepherd’s voice, he invariably held to be part of Scripture truth; which,

therefore, must be preached and carried into practice, at all hazards. In like

manner he rejoiced exceedingly in the settlements of faithful ministers. The

appointments of Mr Baxter to Hilltown, Mr Lewis to St David’s, and Mr

Miller to Wallacetown at a later period, are all noticed by him with

expressions of thankfulness and joy; and it occasioned the same feelings if

he heard of the destitution of any parish in any part of the country supplied.

He writes, Sept. 20, 1838: “Present at A. B.’s ordination at Collace with

great joy. Blessed be God for the gift of this pastor. Give testimony to the

word of the grace.”

Busy at home, he nevertheless always had a keenly evangelistic spirit.

He might have written much, and have gained a name by his writings; but

he laid everything aside when put in comparison with preaching the

everlasting gospel. He scarcely ever refused an invitation to preach on a

week-day; and travelling from place to place did not interrupt his fellowship

with God. His occasional visits during these years were much blessed. At

Blairgowrie and Collace his visits were longed for as times of special

refreshment; nor was it less so at Kirriemuir, when he visited Mr Cormick,

or at Abernyte in the days when Mr Hamilton (now of Regent Square,

London), and afterwards Mr Manson, were labouring in that vineyard. It

would be difficult even to enumerate the places which he watered at

Communion seasons; and in some of these it was testified of him, that not

the words he spoke, but the holy manner in which he spoke, was the chief

means of arresting souls.

Occasionally two or three of us, whose lot was cast within convenient

distance, and whose souls panted for the same water-brooks, used to meet

together to spend a whole day in confession of ministerial and personal sins,

with prayer for grace, guiding ourselves by the reading of the word. At such

times we used to meet in the evening with the flock of the pastor in whose

house the meeting had been held through the day, and there unitedly pray

for the Holy Spirit being poured down upon the people. The first time we

held such a meeting, there were tokens of blessing observed by several of

us; and the week after he wrote: “Has there been any fruit of the happy day

we spent with you? I thought I saw some the Sabbath after, here. In due

season we shall reap if we faint not; only be thou strong, and of a good

courage.” The incident that encouraged him is recorded in his diary. An

elderly person came to tell him how the river of joy and peace in believing

had that Sabbath most singularly flowed through her soul, so that she

blessed God that she ever came to St Peter’s. He adds, “N.B.—This seems a

fruit of our prayer-meeting, begun last Wednesday at Collace,—one drop of

the shower.”

It should have been remarked ere now, that during all his ministry he

was careful to use not only the direct means appointed for the conversion of

souls, but those also that appear more indirect, such as the key of discipline.

In regard to the Lord’s Supper, his little tract explains his views. He

believed that to keep back those whose profession was a credible

profession, even while the pastor might have strong doubts as to their

fitness in his own mind, was not the rule laid down for us in the New

Testament. At the same time, he as steadily maintained that no unconverted

person ought to come to the Lord’s Table; and on this point “they should

judge themselves if they would not be judged.”

When communicants came to be admitted for the first time, or when

parents that had been communicants before came for baptism to their

children, it was his custom to ask them solemnly if their souls were saved.

His dealing was blessed to the conversion of not a few young persons who

were coming carelessly forward to the Communion; and himself records the

blessing that attended his faithful dealing with a parent coming to speak

with him about the baptism of his child. The man said that he had been

taking a thought, and believed himself in the right way—that he felt his

disposition better, for he could forgive injuries. Mr M‘Cheyne showed him

that nevertheless he was ignorant of God’s righteousness. The man laid it to

heart; and when Mr M‘Cheyne said that he thought it would be better to

defer the baptism, at once offered to come again and speak on the matter.

On a subsequent visit, he seemed really to have seen his error, and to have

cast away his own righteousness. When his child was baptized, it was joy to

the pastor’s heart to have the good hope that the man had received

salvation.

In connection with the superstitious feeling of the most depraved as to

baptism, he related an affecting occurrence. A careless parent one evening

entered his house, and asked him to come with him to baptize a dying child.

He knew that neither this man nor his wife ever entered the door of a

church; but he rose and went with him to the miserable dwelling. There an

infant lay, apparently dying; and many of the female neighbours, equally

depraved with the parents, stood round. He came forward to where the child

was, and spoke to the parents of their ungodly state and fearful guilt before

God, and concluded by showing them that, in such circumstances, he would

consider it sinful in him to administer baptism to their infant. They said,

“He might at least do it for the sake of the poor child.” He told them that it

was not baptism that saved a soul, and that out of true concern for

themselves he must not do as they wished. The friends around the bed then

joined the parents in upbraiding him as having no pity on the poor infant’s

soul! He stood among them still, and showed them that it was they who had

been thus cruel to their child; and then lifted up his voice in solemn

warning, and left the house amid their ignorant reproaches.

Nor did he make light of the kirk-session’s power to rebuke and deal

with an offender. Once from the pulpit, at an ordination of elders, he gave

the following testimony upon this head: “When I first entered upon the

work of the ministry among you, I was exceedingly ignorant of the vast

importance of church discipline. I thought that my great and almost only

work was to pray and preach. I saw your souls to be so precious, and the

time so short, that I devoted all my time, and care, and strength, to labour in

word and doctrine. When cases of discipline were brought before me and

the elders, I regarded them with something like abhorrence. It was a duty I

shrank from; and I may truly say it nearly drove me from the work of the

ministry among you altogether. But it pleased God, who teaches his

servants in another way than man teaches, to bless some of the cases of

discipline to the manifest and undeniable conversion of the souls of those

under our care; and from that hour a new light broke in upon my mind, and

I saw that if preaching be an ordinance of Christ, so is church discipline. I

now feel very deeply persuaded that both are of God,—that two keys are

committed to us by Christ: the one the key of doctrine, by means of which

we unlock the treasures of the Bible; the other the key of discipline, by

which we open or shut the way to the sealing ordinances of the faith. Both

are Christ’s gift, and neither is to be resigned without sin.”

There was still another means of enforcing what he preached, in the use

of which he has excelled all his brethren, namely, the holy consistency of

his daily walk. Aware that one idle word, one needless contention, one

covetous act, may destroy in our people the effect of many a solemn

expostulation and earnest warning, he was peculiarly circumspect in his

every-day walk. He wished to be always in the presence of God. If he

travelled, he laboured to enjoy God by the way, as well as to do good to

others by dropping a word in season. In riding or walking, he seized

opportunities of giving a useful tract; and, on principle, he preferred giving

it to the person directly, rather than casting it on the road. The former way,

he said, was more open—there was no stealth in it; and we ought to be as

clear as crystal in speaking or acting for Jesus. In writing a note, however

short, he sought to season it with salt. If he passed a night in a strange place,

he tried to bear the place specially on his soul at the mercy-seat; and if

compelled to take some rest from his too exhausting toils, his recreations

were little else than a change of occupation, from one mode of glorifying

God to another. His beautiful hymn, I am a debtor, was written in May

1837, at a leisure hour.

Whatever be said in the pulpit, men will not much regard, though they

may feel it at the time, if the minister does not say the same in private, with

equal earnestness, in speaking with his people face to face; and it must be in

our moments of most familiar intercourse with them, that we are thus to put

the seal to all we say in public. Familiar moments are the times when the

things that are most closely twined round the heart are brought out to view;

and shall we forbear, by tacit consent, to introduce the Lord that bought us

into such happy hours? We must not only speak faithfully to our people in

our sermons, but live faithfully for them too. Perhaps it may be found, that

the reason why many who preach the gospel fully and in all earnestness are

not owned of God in the conversion of souls, is to be found in their

defective exhibition of grace in these easy moments of life. “Them that

honour me, I will honour,” 1 Samuel 2:30. It was noticed long ago that men

will give you leave to preach against their sins as much as you will, if so be

you will but be easy with them when you have done, and talk as they do,

and live as they live. How much otherwise it was with Mr M‘Cheyne, all

who knew him are witnesses.

His visits to friends were times when he sought to do good to their

souls; and never was he satisfied unless he could guide the conversation to

bear upon the things of eternity. When he could not do so, he generally

remained silent. And yet his demeanour was easy and pleasant to all,

exhibiting at once meekness of faith and delicacy of feeling. There was in

his character a high refinement that came out in poetry and true politeness;

and there was something in his graces that reminded one of his own remark,

when explaining the spices of Song 4:16, when he said that “some believers

were a garden that had fruit-trees, and so were useful; but we ought also to

have spices, and so be attractive.” Wishing to convey his grateful feelings to

a fellow-labourer in Dundee, he sent him a Hebrew Bible, with these few

lines prefixed:—

Anoint mine eyes,

O holy dove!

That I may prize

This book of love.

Unstop mine ear,

Made deaf by sin,

That I may hear

Thy voice within.

Break my hard heart,

Jesus, my Lord;

In the inmost part

Hide thy sweet word.

It was on a similar occasion, in 1838, that he wrote the lines, Thy word

is a lamp unto my feet. At another time, sitting under a shady tree, and

casting his eye on the hospitable dwelling in which he found a pleasant

retreat, his grateful feelings flowed out to his kind friend in the lines that

follow:—

“PEACE TO THIS HOUSE.”

Long may peace within this dwelling

Have its resting-place;

Angel shields all harm repelling.—

God, their God of grace.

May the dove-like Spirit guide them

To the upright land!

May the Saviour-shepherd feed them

From his gentle hand!

Never was there one more beloved as a friend, and seldom any whose

death could cause so many to feel as if no other friend could ever occupy

his room. Some, too, can say that so much did they learn from his holy

walk, “that it is probable a day never passes wherein they have not some

advantage from his friendship.”

I find written on the leaf of one of his note-books, a short

memorandum: “Rules worth remembering.—When visiting in a family,

whether ministerially or otherwise, speak particularly to the strangers about

eternal things. Perhaps God has brought you together just to save that soul.”

And then he refers to some instances which occurred to himself, in which

God seemed to honour a word spoken in this incidental way.

In this spirit he was enabled for nearly three years to give his strength to

his Master’s service. Sickness sometimes laid him aside, and taught him

what he had to suffer; but he rose from it to go forth again to his joyful

labours. Often, after a toilsome day, there were inquirers waiting for him, so

that he had to begin work afresh in a new form. But this was his delight; it

was a kind of interruption which he allowed even on a Saturday, in the

midst of his studies. He was led to resolve not to postpone any inquirers till

a future time, by finding that having done so on one occasion at a pressing

moment, the individuals never returned; and so alive was he to the

responsibilities of his office, that be ever after feared to lose such an

opportunity of speaking with souls at a time when they were aroused to

concern. Busy one evening with some extra-parochial work, he was asked if

any person should be admitted to see him that night. “Surely—what do we

live for?” was his immediate reply. It was his manner, too, on a Saturday

afternoon, to visit one or two of his sick who seemed near the point of

death, with the view of being thus stirred up to a more direct application of

the truth to his flock on the morrow, as dying men on the edge of eternity.

We have already observed that in his doctrine there was nothing that

differed from the views of truth laid down in the standards of our church.

He saw no inconsistency in preaching an electing God, who “calleth whom

He will,” and a salvation free to “whosoever will;” nor in declaring the

absolute sovereignty of God, and yet the unimpaired responsibility of man.

He preached Christ as a gift laid down by the Father for every sinner freely

to take. In the beginning of his ministry, as he preached the fulness of the

glad tidings, and urged on his people that there was enough in the glad

tidings to bring direct and immediate assurance to every one who really

believed them, some of his flock were startled. For he ever preached, that,

while it is true that there are believers, like Heman or Asaph, who do not

enjoy full assurance of the love of God, yet certainly no true believer should

remain satisfied in the absence of this blessed peace. Not a few had hitherto

been accustomed to take for granted that they might be Christians, though

they knew of no change, and had never thought of enjoying the knowledge

of the love of God as their present portion. They heard that others, who

were reckoned believers, had doubts; so they had come to consider fears

and doubts as the very marks of a believing soul. The consequence had

been, that in past days many concluded themselves to be Christians because

they seemed to be in the very state of mind of which those who were

reputed to be believers spoke, viz. doubt and alarm. Alas! in their case there

could be nothing else, for they had only a name to live.

Some one wrote to him, putting several questions concerning

conversion, assurance, and faith, which had been stirred up by his ministry.

The import of the questions may be gathered from his reply, which was as

follows:—

“1. I doubt if there are many saints who live and die without a

comfortable sense of forgiveness and acceptance with God. The saints of

whom the Bible speaks seem to have enjoyed it richly both in life and

death. See the murderers of our Lord, Acts 2:41; the Ethiopian, Acts 8:39;

the jailor, Acts 16:35. David also felt it, sinful man though he was, Romans

4:6. Paul also prayed that the Romans might have it, Romans 15:13. I fear

this objection is generally made by those who are living in sin, and do not

wish to know the dangerous road they are on.

“2. A sense of forgiveness does not proceed from marks seen in yourself,

but from a discovery of the beauty, worth, and freeness of Christ, Psalm

34:5. We look out for peace, not in. At the same time, there is also an

assurance rising from what we see in ourselves; the seal of the Spirit, love

to the brethren, etc., are the chief marks.

“3. Feeling a body of sin is a mark that we are like Paul, and that we

are Christ’s, Rom. 7; Gal. 5:17. Paul was cheerful with a body of sin; and so

ought we to be. So was David, and all the saints.

“4. I do not think there is any difference between those converted within

these few years and those who were Christians before. Many of those

converted since I came are, I fear, very unholy. I fear this more than

anything. I fear there is too much talk and too little reality. Still there are

many good figs,—many of whom I am persuaded better things, and things

that accompany salvation. The answer to your question I fear is this, that

many used to be taken for Christians before, who had only a name to live,

and were dead. I think there is more discrimination now. But take care and

be not proud, for that goes before a fall. Take care of censorious judging of

others, as if all must be converted in the same way.

“God moves in a mysterious way. He hath mercy on whom He will

have mercy. To Him alone be glory.”

He thus stated his views on another occasion. Referring to Song 6:3,

“My beloved is mine,” following “My beloved is gone down into his

garden,” he said, “This is the faith of assurance,—a complete, unhesitating

embracing of Christ as may righteousness and my strength and my all. A

common mistake is, that this clear conviction that Christ is mine is an

attainment far on in the divine life, and that it springs from evidences seen

in my heart. When I see myself a new creature, Christ on the throne in my

heart, love to the brethren, etc., it is often thought that I may begin then to

say, ‘My Beloved is mine.’ How different this passage! The moment Jesus

comes down into the garden to the beds of spices,—the moment He reveals

himself, the soul cries out, ‘My Beloved is mine!’ So saith Thomas, John

20:27, 28. The moment Jesus came in and revealed his wounds, Thomas

cried out, ‘My Lord and my God.’ He did not look to see if he was

believing, or if the graces of love and humility were reigning; but all he saw

and thought of was Jesus and Him crucified and risen.” At a subsequent

period, when preaching on Matt. 11:28, “Come onto me,” he said, “I

suppose it is almost impossible to explain what it is to come to Jesus, it is so

simple. If you ask a sick person who had been healed, what it was to come

and be healed, he could hardly tell you. As far as the Lord has given me

light in this matter, and looking at what my own heart does in like

circumstances, I do not feel that there is anything more in coming to Jesus,

than just believing what God says about his Son to be true. I believe that

many people keep themselves in darkness by expecting something more

than this. Some of you will ask, ‘Is there no appropriating of Christ? no

putting out the hand of faith? no touching the hem of his garment?’ I quite

grant, beloved, there is such a thing, but I do think it is inseparable from

believing the record. If the Lord persuades you of the glory and power of

Emmanuel, I feel persuaded that you cannot but choose Him. It is like

opening the shutters of a dark room; the sun that moment shines in. So, the

eye that is opened to the testimony of God, receives Christ that moment.”

In the case of a faithful ministry, success is the rule; want of it the

exception. For it is written: “In doing this thou shalt both save thyself and

them that hear thee,” 1 Tim. 4:16. Mr M‘Cheyne expected it, and the Lord

exceeded all his hopes.

It was not yet common for persons in anxiety to go to their pastor for

advice; but soon it became an almost weekly occurrence. While it was yet

rare, two of his young people wrote a joint note, asking liberty to come and

speak with him, “for we are anxious about our souls.” Among those who

came, there were those who had striven against the truth; persons who used

to run out of hearing when the Bible was read,—throw down a tract if the

name of God was in it,—go quickly to sleep after a Sabbath’s pleasure in

order to drown the fear of dropping into hell. There were many whose

whole previous life had been but a threadbare profession. There were some

open sinners, too. In short, the Lord glorified himself by the variety of those

whom his grace subdued, and the variety of means by which his grace

reached its object.

One could tell him that the reading of the chapter in the church, with a

few remarks, had been the time of her awakening. Another had been struck

to the heart by some expression he used in his first prayer before sermon

one Sabbath morning. But most were arrested in the preaching of the word.

An interesting case was that of one who was aroused to concern during his

sermon on Unto whom coming as unto a living stone. As he spoke of the

Father taking the gem out of his bosom, and laying it down for a

foundation-stone, she felt in her soul, “I know nothing of this precious

stone; I am surely not converted.” This led her to come and speak with him.

She was not under deep conviction; but before going away, he said, “You

are a poor, vile worm; it is a wonder the earth does not open and swallow

you up.” These words were blessed to produce a very awful sense of sin.

She came a second time with the arrows of the Almighty drinking up her

spirit. For three months she remained in this state, till having once more

come to him for counsel, the living voice of Jesus gave life to her soul while

he was speaking of Christ’s words, “If thou knewest the gift of God,” etc.,

and she went away rejoicing. Some awakened souls told him that since they

were brought under concern, very many sermons, which they had heard

from him before, and completely forgotten, had been brought back to mind.

He used to remark that this might show what the resurrection day would

awaken in the souls of gospel hearers.

In dealing with souls he used to speak very plainly. One came to him

who assented to his statements of the gospel, and yet refused to be

comforted, always looking upon coming to Christ as something in addition

to really believing the record God has given of his Son. He took John 3:16,

17: “For God so loved the world, that,” etc. The woman said that “God did

not care for her.” Upon this he at once convicted her of making God a liar;

and, as she went away in deep distress, his prayer was, “Lord, give her

light!”

To another person, who spoke of having times of great joy, he showed

that these were times for worshipping God in the spirit. “You would come

to a king when you were full dressed; so come to God, and abide in his

presence as long as you can.”

Sometimes he would send away souls, of whom he entertained good

hope, with a text suited to their state. “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die;

but if ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Or he would say, “I hear of you that God has opened your heart; but

remember not to trust to man’s opinion. Remember an all-seeing Christ will

be the judge at the great day.” To another he said, “I have long hoped you

were really under the wings of the Saviour; if it be so, abide there; do not be

like Demas.”

To a prayer-meeting, consisting of a few young men that had been

awakened to flee from wrath, he gave this advice: “Guard against all

ambition to excel one another in expression. Remember the most spiritual

prayer is a ‘groan which cannot be uttered,’ Rom. 8:26; or a cry of ‘Abba,

Father,’ Gal. 4:6.”

There is very little recorded in his diary daring these years, but what

does exist will be read with deepest interest.

“March 28, 1838, Thursday.—I think of making this more a journal of

my people, and the success or otherwise of my ministry. The first success

among my people was at the time of my first Sacrament: then it appeared.

My first sermon, on Isa. 61:1, was blessed to—and some others. That on

Ezek. 22:14, ‘Can thine heart endure,’ etc., was blessed to awaken M. L.

That on Song 5:2, ‘Open to me,’ etc., the Sabbath after the Sacrament, was

blessed to another. These were happy days. M. D. was awakened by coming

to the communicants’ class. Another by the action sermon. At the words, ‘I

know thee, Judas,’ she trembled, and would have risen from the table.

These were glad days when one and another were awakened. The people

looked very stirred and anxious, every day coming to hear the words of

eternal life,—some inquiring in private every week. Now there is little of

this. About fifteen cases came to my knowledge the first Sacrament, and

two awakened who seem to have gone back. About eleven last Sacrament,

—four of these young men. Several Christians seemed quickened to greater

joy, and greater love one to another. Now it appears to me there is much

falling off,—few seem awakened; few weep as they used to do.”

“April 1, Sacrament day.—Sweet season we have had. Never was more

straitened and unfurnished in myself, and yet much helped. Kept in perfect

peace, my mind being stayed on Thee. Preached on ‘My God, my God,’

etc., Psalm 22:1. Not fully prepared, yet found some peace in it. Fenced the

tables from ‘Christ’s eyes of flame.’ Little helped in serving the tables.

Much peace in communion. Happy to be one with Christ! I, a vile worm;

He, the Lord my righteousness. Mr Cumming of Dumbarney served some

tables; Mr Somerville of Anderston served three, and preached in the

evening on ‘Thou art all fair, my love.’ Very full and refreshing. All sweet,

sweet services. Come, thou north wind, and blow, thou south, upon this

garden! May this time be greatly blessed! It is my third communion; it may

be my last. My Lord may come, or I may be sitting at another table soon.

Moody, Candlish, and Mellis, were a good preparation for this day; and he

sweet word from Cumming yesterday, ‘When the poor and needy seek

water,’ etc. Lord, grant some awakening this day,—to some bringing peace,

—comfort to mourners,—fulness to believers,—an advance in holiness in

me and my children! 3 John 4. Lord, wean me from my sins, from my cares,

and from this passing world. May Christ be all in all to me.”

“Admitted about twenty-five young communicants; kept two back, and

one or two stayed back. Some of them evidently brought to Christ. May the

Lord be their God, their comforter, their all! May the morrow bring still

richer things to us, that we may say as of to-night, ‘Thou hast kept the good

wine until now.’ ”

Toward the close of this same year some of his notices are as follows:—

“Oct. 7, Evening.—In the Gaelic Chapel, on ‘I know that my Redeemer

liveth,’ with more seeming power on the people than for a while. I never

remember of compelling souls to come in to Christ so much as in that

discourse.”

“Oct. 8.—A person of the name of—came; I hope really awakened by

last night’s work; rather, by Thee. I do not know, however, whether grace is

begun or not.”

“Oct. 14.—Preached on ‘Forgiving injuries.’ Afternoon—on the

Second Coming: ‘Let your loins be girded about,’ etc. Felt its power myself

more than ever before, how the sudden coming of the Saviour constrains to

a holy walk, separate from sin. Evening—Preached it over in the Ferry.”

“Oct. 21.—Met young communicants in the evening. Good hope of all

but one.”

“Oct. 22.—A Jew preached in my church, Mr Frey, to a crowded house.

Felt much moved in hearing an Israelite after the flesh.”

“Oct. 23.—Preached to sailors aboard the ‘Dr Carey,’ in the docks.

About 200, very attentive and impressed like. On ‘I know that my

Redeemer liveth.’ May the seed sown on the waters be found after many

days.”

“Nov. 1, Fast-day.—Afternoon—Mr C. on ‘The thief on the Cross.’ A

most awakening and engaging sermon, enough to make sinners fly like a

cloud, and as doves to their windows. The offers of Christ were let down

very low, so that those low of stature may take hold.”

“Nov. 5.—Mr—died this morning at seven o’clock. Oh that I may take

warning, lest, after preaching to others, I myself be a castaway! Love of

popularity is said to have been his besetting sin.”

“Dec. 2.—Errol Communion. Heard Mr Grierson preach on Christ’s

entry into Jerusalem. Served two tables. Evening—Preached to a large

congregation, on ‘Unto you, O men, I call,’ etc. The free invitation of the

Saviour. May some find Him thin day!”

In addition to the other blessings which the Lord sent by his means to

the place where he laboured, it was obvious to all that the tone of Christians

was raised as much by his holy walk as by his heavenly ministry. Yet during

these pleasant days he had much reproach to bear. He was the object of

supercilious contempt to formal cold-hearted ministers, and of bitter hatred

to many of the ungodly. At this day there are both ministers and professing

Christians of whom Jesus would say, “The world cannot hate you” (John

7:7), for the world cannot hate itself; but it was not so with Mr M‘Cheyne.

Very deep was the enmity borne to him by some,—all the deeper, because

the only cause of it was his likeness to his Master. But nothing turned him

aside. He was full of ardour, yet ever gentle, and meek, and generous; full

of zeal, yet never ruffled by his zeal; and not only his strength of “first

love” (Rev. 2:4), but even its warm glow, seemed in him to suffer no decay.

Thus he spent the first years of his ministry in Dundee. The town began

to feel that they had a peculiar man of God in the midst of them, for he lived

as a true son of Levi. “My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I

gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid

before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not

found on his lips; he walked with me in peace and equity; and did turn

many away from iniquity.” Mal. 2:5, 6.

CHAPTER IV

HIS MISSION TO PALESTINE AND THE JEWS

“Here am I; send me.”—ISAIAH 6:8.

THOUGH engaged night and day with his flock in St Peter’s, Mr M‘Cheyne

ever cherished a missionary spirit. “This place hardens me for a foreign

land,” was his remark on one occasion. This spirit he sought to kindle yet

more by reading missionary intelligence for his own use, and often to his

people at his weekly prayer-meeting. The necessities both of his own parish,

and of the world at large, lay heavy on his soul; and when an opportunity of

evangelizing occurred, there was none in Scotland more ready to embrace

it. He seemed one who stood with his loins girt: “Here am I; send me.”

Another motive to incessant activity, was the decided impression on his

mind that his career would be short. From the very first days of his ministry

he had a strong feeling of this nature; and his friends remember how his

letters used to be sealed with this seal, “The night cometh.” At a time when

he was apparently in his usual health, we were talking together on the

subject of the Pre-millennial Advent. We had begun to speak of the practical

influence which the belief of that doctrine might have. At length he said,

“that he saw no force in the arguments generally urged against it, though he

had difficulties of his own in regard to it. And perhaps (he added) it is well

for you, who enjoy constant health, to be so firmly persuaded that Christ is

thus to come; but my sickly frame makes me feel every day that my time

may be very short.”

He was therefore in some measure prepared, when, in the midst of his

laborious duties, he was compelled to stand still and see what the Lord

would do.

In the close of 1838, some symptoms appeared that alarmed his friends.

His constitution, never robust, began to feel the effects of unremitting

labour; for occasionally he would spend six hours in visiting, and then the

same evening preach in some room to all the families whom he had that day

visited. Very generally, too, on Sabbath, after preaching twice to his own

flock, he was engaged in ministering somewhere else in the evening. But

now, after any great exertion, he was attacked by violent palpitation of

heart. It soon increased, affecting him in his hours of study; and at last it

became almost constant. Upon this, his medical advisers insisted on a total

cessation of his public work; for though as yet there was no organic change

on his lungs, there was every reason to apprehend that that might be the

result. Accordingly, with deep regret, he left Dundee to seek rest and

change of occupation, hoping it would be only for a week or two.

A few days after leaving Dundee, he writes from Edinburgh, in reply to

the anxious inquiries of his friend Mr Grierson: “The beating of the heart is

not now so constant as it was before. The pitcher draws more quietly at the

cistern; so that, by the kind providence of our heavenly Father, I may be

spared a little longer before the silver cord be loosed, and the golden bowl

be broken.”

It was found that his complaints were such as would be likely to give

way under careful treatment, and a temporary cessation from all exertion.

Under his father’s roof, therefore, in Edinburgh, he resigned himself to the

will of his Father in heaven. But deeply did he feel the trial of being laid

aside from his loved employment, though he learnt of Him who was meek

and lowly, to make the burden light in his own way, by saying, “Even so,

Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.” He wrote to Mr Grierson again,

January 5, 1839: “I hope this affliction will be blessed to me. I always feel

much need of God’s afflicting hand. In the whirl of active labour there is so

little time for watching, and for bewailing, and seeking grace to oppose the

sins of our ministry, that I always feel it a blessed thing when the Saviour

takes me aside from the crowd, as He took the blind man out of the town,

and removes the veil, and clears away obscuring mists, and by his word and

Spirit leads to deeper peace and a holier walk. Ah! there is nothing like a

calm look into the eternal world to teach us the emptiness of human praise,

the sinfulness of self-seeking and vainglory, to teach us the preciousness of

Christ, who is called ‘The Tried Stone.’ I have been able to be twice at

college to hear a lecture from Dr Chalmers. I have also been privileged to

smooth down the dying pillow of an old school-companion, leading him to

a fuller joy and peace in believing. A poor heavy-laden soul, too, from

Larbert, I have had the joy of leading toward the Saviour. So that even when

absent from my work, and when exiled, as it were, God allows me to do

some little things for his name.”

He was led to look more carefully into this trying dispensation, and

began to anticipate blessed results from it to his flock. He was well aware

how easily the flock begin to idolize the shepherd, and how prone the

shepherd is to feel somewhat pleased with this sinful partiality of his

people, and to be uplifted by his success. “I sometimes think,” is his remark

in a letter, dated January 18, “that a great blessing may come to my people

in my absence. Often God does not bless us when we are in the midst of our

labours, lest we shall say, ‘My hand and my eloquence have done it.” He

removes us into silence, and then pours ‘down a blessing so that there is no

room to receive it;’ so that all that see it cry out, ‘It is the Lord!’ This was

the way in the South Sea Islands. May it really be so with my dear people!”

Nor did he err in this view of the dispensation. All these ends, and more

also, were to be accomplished by it.

An anticipation like that which is expressed in this and other letters,

especially in his Pastoral Letter of March 20, may justly be regarded as a

proof from experience that the Lord teaches his people to expect and pray

for what He means soon to work. And here the Lord accomplished his

designs in the kindest of all ways; for He removed his servant for a season

from the flock to which he had been so blessed, lest even his own children

should begin to glory in man; but yet He took that servant to another sphere

of labour in the meantime, and then, when the blessing was safely

bestowed, brought him back to rejoice over it.

He was still hoping for, and submissively asking from the Lord, speedy

restoration to his people in Dundee, and occasionally sending to them an

epistle that breathed the true pastor’s soul; when one day, as he was walking

with Dr Candlish, conversing on the Mission to Israel which had lately been

resolved on, an idea seemed suddenly suggested to Dr Candlish. He asked

Mr M‘Cheyne what he would think of “being useful to the Jewish cause,

during his cessation from labour, by going abroad to make personal

inquiries into the state of Israel?” The idea thus suddenly suggested led to

all the after results of the Mission of Inquiry. Mr M‘Cheyne found himself

all at once called to carry salvation to the Jew as he had hitherto done to the

Gentile, and his soul was filled with joy and wonder. His medical friends

highly approved of the proposal, as being likely to conduce very much to

the removal of his complaints,—the calm, steady excitement of such a

journey being likely to restore the tone of his whole constitution.

Dr Black of Aberdeen readily consented to use his remarkable talents as

a scholar in this cause; and Dr Keith intimated his expectation of soon

joining the deputation. I also had been chosen to go forth on this mission of

love to Israel; but some difficulties stood in the way of my leaving my

charge at Collace. In these circumstances Mr M‘Cheyne wrote to me,

March 12, from Edinburgh.

“MY DEAR A.,—I have received so many tokens for good from God in

this matter, that it were a shame indeed if I did not trust Him to perfect all

which concerns me. I am glad you have determined to trust all in the hands

of Israel’s God. I am quite ready to go this week, or next week, but am

deeply anxious to be sure that you are sent with me. You know, dear A., I

could not labour in this cause, nor enjoy it, if you were not to be with me in

it. Would you be ready to give your Jewish lecture on the evening of

Sabbath week?… And now, pray for us, that we may be sent of God; and,

weak as we are, that we may be made Boanerges,—that we may be blessed

to win some souls, and to stir up Christians to love Zion. Much interest is

already excited, and I do look for a blessing. Speak to your people as on the

brink of eternity.… As to books, I am quite at a loss. My Hebrew Bible,

Greek Testament, etc., and perhaps Bridge’s Christian Ministry for general

purposes,—I mean, for keeping us in mind of our ministerial work. I do

hope we shall go forth in the Spirit; and though straitened in language, may

we not be blessed, as Brainerd was, through an interpreter? May we not be

blessed also to save some English, and to stir up missionaries? My health is

only tolerable; I would be better if we were once away. I am often so

troubled as to be made willing to go or stay, to die or to live. Yet it is

encouraging to be used in the Lord’s service again, and in so interesting a

manner. What if we should see the heavenly Jerusalem before the earthly? I

am taking drawing materials, that I may carry away remembrances of the

Mount of Olives, Tabor, and the Sea of Galilee.”

The interest that this proposed journey excited in Scotland was very

great. Nor was it merely the somewhat romantic interest attached to the land

where the Lord had done most of his mighty works; there were also in it the

deeper feelings of a scriptural persuasion that Israel was still “beloved for

the fathers’ sake.” For some time previous, Jerusalem had come into mind,

and many godly pastors were standing as watchmen over its ruined walls

(Isa. 62:6), stirring up the Lord’s remembrancers. Mr M‘Cheyne had been

one of these. His views of the importance of the Jews in the eye of God, and

therefore of their importance as a sphere of missionary labour, were very

clear and decided. He agreed in the expectation expressed in one of the

Course of Lectures delivered before the deputation set out, that we might

anticipate an outpouring of the Spirit when our church should stretch out its

hands to the Jew as well as to the Gentile. In one letter he says, “To seek

the lost sheep of the house of Israel is an object very near to my heart, as

my people know it has ever been. Such an enterprise may probably draw

down unspeakable blessings on the Church of Scotland, according to the

promise, ‘They shall prosper who love thee.’ ” In another, “I now see

plainly that all our views about the Jews being the chief object of

missionary exertion are plain and sober truths, according to the Scripture.”

Again, “I feel convinced that if we pray that the world may be converted in

God’s way, we will seek the good of the Jews; and the more we do so, the

happier we will be in our own soul. You should always keep up a

knowledge of the prophecies regarding Israel.” In his preaching he not

unfrequently said on this subject, “We should be like God in his peculiar

affections; and the whole Bible shows that God has ever had, and still has, a

peculiar love to the Jews.”

The news of his proposed absence alarmed his flock at Dundee. They

manifested their care for him more than ever; and not a few wrote

expostulatory letters. To one of these well-meant remonstrances he replied,

“I rejoice exceedingly in the interest you take in me, not so much for my

own sake as that I hope it is a sign you know and love the Lord Jesus.

Unless God had himself shut up the door of return to my people, and

opened this new door to me, I never could have consented to go. I am not at

all unwilling to spend and be spent in God’s service, though I have often

found that the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But God has

very plainly shown me that I may perform a deeply important work for his

ancient people, and at the same time be in the best way of seeking a return

of health.”—“A minister will make a poor saviour in the day of wrath. It is

not knowing a minister, or loving one, or hearing one, or having a name to

live, that will save. You need to have your hand on the head of the Lamb for

yourselves, Lev. 1:4. You need to have your eye on the brazen serpent for

yourselves, John 3:14, 15. I fear I will need to be a swift witness against

many of my people in the day of the Lord, that they looked to me, and not

to Christ, when I preached to them. I always feared that some of you loved

to hear the word, who do not love to do it. I always feared there were many

of you who loved the Sabbath meetings, and the class, and the Thursday

evenings, who yet were not careful to walk with God, to be meek, chaste,

holy, loving, harmless, Christ-like, God-like. Now, God wants you to think

that the only end of a gospel ministry is that you may be holy. Believe me,

God himself could not make you happy except you be holy.”

At this crisis in his people’s history, he sought from the Lord one to

supply his place,—one who would feed the flock and gather in wanderers

during their own pastor’s absence. The Lord granted him his desire by

sending Mr William C. Burns, son of the minister of Kilsyth. In a letter to

him, dated March 12, the following remarkable words occur: “You are

given in answer to prayer; and these gifts are, I believe, always without

exception blessed. I hope you may be a thousand times more blessed among

them than ever I was. Perhaps there are many souls that would never have

been saved under my ministry, who may be touched under yours; and God

has taken this method of bringing you into my place. His name is

Wonderful.”

This done, and being already disengaged from his flock, he set out for

London to make arrangements for the rest of the deputation, who soon after

were all sent forth by the brethren with many prayers. None had more

prayers offered in their behalf than he, and they were not offered in vain.

During all his journeyings the Lord strengthened him, and saved him out of

all distresses.

It was a singular event,—often still it looks like a dream,—that four

ministers should be so suddenly called away from their quiet labours in the

towns and villages of Scotland, and be found in a few weeks traversing the

land of Israel, with their Bibles in their hand, eye-witnesses of prophecy

fulfilled, and spies of the nakedness of Israel’s worship and leanness of

soul. The details of that journey need not be given here. They have been

already recorded in the Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews from

the Church of Scotland in 1839. But there are some incidents worthy to be

preserved which could find a place only in such a record of private life and

feelings as we are now engaged in.

When Mr M‘Cheyne was on board the vessel that carried him to

London, he at once discovered an interesting young Jew, who seemed,

however, unwilling to be recognised as belonging to the seed of Abraham.

He made several attempts to draw this young Israelite into close

conversation; and before parting, read with him the 1

Psalm in Hebrew,

and pressed home the duty of meditating on the word of the Lord. In

visiting Bethnal Green, he has noted down that it was very sweet to hear

Jewish children sing a hymn to Jesus, the burden of which was וּני

חוּב

ט,

“Slain for us!”

The awful profanation of the holy Sabbath which we witnessed on the

streets of Paris, called forth the following appeal, in a letter to Mr

Macdonald of Blairgowrie. His spirit had been stirred in him when he saw

the city wholly given to idolatry. “Stand in the breach, dear friend, and lift

up your voice like a trumpet, lest Scotland become another France. You

know how many in our own parishes trample on the holy day. They do not

know how sweet it is to walk with God all that holy day. Isaiah 58:11–14 is

a sweet text to preach from. Exodus 31:13 is also very precious, showing

that the real sanctifying of the Sabbath is one of God’s signs or marks which

He puts upon his people. It is one of the letters of the new name, which no

one knoweth but they who receive it.”

In his brief notes during the first part of the journey, he has seldom

failed to mark our seasons of united prayer, such as those in the cabin of the

vessel on the passage to Genoa; for these were times of refreshing to his

spirit. And his feelings, as he stood in that city and surveyed its palaces, are

expressed in a few lines, which he sent homeward from the spot. “A foreign

land draws us nearer God. He is the only one whom we know here. We go

to Him as to one we know; all else is strange. Every step I take, and every

new country I see, makes me feel more that there is nothing real, nothing

true, but what is everlasting. The whole world lieth in wickedness; its

judgments are fast hastening. The marble palaces, among which I have been

wandering to-night, shall soon sink like a millstone in the waters of God’s

righteous anger; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

At Valetta, in the island of Malta, he wrote: “My heart beats a little to-

day, but another sail will do me good. One thing I know, that I am in the

hands of my Father in heaven, who is all love to me,—not for what I am in

myself, but for the beauty He sees in Immanuel.”

The classic shores of Italy and Greece are invested with a peculiar

interest, such as may raise deep emotions even in a sanctified soul. “We

tried to recollect many of the studies of our boyhood. But what is classic

learning to us now? I count all things but loss for the excellency of the

knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And yet these recollections tinged

every object, and afforded us a most lawful pleasure.”

During our voyage, it was his delight to search into the Scriptures, just

as at home. And so much did he calculate on an unceasing study of the

word during all our journey, that he took with him some notes I had written

on each chapter of the book of Leviticus, observing it would be suitable

meditation for us while busy with Jewish minds. At home and abroad he

had an insatiable appetite for all the word,—both for the types of the Old

Testament and the plain text of the New. On one occasion, before leaving

home, in studying Numbers 4, he fixed the different duties assigned to the

priests on his memory, by means of the following lines:—

The Kohathites upon their shoulder bear

The holy vessels, covered with all care,

The Gershonites receive an easier charge,

Two waggons full of cords and curtains large;

Merari’s sons four ponderous waggons load

With boards and pillars of the house of God.

He acted on the principle, that whatever God has revealed must deserve

our study and prayerful investigation.

Arrived at Alexandria in Egypt, and thence proceeding onward to

Palestine by the way of the desert, we found ourselves set down on a new

stage of experience. Mr M‘Cheyne observed on the silence of the desert

places: “It is a remarkable feeling to be quite alone in a desert place; it gives

similar feelings to fasting; it brings God near. Living in tents, and moving

among such lonely scenes for many days, awake many new ideas. It is a

strange life we lead in the wilderness. Round and round there is a complete

circle of sand and wilderness shrubs; above, a blue sky without a cloud, and

a scorching sun which often made the thermometer stand at 96° in our tents.

When evening came, the sun went down as it does in the ocean, and the

stars came riding forth in their glory; and we used to pitch all alone, with

none but our poor ignorant Bedouins, and their camels, and our all-

knowing, all-loving God beside us When morning began to dawn, our

habitations were taken down Often we have found ourselves shelterless

before being fully dressed. What a type of the tent of our body! Ah! how

often taken down before the soul is made meet for the inheritance of the

saints in light.” To Mr Bonar of Larbert he writes: “I had no idea that

travelling in the wilderness was so dreadful a thing as it is. The loneliness I

often felt quite solemnized me. The burning sun overhead,—round and

round a circle of barren sand, chequered only by a few prickly shrubs (‘the

heath of the wilderness,’ of which Jeremiah speaks),—no rain, not a cloud,

the wells often like that of Marah, and far between. I now understand well

the murmurings of Israel. I feel that our journey proved and tried my own

heart very much.” When we look back, and remember that he who thus

stands on the sandy desert road between Egypt and Palestine, and looks on

its singular scenery, is one who but lately was to be found busy night and

day in dealing with the souls of men in the densely peopled streets of a

town teeming with population, we are led to wonder at the ways of the

Lord. But is it not a moment which may remind us that the God who sent

Elijah to the brook at Cherith is the same God still? and that the wise,

considerate, loving Master, who said, “Come into a desert place and rest

awhile,” is as loving, considerate, and wise as He was then?

At Balteen, a small village in Egypt, I well remember the indignation

that fired his countenance, when our Arab attendants insisted on travelling

forward on the Sabbath-day, rather than continue sitting under a few palm-

trees, breathing a sultry, furnace-like atmosphere, with nothing more than

just such supply of food as sufficed. He could not bear the thought of being

deprived of the Sabbath rest; it was needful for our souls as much in the

wilderness as in the crowded city; and if few glorify God in that desolate

land, so much the more were we called on to fill these solitudes with our

songs of praise. It was in this light he viewed our position; and when we

had prevailed, and were seated under the palms, he was excited to deep

emotion, though before quite unnerved by the heat, at the sight of a row of

poor wretched Egyptians who gathered round us. “Oh that I could speak

their language, and tell them of salvation!” was his impassioned wish.

An event occurred at that time in which the hand of God afterwards

appeared very plain, though it then seemed very dark to us. Dr Black fell

from his camel in the midst of the sandy desert, and none of all our

company could conjecture what bearing on the object of our Mission this

sad occurrence could have. Is it a frown on our undertaking? or can it really

be a movement of his kind, guiding hand? We often spoke of it: in our visit

to Galilee we thought that we saw some purposes evolving; but there was

still something unexplained. Now, however, the reason appears: even that

event was of the Lord, in wise and kind design. But for that fall, our fathers

in the deputation would not have sailed up the Danube on their way to

Vienna, and Pesth would not have been visited. This accident, which mainly

disabled Dr Black from undertaking the after fatigue of exploring Galilee,

was the occasion of directing the steps of our two fathers to that station,

where a severe stroke of sickness was made the means of detaining Dr

Keith till they had learned that there was an open door among the Jews.

And there, accordingly, it has been that the Lord has poured down his Spirit

on the Jews that have come to our missionaries so remarkably, that no

Jewish Mission seems ever to have been blessed with deeper conversions.

There is nothing but truth in the remark made by one of our number: “Dr

Black’s fall from the camel was the first step towards Pesth.” “Whose is

wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving

kindness of the Lord,” Psalm 107:42. Indeed, whether it was that we were

prepared to expect, and therefore were peculiarly ready to observe, or

whether it was really the case that the watchful eye of our Lord specially

guided us, certain it is that we thought we could perceive the whole course

we took signally marked by Providence. There were many prayers in

Scotland ascending up in our behalf, and the High Priest gave the answer by

shining upon our path. Mr M‘Cheyne has stated: “For much of our safety I

feel indebted to the prayers of my people, I mean the Christians among

them, who do not forget us. If the veil of the world’s machinery were lifted

off, how much we would find is done in answer to the prayers of God’s

children.”

Many things lost somewhat of their importance in our view, when

examined amid the undistracted reflections of the long desert journey,

where for many days we had quiet, like the quiet of death, around us all

night long, and even during the bright day. It is the more interesting on this

very account, to know his feelings there on the subject of the ministry. As

his camel slowly bore him over the soft sandy soil, much did he ruminate

on the happy days when he was permitted to use all his strength in

preaching Jesus to dying men. “Use your health while you have it, my dear

friend and brother. Do not cast away peculiar opportunities that may never

come again. You know not when your last Sabbath with your, people may

come. Speak for eternity. Above all things, cultivate your own spirit. A

word spoken by you when your conscience is clear, and your heart full of

God’s Spirit, is worth ten thousand words spoken in unbelief and sin. This

was my great fault in the ministry. Remember it is God, and not man, that

must have the glory. It is not much speaking, but much faith, that is needed.

Do not forget us. Do not forget the Saturday night meeting, nor the Monday

morning thanksgiving.” Thus he wrote on his way to a fellow-labourer in

Scotland.

On our first Sabbath in the Holy Land, our tent had been pitched in the

vicinity of a colony of ants. It was in the tribe of Simeon we were

encamped; it was the scenery of the Promised Land we had around us; and

one of the similitudes of the blessed word was illustrated within our view.

He opened his Bible at Prov. 6:6–8, and, as he read, noted—“I. Consider

her ways. Most souls are lost for want of consideration. II. The ant has no

guide, overseer, or ruler; no officer, no one to command or encourage her.

How differently situated is the child of God! III. Provideth her meat in the

summer, etc. Some have thought that this teaches us to heap up money; but

quite the reverse. The ant lays up no store for the future. It is all for present

use. She is always busy summer and winter. The lesson is one of constant

diligence in the Lord’s work.”

Many a time in these days, when our attendants in the evening were

driving in the stakes of our tent and stretching its cords, he would lie down

on the ground under some tree that sheltered him from the dew. Completely

exhausted by the long day’s ride, he would lie almost speechless for half an

hour; and then, when the palpitation of his heart had a little abated, would

propose that we two should pray together. Often, too, did he say to me,

when thus stretched on the ground,—not impatiently, but very earnestly,

—“Shall I ever preach to my people again?” I was often reproved by his

unabated attention to personal holiness; for this care was never absent from

his mind, whether he was at home in his quiet chamber, or on the sea, or in

the desert. Holiness in him was manifested, not by efforts to perform duty,

but in a way so natural that you recognised therein the easy outflowing of

the indwelling Spirit. The fountain springing up unto everlasting life (John

4:14) in his soul, welled forth its living waters alike in the familiar scenes of

his native Scotland, and under the olive-trees of Palestine. Prayer and

meditation on the word were never forgotten; and a peace that the world

could not give kept his heart and mind. When we were detained a day at

Gaza, in very tantalizing circumstances, his remark was, “Jehovah Jireh; we

are at that mount again.” It was sweet at any time to be with him, for both

nature and grace in him drew the very heart; but there were moments of

enjoyment in these regions of Palestine that drew every cord still closer, and

created unknown sympathies. Such was that evening when we climbed

Samson’s Hill together. Sitting there, we read over the references to the

place in the word of God; and then he took out his pencil and sketched the

scene, as the sun was sinking in the west. This done, we sang some verses

of a psalm, appropriate to the spot, offered up prayer, and, slowly

descending, conversed of all we saw, and of all that was brought to mind by

the scenery around us, till we reached our tent.

In approaching Jerusalem, we came up the Pass of Latroon. He writes:

“The last day’s journey to Jerusalem was the finest I ever had in all my life.

For four hours we were ascending the rocky pass upon our patient camels. It

was like the finest of our Highland scenes, only the trees and flowers, and

the voice of the turtle, told us that it was Immanuel’s land.” Riding along,

he remarked, that to have seen the plain of Judea and this mountain-pass,

was enough to reward us for all our fatigue; and then began to call up

passages of the Old Testament Scriptures which might seem to refer to such

scenery as that before us.

During our ten days at Jerusalem, there were few objects within reach

that we did not eagerly seek to visit. “We stood at the turning of the road

where Jesus came near and beheld the city and wept over it. And if we had

had more of the mind that was in Jesus, I think we should have wept also.”

This was his remark in a letter homeward; and to Mr Bonar of Larbert he

expressed his feelings in regard to the Mount of Olives and its vicinity: “I

remember the day when I saw you last, you said that there were other

discoveries to be made than those in the physical world,—that there were

sights to be seen in the spiritual world, and depths to be penetrated of far

greater importance. I have often thought of the truth of your remark. But if

there is a place on earth where physical scenery can help us to discover

divine things, I think it is Mount Olivet. Gethsemane at your feet leads your

soul to meditate on Christ’s love and determination to undergo divine wrath

for us. The cup was set before Him there, and there He said, ‘Shall I not

drink it?’ The spot where He wept makes you think of his divine

compassion, mingling with his human tenderness,—his awful justice, that

would not spare the city,—his superhuman love, that wept over its coming

misery! Turning the other way, and looking to the south-east, you see

Bethany, reminding you of his love to his own,—that his name is love,—

that in all our afflictions He is afflicted,—that those who are in their graves

shall one day come forth at his command. A little farther down you see the

Dead Sea, stretching far among the mountains its still and sullen waters.

This deepens and solemnizes all, and makes you go away, saying, ‘How

shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?’ ”

He wrote to another friend in Scotland, from Mount Zion, where we

were then dwelling:—

MOUNT ZION, June 12, 1839.

“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 home,—the first I have received, dated 8

May.… We are living in one of the missionaries’ houses on Mount Zion.

My window looks out upon where the Temple was, the beautiful Mount of

Olives rising behind. The Lord that made heaven and earth, bless thee out

of Zion.—Yours,” etc.

One evening, after our visit to Sychar, he referred to the Bible which I

had dropped into Jacob’s Well. We were then resting from our journey in

our tents. Soon after he penned on a leaf of his note-book the following

fragment:—

My own loved Bible, must I part from thee,

Companion of my toils by land and sea;

Man of my counsels, soother of distress,

Guide of my steps through this world’s wilderness!

In darkest nights, a lantern to my feet;

In gladsome days, as dropping honey sweet.

When first I parted from my quiet home,

At thy command, for Israel’s good to roam,

Thy gentle voice said, “For Jerusalem pray,

So shall Jehovah prosper all thy way.”

When through the lonely wilderness we strayed,

Sighing in vain for palm-trees’ cooling shade,

Thy words of comfort hushed each rising fear,

“The shadow of thy mighty Rock is near.”

And when we pitched our tents on Judah’s hills,

Or thoughtful mused beside Siloa’s rills;

Whene’er we climbed Mount Olivet, to gaze

Upon the sea, where stood in ancient days

The heaven-struck Sodom—

Sweet record of the past, to faith’s glad eyes,

Sweet promiser of glories yet to rise!

At the foot of Carmel, during the seven days we were in quarantine

under the brow of the hill, we had time to recall many former scenes; and in

these circumstances he wrote the hymn, The Fountain of Siloam.

Here, too, he had leisure to write home; and most graphically does he

describe our journey from Alexandria onward.

“CARMEL, June 26, 1839

“MY DEAR FATHER, MOTHER, etc.—It is a long time since I have been

able to write to you,—this being the first time since leaving Egypt that any

one has appeared to carry letters for us. I must therefore begin by telling

you that, by the good hand of our God upon me, I am in excellent health,

and have been ever since I wrote you last. Fatigues we have had many, and

much greater than I anticipated; hardships and dangers we have also

encountered, but God has brought us all safely through, and in fully better

condition than when we began. You must not imagine that I have altogether

lost the palpitation of my heart, for it often visits me to humble and prove

me; still I believe it is a good deal better than it was, and its visits are not

nearly so frequent. I hope very much, that in a cold bracing climate, and

with less fatigue, I may perhaps not feel it at all. I was very thankful to

receive your letter, dated 8

May,—the first since leaving home. I was

delighted to hear of your health and safety, and of the peaceful communion

at St Peter’s. The public news was alarming and humbling. I suppose I had

better begin at the beginning, and go over all our journeyings from the land

of Egypt through the howling wilderness to this sweet land of promise. I

would have written journalwise (as my mother would say) from time to

time, so that I might have had an interesting budget of news ready; but you

must remember it is a more fatiguing thing to ride twelve or fourteen hours

on a camel’s back, in a sandy wilderness, than in our home excursions; and

I could often do nothing more than lie down on my rug and fall asleep.

“We left Alexandria on 16

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 afterwards added a straw mat to put below

all. We had procured two tents,—one large, and a smaller one which

Andrew and I occupy. The donkeys are nice nimble little animals, going

about five miles an hour; a wild Arab accompanies each donkey. We have

our two Arab servants, to whom I now introduce you,—Ibrahim, a

handsome small-made Egyptian, and Achmet the cook, a dark good-natured

fellow, with a white turban and bare black legs. Ibrahim speaks a little

English and Italian, and Achmet Italian, in addition to their native Arabic. I

soon made friends with our Arab donkey-men, learning Arabic words and

phrases from them, which pleased them greatly. We journeyed by the Bay

of Aboukir, close by the sea, which tempered the air of the desert. At night

we reached Rosetta, a curious half-inhabited eastern town. We saw an

eastern marriage, which highly pleased us, illustrating the parables. It was

by torch-light. We slept in the convent. 17.—Spent morning in Rosetta;

gave the monk a New Testament. Saw some of Egyptian misery in the

bazaar. Saw the people praying in the mosque, Friday being the Moslem’s

day of devotion. In the evening we crossed the Nile in small boats. It is a

fine river; and its water, when filtered, is sweet and pleasant. We often

thought upon it in the desert. We slept that night on the sand in our tents, by

the sea-shore. 18.—In six hours we came to Bourlos (you will see it in the

map of the Society for Diffusing Useful Knowledge): were ferried across.

Watched the fishermen casting their nets into the sea: hot—hot. In two

hours more through a palmy wilderness, we came to Balteen,—‘the Vale of

Figs,’—an Arab village of mud huts. You little know what an Arab house

is. In general, in Egypt, it is an exact square box made of mud, with a low

hole for a door. The furniture is a mat and cooking things; an oven made of

mud. 19.—Spent our Sabbath unoccupied in midst of the village; the poor

Arabs have no Sabbath. The thermometer 84° in tent. The governor called

in the evening, and drank a cup of tea with great relish. The heat we felt

much all day; still it was sweet to rest and remember you all in the

wilderness. 20.—At twelve at night, left Balteen by beautiful moonlight.

Proceeding through a pleasant African wild of palms and brushwood, we

reached the sea in two hours, and rode along, its waves washing our feet:

very sleepy. We got a rest at mid-day, if rest it could be called, under that

scorching sun, which I never will forget. Proceeding onward, at three

o’clock we left the sea-shore, and perceived the minarets of Damietta.

Before us the mirage cheated us often when we were very thirsty. We

crossed the Nile again, a much smaller branch,—the only remaining one,—

and soon found ourselves comfortably reclining on the divan of the British

Consul, an Egyptian gentleman of some fortune and manners. He

entertained us at supper in true Egyptian style; provided a room for us,

where we spread our mats in peace. We spent the whole of the next day

here, having sent off a Bedouin to have camels ready for us at San. The

Consul entertained us in the same Egyptian style of hospitality, and sent us

away the next day on board of a barge upon Lake Menzaleh. 22.—Even E

—would not have been afraid to sail upon that lake. It is nowhere more than

ten feet deep, and in general only four or five. We made an awning with our

mats, and spent a very happy day. At evening we entered a canal among

immense reeds. In moonlight the scene was truly romantic; we slept moored

to the shore all night. Next morning (23) we reached San about ten. This

evening and next morning we spent in exploring the ruins of the ancient

Zoan, for this we find is the very spot.

“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! Isaiah 19:12, ‘Where are the princes of

Zoan?’ Ezek. 30:14, ‘God has set fire in Zoan.’ This is the very place where

Joseph was sold as a slave, and where Moses did his wonders, Psalm 78:43.

This was almost the only place where we have been in danger from the

inhabitants. They are a wild race; and our Arabs were afraid of them. You

would have been afraid too, if you had seen, out of the door of our tent, our

Bedouins keeping watch all night with their naked sabres gleaming in the

moonlight, firing off their guns now and then, and keeping up a low chaunt

to keep one another awake. No evil happened to us, and we feel that many

pray for us, and that God is with us. 24.—This day our journeyings on

camels commenced, and continued till we came to Jerusalem. It is a strange

mode of conveyance. You have seen a camel kneeling; it is in this condition

that you mount; suddenly it rises first on its fore feet, and then on its hind

feet. It requires great skill to hold yourself on during this operation; one

time I was thrown fair over its head, but quite unhurt. When you find

yourself exalted on the hunch of a camel, it is somewhat of the feeling of an

aeronaut, as if you were bidding farewell to sublunary things; but when he

begins to move, with solemn pace and slow, you are reminded of your

terrestrial origin, and that a wrong balance or turn to the side will soon

bring you down from your giddy height. You have no stirrup, and generally

only your bed for your saddle; you may either sit as on horseback, or as on

a side-saddle,—the latter is the pleasanter, though not the safer of the two.

The camel goes about three miles an hour, and the step is so long that the

motion is quite peculiar. You bend your head towards your knees every step.

With a vertical sun above and a burning sand below, you may believe it is a

very fatiguing mode of journeying. However, we thought of Rebecca and

Abraham’s servant (Gen. 24), and listened with delight to the wild

Bedouin’s plaintive song. That night (24) we slept at Menagie, a Bedouin

mud village: palm-trees and three wells, and an ocean of sand, formed the

only objects of interest. 25.—Up by sunrise, and proceeded as before. The

only event this day was Dr Black’s fall from his camel, which greatly

alarmed us. He had fallen asleep, which you are very apt to do. We

encamped and used every restorative, so that we were able to proceed the

same evening to Gonatre, a miserable Arab post, having a governor. Not a

tree. 26.—The Sabbath dawned sweetly; thermometer 92° in tent; could

only lie on the mat and read psalms. Evening.—Gathered governor and

Bedouins to hear some words of eternal life, Ibrahim interpreting. 27.—

Two very long stages brought us to Katieh; thankful to God for his

goodness, while we pitched by the date-trees. 28.—Spent the day at Katieh;

interesting interviews with the governor, a kind Arab: thermometer 96° in

tent. Same evening, proceeded through a greener desert, among flocks of

goats and sheep, and encamped by a well, Bir-el-Abd. 29.—Another hot

day in the desert; came in sight of the sea, which gave us a refreshing

breeze; bathed in the salt lake, as hot as a warm bath. Evening.—

Encampment at Abugilbany. 30.—This was our last day in the Egyptian

wilderness. We entered on a much more mountainous region. The heat very

great; we literally panted for a breath of wind. The Bedouins begged

handkerchiefs to cover their heads, and often cast themselves under a bush

for shade. Towards sunset, we came down on the old ruins of Rhinoculura,

now buried in the sand; and soon after our camels kneeled down at the gates

of El Arish, the last town on the Egyptian frontier. 31.—We spent in El

Arish, being unable to get fresh camels. We bought a sheep for five

shillings; drank freely of their delightful water,—what a blessing after the

desert! Found out the river of Egypt, the boundary of Judah mentioned in

the Bible, quite dry. June 1.—Visited the school,—a curiosity: all the

children sit cross-legged on the floor, rocking to and fro, repeating

something in Arabic. We had a curious interview with the governor, sitting

in the gate in the ancient manner. We are quite expert now at taking off our

shoes and sitting in the Eastern mode. Smoking, and coffee in very small

cups, are the constant accompaniments of these visits. Left the same

evening, and did not reach Sheikh Juidhe, in the land of the Philistines, till

the sun was nearly bursting into view. 2.—Spent a happy Sabbath here;

sung ‘In Judah’s land God is well known Singing praises in our tents is very

sweet, they are so frail, like our mortal bodies; they rise easily into the ears

of our present Father. Our journey through the land of the Philistines was

truly pleasant. 3.—We went through a fine pasture country; immense

straths; flocks of sheep and goats, and asses and camels, often came in

sight. This is the very way up out of Egypt, little changed from the day that

the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing, and Joseph and Mary carried down

the babe from the anger of Herod. Little changed, did I say? it is all

changed; no more is there one brook of water. Every river of Egypt,—Wady

Gaza, Eshcol, Sorek,—every brook we crossed, was dried up; not a drop of

water. The land is changed; no more is it the rich land of Philistia. The sand

struggles with the grass for mastery. The cities are changed,—where are

they? The people are changed: no more the bold Philistines,—no more the

children of Simeon,—no more Isaac and his herdsmen,—no more David

and his horsemen; but miserable Arab shepherds,—simple people, without

ideas,—poor, degraded, fearful. Khanounes was the first town we entered;

Scripture name unknown. The burying-ground outside the town. The well,

and people coming to draw, were objects of great interest to us. The people

were highly entertained with us in return. We sat down in the bazaar, and

were a spectacle to all. How much we longed to have the Arabic tongue,

that we might preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in God’s own land!

Same evening we heard the cry of the wolf, and encamped two miles from

Gaza. The plague was raging, so we did not enter, but spent a delightful day

in comparing its condition with God’s word concerning it: ‘Baldness is

come upon Gaza.’ The old city is buried under sand-hills, without a blade of

grass, so that it is bald indeed. The herds and flocks are innumerable,

fulfilling Zeph. 2; Andrew and I climbed the hill up which Samson carried

the gates. 5.—Passed through a fine olive grove for many miles, and

entered the vale of Eshcol. The people were all in the fields cutting and

bringing in their barley. They reap with the hook as we do. They seem to

carry in at the same time upon camels. No vines in Eshcol now, no

pomegranates, but some green fig-trees. Crossed the brook Sorek—dry.

Spent the mid-day under the embowering shade of a fig-tree; tasted the

apricots of the good land. Same evening we came to Doulis, which we take

to be Eshtaol, where Samson was born. 6.—We went due east, and, after a

mountain pass, saw the hills of Judah,—an immense plain intervening, all

studded with little towns. From their names, we found out many Bible

spots. This valley or plain is the very vale Zephatha, of which you read in 2

Chron. 14, ‘In the plain of Sephela.’ Before night we entered among the

hills of Judah,—very like our own Highlands,—and slept all night among

the mountains, at a deserted village called Latroon. 7.—One of the most

privileged days of our life. We broke up our tents by moonlight; soon the

sun was up; we entered a defile of the most romantic character; wild rocks

and verdant hills; wild-flowers of every colour and fragrance scented our

path. Sometimes we came upon a clump of beautiful olive-trees, then wild

again. The turtle’s voice was heard in the land, and singing birds of sweetest

note. Our camels carried us up this pass for four hours; and our turbaned

Bedouins added by their strange figures to the scene. The terracing of all the

hills is the most remarkable feature of Judean scenery. Every foot of the

rockiest mountains may in this way be covered with vines. We thought of

Isaiah wandering here, and David and Solomon. Still all was wilderness.

The hand of man had been actively employed upon every mountain, but

where were these labourers now? Judah is gone into captivity before the

enemy. There are few men left in the land; not a vine is there. ‘The vine

languished.’ We came down upon Garieh, a village embosomed in figs and

pomegranates. Ascending again, we came down into the valley of Elah,

where David slew Goliath. Another long and steep ascent of a most rugged

hill brought us into a strange scene—a desert of sunburnt rocks. I had read

of this, and knew that Jerusalem was near. I left my camel and went before,

hurrying over the burning rocks. In about half an hour Jerusalem came in

sight. ‘How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people!’ Is this the

perfection of beauty? ‘How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with

a cloud in his anger!’ It is, indeed, very desolate. Read the two first chapters

of Lamentations, and you have a vivid picture of our first sight of

Jerusalem. We lighted off our camels within the Jaffa gate. Among those

that crowded round us, we observed several Jews. I think I had better not

attempt to tell you about Jerusalem. There is so much to describe, and I

know not where to begin. The Consul, Mr Young, received us most kindly,

provided us a house where we might spread our mats, and helped us in

every way. Mr Nicolayson called the same evening, and insisted on our

occupying one of the mission-houses on Mount Zion. The plague is still in

Jerusalem, so that we must keep ourselves in quarantine. The plague only

communicates by contact, so that we are not allowed to touch any one, or

let any one touch us. Every night we heard the mourners going about the

streets with their dismal wailings for the dead. On Sabbath Mr Nicolayson

read the prayers, and Dr Black preached from Isaiah 2:2. Dr Keith in the

evening. Three converted Jews were among the hearers. On Monday (10)

we visited the sepulchre, and a painful sight, where we can find no traces of

Calvary. Same evening rode up to the Mount of Olives: past Gethsemane, a

most touching spot. Visited Sir Moses Montefiore, a Jew of London,

encamped on Mount Olivet; very kind to us. 11.—Went round the most of

the places to be visited near Jerusalem,—Rephaim, Gihon, Siloa’s brook,

‘that flowed fast by the oracle of God;’ the Pool of Siloam; the place where

Jesus wept over the city; Bethany,—of all places my favourite; the tombs of

the kings. Such a day we never spent in this world before. The climate is

truly delightful,—hot at mid-day, but delightful breezes at morn and even.

12.—A business day, getting information about Jews. In the evening,

walked to Aceldama.—a dreadful spot. Zion is ploughed like a field. I

gathered some barley, and noticed cauliflowers planted in rows. See Micah

3:12. Jerusalem is indeed heaps. The quantities of rubbish would amaze

you,—in one place higher than the walls. 13.—We went to Hebron, twenty

miles south; Mr Nicolayson, his son, the Consul and ladies accompanying

us, all on mules and horses. Judah’s cities are all waste. Except Bethlehem,

we saw none but ruins till we reached Hebron. The vines are beautifully

cultivated here, and make it a paradise. The hills all terraced to the top. We

spent a delightful evening and all next day. We met the Jews, and had an

interesting interview with them. We read Genesis 18, and many other Bible

passages, with great joy. Saw the mosque where the tomb of Abraham and

Sarah is. 14.—Returned by Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Bethlehem is a sweet

village, placed on the top of a rocky hill,—very white and dazzling. You see

it on both sides of the hill. At Rachel’s sepulchre you see Jerusalem on one

hand and Bethlehem on the other,—an interesting sight,—six miles apart.

On Sabbath we enjoyed the Lord’s Supper in an upper chamber in

Jerusalem. It was a time much to be remembered. Andrew preached in the

evening from John 14:2, 3:17.—The plague has been increasing so that we

think it better to depart. Last visit to Gethsemane, and Bethany, and Siloam.

Evening.—Took farewell of all our friends at Jerusalem, with much sorrow

you may believe. Went due north to Ramah, by Gibeon, and slept at Beer,

again in our tent, in Benjamin. 19.—Passed Bethel, where Jacob slept.

Passed through the rich and rocky defile of Ephraim, by Lebonah, to

Sychar. You cannot believe what a delightsome land it is. We sought

anxiously for the well where Jesus sat. Andrew alone found it, and lost his

Bible in it. 20.—Had a most interesting morning with the Jews of Sychar.

Saw many of them; also the Samaritans in their synagogue. Same evening

visited Samaria,—a wonderful place,—and encamped at Sanour. 21.—

Arrived at Carmel, where we now are, encamped within two yards of the

sea. We have been in quarantine here seven days, as there is no plague north

of this. Several English are encamped here—Lord R., Lord H., etc. We have

daily conversations sitting on the sand. We are not allowed to touch even

the rope of a tent. Acre is in sight across the bay. We have delightful

bathing. To-morrow Lord H. leaves, and kindly offers to take this. Carmel’s

rocky brow is over us. We are all well and happy. On Monday we propose

leaving for Tiberias and Saphet. Soon we shall be in Beyrout, and on our

way to Smyrna. Do not be anxious for me. Trust us to God, who goes with

us where we go. I only pray that our mission may be blessed to Israel. Sir

Moses M. has arrived, and pitched his tent within fifty yards of us. Kindest

regards to all that inquire after me, not forgetting dear W.—Your

affectionate son,” etc.

When the two elder brethren of the deputation left us for Europe, we

turned southward again from Beyrout, to visit the regions of Phœnicia 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 him before his departure, stating what he considered to

be a difficulty in the ordinary expositions of the prophecies which speak of

that renowned city. With great delight he examined the difficulty on the

spot; and it is believed that his testimony on such points as these, when it

reached some men of sceptical views in that scene of his early labours, was

not unblest.

From Saphet he writes: “I sat looking down upon the lake this morning

for about an hour. It was just at our feet,—the very water where Jesus

walked, where He called his disciples, where He rebuked the storm, where

He said, ‘Children, have ye any meat?’ after He rose from the dead. Jesus is

the same still.” To his early and familiar friend, Mr Somerville, he thus

describes the same view: “Oh what a view of the Sea of Galilee is before

you, at your feet! It is above three hours’ descent to the water’s edge, and

yet it looks as if you could run down in as many minutes. The lake is much

larger than I had imagined. It is hemmed in by mountains on every side,

sleeping as calmly and softly as if it had been the sea of glass which John

saw in heaven. We tried in vain to follow the course of the Jordan running

through it. True, there were clear lines, such as you see in the wake of a

vessel, but then these did not go straight through the lake. The hills of

Bashan are very high and steep, where they run into the lake. At one point,

a man pointed out to us where the tombs in the rocks are, where the

demoniacs used to live; and near it the hills were exactly what the

Scriptures describe, ‘a steep place,’ where the swine ran down into the sea.

On the north-east of the sea, Hermon rises very grand, intersected with

many ravines full of snow.”

The day we spent at the lake—at the very water-side—was ever

memorable; it was so peculiarly sweet! We felt an indescribable interest

even in lifting a shell from the shore of a sea where Jesus had so often

walked. It was here that two of the beautiful hymns in The Songs of Zion

were suggested to him. The one was, How pleasant to me, etc.; the other, To

yonder side; but the latter lay beside him unfinished till a later period.

His complaint was now considerably abated; his strength seemed

returning; and often did he long to be among his people again, though

quieting his soul upon the Lord. Not a few pastors of another church have

from time to time come forth to this land, compelled by disease to seek for

health in foreign regions; but how rarely do we find the pastor’s heart

retained,—how rarely do we discover that the shepherd yearns still over the

flock he left! But so deep was Mr M‘Cheyne’s feelings toward the flock

over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer, that his concern for

them became a temptation to his soul. It was not in the mere desire to

preach again that he manifested this concern; for this desire might have

been selfish, as he said: “No doubt there is pride in this anxiety to preach; a

submissive soul would rejoice only in doing the present will of God.” But

his prayers for them went up daily to the throne. We had precious seasons of

united prayer also for that same end,—especially one morning at sunrise in

Gethsemane, and another morning at Carmel, where we joined in

supplication on the silent shore at the foot of the hill as soon as day dawned,

and then again, at evening, on the top, where Elijah prayed.

Distance of place or peculiarities of circumstance never altered his

views of duty, nor changed his feelings as a minister of Christ. In Galilee he

meditated upon the aspect of ecclesiastical affairs in our beloved Scotland;

and the principles he had maintained appeared to him as plainly accordant

with the word of God when tried there, apart from excitement, as they did

when he reviewed them in connection with their effects at home. “I hope,”

were his words to a brother in the ministry, “I hope the church has been well

guided and blessed; and if times of difficulty are to come, I do believe there

is no position so proper for her to be in as the attitude of a missionary

church, giving freely to Jew and Gentile, as she has freely received,—so

may she be found when the Lord comes.”

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 heat of the afternoon, he felt himself unwell. He had

paid a visit to a young man from Glasgow in the town, who was ill of fever;

and it is not unlikely that this visit, at a time when he was in a state of

debility from previous fatigue, was the immediate occasion of his own

illness. He was very soon prostrated under the fever. But his medical

attendant apprehended no danger, and advised him to proceed to Smyrna, in

the belief that the cool air of the sea would be much more in his favour than

the sultry heat of Beyrout. Accordingly, in company with our faithful

Hebrew friend Erasmus Calman, we embarked; but as we lay off Cyprus,

the fever increased to such a height, that he lost his memory for some hours,

and was racked with excessive pain in his head. When the vessel sailed, he

revived considerably, but during three days no medical aid could be

obtained. He scarcely ever spoke; and only once did he for a moment; on a

Saturday night, lift his languid eye, as he lay on deck enjoying the breeze,

to catch a distant sight of Patmos. We watched him with agonizing anxiety

till we reached Smyrna and the village of Bouja. Though three miles off,

yet, for the sake of medical aid, he rode to this village upon a mule after

sunset, ready to drop every moment with pain and burning fever. But here

the Lord had prepared for him the best and kindest help. The tender and

parental care of Mr and Mrs Lewis, in whose house he found a home, was

never mentioned by him but with deepest gratitude; and the sight of the

flowering jessamine, or the mention of the deep-green cypress, would

invariably call up in his mind associations of Bouja and its inmates. He used

to say it was his second birth-place.

During that time, like most of God’s people who have been in sickness,

he felt that a single passage of the word of God was more truly food to his

fainting soul than anything besides. One day his spirit revived, and his eye

glistened, when I spoke of the Saviour’s sympathy, adducing as the very

words of Jesus, Psalm 41:1: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the

Lord will deliver him in time of trouble,” etc. It seemed so applicable to his

own case, as a minister of the glad tidings; for often had he “considered the

poor,” carrying a cup of cold water to a disciple. Another passage, written

for the children of God in their distress, was spoken to him when he seemed

nearly insensible: “Call upon me in the day of trouble,” This word of God

was as the drop of honey to Jonathan.

He himself thus spoke of his illness to his friends at home: “I left the

foot of Lebanon when I could hardly see, or hear, or speak, or remember; I

felt my faculties going, one by one, and I had every reason to expect that I

would soon be with my God. It is a sore trial to be alone and dying in a

foreign land, and it has made me feel, in a way that I never knew before, the

necessity of having unfeigned faith in Jesus and in God. Sentiments, natural

feelings, glowing fancies of divine things, will not support the soul in such

an hour. There is much self-delusion in our estimation of ourselves when

we are untried, and in the midst of Christian friends, whose warm feelings

give a glow to ours, which they do not possess in themselves.” Even then he

had his people in his heart. “When I got better, I used to creep out in the

evenings about sunset. I often remembered you all then. I could not write,

as my eyes and head were much affected; I could read but very little; I

could speak very little, for I had hardly any voice; and so I had all my time

to lay my people before God, and pray for a blessing on them. About the

last evening I was there, we all went to the vintage, and I joined in

gathering the grapes.” To Mr Somerville he wrote: “My mind was very

weak when I was at the worst, and therefore the things of eternity were

often dim. I had no fear to die, for Christ had died. Still I prayed for

recovery, if it was the Lord’s will. You remember you told me to be humble

among your last advices. You see God is teaching me the same thing. I fear

I am not thoroughly humbled. I feel the pride of my heart, and bewail it.”

To his kind medical friend, Dr Gibson, in Dundee, he wrote: “I really

believed that my Master had called me home, and that I would sleep

beneath the dark-green cypresses of Bouja till the Lord shall come, and they

that sleep in Jesus come with Him; and my most earnest prayer was for my

dear flock, that God would give them a pastor after his own heart.”

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 bosom to meet with these almost solitary

representatives of the once faithful and much tried native church of Smyrna.

Meanwhile there were movements at home that proved the Lord to be

He who “alone doeth wondrous things.” The cry of his servant in Asia was

not forgotten; the eye of the Lord turned towards his people. It was during

the time of Mr M‘Cheyne’s sore sickness that his flock in Dundee were

receiving blessing from the opened windows of heaven. Their pastor was

lying at the gate of death, in utter helplessness. But the Lord had done this

on very purpose; for He meant to show that He needed not the help of any:

He could send forth new labourers, and work by new instruments, when it

pleased Him. We little knew that during the days when we were waiting at

the foot of Lebanon for a vessel to carry us to Smyrna, the arm of the Lord

had begun to be revealed in Scotland. On the 23d of July the great Revival

at Kilsyth took place.

Mr W. C. Burns, the same who was supplying Mr M‘Cheyne’s place in

his absence, was on that day preaching to his father’s flock; and while

pressing upon them immediate acceptance of Christ with deep solemnity,

the whole of the vast assembly were overpowered. The Holy Spirit seemed

to come down as a rushing mighty wind, and to fill the place. Very many

were that day struck to the heart; the sanctuary was filled with distressed

and inquiring souls. All Scotland heard the glad news that the sky was no

longer as brass,—that the rain had begun to fall. The Spirit in mighty power

began to work from that day forward in many places of the land.

Mr Burns returned to Mr M‘Cheyne’s flock on August 8

,—one of the

days when Mr M‘Cheyne was stretched on his bed, praying for his people

under all his own suffering. The news of the work at Kilsyth had produced a

deep impression in Dundee; and two days after, the Spirit began to work in

St Peter’s, at the time of the prayer-meeting in the church, in a way similar

to Kilsyth. Day after day the people met for prayer and hearing the word;

and the times of the apostles seemed returned, when “the Lord added to the

church daily of such as should be saved.” All this time, Mr M‘Cheyne knew

not how gracious the Lord had been in giving him his heart’s desire. It was

not till we were within sight of home that the glad news of these Revivals

reached our ears. But he continued, like Epaphras, “labouring fervently in

prayer,” and sought daily to prepare himself for a more efficient discharge

of his office, should the Lord restore him to it again. He sends home this

message to a fellow-labourer: “Do not forget to carry on the work in hearts

brought to a Saviour. I feel this was one of my faults in the ministry.

Nourish babes; comfort downcast believers; counsel those perplexed;

perfect that which is lacking in their faith. Prepare them for sore trials. I fear

most Christians are quite unready for days of darkness.”—(Mr Moody

Stuart.)

Our journey led us through Moldavia, Wallachia, and Austria,—lands

of darkness and of the shadow of death. Profound strangers to the truth as it

is in Jesus, the people of these lands, nevertheless, profess to be Christians.

Superstition and its idolatries veil the glorious object of faith from every

eye. In these regions, as well as in those already traversed, Mr M‘Cheyne’s

anxiety for souls appeared in the efforts he made to leave at least a few

words of Scripture with the Jews whom we met, however short the time of

our interview. His spirit was stirred in him; and, with his Hebrew Bible in

his hand, he would walk up thoughtfully and solemnly to the first Jew he

could get access to, and begin by calling the man’s attention to some

statement of God’s word. In Palestine, if the Jew did not understand Italian,

he would repeat to him such texts in Hebrew as, “In that day there shall be a

fountain opened to the house of David,” etc. (Zech. 13:1.) And one evening,

at the well of Doulis, when the Arab population were all clustered round the

water troughs, he looked on very wistfully, and said, “If only we had

Arabic, we might sow beside all waters!”

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 could (Mark 14:8), in season and out of season. “One

thing,” he writes, “I am deeply convinced of, that God can make the

simplest statement of the gospel effectual to save souls. If only it be the true

gospel, the good tidings, the message that God loved the world, and

provided a ransom free to all, then God is able to make it wound the heart,

and heal it too. There is deep meaning in the words of Paul, ‘I am not

ashamed of the gospel of Christ.’ ”

The abominations of Popery witnessed in Austrian Poland, called forth

many a prayer for the destruction of the Man of Sin. “The images and idols

by the wayside are actually frightful, stamping the whole land as a kingdom

of darkness. I do believe that a journey through Austria would go far to cure

some of the Popery-admirers of our beloved land.” He adds: “These are the

marks of the beast upon this land.” And in like manner our privileges in

Scotland used to appear to him the more precious, when, as at Brody, we

heard of Protestants who were supplied with sermon only once a year. “I

must tell this to my people,” said he, “when I return, to make them prize

their many seasons of grace.”

He estimated the importance of a town or country by its relation to the

house of Israel; and his yearnings over these lost sheep resembled his

bowels of compassion for his flock at home. At Tarnapol, in Galicia, he

wrote home: “We are in Tarnapol, a very nice clean town, prettily situated

on a winding stream, with wooded hills around. I suppose you never heard

its name before; neither did I till we were there among Jews. I know not

whether it has been the birth-place of warriors, or poets, or orators; its

flowers have hitherto been born to blush unseen, at least by us barbarians of

the north; but if God revive the dry bones of Israel that are scattered over

the world, there will arise from this place an exceeding great army.”

Our friend and brother in the faith, Erasmus Caiman, lightened the

tediousness of a long day’s journey by repeating to us some Hebrew poetry.

One piece was on Israel’s present state of degradation; it began—

ילאונ ירוצ

חודפ שיחו רהמ

As the vehicle drove along, we translated it line by line, and soon after Mr

M‘Cheyne put it into verse. The following lines are a part:—

Rock and Refuge of my soul,

Swiftly let the season roll,

When thine Israel shall arise

Lovely in the nations’ eyes!

Lord of glory, Lord of might,

As our ransomed fathers tell;

Once more for thy people fight,

Plead for thy loved Israel.

Give our spoilers’ towers to be

Waste and desolate as we.

Hasten, Lord, the joyful year,

When thy Zion, tempest-tossed,

Shall the silver trumpet hear:

Bring glad tidings to the lost!

Captive, cast thy cords from thee,

Loose thy neck—be free—be free!

Why dost Thou behold our sadness?

See the proud have torn away

All our years of solemn gladness,

When thy flock kept holy-day!

Lord, thy fruitful vine is bare,

Not one gleaning grape is there!

Rock and Refuge of my soul,

Swiftly let the season roll,

When thine Israel shall be,

Once again, beloved and free

In his notes, he has one or two subjects marked for hymns. One of these

is—Isaiah 2:3—“Come ye,” etc., a loving call to the Jews. Another is to the

same effect—Isaiah 1:15—“Come, let us reason together.” But these he

never completed. In Cracow, having heard of the death of a friend, the wife

of an English clergyman, in the midst of her days and in the full promise of

usefulness, he began to pen a few sweet lines of comfort:

Oft as she taught the little maids of France

To leave the garland, castanet, and dance,

And listen to the words which she would say

About the crowns that never fade away,

A new expression kindled in her eye,

A holy brightness, borrowed from the sky.

And when returning to her native land,

She bowed beneath a Father’s chast’ning hand,

When the quick pulse and flush upon the cheek,

A touching warning to her friends would speak,

A holy cheerfulness yet filled her eye,

Willing she was to live, willing to die.

As the good Shunammite (the Scriptures tell),

When her son died, said meekly, “It is well,”

So when Sophia lost her infant boy,

And felt how dear-bought is a mother’s joy,

When with green turf the little grave she spread,

“Not lost, but gone before,” she meekly said.

And now they sleep together ’neath the willow

The same dew drops upon their silent pillow.

Return, O mourner, from this double grave,

And praise the God who all her graces gave.

Follow her faith, and let her mantle be

A cloak of holy zeal to cover thee.

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 variety of climate and discomforts of accommodation

subjected him. And now we were traversing Prussia, drawing nearer our

own land. It was about five months since we had received letters from

Scotland, our route having led us away from places which we had

anticipated visiting, and where communications had been left for us. We

pressed homeward somewhat anxiously, yet wondering often at past

mercies. In a letter from Berlin, Mr M‘Cheyne remarked, “Our heavenly

Father has brought us through so many trials and dangers that I feel

persuaded He will yet carry us to the end. Like John, we shall fulfil our

course. ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day?’ Are we not all immortal till

our work is done?” His strength was rapidly increasing; the journey had

answered the ends anticipated to a great extent, in his restoration to health.

He was able to preach at Hamburgh to the English congregation of Mr

Rheder, from whom it was that the first hint of a Revival in Dundee reached

his ears. He heard just so much both of Kilsyth and Dundee as to make him

long to hear more. A few days after, on board the vessel that conveyed us to

England, he thus expressed his feelings:—

“SAILING UP THE THAMES, Nov. 6, 1839.

“MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,—You will be glad to see by the date

that we are once more in sight of the shores of happy England. I only wish I

knew how you all are. I have not heard of you since I was in Smyrna. In

vain did I inquire for letters from you at Cracow, Berlin, and Hamburgh.

You must have written to Warsaw, and the Resident there has not returned

them to Berlin, as we desired. Andrew and I and Mr Calman are all quite

well, and thankful to God, who has brought us through every danger in so

many countries. I trust our course has not been altogether fruitless, and that

we may now resign our commission with some hope of good issuing from it

to the church and to Israel. I preached last Sabbath in Hamburgh, for the

first time since leaving England, and felt nothing the worse of it; so that I do

hope it is my heavenly Father’s will to restore me to usefulness again

among my beloved flock. We have heard something of a reviving work at

Kilsyth. We saw it noticed in one of the newspapers. I also saw the name of

Dundee associated with it; so that I earnestly hope good has been doing in

our church, and the dew from on high watering our parishes, and that the

flocks whose pastors have been wandering may also have shared in the

blessing. We are quite ignorant of the facts, and you may believe we are

anxious to hear.… We are now passing Woolwich, and in an hour will be in

London. We are anxious to be home, but I suppose will not get away till

next week. I never thought to have seen you again in this world, but now I

hope to meet you once more in peace.—Believe me, your affectionate son,”

etc.

The day we arrived on the shores of our own land was indeed a singular

day. We were intensely anxious to hear of events that had occurred at home

a few months before,—the outpouring of the Spirit from on high,—while

our friends were intensely interested in hearing tidings of the land of Israel

and the scattered tribes. The reception of the deputation on their return, and

the fruits of their mission, are well known, and have been elsewhere

recorded.

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 honoured of God to

open the flood-gate at Dundee as well as at Kilsyth. For some time before,

Mr Burns had seen symptoms of deeper attention than usual, and of real

anxiety in some that had hitherto been careless. But it was after his return

from Kilsyth that the people began to melt before the Lord. On Thursday,

the second day after his return, at the close of the usual evening prayer-

meeting in St Peter’s, and when the minds of many were deeply solemnized

by the tidings which had reached them, he spoke a few words about what

had for some days detained him from them, and invited those to remain who

felt the need of an outpouring of the Spirit to convert them. About a

hundred remained; and at the conclusion of a solemn address to these

anxious souls, suddenly the power of God seemed to descend, and all were

bathed in tears. At a similar meeting next evening, in the church, there was

much melting of heart and intense desire after the Beloved of the Father;

and on adjourning to the vestry, the arm of the Lord was revealed. No

sooner was the vestry-door opened to admit those who might feel anxious to

converse, than a vast number pressed in with awful eagerness. It was like a

pent-up flood breaking forth; tears were streaming from the eyes of many,

and some fell on the ground groaning, and weeping, and crying for mercy.

Onward from that evening, meetings were held every day for many weeks;

and the extraordinary nature of the work justified and called for

extraordinary services. The whole town was moved. Many believers

doubted; the ungodly raged, but the word of God grew mightily and

prevailed. Instances occurred where whole families were affected at once,

and each could be found mourning apart, affording a specimen of the times

spoken of by Zechariah (12:12). Mr Baxter of Hilltown, Mr Hamilton, then

assistant at Abernyte, and other men of God in the vicinity, hastened to aid

in the work. Mr Roxburgh of St John’s, and Mr Lewis of St David’s,

examined the work impartially and judiciously, and testified it to be of God.

Dr M‘Donald of Ferintosh, a man of God well experienced in Revivals,

came to the spot and put to his seal also, and continued in town, preaching

in St David’s Church to the anxious multitudes, during ten days. How many

of those who were thus awfully awakened were really brought to the truth,

it was impossible to ascertain. When Mr M‘Cheyne arrived, drop after drop

was still falling from the clouds.

Such in substance were the accounts he heard before he reached

Dundee. They were such as made his heart rejoice. He had no envy at

another instrument having been so honoured in the place where he himself

had laboured with many tears and temptations. In true Christian

magnanimity, he rejoiced that the work of the Lord was done, by whatever

hand. Full of praise and wonder, he set his foot once more on the shore of

Dundee.

CHAPTER V

DAYS 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’s,—after a short meditation, he hastened to the church,

there to render thanks to the Lord, and to speak once more to his flock. The

appearance of the church that evening, and the aspect of the people, he

never could forget. Many of his brethren were present to welcome him, and

to hear the first words of his opened lips. There was not a seat in the church

unoccupied, the passages were completely filled, and the stairs up to the

pulpit were crowded, on the one side with the aged, on the other with

eagerly-listening children. Many a face was seen anxiously gazing on their

restored pastor; many were weeping under the unhealed wounds of

conviction; all were still and calm, intensely earnest to hear. He gave out

Psalm 66; and the manner of singing, which had been remarked since the

Revival began, appeared to him peculiarly sweet,—“so tender and affecting,

as if the people felt that they were praising a present God.” After solemn

prayer with them, he was able to preach for above an hour. Not knowing

how long he might be permitted to proclaim the glad tidings, he seized that

opportunity, not to tell of his journeyings, but to show the way of life to

sinners. His subject was 1 Cor. 2:1–4,—the matter, the manner, and the

accompaniments of Paul’s preaching. It was a night to be remembered

On coming out of the church, he found the road to his house crowded

with old and young, who were waiting to welcome him back. He had to

shake hands with many at the same time; and before this happy multitude

would disperse, had to speak some words of life to them again, and pray

with them where they stood. “To thy name, O Lord,” said he that night,

when he returned to his home, “To thy name, O Lord, be all the glory!” A

month afterwards, he was visited by one who had hitherto stood out against

all the singular influence of the Revival, but who that night was deeply

awakened under his words, so that the arrow festered in her soul, till she

came crying, “Oh my hard, hard heart!”

On the Sabbath he preached to his flock in the afternoon. He chose 2

Chron. 5:13, 14, as his subject; and in the close, his hearers remember well

how affectionately and solemnly he said: “Dearly beloved and longed for, I

now begin another year of my ministry among you; and I am resolved, if

God give me health and strength, that I will not let a man, woman, or child

among you alone, until you have at least heard the testimony of God

concerning his Son, either to your condemnation or salvation. And I will

pray, as I have done before, that if the Lord will indeed give us a great

outpouring of his Spirit, He will do it in such a way that it will be evident to

the weakest child among you that it is the Lord’s work, and not man’s. I

think I may say to you, as Rutherford said to his people, ‘Your heaven

would be two heavens to me.’ And if the Lord be pleased to give me a

crown from among you, I do here promise in his sight, that I will cast it at

his feet, saying, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Blessing, and honour,

and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the

Lamb for ever and ever.’ ”

It was much feared for a time that a jealous spirit would prevail among

the people of St Peter’s, some saying, “I am of Paul; and others, I of

Cephas.” Those recently converted were apt to regard their spiritual father

in a light in which they could regard none besides. But Mr M‘Cheyne had

received from the Lord a holy disinterestedness that suppressed every

feeling of envy. Many wondered at the single-heartedness he was enabled to

exhibit. He could sincerely say, “I have no desire but the salvation of my

people, by whatever instrument.”

Never, perhaps, was there one placed in better circumstances for testing

the Revival impartially, and seldom has any Revival been more fully tested.

He came among a people whose previous character he knew; he found a

work wrought among them during his absence, in which he had not had any

direct share; he returned home to go out and in among them, and to be a

close observer of all that had taken place; and after a faithful and prayerful

examination, he did most unhesitatingly say, that the Lord had wrought

great things, whereof he was glad; and in the case of many of those whose

souls were saved in that Revival, he discovered remarkable answers to the

prayers of himself, and of those who had come to the truth, before he left

them. He wrote to me his impressions of the work, when he had been a few

weeks among his people:—

“Dec. 2, 1839.

“REV. AND. A. BONAR, Collace.

“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 repent it. Remember how fathers do to their children

when they ask bread. How much more shall our heavenly Father give

(ἀγαθα

) all good things to them that ask Him. Remember the rebuke which

I once got from old Mr Dempster of Denny, after preaching to his people: ‘I

was highly pleased with your discourse, but in prayer it struck me that you

thought God unwilling to give.’ Remember Daniel: ‘At the beginning of thy

supplications the commandment came forth.’ And do not think you are

forgotten by me as long as I have health and grace to pray.

“Everything here I have found in a state better than I expected. The

night I arrived I preached to such a congregation as I never saw before. I do

not think another person could have got into the church, and there was

every sign of the deepest and tenderest emotion. R. Macdonald was with

me, and prayed. Affliction and success in the ministry have taught and

quickened him. I preached on 1 Cor. 2:1–4, and felt what I have often heard,

that it is easy to preach where the Spirit of God is. On the Friday night Mr

Burns preached. On the Sabbath I preached on that wonderful passage, 2

Chron. 5:13, 14; Mr Burns preached twice, morning and evening. His views

of divine truth are clear and commanding. There is a great deal of substance

in what he preaches, and his manner is very powerful,—so much so, that he

sometimes made me tremble. In private he is deeply prayerful, and seems to

feel his danger of falling into pride.

“I have seen many of the awakened, and many of the saved; indeed, this

is a pleasant place compared with what it was once. Some of the awakened

are still in the deepest anxiety and distress. Their great error is exactly what

your brother Horace told me. They think that coming to Christ is some

strange act of their mind, different from believing what God has said of his

Son; so much so, that they will tell you with one breath, I believe all that

God has said, and yet with the next complain that they cannot come to

Christ, or close with Christ. It is very hard to deal with this delusion.

“I find some old people deeply shaken; they feel insecure. One

confirmed drunkard has come to me, and is, I believe, now a saved man.

Some little children are evidently saved. All that I have yet seen are related

to converts of my own. One, eleven years old, is a singular instance of

divine grace. When I asked if she desired to be made holy, she said,

‘Indeed, I often wish I was awa, that I might sin nae mair.’ A. L., of fifteen,

is a fine tender-hearted believer. W. S., ten, is also a happy boy.

“Many of my own dear children in the Lord are much advanced; much

more full of joy,—their hearts lifted up in the ways of the Lord. I have

found many more savingly impressed under my own ministry than I knew

of. Some have come to tell me. In one case a whole family saved. I have

hardly met with anything to grieve me. Surely the Lord hath dealt

bountifully with me. I fear, however, that the great Spirit has in some

measure passed by,—I hope soon to return in greater power than ever. The

week meetings are thinner now. I will turn two of them into my classes

soon, and so give solid, regular instruction, of which they stand greatly in

need. I have not met with one case of extravagance or false fire, although

doubtless there may be many. At first they used to follow in a body to our

house, and expected many an address and prayer by the road. They have

given up this now. I preached last Sabbath twice, first on Isaiah 28:14–18,

and then on Rev. 12:11, ‘Overcame by the blood of the Lamb.’ It was a very

solemn day. The people willingly sat till it was dark. Many make it a place

of Bochim. Still there is nothing of the power which has been. I have tried

to persuade Mr Burns to stay with us, and I think he will remain in Dundee.

I feel fully stronger in body than when I left you. Instead of exciting me,

there is everything to solemnize and still my feelings. Eternity sometimes

seems very near.

“I would like your advice about prayer-meetings; how to consolidate

them; what rules should be followed, if any; whether there should be mere

reading of the word and prayer, or free converse also on the passage? We

began to-day a ministerial prayer-meeting, to be held every Monday at

eleven, for an hour and a half. This is a great comfort, and may be a great

blessing. Of course we do not invite the colder ministers; that would only

damp our meeting. Tell me if you think this right.

“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 again before the

regular one. It seems very desirable. You will come and help us; and

perhaps Horace too.

“I thought of coming back by Collace from Errol, if our Glasgow

meeting had not come in the way.

“Will you set agoing your Wednesday meeting again, immediately?

“Farewell, dear A. ‘Oh man, greatly beloved, fear not; peace be to thee;

be strong; yea, be strong.’ Yours ever,” etc.

To Mr Burns he thus expresses himself on December 19: “MY DEAR

BROTHER,—I shall never be able to thank you for all your labours among the

precious souls committed to me; and what is worse, I can never thank God

fully for his kindness and grace, which every day appear to me more

remarkable. He has answered prayer to me in all that has happened, in a

way which I have never told any one.” Again, on the 31

: “Stay where you

are, dear brother, as long as the Lord has any work for you to do. If I know

my own heart, its only desire is that Christ may be glorified, by souls

flocking to Him, and abiding in Him, and reflecting his image; and whether

it be in Perth or Dundee, should signify little to us. You know I told you my

mind plainly, that I thought the Lord had so blessed you in Dundee, that you

were called to a fuller and deeper work there; but if the Lord accompanies

you to other places, I have nothing to object. The Lord strengthened my

body and soul last Sabbath, and my spirit also was glad. The people were

much alive in the Lord’s service. But oh! dear brother, the most are

Christless still. The rich are almost untroubled.”

His evidence on this subject is given fully in his answers to the queries

put by a Committee of the Aberdeen Presbytery; and in a note to a friend,

he incidentally mentions a pleasing result of this wide-spread awakening: “I

find many souls saved under my own ministry, whom I never knew of

before. They are not afraid to come out now, it has become so common a

thing to be concerned about the soul.” At that time, also, many came from a

distance; one came from the north, who had been a year in deep distress of

soul, to seek Christ in Dundee.

In his brief diary he records, on December 3, that twenty anxious souls

had that night been conversing with him; “many of them very deeply

interesting.” He occasionally fixed an evening for the purpose of meeting

with those who were awakened; and in one of his note-books there are at

least four hundred visits recorded, made to him by inquiring souls, in the

course of that and the following years. He observed, that those who had

been believers formerly had got their hearts enlarged, and were greatly

established; and some seemed able to feed upon the truth in a new manner,

—as when one related to him how there had for some time appeared a glory

in the reading of the word in public, quite different from reading it alone.

At the same time he saw backslidings, both among those whom

believers had considered really converted, and among those who had been

deeply convicted, though never reckoned among the really saved. He notes

in his book: “Called to see ——. Poor lad, he seems to have gone back from

Christ, led away by evil company. And yet I felt sure of him at one time.

What blind creatures ministers are! man looketh at the outward

appearance.” One morning he was visited by one of his flock, proposing “a

concert for prayer on the following Monday, in behalf of those who had

fallen back, that God’s Spirit might re-awaken them,”—so observant were

the believers as well as their pastor of declensions. Among those who were

awakened, but never truly converted, he mentions one case. “Jan. 9, 1840.

—Met with the case of one who had been frightened during the late work,

so that her bodily health was injured. She seems to have no care now about

her soul. It has only filled her mouth with evil-speaking.”

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 such cases, the proportion of real

conversions might resemble the proportion of blossoms in spring, and fruit

in autumn. Nor can anything be more unreasonable than to doubt the truth

of all, because of the deceit of some. The world itself does not so act in

judging of its own. The world reckons upon the possibility of being

mistaken in many cases, and yet does not cease to believe that there is

honesty and truth to be found. One of themselves, a poet of their own, has

said with no less justice than beauty—

“Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell;

And though foul things put on the brows of grace,

Yet grace must still look so.”

But, above all, we have the authority of the word of God, declaring that

such backslidings are the very tests of the true church: “For there must be

also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made

manifest among you,” 1 Cor. 11:19. It is not, however, meant that any who

had really believed went back to perdition. On the contrary, it is the creed of

every sound evangelical church, that those who do go back to perdition

were persons who never really believed in Jesus. Their eyes may have been

opened to see the dread realities of sin and of the wrath to come; but if they

saw not righteousness for their guilty souls in the Saviour, there is nothing

in all Scripture to make us expect that they will continue awake. “Awake,

thou that sleepest, and Christ will give thee light,” is the call—inviting

sinners to a point far beyond mere conviction. One who, for a whole year,

went back to folly, said: “Your sermon on the corruption of the heart made

me despair, and so I gave myself up to my old ways—attending dances,

learning songs,” etc. A knowledge of our guilt, and a sense of danger, will

not of themselves keep us from falling; nay, these, if alone, may (as in the

above case) thrust us down the slippery places. We are truly secure only

when our eye is on Jesus, and our hand locked in his hand. So that the

history of backslidings, instead of leading us to doubt the reality of grace in

believers, will only be found to teach us two great lessons, viz. the vast

importance of pressing immediate salvation on awakened souls, and the

reasonableness of standing in doubt of all, however deep their convictions,

who have not truly fled to the hope set before them.

There was another ground of prejudice against the whole work, arising

from the circumstance that the Lord had employed in it young men not long

engaged in the work of the ministry, rather than the fathers in Israel. But

herein it was that sovereign grace shone forth the more conspicuously. Do

such objectors suppose that God ever intends the honour of man in a work

of Revival? Is it not the honour of his own name that He seeks? Had it been

his wish to give the glory to man at all, then indeed it might have been

asked, “Why does He pass by the older pastors, and call for the

inexperienced youth?” But when sovereign grace was coming to bless a

region in the way that would redound most to the glory of the Lord, can we

conceive a wiser plan than to use the sling of David in bringing down the

Philistine? If, however, there be some whose prejudice is from the root of

envy, let such hear the remonstrance of Richard Baxter to the jealous

ministers of his day. “What! malign Christ in gifts for which He should

have the glory, and all because they seem to hinder our glory! Does not

every man owe thanks to God for his brethren’s gifts, not only as having

himself part in them, as the foot has the benefit of the guidance of the eye,

but also because his own ends may be attained by his brethren’s gifts as

well as by his own?… A fearful thing that any man, that hath the least of

the fear of God, should so envy at God’s gifts, that he would rather his

carnal hearers were unconverted, and the drowsy not awakened, than that it

should be done by another who may be preferred before them.”

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 pastor personally, than by the power of the truths

he preached, he became more reserved in his dealings with them, so that

some thought there was a little coldness or repulsiveness in his manner. If

there did appear anything of this nature to some, certainly it was no

indication of diminished compassion; but, on the contrary, proceeded from a

scrupulous anxiety to guard others against the deceitful feelings of their

own souls. A few notes of his work occur at this period.

“Nov. 27, 1839.—A pleasant meeting in the Cross Church on

Wednesday last, for the seamen. All that spoke seemed to honour the

Saviour. I had to move thanksgiving to God for his mercies. This has been a

real blessing to Dundee. It should not be forgotten in our prayers and

thanksgivings.”

“Nov. 28, Thursday evening.—Much comfort in speaking. There was

often an awful stillness. Spoke on Jer. 6:14: ‘They have healed also the hurt

of the daughter of my people slightly,’ ” etc.

“Dec. 1.—This evening came a tender Christian, so far as I can see; an

exposition of that text, ‘I will go softly,’ or of that other, ‘Thou shalt not

open thy mouth any more.’ A child of shame made one of honour. Her sister

was awakened under Mr Baxter’s words in St Peter’s, of whom he asked,

‘Would you like to be holy?’ She replied, ‘Indeed, I often wish I were dead

that I might sin no more.’ ”

“Dec. 3.—Preached six times within these two days.”

“Dec. 8.—Saw J. T. in fever. She seems really in Christ now; tells me

how deeply my words sank into her soul when I was away. A. M. stayed to

tell me her joy. J. B. walked home with me, telling me what God had done

for his soul, when one day I had stopt at the quarry on account of a shower

of rain, and took shelter with my pony in the engine-house.” He had simply

pointed to the fire of the furnace, and said, “What does that remind you of?”

and the words had remained deep in the man’s soul.

“Dec. 11.—A woman awakened that night I preached in J. D.’s green,

about two years ago, on Ezek. 20:43. For twenty years she had been out of

church privileges, and now, for the first time, came trembling to ask

restoration. Surely Immanuel is in this place, and even old sinners are

flocking to Him. I have got an account of about twenty prayer-meetings

connected with my flock. Many open ones; many fellowship meetings; only

one or two have anything like exhortation superadded to the word. These, I

think, it must be our care to change, if possible, lest error and pride creep in.

The only other difficulty is this. In two of the female meetings, originally

fellowship meetings, anxious female inquirers have been admitted. They do

not pray, but only hear. In one, M. and J. had felt the rising of pride to a

great degree; in the other, M. could not be persuaded that there was any

danger of pride. This case will require prayerful deliberation. My mind at

present is, that there is great danger from it, the praying members feeling

themselves on a different level from the others, and anything like female

teaching, as a public teacher, seems clearly condemned in the word of

God.”

“Dec. 12.—Felt very feeble all day, and as if I could not do any more

work in the vineyard. Evening.—Felt more of the reality of Immanuel’s

intercession. The people also were evidently subdued by more than a human

testimony. One soul waited, sobbing most piteously. She could give no

more account of herself than that she was a sinner, and did not believe that

God would be merciful to her. When I showed how I found mercy, her only

answer was, ‘But you were not sic a sinner as me.’ ”

“Dec. 18.—Went to Glasgow along with A. B. Preached in St George’s

to a full audience, in the cause of the Jews. Felt real help in time of need.”

This was one of his many journeys from place to place in behalf of Israel,

relating the things seen and heard among the Jews of Palestine and other

lands.

“Dec. 22.—Preached in Anderston Church, with a good deal of inward

peace and comfort.”

“Dec. 23.—Interesting meeting with the Jewish Committee. In the

evening met a number of God’s people. The horror of some good people in

Glasgow at the millenarian views is very great, while at the same time their

objections appear very weak.”

“Dec. 31.—Young communicants. Two have made application to be

admitted under eleven years of age; four that are only fourteen; three who

are fifteen or sixteen.”

“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 convictions of sin! Another called this

evening, who says she was awakened and brought to Christ during the

sermon on the morning of December 1

, on the ‘Covenant with death.’

Gave clear answers, but seems too unmoved for one really changed.”

“Jan. 2.—Visited six families. Was refreshed and solemnized at each of

them. Spoke of the Word made flesh, and of all the paths of the Lord being

mercy and truth. Visited in the evening by some interesting souls: one a

believing little boy; another complaining she cannot come to Christ for the

hardness of her heart; another once awakened under my ministry, again

thoroughly awakened and brought to Christ under Horace Bonar’s sermon

at the Communion. She is the only saved one in her family,—awfully

persecuted by father and mother. Lord, stand up for thine own! Make

known, by their constancy under suffering, the power and beauty of thy

grace! Evening.—Mr Miller preached delightfully on ‘The love of Christ

constraineth us.’ His account of the Protestants of France was very

interesting: the work of God at Nismes, where it is said they are no more

fishing with line, but dragging with the nets. Read a letter from Mr

Cumming, describing the work at Perth, and entreating the prayers of God’s

children.”

This last reference is to the awakening which took place in St Leonard’s

Church, Perth, on the last night of the year, when Mr Burns, along with

their pastor, Mr Milne, was preaching. Mr B. had intended to return to

Dundee for the Sabbath, but was detained by the plain indications of the

Lord’s presence. At one meeting the work was so glorious, that one night

about 150 persons at one time seemed bowed down under a sense of their

guilt, and above 200 came next day to the church in the forenoon to

converse about their souls. This awakening was the commencement of a

solid work of grace, both in that town and its neighbourhood, much fruit of

which is to be found there at this day in souls that are walking in the fear of

the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost. And it was in the spring of this

same year that in Collace, at our weekly prayer-meeting, when two brethren

were ministering, we received a blessed shower from the Lord.

His Journal proceeds:—

“Jan. 3.—An inquirer came, awakened under my ministry two years

and a half ago.”

“Jan. 5.—Two came; M. B. sorely wounded with the forenoon’s

discourse.”

“Jan. 12.—Intimated a concert for prayer, that unworthy communicants

might be kept back, the Lord’s children prepared for the feast, and ministers

furnished from on high.”

“Jan. 13.—Kept concert of prayer this morning with my dear people.

Did not find the same enlargement as usual.”

“March 5, Thursday evening.—Preached on Zech. 3—Joshua Was led

to speak searchingly about making Christ the minister of sin. One young

woman cried aloud very bitterly. M. B. came to tell me that poor M. is like

to have her life taken away by her parents. A young woman also, who is

still concerned and persecuted by her father. A young man came to tell me

that he had found Christ. Roll on, thou river of life! visit every dwelling!

save a multitude of souls. Come, Holy Spirit! come quickly!”

“March 25.—Last night at Forfar speaking for Israel to a small band of

friends of the Jews. Fearfully wicked place; the cry of it ascends up before

God like that of Sodom.”

“March 31.—Met with young communicants on Wednesday and Friday.

On the latter night especially, very deep feeling, manifested in sobbings.

Visits of several. One dear child nine years old. Sick-bed.”

“April 1.—Presbytery day. Passed the constitution of two new churches,

—blessed be God! may He raise up faithful pastors for them both,—

Dudhope and Wallace-Feus. Proposal also for the Mariner’s Church. A fast-

day fixed for the present state of the church.”

“April 5, Sabbath evening.—Spoke to twenty-four young persons, one

by one; almost all affected about their souls.”

“April 6.—Lovely ride and meditation in a retired grove.”

“April 7.—Impressed to-night with the complete necessity of preaching

to my people in their own lanes and closes; in no other way will God’s word

ever reach them. To-night spoke in St Andrew’s Church to a very crowded

assembly in behalf of Israel. Was helped to speak plainly to their own

consciences. Lord, bless it! Shake this town!”

“April 13.—Spoke in private to nearly thirty young communicants, all

in one room, going round each, and advising for the benefit of all.”

“April 22.—Rode to Collessie (Fife) and Kirkcaldy. Sweet time alone in

Collessie woods.”

“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 Mark 5:7.

A few of his Communion seasons are recorded. We could have desired

a record of them all. The first of which he has detailed any particulars, is the

one he enjoyed soon after returning home.

“Jan. 19, 1840.—Stormy morning, with gushing torrents of rain, but

cleared up in answer to prayer. Sweet union in prayer with Mr Cumming,

and afterwards with A. Bonar. Found God in secret. Asked especially that

the very sight of the broken bread and poured-out wine might be blessed to

some souls, then pride will be hidden from man. Church well filled—many

standing. Preached the action sermon on John 17:24, ‘Father, I will,’ etc.

Had considerable nearness to God in prayer—more than usual,—and also

freedom in preaching, although I was ashamed of such poor views of

Christ’s glory. The people were in a very desirable frame of attention—

hanging on the word. Felt great help in fencing the tables from Acts 5:3,

‘Lying to the Holy Ghost.’ Came down and served the first table with much

more calmness and collectedness than ever I remember to have enjoyed.

Enjoyed a sweet season while A. B. served the next table. He dwelt chiefly

on believing the words of Christ about his fulness, and the promise of the

Father. There were six tables altogether. The people more and more moved

to the end. At the last table, every head seemed bent like a bulrush while A.

B. spoke of the ascension of Christ. Helped a little in the address, ‘Now to

Him who is able to keep you,’ etc., and in the concluding prayer. One little

boy, in retiring, said, ‘This has been another bonnie day.’ Many of the little

ones seemed deeply attentive. Mr Cumming and Mr Burns preached in the

school the most of the day. In the evening Mr C. preached on the Pillar

Cloud on every dwelling, Isaiah 4:5, some very sweet powerful words. Mr

Burns preached in the schoolroom. When the church emptied, a

congregation formed in the lower school, and began to sing. Sang several

psalms with them, and spoke on ‘Behold I stand at the door.’ Going home,

A. L. said, ‘Pray for me; I am quite happy, and so is II.’ Altogether a day of

the revelation of Christ,—a sweet day to myself, and, I am persuaded, to

many souls. Lord, make us meet for the table above.”

Another of these Communion seasons recorded, is April 1840. “Sabbath

19.—Sweet and precious day. Preached action sermon on Zech. 12:10, 13:1.

A good deal assisted. Also in fencing the tables, on Ps. 139, ‘Search me, O

God.’ Less at serving the tables, on ‘I will betroth thee,’ and ‘To him that

overcometh;’ though the thanksgiving was sweet. Communicated with calm

joy. Old Mr Burns served two tables; H. Bonar five. There was a very

melting frame visible among the people. Helped a good deal in the address

on ‘My sheep hear my voice.’ After seven before all was over. Met before

eight. Old Mr Burns preached on ‘A word in season.’ Gave three parting

texts, and so concluded this blessed day. Many were filled with joy

unspeakable and full of glory.”

“Monday, 20.—Mr Grierson preached on ‘Ye are come to Mount

Zion,’—an instructive word. Pleasant walk with H. B. Evening sermon

from him to the little children on the ‘new heart,’—truly delightful. Prayer-

meeting after. I began; then old Mr Burns; then Horace, in a very lively

manner, on the ‘woman of Samaria.’ The people were brought into a very

tender frame. After the blessing, a multitude remained. One (A. N.) was like

a person struck through with a dart; she could neither stand nor go. Many

were looking on her with faces of horror. Others were comforting her in a

very kind manner, bidding her look to Jesus. Mr Burns went to the desk,

and told them of Kilsyth. Still they would not go away. Spoke a few words

more to those around me, telling them of the loveliness of Christ, and the

hardness of their hearts, that they could be so unmoved when one was so

deeply wounded. The sobbing soon spread, till many heads were bent down,

and the church was filled with sobbing. Many whom I did not know were

now affected. After prayer, we dismissed, near midnight. Many followed us.

One, in great agony, prayed that she might find Christ that very night. So

ends this blessed season.”

The prayer-meeting on the Monday evening following the Communion

was generally enjoyed by all the Lord’s people, and by the ministers who

assisted, in a peculiar manner. Often all felt the last day of the feast to be the

great day. Souls that had been enjoying the feast were then, at its

conclusion, taking hold on the arm of the Beloved in the prospect of going

up through the wilderness.

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 fainted on the Sabbath

morning, but revived, and got grace and strength to preach on 1 Tim. 1:16

—Paul’s conversion a pattern. There were five tables. Many godly

strangers, and a very desirable frame observable in the people. ‘While the

king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth out the smell thereof.’ Much

sin was covered. He restoreth my soul. Monday, 2.—Mr Milne (of Perth)

preached on ‘Hold fast that thou hast;’ and in the evening, to the children,

on Josh. 24—‘Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.’ Andrew and I

concluded with Rev. 5—‘Thou hast redeemed us,’ etc., and 1 Cor. 15—‘Be

stedfast,’ etc.”

He dispensed the Lord’s Supper to his flock every quarter; and though

on this account his calls upon his brethren for help were frequent, yet never

did a brother reckon it anything else than a blessed privilege to be with him.

His first invitation to his friend Mr Hamilton (then at Abernyte) will show

the nature of the intercourse that subsisted between him and his brethren

who gave their services on these occasions:—“My dear Friend,—Will you

excuse lack of ceremony, and come down to-morrow and preach to us the

unsearchable riches of Christ? We have the communion on Sabbath. We

have no fast-day, but only a meeting in the evening at a quarter past seven.

Come, my dear sir, if you can, and refresh us with your company. Bring the

fragrance of ‘the bundle of myrrh’ along with you, and may grace be poured

into your lips. Yours ever.” (Jan. 15, 1840.)

Soon after his return from his mission to the Jews, a ministerial prayer-

meeting was formed among some of the brethren in Dundee. Mr M‘Cheyne

took part in it, along with Mr Lewis of St David’s, Mr Baxter of Hilltown,

Mr P. L. Miller, afterwards of Wallacetown, and others. Feeling deep

concern for the salvation of the souls under their care, they met every

Monday forenoon, to pray together for their flocks and their own souls. The

time of the meeting was limited to an hour and a half, in order that all who

attended might form their pastoral arrangements for the day, without fear of

being hindered; and, in addition to prayer, those present conversed on some

selected topic, vitally connected with their duties as ministers of Christ. Mr

M‘Cheyne was never absent from this prayer-meeting unless through

absolute necessity, and the brethren scarcely remember any occasion on

which some important remark did not drop from his lips. He himself reaped

great profit from it. He notes, Dec. 8: “This has been a deeply interesting

week. On Monday our ministerial prayer-meeting was set agoing in St

David’s vestry. The hearts of all seem really in earnest in it. The Lord

answers prayer; may it be a great blessing to our souls and to our flocks.”

Another time: “Meeting in St David’s vestry. The subject of fasting was

spoken upon. Felt exceedingly in my own spirit how little we feel real grief

on account of sin before God, or we would often lose our appetite for food.

When parents lose a child, they often do not taste a bit from morning to

night, out of pure grief. Should we not mourn as for an only child? How

little of the spirit of grace and supplication we have then!” On Dec. 30:

“Pleasant meeting of ministers. Many delightful texts on ‘Arguments to be

used with God in prayer.’ How little I have used these! Should we not study

prayer more?”

Full as he was of affection and Christian kindness to all believers, he

was specially so to the faithful brethren in the gospel of Christ. Perhaps

there never was one who more carefully watched against the danger of

undervaluing precious men, and detracting from a brother’s character.

Although naturally ambitious, grace so wrought in him, that he never

sought to bring himself into view; and most cheerfully would he observe

and take notice of the graces and gifts of others. Who is there of us that

should ever feel otherwise? “For the body is not one member, but many.”

And “the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor, again,

the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”

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 yet be a wandering star, for which is

reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Let Christ increase; let man

decrease. This is my constant prayer for myself and you. If you lead sinners

to yourself and not to Christ, Immanuel will cast the star out of his right

hand into utter darkness. Remember what I said of preaching out of the

Scriptures: honour the word both in the matter and manner. Do not cease to

pray for me.” At another time (November 3, 1841), he thus wrote to the

same friend: “Now remember Moses wist not that the skin of his face

shone. Looking at our own shining face is the bane of the spiritual life and

of the ministry. Oh for closest communion with God, till soul and body—

head, face, and heart—shine with divine brilliancy! but oh for a holy

ignorance of our shining! Pray for this; for you need it as well as I.”

To another friend in the ministry who had written to him despondingly

about his people and the times, his reply was, “I am sure there never was a

time when the Spirit of God was more present in Scotland, and it does not

become you to murmur in your tents, but rather to give thanks Remember,

we may grieve the Spirit as truly by not joyfully acknowledging his

wonders as by not praying for Him. There is the clearest evidence that God

is saving souls in Kilsyth, Dundee, Perth, Collace, Blairgowrie, Strathbogie,

Ross-shire, Breadalbane, Kelso, Jedburgh, Ancrum; and surely it becomes

us to say, ‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.’ Forgive my

presumption; but I fear lest you hurt your own peace and usefulness in not

praising God enough for the operation of his hands.” To another: “I have

told you that you needed trial, and now it is come. May you be exercised

thereby, and come to that happy ‘afterwards’ of which the apostle speaks.”

To the same again: “Remember the necessity of your own soul, and do not

grow slack or lean in feeding others. ‘Mine own vineyard have I not kept.’

Ah, take heed of that!” And in a similar tone of faithfulness at an after

period: “Remember the case of your own soul. ‘What will it profit a man to

gain the whole world and lose his own soul?’ Remember how often Paul

appeals to his holy, just, unblameable life. Oh that we may be able always

to do the same!” “Remember the pruning-knife,” he says to another, “and

do not let your vine run to wood.” And after a visit to Mr Thornton of

Milnathort, in whose parish there had been an awakening, he asks a brother,

“Mr Thornton is willing that others be blessed more than himself; do you

think that you have that grace? I find that I am never so successful as when

I can lie at Christ’s feet, willing to be used or not as seemeth good in his

sight. Do you remember David? ‘If the Lord say, I have no delight in thee;

behold, here am I; let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.’ ”

In his familiar letters, as in his life, there was the manifestation of a

bright, cheerful soul, without the least tendency to levity. When his medical

attendant had, on one occasion, declined any remuneration, Mr M‘Cheyne

peremptorily opposed his purpose; and to overcome his reluctance, returned

the inclosure in a letter, in which he used his poetical gifts with most

pleasant humour.

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 of soul is what appears in them all; the calm,

holy, tenderly affectionate style of his letters reminds us of Samuel

Rutherford, whose works he delighted to read,—excepting only that his joy

never seems to have risen to ecstasies. The selection of his letters which I

have made for publication, may exhibit somewhat of his holy skill in

dropping a word for his Master on all occasions. But what impressed many

yet more, was his manner of introducing the truth, most naturally and

strikingly, even in the shortest note he penned; and there was something so

elegant, as well as solemn, in his few words at the close of some of his

letters, that these remained deep in the receiver’s heart. Writing to Mr G. S.,

on July 28, 1841, he thus draws to a close: “Remember me to H. T. I pray

he may be kept abiding in Christ. Kindest regards to his mother. Say to her

from me, ‘Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear, forasmuch as ye

know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold’

(1 Peter 1:17, 18). Keep your own heart, dear brother, ‘in the love of God’

(Jude 21)—in his love to you, and that will draw your love to Him. Kindest

remembrances to your brother. Say to him, ‘Be sober and hope to the end’

(1 Peter 1:13). To your own dear mother say, ‘He doth not afflict willingly.’

Write me soon.—Ever yours, till time shall be no more.” In a note to the

members of his own family: “The Tay is before me now like a resplendent

mirror, glistening in the morning sun. May the same sun shine sweetly on

you, and may He that makes it shine, shine into your hearts to give you the

knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—In haste, your

affectionate son and brother.” There were often such last words as the

following: “Oh for drops in the pastures of the wilderness! The smiles of

Jesus be with you, and the breathings of the Holy Ghost. Ever yours.” (To

Rev. J. Milne.) “May we have gales passing from Perth to this, and from

here to you, and from heaven to both. Ever yours.” (To the same.) “The

time is short; eternity is near; yea, the coming of Christ the second time is at

hand. Make sure of being one with the Lord Jesus, that you may be glad

when you see Him. Commending you all to our Father in heaven,” etc. (To

his own brother.). “I have a host of letters before me, and therefore can add

no more. I give you a parting text, ‘Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.’ ”

Another: “Farewell! yours till the day dawn.” To the Rev. Hor. Bonar he

says, at the close of a letter about some ministerial arrangements: “I am

humbled and cheered by what you say of good done in Kelso Roll on, roll

on, river of God, that art full of water! A woman came to me, awakened

under your sermon to the children in the Cross Church, very bitterly

convinced of sin. Glory to the Divine Archer, who bringeth down the

people!” He closes a letter to a student thus: “Grace be with you, and much

of the knowledge of Jesus—much of his likeness. I thirst for the knowledge

of the word, but most of all of Jesus himself, the true Word. May He abide

in you, and you in Him! The Fear of Isaac watch over you.” In concluding a

letter to Mr Bonar of Larbert, in February 1843, some weeks before his last

illness, he writes: “My soul often goes out at the throne of grace in behalf of

Larbert and Dunipace. May the disruption be more blessed to them than

days of peace! How sweet to be in the ark when the deluge comes down!

Ever yours in gospel bonds.”

The Jewish Mission continued near his heart, “the nearest,” said he to

Mr Edwards, who is now at Jassy, “of all missionary enterprises. Were it not

for my own unfitness, and also the success the Lord has given me where I

am, I would joyfully devote myself to it.” In connection with this cause, he

was invited to visit Ireland, and be present at the meeting of the Synod of

our Presbyterian brethren in the summer of 1840. When preparing to set

out, he notices the hand of his Master guiding him:—“July 2.—Expected to

have been in Ireland this day. Detained by not being able to get supply for

Sabbath, in the good providence of God; for this evening there was a

considerable awakening in the church while I was preaching upon Phil.

3:18, ‘Enemies of the cross of Christ.’ When that part was expounded, there

was a loud and bitter weeping,—probably thirty or forty seemed to share in

it; the rest deeply impressed,—many secretly praying.” On the Sabbath

following, one person was so overcome as to be carried out of the church.

He set out for Ireland on the 7

, and on the 10

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 also visited Mr Kirkpatrick at Dublin. He preached the

way of salvation to the Gentiles in all his pleadings for Israel. His visit was

blessed to awaken a deep interest in the cause of the Jews, and his words

sank into the consciences of some. His sermon on Ezek. 34:16 was felt by

some to be indescribably impressive; and when he preached on Rom. 1:16,

17, many ministers, as they came out, were heard saying, “How was it we

never thought of the duty of remembering Israel before?” On another

occasion, the people to whom he had preached entreated their minister to

try and get him again, and if he could not preach to them, that at least he

should pray once more with them.

He was not, however, long absent from home on this occasion. On the

I find him recording: “Reached home; entirely unprepared for the

evening. Spoke on Psalm 51:12, 13, ‘Restore unto me the joy,’ etc. There

seemed much of the presence of God,—first one crying out in extreme

agony, then another. Many were deeply melted, and all solemnized. Felt a

good deal of freedom in speaking of the glory of Christ’s salvation. Coming

down, I spoke quietly to some whom I knew to be under deep concern.

They were soon heard together weeping bitterly; many more joined them.

Mr Cumming spoke to them in a most touching strain, while I dealt

privately with several in the vestry. Their cries were often very bitter and

piercing, bitterest when the freeness of Christ was pressed upon them, and

the lion’s nearness. Several were offended; but I felt no hesitation as to our

duty to declare the simple truth impressively, and leave God to work in their

hearts in his own way. If He save souls in a quiet way, I shall be happy; if in

the midst of cries and tears, still I will bless his name. One painful thing has

occurred: a man who pretends to be a missionary for Israel, and who brings

forward the apocryphal book of Enoch, has been among my people in my

absence, and many have been led after him. How humbling is this to them

and to me! Lord, what is man! This may be blessed, 1

, to discover chaff

which we thought to be wheat; 2d, to lead some to greater distrust of

themselves, when their eyes are opened; 3d, to teach me the need of solidly

instructing those who seem to have grace in their hearts.”

The work of God went on, so much so at this time, that he gave it as his

belief, in a letter to Mr Purves of Jedburgh, that for some months about this

period no minister of Christ had preached in a lively manner, without being

blessed to some soul among his flock.

In other places of Scotland also the Lord was then pouring out his

Spirit. Perth has been already mentioned, and its vicinity. Throughout Ross-

shire, whole congregations were frequently moved as one man, and the

voice of the minister drowned in the cries of anxious souls. At Kelso, where

Mr Horace Bonar laboured, and at Jedburgh, where Mr Purves was pastor, a

more silent but very solid work of conversion was advancing. At Ancrum

(once the scene of John Livingston’s labours), the whole parish, but

especially the men of the place, were awakened to the most solemn concern.

On Lochtayside, where Mr Burns was for a season labouring, there were

marks of the Spirit everywhere; and the people crossing the lake in

hundreds, to listen to the words of life on the hill-side, called to mind the

people of Galilee in the days when the gospel began to be preached. At

Lawers, Mr Campbell, their pastor (who has now fallen asleep in Jesus),

spoke of the awakening as “like a resurrection,” so great and sudden was

the change from deadness to intense concern. On several occasions, the

Spirit seemed to sweep over the congregations like wind over the fields,

which bends the heavy corn to the earth. It was evident to discerning minds

that the Lord was preparing Scotland for some crisis not far distant.

Several districts of Strathbogie had shared to some extent in a similar

blessing. Faithful ministers were now everywhere on the watch for the

shower, and were greatly strengthened to go forward boldly in seeking to

cleanse the sanctuary. It was their fond hope that the Established Church of

Scotland would soon become an example and pattern to the nations of a

pure church of Christ, acknowledged and upheld by the State without being

trammelled in any degree, far less controlled by civil interference. But

Satan was stirring up adversaries on every side.

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, whose former incumbents had been suspended from

office by the General Assembly for ecclesiastical offences. The church saw

it to be her duty to refuse obedience to an interdict which hindered the

preaching of Jesus, and attempted to crush her constitutional liberties.

Accordingly, ministers were sent to these districts, fearless of the result; and

under their preaching the gross darkness of the region began to give way to

the light of truth.

In the month of August, Mr M‘Cheyne was appointed, along with Mr

Cumming of Dumbarney, to visit Huntly, and dispense the Lord’s Supper

there. As he set out, he expressed the hope, that “the dews of the Spirit there

might be turned into the pouring rain.” His own visit was blessed to many.

Mr Cumming preached the action sermon in the open air at the Meadow

Well; but the tables were served within the building where the congregation

usually met. Mr M‘Cheyne preached in the evening to a vast multitude at

the well; and about a hundred waited after sermon for prayer, many of them

in deep anxiety.

He came to Edinburgh on the 11

, to attend the meeting of ministers

and elders who had come together to sign the Solemn Engagement in

defence of the liberties of Christ’s church. He hesitated not to put his hand

to the Engagement. He then returned to Dundee; and scarcely had he

returned, when he was laid aside by one of those attacks of illness with

which he was so often tried. In this case, however, it soon passed away.

“My health,” he remarked, “has taken a gracious turn, which should make

me look up.” But again, on September 6, an attack of fever laid him down

for six days. On this occasion, just before the sickness came on, three

persons had visited him, to tell him how they were brought to Christ under

his ministry some years before. “Why,” he noted in his journal, “Why has

God brought these cases before me this week? Surely He is preparing me

for some trial of faith.” The result proved that his conjecture was just. And

while his Master prepared him beforehand for these trials, He had ends to

accomplish in his servant by means of them. There were other trials, also,

besides these, which were very heavy to him; but in all we could discern the

Husbandman pruning the branch, that it might bear more fruit. As he

himself said one day in the church of Abernyte, when he was assisting Mr

Manson, “If we only saw the whole, we should see that the Father is doing

little else in the world but training his vines.”

His preaching became more and more to him a work of faith. Often I

find him writing at the close or beginning of a sermon: “Master, help!”

“Help, Lord, help!” “Send showers;” “Pardon, give the Spirit, and take the

glory;” “May the opening of my lips be right things!” The piercing effects

of the word preached on souls at this season may be judged of from what

one of the awakened, with whom he was conversing, said to him, “I think

hell would be some relief from an angry God.”

His delight in preaching was very great. He himself used to say that he

could scarcely ever resist an invitation to preach. And this did not arise

from the natural excitement there is in commanding the attention of

thousands; for he was equally ready to proclaim Christ to small country

flocks. Nay, he was ready to travel far to visit and comfort even one soul.

There was an occasion this year on which he rode far to give a cup of cold

water to a disciple, and his remark was, “I observe how often Jesus went a

long way for one soul, as for example the maniac, and the woman of

Canaan.”

In February 1841, he visited Kelso and Jedburgh at the Communion

season; and gladly complied with an invitation to Ancrum also, that he

might witness the hand of the Lord. “Sweet are the spots,” he wrote, “where

Immanuel has ever shown his glorious power in the conviction and

conversion of sinners. The world loves to muse on the scenes where battles

were fought and victories won. Should not we love the spots where our

great Captain has won his amazing victories? Is not the conversion of a soul

more worthy to be spoken of than the taking of Acre?” At Kelso, some will

long remember his remarks in visiting a little girl, to whom he said, “Christ

gives last knocks. When your heart becomes hard and careless, then fear

lest Christ may have given a last knock.” At Jedburgh, the impression left

was chiefly that there had been among them a man of peculiar holiness.

Some felt, not so much his words, as his presence and holy solemnity, as if

one spoke to them who was standing in the presence of God; and to others

his prayers appeared like the breathings of one already within the veil.

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 heart the absolute necessity laid upon the church of sending

the gospel to our dead parishes, during the life of the present incumbents. It

is confessed that many of our ministers do not preach the gospel—alas!

because they know it not. Yet they have complete control over their own

pulpits, and may never suffer the truth to be heard there during their whole

incumbency. And yet our church consigns these parishes to their tender

mercies for perhaps fifty years, without a sigh! Should not certain men be

ordained as evangelists, with full power to preach in every pulpit of their

district,—faithful, judicious, lively preachers, who may go from parish to

parish, and thus carry life into many a dead corner?” This was a subject he

often reverted to; and he eagerly held up the example of the Presbytery of

Aberdeen, who made a proposal to this effect. From some of his later

letters, it appears that he had sometimes seriously weighed the duty of

giving up his fixed charge, if only the church would ordain him as an

evangelist. So deep were his feelings on this matter, that a friend relates of

him, that as they rode together through a parish where the pastor “clothed

himself with the wool, but fed not the flock,” he knit his brow and raised his

hand with vehemence as he spoke of the people left to perish under such a

minister.

He was invited to visit Ireland again this year, his former visit having

been much valued by the Presbyterian brethren there. He did so in July.

Many were greatly stirred up by his preaching, and by his details of God’s

work in Scotland. His sermon on Song 8:5, 6, is still spoken of by many.

His prayerfulness and consistent holiness left enduring impressions on not a

few; and it was during his visit that a memorial was presented to the Irish

Assembly in behalf of a Jewish mission. His visit was in a great measure

the means of setting that mission on foot.

Cordially entering into the proposal of the concert for prayer, he took

part, in September of this year, in the preliminary meetings in which

Christians of all denominations joined. “How sweet are the smallest

approximations to unity!” is his remark in his diary. Indeed, he so much

longed for a scriptural unity, that some time after, when the General

Assembly had repealed the statute of 1799, he embraced the opportunity of

showing his sincere desire for unity, by inviting two dissenting brethren to

his pulpit, and then writing in defence of his conduct when attacked. In

reference to this matter, he observed, in a note to a friend: “I have been

much delighted with the 25

and 26

chapters of the Confession of Faith.

Oh for the grace of the Westminster divines to be poured out upon this

generation of lesser men!”

As it was evident that his Master owned his labour abundantly, by

giving him seals of his apostleship, there were attempts made occasionally

by zealous friends to induce him to remove to other spheres. In all these

cases, he looked simply at the apparent indications of the Lord’s will.

Worldly interest seemed scarcely ever to cross his mind in regard to such a

matter, for he truly lived a disinterested life. His views may be judged of by

one instance,—a letter to Mr Heriot of Ramornie, in reference to a charge

which many were anxious to offer him:—

“DUNDEE, Dec. 24, 1841.

“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 feel quite at the disposal of my Divine Master.

I gave myself away to Him when I began my ministry, and He has guided

me as by the Pillar Cloud from the first day till now. I think I would leave

this place to-morrow if He were to bid me; but as to seeking removal, I dare

not and could not. If my ministry were unsuccessful,—if God frowned upon

the place and made my message void,—then I would willingly go, for I

would rather beg my bread than preach without success; but I have never

wanted success. I do not think I can speak a month in this parish without

winning some souls. This very week, I think, has been a fruitful one,—more

so than many for a long time, which perhaps was intended graciously to free

me from all hesitation in declining your kind offer. I mention these things

not, I trust, boastfully, but only to show you the ground upon which I feel it

to be my duty not for a moment to entertain the proposal. I have 4000 souls

here hanging on me. I have as much of this world’s goods as I care for. I

have full liberty to preach the gospel night and day; and the Spirit of God is

often with us. What can I desire more? ‘I dwell among mine own people.’

Hundreds look to me as a father; and I fear I would be but a false shepherd

if I were to leave them when the clouds of adversity are beginning to lower.

I know the need of Kettle, and its importance; and also the dark prospect of

your getting a godly minister. Still that is a future event in the hand of God.

My duty is made plain and simple according to God’s word.

“Praying that the Lord Jesus may send you a star from his own right

hand, believe me to be,” etc.

It was during this year that the Sabbath question began to interest him

so much. His tract, I Love the Lord’s Day, was published December 18; but

he had already exerted himself much in this cause, as convener of the

Committee of Presbytery on Sabbath Observance, and had written his well-

known letter to one of the chief defenders of the Sabbath desecration. He

continued unceasingly to use every effort in this holy cause. And is it not

worth the prayers and self-denying efforts of every believing man? Is not

that day set apart as a season wherein the Lord desires the refreshing rest of

his own love to be offered to a fallen world? Is it not designed to be a day

on which every other voice and sound is to be hushed, in order that the

silver trumpets may proclaim atonement for sinners? Nay, it is understood

to be a day wherein God himself stands before the altar and pleads with

sinners to accept the Lamb slain, from morning to evening. Who is there

that does not see the deep design of Satan in seeking to effect an inroad on

this most merciful appointment of God our Saviour?

Mr M‘Cheyne’s own conduct was in full accordance with his principles

in regard to strict yet cheerful Sabbath observance Considering it the

summit of human privilege to be admitted to fellowship with God, his

principle was, that the Lord’s day was to be spent wholly in the enjoyment

of that sweetest privilege. A letter, written at a later period, but bearing on

this subject, will show how he felt this day to be better than a thousand. An

individual, near Inverness, had consulted him on a point of sabbatical

casuistry: the question was, Whether or not it was sinful to spend time in

registering meteorological observations on the Sabbaths? His reply was the

following, marked by a holy wisdom, and discovering the place which the

Lord held in his inmost soul:—

“Dec. 7, 1842.

“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 I can give my Sabbaths to God, and half forget

that I am not before the throne of the Lamb, with my harp of gold, the

happier am I, and I feel it my duty to be as happy as I can be, and as God

intended me to be. The joy of the Lord is my strength. But whether another

Christian can spend the Sabbath is his service, and mark down degrees of

heat and atmospherical pressure, without letting down the warmth of his

affections, or losing the atmosphere of heaven, I cannot tell. My conscience

is not the rule of another man. One thing we may learn from these men of

science, namely, to be as careful in marking the changes and progress of our

own spirit, as they are in marking the changes of the weather. An hour

should never pass without our looking up to God for forgiveness and peace.

This is the noblest science, to know how to live in hourly communion with

God in Christ. May you and I know more of this, and thank God that we are

not among the wise and prudent from whom these things are hid!—The

grace of the Lord of the Sabbath be with you,” etc.

Up till this period, the Narrative of our Mission to Israel had not been

given to the public. Interruptions, arising from multiplicity of labours and

constant calls of duty, had from time to time come in our way. Mr

M‘Cheyne found it exceedingly difficult to spare a day or two at a time in

order to take part. “I find it hard work to carry on the work of a diligent

pastor and that of an author at the same time. How John Calvin would have

smiled at my difficulties!” At length, however, in the month of March 1842,

we resolved to gain time by exchanging each other’s pastoral duties for a

month. Accordingly, during four or five weeks, he remained in Collace, my

flock enjoying his Sabbath-day services and his occasional visits, while he

was set free from what would have been the never-ceasing interruptions of

his own town.

Many a pleasant remembrance remains of these days, as sheet after

sheet passed under the eyes of our mutual criticism. Though intent on

accomplishing his work, he kept by his rule, “that he must first see the face

of God before he could undertake any duty.” Often would he wander in the

mornings among the pleasant woods of Dunsinnan, till he had drunk in

refreshment to his soul by meditation on the word of God; and then he took

up the pen. And to a brother in the ministry, who had one day broken in

upon his close occupation, he afterwards wrote: “You know you stole away

my day; yet I trust all was not lost. I think I have had more grace ever since

that prayer among the fir-trees. Oh to be like Jesus, and with him to all

eternity!” Occasionally, during the same period, he wrote some pieces for

the Christian’s Daily Companion. The Narrative was finished in May, and

the Lord has made it acceptable to the brethren.

When this work was finished, the Lord had other employment ready for

him in his own parish. His diary has this entry: “May 22.—I have seen some

very evident awakenings of late. J. G. awakened partly through the word

preached, and partly through the faithful warnings of her fellow-servant. A.

R., who has been for about a year in the deepest distress, seeking rest, but

finding none. B. M. converted last winter at the Tuesday meeting in

Annfield. She was brought very rapidly to peace with God, and to a calm,

sedate, prayerful state of mind. I was surprised at the quickness of the work

in this case, and pleased with the clear tokens of grace; and now I see God’s

gracious end in it. She was to be admitted at last communion, but caught

fever before the Sabbath. On Tuesday last, she died in great peace and joy.

When she felt death coming on, she said, Oh death, death, come! let us

sing!’ Many that knew her have been a good deal moved homeward by this

solemn providence. This evening, I invited those to come who are leaving

the parish at this term. About twenty came, to whom I gave tracts and words

of warning. I feel persuaded that if I could follow the Lord more fully

myself, my ministry would be used to make a deeper impression than it has

yet done.”

CHAPTER VI

THE 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 tempted, and have no hope, but as a worm on the arm of

Jesus.” “Aug. 4.—Often, often, would I have been glad to depart, and be

with Christ. I am now much better in body and mind, having a little of the

presence of my beloved, whose absence is death to me.” The same month:

“I have been carried through deep waters, bodily and spiritual, since last we

met.” It was his own persuasion that few had more to struggle with in the

inner man. Who can tell what wars go on within?

During this season of trial, he was invited to form one of a number of

ministers from Scotland, who were to visit the north of England, with no

other purpose than to preach the glad tidings. The scheme was planned by a

Christian gentleman, who has done much for Christ in his generation. When

the invitation reached him, he was in the heat of his furnace. He mentioned

this to the brother who corresponded with him on the subject, Mr Purves of

Jedburgh, whose reply was balm to his spirit.… “I have a fellow-feeling

with you in your present infirmity, and you know for your consolation that

another has, who is a brother indeed. In all our afflictions, He is afflicted.

He is, we may say, the common heart of his people, for they are one body;

and an infirmity in the very remotest and meanest member is felt there and

borne there. Let us console, solace, yea, satiate ourselves in Him, as, amid

afflictions especially, brother does in brother. It is blessed to be like Him in

everything, even in suffering. There is a great want about all Christians who

have not suffered. Some flowers must be broken or bruised before they emit

any fragrance. All the wounds of Christ send out sweetness; all the sorrows

of Christians do the same. Commend me to a bruised brother,—a broken

reed,—one like the Son of man. The Man of Sorrows is never far from him.

To me there is something sacred and sweet in all suffering; it is so much

akin to the Man of Sorrows.” It was thus he suffered, and thus that he was

comforted. He wrote back, agreeing to go, and added, “Remember me

especially, who am heavy laden oftentimes. My heart is all of sin; but Jesus

lives.”

They set out for England. Mr Purves, Mr Somerville of Anderston, Mr

Cumming of Dumbarney, and Mr Bonar of Kelso, formed the company.

Their chief station was Newcastle, where Mr Burns had been recently

labouring with some success, and where he had seen “a town giving itself

up to utter ungodliness—a town where Satan’s trenches were deep and

wide, his wall strong and high, his garrison great and fearless, and where all

that man could do seemed but as arrows shot against a tower of brass.” But

those who went knew that the Spirit of God was omnipotent, and that He

could take the prey from the mighty.

They preached both in the open air, and in the places of worship

belonging to the Presbyterians and to the Wesleyan Methodists. The

defenders of the Sabbath cause were specially prepared to welcome Mr

M‘Cheyne, whose tract on the Lord’s Day had been widely circulated and

blessed. Many were attracted to hear; interesting congregations assembled

in the market-place, and there is reason to believe many were impressed. A

person in the town describes Mr M‘Cheyne’s last address as being

peculiarly awakening. He preached in the open air, in a space of ground

between the Cloth Market and St Nicholas’ Church. Above a thousand souls

were present, and the service continued till ten, without one person moving

from the ground. The moon shone brightly, and the sky was spangled with

stars. His subject was, “The Great White Throne” (Rev. 20:11). In

concluding his address, he told them “that they would never meet again till

they all met at the judgment-seat of Christ; but the glorious heavens over

their heads, and the bright moon that shone upon them, and the old

venerable church behind them, were his witnesses that he had set before

them life and death.” Some will have cause to remember that night through

eternity.

His preaching at Gilsland also was not without effect; and he had good

cause to bless the Lord for bringing him through Dumfriesshire in his way

homeward. He returned to his people in the beginning of September, full of

peace and joy. “I have returned much stronger, indeed quite well. I think I

have got some precious souls for my hire on my way home. I earnestly long

for more grace and personal holiness, and more usefulness.”

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 as he spoke. And during the winter he was

observed to be peculiarly joyful, being strong in body, and feeling the near

presence of Jesus in his soul. He lived in the blessed consciousness that he

was a child of God, humble and meek, just because he was fully assured

that Jehovah was his God and Father. Many often felt that in prayer the

name “Holy Father” was breathed with peculiar tenderness and solemnity

from his lips.

His flock in St Peter’s began to murmur at his absence, when again he

left them for ten days in November, to assist Mr Hamilton of Regent

Square, London, at his communion. But it was his desire for souls that thus

led him from place to place, combined with a growing feeling that the Lord

was calling him to evangelistic more than to pastoral labours. This visit was

a blessed one; and the growth of his soul in holiness was visible to many.

During the days of his visit to Mr Hamilton, he read through the Song of

Solomon at the time of family worship, commenting briefly on it with rare

gracefulness and poetic taste, and yet rarer manifestation of soul-filling love

to the Saviour’s person. The sanctified affections of his soul, and his insight

into the mind of Jesus, seemed to have much affected his friends on these

occasions.

Receiving, while here, an invitation to return by the way of Kelso, he

replied:—

“LONDON, Nov. 5, 1842.

“MY DEAR HORATIUS,—Our friends here will not let me away till the

Friday morning, so that it will require all my diligence to reach Dundee

before the Sabbath. I will thus be disappointed of the joy of seeing you, and

ministering a word to your dear flock. Oh that my soul were new moulded,

and I were effectually called a second time, and made a vessel full of the

Spirit, to tell only of Jesus and his love! I fear I shall never be in this world

what I desire. I have preached three times here; a few tears also have been

shed. Oh for Whitfield’s week in London, when a thousand letters came!

The same Jesus reigns; the same Spirit is able. Why is He restrained! Is the

sin ours? Are we the bottle-stoppers of these heavenly dews? Ever yours till

glory.

“P.S.—We shall meet, God willing, at the Convocation.”

The memorable Convocation met at Edinburgh on November 17

There were five hundred ministers present from all parts of Scotland. The

encroachment of the civil courts upon the prerogatives of Christ, the only

Head acknowledged by our church, and the negligent treatment hitherto

given by the legislature of the country to every remonstrance on the part of

the church, had brought on a crisis. The Church of Scotland had maintained,

from the days of the Reformation, that her connection with the State was

understood to imply no surrender whatsoever of complete independence in

regulating all spiritual matters; and to have allowed any civil authority to

control her in doctrine, discipline, or any spiritual act, would have been a

daring and flagrant act of treachery to her Lord and King. The deliberations

of the Convocation continued during eight days, and the momentous results

are well known in this land.

Mr M‘Cheyne was never absent from any of the diets of this solemn

assembly. He felt the deepest interest in every matter that came before them,

got great light as to the path of duty in the course of the consultations, and

put his name to all the resolutions, heartily sympathizing in the decided

determination that, as a church of Christ, we must abandon our connection

with the State, if our “Claim of Rights” were rejected. These eight days

were times of remarkable union and prayerfulness. The proceedings, from

time to time, were suspended till the brethren had again asked counsel of

the Lord by prayer; and none present will forget the affecting solemnity

with which, on one occasion, Mr M‘Cheyne poured out our wants before

the Lord.

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 patronage, because,—1

, It was not to be

found in the word of God; 2d, It destroyed the duty of “trying the spirits;”

3d, It meddled with the headship of Christ, coming in between Him and his

people, saying, “I will place the stars.” But still more decided was he in

regard to the spiritual independence of the church. This he reckoned a vital

question; and in prospect of the disruption of the Church of Scotland, if it

were denied, he stated at a public meeting,—1

, That it was to be deplored

in some respects, viz., because of the sufferings of God’s faithful servants,

the degradation of those who remained behind, the alienation of the

aristocracy, the perdition of the ungodly, and the sin of the nation. But, 2d,

It was to be hailed for other reasons, viz., Christ’s kingly office would be

better known, the truth would be spread into desolate parishes, and faithful

ministers would be refined. And when, on March 7

of the following year,

the cause of the church was finally to be pleaded at the bar of the House of

Commons, I find him writing: “Eventful night this in the British Parliament!

Once more King Jesus stands at an earthly tribunal, and they know Him

not!”

An interesting anecdote is related of him by a co-presbyter, who

returned with him to Dundee after the Convocation. This co-presbyter, Mr

Stewart, was conversing with him as to what it might be their duty to do in

the event of the disruption, and where they might be scattered. Mr Stewart

said he could preach Gaelic, and might go to the Highlanders in Canada, if

it were needful. Mr M‘Cheyne said, “I think of going to the many thousand

convicts that are transported beyond seas, for no man careth for their souls.”

We have not many records of his public work after this date. Almost the

last note in his diary is dated December 25: “This day ordained four elders,

and admitted a fifth, who will all, I trust, be a blessing in this place when I

am gone. Was graciously awakened a great while before day, and had two

hours alone with God. Preached with much comfort on 1 Tim. 5:17, ‘Let the

elders that rule well,’ etc. At the end of the sermon and prayer, proposed the

regular questions; then made the congregation sing standing; during which

time I came down from the pulpit and stood over the four men, then prayed,

and all the elders gave the right hand of fellowship, during which I returned

to the pulpit, and addressed them and the congregation on their relative

duties. Altogether a solemn scene.”

The last recorded cases of awakening, and the last entry in his diary, is

dated January 6, 1843: “Heard of an awakened soul finding rest—true rest, I

trust. Two new cases of awakening; both very deep and touching. At the

very time when I was beginning to give up in despair, God gives me tokens

of his presence returning.”

He here speaks of discouragement, when God for a few months or

weeks seemed to be withholding his hand from saving souls. If he was not

right in thus hastily forgetting the past for a little, still this feature of his

ministry is to be well considered. He entertained so full a persuasion that a

faithful minister has every reason to expect to see souls converted under

him, that when this was withheld, he began to fear that some hidden evil

was provoking the Lord and grieving the Spirit. And ought it not to be so

with all of us? Ought we not to suspect, either that we are not living near to

God, or that our message is not a true transcript of the glad tidings, in both

matter and manner, when we see no souls brought to Jesus? God may

certainly hide from our knowledge much of what He accomplishes by our

means, but as certainly will He bring to our view some seals of our ministry,

in order that our persuasion of being thus sent by Him may solemnize and

overawe us, as well as lead us on to unwearied labour. Ought it not to be the

inscription over the doors of our Assembly and College halls: “Thanks be

unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh

manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place?” 2 Cor. 2:14.

About this time, in one of his MSS., there occurs this sentence: “As I was

walking in the fields, the thought came over me with almost overwhelming

power, that every one of my flock must soon be in heaven or hell. Oh, how I

wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I

had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one, and say, ‘Escape for thy

life!’ Ah, sinners! you little know how I fear that you will lay the blame of

your damnation at my door.”

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 Lamb!” etc. Sometimes it was that hymn, Oh for a

closer walk with God! and sometimes the psalm, “Oh that I like a dove had

wings!” etc. A friend said of him, “I have sometimes compared him to the

silver and graceful ash, with its pensile branches, and leaves of gentle

green, reflecting gleams of happy sunshine. The fall of its leaf, too, is like

the fall of his,—it is green to-night and gone to-morrow, it does not sere nor

wither.”

An experienced servant of God has said, that, while popularity is a

snare that few are not caught by, a more subtle and dangerous snare is to be

famed for holiness. The fame of being a godly man is as great a snare as the

fame of being learned or eloquent. It is possible to attend with scrupulous

anxiety even to secret habits of devotion, in order to get a name for

holiness. If any were exposed to this snare in his day, Mr M‘Cheyne was the

person. Yet nothing is more certain than that, to the very last, he was ever

discovering, and successfully resisting, the deceitful tendencies of his own

heart and a tempting devil. Two things he seems never to have ceased from,

—the cultivation of personal holiness, and the most anxious efforts to save

souls.

About this time he wrote down, for his own use, an examination into

things that ought to be amended and changed. I subjoin it entire. How

singularly close and impartial are these researches into his soul! How acute

is he in discovering his variations from the holy law of God! Oh that we all

were taught by the same spirit thus to try our reins! It is only when we are

thus thoroughly experiencing our helplessness, and discovering the

thousand forms of indwelling sin, that we really sit as disciples at Christ’s

feet, and gladly receive Him as all in all! And at each such moment we feel

in the Spirit of Ignatius, “Νῦν γα

ρ ἀρχη

ν ἔχω τοῦ μαθητεύεσθαι”—“It is

only now that I begin to be a disciple.”

Mr M‘Cheyne entitles the examination of his heart and life

“Reformation,” and it commences thus:—

“It is the duty of ministers in this day to begin the reformation of

religion and manners with themselves, families, etc., with confession of past

sin, earnest prayer for direction, grace, and full purpose of heart. Mal. 3:3

—‘He shall purify the sons of Levi.’ Ministers are probably laid aside for a

time for this very purpose.

1. Personal Reformation

“I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest amount of present

happiness, I shall do most for God’s glory and the good of man, and I shall

have the fullest reward in eternity, by maintaining a conscience always

washed in Christ’s blood, by being filled with the Holy Spirit at all times,

and by attaining the most entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart,

that is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world.

“I am persuaded that whenever any one from without, or my own heart

from within, at any moment, or in any circumstances, contradicts this,—if

any one shall insinuate that it is not for my present and eternal happiness,

and for God’s glory and my usefulness, to maintain a blood-washed

conscience, to be entirely filled with the Spirit, and to be fully conformed to

the image of Christ in all things,—that is the voice of the devil, God’s

enemy, the enemy of my soul and of all good—the most foolish, wicked,

and miserable of all the creatures. See Prov. 9:17—‘Stolen waters are

sweet.’

“1. To maintain a conscience void of offence, I am persuaded that I

ought to confess my sins more. I think I ought to confess sin the moment I

see it to be sin; whether I am in company, or in study, or even preaching, the

soul ought to cast a glance of abhorrence at the sin. If I go on with the duty,

leaving the sin unconfessed, I go on with a burdened conscience, and add

sin to sin. I think I ought at certain times of the day—my best times,—say,

after breakfast and after tea,—to confess solemnly the sins of the previous

hours, and to seek their complete remission.

“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 seeks to frighten me away from confessing. I ought to

take all methods for seeing the vileness of my sins. I ought to regard myself

as a condemned branch of Adam,—as partaker of a nature opposite to God

from the womb (Ps. 51),—as having a heart full of all wickedness, which

pollutes every thought, word, and action, during my whole life, from birth

to death. I ought to confess often the sins of my youth, like David and Paul,

—my sins before conversion, my sins since conversion,—sins against light

and knowledge, against love and grace, against each person of the Godhead.

I ought to look at my sins in the light of the holy law, in the light of God’s

countenance, in the light of the cross, in the light of the judgment-seat, in

the light of hell, in the light of eternity. I ought to examine my dreams—my

floating thoughts—my predilections—my often recurring actions—my

habits of thought, feeling, speech, and action—the slanders of my enemies,

and the reproofs, and even banterings, of my friends—to find out traces of

my prevailing sin, matter for confession. I ought to have a stated day of

confession, with fasting—say, once a month. I ought to have a number of

scriptures marked, to bring sin to remembrance. I ought to make use of all

bodily affliction, domestic trial, frowns of providence on myself, house,

parish, church, or country, as calls from God to confess sin. The sins and

afflictions of other men should call me to the same. I ought, on Sabbath

evenings, and on Communion Sabbath evenings, to be especially careful to

confess the sins of holy things. I ought to confess the sins of my

confessions,—their imperfections, sinful aims, self-righteous tendency, etc.,

—and to look to Christ as having confessed my sins perfectly over his own

sacrifice.

“I ought to go to Christ for the forgiveness of each sin. In washing my

body, I go over every spot, and wash it out. Should I be less careful in

washing my soul? I ought to see the stripe that was made on the back of

Jesus by each of my sins. I ought to see the infinite pang thrill through the

soul of Jesus equal to an eternity of my hell for my sins, and for all of them.

I ought to see that in Christ’s bloodshedding there is an infinite over-

payment for all my sins. Although Christ did not suffer more than infinite

justice demanded, yet He could not suffer at all without laying down an

infinite ransom.

“I feel, when I have sinned, an immediate reluctance to go to Christ. I

am ashamed to go. I feel as if it would do no good to go,—as if it were

making Christ a minister of sin, to go straight from the swine-trough to the

best robe,—and a thousand other excuses; but I am persuaded they are all

lies, direct from hell. John argues the opposite way: ‘If any man sin, we

have an advocate with the Father;’ Jer. 3:1 and a thousand other scriptures

are against it. I am sure there is neither peace nor safety from deeper sin,

but in going directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is God’s way of peace

and holiness. It is folly to the world and the beclouded heart, but it is the

way.

“I must never think a sin too small to need immediate application to the

blood of Christ. If I put away a good conscience, concerning faith I make

shipwreck. I must never think my sins too great, too aggravated, too

presumptuous,—as when done on my knees, or in preaching, or by a dying

bed, or during dangerous illness,—to hinder me from fleeing to Christ. The

weight of my sins should act like the weight of a clock: the heavier it is, it

makes it go the faster.

“I must not only wash in Christ’s blood, but clothe me in Christ’s

obedience. For every sin of omission in self, I may find a divinely perfect

obedience ready for me in Christ. For every sin of commission in self, I

may find not only a stripe or a wound in Christ, but also a perfect rendering

of the opposite obedience in my place, so that the law is magnified, its curse

more than carried, its demand more than answered.

“Often the doctrine of Christ for me appears common, well known,

having nothing new in it; and I am tempted to pass it by and go to some

scripture more taking. This is the devil again,—a red-hot lie. Christ for us is

ever new, ever glorious. ‘Unsearchable riches of Christ,’—an infinite

object, and the only one for a guilty soul. I ought to have a number of

scriptures ready, which lead my blind soul directly to Christ, such as Isaiah

45, Rom. 3.

“2. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, I am persuaded that I ought to

study more my own weakness. I ought to have a number of scriptures ready

to be meditated on, such as Rom. 7, John 15, to convince me that I am a

helpless worm.

“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 getting by habit a power of resisting fire, so as not to

catch the spark. As long as powder is wet, it resists the spark; but when it

becomes dry, it is ready to explode at the first touch. As long as the Spirit

dwells in my heart He deadens me to sin, so that, if lawfully called through

temptation, I may reckon upon God carrying me through. But when the

Spirit leaves me, I am like dry gunpowder. Oh for a sense of this!

“I am tempted to think that there are some sins for which I have no

natural taste, such as strong drink, profane language, etc., so that I need not

fear temptation to such sins. This is a lie,—a proud, presumptuous lie. The

seeds of all sins are in my heart, and perhaps all the more dangerously that I

do not see them.

“I ought to pray and labour for the deepest sense of my utter weakness

and helplessness that ever a sinner was brought to feel. I am helpless in

respect of every lust that ever was, or ever will be, in the human heart. I am

a worm—a beast—before God. I often tremble to think that this is true. I

feel as if it would not be safe for me to renounce all indwelling strength, as

if it would be dangerous for me to feel (what is the truth) that there is

nothing in me keeping me back from the grossest and vilest sin. This is a

delusion of the devil. My only safety is to know, feel, and confess my

helplessness, that I may hang upon the arm of Omnipotence.… I daily wish

that sin had been rooted out of my heart I say, ‘Why did God leave the root

of lasciviousness, pride, anger, etc., in my bosom? He hates sin, and I hate

it; why did He not take it clean away?’ I know many answers to this which

completely satisfy my judgment, but still I do not feel satisfied. This is

wrong. It is right to be weary of the being of sin, but not right to quarrel

with my present ‘good fight of faith.’ … The falls of professors into sin

make me tremble. I have been driven away from prayer, and burdened in a

fearful manner by hearing or seeing their sin. This is wrong. It is right to

tremble, and to make every sin of every professor a lesson of my own

helplessness; but it should lead me the more to Christ.… If I were more

deeply convinced of my utter helplessness, I think I would not be so

alarmed when I hear of the falls of other men.… I should study those sins in

which I am most helpless, in which passion becomes like a whirlwind and I

like a straw. No figure of speech can represent my utter want of power to

resist the torrent of sin.… I ought to study Christ’s omnipotence more: Heb.

7:25, 1 Thess. 5:23, Rom. 6:14, Rom. 5:9, 10, and such scriptures, should

be ever before me.… Paul’s thorn, 2 Cor. 12, is the experience of the greater

part of my life. It should be ever before me.… There are many subsidiary

methods of seeking deliverance from sins, which must not be neglected,—

thus, marriage, 1 Cor. 7:2; fleeing, 1 Tim. 6:11, 1 Cor. 6:18; watch and pray,

Matt. 26:41; the word, ‘It is written, It is written.’ So Christ defended

himself; Matt. 4.… But the main defence is casting myself into the arms of

Christ like a helpless child, and beseeching Him to fill me with the Holy

Spirit. ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,’ 1

John 5:4, 5,—a wonderful passage.

“I ought to study Christ as a living Saviour more,—as a Shepherd,

carrying the sheep He finds,—as a King, reigning in and over the souls He

has redeemed,—as a Captain, fighting with those who fight with me, Ps. 35,

—as one who has engaged to bring me through all temptations and trials,

however impossible to flesh and blood.

“I am often tempted to say, How can this Man save us? How can Christ

in heaven deliver me from lusts which I feel raging in me, and nets I feel

enclosing me? This is the father of lies again! ‘He is able to save unto the

uttermost.’

“I ought to study Christ as an Intercessor. He prayed most for Peter,

who was to be most tempted. I am on his breastplate. If I could hear Christ

praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million of enemies. Yet

the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.

“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.… I ought never to forget that my

body is dwelt in by the third Person of the Godhead. The very thought of

this should make me tremble to sin; 1 Cor. 6 … I ought never to forget that

6in grieves the Holy Spirit,—vexes and quenches Him.… If I would be

filled with the Spirit, I feel I must read the Bible more, pray more, and

watch more.

“3. To gain entire likeness to Christ, I ought to get a high esteem of the

happiness of it. I am persuaded that God’s happiness is inseparably linked

in with his holiness. Holiness and happiness are like light and heat. God

never tasted one of the pleasures of sin.

“Christ had a body such as I have, yet He never tasted one of the

pleasures of sin. The redeemed, through all eternity, will never taste one of

the pleasures of sin; yet their happiness is complete. It would be my greatest

happiness to be from this moment entirely like them. Every sin is something

away from my greatest enjoyment.… The devil strives night and day to

make me forget this or disbelieve it. He says, Why should you not enjoy

this pleasure as much as Solomon or David? You may go to heaven also. I

am persuaded that this is a lie,—that my true happiness is to go and sin no

more.

“I ought not to delay parting with sins. Now is God’s time. ‘I made

haste and delayed not.’ … I ought not to spare sins because I have long

allowed them as infirmities, and others would think it odd if I were to

change all at once. What a wretched delusion of Satan that is!

“Whatever I see to be sin, I ought from this hour to set my whole soul

against it, using all scriptural methods to mortify it,—as the Scriptures,

special prayer for the Spirit, fasting, watching.

“I ought to mark strictly the occasions when I have fallen, and avoid the

occasion as much as the sin itself.

“Satan often tempts me to go as near to temptations as possible without

committing the sin. This is fearful,—tempting God and grieving the Holy

Ghost. It is a deep-laid plot of Satan.

“I ought to flee all temptation, according to Prov. 4:15—Avoid it, pass

not by it, turn from it, and pass away.’ … I ought constantly to pour out my

heart to God, praying for entire conformity to Christ—for the whole law to

be written on my heart.… I ought statedly and solemnly to give my heart to

God—to surrender my all into his everlasting arms, according to the prayer,

Ps. 31, ‘Into thine hand I commit my spirit,’—beseeching Him not to let

any iniquity, secret or presumptuous, have dominion over me, and to fill me

with every grace that is in Christ, in the highest degree that it is possible for

a redeemed sinner to receive it, and at all times, till death.

“I ought to meditate often on heaven as a world of holiness,—where all

are holy, where the joy is holy joy, the work holy work; so that, without

personal holiness, I never can be there.… I ought to avoid the appearance of

evil. God commands me; and I find that Satan has a singular art in linking

the appearance and reality together.

“I find that speaking of some sins defiles my mind and leads me into

temptation; and I find that God forbids even saints to speak of the things

that are done of them in secret. I ought to avoid this.

“Eve, Achan, David, all fell through the lust of the eye. I should make a

covenant with mine, and pray, ‘Turn away mine eyes from viewing vanity.’

… Satan makes unconverted men like the deaf adder to the sound of the

gospel. I should pray to be made deaf by the Holy Spirit to all that would

tempt me to sin.

“One of my most frequent occasions of being led into temptation is this,

—I say it is needful to my office that I listen to this, or look into this, or

speak of this. So far this is true; yet I am sure Satan has his part in this

argument. I should seek divine direction to settle how far it will be good for

my ministry, and how far evil for my soul, that I may avoid the latter.

“I am persuaded that nothing is thriving in my soul unless it is growing.

‘Grow in grace.’ ‘Lord, increase our faith.’ ‘Forgetting the things that are

behind.’ … I am persuaded that I ought to be inquiring at God and man

what grace I want, and how I may become more like Christ.… I ought to

strive for more purity, humility, meekness, patience under suffering, love.

‘Make me Christ-like in all things,’ should be my constant prayer. ‘Fill me

with the Holy Spirit.’

2. Reformation in Secret Prayer

“I ought not to omit any of the parts of prayer—confession, adoration,

thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

“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, without remembering his awful name and character—

when I have little eyesight for his glory, and little admiration of his

wonders. ‘Where are the wise?’ I have the native tendency of the heart to

omit giving thanks. And yet it is specially commanded, Phil. 4:6. Often

when the heart is selfish, dead to the salvation of others, I omit intercession.

And yet it especially is the spirit of the great Advocate, who has the name

of Israel always on his heart.

“Perhaps every prayer need not have all these: but surely a day should

not pass without some space being devoted to each.

“I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or

meet with others early, and then have family prayer, and breakfast, and

forenoon callers, often it is eleven or twelve o’clock before I begin secret

prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ rose before day,

and went into a solitary place. David says, ‘Early will I seek Thee; Thou

shalt early hear my voice.’ Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre while it

was yet dark. Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness; and I

can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels

guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then, when secret prayer

comes, the soul is often out of tune. I feel it is far better to begin with God

—to see his face first—to get my soul near Him before it is near another.

‘When I awake I am still with Thee.’

“If I have slept too long, or am going an early journey, or my time is

any way shortened, it is best to dress hurriedly, and have a few minutes

alone with God, than to give it up for lost.

“But, in general, it is best to have at least one hour alone with God,

before engaging in anything else. At the same time, I must be careful not to

reckon communion with God by minutes or hours, or by solitude. I have

pored over my Bible, and on my knees for hours, with little or no

communion; and my times of solitude have been often times of greatest

temptation.

“As to intercession, I ought daily to intercede for my own family,

connections, relatives, and friends; also for my flock,—the believers, the

awakened, the careless; the sick, the bereaved; the poor, the rich; my elders,

Sabbath-school teachers, day-school teachers, children, tract-distributors,—

that all means may be blessed. Sabbath-day preaching and teaching; visiting

of the sick, visiting from house to house; providences, sacraments. I ought

daily to intercede briefly for the whole town, the Church of Scotland, all

faithful ministers; for vacant congregations, students of divinity, etc.; for

dear brethren by name; for missionaries to Jews and Gentiles,—and for this

end I must read missionary intelligence regularly, and get acquainted with

all that is doing throughout the world. It would stir me up to pray with the

map before me. I most have a scheme of prayer also the names of

missionaries marked on the map. I ought to intercede at large for the above

on Saturday morning and evening from seven to eight. Perhaps also I might

take different parts for different days; only I ought daily to plead for my

family and flock. I ought to pray in everything. ‘Be careful for nothing, but

in everything … by prayer and supplication, make your requests known into

God.’ Often I receive a letter asking to preach, or some such request. I find

myself answering before having asked counsel of God. Still oftener a

person calls and asks me something, and I do not ask direction. Often I go

out to visit a sick person in a hurry, without asking his blessing, which alone

can make the visit of any use. I am persuaded that I ought never to do

anything without prayer, and, if possible, special, secret prayer.

“In reading the history of the Church of Scotland, I see how much her

troubles and trials have been connected with the salvation of souls and the

glory of Christ. I ought to pray far more for our church, for our leading

ministers by name, and for my own clear guidance in the right way, that I

may not be led aside, or driven aside, from following Christ. Many difficult

questions may be forced on us for which I am not fully prepared, such as

the lawfulness of covenants. I should pray much more in peaceful days, that

I may be guided rightly when days of trial come.

“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 given to intercession. After tea is my best hour, and that

should be solemnly dedicated to God, if possible.

“I ought not to give up the good old habit of prayer before going to bed;

but guard must be kept against sleep: planning what things I am to ask is the

best remedy. When I awake in the night, I ought to rise and pray, as David

and as John Welsh did.

“I ought to read three chapters of the Bible in secret every day, at least.

“I ought on Sabbath morning to look over all the chapters read through

the week, and especially the verses marked. I ought to read in three different

places; I ought also to read according to subjects, lives,” etc.

He has evidently left this unfinished, and now he knows even as he is

known.

Toward the end of his ministry, he became peculiarly jealous of

becoming an idol to his people; for he was loved and revered by many who

gave no evidence of love to Christ. This often pained him much. It is indeed

right in a people to regard their pastor with no common love (2 Cor. 9:14),

but there is ever a danger ready to arise. He used to say, “Ministers are but

the pole; it is to the brazen serpent you are to look.”

The state of his health would not permit him to be laborious in going

from house to house, whereas preaching and evangelistic work in general

was less exhausting; but of course, while he was thus engaged, many

concerns of the parish would be unattended to; accordingly his Session

offered him a stated assistant to help him in his parochial duty. With this

proposal he at once concurred. Mr Gatherer, then at Caraldstone, was

chosen, and continued to labour faithfully with him during the remaining

days of his ministry.

In the beginning of the year he published his Daily Bread, an

arrangement of Scripture, that the Bible might be read through in the course

of a year. He sought to induce his people to meditate much on the written

word in all its breadth. His last publication was, Another Lily Gathered, or

the account of James Laing, a little boy in his flock, brought to Christ early,

and carried soon to glory.

In the middle of January 1843, he visited Collace, and preached on 1

Cor. 9:27: “A Castaway”—a sermon so solemn that one said it was like a

blast of the trumpet that would awaken the dead. Next day he rode on to

Lintrathen, where the people were willing to give up their work at mid-day,

if he would come and preach to them. All this month he was breathing after

glory. In his letters there are such expressions as these: “I often pray, Lord,

make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.” “Often, often I would

like to depart and be with Christ—to mount to Pisgah-top and take a

farewell look of the church below, and leave my body and be present with

the Lord. Ah, it is far better!” Again: “I do not expect to live long. I expect

a sudden call some day—perhaps soon, and therefore I speak very plainly.”

But, indeed, he had long been persuaded that his course would be brief. His

hearers remember well how often he would speak in such language as that

with which he one day closed his sermon: “Changes are coming; every eye

before me shall soon be dim in death. Another pastor shall feed this flock;

another singer lead the psalm; another flock shall fill this fold.”

In the beginning of February, by appointment of the Committe of the

Convocation, he accompanied Mr Alexander of Kirkcaldy to to visit the

districts of Deer and Ellon—districts over which he yearned, for

Moderatism had held undisputed sway over them for generations. It was to

be his last evangelistic tour. He exemplified his own remark, “The oil of the

lamp in the temple burnt away in giving light; so should we.”

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. One who tracked his footsteps a month after

his death states, that sympathy with the principles of our suffering church

was awakened in many places; but, above all, a thirst was excited for the

pure word of life. His eminently holy walk and conversation, combined

with the deep solemnity of his preaching, was specially felt. The people

loved to speak of him. In one place, where a meeting had been intimated,

the people assembled, resolving to cast stones at him as soon as he should

begin to speak; but no sooner had he begun, than his manner, his look, his

words, riveted them all, and they listened with intense earnestness; and

before he left the place, the people gathered round him, entreating him to

stay and preach to them. One man, who had cast mud at him, was

afterwards moved to tears on hearing of his death.

He wrote to Mr Gatherer, February 14, “I had a nice opportunity of

preaching in Aberdeen; and in Peterhead our meeting was truly successful.

The minister of St Fergus I found to be what you described. We had a

solemn meeting in his church. In Strichen, we had a meeting in the

Independent Meeting-house. On Friday evening, we had two delightful

meetings, in a mill at Crechie, and in the church of Clola. The people were

evidently much impressed, some weeping. On Saturday evening we met in

the Brucklay barn. I preached on Sabbath, at New Deer in the morning, and

at Fraserburgh in the evening—both interesting meetings. To-night we met

in Pitsligo church. To-morrow we trust to be in Aberdour; and then we

leave for the Presbytery of Ellon. The weather has been delightful till now.

To-day the snow is beginning to drift. But God is with us, and He will carry

us to the very end. I am quite well, though a little fatigued sometimes.” On

the 24

, he writes to another friend, “To-day is the first we have rested since

leaving home, so that I am almost overcome with fatigue. Do not be idle;

improve in all useful knowledge. You know what an enemy I am to

idleness.”

Never was it more felt that God was with him than in this journey. The

Lord seemed to show in him the meaning of the text, “Out of his belly shall

flow rivers of living water,” John 7:38. Even when silent, the near

intercourse he held with God left its impression on those around. His

constant holiness touched the conscience of many.

Returning to his beloved flock on March 1

, in good health, but much

exhausted, he related, next evening, at his prayer-meeting, what things he

had seen and heard During the next twelve days he was to be found going

out and in among his people, filling up, as his manner was, every inch of

time. But he had been much weakened by his unceasing exertions when in

the north, and so was more than ordinarily exposed to the typhus fever that

was then prevailing in his parish, several cases of which he visited in his

enfeebled state.

On Sabbath the 5

, he preached three times; and two days after, I find

him writing to his father: “All domestic matters go on like a placid stream

—I trust not without its fertilizing influence. Nothing is more improving

than the domestic altar, when we come to it for a daily supply of soul

nourishment.” To the last we get glances into his soul’s growth. His family

devotions were full of life and full of gladness to the end. Indeed, his very

manner in reading the chapter reminded you of a man poring into the sands

for pieces of fine gold, and from time to time holding up to you what he

delighted to have found.

On Sabbath the 12

, 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 evening he went down to Broughty Ferry,

and preached upon Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine,” etc. It was the last time he

was to be engaged directly in proclaiming Christ to sinners; and as he began

his ministry with souls for his hire, so it appears that his last discourse had

in it saving power to some, and that rather from the holiness it breathed than

from the wisdom of its words. After his death, a note was found unopened,

which had been sent to him in the course of the following week, when he

lay in the fever. It ran thus: “I hope you will pardon a stranger for

addressing to you a few lines. I heard you preach last Sabbath evening, and

it pleased God to bless that sermon to my soul. It was not so much what you

said, as your manner of speaking that struck me. I saw in you a beauty in

holiness that I never saw before. You also said something in your prayer

that struck me very much. It was, ‘Thou knowest that we love Thee.’ Oh, sir,

what would I give that I could say to my blessed Saviour, ‘Thou knowest

that I love Thee!’ ”

Next evening he held a meeting in St Peter’s, with the view of

organizing his people for collecting in behalf of the Free Protesting Church,

—the disruption of the Establishment being now inevitable. He spoke very

fervently; and after the meeting felt chilled and unwell. Next morning he

felt that he was ill; but went out in the afternoon to the marriage of two of

his flock. He seemed, however, to anticipate a serious attack, for, on his

way home, he made some arrangements connected with his ministerial

work, and left a message at Dr Gibson’s house, asking him to come and see

him. He believed that he had taken the fever, and it was so. That night he

lay down upon the bed from which he was never to rise. He spoke little, but

intimated that he apprehended danger.

On Wednesday, he said he thought that he would never have seen the

morning, he felt so sore broken, and had got no sleep; but afterwards added,

“Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive

evil also?” He seemed clouded in spirit, often repeating such passages as

—“My moisture is turned into the drought of summer;”—“My bones wax

old, through my roaring all day long.” It was with difficulty that he was able

to speak a few words with his assistant, Mr Gatherer. In the forenoon, Mr

Miller of Wallacetown found him oppressed with extreme pain in his head.

Amongst other things they conversed upon Ps. 126. On coming to the 6

verse, Mr M‘Cheyne said he would give him a division of it. 1. What is

sowed—“Precious seed.” 2. The manner of sowing it—“Goeth forth and

weepeth.” He dwelt upon “weepeth,” and then said, “Ministers should go

forth at all times.” 3. The fruit—“Shall doubtless come again with

rejoicing.” Mr Miller pointed to the certainty of it; Mr M‘Cheyne assented,

“Yes—doubtless.” After praying with him, Mr Miller repeated Matt. 11:28,

upon which Mr M‘Cheyne clasped his hands with great earnestness. As he

became worse, his medical attendants forbade him to be visited. Once or

twice he asked for me, and was heard to speak of “Smyrna,” as if the

associations of his illness there were recalled by his burning fever now. I

was not at that time aware of his danger, even the rumour of it had not

reached us.

Next day, he continued sunk in body and mind, till about the time when

his people met for their usual evening prayer-meeting, when he requested to

be left alone for half an hour. When his servant entered the room again, he

exclaimed, with a joyful voice, “My soul is escaped as a bird out of the

snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and I am escaped.” His

countenance, as he said this, bespoke inward peace. Ever after he was

observed to be happy; and at supper-time that evening, when taking a little

refreshment, he gave thanks, “For strength in the time of weakness—for

light in the time of darkness—for joy in the time of sorrow—for comforting

us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those that are in

any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

On Sabbath, when one expressed a wish that he had been able to go

forth as usual to preach, he replied, “My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord;” and added, “I am preaching

the sermon that God would have me to do.”

On Tuesday (the 21

) his sister repeated to him several hymns. The last

words he heard, and the last he seemed to understand, were those of

Cowper’s hymn, Sometimes the light surprises the Christian as he sings.

And then the delirium came on.

At one time, during the delirium, he said to his attendant, “Mind the

text, 1 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 labour is not in vain in the Lord.” At

another time he seemed to feel himself among his brethren, and said, “I

don’t think much of policy in church courts; no, I hate it; but I’ll tell you

what I like, faithfulness to God, and a holy walk.” His voice, which had

been weak before, became very strong now; and often was he heard

speaking to or praying for his people. “You must be awakened in time, or

you will be awakened in everlasting torment, to your eternal confusion.”

“You may soon get me away, but that will not save your souls.” Then he

prayed, “This parish, Lord, this people, this whole place!” At another time,

“Do it thyself, Lord, for thy weak servant.” And again, as if praying for the

saints, “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom Thou hast

given me.”

Thus he continued most generally engaged, while the delirium lasted,

either in prayer or in preaching to his people, and always apparently in

happy frame, till the morning of Saturday the 25

. On that morning, while

his kind medical attendant, Dr Gibson, stood by, he lifted up his hands as if

in the attitude of pronouncing the blessing, and then sank down. Not a

groan or a sigh, but only a quiver of the lip, and his soul was at rest.

As he was subject to frequent sickness, it was not till within some days

of his death that serious alarm was generally felt, and hence the stroke came

with awful suddenness upon us all. That same afternoon, while preparing

for Sabbath duties, the tidings reached me. I hastened down, though scarce

knowing why I went. His people were that evening met together in the

church, and such a scene of sorrow has not often been witnessed in

Scotland. It was like the weeping for King Josiah. Hundreds were there; the

lower part of the church was full: and none among them seemed able to

contain their sorrow. Every heart seemed bursting with grief, so that the

weeping and the cries could be heard afar off. The Lord had most severely

wounded the people whom He had before so peculiarly favoured; and now,

by this awful stroke of his hand, was fixing deeper in their souls all that his

servant had spoken in the days of his peculiar ministry.

Wherever the news of his departure came, every Christian countenance

was darkened with sadness. Perhaps, never was the death of one, whose

whole occupation had been preaching the everlasting gospel, more felt by

all the saints of God in Scotland. Not a few also of our Presbyterian

brethren in Ireland felt the blow to the very heart. He himself used to say,

“Live so as to be missed;” and none that saw the tears that were shed over

his death would have doubted that his own life had been what he

recommended to others. He had not completed more than twenty-nine years

when God took him.

On the day of his burial, business was quite suspended in the parish.

The streets, and every window, from the house to the grave, were crowded

with those who felt that a prince in Israel had fallen; and many a careless

man felt a secret awe creep over his hardened soul as he cast his eye on the

solemn spectacle.

His tomb may be seen on the pathway at the north-west corner of St

Peter’s burying-ground. He has gone to the “mountain of myrrh and the hill

of frankincense, till the day break and the shadows flee away.” His work

was finished! His heavenly Father had not another plant for him to water,

nor another vine for him to train; and the Saviour who so loved him was

waiting to greet him with his own welcome: “Well done, good and faithful

servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

But what is the voice to us? Has this been sent as the stroke of wrath, or

the rebuke of love? “His way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters,

and his footsteps are not known.” Only this much we can clearly see, that

nothing was more fitted to leave his character and example impressed on

our remembrance for ever than his early death. There might be envy while

he lived; there is none now. There might have been some of the youthful

attractiveness of his graces lost had he lived many years; this cannot be

impaired now. It seems as if the Lord had struck the flower from its stem,

ere any of the colours had lost their bright hue, or any leaf its fragrance.

Well may the flock of St Peter’s lay it to heart. They have had days of

visitation. Ye have seen the right hand of the Lord plucked out of his

bosom? What shall the unsaved among you do in the day of the Lord’s

anger?” “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things

which belong to thy peace!”

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 Him with whom is the residue of the Spirit, that ere

the Lord come, He would raise up men, like Enoch, or like Paul, who shall

reach nearer the stature of the perfect man, and bear witness with more

power to all nations? Are there not (as he who has left us used to hope)

“better ministers in store for Scotland than any that have yet arisen?”

Ministers of Christ, does not the Lord call upon us especially? Many of

us are like the angel of the church of Ephesus: we have “works, and labour,

and patience, and cannot bear them that are evil, and we have borne, and for

his name’s sake we labour, and have not fainted;” but we want the fervour

of “first love.” Oh how seldom now do we hear of fresh supplies of holiness

arriving from the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3)—new grace appearing among

the saints, and in living ministers! We get contented with our old measure

and kind, as if the windows of heaven were never to be opened. Few among

us see the lower depths of the horrible pit; few ever enter the inner

chambers of the house of David.

But there has been one among us who, ere he had reached the age at

which a priest in Israel would have been entering on his course, dwelt at the

Mercy-seat as if it were his home,—preached the certainties of eternal life

with an undoubting mind,—and spent his nights and days in ceaseless

breathings after holiness, and the salvation of sinners. Hundreds of souls

were his reward from the Lord, ere he left us; and in him have we been

taught how much one man may do who will only press farther into the

presence of his God, and handle more skilfully the unsearchable riches of

Christ, and speak more boldly for his God. We speak much against

unfaithful ministers, while we ourselves are awfully unfaithful! Are we

never afraid that the cries of souls whom we have betrayed to perdition

through our want of personal holiness, and our defective preaching of Christ

crucified, may ring in our ears for ever? Our Lord is at the door. In the

twinkling of an eye our work will be done. “Awake, awake, O arm of the

Lord, awake as in the ancient days,” till every one of thy pastors be willing

to impart to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer,

not the gospel of God only, but also his own soul. And oh that each one

were able, as he stands in the pastures feeding thy sheep and lambs, to look

up and appeal to Thee: “Lord, Thou knowest all things! Thou knowest that I

love Thee!”

LETTERS

TO REV. R. MACDONALD, BLAIRGOWRIE

Written when first laid aside by that illness which afterwards led to the Jewish Mission

EDINBURGH, January 12, 1839.

MR DEAR FRIEND,—The very day I received your kind letter, I intended

to have written you that you might provide some one to stand in my place

on Monday evening next. I am ashamed at not having answered your kind

inquiries sooner, but am not very good at the use of the pen, and I have had

some necessary letters to write. However, now I come to you. This is

Saturday, when you will be busy preparing to feed the flock of God with

food convenient. Happy man! It is a glorious thing to preach the

unsearchable riches of Christ! We do not value it aright till we are deprived

of it; and then Philip Henry’s saying is felt to be true,—that he would beg

all the week in order to be allowed to preach on the Sabbath-day.

I have been far from alarmingly ill,—my complaint is all unseen, and

sometimes unfelt. My heart beats by night and day; but especially by night,

too loud and too strong. My medical friends have tried several ways of

removing it,—hitherto without complete success. As long as it lasts, I fear I

shall be unfit for the work of the ministry; but I do hope that God has

something more for me to do in the vineyard, and that a little patient rest,

accompanied by his blessing, may quiet and restore me. Oh! my dear friend,

I need it all to keep this proud spirit under. Andrew Bonar was noticing the

providence of “Elijah in the wilderness” being my allotted part at our next

meeting. I read it in the congregation the Sabbath after, with an envious

feeling in my own heart, though I did not like to express it, that I would

now be sent a like day’s journey to learn the same lessons as the prophet,—

that it is not the tempest, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but the still small

voice of the Spirit, that carries on the glorious work of saving souls.

Andrew will be with you on Monday, and I am almost tempted to send

this to-night to the Post Office; but it is not right to encourage the Sabbath

mail, so will defer it till Monday. May you have a time of refreshing from

the presence of the Lord! May He be the third with you who joined the two

disciples on the way to Emmaus, and made their hearts burn by opening to

them the Scriptures concerning himself. I hope your evening meeting may

be as delightful as the last. May your mind be solemnized, my dear friend,

by the thought that we are ministers but for a time; that the Master may

summon us to retire into silence, or may call us to the temple above; or the

midnight cry of the great Bridegroom may break suddenly on our cars.

Blessed is the servant that is found waiting! Make all your services tell for

eternity; speak what you can look back upon with comfort when you must

be silent.

I am persuaded that I have been brought into retirement to teach me the

value and need of prayer. Alas! I have not estimated aright the value of near

access unto God. It is not the mere daily routine of praying for certain

things that will obtain the blessing. But there must be the need within,—the

real filial asking of God the things which we need, and which He delights to

give. We must study prayer more. Be instant in prayer. You will be thinking

my affliction is teaching me much, by my saying these things. Oh! I wish it

were so. Nobody ever made less use of affliction than I do. I feel the

assaults of Satan most when I am removed into a corner; every evil thought

and purpose rushes over my soul, and it is only at times that I can find Him

whom my soul loveth.

Monday, Jan. 14, 1839.—I now sit down to finish this, and send it

away. I am much in my usual to-day, perhaps, if anything, a little better.

Still I have a hope at present of resuming my labours. Will you give me a

Sabbath-day’s labour? I had no intention of asking you when I began this;

but I feel that I had better not close it without asking this favour. I would

fain be back, but I do not feel that I would be justified in so doing. When I

give a short prayer in the family, it often quite knocks me up. I heard of my

people to-day: they are going on as well as can be expected. Death is busy

among them, and Satan too. I try to lean them all on Him who entrusted

them to me. I did hear of your brother’s illness, and sympathized with you

in it, though I heard no particulars. Write me particularly how he is. I hope

and believe that he has an anchor within the veil, and therefore we need not

fear for him whatever storms may blow. Remember me to him when you

write him or see him. May we both be made better men, and holier, by our

affliction.

Take care of your health. Redeem the time, because the days are evil.

Does the work of God still go on among your people? There is a decided

improvement in the ministers here—more prayer and faith and hope. There

are marks of God’s Spirit not having left us. Remember me to Gillies and

Smith, your fellow-labourers. May their names be in the Book of Life.—

Yours ever,

ROBT. MURRAY M‘CHEYNE.

TO MRS THAIN, HEATHPARK

During the continuance of the same illness

EDINBURGH, February 9, 1839.

MY DEAR MRS THAIN,—I was happy to receive your and Mr Thain’s

kind letter. It is very cheering to me, in my exile from my flock, to hear of

them. I send you a short line, as I am not good at writing. I am glad you are

keeping pretty well, and still more that your spiritual health seems to

prosper. The spring is advancing,—I feel already the softness of the wind,—

so that we may hope the winter is past, the rain over and gone. I know the

summer revives you, and the doctor gives me good hope that it will revive

me. In spiritual things, this world is all winter time so long as the Saviour is

away. To them that are in Christ there are some sweet glistenings of his

countenance, there are meltings of his love, and the sweet song of the turtle-

dove when his Holy Spirit dwells in the bosom; still it is but winter time till

our Lord shall come. But then, “to you that fear his name, shall the Sun of

Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” And if before He comes we

should go away to be where He is, still we shall enter into a world of

perpetual summer,—we shall behold his glory which the Father gave Him.

I feel much better than usual to-day; but I have returns of my beating

heart occasionally. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, and sometimes I

think the door will give way before his gentle hand. I am bid to try the sea-

water hot bath, which I hope will do me good. I have good hope of being

restored to my people again, and only hope that I may come in the fulness

of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, that this time of silent musing may

not be lost.

I am thankful indeed at the appointment of Mr Lewis. I hope he has

been given in answer to prayer, and then he will be a blessing. We must

pray that he may be furnished from on high for his arduous work. I have

great hope that he will be the means of raising many more churches and

schools in our poor town—I mean poor in spiritual things.

I hope Mr Macdonald was happy, and made others so. “Apollos

watered.” May great grace be upon you all.—Your affectionate friend, etc.

TO THE SAME

Before going forth on the mission to Israel

EDINBURGH, March 15, 1839.

MR DEAR MRS THAIN,—You will think me very unkind in breaking my

word to Mr Thain, in not writing you in answer to your kind letter by him.

But I did too much the week he was in Edinburgh, and fairly knocked

myself up, so that I had just to lay aside my pen and suffer quietly. My

friendly monitor is seldom far away from me, and when I do anything too

much he soon checks me. However, I feel thankful that I am better again

this week, and was thinking I would preach again. This is always the way

with me. When my heart afflicts me, I say to myself: Farewell, blessed

work of the gospel ministry! happy days of preaching Christ and Him

crucified! winning jewels for an eternal crown! And then again, when it has

abated, I feel as if I would stand up once more to tell all the world what the

Lord of Glory has done for sinners.

You have sent me a pocket companion (a Bible) for Immanuel’s land. I

shall indeed be very happy to take it with me, to remind me of you and your

kind family, at the time when I am meditating on the things that concern our

everlasting peace. All my ideas of peace and joy are linked in with my

Bible; and I would not give the hours of secret converse with it for all the

other hours I spend in this world.

Mr M—is the bearer of this, and I have told him he is to call on you

with it. He is one much taught of God, and though with much inward

corruption to fight against, he still holds on the divine way a burning and

shining lamp.

I knew you would be surprised at the thought of my going so far away;

and, indeed, who could have foreseen all that has happened? I feel very

plainly that it is the Lord’s doing, and this has taken away the edge of the

pain. How many purposes God has in view of which we know nothing!

Perhaps we do not see the hundredth part of his intentions towards us in

sending me away. I am contented to be led blindfold; for I know that all will

redound, through the thanksgiving of many, to the glory of our heavenly

Father. I feel very plainly that towards many among my people this

separation has been a most faithful chastisement. To those that liked the

man but not the message—who were pleased with the vessel but not with

the treasure—it will reveal the vanity of what they thought their good

estate. To some, I hope, it has been sent in mercy. To some, I fear, it has

been sent in judgment. Above all, none had more need of it than myself; for

I am naturally so prone to make an ill use of the attachment of my people,

that I need to be humbled in the dust, and to see that it is a very nothing. I

need to be made willing to be forgotten. Oh! I wish that my heart were quite

refined from all self-seeking. I am quite sure that our truest happiness is not

to seek our own,—just to forget ourselves,—and to fill up the little space

that remains, seeking only, and above all, that our God may be glorified.

But when I would do good, evil is present with me.

I am not yet sure of the day of my going away. There is to be a meeting

on Monday to arrange matters. Andrew Bonar and Dr Black can hardly get

away till the first week of April; but I may probably go before to London

next week. I know you will pray for me in secret and in the family, that I

may be kept from evil, and may do good. Our desire is to save sinners—to

gather souls, Jew or Gentile, before the Lord come. Oh is it not wonderful

how God is making people take an interest in the Jews! Surely the way of

these kings of the East will be soon prepared.

I shall be quite delighted if J—is able to take a small part in the Sabbath

school. She knows it is what I always told her,—not to be a hearer of the

word only, but a doer. It is but a little time, and we shall work no more here

for Him. Oh that we might glorify Him on the earth! I believe there are

better ministers in store for Scotland than any that have yet appeared. Tell J

—to stay herself upon God. Jesus continueth ever, He hath an unchangeable

priesthood. Others are not suffered to continue by reason of death.

You expected me in Dundee before I go; but I dare not. You remember

Paul sailed past Ephesus—he dared not encounter the meeting with his

people. Indeed, I do not dare to think too much on my going away, for it

often brings sadness over my spirit, which I can ill bear just now. But the

will of the Lord be done.

Kindest regards to you all. Christ’s peace be left with you. I shall

remember you all, and be glad to write you a word when I am far away.—

Yours ever, etc.

TO MISS COLLIER, DUNDEE

How his silence may be useful to his people and himself

EDINBURGH, March 14, 1839.

MY DEAR MISS COLLIER,—I feel it very kind your writing to me, and

rejoice in sending you a word in answer by my excellent friend Mr Moody.

Indeed, I was just going to write to you when I received yours, for I heard

you had been rather poorly, and I was going to entreat of you to take care of

yourself; for you do not know how much my life is bound up in your life,

and in the life of those around you who are like-minded. I feel it quite true

that my absence should be regarded by my flock as a mark that God is

chastening them; and though I know well that I am but a dim light in the

hand of Jesus, yet there is always something terrible where Jesus withdraws

the meanest light in such a dark world. I feel that to many this trial has been

absolutely needful. Many liked their minister naturally, who had but little

real relish for the message he carried. God now sifts these souls, and wants

to show them that it is a looking to Jesus that saves, not a looking to man. I

think I could name many to whom this trial should be blessed. Some also

who were really on the true foundation, but were building wood, hay, and

stubble upon it, may be brought to see that nothing would truly comfort in

the day of the Lord but what can stand the hour of trial You yourself, my

dear friend, may be brought to cleave much more simply to the Lord Jesus.

You may be made to feel that Christ continueth ever, and hath an

unchangeable priesthood; that his work is perfect, and that infinitely; and

poor and naked as we are, we can appear only in Him—only in Him. But if

the trial was needed by my people, it was still more needed by me. None but

God knows what an abyss of corruption is in my heart. He knows and

covers all in the blood of the Lamb. In faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.

It is perfectly wonderful that ever God could bless such a ministry. And

now, when I go over all the faults of it, it appears almost impossible that I

can ever preach again. But then I think again, who can preach so well as a

sinner—who is forgiven so much, and daily upheld by the Spirit with such a

heart within! I can truly say that the fruit of my long exile has been, that I

am come nearer to God, and long more for perfect holiness, and for the

world where the people shall be all righteous. I do long to be free from self,

from pride, and ungodliness; and I know where to go, “for all the promises

of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus.” Christ is my armoury, and I go to

Him to get the whole armour of God—the armour of light. My sword and

buckler, my arrows, my sling and stone, all are laid up in Jesus. I know you

find it so. Evermore grow in this truly practical wisdom. You have a

shepherd; you shall never want. What effect my long absence may have on

the mass of unconverted souls I do not know. I cannot yet see God’s

purposes towards them: perhaps it may be judgment, as in the case of

Ephesus, Rev. 2:5; perhaps it may be in mercy, as in the case of Laodicea,

Rev. 3:19; or perhaps there are some who would not bend under my

ministry, who are to flow down as wax before the fire under the ministry of

the precious fellow-labourer who is to succeed me. William Burns, son of

the minister of Kilsyth, has for the present agreed to supply my place; and

though there is a proposal of his being sent to Ceylon, I do hope he may be

kept for us. He is one truly taught of God—young, but Christ lives in him.

You know he comes of a good kind by the flesh.

Another reason of our trial, I hope, has been God’s mercy to Israel.

There is something so wonderful about the way in which all difficulties

have been overcome, and the way opened up, that I cannot doubt the hand

of Jehovah has been in it. This gives me, and should give you, who love

Israel, a cheering view of this trial. The Lord meant it for great good. If God

be glorified, is not this our utmost desire? Oh, it is sweet, when in prayer we

can lay ourselves and all our interests, along with Zion, in the hands of Him

whom we feel to be Abba! And if we are thus tied ourselves in the same

bundle with Zion, we must resign all right to ourselves, and to our wishes.

May the Lord open up a way to his name being widely glorified on the earth

even before we die! I know you will pray for us on our way, that our feet

may be beautiful on the mountains of Israel, and that we may say to Zion,

“Thy God reigneth.” Pray that your poor friend may be supplied out of his

riches in glory, that he may not shrink in hours of trial, but endure hardness

as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. I will remember you when far away, and

pray God to keep you safe under the shadow of the Redeemer’s wings till I

come again in peace, if it be his holy will. Dr Black and Andrew Bonar

have both consented to go. I shall probably be sent before to London next

week, to open he way. I am not very strong yet; often revisited by my

warning friend, to tell me that I may see the New Jerusalem before I see the

Jerusalem beneath. However, I have the sentence of death in myself, and do

not trust in myself, but in God, who raises the dead.

I saw Mrs Coutts yesterday, in good health, and full of spirit. She

almost offered to go with us to Immanuel’s Land. I fear the Pastoral Letters

are not worth printing; but I shall ask others what they think. Farewell for

the present. The Lord give you all grace and peace.—Your affectionate

pastor, etc.

TO THE REV. W. C. BURNS

On his agreeing to undertake the charge of St Peter’s, during Mr M‘C.’s absence in Palestine

EDINBURGH Hill Street, March 22, 1839.

MR DEAR FRIEND,—For I trust I may now reckon you among the number

in the truest sense,—I haste to send you a line in answer to your last. I am

glad you have made up your mind to begin your spiritual charge over my

flock on the first week of April. The Committee have resolved that I leave

this on Wednesday next, so that you will not hear from me again till I am

away. Take heed to thyself. Your own soul is your first and greatest care.

You know a sound body alone can work with power; much more a healthy

soul. Keep a clear conscience through the blood of the Lamb. Keep up close

communion with God. Study likeness to Him in all things. Read the Bible

for your own growth first, then for your people. Expound much; it is

through the truth that souls are to be sanctified, not through essays upon the

truth. Be easy of access, apt to teach, and the Lord teach you and bless you

in all you do and say. You will not find many companions. Be the more with

God. My dear people are anxiously waiting for you. The prayerful are

praying for you. Be of good courage; there remaineth much of the land to

be possessed. Be not dismayed, for Christ shall be with thee to deliver thee.

Study Isaiah 6, and Jer. 1, and the sending of Moses, and Ps. 51:12, 13, and

John 15:26, 27, and the connection in Luke 1:15, 16.

I shall hope to hear from you when I am away. Your accounts of my

people will be a good word to make my heart glad. I am often sore cast

down; but the eternal God is my refuge. Now farewell; the Lord make you a

faithful steward.—Ever yours, etc.

PASTORAL LETTERS TO THE FLOCK OF ST PETER’S

FIRST PASTORAL LETTER

View of what God has done,—how it should affect them

EDINBURGH, January 30, 1839.

To all of you, my dear friends and people, who are beloved of God, and

faithful in Christ Jesus, your pastor wishes grace and peace from God the

Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As several of you have expressed a desire to hear from me, and as He

who at first sent me to you to bear witness of the Lord Jesus has for many

weeks withdrawn me, and still lays his afflicting but gentle hand on me, it

has seemed good to me, not without prayer, to write to you from week to

week a short word of exhortation. May the Holy Spirit guide the pen, that

what is written may be blessed to your comfort and growth in grace!

God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus

Christ; and the walls of my chamber can bear witness how often the silent

watches of the night have been filled up with entreaties to the Lord for you

all. I can truly say with John, “that I have no greater joy than to hear that

my children walk in the truth;” and though many of you were in Christ

before me, and were living branches of the true vine before I was sent into

the vineyard, yet believe me it is true of you also, I have no greater joy than

to know that you are more and more filled with the Holy Ghost, and bear

more and more fruit to the glory of God the Father. “Herein is the Father

glorified, that you bear much fruit.” You remember what Paul, when he was

a prisoner of the Lord, wrote to the Philippians (1:12), “I would that ye

should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have

fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” I am very anxious that

you and I should understand the very same, in the things which have

happened unto me, that we may vindicate God in all his dealings with us,

and “not despise the chastening of the Lord.” I know too well that there are

many amongst you who would feel it no grievance if all the Lord’s

ministers were taken out of the way. Ah! how many are there who would

rejoice if they were for ever left to sin unreproved, and to do what was right

in their own eyes! Still I am quite sure that to you, “who have obtained like

precious faith with us,”—to you, who are the Lord’s people, the present is a

season of affliction, and you feel, as Naomi felt, that the hand of the Lord is

gone out against us. My present object in writing to you is shortly to

persuade you that “it is well,”—“the Lord doeth all things well,”—and that

it may be really for the furtherance of the gospel among you. In many ways

may this be the case.

First, With respect to myself. It does not become me here to show what

benefit it may be to me. Suffice it to say that it has been a precious

opportunity in which to reflect on the sins and imperfections of my ministry

among you. A calm hour with God is worth a whole lifetime with man. Let

it be your prayer that I may come out like gold, that the tin may be taken

away, and that I may come back to you, if that be the will of God, a better

man, and a more devoted minister. I have much to learn, and these words of

David have been often in my heart and on my lips, “I know that thy

judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me,” Ps.

119:75. Ministers are God’s tools for building up the gospel temple. Now

you know well that every wise workman takes his tools away from the work

from time to time, that they may be ground and sharpened; so does the

only-wise Jehovah take his ministers oftentimes away into darkness and

loneliness and trouble, that He may sharpen and prepare them for harder

work in his service. Pray that it may be so with your own pastor.

Second, With regard to you, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

this time of trial is for your furtherance. Does not God teach you, by means

of it, to look beyond man to the Saviour, who abideth ever? Is not God

showing you that ministers are earthen vessels, easily broken, and fit only to

be cast aside like a broken pitcher out of mind? Is He not bidding you look

more to the treasure which was in them, and which flows in all its fulness

from Christ? It is a sad error into which I see many Christians falling, that

of leaning upon man, mistaking friendship toward a minister for faith on the

Son of God.

Remember that before Moses was sent to deliver Israel, his hand was

made leprous, as white as snow, to teach them that it was not the might of

that hand that could deliver Israel: Exod. 4:6, 7. It has been the fault of

some of you to lean too much on man. Now God is teaching you that,

though the cistern may break, the fountain abides as open and full and free

as ever—that it is not from sitting under any particular ministry that you are

to get nourishment, but from being vitally united to Christ. Ministers “are

not suffered to continue by reason of death, but Christ, because He

continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”—Heb. 7:23.

Third, With regard to those among you who are almost, but not

altogether, persuaded to be Christians, does not this providence teach you

to make sure of an interest in Christ without delay? You thought you would

have the Saviour held up to you for an indefinite number of Sabbaths, little

thinking that your Sabbaths and mine are all numbered. Many a time you

have said to me in your heart, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a

more convenient season I will call for thee.” You did not think that a time

might come when you may call for your teachers, and they be silent as the

grave.

I find many godly people here are looking forward to a time when

God’s faithful witnesses shall be put to silence, and anxious souls shall

wander from sea to sea, seeking the word of God, and shall not find it. Be

entreated, O wavering souls, to settle the question of your salvation now.

Why halt ye between two opinions? It is most unreasonable to be undecided

about the things of an endless eternity, in such a world as this, with such

frail bodies, with such a Saviour stretching out his hand, and such a Spirit of

love striving with you. Remember you are flesh—yon will soon hear your

last sermon. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I

have put before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose

life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”—Deut. 30:19.

Fourth, There is another class who are not of you, and yet are on every

hand of you, “of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even

weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose god is their

belly, who glory in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Ah! you would

not believe if I were to tell you the great heaviness and continual sorrow

that I have in my heart for you, and yet I hope my absence may be blessed

even to you. Just think for a moment, if God were to remove your teachers

one by one—if He were to suffer the church of our covenanted fathers to

fall before the hands of her enemies—if He were to suffer Popery again to

spread its dark and deadly shade over the land, where would you be?—you

that despise the Sabbath, that care little for the preached word—you that

have no prayer in your families, and seldom in your closets—you that are

lovers of pleasure—you that wallow in sin! You would have your wish

then: you would have your silent Sabbaths indeed—no warning voice to cry

after you—no praying people to pray for you—none to check you in your

career of wickedness—none to beseech you not to perish. Learn from so

small a circumstance as the absence of your stated minister what may be in

store for you, and flee now from the wrath to come. “It may be ye shall be

hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.”—Zeph. 2:3.

Finally, My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown,

abide all the more in Christ because of my absence, and maintain a closer

walk with God, that when I return, as God gives me good hopes now of

doing, I may rejoice to see what great things God has done for your souls.

God feeds the wild-flowers on the lonely mountain side, without the help of

man, and they are as fresh and lovely as those that are daily watched over in

our gardens. So God can feed his own planted ones without the help of man,

by the sweetly falling dew of his Spirit. How I long to see you walking in

holy communion with God, in love to the brethren, and burning zeal for the

cause of God in the world! I will never rest, nor give God rest, till He make

you a lamp that burneth—a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid. Now

strive together with me, in your prayers to God for me, that I may come

unto you with joy by the will of God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you

all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

SECOND PASTORAL LETTER

Past times of privilege reviewed—privileges still remaining

EDINBURGH, February 6, 1839.

To all of you, my dear flock, who have chosen the good part which

cannot be taken away, your pastor wishes grace, mercy, and peace, from

God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The sweet singer of Israel begins one of his psalms with these

remarkable words: “I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto Thee, O God,

will I sing.” This is the experience of all God’s servants in time of trouble.

Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest

dealings of God with his children, there are always some bright tokens for

good. His way with us of late has been “in the sea, and his path in the deep

waters.” Yet some of you may have felt that his own hand was leading us

like a flock. Ps. 77:19, 20. One great token of his loving-kindness has been

the way in which He has supplied the absence of your stated minister.

Ordained messengers, men of faith and prayer, have spoken to you from

Sabbath to Sabbath in the name of the Lord. Awakening, inviting,

comforting messages you have had; and even your meetings on Thursday

evenings He has continued to you; the gates of the house of prayer, like the

gates of the city of refuge, have been as open to you as ever, inviting you to

enter in and behold by faith what Jacob saw in Bethel, “the ladder set on

earth, and the top of it reaching into heaven,” inviting you to meet with Him

with whom Jacob wrestled till the breaking of the day. Think how often, in

times of persecution, the apostles were constrained to leave the seed they

had sown, without leaving any one to water it but “the Lord on whom they

believed.” See Acts 13:50, 52, and 14:23, and 16:40. How often, in times of

persecution in the Church of Scotland, our faithful pastors had to leave their

few sheep in the wilderness, without any human shepherd to care for their

souls, commending them to God, and to the word of his grace! These times

may come again. God may be preparing us for such fiery trials. But He hath

not yet dealt so with us. He that tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, and

“who stays his rough wind in the day of his east wind,” has mingled mercy

with judgment; and even when He humbles us, gives us cause for praise.

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful

works to the children of men!” Another mark of his loving-kindness to us is

his suffering me to pray for you. You remember how the apostles describe

the work of the ministry, Acts 6:4, “We will give ourselves continually to

prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Now, God is my record that this

has been my heart’s desire ever since my coming among you. I have always

felt myself a debtor to you all, both to the wise and to the unwise, so as

much as in me is I have been ready to preach the gospel unto you; but God

has for a time withdrawn me from that part of the work amongst you. To me

that grace is not now given to preach among you the unsearchable riches of

Christ. (Oh, how great a grace it is! how wonderful that it should ever have

been given to me!) Still He allows me to give myself unto prayer. Perhaps

this may be the chief reason of my exile from you, to teach me what

Zechariah was taught in the vision of the golden candlestick and the two

olive-trees, Zech. 4:6, that it is not by might, nor by power, but by his Spirit,

obtained in believing, wrestling prayer, that the temple of God is to be built

in our parishes. I have hanged my harp upon the willow, and am no more

allowed “to open to you dark sayings upon the harp,” nor “to speak of the

things which I have made touching the King,” who is “fairer than the

children of men.” Still my soul does not dwell in silence. I am permitted to

go in secret to God my exceeding joy; and, while meditating his praise, I

can make mention of you all in my prayers, and give thanks for the little

flock, who, “by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and

honour, and immortality.” “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand

forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the

roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” I feel it is

another gift of grace that I am suffered to write to you. You remember how

often the apostles cheered and strengthened the disciples, when absent from

them, by writing to them. What a precious legacy of the church in all ages

have these epistles been! every verse like a branch of the Tree of Life,

bearing all manner of fruit, and the leaves for the healing of the nation. You

remember how holy Samuel Rutherford, and many of our persecuted

forefathers in the Church of Scotland, kept the flame of grace alive in their

deserted parishes by sending them words of counsel, warning, and

encouragement, testifying, not face to face, but with ink and pen, the gospel

of the grace of God. I do feel it a great privilege that this door is open to me,

and that, even when absent, I can yet speak to you of the things pertaining

to the kingdom.

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both which I stir

up your pure minds by way of remembrance; yea, I think it meet, so long as

I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.”

I. Abide in Him, little children, whom I have always preached unto you,

that when He shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed

before Him at his coming. Let every new sight of your wicked heart, and

every new wave of trouble, drive your soul to hide in Him, the Rock of your

salvation. There is no true peace but in a present hold of the Lord our

Righteousness.

II. Enjoy the forgiveness of sins—keep yourselves in the love of God. If

you abide in Christ, you shall abide in his love: your joy let no man take

from you. “These things write we unto you that your joy may be full.”

III. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. “He that (saith He)

abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.” Ah, how

many falls will I have to mourn over when I return, if God send me back to

you,—how many unseemly quarrellings and miscarriages among you, that

are God’s own,—how many unlovely tempers among those who follow

Him who is altogether lovely! Oh take heed, do not give the enemy cause to

blaspheme; naming the name of Christ, depart from all iniquity.

IV. Continue in prayer. How many messages have been carried to you

publicly and from house to house, and yet how little success! I bless God

for all the tokens He has given us, that the Spirit of God has not departed

from the Church of Scotland—that the glory is still in the midst of her. Still

the Spirit has never yet been shed on us abundantly. The many absentees on

the forenoon of the Sabbaths—the thin meetings on Thursday evenings—

the absence of men from all meetings for the worship of God—the few

private prayer-meetings—the little love and union among Christians—all

show that the plentiful rain has not yet fallen to refresh our corner of the

heritage. Why is this? This is the day of Christ’s power—why are the

people not made willing? Let James give the answer: “Ye have not, because

ye ask not.” “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and ye shall

receive, that your joy may be full.” Finally, dear brethren, farewell. Day and

night I long to come to you, but still God hinders me. Do not omit to praise

Him for all the great grace He has mingled in our cup of bitterness. “Seven

times a day do I praise Thee because of thy righteous judgments.” When

passing through the waters He has been with us, and in the rivers they have

not overflowed us; and, therefore, we may be sure that when we pass

through the fire we shall not be burned, neither shall the flames kindle upon

us.

Now, may the God of peace himself give you peace always, by all

means, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen.

THIRD PASTORAL LETTER

How God works by providences

EDINBURGH, February 13, 1839

To all of you, my dear friends and people, who are and shall ever be

followers of the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth, your pastor again wishes

grace and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I long very much that this grace may again be given unto me to preach

among you face to face “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” “Oftentimes I

purpose to come unto you, but am let hitherto,” Still I feel it a great

privilege that, even in my retirement, I can send you a word, to the end that

you may be established. I feel as if one door was left open to me by the

Lord. Believe me, it is the foremost desire of my heart that Christ may be

glorified in you, both now and at his coming,—that you may be a happy and

a holy people, blessed and made a blessing. For the sake of variety, let me

guide your thoughts to a passage of God’s own word, and there I will speak

to you as if I were yet present with you, and half forget that you are not

before me.

In Job 23:8–10 you will find these solemn words: “Behold, I go

forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on

the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth

himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him. But He knoweth the way

that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

You all know the afflictions which came upon Job. “He was a perfect

and upright man,” and the greatest of all the men of the East, yet he lost his

oxen and his asses, his sheep and camels, and his ten children, in one day.

Again, the breath of disease came upon him, and he sat down among the

ashes. In all this Job sinned not with his lips. He blessed the hand that smote

him: “What! shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not

receive evil?” And yet when his troubles were prolonged, he knew not what

to think. Learn how weak the strongest believer is; a bruised reed, without

Christ, we are, and can do nothing. When Job’s brethren dealt deceitfully

with him “as a brook”—when he felt God hedging him in, and God’s

arrows drinking up his spirit,—then clouds and darkness rested on his path,

he could not unravel God’s dealings with his soul; then he cried, “Show me

wherefore Thou contendest with me!” He longed to get an explanation from

God: “Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to

his seat! Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I

cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot

behold Him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him.”

You have here, then, in verses 8

and 9

, a child of light walking in

darkness—an afflicted soul seeking, and seeking in vain, to know why God

is contending with him. Dear friends, this is not an uncommon case; even to

some of you God’s providences often appear inexplicable. I hear that God

has been at work among you, and “his way is in the sea.” He has tried you

in different ways: some of you by the loss of your property, as He tried Job;

some of you by the loss of dear friends; some by loss of health, so that

“wearisome nights are appointed you;” some by the loss of the esteem of

friends, ay, even of Christians. “Your inward friends abhor you.” Perhaps

more than one trouble has come on you at a time,—wave upon wave, thorn

upon thorn. Before one wound was healed, another came,—before the rain

was well away, “clouds returned.” You cannot explain God’s dealings with

you,—you cannot get God to explain them; you have drawn the Saviour’s

blood and righteousness over your souls, and you know that the Father

himself loveth you; you would like to meet Him to ask, “Wherefore

contendest Thou with me?” “Oh that I knew where I might find Him!” My

dear afflicted brethren, this is no strange thing that has happened unto you.

Almost every believer is at one time or another brought to feel this

difficulty: “God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me.” Is it

in anger, or is it in pure love, that He afflicts me? Am I fleeing from the

presence of the Lord, as Jonah fled? What change would He have wrought

in me? If any of you are thinking thus in your heart, pray over this word in

Job. Remember the word in Psalm 46, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

God does many things to teach us that He is God, and to make us wait upon

Him. And, still further, see in verse 10

what light breaks in upon our

darkness: “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I

shall come forth as gold.”

Observe, first, “He knoweth the way that I take.” What sweet comfort

there is in these words: He that redeemed me—He that pities me as a father

—He who is the only wise God—He whose name is love—“He knoweth

the way that I take!”

The ungodly world do not know it; the world knoweth us not, even as it

knew Him not. A stranger doth not intermeddle with the joys or sorrows of

a child of God. When the world looks on your grief with unsympathizing

eye, you feel very desolate. “Your soul is exceedingly filled with the

scorning of those who are at ease.” But why should you? He that is greater

than all the world is looking with the intensest interest upon all your steps.

The most intimate friends do not know the way of an afflicted believer.

Your spirit is lonely, even among God’s children; for your way is hid, and

the Lord hath hedged you in. Still be of good cheer, the Father of all, the

best of friends, knows all the way that you take.

You do not know your own way. God has called you to suffer, and you

go, like Abraham, not knowing whither you go. Like Israel going down into

the Red Sea, every step is strange to you. Still, be of good cheer, sufferer

with Christ! God marks your every step. “The steps of a good man are

ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.” He that loves you with

an infinite, unchanging love, is leading you by his Spirit and providence. He

knows every stone, every thorn in your path. Jesus knows your way. Jesus is

afflicted in all your afflictions. “Fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I have

called thee by my name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the

water, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow

thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither

shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Second, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” This also

is precious comfort. There will be an end of your affliction. Christians must

have “great tribulation;” but they come out of it. We must carry the cross;

but only for a moment, then comes the crown. I remember one child of

God’s saying, that if it were God’s will that she should remain in trials a

thousand years, she could not but delight in his will. But this is not asked of

us: we are only called “to suffer a while.” There is a set time for putting into

the furnace, and a set time for taking out of the furnace. There is a time for

pruning the branches of the vine, and there is a time when the husbandman

lays aside the pruning-hook. Let us wait his time; “he that believeth shall

not make haste.” God’s time is the best time. But shall we come out the

same as we went in? Ah! no; “we shall come out like gold.” It is this that

sweetens the bitterest cup; this brings a rainbow of promise over the darkest

cloud. Affliction will certainly purify a believer. How boldly he says it: “I

shall come out like gold!” Ah, how much dross there is in every one of you,

dear believers, and in your pastor! “When I would do good, evil is present

with me.” Oh that all the dross may be left behind in the furnace! What

imperfection, what sin, mingles with all we have ever done! But are we

really fruit-bearing branches of the true vine! Then it is certain that when

we are pruned, we shall bear more fruit. We shall come out like gold. We

shall shine more purely as “a diadem in the hand of our God.” We shall

become purer vessels to hold the sweet-smelling incense of praise and

prayer. We shall become holy golden vessels for the Master’s use in time

and in eternity.

To the many among you who have no part nor lot in Christ, I would say,

“See here the happiness of being a Christian in time of trouble.” It is no

small joy to be able to sing Psalm 46 in the dark and cloudy day. I have

often told you, and now tell you when I am far from you, “We are

journeying to the place of which the Lord hath said, I will give it you: come

then with us, and we will do thee good, for God hath spoken good

concerning Israel.”

Finally, Pray that your pastor may come out of his trials like gold. All is

not gold that glitters. Pray that everything that is but glittering dross may be

taken away, and that, if it be his will, I may come unto you like the fine gold

of Ophir. “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,

withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance

to speak the mystery of Christ.”

My chief comfort concerning you is, that “my God shall supply all your

need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Brethren, farewell!

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God

of love and of peace shall be with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

FOURTH PASTORAL LETTER

God the answerer of prayer

EDINBURGH, February 20, 1839.

To all of you, my dear flock, who are chosen in Christ before the

foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before Him in love,

your pastor again wishes grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord

Jesus Christ.

There are many sweet providences happening to us every day, if we

would but notice them. In the texts which ministers choose, what

remarkable providences God often brings about! I have often felt this, and

never more than now. Some of you may remember that the last chapter of

the Bible which I read to you in the church was 1

Kings 19, where we are

told of Elijah going away into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights

to the mount of God, where he was taught that it is not by the wind, nor the

earthquake, nor the fire, that God converts souls, but by the still small voice

of the gospel. May not this have been graciously intended to prepare as for

what has happened? Another providence some of you may have noticed.

For several Thursday evenings before I left you I was engaged in explaining

and enforcing the sweet duty of believing prayer. Has not God since taught

us the use of these things? “Trials make the promise sweet”—“Trials give

new life to prayer.” Perhaps some of us were only receiving the information

into the head; is not God now impressing it on our hearts, and driving us to

practise the things which we learned? I do not now remember all the points

I was led to speak upon to you, but one, I think, was entirely omitted—I

mean the subject of answers to prayer. God left it for us to meditate on now.

Oh, there is nothing that I would have you to be more sure of than this, that

“God hears and answers prayer.” There never was, and never will be, a

believing prayer left unanswered. Meditate on this, and you will say, “I love

the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplication.”—Ps.

116:1.

First, God often gives the very thing his children ask at the very time

they ask it. You remember Hannah, 1 Sam. 1:10: she was in bitterness of

soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. “Give unto thine handmaid a

man-child.” This was her request. And so she went in peace, and the God of

Israel heard and granted her her petition that she had asked of Him; and she

called the child’s name Samuel, that is, “Asked of God.” Oh that you could

write the same name upon all your gifts! you would have more joy in them,

and far larger blessings along with them. You remember David, in Ps. 138:

“In the day that I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with

strength in my soul.” You remember Elijah, 1 Kings 17:21: “O Lord my

God! I pray Thee let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord

heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and

he revived.” You remember Daniel, 9:20, 21: “While I was speaking, and

praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and

presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain

of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel,

being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening

oblation.” Oh what encouragement is here for those among you who, like

Daniel, are greatly beloved,—who study much in the books of God’s word,

and who set your face unto the Lord to seek by prayer gifts for the church of

God! Expect answers while you are speaking in prayer. Sometimes the

vapours that ascend in the morning come down in copious showers in the

evening. So may it be with your prayers. Take up the words of David,

Psalm 5:3: “My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning; in the morning will I

direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” You remember, in Acts 12,

Peter was cast into prison, “but prayer was made without ceasing of the

church unto God for him.” And, behold, the same night the answer

surprised them at the door. Oh! what surprises of goodness and grace God

has in store for you and me, if only we pray without ceasing! If you will

pray in union to Jesus, having childlike confidence towards God,—having

the spirit of adoption, crying Abba within you,—seeking the glory of God

more than all personal benefits, I believe that in all such cases you will get

the very thing you ask, at the very time you ask it. Before you call, God will

hear; and while you are speaking, He will answer. Oh, if there were twenty

among you who would pray thus, and persevere therein like wrestling

Jacob, you would get whatever you ask! yea, the case of Daniel shows that

the effectual fervent prayer of one such believer among you will avail

much. “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thy

heart,” Ps. 37:4.

Second, God often delays the answer to prayer for wise reasons. The

case of the Syrophenician woman will occur to you all, Matt. 15:21–28.

How anxiously she cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou son of David!

But Jesus answered her not a word.” Again and again she prayed, and got

no gracious answer. Her faith grows stronger by every refusal. She cried,

she followed, she kneeled to Him, till Jesus could refuse no longer. “O

woman, great is thy faith! Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Dear praying

people, “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgivings.” Do

not be silenced by one refusal. Jesus invites importunity by delaying to

answer. Ask, seek, knock. “The promise may be long delayed, but cannot

come too late.” You remember, in the parable of the importunate widow, it

is said, “Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto

Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them

speedily.” Luke 18:1–8. This shows how you, who are God’s children,

should pray. You should cry day and night unto God. This shows how God

hears every one of your cries, in the busy hour of the day-time, and in the

lonely watches of the night. He treasures them up from day to day; soon the

full answer will come down: “He will answer speedily.” The praying souls

beneath the altar, in Rev. 6:9–11, seem to show the same truth, that the

answer to a believer’s prayers may, in the adorable wisdom of God, be

delayed for a little season, and that many of them may not be folly

answered till after he is dead. Again, read that wonderful passage, Rev. 8:3,

where it is said that the Lord Jesus, the great Intercessor with the Father,

offers to God the incense of his merits, with the prayers of all saints, upon

the golden altar which is before the throne. Christ never loses one believing

prayer. The prayers of every believer, from Abel to the present day, He

heaps upon the altar, from which they are continually ascending before his

Father and our Father; and when the altar can hold no more, the full, the

eternal answer will come down. Do not be discouraged, dearly beloved,

because God bears long with you—because He does not seem to answer

your prayers. Your prayers are not lost. When the merchant sends his ships

to distant shores, he does not expect them to come back richly laden in a

single day: he has long patience. “It is good that a man should both hope

and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Perhaps your prayers will

come back, like the ships of the merchant, all the more heavily laden with

blessings, because of the delay.

Third, God often answers prayer by terrible things. So David says in

Ps. 65: “By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of

our salvation.” And all of you who are God’s children have found it true.

Some of you have experienced what John Newton did when he wrote that

beautiful hymn, “I asked the Lord that I might grow.” You prayed with all

your heart, “Lord, increase ray faith.” In answer to this, God has shown you

the misery of your connection with Adam. He has revealed the hell that is in

your heart. You are amazed, confounded, abashed. You cry, “O wretched

man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” You

cleave to a Saviour God with a thousand times greater anxiety. Your faith is

increased. Your prayer is answered by terrible things. Some of us prayed for

a praying spirit, “Lord, teach us to pray.” God has laid affliction upon us.

Waves and billows go over us. We cry out of the depths. Being afflicted, we

pray. He has granted our heart’s desire. Our prayer is answered by terrible

things.

Fourth, God sometimes answers prayer by giving something better than

we ask. An affectionate father on earth often does this. The child says,

Father, give me this fruit. No, my child, the father replies; but here is bread,

which is better for you. So the Lord Jesus dealt with his beloved Paul, 2

Cor. 12:7–9. There was given to Paul a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of

Satan to buffet him. In bitterness of heart he cried, “Lord, let this depart

from me.” No answer came. Again he prayed the same words. No answer

still. A third time he knelt, and now the answer came, not as he expected.

The thorn is not plucked away—the messenger of Satan is not driven back

to hell; but Jesus opens wide his more loving breast, and says, “My grace is

sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Oh! this is

something exceeding abundant above all that he asked, and all that he

thought. Ah! this is something better than he asked, and better than he

thought. Surely God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we

ask or think,” Eph. 3:20. Dear praying believers, be of good cheer. God will

either give you what you ask, or something far better. Are you not quite

willing that He should choose for you and me? You remember that even

Jesus prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me!”

That desire was not granted, but there appeared unto Him an angel from

heaven strengthening Him, Luke 22:43. He received what was far better—

strength to drink the cup of vengeance. Some of you, my dear believing

flock, have been praying that, if it be God’s will, I might be speedily

restored to you, that God’s name might be glorified; and I have been

praying the same. Do not be surprised if He should answer our prayers by

giving us something above what we imagined. Perhaps He may glorify

himself by us in another way than we thought. “Oh the depth of the riches

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his

judgments, and his ways past finding out! For of Him, and through Him,

and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

These things I have written, that you may come boldly to the throne of

grace. The Lord make you a praying people. “Strive together with me in

your prayers to God for me.” “I thank my God upon every remembrance of

you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy.”

Now, the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded

one towards another, according to Christ Jesus. “The God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace in believing; and the God of peace be with you all.

Amen.”

FIFTH PASTORAL LETTER

What God has done, and the returns made: Isaiah 5:4

EDINBURGH, February 27, 1839.

To all of you, my dear flock, who are washed and sanctified and

justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, your

pastor again wishes grace, mercy, and peace.

This is now the fifth time I am permitted by God to write to you. If you

are not wearied, it is pleasant and refreshing to me. I wish to be like

Epaphras, Col. 4:12: “Always labouring fervently for you in prayer, that

you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” When I am

hindered by God from labouring for you in any other way, it is my heart’s

joy to labour for you thus. When Dr Scott of Greenock, a good and holy

minister, was laid aside by old age from preaching for some years before his

death, he used to say, “I can do nothing for my people now but pray for

them, and sometimes I feel that I can do that.” This is what I also love to

feel. Often I am like Amelia Geddie, who lived in the time of the

Covenanters, and of whom I used to tell you. The great part of my time is

taken up with bringing my heart into tune for prayer; but when the blessed

Spirit does help my infirmities, it is my greatest joy to lay myself and you,

my flock, in his hand, and to pray that God may yet make “the vine to

flourish, and the pomegranate to bud.”

If you turn to Isaiah 5:4, you will find these affecting words: “What

could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?

wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth

wild grapes?”

Consider these words, my dear people, and may the Spirit breathe over

them that they may savingly impress your souls. These words are God’s

pathetic lamentation over his ancient people, when He thought of all that He

had done for them, and of the sad return which they made to Him. We have

come into the place of Israel; the natural branches of the good olive-tree

have been broken off, and we have been grafted in. All the advantages God

gave to Israel are now enjoyed by us; and ah! has not God occasion to take

up the same lamentation over us, that we have brought forth only wild

grapes? I would wish every one of you seriously to consider what more God

could have done to save your soul that He has not done. But, ah! consider

again whether you have borne grapes, or only wild grapes.

First, Consider how much God has done to save your souls. He has

provided a great Saviour, and a great salvation. He did not give man or

angel, but the Creator of all, to be the substitute of sinners. His blood is

precious blood. His righteousness is the righteousness of God; and now “to

him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his

faith is counted to him for righteousness:” Rom. 4:5. Most precious word!

Give up your toil, self-justifying soul. You have gone from mountain to hill;

you have forgotten your resting-place; change your plan: work not, but

believe on Him that justifieth the ungodly. Believe the record that God hath

given concerning his Son. A glorious, all-perfect, all-divine Surety is laid

down at your feet. He is within your reach,—He is nigh thee: take Him and

live; refuse Him and perish! “What could have been done more for my

vineyard, that I have not done in it?”

Second, Again, consider the ordinances God has given you. He has

made you into a vineyard. Scotland is the likest of all lands to God’s ancient

Israel. How wonderfully has God planted and maintained godly ministers in

his land, from the time of Knox to the present day! He has divided the

whole land into parishes; even on the barren hills of our country He has

planted the choicest vine. Hundreds of godly labourers He has sent to gather

out the stones of it. God has done this for you also. He has built a tower in

the midst of you. Have you not seen his own hand fencing you round,—

building a gospel tower in the midst of you, and a gospel vine-press therein?

And has He not sent me among you, who am less than the least of all the

members of Christ, and yet “determined not to know anything among you

save Jesus Christ and Him crucified?” Has not the Spirit of God been

sometimes present in our sanctuary? Have not some hearts been filled there

with gladness more than in the time that their corn and wine increased?

Have not some hearts tasted there the “love that is better than wine?” “What

could have been done more for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?”

Now let me ask, what fruit have we borne,—grapes or wild grapes? Ah! I

fear the most can show nothing but wild grapes. If God looks down upon us

as a parish, what does He see? Are there not still a thousand souls utter

strangers to the house of God? How many does his holy eye now rest upon

who are seldom in the house of prayer,—who neglect it in the forenoon!

How many who frequent the tavern on the Sabbath-day! Oh! why do they

bring forth wild grapes? If God looks upon you as families, what does He

see? How many prayerless families! How often, as I passed your windows,

late at eve or at early dawn, have I listened for the melody of psalms, and

listened all in vain! God also has listened, but still in vain. How many

careless parents does his pure eye see among you, who will one day, if you

turn not, meet your neglected children in an eternal hell! How many

undutiful children! How many unfaithful servants! Ah! why such a vineyard

of wild grapes? If God looks on you as individual souls, how many does He

see that were never awakened to real concern about year souls! How many

that never shed a tear for your perishing souls! How many that were never

driven to pray! How many that know not what it is to bend the knee! How

many that have no uptaking of Christ, and are yet cold-hearted and at ease!

How many does God know among you that have never laid hold of the only

sure covenant! How many that have no “peace in believing,” and yet cry,

“Peace, peace, when there is no peace!” Jer. 8:11. How many does God see

among you who have no change of heart and life, who are given up to the

sins of the flesh and of the mind! and yet you “bless yourself in your heart,

saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to

add drunkenness to thirst,” Deut. 29:19. Ah! why do you thus bring forth

wild grapes? “Your vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of

Gomorrah: your grapes are grapes of gall, your clusters are bitter,” Deut.

32:32. Ah! remember you will blame yourselves to all eternity for your own

undoing. God washes his hands of your destruction. What could have been

done more for you that God has not done? I take you all to record this day,

if I should never speak to you again, that I am pure from the blood of you

all. Oh barren fig-trees, planted in God’s vineyard, the Lord has been

digging at your roots; and if ye bear fruit, well; if not, then ye shall be cut

down. Luke 13:6–9.

Now I turn for a moment to you who are God’s children. I am

persuaded better things of you, my dearly beloved, and things that

accompany salvation, though I thus speak. Yet what need is there, in these

trying times, to search your heart and life, and ask what fruit does God find

in me!

What fruit of self-abasement is there in you? Have you found out the

evil of your connection with the first Adam?—Rom. 5:19. Do you know the

plagues of your own heart?—1 Kings 8:38; the hell of corruption that is

there?—Jer. 17:9. Do you feel you have never lived one moment to his

glory?—Rom. 3:25. Do you feel that to all eternity you never can be

justified by anything in yourself?—Rev. 7:14.

Consider, again, what fruit there is of believing in you. Have you really

and fully uptaken Christ as the gospel lays Him down?—John 5:12. Do you

cleave to him as a sinner?—1 Tim. 1:15. Do you count all things but loss

for the excellency of the knowledge of Him?—Matt. 9:9. Do you feel the

glory of his person?—Rev. 1:17; his finished work?—Heb. 9:26; his

offices?—1 Cor. 1:30. Does He shine like the sun into your soul?—Mal 4:2.

Is your heart ravished with his beauty?—Song 5:16.

Again, what fruit is there in you of crying after holiness? Is this the one

thing you do?—Phil. 3:13. Do you spend your life in cries for deliverance

from this body of sin and death?—Rom. 7:24. Ah! I fear there is little of

this. The most of God’s people are contented to be saved from the hell that

is without. They are not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within. I

fear there is little feeling of your need of the indwelling Spirit. I fear you do

not know “the exceeding greatness of his power” to usward who believe. I

fear many of you are strangers to the visits of the Comforter. God has

reason to complain of you, “Wherefore should they bring forth wild

grapes?”

Again, what fruit is there of actual likeness to God in you? Do you love

to be much with God?—“to climb up near to God—Gen. 5:22—to love, and

long, and plead, and wrestle, and stretch after Him?” Are you weaned from

the world?—Ps. 131.—from its praise, from its hatred, from its scorn? Do

you give yourselves clean away to God—2 Cor. 8:5—and all that is yours?

Are you willing that your will should be lost in his great will? Do you throw

yourselves into the arms of God for time and for eternity? Oh, search your

hearts and try them; ask God to do it for you, and “to lead you in the way

everlasting!” Ps. 139:23, 24.

I am deeply afraid that many of us may be like the fig-tree by the

wayside, on which the hungry Saviour expected to find fruit, and He found

none. Ah! we have been an ungrateful vine, minister and people! What

more could God have done for us? Sunshine and shade, rain and wind, have

all been given us; goodness and severity have both been tried with us; yet

what has been returned to Him? Whether have the curses or the praises been

louder rising from our parish to heaven? Whether does our parish more

resemble the garden of the Lord, or the howling wilderness? Whether is

there more of the perpetual incense of believing prayer, or the “smoke in

God’s nose” of hypocrisy and broken sacraments?

I write not these things to shame you, but as “my beloved sons I warn

you.” If there be some among you, and some there are, who are growing up

like the lily, casting forth their roots like Lebanon, and bearing fruit with

patience, remember “the Lord loveth the righteous.” He that telleth the

number of the stars taketh pleasure in you. “The Lord taketh pleasure in his

people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.” Keep yourselves in the

love of God. Go carefully through all the steps of your effectual calling a

second time.

The Lord give you daily faith. Seek to have a large heart Pray for me,

that a door of utterance may be opened to me. Remember my bonds. Pray

that I may utterly renounce myself, that I may be willing to do and to suffer

all his will up to the latest breath.

May you all obtain mercy of the Lord now, and in that day to which we

are hastening. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirits. Amen.

SIXTH PASTORAL LETTER

Self-devotedness—what it ought to be

EDINBURGH, March 6, 1839.

To all my dear flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made me overseer

—to all of you who are of the church of God, which He hath purchased with

his own blood—your pastor wishes grace, mercy, and peace.

I thank my God without ceasing that ever I was ordained over you in

the Lord. For every shower of the Spirit that ever has been shed upon us—

for every soul among you that has ever been added to the church—for every

disciple among you whose soul has been confirmed during our ministry, I

will praise God eternally. May this letter be blessed to you by the breathing

of the Holy Spirit! May it teach you and me more than ever that we “are not

our own, but bought with a price.”

The most striking example of self-devotedness in the cause of Christ of

which I ever heard in these days of deadness, was told here last week by an

English minister. It has never been printed, and therefore I will relate it to

you, just as I heard it, to stir up our cold hearts, that we may give our own

selves unto the Lord.

The awful disease of leprosy still exists in Africa. Whether it be the

same leprosy as that mentioned in the Bible, I do not know, but it is

regarded as perfectly incurable, and so infectious that no one dares to come

near the leper. In the south of Africa there is a large lazarhouse for lepers. It

is an immense space, enclosed by a very high wall, and containing fields,

which the lepers cultivate. There is only one entrance, which is strictly

guarded. Whenever any one is found with the marks of leprosy upon him,

he is brought to this gate and obliged to enter in, never to return. No one

who enters in by that awful gate is ever allowed to come out again. Within

this abode of misery there are multitudes of lepers in all stages of the

disease. Dr Halbeck, a missionary of the Church of England, from the top of

a neighbouring hill, saw them at work. He noticed two particularly sowing

peas in the field. The one had no hands, the other had no feet—these

members being wasted away by disease. The one who wanted the hands

was carrying the other who wanted the feet upon his back, and he again

carried in his hands the bag of seed, and dropped a pea every now and then,

which the other pressed into the ground with his foot; and so they managed

the work of one man between the two. Ah! how little we know of the

misery that is in the world! Such is this prison-house of disease. But you

will ask, who cares for the souls of the hapless inmates? Who will venture

to enter in at this dreadful gate, never to return again? Who will forsake

father and mother, houses and land, to carry the message of a Saviour to

these poor lepers? Two Moravian missionaries, impelled by a divine love

for souls, have chosen the lazarhouse as their field of labour. They entered it

never to come out again; and I am told that as soon as these die, other

Moravians are quite ready to fill their place. Ah! my dear friends, may we

not blush, and be ashamed before God, that we, redeemed with the same

blood, and taught by the same Spirit, should yet be so unlike these men in

vehement, heart-consuming love to Jesus and the souls of men?

I wish now to mention to you a proposal which deeply involves the

happiness of you and me, and of which I believe most of you have already

heard something. Oh that you would trace the Lord’s hand in it! Oh that

“you would be still, and know that He is God!” Let me go over some of the

ways by which God has led us hitherto. When I came to you at the first, it

was not of my seeking. I never had been in your town, and knew only one

family in it. I did not ask to be made a candidate. I was quite happy where I

was labouring in the Lord’s work. God turned your hearts to ask me to settle

among you. It was the Lord’s doing. Since that day “ye know after what

manner I have been with you at all seasons,” and how, as far as God gave

me light and strength, “I have kept nothing back that was profitable unto

you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to

house.” Ye know also, some of you in your blessed experience, that God has

given testimony to the word of his grace, so that “our gospel came not to

you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much

assurance.”

It is indeed amazing how God should have blessed the word when there

was so much weakness and so much sin. But “who is a God like unto our

God, that pardoneth iniquity, and passes by the transgressions of the

remnant of his heritage?” We planted and watered, and God gave the

increase. Ye are God’s husbandry—ye are God’s building. To Him be the

glory.

You know also that I have had some painful trials among you. The state

of the mass of unconverted souls among you has often made my heart bleed

in secret. The coldness and worldliness of you who are God’s children has

often damped me. The impossibility of fully doing the work of a minister of

Christ, among so many souls, was a sad burden to me. The turning back of

some that once cared for their souls pierced my heart with new sorrows.

Still I have had two years of great joy among you—unspeakable joy—in

seeing souls added to the church of such as shall be saved. I may never be

honoured to preach again, yet still to all eternity I shall praise God that He

sent me to you: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are

not even ye in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye

are our glory and joy.” 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. And should I lightly break up such

a connection as this? Ah, no! My dear friends, I do not need all your

affectionate letters to persuade me, that, if it were the Lord’s will, my own

vineyard is the happiest place in the world for me to be. Again and again

other vineyards were offered to me, and I was asked to leave you; but I

never for a moment listened to one of them, for ye were the seal of my

ministry; and where could I be happier than where the Lord had blessed me,

and was still blessing me? But God sent another message to me. He laid a

heavy hand upon my body. I long struggled against it, but it was too much

for me. For two months I have been an exile from you, and I have felt all

the time like a widower, or like Jacob bereaved of his children. My constant

prayer was, that I might be restored to you, and to the Lord’s service. You

prayed the same; and when it was not answered, I cried, “Wherefore

contendest Thou with me?” That word was sent in answer: “My son,

despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his

correction,” Prov. 3:11. God seems plainly to shut the door against my

returning to you at present. I am greatly better, yet still I am forbidden to

preach. I am not even allowed to conduct the family devotions morning and

evening; indeed, whenever I exert myself much in conversation, I soon feel

the monitor within, warning me how frail I am.

In these circumstances, the General Assembly’s Committee on the Jews

have this day resolved that your pastor, accompanied by Dr Black of

Aberdeen, and my beloved friend Andrew Bonar of Collace, should travel

for the next six months, to make personal inquiry after the lost sheep of the

house of Israel.

They propose that we should go without delay to the Holy Land—that

we should then return by Smyrna, Constantinople, Poland, Germany, and

Holland. Now I did not seek this appointment—I never dreamed of such a

thing. “But He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no man

shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth,” He has thrown open this door

to me, while He keeps the door of return to you still shut. My medical men

are agreed that it is the likeliest method of restoring my broken health, and

that I have strength enough for the journey. You know how my heart is

engaged in the cause of Israel, and how the very sight of Immanuel’s land

will revive my fainting spirit. And if it be the will of God, I shall return to

you, my beloved flock, to tell you all that I have seen, and to lead you in the

way to the Jerusalem that is above.

I cannot tell you how many providences have been sent to me, every

one convincing me that it is God’s will and purpose I should go.

The most cheering one to me is, that a young man has nearly consented

to fill my place, and feed your souls during my absence, who is everything I

could wish, and who will make you almost forget that you want your own

pastor. Nay, whatever happens, I hope you will never forget me, but

remember me in your families, and remember me in your secret prayers.

You are all graven on my heart—I never can forget you. How wonderful

have been God’s dealings with us! For many reasons He has sent this

affliction on us,—for sin in me, for sin in you; but also, I am persuaded, that

He might seek after “the dearly beloved of his soul,” that are now in the

hand of their enemies. His way is in the sea; his name is Wonderful. I grieve

to write so much about myself. I had far rather speak to you of “Him who is

fairer than the children of men.” May you look beyond all ministers to Him

—may He be your guide even unto death! Once again I hope to write before

I leave my home and my country. Till then, may all grace abound toward

you, and peace be upon Israel. Amen.

SEVENTH PASTORAL LETTER

Unexpected calls to labour—Parting counsels to believers

EDINBURGH, March 13, 1839.

To all of you who are my brethren, and my companions in tribulation,

and in the kingdom and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, your pastor

wishes grace, mercy, and peace.

It gives me great joy to address you once more, and if I could only

grave on your heart some of those words which make wise unto salvation,

my time and labour would be amply repaid. The providences of every day

convince me that I have followed not my own will, but God’s, in leaving

you for a time. If the Lord permit, I shall come to you again, and I trust

more fully taught by the Spirit,—a holier, happier, and a more useful

minister. I did not know when I last preached to you that I was to be so long

parted from you; and though I felt a solemn tenderness stealing over my

soul which I could not well account for, and eternity seemed very near, and

your souls seemed very precious, yet the Lord was “leading the blind by a

way which we knew not.” I have been searching God’s word to find

examples of this, and I find them very many.

You remember Abraham, how he was living quietly in his father’s

house, in Ur of the Chaldees, when the Lord appeared to him, and said,

“Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s

house, unto a land that I will show thee,” Gen. 12:1. And he went out, not

knowing whither he went. You remember Jacob: his mother said unto him,

“Arise, flee thou to Laban, my brother, to Haran, and tarry with him a few

days.” But the Lord meant it otherwise; and it was twenty years before

Jacob came back again.—Gen. 27:43, 44. You remember Joseph: his father

sent him a message to his brethren: “Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well

with thy brethren, and well with the flocks, and bring me word again,” Gen.

37:14. He expected to see him return in a few days; but God had another

purpose with him. It was more than twenty years before he saw the face of

Joseph again; till he said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: and I

will go and see him before I die.”

You will find the same method of dealing in the New Testament. How

little Peter knew that morning when he went up to the house-top to pray,

that he was that very day to be sent away to open the door of faith to the

Gentiles, Acts 10:9; and yet God said to him, “Arise, get thee down, and go

with them, nothing doubting,” verse 20. Again, you remember Barnabas

and Saul, how happily they were engaged with the brethren at Antioch,

ministering to the Lord and fasting. Little did they think that the next day

they would be sailing away to carry the gospel to other lands. As they

ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate me

Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when

they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them

away:” Acts 13:2, 13.

Once more, when Paul had preached the gospel in all the cities of Asia,

and was come to Troas, on the sea-coast, how little did he think that night

when he laid his head upon his pillow, that by the next day morning the

swift ship would be carrying him across the seas, to bear the message of

salvation to another continent! “A vision appeared to Paul in the night:

There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into

Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we

endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had

called us for to preach the gospel unto them:” Acts 16:9, 10.

Now, has not God dealt with us in a similar manner? Although we are

nothing in ourselves but evil and hell-deserving creatures, yet, when

accepted in the beloved, God cares for us. Oh! we err, not knowing the

Scriptures, nor the power of God, when we think that God is indifferent to

the least of all that are in Christ. We are fastened on the Redeemer’s

shoulder. We are graven on his breastplate, and that is on the Redeemer’s

heart. Surely He hath directed our steps. “Oh the depth of the riches both of

the wisdom and the knowledge of God!” In other circumstances, I suppose,

I would not have listened to this proposal. I could not have torn myself

away had I been in strength and usefulness among you, and indeed the

expedition probably would never have been thought of.

But God, who chose Israel to be his peculiar treasure, can easily open

up ways when his set time is come. I parted from you only for a few days;

but God meant otherwise, and He will make it his own fixed time. And

now, behold, I know that there are some of you among whom I have gone

preaching the kingdom of God, who “shall see my face no more.” “He that

keepeth Israel” may preserve your pastor under his almighty feathers. I

know you will pray for me, as you have done in secret, and in your families,

and in your meetings for prayer, “that the sun may not smite me by day, nor

the moon by night;” but if I should come back again, will I find you all

where I left you? Alas! I know it cannot be so. “For what is your life? It is

even a vapour;” and God is still crying, “Return, return, ye children of

men.”

For some among you, I give thanks unto the Father that He hath made

you meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Col. 1:12.

There are some among you from whom I have learned more than I taught

you, “who have been succourers of many, and of myself also,”—Rom. 16:2,

and who have often reminded me of corn, when it was fully ripe. Shall we

be surprised if the Son of man puts in the sickle?—Rev. 14:13, 16. Dear

advanced believers, we may never meet again. I feel it almost wrong to pray

that ye may be kept to comfort us on our return. It is wrong to grudge you

“an entrance into perfect day,” where you shall lay aside that body of death

and sin which is your greatest grief; yet may the Lord spare you, and bless

you, and make you a blessing, that ye may bear fruit in old age. Oh, fill up

the little inch of time that remains to his glory; walk with God; live for God.

Oh that every thought, and word, and action might be in his favour, and to

his praise! The Lord grant that we may meet again here, and with you be

refreshed; but if not, may we meet “where we shall walk with Christ in

white.” God, who knows my heart, knows it would be a hell to me to spend

an eternity with unconverted Christless souls; but to be with Christ and his

people is heaven to me, wherever it is. There are many young believers

among you, whom I may never meet again. It is hard to think of parting

with you; the mother feels it hard to part with the sucking child. It was my

highest delight in this world to see you growing day by day—to see your

sense of the plague in your own heart deepening—to see you cleaving to

Christ with full purpose of heart—to see your “peace widening like a river,”

and to see your love burning higher and higher toward the throne of God.

You are in my heart to live and to die with me. Still He who at any time fed

you by me, can as easily feed you by another. I commend you to the Lord,

on whom you believe. Read 2 Peter 3:17; meditate over it, pray over it;

beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from

your own stedfastness; but grow in grace.

The only way to be kept from falling is to grow. If you stand still, you

will fall. Read Prov. 11:28, “The righteous shall flourish as a branch.”

Remember you are not a tree, that can stand alone; you are only “a branch,”

and it is only while you abide in Him, as a branch, that you will flourish.

Keep clear your sense of justification; remember it is not your own natural

goodness, nor your tears, nor your sanctification, that will justify you before

God. It is Christ’s sufferings and obedience alone. Seek to be made holier

every day; pray, strive, wrestle for the Spirit, to make you like God. Be as

much as you can with God. I declare to you that I had rather be one hour

with God, than a thousand with the sweetest society on earth or in heaven.

All other joys are but streams; God is the fountain: “all my springs are in

Thee.” Now may the blessings that are on the head of the just be on your

head. Be faithful unto death, and Christ will give you a crown of life; and if

I never meet you again in this world, may I meet you as “pillars in the

house of my God” where “you shall go no more out.” Pray for me when you

have access to the throne,—when you have a heart for it. I will try and pray

for you, that ye may endure to the end. I have a word more for those of you

that are still unconverted, whom I may never see again in the flesh. My

heart bleeds to think of parting with you; but I must defer this to my next

letter, for I expect to write you again before I go. Farewell for the present,

and may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen.

EIGHTH PASTORAL LETTER

Warnings to the unsaved—Causes why so many among us are unsaved

EDINBURGH, March 20, 1839.

To all of you, my dear flock, who are dearly beloved and longed for, my

joy and crown, your pastor wishes grace, mercy, and peace, from God our

Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

In my last letter I showed you that, in all human probability, there are

many of you to whom I have preached the gospel of salvation, to whom I

shall never preach it again face to face. I cannot be blind to the many

dangers that accompany foreign travel,—the diseases and accidents to

which we shall be exposed; but if, through your prayers, I be given to you

again, how many blanks shall I find in my flock! How many dear children

of God gone to be “where the weary are at rest,” where the imperfect “are

made perfect!” How many of you that have stood out against all the

invitations of Christ, and all the warnings of God, shall I find departed, to

give in your account before the throne! It is to these last I wish now to

speak. For two years I have testified to you the gospel of the grace of God. I

came to you in “weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling;” and if the

case of the children of God, and of backsliding souls, has often lain heavy at

my heart, I can truly say that your dreadful condition—“settled like wine

upon her lees,” when you are about to be “turned upside down, as a man

turneth a dish and wipeth it”—has been a continued anxiety to me; and

sometimes, when I have had glimpses of the reality of eternal things, it has

been an unsupportable agony to my spirit. I know well that this is a jest to

you,—that you care not whether ministers go or stay; and if you get a short

sermon on the Sabbath-day that will soothe and not prick your conscience,

that is all you care for. Still, it may be, the Lord who opened Manasseh’s

heart will open yours, while I go over solemnly, in the sight of God, what

appear to be the chief reasons why, after my two years’ ministry among

you, there are still so many unconverted, perishing souls.

One cause is to be sought in your minister. In Mal. 2:6 you will find a

sweet description of a faithful and successful minister: “The law of truth

was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me

in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.” This is what we

should have done; but the furnace brings out the dross, and afflictions

discover defects unknown before. Oh that I could say with Paul: “That I

have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of

mind, and with many tears!” Ye are witnesses, and God also, “how holily,

and justly, and unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that

believe.” I am indeed amazed that the ministry of such a worm as I am

should ever have been blessed among you at all; and I do this day bewail

before God every sin in my heart and life that has kept back the light from

your poor dark souls. Oh, you that can pray, pray that I may come back a

holy minister,—a shepherd not to lead the flock by the voice only, but to

walk before them in the way of life. Looking back over my pulpit work,

alas! I see innumerable deficiencies. I always prayed that I might “not keep

back anything that was profitable,”—that I might not shun to declare the

whole counsel of God,—“that I might decrease, and Christ increase.” Still,

alas! alas! how dimly I have seen and set before you “the truth as it is in

Jesus!” How coldly have I pleaded with you to “save yourselves from this

untoward generation!” How many things I have known among you “besides

Christ and Him crucified!” How often have I preached myself, and not the

Saviour! How little I have “expounded to you in all the Scriptures the things

concerning Jesus!” One error more has been in my private labours among

you. How much fruitless intercourse have I had with you! I have not been

like a shepherd crying after the lost sheep, nor like a physician among dying

men, nor like a servant bidding you to the marriage, nor like one plucking

brands from the burning! How often have I gone to your houses to try and

win your souls, and you have put me off with a little worldly talk, and the

words of salvation have died upon my lips! I dared not tell you you were

perishing,—I dared not to show you plainly of the Saviour. How often I

have sat at some of your tables, and my heart yearned for your souls, yet a

false shame kept me silent! How often I have gone home crying bitterly,

“Free me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation!”

I turn now to the causes in you, dear children of God. You also have

hindered in great measure God’s work in the parish. First, by your want of

holiness, “Ye are the light of the world.” I have often told you that a work of

revival in any place almost always begins with the children of God. God

pours water first on “him that is thirsty,” and then on the dry ground. But

how little has “the word of the Lord sounded out from you!” I do not mean

that you should have been loud talkers about religious things. “In the

multitude of words there wanteth not sin, and the talk of the lips leadeth to

penury.” But you should have been “living epistles, known and read of all

men.” You know that a lighted lamp is a very small thing, and it burns

calmly and without noise; yet “it giveth light to all that are within the

house.” So, if you had day by day the blood of Christ upon your conscience,

—walking a forgiven and adopted child of God,—having a calm peace in

your bosom, and a heavenly hope in your eye,—having the Holy Spirit

filling you with a sweet, tender, chaste, compassionate, forgiving love to all

the world,—oh! had you shone thus for two years back, how many of your

friends and neighbours that are going down to hell might have been saying

this day, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God!” Think, my

beloved friends, that every act of unholiness, of conformity to the world, of

selfishness, of whispering and backbiting, is hindering the work of God in

the parish, and ruining souls eternally. And what shall I say to those of you

who, instead of emitting the sweet winning light of holiness, have given out

only rays of darkness? “I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first

love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do

thy first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy

candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Second, You have hindered God’s work by your want of prayer. When

God gives grace to souls, it is in answer to the prayers of his children. You

will see this on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2; Ezek. 37:9 shows, that in

answer to the prayer of a single child of God, God will give grace to a

whole valley full of dry and prayerless bones. Where God puts it into the

heart of his children to pray, it is certain that He is going to pour down his

Spirit in abundance. Now, where have been your prayers, O children of

God? The salvation of those around you depends on your asking, and yet

“hitherto ye have asked nothing in Christ’s name.” Ye that are the Lord’s

remembrancers, keep not silence, and give Him no rest. Alas! you have

given God much rest,—you have allowed his hand to remain unplucked out

of his bosom. It is said of John Welsh, minister of Ayr, that he used always

to sleep with a plaid upon his bed, that he might wrap it around him when

he arose in the night to pray. He used to spend whole nights in wrestling

with God for Zion, and for the purity of the Church of Scotland; and he

wondered how Christians could lie all night in bed without rising to pray.

Oh! we have few Welshes now; therefore our church is so dim, and our land

a barren wilderness. Dear Christians, I often think it strange that ever we

should be in heaven, and so many in hell through our soul-destroying

carelessness. The good Lord pardon the past, and stir you up for the future.

I learn that you are more stirred up to pray since I left, both in secret and

unitedly. God grant it be so. Continue in it, dear children. Do not let it slip

again. Plead and wrestle with God, showing Him that the cause is his own,

and that it is all for his own glory to arise and have mercy upon Zion.

Last of all, think of the causes in yourselves, O unconverted souls! Be

sure of this, that you will only have yourselves to blame if ye awake in hell.

You will not be able to plead God’s secret decrees, nor the sins of your

minister, nor the carelessness of your godly neighbours,—you will be

speechless. If you die, it is because you will die; and if you will die, then

you must die.

Think, first, on your carelessness about ordinances. They are the

channels through which God pours his Spirit. The Bible, prayer, the house

of God,—these are the golden pipes through which the golden oil is poured.

How many of you utterly neglect the Bible! You know not the blessedness

of the man spoken of in the first Psalm. How many of you restrain prayer

before God! How many of you have dead, useless prayers, learned by rote!

And oh, how you despise the house of God! Alas, that church shall rise

against you in judgment. It was a door of the ark brought near to you. Two

years and more, its gates have been wide open to you, and yet how you

have slighted it! Already I seem to hear your loud wailing when you mourn

at the last, and say, “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised

reproof, and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers!”

Think, second, how you have been mockers. It has been too common for

you to make a mock of eternal things and of godly people. When there have

been anxious souls seeking the way to be saved, and they could not conceal

their tears, you have called them hypocrites! When some have got a new

heart, and have changed their way of life, you have spoken scoffingly of

them, and tried to bring them into contempt. Alas! poor soul, look within.

You have hardened your hearts into an adamant stone. Look at Prov. 17:5:

“He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker.” And again, Isaiah

28:22: “Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made

strong.”

To sum up all. The great cause that I leave you hardened is, that you

“despise the Son of God.” You see no beauty in Him that you should desire

Him. You lightly esteem the Rock of your salvation. You have not had a

soul-piercing look at a pierced Saviour. You have not seen the infinite load

of sins that weighed down his blessed head. You have not seen how open

his arms are to receive,—how often He would have gathered you. You have

not heard that sweet word whispered of the Spirit, “Behold me, behold me,”

which, when a man once hears, he leaves all and follows. You have

trampled under foot the blood of the Son of God. Farewell, dear, dear souls.

God knows that my whole heart prays that you may be saved.

Perhaps there are some of you that never would bend under my

ministry, that will melt like wax before the fire under the word of the dear

young minister who is to speak to you in my absence. May the Lord give

him hundreds for my tens! I will often pray for you, and sometimes write to

you, when I am far away. If I reach Immanuel’s land, I will say, “The Lord

bless you out of Zion.” And if you will not turn, remember I take God for a

record that I am pure from the blood of you all.

Dear children of God, I now cast you on Him who cast you on me when

I was ordained over you. He said to me, “Feed my sheep,”—“feed my

lambs,”—“feed my sheep.” Now, when He sends me away, I would humbly

return his own words to Him, saying, O Shepherd of Israel, feed my sheep,

—feed my lambs,—feed my sheep. Little children, love one another. Keep

yourselves from idols. Bear me ever on your hearts. Pray that when I have

preached to others, I may not be a castaway. Pray that I may save some.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus

Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the

everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will,

working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus

Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

My next if God will, may be from England.

NINTH PASTORAL LETTER

Incidents of the way as far as Leghorn.—Exhortations

LEGHORN, May 2, 1839.

To all of you, my beloved flock, who have received Christ, and walk in

Him, your pastor wishes grace, and mercy, and peace, from God our Father,

and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

My heart’s desire and prayer for you every day is that you may be

saved. I am now far from you in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit. I

thank my God without ceasing, for as many of you as have been awakened

to flee from the wrath to come, have rested your souls upon the good word

of God concerning Jesus, and have tasted the love of God. In every prayer

of mine for you all, I ask that ye may continue in the faith, grounded and

settled,—that ye may be like trees, rooted in Christ Jesus, or like a holy

temple built up in Him who is the only foundation-stone.

I expected to have written you from London, and again before leaving

France; but we have travelled so rapidly, often day and night, and the

fatigue was so great to my weak frame, that I was disappointed in this; but I

did not forget you night or day, and I know well I am not forgotten by you.

Since I wrote you last I have passed through many cities and countries, and

seen many faces and things strange to me. Many lessons for my own soul,

and for yours, I have learned. At present I must write you shortly.

We left London on the 11

of April, and next morning crossed the

British Channel from Dover to Boulogne, and found ourselves on the shores

of France. The very first night we spent in France, we were visited by a

most interesting Jew, evidently anxious about his soul. He spoke with us for

many hours, accepted the New Testament in Hebrew, and bade good-bye

with much emotion. We thanked God for this token for good. Pray for us,

that God may give us good success, that we may have the souls of Israel for

our hire. From Boulogne we travelled to Paris, by day and by night, and

spent a Sabbath there. Alas! poor Paris knows no Sabbath; all the shops are

open, and all the inhabitants are on the wing in search of pleasures,—

pleasures that perish in the using. I thought of Babylon and of Sodom as I

passed through the crowd. I cannot tell how I longed for the peace of a

Scottish Sabbath. There is a place in Paris called the Champs Elysées, or

Plains of Heaven,—a beautiful public walk, with trees and gardens; we had

to cross it on passing to the Protestant church. It is the chief scene of their

Sabbath desecration, and an awful scene it is. Oh, thought I, if this is the

heaven a Parisian loves, he will never enjoy the pure heaven that is above.

Try yourselves by that text, Isaiah 58:13, 14. I remember of once preaching

to you from it. Do you really delight in the Sabbath-day? If not, you are no

child of God. I remember with grief that there are many among you that

despise the Sabbath,—some who buy and sell on that holy day,—some who

spend its blessed hours in worldly pleasures, in folly and sin. Oh! you

would make Dundee another Paris if you could. Dear believers, oppose

these ungodly practices with all your might. The more others dishonour

God’s holy day, the more do you honour it, and show that you love it of all

the seven the best. Even in Paris, as in Sardis, we found a little flock of

believers. We heard a sweet sermon in English, and another in French.

There are only 2000 Protestant hearers out of the half million that inhabit

Paris, and there are fourteen faithful sermons preached every Sabbath.

We left the French capital on the 16

April, a lovely evening, with a

deep blue sky above, and a lovely country before us, on the banks of the

Seine. This would be a delightsome land, if it only had the light of God’s

countenance upon it. We travelled three days and three nights, by Troyes,

Dijon, and Chalons, till we came to Lyons, upon the rapid river Rhone, in

the south of France. The Lord stirred up kind friends to meet us. Lyons is

famous as being the place where many Christians were martyred in the first

ages, and where many were burned at the time of the Reformation because

they loved and confessed the Lord Jesus. God loves the place still. There is

a small body of 300 believers, who live here under a faithful pastor, Mr

Cordees. He cheered our hearts much, and sent us away with affectionate

prayers.

That day we sailed down the Rhone more than 100 miles, through a

most wonderful country. We hoped to have spent the Sabbath at Marseilles;

but just as we entered the Mediterranean Sea, a storm of wind arose, and

drove the vessel on a barren island at the mouth of the Rhone. We all landed

and spent our Sabbath quietly on the desert island. It was your communion

Sabbath, and I thought that perhaps this providence was given me that I

might have a quiet day to pray for you. There were about twelve

fishermen’s huts on the island, made of reeds, with a vine growing before

the door, and a fig-tree in their garden. We gave tracts and books in French

to all our fellow-passengers, and to the inhabitants, and tried to hallow the

Sabbath. My heart went up to God the whole day for you all, and for my

dear friends who would be ministering to you. I tried to go over you one by

one, as many as I could call to mind. My longing desire for you was, that

Jesus might reveal himself to you in the breaking of bread,—that you might

have heart-filling views of the lovely person of Immanuel, and might draw

from Him rivers of comfort, life, and holiness. I trust your fellowship was

with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Many I know are ignorant of

Jesus. I trembled when I thought of their taking the bread and wine. You all

know my mind upon this. The next morning the storm abated, and we sailed

over the tideless sea, and reached the beautiful harbour of Marseilles by

eight o’clock. We had conference with a faithful young minister, and with

the Rabbi of the Jews. We also attended the synagogue the same evening.

The Jews of France are fast falling into infidelity, especially the younger

Jews. They do not love the law and the prophets as their fathers did. They

are, indeed, the dry bones in Ezek. 37. Still God can make them live. It is

our part to speak to them the word of the Lord, and to pray for the

quickening Spirit.

True Christians in France are increasing. There are 400 Protestant

ministers, and nearly one-half of these are faithful men, who know nothing

among their flocks but Christ and Him crucified. In some places Christians

seem more bold and devoted than in Scotland. It is very pleasant to hear

them singing the French psalms: they sing with all their heart, and are much

given to prayer. Oh, my dear Christians, be like them in these things! May

the same Holy Spirit, who has often visited you in times gone by, fill your

hearts more than ever with praise and prayer!

Popery in France is waxing bolder. The first day we landed on the

shore, it was evident we were in a land of Popish darkness. On the height

above Boulogne, a tall white cross attracted our eyes. We found on it an

image of our Saviour nailed to the tree, larger than life; the spear, the

hammer, the nails, the sponge, were all there. It was raised by some

shipwrecked fishermen; and sailors’ wives go there in a storm to pray for

their absent husbands. The Popish priests meet us in every street: they wear

a three-cornered hat, black bands, a black mantle with a sash, and large

buckles on their shoes; they have all a dark, suspicious look about them. At

the entrance of every village there is a cross, and the churches are full of

pictures and images. I went into one church in Paris, the finest in France,

where the crosses were all of pure silver, and there was a large white image

of the Virgin Mary, holding the infant Jesus in her arms. Many rich and

poor were kneeling on the pavement before the image, silently praying.

Gross darkness covers the people. A priest travelled one whole night with

us in the coach. We argued with him first in French and then in Latin, trying

to convince him of his errors, showing him his need of peace with God, and

a new heart. In Psalm 137 you will see that Babylon, or Popery, is “doomed

to destruction;” and in Rev. 18 you will see that her destruction will be very

sudden and very terrible. Oh that it may come soon, for thousands are

perishing under its soul-destroying errors! And yet remember what I used to

read to you out of Martin Boos, and remember the saying of the Lord to

Elijah, 1 Kings 19. There may be many hidden ones even in Babylon. The

whole way through France we distributed French tracts. Many hundreds in

this way received a message of life. In every village they came crowding

around us to receive them. Pray that the dew of the Spirit may make the

seed sown by the wayside spring up.

We were too late for the first vessel to Malta, and therefore resolved to

sail into Italy. We left Marseilles on the 23d April, and landed at Genoa on

the 24

. Genoa is one of the most beautiful towns in the world: the most of

the houses and churches are of pure white marble, and from the sea look

like palaces. But Satan’s seat is there: we dared not distribute a single tract

or book in Genoa,—we would have been imprisoned immediately. The

Catholic priests, in their black dismal cloaks, and the monks with their

coarse brown dress, tied with a cord, a crucifix and beads hanging round

their neck, bare feet, and cowl, swarm in every street. I counted that we met

twenty of them in a ten minutes’ walk. Popery reigns here triumphant, yet

the people “are sitting still, and at ease,” living for this world only. Oh! it is

an awful thing to be at ease when under the wrath of God. Every place I see

in Italy makes me praise God that you have the gospel so freely preached

unto you. Prize it highly; do not neglect the wells of salvation that flow so

freely for you.

The next day we sailed for Leghorn, where we have been ever since.

We are living in the house where the excellent Mr Martin, once minister of

St George’s, Edinburgh, died in 1834. We visited his grave. I prayed that,

like him, we might be faithful unto the end. There are from 10,000 to

20,000 Jews here. We went to the synagogue the night we arrived, and

twice since; it is a beautiful building inside, capable of holding 2000

persons. The place where they keep the law, written on a parchment roll, is

finely ornamented with marble; so is the desk kept where they read the

prayers. Lamps are continually burning. One Rabbi was chanting the

prayers when we entered. Beside the ark there stood three Rabbis, in the

Eastern dress, with turbans and flowing robes, and long beards. They were

much reverenced, and many came to kiss their hand and receive their

blessing. One of them is from Jerusalem; we have had many interesting

conversations with him. Every day we have met with several Jews; they are

very friendly to us, and we try to convince them out of the Scriptures that

Jesus is the Christ. There are about 250 Protestants here; and we have tried

to stir them up also to care for their souls. Dr Black preached to them in our

hotel last Sabbath evening.

Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. To-morrow we sail from Italy to

Malta, then for Egypt, and then for the Holy Land. Dear believers, it is a

sweet consolation to me that your prayers go with me wherever I go. Often,

perhaps, they close the mouth of the adversary,—often keep back the storms

from our vessel,—often open a way to the hearts of those we meet,—often

bring down a sweet stream of the Spirit to water my thirsty soul. May I be

enabled to make a sweet exchange with you, praying my heavenly Father to

render double unto each of your bosoms what you pray for me! May my

dear brother, who, I trust, fills my place among you, be made a blessing to

you all! May his own soul be watered while he waters yours! Join him with

me in your supplications. May he win many souls among you that I could

never win.

This is Thursday evening. I trust you are at this moment met together in

the prayer-meeting. Oh! do not forsake the assembling of yourselves

together. My heart is with you all. May the Spirit fill the whole church and

every heart with his presence and power. My body is still far from being

strong. I am more and more convinced that I did right in leaving you. I trust

to be restored to you again in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of

Christ. “The will of the Lord be done.”

My dear brother who is with me, whom you know well, and who daily

joins me in fervent prayers for you, sends his salutations. Remember me to

all who are sick and afflicted. Alas! how many of you may be labouring and

heavy laden, that I know not of; but Jesus knows your sorrows. I commend

you to the good Physician.

My dear classes, I do not, and cannot forget. Psalm 119 9

verse, I pray

may be written in your hearts.

My dear children in the Sabbath schools I always think upon on the

Sabbath evenings, and on those who patiently labour among them. The

Lord himself give you encouragement, and a full reward.

To all I say, keep close to Christ, dear friends. Do not be enticed away

from Him; He is all your righteousness, and all mine; out of Him you have

all your strength, and I mine. It pleased the Father that in Him should all

fulness dwell.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Farewell.

TENTH PASTORAL LETTER

Incidents of the way in Palestine and other lands—Request

BRESLAU, IN PRUSSIA, October 16, 1839.

To my dear flock, whom I love in the Lord Jesus, grace, mercy, and

peace, be multiplied from God the Father, and from his Son Jesus Christ.

I fear that many of you will be thinking hardly of your distant pastor,

because of his long silence; and, indeed, I cannot but think hardly of myself.

I little thought, when leaving Italy, that I would be in Europe again before

writing to you. I did not know how difficult it is to write at any length when

travelling in the East. From the day we left Egypt till we came to Mount

Lebanon, for more than two months, we were constantly journeying from

place to place, living in tents, without the luxury of a chair or a bed. In these

circumstances, with my weak body, and under a burning sun, you must not

wonder at my silence. At the foot of Mount Carmel I began one letter to

you, and again in sight of the Sea of Galilee I began another, but neither did

I get finished. Last of all, before leaving the Holy Land, I set apart a day for

writing to you; but God had another lesson for me to learn. He laid me

down under a burning fever, bringing me to the very gates of death. Indeed,

my dear people, I feel like Lazarus, whom the Lord Jesus raised from the

tomb. I feel like one sent a second time with the message of salvation, to

speak it more feelingly and more faithfully to your hearts, as one whose eye

had looked into the eternal world. In all our wanderings, you have been

with me by night and by day. Every scene of Immanuel’s land brought you

to my remembrance, because every scene tells of Jesus Christ and Him

crucified. In the wilderness,—in Jerusalem,—beside the Sea of Galilee,—at

Smyrna,—on the Black Sea,—on the Danube,—you have been all with me.

I have, day and night, unceasingly laid your case before God. It has been

one of my chief comforts, that, though I could not preach to you, nor come

to you, I could yet pray for you. Perhaps I may obtain more for you in this

way, than I could have done by my personal services among you. Another

joy to me has been, that I know all of you who pray, pray for me. This has

been a lamp to me in many a dark hour. God has wonderfully preserved us

through your prayers. In the south of the Holy Land, we were daily exposed

to the plague. Every night we heard the wail of the mourners going about

the streets of Jerusalem; yet no plague came near our dwelling. Near the Sea

of Galilee we were often in danger of being robbed and murdered by the

wild Arabs; yet we passed unhurt through the midst of them. Sailing to

Smyrna, your pastor was brought low indeed, insomuch that I never thought

to see you again; yet He sent his word and healed me. In Poland, the

Sabbath before last, I was actually in the hands of robbers; but through

God’s wonderful mercy, I escaped safe. In every step of our journey, I am

persuaded we have been watched over by our all-loving Father, who is the

hearer of prayer! And the Lord shall deliver us from every evil work, and

will preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom. I speak of these things only

that you may give Him the glory, and trust in Him to your dying day. Sing

Psalm 116 in all your families. Another joy to me has been, that God has

given you the dear brother who watches over you so tenderly. You know not

what joy it gave me to hear of you all through him. The letter reached me at

Smyrna, when I was so weak that I could not walk alone. It was like health

and marrow to my bones, to hear that the Lord’s work is not yet done in the

midst of you, and that so many of you stand fast in the Lord, having your

conversation in heaven. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children

walk in the truth. It is not like common joy. All joys of this world are short

and fading,—they reach not beyond the dark boundary of the grave; but to

rejoice over those whom the Lord has given me out of a perishing world—

this is joy which God himself shares, and which reaches into the light of

eternity. Ye are my joy and crown. In like manner, there is no sorrow like

the sorrow of the pastor, who has to weep over a backsliding people. I do

tremble to return to you, for I know well I shall have deep sorrow from

some of whom I expected joy. I fear lest I have to mourn over some

branches that are without fruit, on the good vine-tree; over some, who once

gave their hand to the Saviour, but are now saying, “I will go after my

lovers.” Are there none of you who have left your first love, and broken the

bands that bound you to follow Jesus? Shall I find none of whom I must

needs say, “They went out from us, but they were not of us?” Oh, there is

no sorrow like unto this sorrow. Had I been able, as I hoped, to have written

you from all the chief places in our journeyings, I would have attempted to

describe to you all I saw; but now there are so many countries to look back

upon, that it would be vain to attempt it. I do hope, that if the Lord bring us

together again, I may be able to tell you many things of our wanderings, and

especially of Immanuel’s land, which may both refresh and improve you.

Nothing that I have heard I keep back from you, if only it be for your soul’s

good and God’s glory. Of the Holy Land, I can only say, like the Queen of

Sheba, “that the half was not told me.” It is far more wonderful than I could

have believed. I shall always reckon it one of the greatest temporal

blessings of my lot, that I have been led to wander over its mountains with

the Bible in my hand, to sit by its wells, and to meditate among its ruined

cities. Not a single day did we spend there without reading, in the land

itself, the most wonderful traces of God’s anger and of his love. Several

times we went to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to the

Pool of Siloam, and to the village of Bethany, and every stone seemed to

speak of the love of God to sinners. These places are probably very little

altered from what they were in the days when Jesus tabernacled among

men, and they all seemed to say, “Hereby perceive we the love of God,

because He laid down his life for us.” We were four days in sight of the Sea

of Galilee. I could not help thinking of you, my dear young people, for we

used to go over the Sea of Galilee so often on the Monday evenings, and all

the scenes of divine love it has been witness to. One day we rode through

the plain of Gennesareth, and passed the mouldering ruins of Capernaum,

the Saviour’s city, where his voice of mercy was so often heard, and where

his hand was so often stretched out to heal. We asked in vain for Chorazin

and Bethsaida. The woe which Jesus pronounced has fallen upon them.

Oh my dear flock, “how shall you escape if you neglect so great

salvation?” See how desolate they are left, that refuse Him that speaketh

from heaven. The free offer of a Divine Surety rings through your churches,

now that God continues faithful teachers among you. Every Sabbath, and

oftener, the fountain for sin is publicly opened for you, and souls, all defiled

with sin, are invited to come and wash. But these mercies will not always

last.

If you tread the glorious gospel of the grace of God under your feet,

your souls will perish; and I fear Dundee will one day be a howling

wilderness like Capernaum. I spent nearly the whole of August, during my

illness in Bouja, a village near Smyrna, under the care of tenderest friends,

whom the Lord wonderfully provided for me in a strange land. You

remember Smyrna is one of the Seven Churches in Asia to which the

Saviour sent those quickening messages in the Revelation of St John. I

thought again and again of the happy Thursday evenings which I once spent

with you in meditating on these seven epistles to the churches. You know it

is said of Samuel, even when he was a child, that God did not let one of his

words fall to the ground; and the same is true to this hour of the very

weakest of God’s faithful ministers. What we have spoken to you is not like

the passing wind, which hurries on and leaves no trace behind. It is like the

rain and snow—it will not return to God without accomplishing some end

in your hearts, either melting or hardening. Smyrna is the only one of these

churches where a pure golden candlestick is now to be found with the light

burning. There is a small company who believe in Jesus. It was pleasant

indeed to hear the gospel preached there in all its purity and power. Be you

also faithful to death, and you shall receive a crown of life. Leaving

Smyrna, we sailed past Troas and Bithynia, and visited Constantinople, the

most beautiful city in the world, and yet the most miserable. Looking round

from the deck of the vessel, I could count above ninety minarets, many of

them pure marble, carved and gilded in the richest manner. These all form

part of mosques, or temples of the false prophet Mahomet. This religion is a

singular invention of Satan; their Koran, or Bible, is a book filled with

nonsense, and with much wickedness. All their belief is comprehended in

the short saying, “Lo Ullah il Allah, a Mahomed Rasal Allah”—“There is

no God but God, and Mahomet is his prophet.” They expect to be saved

chiefly by making pilgrimages to Mecca, by abstaining from wine and pork,

and by praying five times a day. Every day, at sunrise or sunset, we saw

them at prayer; wherever they are, in the open street, on the top of the

house, or on the deck of a ship, they take off their shoes, wash hands, face,

and feet, spread their garment before them, and turning their face towards

Mecca, pray, bending and kissing the ground, often fifteen and twenty

times. They are rather pleased if you look at them. They are very proud of

their own faith, and will not listen for a moment to the gospel of Jesus. It

would be instant banishment or death if any missionary were to attempt

their conversion. Ah! my dear flock, how differently you are situated! How

freely salvation is offered to you—a faith that really saves you from your

sins—that makes you love one another! For love is of God, and every one

that loveth is born of God. If you are not growing humble and loving, be

sure your faith is no better than a Mahometan’s. You are not of God, but of

the world. The next countries we visited were Wallachia and Moldavia. We

sailed to them from Constantinople, across the raging waves of the Black

Sea, and up the mighty river Danube. These are two singular countries,

seldom visited by travellers; they are governed by two princes, and the

established religion is of the Greek Church. I wish I could show you all that

I have seen of the superstitions and wickedness practised among them, that

you might give more earnest heed to the pure gospel that flows as freely as

air and water through our beloved land. One day, in Bucharest, the capital

city of Wallachia, I was present at a festival on the prince’s birth-day. An

immense crowd was present in their finest church, and all the nobles of the

land. The service consisted of prayers and chanting by a number of priests,

dressed in the most splendid manner. When all was over, I stayed behind to

see a curious superstition. At one side of the altar lay an open coffin, highly

ornamented; within I observed a dead body wrapped in cloth of gold; a dead

withered hand alone was left out. This is said to be the body of St

Demetrius, lately found in a river, by the water parting asunder

miraculously. Such is the tale we are told. I stood beside it when the

worshippers approached the coffin in great numbers, men and women, rich

and poor. First they crossed themselves and kneeled, kissing the floor three

times. Then they approached reverently, and kissed the withered hand of the

dead body, and a cross that lay beside it. Then they gently dropped a small

coin into a little plate at the dead man’s feet, and after receiving a blessing

from the priest, with three prostrations more to the ground, they retired.

This is one specimen of their abominable worship of dead men. Do I tell

you these things that you may be proud of your superior light? Ah! no. I

write these things, that those of you who live no better lives than they do,

may be convinced of your danger. What can you expect of these poor

idolaters, but that they will live after the flesh, in rioting and drunkenness,

in chambering and wantonness, in strife and envying? But are there none of

you, my dear flock, for whom night and day my prayers ascend—are there

none of you who do the same things, though you have the holy Bible, and a

freely preached gospel, and no superstition? Yet how many of you live an

unholy life! Ah! remember Sardis: “I know thy works, that thou hast a name

that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which

remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before

God.” The next kingdom we came through was Austrian Poland—the land

of graven images. We came through its chief towns, Tarnapole, Brody,

Lemburg, and from thence to Cracow, travelling many hundred miles. You

would be amazed, as I have been, if you saw the abominable idolatry of this

land. The Roman Catholic is the established faith; and the Government are

bitter persecutors of any who change. At every village there are numbers of

crosses, of immense size, with the image of the Saviour. There are also

statues of the Virgin Mary, and of other saints as large as life, all along the

roads. Often there are wooden boxes set up full of images; often in the

middle of a square there is a small covered chamber full of these idols, of

wood and stone, whom the poor people worship every day. The Bible is an

unlawful book in this country. All our Bibles were taken away from us,

even our Hebrew ones, that we might not preach to the Jews the glad tidings

of a Saviour. Blessed be God, they could not take them from our memories

and hearts. Should not this make you all pray for the coming of the day

when the towers of Popery shall fall—the day when God shall avenge us on

her? For the Bible which she hates so much says, “Her plagues shall come

in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly

burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” Pray for that

day, for it will be the same day when God will bind up the breach of his

people Israel, and shall heal the stroke of their wound. It will be the day

when the Lamb’s wife shall come forth in all her loveliness, and when the

Lord Jesus shall wear the crown of his espousals.

I began this letter to you in Cracow, the ancient capital of Poland, but

now an independent state. We spent three days there inquiring after the poor

despised Jews. We had much intercourse with a faithful, prayerful

missionary, who labours among them there; and on the Sabbath we

celebrated the Lord’s Supper. During the four years he has been in Cracow,

the missionary had never once enjoyed the ordinance, for all around are

sunk in Popery or infidelity. We were but five souls in all, and yet we felt it

very pleasant, when surrounded with them that hated us, and far from our

homes, with the door of the chamber shut, to remember Jesus. My thoughts

and desires were much towards you. I had greatly hoped to be present at

your next Lord’s Supper, but now I see it cannot be. My only comfort is, I

have committed you to those who are beloved of the Lord, workmen that

need not to be ashamed, whose names are in the Book of Life; and the chief

Shepherd, I feel persuaded, will not leave you orphans, but will come to

you, and breathe upon you. May the Lord keep back from the table all who

are not united to Christ; and may you, who are his own children, have

communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Since yesterday morning we have travelled 180 miles nearer home. We

are now in Breslau, and we breathe more freely, for this is the Protestant

kingdom of Prussia. It makes my heart light to think that I am really on my

way to you. It has been a sweet work indeed to me to carry, with poor

stammering lips, the word of salvation to the scattered sheep of the house of

Israel; still, I do long, if it be the Lord’s will, to feed once more the flock

that was given me in the dew of my youth. Whether I shall be permitted,

and how long, to take up so great a work again, my Master only knows; but

if you wish for it as fervently as I do, solemnly agree, in the presence of

God, on the night on which this letter is read to you, to these two things,—

, Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that it would

please Him to forgive and forget our past sins and shortcomings,—mine in

carrying the message, yours in receiving it; and that He would really heal

my body, and strengthen my soul, for again uptaking the blessed work of

the gospel ministry among you, and that He would grant us a prosperous

journey to come unto you. 2d, Solemnly agree, in the strength of the Lord

Jesus, to break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by

showing mercy to the poor. The sin of one Achan troubled the whole camp

of Israel. If any one of you who are God’s children wilfully continue in

some old sin, then it may be God’s will, for your sake, to trouble our camp,

and continue his chastening. See that no fleshly lust—no covetousness,

which is idolatry—no hankering after the world and its unholy pleasures—

no unlawful affection—be reigning in you. Clean out the old leaven from all

your houses, so that we may meet again in peace, and be refreshed together

by days of the Lord’s presence, and of the Spirit’s power, such as we have

never seen before. This is the hearty desire and prayer of your affectionate

pastor, etc.

TO REV. JOHN ROXBURGH, OF ST JOHN’S, DUNDEE

The Holy Land

JERUSALEM, June 17, 1839.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I am sure you will be glad to hear from your brother

in the ministry, in this land trodden by the feet of “God manifest in the

flesh.” My thoughts wander continually to the spot where God first counted

me faithful, putting me into the ministry; where, for two years, He made me

a happy minister of the gospel, and where I believe I have many praying

friends who will not forget me so long as I live. In these sweet

remembrances—whether in the vales of Italy, or on the mighty waters, or in

the waste howling wilderness, or in this land of promise—you and your

family have their constant place. I doubt not also that you often think and

talk of me. When some Church Extension expedition has turned out well,

you will say, “What would our travelling friend say to this?” Or when the

liberties of our church are infringed, and the arm of unhallowed power is

raised against her, you perhaps think a moment, “How will our traveller

bear this!” I am thankful to Him who dwelt in the bush that we are all here

in safety, and I myself in moderate health, quite able to endure the fatigues

of travelling, although these have been very great. You would hear of our

swift journey through France, and our pleasant stay in Italy. Malta was the

next place of interest we came to. It is a very lovely island, having customs

from every nation almost under heaven. It is highly important as a centre of

missionary operations, having a printing press, and some useful, excellent

men employed. In riding round its rocky shore, we looked on every creek

with interest, remembering Paul’s shipwreck here, and his three months’

stay in the island. The atmosphere is truly pleasant, and the sky has a

peculiarly fine tinge of yellowish red. We had a pleasant sail past Greece,

and among the wonderful islands of the Ægean Sea. We landed on one

called Syra, and saw the mission actively engaged, 600 Greek children

reading God’s word in Greek. The same evening we sailed between Naxos

and Paros, where the beautiful marble was found, and stretched our eyes to

see Patmos, where the beloved John wrote the Revelation. We could only

see the waves that washed its shore. We passed Crete, and read the Epistle

to Titus with a new interest; and the next day at four (13

May) sailed into

the harbour of Alexandria. The costumes of the East are very striking to the

eye at first. The turban, the beard, the hyke or immense plaid, the wide Arab

trousers, the black visages and legs of the men, quite arrest the attention.

The close veil, the forehead ornaments, the car-rings, the anklets, the burden

carried on the head, the children carried on the shoulder, or on the side,—all

these in the women are striking, especially at first. They will recall to you

many of the words of the prophets. The plague having broken out at

Alexandria the day we arrived, we were prevented from going up to Cairo;

and after having visited the Jews in the synagogues, we determined on

proceeding through the desert for the Holy Land, that we might escape

quarantine. We left Alexandria on the 14

May, and reached Jerusalem on

the 7

June. We were about twenty-two days living after the manner of

Bedouins in the wilderness.

Mount Carmel, 24

June 1839.—I thought to have got this letter

finished in Jerusalem; but we were hurried away so unexpectedly in

consequence of a considerable increase of the plague in the Holy City then,

that I had to leave this and many other things undone. You will see by the

date that we are now beside that mountain where God did such wonders in

the days of Elijah. We are encamped in our tents within a few yards of the

sea. I am now writing upon a mat on the sand. The thermometer is

somewhere about 80°, and I am writing with my desk on my knee. For the

sake of distinctness, I will take up the thread of our story where I last left it

off. Our journey through the desert was a very trying one in many ways. I

now understand the meaning of the text which says, “God led the Israelites

through the wilderness to try them, and prove them, and make them know

what was in their hearts.” The loneliness is very great. The utter silence of

all the world to you,—the want of every necessary except what you carry

along with you,—all these try the soul in a way you can hardly imagine,

whether we will cast all our care upon God or no. The first part of the desert

journey we went upon asses; but the second and longest part upon camels—

a mode of journeying of all others the most fatiguing. I have thought a

hundred times what a singular picture it would make, to draw our company

riding through the desert, exalted to the giddy height of the hunch of the

camel. I have often thought also, more seriously and properly, how plainly

God heard the prayers of all our dear friends in preserving us from many

dangers. It is quite a miracle that I was enabled to bear the fatigue of being

up before sunrise, and sailing over that burning wilderness, often twelve

hours a day. We came the nearest way from Egypt, alluded to in Exod.

13:17, and had opportunity of seeing Rosetta and Damietta, two curious

Egyptian towns. We sailed across a lake called Menzaleh, and encamped

one night beside the ruins of the ancient Zoan. Amid these we could plainly

trace the finger of God in the fulfilment of the words in Ezek. 30:14: “I will

set fire in Zoan.” At El Arish, the last town of Egypt, we clearly traced what

we believed to be the river of Egypt, so often spoken of as the boundary of

Judah. Like all the streams in the south, it is perfectly dry; but the water-

course was very evident. By the way, this suggests the meaning of a text

which I never understood before, Ps. 126: “Turn our captivity as the streams

in the south.” In the whole of the south part of Canaan the streams dry up in

the summer. I think we only came upon one flowing stream between the

Nile and Jerusalem. In the winter God restores these streams, supplying

them with abundance of water. Now this is the very prayer of the Psalmist:

“Do for our brethren in captivity what Thou doest for the streams in the

south. Restore them in all their life, and fulness, and beauty.” So may it be

in all our parishes in all our beloved Scotland,—never so lovely or desirable

as when we are far from it, and from its pleasant Sabbaths. I must tell you

now about Jerusalem. It is indeed the most wonderful place I was ever in.

We reached it about twelve o’clock, under a burning sun. The bleak rocky

hills over which we crossed were like a heated oven; but all was forgotten

when the city of the Great King came in sight. “Your house is left unto you

desolate.” That word was upon every tongue. Almost every approach to

Jerusalem gives you this desolate feeling; but when you stay there, and

wander down into its deep valleys, or climb its terraced hills, or sit beside

shady Siloam, whose waters flow softly, or meditate on Mount Zion,

ploughed like a field, the whole current of your feelings is made to flow,

and Jerusalem presents the remains of departed beauty such as you seek for

in vain in any other land. The scene which might seem of greatest interest in

Jerusalem is Calvary, where the Son of God died. But God has so willed it

that nothing but pain and disappointment follow the inquirer after the spot

where the blood flowed which cleanses from all sin. You know there is a

great church built over the place. The hole made by the cross is enclosed in

a star of gold; and a marble slab covers what they call the sepulchre. They

tell you so many heinous falsehoods, that we were all inclined to doubt the

whole matter. The place in Jerusalem is now within the walls, instead of

“without the gate.” There is no mount, no garden,—nothing to remind you

of that day of awful interest Gethsemane makes up in interest all that we

want in Calvary. The very place remains, and by its simplicity convinces the

mind that it was the spot that Jesus loved. Above you, on the opposite side

of Kedron, the high steep brow of Moriah rises; then the wall of the city;

and above it the Mosque of Omar, which stands on the site of God’s holy

temple. The road to Bethany passes in front of the garden. The path up the

Mount of Olives forms another boundary. It is enclosed with old stone walls

like all the walls of Judea, of rude stones, without any cement. Eight very

old olives, of a thousand years at least, stand as monuments in the place. It

is a sweet and sacred spot; and you will not wonder that we were often

drawn to visit it, and to pray on the very spot where Jesus sweated great

drops of blood. The Mount of Olives is a hill of which you never weary. As

you ascend it from Gethsemane, every step gives you a new prospect. We

turned round again and again to look upon Jerusalem. Jeremiah says, “From

the daughter of Zion all beauty is departed.” And I believe, if we had seen

“the perfection of beauty” in the day of its glory, we would say the same.

Still from the Mount of Olives it is most beautiful. You see “the mountains

all standing round about Jerusalem.” The whiteness of the buildings gives it

a dazzling appearance. The deep valleys on every side are very remarkable.

On the north, a rising tower marks Ramah, where Samuel was born; and on

the south, the eye fixes on Herodion, a conical hill beside Bethlehem. When

you come to the top of Olivet, you look to the east, and the Dead Sea seems

to be stretched at your feet. The mountains of Moab look quite near; and

you try to find out Pisgah, where Moses enjoyed his view of the good land.

Bethany appears upon the east side of a declivity near you,—a pleasant

village. Twice we wandered out as far as Bethany. It was pleasant indeed to

sit under its spreading fig-trees, and to read over John 11. Returning by the

Jericho road, we stopt at the spot where Jesus wept over the city. It is the

place where you “come near and behold the city,” at the descent of the

Mount of Olives. After full consideration, I believe it to be the very spot.

Zion is literally ploughed like a field. I have brought with me some barley

that I found growing on its summit. Jerusalem is become heaps. The heaps

of ruins within the city are amazing; in some parts they are higher than the

walls. “The mountain of the house is like the high places of the forest.”

Mount Moriah has now two Turkish mosques upon it. Aceldama is a

peaceful spot, overhanging the pleasant valley of Hinnom, once the scene of

hideous rites. The plague was very severe in the city during our stay there,

which prevented us from having that close intercourse with the inhabitants,

and especially with the Jews, which was so desirable. Mr Nicolayson, the

English missionary, acted towards us like a brother. He lodged us in one of

the mission houses upon Mount Zion, and gave us opportunity of preaching

and of receiving the Lord’s Supper. It was truly pleasant to eat of that bread

and drink of that cup in an Upper Room in Jerusalem. There are about 5000

Jews in Jerusalem, very poor and very divided among themselves, looked

down upon as dogs by the Moslems; still they bear in their faces and

manners the proof that the land is their own. They are entirely supported by

contributions from Europe. They devote themselves to the study of the Law

and the Talmud. I had an interesting meeting with one Jew at the large

stones, the only remains of God’s temple. He was sitting praying, and

looking very sad. I asked him what he was reading. He showed me; it was

Psalm 22 in Hebrew. I took it up and read it over to him. He said he

understood it, and that it applied to David. I showed him that could not be,

for David was never pierced in hands and feet. I shortly explained to him

the gospel, and showed him the only way of forgiveness. He looked very

sad sitting on the ground.

I must hurry on. We visited Hebron, and had an interesting meeting

with the Jews there. It is a delightful place. We visited Bethlehem on our

return. It is curious that almost all the inhabitants of Bethlehem are

Christians, that is, Greeks and Catholics. We left Jerusalem on the 18

instant, and proceeded north by Ramah, Gibeon, Bethel, Sychar, Samaria, to

Carmel. I cannot tell you the delightful and solemn feelings with which we

traverse this land of promise. The fulfilment of prophecy is everywhere

remarkable. At Sychar we tried to find out the well where Jesus sat wearied.

Mr Bonar found it, and let his Bible fall into it. He could not get it again,

“for the well is deep.” Ebal on the north, a frowning rocky hill. Gerizzim is

also precipitous, but smiles with verdant gardens. Sychar is a beautiful

place. We spent a most interesting morning among the Jews and Samaritans,

saw both their synagogues, and reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,

proving that Jesus is the Christ. Oh that the Saviour would do as He did

before in this place,—say plainly, “I that speak unto thee am He!” When we

meet, if that be the will of God, I shall have many descriptions to give you

of the scenes of this land. It has far surpassed all my expectations. We

arrived at Carmel on Saturday, and are now in quarantine. We and all our

clothes were yesterday bathed in the sea. In consequence of undergoing this

process our quarantine is seven days shorter; and on Monday next we hope

to proceed to Tiberias and Saphet, the only places of importance for Jews,

except Tyre and Sidon, which we shall visit on our way to Beyrout. We are

sorry that so much of our time is taken up; but we have gone as quickly as

possible in the circumstances. We are all in good health. I suffer

occasionally from my heart, but much less than I used. I do hope, if it be the

will of my Master, that I may yet again serve Him in the gospel of his Son.

This is a delicious climate. I have heard once from home. I am thankful to

hear of the peace and grace given to my people on our communion-day.

Dear people, may the great Shepherd feed them! I was happy to hear of Dr

Chalmers’ success. Dismayed at the decision of the Lord Chancellor; but

“Jehovah nissi,”—the Lord is our banner. My kindest regards to Mrs R., and

to the brethren that ask for me. I often pray most humbly for all, even my

enemies.—Yours ever, etc.

TO REV. R. MACDONALD OF BLAIRGOWRIE

The Holy Land

MOUNT CARMEL, June 26, 1839.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I wrote to you from the land of Egypt, and now from

the Land of Promise. I would have written from Jerusalem; but our

departure was so hurried, owing to an increase of the awful disease of

plague, that I could not accomplish it. Indeed, I thought it would be more

for the pleasure and advantage of all my friends if I spent my time in fully

seeing the wonders of the city of the Great King. It is all deeply graven on

my memory and my heart. The first sight of Jerusalem made my heart sink

within me, it was so desolate; the walls appeared so low, so dark, so poor.

But better acquaintance with its deep valleys and singular hills, its trees and

fountains, has made it appear one of the loveliest spots Jesus visited. There

is a holy beauty about Jerusalem; for you cannot walk a step without

remembering the scenes that have passed there, and without looking

forward to a time when it will again become the joy of the whole earth. You

will be glad to know that I have stood all our great fatigues wonderfully,

and even without being the worse of them, but rather the better. I may

almost say I feel that God has been answering the continued prayer of those

that love me; still I am not yet what I was, though I hope to be. All my

companions had the privilege of preaching in Jerusalem. I felt that it was

kept from me; but that it was overflowing goodness that gave us to receive

the broken bread and poured out wine in an Upper Chamber, where Jesus

first instituted it. I wish I could recount to you all that we have seen with

our eyes, so as to make you almost see it all over again. Joy is increased by

spreading it to others. Thus Christ’s joy and glory are increased by making

us partakers of it. Our life in the wilderness was a singular one. Since the

day I wrote you we have never known the luxury of a bed. We spread our

mats upon the sand, and God watches over us, when we are under the cover

of our frail tent, as much as if we were within brazen gates and bars. We

often hear the cry of the wolves at night, and there are many lynxes and

hyenas in this very mountain; but God keeps us safely. The burning heat of

the desert, the long fatiguing journeys,—sometimes twelve hours or

fourteen in the day upon a camel,—the insatiable thirst, and our weakness,

were very trying to our faith and to our temper; it proved us, and made us

know what was in our heart. Ah! dear friend, wherever we journey, union to

Jesus, and holiness from his Spirit flowing into us, is our chief and only

happiness. Never cease to show your people that to be holy is to be happy;

and that to bring us to perfect holiness and likeness to God, was the very

end for which Christ died. We entered the land of the Philistines 1

of June.

You know the prophets say that the sea-coast there is to be “cottages for

shepherds and folds for flocks,” Zeph. 2:6. It is really so. You cannot

imagine a country more completely covered with flocks and herds,—camels

and asses, and oxen and sheep and goats. The inhabitants are Arabs,—a

poor and ignorant race of men. How often we have wished for the Arabian

tongue, to preach to them the unsearchable riches of Christ! We passed like

the spies through the valley of Eshcol. We came to a small Arab town, Bet-

hanoon. For illustration I will draw it. This will give you an idea of all Arab

towns. Every roof is flat; so that the people sit there, pray there, dry their

corn and sift it there. There are no vines in Eshcol now, but immense

bunches of grapes are still produced in some places of the Holy Land. The

trees around the village are figs,—a beautiful dark-green tree. We are now

tasting the first ripe figs, which are, like Jeremiah’s, very good. We crossed

the brook Sorek—quite dry; indeed, I think we only met with one flowing

stream between the desert and Jerusalem. The streams in the south are all

dry in the summer (see Psalm 126). We slept that night beside a small town,

which we take to be Eshtaol, near which Samson was born. We saw there

the brown tents of some Bedouin Arabs, illustrating Song 1—the brown

tents of Kedar. This was in the tribe of Dan. Next day we went due east,

across the vast plain Sephela, where Asa fought his battle, 2 Chron. 14, till

we entered among the lovely hills of Judah. A wonderful fulfilment of

God’s word was pressed on our attention all that day. The quantities of

weeds in the plains are quite remarkable, and all of them are of a briery,

prickly nature. I counted eleven different kinds of thistle, some of them of

gigantic size. In a field where barley had been sown, there were more of

these thorns and briers than of the barley. Now turn to Isaiah 32:13: “Upon

the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers;” and see how long

(ver. 15), “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high.” Indeed, every

mountain and valley of this land is a witness for God, speaking silently but

mightily, declaring that God’s word abideth for ever.

We arrived at Jerusalem on 7

June, and lighted off our camels within

the Jaffa gate. The first thing that struck me was the quantity of various

heaps.—(See Micah 3:12.) It was two or three days before we recovered our

fatigues. The first time we went out was to the two pools of Gihon; the

upper pool still contains water.

Again we went to Mount Olivet. Winding round the noble walls at

Jerusalem, Mount Olivet appears with its softly rounded triple point. It is a

beautiful hill of very great extent. It is composed of a pure white limestone,

which appears in many places, and gives the whole a whitish appearance.

Fine old olives adorn it on every side; fig-trees here and there, and

pomegranates, with their beautiful deep-red flowers. A monastery and a

mosque are on the top, and three or four small towers on different points of

it. Crops of barley may be discerned here and there. It is altogether a

pleasant hill. Between you and it lies the deep valley of Jehoshaphat. The

bed of the Kedron, quite dry, forms the lowest part. Going along by the east

wall of Jerusalem till you are nearly opposite the place where the temple

stood (now the Mosque of Omar), you then descend the steep bank of

Moriah to the Kedron. A small bridge now helps you to cross. Here David

went flying from Absalom barefooted. Here Jesus used to cross going to

Gethsemane or to Bethany. The path before you leads right up the steepest

part of Mount Olivet. It is a pleasant path. Turning every now and then, you

see Jerusalem in all its faded glory,—minarets and cupolas lying beneath

you. Another path winds upwards round the hill to Bethany—the sweet

village of Martha and Mary—two miles off. The little nook between these

two paths forms all that remains of Gethsemane. It is a pleasant spot. No

one that knows the Saviour can visit it and look upon its eight old olive-

trees without feeling drawn to it. We tried to pray there, where Jesus

sweated blood for us. It was sweet to intercede for you and all we love in

that sacred spot. Another favourite spot was the fountain of Siloam, farther

down the valley of Jehoshaphat. It flows so softly from under the temple,

that you cannot hear the ripple of its waters. You descend a great many

steps in the rock, and drink its delightful waters. I send you a small hymn

on the other side, which will imprint it on your memory. The valley of

Hinnom is a deep gorge or vale to the south of Jerusalem. Mount Zion is

actually ploughed like a field. It descends steeply into Hinnom, which again

has a rocky barrier on the opposite side. Aceldama is a fearful spot above.

We left Jerusalem on 18

June, and arrived here on the 21

. Many a

pleasant scene we saw between. It is a delightsome land. One only I can

mention—Sychar. It was a sweet evening when we entered the valley made

by Ebal, a gloomy barren hill, and Gerizzim, a rocky hill, but garnished

with gardens. The town lies beautiful between, keeping nearer to Gerizzim.

The next morning we visited the synagogue. A. B. was in time for the

service at six o’clock. He had very interesting discussions with several of

the Jews, all carried on in Hebrew. You may believe we are not very fluent

in the holy tongue, and yet it is wonderful how we get on. We visited the

Samaritans also, and, after taking off our shoes, we were admitted into their

synagogue to see the MS. of the Pentateuch, 3600 years old. Andrew alone

found out the well where Jesus sat, and dropped his Bible in by accident.

The Jews here are far kinder and pleasanter than in Europe. They wear a

beautiful dress. They are much fairer in colour than the Arabs, and every

way a more noble people; and then, when you look your Bible, and see the

promises that are waiting to be fulfilled to them, how does the heart fill

towards them! God will yet gather them one by one. Pray still for their in-

bringing. It is not easy to pray really for Israel; it needs you to have much of

the peculiar mind of God. The same evening we visited Samaria, about six

or eight miles north of Sychar. It is now a poor Arab village, but the finger

of God is there. It is a hill surrounded by hills on all sides. Micah 1:6 is the

clearest description of it. It is like an heap of the field. Just as you have seen

the stones gathered out of a field into heaps, such is Samaria. The vast ruins

are all thrown down, and form just heaps in the field. It is as the plantings of

a vineyard. There is but one vine on the whole hill, but it is all terraced and

cleared, just as if it were to be planted with vines. “And I will pour,” etc.

This is wonderfully fulfilled. It filled me with holy awe to look at the heaps

of stones—fragments of pillars all rolling down into the valley. The

foundations are actually discovered. What a monument of the truth of God!

I have only time to commend you to God, and to say, Brother, pray for us.

—Yours ever, etc.

P.S.—Commend me to your true yokefellow, Mr Smith, and to Mr

Gillies, and to Mr Baxter. I cease not to mention all in my prayers, and hope

that they do not forget me. “We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the

beginning of our confidence firm unto the end.”

TO WM. C. BURNS, DUNDEE

Inquiries about the Revival on first coming home

20, HILL STREET, EDINBURGH, 15

November 1839.

MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER,—I last night arrived once more in my

beloved home, conducted through every danger by the unseen hand of our

Father in heaven. I cannot lose a moment in writing you a few lines. It was

not till we arrived in Hamburgh that we heard anything of what has been

doing in our beloved land for the last five months. There we heard only a

rumour that God had visited his people in love, and those also that were Lo-

Ammi. You may believe that it was with a thankful, joyful spirit that we

read of these things. I cannot rest till I hear from you what has been done

among my own dear flock. I do not like to impose a task on you; but if you

have an hour’s leisure, it would be truly gratifying to me to hear from you,

before I come over, a minute account of all that God seems to have wrought

in Dundee during my absence. You remember it was the prayer of my heart

when we parted, that you might be a thousandfold more blessed to the

people than ever my ministry had been. How it will gladden my heart, if

you can really tell me that it has been so! My poor, dear flock, hard-hearted

and stiff-necked as they were, if the Lord has really opened their hearts, and

brought them to a saving knowledge of Christ, and if their hearts and lives

are together changed, I will bless God while I have any being!

The work at Kilsyth seems to be owned by all God’s true servants as

not the work of man, but indeed divine. What a great joy to you and to your

excellent father, to have your labour thus honoured of God! The Lord

preserve you both from all the personal danger to your own souls which

such success exposes you to!

I must not write much, having agreed to preach on Sabbath. I would

often have written you when away; but you know my weakness, and I was

always uncertain as to your movements. Do write me if you have time. Tell

me all the good and all the bad. I know well that when Christ is nearest,

Satan also is busiest. What of my elders?—of my dear established

Christians? What of those who were but lambs? And what of those whom I

left in darkness and in the shadow of death?

The Lord send me good news.

I shall try to be over on Thursday evening next, if I am well, and trust to

join you in praising God together for all his mercy and grace and

faithfulness since we parted. Whether I shall be able to resume the full work

of the ministry again or no, I cannot tell. My heart still beats too much. But

I shall try; and if the Lord shows me that my work in that way is done, I

shall pray for submission.

Do write me speedily, for I weary to hear.

With regard to temporal things, remember I shall expect you honestly to

tell how far your small salary has gone to cover your expenses. And if it has

not covered them, remember I insist on your demanding as much more as

will. The workman is worthy of his hire.

And now the Lord keep you humble and prayerful in secret, and may it

not be needful that you be afflicted as I have been; and may your ministry

be blessed still a thousand times more! With kindest love to all my people,

yours affectionately, etc.

TO MISS COLLIER, DUNDEE

Riches of Christ—resemblance to Him

EDINBURGH, February 26, 1840.

MY DEAR MISS COLLIER,—I am sorry to leave town without seeing you,

but I find myself obliged to do so. A long and interesting meeting of

presbytery took up the greater part of my time. I am delighted to hear that

you are still keeping a little better, and fondly hope the Lord may restore

you to us once more, to help us by your prayers in these trying but glorious

times. I would like to have seen you once again before going back; but I

must just content myself with casting you on the Lord on whom you

believe. Precious friend and unchangeable priest is Christ—sweeter to you

than honey and the honeycomb. How great is the goodness He hath laid up

for them that fear Him! Just as the miser lays up money that he may feast

his eyes upon it, so Christ has laid up unsearchable riches that He may

supply all our need out of them. Unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ

for you. Dive and dive again, you will never come to the bottom of these

depths. How many millions of dazzling pearls and gems are at this moment

hid in the deep recesses of the ocean caves! But there are unsearchable

riches in Christ. Seek more of them. The Lord enrich you with them. I have

always thought it a very pitiful show when great people ornament

themselves with brilliants and diamonds; but it is truest wisdom to adorn the

soul with Christ and his graces. “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a

bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.”

You see my pen runs on, though I fear you will hardly be able to read what I

write. The Lord Jesus give you out of his fulness, and grace for grace. In a

mirror you will observe that every feature of the face is reflected—both the

large and small features. Now our soul should be a mirror of Christ; we

should reflect every feature; for every grace in Christ there should be a

counterpart grace in us. The Lord give you this; then I can ask no more for

you. Your times are in his hand.—Ps. 31. May you have the blessing of

Asher: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

Farewell till we meet. Kindest regards to Miss N. and Mrs Coutts, and

believe me ever yours in lasting bonds, etc.

TO MR J. T. JUST

How to conduct prayer-meetings

March 27, 1840.

MY DEAR JOHN,—I was glad to receive your letter, and am happy to

answer you on the matter in which you apply to me. No person can be a

child of God without living in secret prayer; and no community of

Christians can be in a lively condition without unity in prayer. In Daniel’s

time you see how it was.—(Dan. 2:17, 18.) You see what Jesus said to his

disciples on it (Matt. 18:19), and what a sweet promise of his presence and

a gracious answer He connects with meeting for prayer. You see how it will

be in the latter day (Zech. 8:21), when meetings for prayer, or at least

concerts for prayer, shall be held by different towns. One great rule in

holding them is, that they be really meetings of disciples. If four or five of

you that know the Lord would meet together regularly, you will find that far

more profitable than a meeting open to all. In an open meeting you are apt

to become teachers, and to be proud. In a secret meeting you feel all on a

level, poor and needy, seeking water. If a young man, acquainted with any

of you, becomes concerned about his soul, or a lively Christian is visiting

any of you, these may be admitted; but do not make your meeting more

open.

The prayer-meeting I like best is where there is only praise and prayer,

and the reading of God’s word. There is then least room for frail human

nature to pervert the meeting to an improper end. It is well to read regularly

through a book of Scripture, or at least to fix the chapter the evening before,

that it may be prayed over in secret, before coming to the meeting. If you

only read, then two chapters may be read, and then two members pray at a

meeting. Each member would take his turn. Let there be no presiding of one

over another, for all are brethren. When a godly minister or elder or

experienced Christian is visiting you, he should be invited to take the whole

service.

Many meetings are not contented with merely reading God’s word; they

fix upon some verse or two as matter of conversation, and each one gives

his opinion round. Some take a question of the Shorter Catechism each

evening, and speak on it in the same manner. Some propose cases of

conscience, and how Christians ought to act in different cases. Now, I never

forbid any of these where the members prefer this; still, I must confess I

feel the danger to which they are exposed. You require more grace to be

kept humble and meek and loving, if you engage in this service. You are

exposed to the danger of differing from one another—disputing, seeking

admiration and pre-eminence, to all which you know, dear John, your hearts

are naturally most prone. If you choose any of these, the first appears the

best, that of fixing on a verse or two of the chapter read. But do seek

meekness in speaking together upon it. Meet weekly, at a convenient hour.

Be regular in attendance. Let nothing keep you away from your meeting.

Pray in secret before going. Let your prayers in the meeting be formed as

much as possible upon what you have read in the Bible. You will thus learn

variety of petition, and a Scripture style. Pray that you may pray to God,

and not for the ears of man. Feel his presence more than man’s. Pray for the

outpouring of the Spirit on the church of Christ and for the world; for the

purity and unity of God’s children; for the raising up of godly ministers, and

the blessing of those that are so already. Pray for the conversion of your

friends, of your neighbours, of the whole town. Pray for the sending of the

gospel to the Jews, and to the Gentile nations.

Pride is Satan’s wedge for splitting prayer-meetings to pieces: watch

and pray against it. If you have not the Spirit of God among you, you will

have the spirit of the devil. Watch against seeking to be greater than one

another; watch against lip-religion. Above all, abide in Christ, and He will

abide in you. He is able to keep you from falling, and to make you happy,

holy young men. There is no joy like that of holiness. May Enoch’s

companion be yours.

Write me how you come on, and believe me ever yours affectionately,

etc.

TO A PARISHIONER ON A SICK-BED

How cares and troubles sanctify

March 31, 1840.

DEAR M.,—I may not see you for a little, as I am not strong; and

therefore I send you a line in answer to your letter. I like to hear from you,

and especially when God is revealing himself to your soul. All his doings

are wonderful. It is, indeed, amazing how He makes use of affliction to

make us feel his love more. Your house is, I trust, in some measure like that

house in Bethany of which it is said, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her

sister, and Lazarus.” They had different degrees of grace. One had more

faith, and another more love, still Jesus loved them all. Martha was more

inclined to be worldly than Mary, yet Jesus loved them both. It is a happy

house when Jesus loves all that dwell in it. Surely it is next door to heaven.

The message of Martha and Mary to Christ (John 2:3) teaches you to

carry all your temporal as well as your spiritual troubles to his feet. Leave

them there. Carry one another’s case to Jesus. Is it not a wonderful grace in

God to have given you peace in Christ, before laying you down on your

long sick-bed? It would have been a wearisome lie if you had been an

enemy to God, and then it would have been over hell. Do you feel Rom. 5:3

to be true in your experience? You cannot love trouble for its own sake;

bitter must always be bitter, and pain must always be pain. God knows you

cannot love trouble. Yet for the blessings that it brings, He can make you

pray for it. Does trouble work patience in you? Does it lead you to cling

closer to the Lord Jesus—to hide deeper in the rock? Does it make you “be

still and know that He is God?” Does it make you lie passive in his hand,

and know no will but his? Thus does patience work experience—an

experimental acquaintance with Jesus. Does it bring you a fuller taste of his

sweetness, so that you know whom you have believed? And does this

experience give you a further hope of glory—an other anchor cast within

the veil? And does this hope give you a heart that cannot be ashamed,

because convinced that God has loved you, and will love you to the end?

Ah! then you have got the improvement of trouble, if it has led you thus.

Pray for me still, that I may get the good of all God’s dealings with me.

Lean all on Jesus. Pray for a time of the pouring out of God’s Spirit, that

many more may be saved. I hope the Lord’s work is not done in this place

yet.—Ever your affectionate pastor, etc.

TO A SOUL WHOM HE HAD NEVER SEEN, BUT WHOSE

CASE WAS LAID BEFORE HIM BY A FRIEND

Col. 2:1, 2

Looking out to Jesus

March 20, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I do not even know your name, but I think I know

something of the state of your soul. Your friend has been with me, and told

me a little of your mind; and I write a few lines just to bid you look to Jesus

and live. Look at Num. 21:9, and you will see your disease and your

remedy. You have been bitten by the great serpent. The poison of sin is

through and through your whole heart, but Christ has been lifted up on the

cross that you may look and live. Now, do not look so long and so

harassingly at your own heart and feelings. What will you find there but the

bite of the serpent? You were shapen in iniquity, and the whole of your

natural life has been spent in sin. The more God opens your eyes, the more

you will feel that you are lost in yourself. This is your disease. Now for the

remedy. Look to Christ; for the glorious Son of God so loved lost souls, that

He took on Him a body and died for us—bore our curse, and obeyed the

law in our place. Look to Him and live. You need no preparation, you need

no endeavours, you need no duties, you need no strivings, you only need to

look and live. Look at John 17:3. The way to be saved is to know God’s

heart and the heart of Jesus. To be awakened, you need to know your own

heart. Look in at your own heart, if you wish to know your lost condition.

See the pollution that is there—forgetfulness of God, deadness, insensibility

to his love. If you are judged as you are in yourself, you will be lost. To be

saved, you need to know the heart of God and of Christ. The four Gospels

are a narrative of the heart of Christ. They show his compassion to sinners,

and his glorious work in their stead. If you only knew that heart as it is, you

would lay your weary head with John on his bosom. Do not take up your

time so much with studying your own heart as with studying Christ’s heart.

“For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ!”

Look at Rom. 15:13. That is my prayer for you. You are looking for

peace in striving, or peace in duties, or peace in reforming your mind; but

ah! look at his word. “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in

believing.” All your peace is to be found in believing God’s word about his

Son. If for a moment you forget your own case altogether, and meditate on

the glorious way of salvation by Christ for us, does your bosom never glow

with a ray of peace? Keep that peace; it is joy in believing. Look as straight

to Christ as you sometimes do at the rising or setting sun. Look direct to

Christ.

You fear that your convictions of sin have not been deep enough. This

is no reason for keeping away from Christ. You will never get a truly

broken heart till you are really in Christ.—See Ezek. 36:25–31. Observe the

order: First, God sprinkles clean water on the soul. This represents our

being washed in the blood of Christ. Then He gives “a new heart also.”

Thirdly, He gives a piercing remembrance of past sins. Now, may the Lord

give you all these! May you be brought as you are to the blood of the Lamb!

Washed and justified, may He change your heart—give you a tender heart,

and his Holy Spirit within your heart; and thus may He give you a broken

heart for your past sins.

Look at Rom. 5:19. By the sin of Adam, many were made sinners. We

had no hand in Adam’s sin, and yet the guilt of it comes upon us. We did

not put out our hand to the apple, and yet the sin and misery have been laid

at our door. In the same way, “by the obedience of Christ, many are made

righteous.” Christ is the glorious One who stood for many. His perfect

garment is sufficient to cover you. You had no hand in his obedience. You

were not alive when He came into the world and lived and died; and yet, in

the perfect obedience, you may stand before God righteous. This is all my

covering in the sight of a holy God. I feel infinitely ungodly in myself: in

God’s eye, like a serpent or a toad; and yet, when I stand in Christ alone, I

feel that God sees no sin in me, and loves me freely. The same

righteousness is free to you. It will be as white and clean on your soul as on

mine. Oh, do not sleep another night without it! Only consent to stand in

Christ, not in your poor self.

I must not weary you. One word more. Look at Rev. 22:17. Sweet,

sweet words! “Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” The

last invitation in the Bible, and the freest,—Christ’s parting word to a world

of sinners! Any one that pleases may take this glorious way of salvation.

Can you refuse it? I am sure you cannot. Dear friend, be persuaded by a

fellow-worm not to put off another moment. Behold the Lamb of God, that

taketh away the sins of the world.

You are sitting, like Hagar, within reach of the well. May the Lord open

your eyes, and show you all that is in Christ! I pray for you, that you may

spiritually see Jesus and be glad—that you may go to Him and find rest.

Farewell.—Yours in the Lord, etc.

REV. W. C. BURNS

A minister’s afflictions to be improved

June 10, 1840.

MY DEAR BROTHER,—I am truly thankful that you have been raised up

again—renewed, I trust, both in the inner and outer man. “I will cause you

to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.”

Sweet rod that drives the soul into such a precious resting-place! “I will

visit their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, my loving-kindness I will not

take from him.” This has been the experience of the greater part of my life,

at least of my spiritual life. Remember Edwards’ magnificent resolution:

“Resolved to improve afflictions to the uttermost.” Spread the sail when the

breeze of adversity blows, and let it drive your vessel onwards on its course.

When I was laid aside from the ministry, I felt it was to teach me the

need of prayer for my people. I used often to say, Now God is teaching me

the use of prayer. I thought I would never forget the lesson, yet I fear I am

grown slack again when in the midst of my work.

All these remarks I have transferred to myself, that you may learn in me

the same things. Exhort one another daily. My object in writing now is to

say that I have engaged to be at Collessie next Wednesday, at Alloa on

Thursday, and at Errol on Sabbath week. Now the people here were

disappointed by your not appearing lately; and it would be very gratifying,

if you are not better engaged, if the Lord would direct your steps towards

us. If you would take both Thursday and the Sabbath, it would be pleasant

to me. I have been weakened a little by the hard labours of the Assembly,

but I trust to recruit shortly for our glorious warfare. I feel there are two

things it is impossible to desire with sufficient ardour,—personal holiness,

and the honour of Christ in the salvation of souls.

The Lord give you both more than He has given me, and may He send

you to us, if it be his will. Send me a line quickly, and believe me, ever

yours in sweet bonds, etc.

TO THE REV. DAN. EDWARDS

Before his ordination as missionary to the Jews—What he must seek

DUNDEE, June 15, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—.… The grand matter of study, however, must still be

divinity,—a knowledge of divine things, a spiritual discernment of the way

of pardon for the chief of sinners. I feel that the best of ministers are but

babes in this. Pray for more knowledge of your own heart,—of the total

depravity of it,—of the awful depths of corruption that are there. Pray for

glorious discoveries of Christ,—his person, beauty, work, and peace. But I

need not tell you these things; only I feel persuaded that God will put all

natural and literary qualifications in the dust, if there be not the simple

exhibition of Christ for us in the preaching of our missionaries.—Yours, etc.

TO THE SAME

Holiness and success.

DUNDEE, October 2, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time in

Germany. I know you will apply hard to German; but do not forget the

culture of the inner man,—I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry

officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the

greatest care. Remember you are God’s sword,—his instrument,—I trust a

chosen vessel unto Him to bear his name. In great measure, according to the

purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great

talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an

awful weapon in the hand of God. I am now almost well, but have not yet

got my full strength. We had a sweet night last night, though there was no

external movement. Some waited after; one from St Andrews, awakened

deeply, she knows not how. God is still working here, and I look for far

greater things. I am very anxious to know how I could do more good to

many people and to the whole world; and not to know only, but to do it. It is

our truest happiness to live entirely for the glory of Christ,—to separate

between “I” and “the glory of Christ.” We are always saying, What have I

done?—was it my preaching—my sermon—my influence? whereas we

should be asking, What hath God wrought? Strange mixed beings we are!

How sweet it will be to drop our old man, and be pure as Christ is pure! I

hope you will come and see us again before your departure for your mission

station. The Lord direct all your steps, comfort your heart, and stablish you

in every good word and work to do his will.—Yours, etc.

TO MRS THAIN, HEATH PARK

When invited to rest a while.

DUNDEE, June 1840.

MY DEAR MRS T.,—You know how glad I would be of some such retreat

as Elijah had by the brook of Cherith, where I might learn more of my own

heart, and of my Bible, and of my God, where I might while away the

summer hours in quiet meditation, or talking of his righteousness all the day

long. But it is only said of the dead in the Lord that they rest from their

labours; and I fear I must not think of resting till then. Time is short, my

time especially, and souls are precious; and I fear many are slumbering

because I watch not with sufficient diligence, nor blow the trumpet with

sufficient clearness.

I have to be away so much on business, that I feel I dare not be away on

pleasure only—at least at present. I rather think I must be in Ireland next

week, at the Synod of Ulster, which prevents me coming to Mr

Macdonald’s communion.

There is some request as to another communion in St Peter’s also,

which I shall be glad to see carried into effect, provided it be done with all

the heart of the Lord’s children. In these circumstances, you must not think

me neglectful of your kindness, if I put off my visit to you a little longer.

I trust that you are keeping strong, and able to enjoy the open air, and

that your souls all prosper,—that you have often such times as Jacob had at

Mahanaim, when the angels of God met him,—or such times as that at

Peniel, when God had to cry out, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” Alas,

we do not weary God now with our wrestlings, but with our sins. The dark

clouds gather, and the church and we should all be entering into our

chambers, and shutting our doors upon us. “In that day sing ye unto her a

vineyard of red wine.” His song will be with us in the dark night. May you

and yours be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger! A smile of his can lighten

up a thunder-cloud.

Read Psalm 29 and meditate on the last verse. Live near to God, and so

all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.—

Ever yours, etc.

TO A STRANGER

Intended to lead on one whose face was Zionward, but who was not fully decided.

DUNDEE, July 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I do not even know your name; but your cousin has

been telling me about your case, and wishes me to write you a line inviting

you to lay hold on Jesus Christ, the only refuge for a perishing soul. You

seem to have been thinking seriously of your soul for some time. Do

remember the words of Peter (2 Pet. 1:10), “Give diligence to make your

calling and election sure.” Never rest till you can say what John says (1

John 5:19), “We know that we are of God.” The world always loves to

believe that it is impossible to know that we are converted. If you ask them,

they will say, “I am not sure—I cannot tell;” but the whole Bible declares

we may receive, and know we have received, the forgiveness of sins.—See

Ps. 32:1; 1 John 2:12. Seek this blessedness,—the joy of having

forgiveness; it is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. But where shall I

seek it? In Jesus Christ. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in

his Son.” “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath

not life,” 1 John 5:12. Get deeply acquainted with yourself, your sins and

misery. Most people are like the Laodiceans,—Rev. 3:17. Even those that

are most deeply concerned about their souls do not see the millionth part of

the blackness of their hearts and lives. Oh! if we could but put our sins

where God puts them, Ps. 90:8, how we would cry out, Unclean, unclean!

Woe is me, for I am undone! Have you ever discovered your lost condition?

Many know that they are great sinners; but where God is teaching, He will

make you feel as an undone sinner. Have you felt this? What things were

gain to you, those do you count loss for Christ? Do you know that no

human righteousness can cover you? In his holy, pure sight, all our

righteousnesses are as filthy rags, Isa. 64:6. If you have been convinced of

sin, have you been convinced of righteousness?—John 16:8. Have you

heard the voice of Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? Have you

opened the door and let Him in? Awfully momentous question! Your

eternity depends upon the answer,—yes or no. “He that hath the Son hath

life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life.” Oh, what a simple thing the

gospel is! How fearful to think it is hid from so many!—2 Cor. 4:3, 4. Jesus

stands at your door willing to be your shield,—Ps. 84:9, 11; your

righteousness,—Jer. 33:6; your all in all. Now, then, throw open the door

and let Him in. Accept his white raiment, that you may be clothed. And oh!

remember, if Christ justifies you, He will sanctify you. He will not save you

and leave you in your sins. Why did He get the name Jesus? Matt. 1:21.

Here is a prayer for every one that has been found of Christ: “Order my

steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me,” Ps.

119:133. If you are redeemed, you are not your own—not the world’s—not

Satan’s. Think of this when you are tempted to sin. Now, did I not say well

that you should make your calling and election sure? Oh, beware of being a

hypocrite—a mere professor, with an unholy heart and life. That your sister

is on the road to Zion, I am glad, and pray that you may go hand in hand.

Be diligent; the time is short. Try and persuade your friends to go with you.

It is an awful thing to separate at the throne of Christ, for that will be for

eternity. Pray much for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, to soften your

heart, to make Christ lovely and precious, to come and dwell in your hearts,

and fit you for glory. Come to the living stone, and you will be built up as

living stones, 1 Peter 2:4, 5. Oh how sweet to be made living stones in that

glorious temple! Pray much in secret. Pray for ministers, that we may speak

the word boldly. Christ is doing great things in our day, which should make

us wrestle at a throne of grace. Oh that the Lord, that was pierced with

many thorns, might soon be crowned with many crowns!

Praying that you and your sister may both be saved, I am, your friend in

the gospel, etc.

TO MISS A. S. L.

The person and heart of Jesus—Consolation to believers.

August 16, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I fear I may not be able to see you for a little time,

and therefore think of sending you a few lines to minister a little of the

peace and grace of the Lord Jesus to you. I hear that you are worse in health

than when I saw you; still I have no doubt you can say, “It is well,” “He

doeth all things well.” You remember Jacob said, when they wanted to take

Benjamin away from him, “All these things are against me,” Gen. 42:36.

But in a little while he saw that “all these things were working together for

good to him.” In a little while all his lost children were restored to him, and

he and his seed preserved from famine. So will it be with you. If at any time

unbelief steals over your heart—if you lose sight of Jesus, our Passover

sacrificed for us—if you forget the hand of the all-tender gracious Father of

Jesus and of your soul—you will be crying out, All these things are against

me. But ah! how soon you will find that everything in your history, except

sin, has been for you. Every wave of trouble has been wafting you to the

sunny shores of a sinless eternity. Only believe. Give unlimited credit to our

God.

Think on Jesus when your mind wanders in search of peace; think

where He came from—from the bosom of his Father. He was from the

beginning. He is the life—the life of all that truly live. He is that eternal life

which was with the Father. Let the beams of the divinity of Jesus shine in

upon your soul. Think how He was manifested—God manifest in the flesh

—to be a Surety for sinners. Made sin for us, although He knew no sin,—

made a curse for us. Oh, if I could declare Him unto you, you might have

fellowship with apostles, and with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

These things will we write unto you, that your joy may be full. Other joys

do not fill the heart. But to know the Lord Jesus as our Surety, satisfies the

soul; it brings the soul unto rest under the eye of our pardoning God. I met

the other day with a thought which has filled my heart often since. It is

intended to explain that wonderful verse, John 14:18, I will not leave you

orphans—I will come to you. Jesus, at the right hand of the Father, is yet

present with all his younger brethren and sisters in this vale of weeping. His

human nature is at the right hand of God upon the throne—a lamb as it had

been slain. But his divine nature is unlimited, fills all worlds, and is present

in every dwelling of every disciple in this world. His divine nature thus

brings in continual information to his human heart of everything that is

going on in the heart and history of his people; so that his human heart beats

towards us just as if He were sitting by our side. Hence He cried to Saul,

“Why persecutest thou me?”

Dear friend, do you feel that Jesus is your Surety and Elder Brother?

Then remember that, by reason of his real divinity, He is now by your

bedside, afflicted in all your afflictions, touched with a feeling of your

infirmities, and able to save you to the utter most. He is as really beside you

as He was beside Mary when she sat at his feet. Tell Him all your sorrows,

all your doubts and anxieties. He has a willing ear. Oh, what a friend is

Jesus, the sinner’s friend! What an open ear He has for all the wants,

doubts, difficulties of his people! He has an especial care for his sick,

weakly, and dying disciples. You know how it is with a kind mother, even

though a worldly person. In a time of danger she clasps her children to her

breast. In a time of health she may often let them wander out of her sight,

but in hours of sickness she will watch beside their bed. Much more will

Jesus watch over you.

I trust you feel real desire after complete holiness. This is the truest

mark of being born again. It is a mark that He has made us meet for the

inheritance of the saints in light. If a nobleman were to adopt a beggar boy,

he would not only feed and clothe him, but educate him, and fit him to

move in the sphere into which he was afterwards to be brought; and if you

saw this boy filled with a noble spirit, you would say he is meet to be put

among the children. So may you be made meet for glory. The farmer does

not cut down his corn till it is ripe. So does the Lord Jesus: He first ripens

the soul, then gathers it into his barn. It is far better to be with Christ than to

be in Christ. For you to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Nevertheless, I trust

God will keep you a little longer for our sake, that you may pray for us, and

encourage us to work on in the service of Jesus till our change come. I

began this letter about two weeks ago, and now send it away to you. I was

called very suddenly to Edinburgh, and then sent to the north, and am just

returned again, so that I did not get it sent away. I will try and see you this

week, if it be the will of God. However, you must not be disappointed if I

am prevented. I pray for you, that according as your day is, so your strength

may be. Keep your eye upon Jesus and the unsearchable riches that are in

Him; and may the gentle Comforter fill your soul, and give you a sweet

foretaste of the glory that is to follow May He leave his deep eternal

impress upon your soul, not healing you and going away, but abiding within

you, keeping the image of Christ in your heart, ever fresh and full,—Christ

in you the hope of glory. The Comforter is able to fill you with calmness in

the stormiest hour. May He fill your whole soul and transform you into a

child of light. Goodbye till we meet, if it be the Lord’s will. If not in this

world, at least before the throne, casting our crowns at his feet.—Ever yours

in the gospel, etc.

TO THE REV. W. C. BURNS

Awakenings—Personal holiness in ministers.

DUNDEE, September, 1840.

MY DEAR BROTHER,—I have had a severe illness, or would have

answered your kind note long before this. I fear you may have left

Breadalbane before this can reach it; still I write in hope. You may be sure I

ever follow you with my prayers and earnest longings of heart that God

may humble, purify, and make use of you to carry glad tidings of great joy

to the inmost hearts of poor, guilty, perishing sinners, wherever you go. I

have been much interested by all that I have heard of the good that has

attended you in the north. I long to hear still more. The very name of

Moulin stirs up the inmost depths of the heart, when I remember what great

things the Lord Jesus did there of old. Do write to me when you have a

moment, and stir me up. You know a word to a minister is worth a word to

three or four thousand souls sometimes. Nothing stirs me up so much to be

instant and faithful as hearing of the triumphs of the Lord Jesus in other

places. I am glad and thankful to say that we are not left quite desolate.

There have been evident tokens of the presence of the Spirit of God among

my dear people many nights,—more, I think, upon the Thursday nights than

on the Sabbaths. Some I have met with seemingly awakened without any

very direct means. A good number of young mill-girls are still weeping

after the Lord Jesus. I have been out of my pulpit only one Sabbath, and I

hope to be back to it next Sabbath, if the Lord will.

What Mr T. mentioned to you was true of some having followed after

an enthusiastic kind of man, who in my absence came among them.

Doubtless Satan wanted to carry off some of the sheep, and succeeded so

far. Still I trust it will end in good. Some have been a good deal humbled in

the dust on account of it, and I have been roused up to cry for more

knowledge how to guide them in the right way. I think, if strength were

restored to me, I will try, in name of the Lord Jesus, to catechize through

my parish. I ask your advice and prayers on this. If it could be conducted

humbly and with patience and aptness to teach, I am persuaded it would

tend to ground them more deeply in divine things. Hypocrites also might be

denounced and warned, and the unconverted pointedly dealt with. I feel the

immense difficulty of it in a town, and such a neglected, ignorant one as

this. Still, if God were with me, who can be against me?

Everything I meet with, and every day I study my Bible, makes me pray

more that God would begin and carry on a deep, pure, wide-spread, and

permanent work of God in Scotland. If it be not deep and pure, it will only

end in confusion, and grieving away the Holy Spirit of God by irregularities

and inconsistencies; Christ will not get glory, and the country generally will

be hardened, and have their mouths filled with reproaches. If it be not wide-

spread, our God will not get a large crown out of this generation. If it be not

permanent, that will prove its impurity, and will turn all our hopes into

shame. I am much more afraid of Satan than I used to be. I learned a good

deal by being with Cumming in Strathbogie.

I am also deepened in my conviction, that if we are to be instruments in

such a work, we must be purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

Oh, cry for personal holiness, constant nearness to God by the blood of the

Lamb! Bask in his beams,—lie back in the arms of love,—be filled with his

Spirit; or all success in the ministry will only be to your own everlasting

confusion.

You know how I have always insisted on this with you. It is because I

feel the need thereof myself. Take heed, dear friend; do not think any sin

trivial; remember it will have everlasting consequences. Oh to have

Brainerd’s heart for perfect holiness,—to be holy as God is holy,—pure as

Christ is pure,—perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect! Oh, what a

cursed body of sin we bear, that we should be obliged by it to break these

sweet gospel rules! How much more useful might we be, if we were only

more free from pride, self-conceit, personal vanity, or some secret sin that

our heart knows! Oh hateful sins, that destroy our peace, and ruin souls!

But I must be done. I have not attained the full use of the pen. Go on,

dear brother; but an inch of time remains, and then eternal ages roll on for

ever,—but an inch on which we can stand and preach the way of salvation

to a perishing world. May He count us faithful, keeping us in the ministry.

—Ever yours, etc.

TO THE REV. PATRICK L. MILLER

Then labouring in Strathbogie, on his being elected minister of Wallacetown

DUNDEE, September 18, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I cannot tell you how sincerely I thank God for the

event of this evening. You are unanimously chosen minister of

Wallacetown. I have already been on my knees to praise God for it, and to

pray that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit for this glorious work. I

hope you will see your way clear in leaving your attached people at

Botriphnie. Make good use of your last days among them. Warn every man.

Take each aside, and tell him you will be a witness against him at the last

day if he do not turn and obey the gospel. The Lord give you a spiritual

family in that place; and may you come to us in the fulness of the blessing

of the gospel of Christ. I am persuaded the Spirit of God is still remarkably

present in this town. You could not become a minister in a more blessed

season, or in a more promising field. Oh pray to be fitted for the arduous

work! I was just praying this morning over Matt. 9:36–38, and little

thinking that God was about to answer so graciously.

I have had a severe illness of late, and been taught to look more toward

the church above. But I am better, and my heart warms again towards the

Lord’s work below. Now, farewell! The Lord humble, empty, satisfy, and

fill you,—make you a Boanerges and a Barnabas all in one. May the Lord

arise, and his enemies be scattered; and may poor parched Angus become

like the garden of the Lord.—Ever yours, etc.

TO MR GEORGE SHAW, BELFAST

Prophecies concerning Israel—Revival—Conduct of Studies

DUNDEE, September 16, 1840.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—It gives me great joy to be able to answer your kind

letter, although I fear you have almost despaired of me. In writing your

esteemed pastor, I mentioned to him my intention of writing you very soon;

but I have since then been laid down upon a sick-bed by a severe feverish

illness, from which I am now only recovering. Like you, my dear friend,

God has seen it meet to train me often by the rod, and I have always found

that He doeth all things well. Indeed, who would have his own health in his

own guidance? Ah! how much better to be in his all-wise, all-powerful

hand, who has redeemed us, and is making us vessels to hold his praise,

now and in eternal ages! I have been only twice in the open air, and cannot

yet manage the pen with facility; but I cannot delay writing to you any

longer. You cannot tell how much real joy your letter gave me when you tell

me of the dear brethren who meet along with you on Monday mornings, to

read and pray concerning Israel. This is indeed a delightful fruit of my short

visit among you, for which I give humble and hearty thanks to Him who has

stirred up your hearts in what I have felt, by experience, to be his own

blessed cause. I feel deeply persuaded from prophecy, that it will always be

difficult to stir up and maintain a warm and holy interest in outcast Israel.

The lovers and pleaders of Zion’s cause will, I believe, be always few. Do

you not think this is hinted at in Jer. 30:13: “There is none to plead thy

cause, that thou mayest be bound up?” And again, ver. 14: “All thy lovers

have forgotten thee; they seek thee not.” And is not this one of the very

reasons why God will at last take up their cause? See ver. 17: “I will restore

health unto thee, because they called thee an outcast, saying, This is Zion,

whom no man seeketh after.” It is a sweet encouragement also to learn, that

though the friends of Zion will probably be few, so that it may almost be

said, no one seeketh after her, yet there always will be some who will keep

watch over the dust of Jerusalem, and plead the cause of Israel with God

and with man. See Isa. 62:6, 7. If any of your company know the Hebrew,

you will see at once the true rendering: “I have set watchmen over thy

walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye

that are the Lord’s remembrancers, keep not silence, and give Him no rest

till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Oh, my

dear brethren, into whose hearts I trust God is pouring a scriptural love for

Israel, what an honour is it for us, worms of the dust, to be made watchmen

by God over the ruined walls of Jerusalem, and to be made the Lord’s

remembrancers, to call his own promises to his mind, that He would fulfil

them, and make Jerusalem a blessing to the whole world! Verse 1

supposed to be the language of our Lord himself—our glorious Advocate

with the Father. Oh what an example does He set us of unwearied

intercession! Verse 2d showeth the great effect which the conversion of

Israel will have on the Gentile world. Verse 3d shows how converted Israel

will be a glorious diadem in God’s hand, held out to show forth his praise.

Verse 4

shows that it is literal Israel that is spoken of, for there is a sweet

promise to their land.

I think you must take these two verses, 6, 7, as the motto of your

praying society, not in boasting, but in all humility of mind, and with much

self-upbraiding for the neglect of the past. Indeed, you will find it a difficult

matter to keep your heart in tune really to desire the salvation of Israel, and

the widely extended glory of the Lord Jesus. You must keep in close union

to Jesus, and much in the love of God, and be much filled with the infinite,

almighty Spirit of God. He will help your infirmities. It is when you feel the

sweetness of the kingdom of God within you, that you will truly fall down

on your knees, and pray, “Thy kingdom come.” The possession of grace

fills us with very different feelings from the possession of anything else. A

man who has much money is not very anxious that all the world should be

rich; one who has much learning does not long that all the world were

learned; but if you have tasted the grace of the gospel, the irresistible

longing of your hearts will be, Oh that all the world might taste its

regenerating waters! And if it be true, as I think it is, that God’s method of

bringing in the kingdom is to be by the salvation of Israel, how can an

enlightened, gracious soul but pray, “Do good in thy good pleasure unto

Zion?”

As to the mode of studying prophecy, dear friend, I am far from being a

capable adviser. My advice, however, is that you begin with the simple and

more unquestioned parts, and then advance to the more difficult ground.

Begin with fulfilled prophecy: you will thus gain an intimate acquaintance

with the language and manner of the prophetic writings. Then advance to

the marks of unfulfilled prophecy, and cautiously and prayerfully to those

parts that are obviously unfulfilled. This would be a most interesting course,

and, if humbly followed out, cannot but give you great light and interest in

the cause of Israel, and the world’s conversion. For fulfilled prophecy, you

might follow the guidance of Keith on Fulfilled Prophecy, or Bishop

Newton, or both.

I am delighted to hear of the thankoffering you mention. It is sweet

when thankfulness does not end in mere words, but in gifts to God and

devotedness of our all to Him. I am happy to say that the Lord’s cause

seems still to advance in Scotland. On the very day I arrived from Ireland

we had very sweet tokens of the presence of the Spirit of God in the

congregation, and many Thursday evenings since.

I have been in Strathbogie also, and seen some of the Lord’s wonders

there. He that hath the key of David has opened a door there, for the

salvation of many souls. I am still as anxious as ever that God’s work

should be pure, and unmixed with error and satanic delusions; and,

therefore, when I pray for the revival of God’s work, I always add that it

may be pure and permanent. I have seen two awakened since I came home,

with the use of hardly any means. If they shall turn out real conversions, I

think I shall never despair of any.

I trust that your own studies get on well, dear friend. Learn much of

your own heart; and when you have learned all you can, remember you

have seen but a few yards into a pit that is unfathomable. “The heart is

deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer.

17:9. Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, take ten

looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such

meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the

smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his all-seeing eye settled on you in

love, and repose in his almighty arms. Cry after divine knowledge, and lift

up your voice for understanding. Seek her as silver, and search for her as for

hid treasure, according to the word in Prov. 2:4. See that ver. 10 be fulfilled

in you. Let wisdom enter into your hearts, and knowledge be pleasant to

thy soul; so you will be delivered from the snares mentioned in the

following verses. Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the

sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the Holy

Spirit fill every chamber of your heart; and so there will be no room for

folly, or the world, or Satan, or the flesh. I must now commend you all to

God and the word of his grace. My dear people are just assembled for

worship. Alas! I cannot preach to them to-night. I can only carry them and

you on my heart to the throne of grace. Write me soon.—Ever yours, etc.

TO HIS SABBATH-SCHOOL TEACHERS, DURING A WEEK

OF ABSENCE FROM THEM

(Accompanied by notes on the Scripture Lesson that was to be taught in the, classes that week.)

KELSO, February 24, 1841.

MY DEAR FRIENDS AND FELLOW-LABOURERS,—I send you a few notes on

the parable for next Sabbath evening. May you find them profitable. You

cannot tell what a sweet comfort it is to me, when I am so far distant from

my flock, to know that you are in the midst of the lambs, speaking to God

for them, and speaking to them for God. I thank my God without ceasing

for your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope. Be not

weary in well-doing, dear friends, for in due season we shall reap, if we

faint not. Do not be impatient—wait on the Lord. The blessing will come.

Use a few spare half-hours in seeking after the lambs on the week-days.

This will prove to the parents that you are in earnest. To bring one child to

the bosom of Christ would be reward for all our pains in eternity. Oh, with

what glowing hearts we shall meet in heaven those whom God has used us

as humble instruments in saving! Meditate on Phil. 1:8. And may the Lord

meet with you and the lambs on Sabbath-day, and bless you, and do you

good.

Farewell, dear fellow-labourers.—Ever your affectionate friend and

pastor, absent in body, not in spirit, etc.

TO A SOCIETY IN BLAIRGOWRIE FOR DIFFUSING THE

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Advices

DUNDEE, March 27, 1841.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I was happy indeed to receive your letter, and the

rules of your Society, which interested me very much. I would have

answered you sooner, but have been laid down by my heavenly Father on a

bed of sickness, from which I am just recovering by his grace. Spared fig-

trees should bear much fruit; pray that it may be so with me. Luther used to

say that “temptations, afflictions, and prayer, made a minister.” I do trust

that your Society may be greatly blessed, first, in the comforting,

enlivening, and sanctifying of your own souls, and then in the bringing

others to know the same fountain where you have found peace and purity.

Let Jesus come into your meetings and sit at the head of the table. It is a

fragrant room when the bundle of myrrh is the chief thing there. Let there

be no strife among you, but who to be lowest at his feet, who to lean their

head most fully on his breast. Let all your conversation, meditations, and

readings lead you to the Lamb of God. Satan would divert your minds away

to questions and old wives’ fables, which gender strifes. But the Holy Spirit

glorifies Jesus—draws to Jesus—makes you cleave to the Lord Jesus with

full purpose of heart. Seek advance of personal holiness. It is for this the

grace of God has appeared to you.—See Titus 2:11, 12. For this Jesus died;

for this He chose you; for this He converted you, to make you holy men—

living epistles of Christ—monuments of what God can do in a sinner’s

heart. You know what true holiness is. It is Christ in you the hope of glory.

Let Him dwell in you, and so all his features will shine in your hearts and

faces. Oh to be like Jesus! This is heaven, wherever it be. I think I could be

happy among devils, if only the old man were slain in me, and I was made

altogether like Jesus! But, blessed be God, we shall not be called to such a

trial, for we shall not only be like Jesus, but be with Him to behold his

glory. Pray to be taught to pray. Do not be content with old forms that flow

from the lips only. Most Christians have need to cast their formal prayers

away, to be taught to cry, Abba. Arrange beforehand what you have to pray

for. Do not forget confession of sin, nor thanksgiving. Pray to get your

closed lips opened in intercession; embrace the whole world, and carry it

within the veil. I think you might with advantage keep a small book in

which you might mark down objects to be prayed for. I pray God to make

you very useful in the parish and in the world. Do all things without

murmurings and disputings.—See Phil. 2:14, 16. Live for eternity. A few

days more, and our journey is done. Oh! fight hard against sin and the devil:

the devil never sleeps. Be you also active for good. The Lord bless you and

your dear minister. Pray for us. Pray for the dead parishes around you.—

Ever yours, etc.

LETTERS TO A SOUL SEEKING JESUS.—NO. I

Seek to know your corruption

DUNDEE, 1841.

DEAR FRIEND,—According to promise, I sit down to talk with you a little

concerning the great things of an eternal world. How kind it is in God that

He has given us such an easy way of communicating our thoughts, even at a

distance! My only reason for writing to you is, that I may direct your soul to

Jesus, the sinner’s friend. “This man receiveth sinners.” I would wish much

to know that you were truly united to Christ, and then, come life, come

death, you will be truly and eternally happy. Do you think you have been

convinced of sin? This is the Holy Spirit’s work, and his first work upon the

soul.—(John 16:8; Acts 2:37, 21:29, 30.) If you did not know your body

was dangerously ill, you would never have sent for your physician; and so

you will never go to Christ, the heavenly Physician, unless you feel that

your soul is sick even unto death. Oh! pray for deep discoveries of your real

state by nature and by practice. The world will say you are an innocent and

harmless girl; do not believe them. The world is a liar. Pray to see yourself

exactly as God sees you; pray to know the worth of your soul. Have you

seen yourself vile, as Job saw himself?—Job 11:3, 5, 13:5, 6; undone, as

Isaiah saw himself?—Isa. 6:1, 5. Have you experienced anything like Psalm

51? I do not wish you to feign humility before God, nor to use expressions

of self-abhorrence, which you do not feel; but oh pray that the Holy Spirit

may let you see the very reality of your natural condition before God! I

seldom get more than a glance at the true state of my soul in its naked self.

But when I do, then I see that I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and

blind, and naked.—Rev. 3:17. I believe every member of our body has been

a servant of sin—Rom. 3:13, 18—throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes.

Every faculty of our mind is polluted.—Gen. 6:5. Besides, you have long

neglected the great salvation; you have been gainsaying and disobedient.

Oh that you were brought to pass sentence on yourself, guilty of all! Hear

what a dear believer writes of himself: “My wickedness, as I am in myself,

has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought

and imagination, like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know

not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping

infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. When I look into

my heart and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely

deep, and yet it seems to me that my conviction of sin is exceeding small

and faint.” Perhaps you will ask, Why do you wish me to have such a

discovery of my lost condition? I answer, that you may be broken off from

all schemes of self-righteousness; that you may never look into your poor

guilty soul to recommend you to God; and that you may joyfully accept of

the Lord Jesus Christ, who obeyed and died for sinners. Oh that your heart

may cleave to Christ! May you forsake all, and follow Jesus Christ. Count

everything loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. You never

will stand righteous before God in yourself. You are welcome this day to

stand righteous before God in Jesus. Pray over Phil. 3:7, 9. I will try and

pray for you. Grace be with you.—Your friend in Jesus, etc.

TO THE SAME.—NO. II

Seek the righteousness of Christ

DEAR FRIEND,—I was glad to hear of your safe arrival, and that your

health had not suffered by the voyage. I trust the Lord is dealing gently with

your frail body, so that your mind may get leave freely to fix itself on Jesus

Christ and Him crucified. Above all, I pray that the Holy Spirit may sweetly

and silently open your heart, to relish the way of salvation through the

blood and obedience of Immanuel. Through this man is preached unto you

the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all

things.—Acts 13:38, 39. You would be deeply concerned to hear that your

room-mate, ——, has been so suddenly and awfully called away. Should it

not be a solemn warning to you? Oh that you may be even now clothed in

the righteousness of Jesus! so that, if you were called away, you may meet

God in peace, and hear Jesus say, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” In

yourself you never will stand righteous before Jehovah. Ps. 143:2 answers

your case. “Enter not into judgment with me,” must be your cry. In your

nature, in your past life, in your breaking of the holy law, in your contempt

and neglect of Jesus in your indwelling sin, God can see nothing but what

He must condemn. Oh that you would be of the same mind with God about

your own soul! Do not be afraid to look upon its loathsomeness; for God

offers to clothe you in Jesus Christ. “By the obedience of one shall many be

made righteous,” Rom. 5:19. There is only one in all the world on whose

face God can look and say, “He is altogether lovely.” Jesus is that one. Now

God is willing that you and I should hide in Jesus. I feel at this moment that

He is my righteousness. “This is his name whereby He shall be called, The

Lord our Righteousness,” Jer. 23:6. I feel that the love of God shines upon

my guilty soul through Jesus. This is all my peace. Your tears will not blot

out sin they do nothing but weep in hell; but that does not justify them.

Your right views of the gospel will not justify you; you must be covered

with a spotless righteousness. Your change of heart and of life will not

justify you; it cannot cover past sins—neither is it perfect. Your amended

life is still fearfully sinful in Jehovah’s sight, and yet nothing but perfect

righteousness can stand before Him. Jesus offers you this perfect

righteousness; in Him you may stand and hear God say, “Thou art all fair,

my love.” There is no spot in me. Do you thus look to Jesus? Do you

believe the record that God has given concerning Him? Do you receive

Christ with open arms? Do you cry, “My Lord and my God;” my Surety—

my all? Dear friend, do not tarry. Eternity may be near. Now is your best

time, perhaps your only time, of closing with Christ. How many worlds

would a lost soul in hell give for such an opportunity of cleaving to Christ

as you have now! “He that hath the Son hath life.” This is all my prayer and

desire for your precious precious soul.—Ever yours in the gospel, etc.

TO THE SAME.—NO. III

Joy in believing

DEAR FRIEND,—I send you another line to tell you Jesus is the way. I

would like much to hear how your weak body prospers, and whether your

soul is resting under the apple-tree (Song 2:3); but till some opportunity

occurs, I must just content myself with committing your soul and body into

the hand of Jesus, your faithful Creator—1 Pet. 4:19. We are now looking

forward to another communion season, and I am busy instructing young

persons for that holy and blessed ordinance. I think you said you were a

good deal impressed at our last communion, and wished that you had been

one of those seated at the table: perhaps you may never be permitted to sit

at the table on earth; perhaps your first communion may be in glory. There

is a text in Rom. 15:13, which expresses all my desire for you: “Now the

God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may

abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” You see here who is

the author of conversion—“the God of hope.” He must open your heart to

attend to the things that are spoken. The truths that are presented to you will

not convert your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your heart and

water it oft. Then see how He gives you joy and peace—“in believing.”

When Jesus revealed himself to Thomas (John 20:28), Thomas cried out

with joy, “My Lord and my God!” If Jesus reveal himself to you in all the

glory of his person, the completeness of his work, and the freeness of his

love, you too will be filled with appropriating, joyful faith, and will cry,

“My Lord and my God!” It is a difficult thing to explain what it is to believe

—I suppose it is impossible. But when Jesus unveils his matchless beauty,

and gives you a sweet glimpse of his matchless face that was buffeted and

spit upon, then the soul joyfully clings to Him. This is believing, and this is

joy and peace in believing. The truest, purest joy flows from a discovery of

Jesus Christ. He is the hidden treasure that gives such joy to the finder.—

Matt. 13:44. Do you think you have found that treasure? Touching question!

for if not, you are poor indeed. But how much joy may you have in Christ?

“The God of hope fill you with all joy.” You need not be afraid to take the

full joy that Jesus gives. If you really come unto Christ, you come unto the

love of Jehovah, and that is a filling love. The love of the creature does not

fill the heart; but God’s love coming full upon the soul gives fulness of joy.

—1 John 1:4. It is holy love, sovereign love. I have been interrupted several

times in writing this little note. I will not be long in writing you again. Do

decide the question of your eternity. One thing is needful: have you closed

with the great Mediator? Have you got saving knowledge of Jesus? Then

only will death lose its power, and the grave become the bed of peaceful

rest.

There is a land of pure delight,

Where saints immortal reign;

Infinite day excludes the night,

And pleasures banish pain.

Lean all your care for time and eternity on Jesus; that is the softest of all

pillows—the bosom of our guardian Immanuel.—I am, ever yours, etc.

TO THE SAME.—NO. IV

Taste that Christ is precious

December 1841.

DEAR FRIEND,—It is written, “Unto you who believe He is precious;”

and if you are a child of God, you will know and feel what the words mean

—1 Pet. 2:7. At one time Christ was “like a tender plant” to you, and like “a

root out of a dry ground.” You saw “no form nor comeliness in Him, no

beauty that you should desire Him.” At that time you were at ease in Zion—

you had no concern for your soul. Do you remember that time? Is it

otherwise with you now? Have you been pricked in your heart by the Holy

Spirit? Have you been made to see how impossible it is for man to be just

with God? and has the Spirit drawn away the veil from the fair face of

Immanuel, and given you an unfeigned glance at the brow that was crowned

with the thorns, and the cheek from which they plucked off the hair? Has

the Spirit opened a window into the heart of Jesus, and let you see the

fountain-head of that love that “passeth knowledge?” Then you will be able

to say, “To me He is precious.” If you see plainly that all your standing

before God is in Him, that He is your foundation-stone, your fountain, your

wedding-garment, then you will feel Him to be precious. Most people

refuse to come to Christ. Read Luke 14:16–24.—They all with one consent

began to make excuse. Why is this? Just because they do not see and feel

that He is precious. But oh! if you, my dear friend, feel that He is your only

righteousness—your only fountain of living water—your High Priest—your

Shepherd—your Advocate, then you will say, “He is precious!” You will

never say, “Have me excused.” I carry to you the sweet invitation, “Come,

for all things are now ready.” Jesus is ready to wash and clothe you in His

own blood and righteousness. The Holy Spirit is ready to come into your

heart and make it new. The Father is ready to put His arms round your neck

and kiss you.—Luke 15:20. The angels are ready to give thanks for you,

and to love you as a sister for eternity. Now, will you come, for all things

are ready? Are you now saying in your heart, “I cannot but believe I am the

chief of sinners, and Jesus offers to be my refuge, my Mediator, my all in

all; I feel He is precious?” Oh! dear friend, I trust you do. This only will

make you happy in living, and blessed in dying. This is a poor dying world.

Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. There is no

part here that death cannot take from us. But if you have Christ, you have

the only imperishable portion! Oh, may the Holy Spirit give you a firm hold

of Jesus! Then we shall meet in that sweet place, where there shall be no

more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

The Lord deal kindly and gently with you, both soul and body. Farewell,

dear friend.—Ever yours, etc.

TO THE SAME.—NO. V

Be found in Christ

December 8, 1841.

DEAR FRIEND,—I send you another line to tell you of Him who is

altogether lovely. I have a very dear boy in my parish, who is dying just

now. He said to me the other day, “I have just been feeding for some days

upon the words you gave me, ‘His legs are like pillars of marble set upon

sockets of fine gold’ (Song 5:15); for (said he) I am sure He is able to carry

me and all my sins.” You may say the same, if your eyes have been opened

to see the beauty, fulness, freeness, and compassion of the Lord Jesus.

Nothing but the hand of God can open your eyes to see your lost condition

as it truly is. Flesh and blood cannot reveal Him unto you, but my Father.

Oh! call upon Him to do this for you. A spiritual discovery of yourself and

of Jesus is better than a million of worlds to you, and to me also.

Remember, you cannot be fair in yourself before God. Song 1:6 must be all

your prayer: “Look not upon me.” Take yourself at your best moments, you

are but a vile worm in Jehovah’s sight, and so am I. Remember, you may be

“perfect in Christ Jesus.” Allow yourself to be found in Christ. Oh! what

will come of you if you are found in yourself? Where will you appear? You

will shrink back, and call on rocks and mountains to fall upon you and

cover you. But if you are hiding in Jesus—if your eye and heart are fixed

upon his wounds made by our sins—if you are willing to be righteous in his

righteousness, to lie down under the stream of his blood, and to be clothed

upon with the snowy fleece of the Lamb of God—then God will love you

with his whole soul exceedingly. The pure, full love of God streams through

the blood and obedience of Jesus to every soul that is lying under them,

however vile and wretched in themselves. Have you tried—have you tasted

the holy love of a holy God? Thy love is better than wine. It is better than

all creature love or creature enjoyments. Oh! do not live—oh! do not die,

out of this sweet, sweet, sin-pardoning, soul-comforting love of God!

Remember, Jesus is quite willing to gather you under his wings.—Matt.

23:37. Put that beyond all doubt. Remember also, the present is your only

time to be saved.—Eccles. 9:10. There is no believing, no repenting, no

conversion in the grave—no minister will speak to you there. This is the

time of conversion. We must either gain you now, or lose you for ever. Oh

that you would use this little time! Every moment of it is worth a world.

Your soul is very dear to me—dearer far to Jesus. Look to Him and you will

be saved.—Ever yours, etc.

TO THE SAME

Go up, leaning on Jesus

DEAR FRIEND,—I have heard of you from ——, and have been praying

for you, that your eye may rest on Jesus, and that your soul may lie in

perfect peace under his blood shed for the sins of many. I have been

thanking my Father, too, for dealing so bountifully with you. “He is the

Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts.” I will give you a sweet

verse to meditate upon: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,

leaning upon the beloved?”—Song 8:5. Do you think this is your position?

Truly this world is a wilderness if you have seen it rightly. It is a place of

guilt and shame. Every natural heart is a wilderness—a dead place without

a drop of living water; and then all natural hearts put together make up a

wilderness world. The whole world lieth in wickedness. There are few that

know and love Jesus, and these few are panting to get more of the living

water. But if you have truly fled to Jesus, you are coming up from the

wilderness. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. “The night

is far spent, the day is at hand.” Have you found Jesus truly? Do you feel

willing to be all vile, all hell-deserving in yourself, and to let God’s dear

Son be all your shield and righteousness? Oh! make sure of this. Never

mind what man thinks of you. I would not give a straw for the opinions of

men, as to whether I was safe or no. It is not what man thinks of us that will

cover us on the judgment-day. Oh no! You must be in Jesus, sitting at his

feet, allowing Him to wash your stains away, allowing Him to enwrap your

guilty soul in divine righteousness. If you were lying at the bottom of the

sea, no eye could see your deformities: so when the infinite ocean of

Immanuel’s righteousness flows-over the soul, you are swallowed up as it

were in Christ. Your blackness is never seen, only his fairness; and thus a

God of truth can say, “Behold thou art fair; behold thou art fair, my love.

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”—Song 4:1–7. Keep this

always in memory; and when guilt comes on the conscience, as it will, lie

down again beneath the righteousness of Jesus. Never lose sight of this.

Jesus must be seen by the Father instead of our guilty soul. It is no change

in our black soul that is to be our covering. You must leave self, and stand

in your Elder Brother. Hide behind Him. Let the Father’s eye fall on Him,

not on you. This is what Jesus wants. He died to be a shelter for such as

you. This is what the Father wants; for He is not willing that any should

perish. If you are seen by the Father a naked, guilty sinner, you must die;

there is no help for it. But if Jesus appear for you—if you hide in his

wounds like the dove in the cliffs of the rock, and under his snowy raiment

—then the Father himself loveth you, and now you are coming up from the

wilderness. Every hour that strikes, that is an hour less between you and

glory. Oh! do not grieve to part with the world if you are in Christ: an hour

with Christ will make up for all your griefs and pains. Half an hour in the

presence of our God will make ns forget a lifetime of agony. “Leaning on

her beloved!” Is this the position of your soul? Do you feel empty, weak,

and helpless; and do you see Him mighty to save, able to save to the

uttermost? “His legs are like pillars of marble.” This is Christ’s glory, that

He justifies sinners who have no righteousness, and sanctifies souls that

have no inborn holiness. Let Jesus bear your whole weight. Remember, He

loves to be the only support of the soul. He is a jealous Saviour. He wants to

be entirely trusted. There is nothing that you can possibly need but you will

find it in Him. “All my springs are in Thee.” Do you want righteousness?

He has the spirit of a weaned child to give you.—Ps. 131. Do you want

love! He is the fountain of love: all the promises of God in Him are yea and

in Him amen. I am sure, if you get a glimpse of Him, you would lay your

head in His breast and the there. May the Spirit anoint your eyes to see Him

more and more, and soften your heart to lean on Him. Those that have

leaned on Him through the wilderness shall sit with Him on the throne.—

Rev. 3:21. Farewell, dear soul! the Lord feed you sweetly, as he feeds the

flowers, by silent drops of dew.—Ever yours, etc.

TO THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER-MEETING

Parable of the Sower

MY DEAR FRIENDS,—It has been a matter of great joy to me to hear that

you meet together from time to time to read the word of God and pray—to

pray for a blessing on yourselves and families, that you may be brought to

the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to pray for ministers,

that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit, and made insatiably greedy for

the salvation of souls, and that the word of God preached on the Sabbath

may rise and be glorified till the whole world bow the knee at the name of

Jesus.

Oh, you that have had your eyes opened to see your lost condition by

nature and by wicked works,—you that have been drawn by the Father to

believe in Jesus, to wash in the blood of the Lamb, and to put on the

righteousness of God,—oh! pray with all your heart that your dear friends

may be brought to take the peace you feel,—that your enemies may be

brought to the same Saviour, and that all the world may be brought to know

Him, whom to know is life eternal.

If you look at Matt. 13:3–9, you will see how much of our preaching is

in vain, and what need there is to pray that God would open the hearts we

speak to.

Many among you, I fear, are like the hard wayside, so that, when the

seed falls, it cannot get into your hearts, and the devil plucks it all away—

vers. 3, 4. Is it not true that some of your hearts are like the footpath,

trodden all the week by wicked thoughts? “Free passage this way” is

written over your hearts—common worldly thoughts—busy covetous

desires of money—malicious thoughts—impure, abominable thoughts. Oh

who can tell what a constant thoroughfare of wicked imaginations is

passing night and day through every unconverted mind! Oh, look at Gen.

6:5, and weep over the Bible description of your own hard hearts. Now,

when you come to the church on Sabbath, your heart is like a footpath; the

seed cannot fall in, it lies upon the surface. You do not understand the

minister. Perhaps he preaches of the desperate wickedness of the heart, and

the danger you are in of going to hell if you be not born again. You feel it to

be a dry subject, and turn your head away. Perhaps he is preaching of the

love of Jesus, in tasting death for every man; and that He will in no wise

cast the vilest sinner out. Still you feel no interest, and perhaps you fall

asleep during the sermon. Oh, you are the wayside hearers,—the devil

plucks all the seed away. When you turn your back on the church, you turn

your back on divine things; and before you have got half-way home, the

devil has carried off every word of the sermon. Yea, often, I fear, before you

have got a sight of your own cottage, or the trees before the door, the devil

has filled your hearts with abominable worldly thoughts, and your tongue

with evil talk, unworthy of the Sabbath. O Satan, Satan! what a cunning

fiend thou art! Even when the hard hearts will not receive the word, thou

wilt not suffer it to remain; lest it should come back in a time of sickness or

danger, thou carriest all away.

Dear believers, pray that it be not so with you, nor with your friends;

pray for a soft heart and a retentive memory; and often speak together of the

sermons you hear, and get them harrowed into your hearts, that Satan may

be cheated, and your soul saved.

Many, I fear, among you, are receiving the seed into stony places (Matt.

13:6)—receiving the word for a while, but soon withering away in time of

persecution. I fear there may be some among you who are charmed with

something about the gospel, instead of cleaving in heart to Christ. I can

imagine that some of the wounded Israelites, that were bitten by the serpent,

were much taken with Moses, as he held up the brazen serpent, instead of

looking at the serpent itself. Many are fond of ministers who are not fond of

Christ. Read over Ezek. 33:30–32, and pray that this be not your case.

Now, I will give you two marks, by which you may know whether you

are one of these unfruitful hearers. 1

, The rocky heart will remain the

same. If you find that your liking to the gospel is from the surface, from

curiosity, or fancy, or love to a minister—if you find that your rocky heart

has never been broken by conviction of sin, has never melted to flow

towards Jesus—then you are an empty professor; you have a name to live,

while you are spiritually dead.

2d, You will endure for a while. A really converted soul is like a branch.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches.” It will cleave to it summer and winter.

But if you have only a mock conversion, you will wither away when

persecution comes. God knows how soon days of trial may come in

Scotland. Be ye therefore ready. He that endureth to the end shall be saved.

I fear, dear friends, that many of you receive the seed among thorns.—Matt.

13:7. Look into your heart and see, when you read your Bible in the

morning, how many cares and anxieties are dancing before your eyes, so

that you can hardly see the page you are reading. How often you come to

the house of God, and you see the minister preaching of eternal things with

all his might; but your heart is stuffed full of cares, and plans, and pleasures.

Alas, alas! the world has got the first hold of your heart, and so you can

think of nothing else. What will it profit you if you gain the whole world

and lose your own soul?

One thing is plain, that thorns and wheat cannot grow on the same spot

of ground; so that, if you will keep to your thorns, you must burn with them.

Oh, dear souls, if you got but a glimpse of the beauty of Jesus, you would

leave all and follow Him! If you got but a taste of the sweetness of

forgiveness, you would count everything else but loss for the excellence of

the knowledge of Christ. See how Matthew did.—Matt. 9:9. He was once as

worldly as yourselves, and as greedy of money as any one of you; and yet a

word from the sweet mouth of Christ made him leave all. Read that sweet

command of Christ—Matt. 10:37, 38. Oh! pray to be made willing to leave

all for Christ. He is kinder than father or mother—more precious than son

or daughter. Take up your cross, then, and follow Him.

Last of all, I trust there are some among you like the good ground

(Matt. 13:8), who receive the word into a heart broken up by the Spirit of

God,—watered by prayer,—and who bear fruit unto life eternal. HAVE YOU

HAD YOUR HEARTS BROKEN, dear friends? Has God ploughed up your hard,

unbelieving hearts? Have you had real concern for your perishing soul?

Have you been driven to your knees? Have you ever wept in secret for your

sins? Have you been made to tremble under your load of guilt? Do you

come thus to the house of God,—your heart like an open furrow, waiting

for the seed? Inquire earnestly whether the fallow-ground of your heart has

ever been broken up.—Jer. 4:3. A broken heart alone can receive a crucified

Christ.

HAVE YOU UNDERSTOOD THE GOSPEL? Have you believed the record that

God has given concerning his Son? Do you feel that it is true that God is

love?—that Christ has died, the just for the unjust?—that He is beckoning

you to come to Him? Do you believe on the Son of God? He that believeth

shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.—Mark 16:16.

DO YOU BEAR FRUIT? Without holy fruit all evidences are vain. How vain

would it be to prove to a farmer that his fields were good and productive, if

they produced no corn! You might say to him, “Neighbour, your land is

good; the soil is dry and well trenched.” “Oh! but,” he would say, “where is

the yellow grain—where are the full ears falling before the sickle of the

reaper?” Dear friends, you have awakenings, enlightenings, experiences, a

full heart in prayer, and many due signs; but if you want holiness, you will

never see the Lord. If you are a drinker, a swearer, a liar, a lascivious talker,

a wanton, a slanderer, you are in the broad way that leads to destruction.

Read Matt. 7:21–23, and pray that you may not be deceiving your own

souls. Dear believers, pray that you may bear fruit an hundredfold. Do not

be content with bearing thirtyfold or sixtyfold; pray to be sanctified wholly.

—1 Thess. 5:23. Pray that the whole lump may be leavened.—Matt. 13:33.

Pray that, day or night, in company or alone, Sabbath and week-day, you

may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. I often pray for you

all; and desire that in secret, and in your families, you will not forget me.—

Your friend and soul’s well-wisher, etc.

TO M. S.

Trying dispensations

DUNDEE, February 28, 1841.

DEAR FRIEND,—I have heard from J. S. of your brother’s death, and I

write a line to comfort you. There is no true comfort to be found but in

Christ. He is a fountain of living waters, and you must go with your thirsty

soul to Him and drink.—John 7:37; Ps. 63. If your brother died in the Lord,

then he is far better than if he were here.—Phil. 1:23. If he died out of the

Lord, you must be like Aaron when “he held his peace,” Lev. 10:3. Be not

moved by these afflictions, knowing that you were appointed thereunto.

Seek more and more abiding peace in Christ. He is not only a Saviour, but a

sympathizing elder brother.

Read John 11 and Lam. 3, and you will see what a compassionate

bosom Christ has. Lean your head more, and you will find rest. “Do not

despise the chastening of the Lord.” Inquire what change He would have

wrought in you and in all your friends. Are there any need to be awakened?

let them listen to this warning. Are there any need to be brought off from

love of the world? let them hear the voice of God from your brother’s grave,

saying, “What shall it profit a man though he gain the whole world and lose

his own soul?” Your brother, though dead, still speaketh. To you he says,

“Lean on the beloved as you come up out of the wilderness. The Lord is at

hand.” Keep your eye fixed on Jesus. Pray much for his Spirit and likeness;

and be ready for his coming.

Our communion is on Sabbath next. Your friend J. thought you would

perhaps love to be here. Farewell for the present. May the Lord Jesus be

very near you, to comfort and sanctify and bless you.—Ever yours, etc.

TO E. R., ASKING COUNSEL

A sight of corruption drives to Christ

DUNDEE, 1842.

DEAR FRIEND,—I send you a hurried line, and may the Spirit accompany

it with his divine power to your heart! It is a good thing to be shown much

of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of your heart, provided it lead

you to the Lord Jesus, that He may pardon and subdue it. Slightness and

carnal ease are much more to be dreaded than discoveries of our leprosy.

The groans and triumphal song of a believer are not far separated, as

you may see in Paul, Rom. 7:24, 25: “O wretched man,” and “I thank God,”

all in one breath! David felt the same.—See Ps. 78. At one verse he feels

himself a fool and a beast in the sight of a holy God, and in the very next

verses he is cleaving to Christ with a song of unspeakable joy.—Vers. 22–

24. Ah! there is a sweet mystery here—bitter herbs along with our passover

Lamb. It is sweet to see ourselves infinitely vile, that we may look to

Jehovah our Righteousness, as all our way to the Father.

The sweet Psalmist of Israel felt this on his dying bed: “Although my

house be not so with God, yet hath He made with me,” etc., 2 Sam. 23:5.

His house had been the scene of many a black sin; and now, when dying, he

could not but confess that it was not right with God. Not a day he had lived

appeared clean—not a moment. So may you say in the house where you

live, and looking at the pollutions of your own heart: “Although my house

be not so with God”—although my heart and life be not so, yet hath He

made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.

God makes that covenant with you, when He brings you to lay hold on

Jesus as your Surety—your curse-bearing, law-fulfilling Surety. Then you

are brought into the bond of the everlasting covenant, and all its blessings

are yours—pardon, righteousness, consolation, grace upon grace, life, love,

the spirit of supplications—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is

God’s.

Pray to be made like Caleb, who had another spirit, and followed the

Lord fully. Follow Christ all the day. He is the continual burnt-offering in

whom you may have peace. He is the Rock that follows you, from whom

you may have constant and infinite supplies. Give yourself wholly away to

Him. You are safe in no other keeping but in the everlasting arms of

Jehovah Jesus.

Keep yourself from other men’s sins. Do not go to the end of the string,

that is, going as far as you can in dallying with temptation without

committing open sin. Remember that it is our happiness to be under grace,

and every sin will be bitterness in the end, and will take something out of

your eternal portion of glory.

Grace be with your dear and much honoured minister, and with all that

love Christ in sincerity. Never cease to pray for the parish, and for all

parishes, that God would pour down his life-giving Spirit, to the conversion

of perishing sinners and the glory of his own great name. I will remember

you on the 12

of Jane.—May the Lord remember us.—Ever truly, etc.

TO J. T.

A young boy anxious about his soul

COLLACE, January 27, 1842.

MY DEAR BOY,—I was very glad to receive your kind note, and am glad

to send you a short line in return, although my time is much taken up. You

are very dear to me, because your soul is precious; and if you are ever

brought to Jesus, washed and justified, you will praise Him more sweetly

than an angel of light. I was riding among the snow to-day, where no foot

had trodden, and it was pure, pure white; and I thought again and again of

that verse: “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” That is a sweet

prayer,—make it your own. Often go alone and look up to Jesus, who died

to wash us from our sins, and say, “Wash me.” Amelia Geddie was one day

dressed in a new white frock, with red ribbons in her bonnet, and some one

said to her, “No doubt you will think yourself very trim and clean?” “Ah!

no,” she said, “I will never think that until I have the fine white robe of my

Redeemer’s righteousness put upon me.” I am glad, my dear boy, you think

that God is afflicting you to bring you to himself. It is really for this that He

smites you. His heart, his hand, and his rod, are all inscribed with love. But

then, see that He does bring you to himself. Do not delay. The lake of fire

and brimstone stretches beneath every soul that lives in sin. “There is no

peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” If the Lord Jesus would but draw the

curtain and let you see his own fair face, and his wounded side, and how

there is room for the guiltiest sinner in Him, you would be drawn to Jesus

with the cords of love. I was preaching in Perth last Sabbath. When I came

out, a little girl came up to me, I think about three or four years old. She

wanted to hear of the way to be saved. Her mother said she had been crying

the whole night before about her soul, and would take no comfort till she

should find Jesus. Oh! pray that the same Spirit may waken you.

Remember, Johnnie, you once wept for your soul too, and prayed and

sought Jesus. Have you found Him? or have you looked back, like Lot’s

wife, and become a hard, cold pillar of salt? Awake again, and call upon the

name of the Lord. Your time may be short, God only knows. The longest

lifetime is short enough. It is all that is given you to be converted in. They

are the happiest who are brought soonest to the bosom of Jesus.

Write me again. At present I must draw to a close. Give my kindest

remembrances to your mamma, and to A. when you write. Tell him to write

me. May you all meet at the table of Jesus above; and may I be there too, a

sinner saved by grace.—Ever yours, etc.

TO A. T.

On the death of his brother, the little boy to whom the preceding letter was written

ST PETER’S, March 1, 1842.

MY DEAR A.,—I did not think I was to have answered your kind letter in

the time of bitter grief. But so it pleases Jehovah, whose will must be our

will, if we would be happy. It is good for you to bear the yoke in your

youth. This is the way God trains his saints, and especially his ministers. I

saw your dear little brother twice on his dying bed, and indeed I could not

believe he was dying, except that his calm eye was directed to the hills of

Immortality, and he seemed already to breathe some of the atmosphere of

the world of sinless joy. I do trust and believe that he was a saved boy. You

know I am rather slow of coming to this conviction, and not fond of

speaking when I have not good evidence; but here, I think, God has not left

us in doubt.

At Blairgowrie he used several times to speak to me about divine

things, and the tear would gather in his eye when he said that he feared he

had never been brought to Jesus. Once, when he had a sore throat, he told

me he was not ready to die. But now he was quite different. The veil

seemed to be lifted away from his heart, and he saw divine things simply

and fully.

Over and over he told me that he was not afraid to die, for Christ had

died. “How kind it was in God to send Jesus to die for sinners.” He seemed

tranquil and happy, even when the pain came on in his head and made him

knit his brows. You have reason to mingle praise with your tears. Do not

sorrow as one who has no hope. Only seek a right improvement of this

bereavement. He is not lost, but gone before, and we shall soon put off this

clay cottage also. And soon we and he, made new, body and soul, shall meet

the Lord in the air, and so be for ever with the Lord. I was at your house on

Sabbath night, and saw them all,—sorrowful, yet rejoicing. Your dear little

brother lies like a marble statue in the peaceful sleep of death, till Jesus’

voice shall waken him. Happy boy! he shall hunger no more, neither thirst

any more, neither shall the sun light on him, nor any heat. The days of his

mourning are ended, and his eternity of love and holy joy is begun.

Improve this sharp wind, dear A., for you will soon lose the benefit, if

not carefully sought after. Search out the Achan in your heart at such an

hour. Let affliction strike heavy blows at your corruptions, your idolatries,

and self-pleasing and worldly schemes. Learn much of Christ at such an

hour. Study Him at the grave of Lazarus—John 11; and at the gate of Nain

—Luke 8:11; and also within the veil—Rev. 1:18. Do not be ashamed to

grieve deeply; but let your sadness find relief in the bosom that was pierced

with the spear.

“Is any afflicted? let him pray.” Strange, Satan often tempts us to

restrain prayer at such a time. Be very gentle towards the souls of your

kindred now.

Remember D—and H—at the throne of grace. If God had taken them,

where would they have been? Learn also that ministers must care for lambs.

“Preach the gospel to every creature.”

Pray for me, also, that I may do so,—that I may be made a better man

and a more faithful pastor of old and young.—Ever yours, till we meet in

glory, etc.

TO THE REV. D. CAMPBELL OF LAWERS

Advice to a brother in sickness

MY DEAR BROTHER,—Like yourself, I have been laid aside from the

work of the ministry for two Sabbaths, but am now recovering.

I am truly afflicted to hear of your trouble; and yet I pray it may turn

out to the furtherance of the gospel. The time of my absence from my flock

in 1839 was more blessed to my people than even my presence had been.

Our God can work through means or above them. He then puts the treasure

into earthen vessels, often allows the vessels to be chipped and broken, that

the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Fear not for your

flock. The Chief Shepherd who sent you to them is faithful, and his name is

the Mighty God. He can feed them with or without you. And none that are

his can perish.

Use all prudent means for your recovery. Commit yourself entirely to

God, and He will turn the shadow of death into the morning. I have been

often brought very low, but it has been always good for me. In this way God

educates his ministers, both for his temple below, and for being pillars in

the temple above.

I do not think Broughty-Ferry a safe place for you, if your lungs are at

all affected. The air is damp, and east wind cold. If it is only your stomach

that ails, then it will do well; but if you have any chest complaint, do not

think of the east coast. Blairgowrie would be much more suitable; when you

would have the kind care of a good Christian doctor, and the ministry of

dear R. M.

I fear my illness will prevent me leaving home this summer; but I do

not know. Your absence will make us pray more that your flock may not be

forgotten.

Do not be afraid at leaving home. His compassions are new every

morning. Great is his faithfulness. He doth not afflict willingly.

All grace be with you from the fountain of living waters.—Ever yours,

etc.

TO THE REV. H. BONAR, KELSO

Ministerial arrangements—Breathings after holiness

August 18, 1842.

MY DEAR HORACE,—I laid aside your note, and cannot find it again. I

think you ask me for the second Sabbath of November, on my way back

from London. I fear I must not do it, but abide by my former arrangement.

Mr Hamilton presses me hard to stay two Sabbaths, and I would have

agreed, but am to elect elders on the second Sabbath of November.

According to the new law of the church, the signed lists are read in a

meeting of session on the third Sabbath after the intimation is given, so that

I will need to be back, even though I should need to be in Edinburgh the

week after. If spared then, I shall hold to our former arrangement.

We have had a very sweet season here during the concert, which was

also our communion week. Andrew, Candlish, Cormick, Cumming, Milne,

and Graham from Ireland, all assisted me. We had meetings every morning.

Your scheme was very helpful; I enclose mine. About 700 people

attended each morning; and on the fast-day, and Sabbaths too. Several souls

have been deeply awakened.

I have great desire for personal growth in faith and holiness. I love the

word of God, and find it sweetest nourishment to my soul. Can you help me

to study it more successfully? The righteousness of God is all my way to the

Father, for I am the chief of sinners; and were it not for the promise of the

Comforter, my soul would sink in the hour of temptation.

Did you observe that the Charlinch Revival took place in the week of

the concert for prayer last year?

The trials of the church are near. May we be kept in the shadow of the

rock. Farewell! May Jesus shine on you—Yours, etc.

TO THE REV. R. MACDONALD, BLAIRGOWRIE

Inward life—Words of counsel

DUNDEE, 1842.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—This is Friday evening, and I do not know what to

preach on Sabbath next, else I would have written you at greater length; but

as I am to see you so soon face to face, there is the less need of communing

with ink and pen.

I hope your health keeps good, and your labours abundant,—that you

have a continued interest in the blood which speaketh peace,—a sense of

forgiveness and acceptance in the beloved,—that you feel “his right hand

under your head,” and the power of his indwelling Spirit dwelling in you

and walking in you. These sweet experiences alone make the minister’s life

calm and serene, like this autumnal evening. Ah! how easy it is to speak or

write about them! What a different thing to feel them! It is my constant

desire, and yet I am constantly disappointed. I think I never was brought to

feel the wickedness of my heart as I do now. Yet I do not feel it as many

sweet Christians do, while they are high above it, and seem to look down

into a depth of iniquity, deep, deep in their bosoms. Now, it appears to me

as if my feet were actually in the miry clay, and I only wonder that I am

kept from open sin. My only refuge is in the word, “I will put my Spirit

within you.” It is only by being made a partaker of the divine nature that I

can escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

All things go on here much us they did. I cannot say that my sermons

are much shorter, though I have tried to shorten them. My meeting is still

the hour and half, nor do I see how I can shorten it. It is very well attended.

A stranger started up and prayed one evening. I did not interrupt him, or

take notice of it, but have thought it best to forbid it. None but ordained

servants should speak in churches.

I hope you have got all your preparations well forward. Deal faithfully

by all that speak to you for the communion, especially the young. If you

would have a clear conscience, none but those who are seeking really to

close with Jesus Christ should be allowed to take the bread and wine, if a

word of yours can help it.

Be decided in keeping back the scandalous. Stir up your elders to this.

They are very apt to be remiss. May you have much grace given you at this

time, and peace—droppings of the Spirit, and refreshings of peace in the

heart. I invite all who have any wish to speak to their minister before

communicating, to do so. May you have much fruit at this time that shall

appear many days hence! I have been surprised to find even a poor table

service blessed. Expect much, and much will be given. Pray for me, for I

am all but desolate.—Yours faithfully, etc.

TO ONE OF HIS FLOCK, WHO HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO

THE CHARGE OF A FEMALE SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY

Do what you can

COLLACE, July 25, 1842.

DEAR FRIEND,—I have been laid aside for a short time, and did not

receive your letter till it was too late to send the communicant’s line, which

you desired. I have no doubt Mr B. would give you a token, however, even

without a line. I am truly glad to hear that you are so fully employed, and

earnestly trust that your labours may be owned by God. Souls are perishing

every day, and our own entrance into eternity cannot be far distant. Let us,

like Mary, “do what we can,” and no doubt God will bless it, and reward us

openly. Sit under a living ministry if you can. Seek much personal holiness

and likeness to Christ in all the features of his blessed character. Seek to be

lamb-like, without which all your efforts to do good to others will be as

sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

Pray for dear St Peter’s, that the dew may never cease to fall there;

continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.—Ever truly,

etc.

TO ONE AWAKENED

Call upon a soul to choose Jesus

DUNDEE, September 1842.

MY DEAR G.,—I was glad indeed to see, by the line you sent me, that

though your mind is dark and troubled, you have not gone back to the

world. Ah, it is a false, deceiving world! It smiles only to betray. Fain

would I lead you to taste the peace that passeth understanding, and that it is

only to be found in Jesus. You are quite wrong in thinking that I do not

understand your misery. I know it well. It is true Jesus does give me peace.

He washes me from all sin in his own blood. I often feel Him standing by

my side and looking down upon me, saying, “Thou are mine.” Yet still I

have known more misery than you. I have sinned more deeply than you. I

have sinned against more light and more love, and yet I have found mercy;

why may not you? Remember what James Covey said: “Tell poor sailors

that none of them need to despair, since poor blaspheming Covey found

mercy.” I was interrupted just while writing this, by a very little girl coming

to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” Poor thing, she has been weeping till

I thought her heart would break. She lives several miles off; but a

companion was awakened and told her, and ever since she has been seeking

Christ with all her heart. I was telling her that sweet verse: “Christ Jesus

came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.”—1 Tim.

1:15. It will answer you also, dear friend. Christ Jesus was God’s dear Son.

He made all things,—sun, moon, and stars, men and angels. He was from

all eternity in the bosom of the Father, and yet He came into the world. He

did not say, “I will keep my throne and my happiness, and leave sinners to

die and perish in their sins.” No; “He came into the world.” He became a

babe, and was laid in a manger, for there was not room in the inn. The inn

was like your heart; it was filled with other lodgers, and had no room for

Jesus. He became “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He bore

our sins upon His own body on the tree. While we were sinners, “Christ

died for us.” Why did He do all this? Ah! it was to save sinners. Not to save

good people—not to save angels—but sinners. Perhaps you will say, “But I

am too bad a sinner;” but Paul says, “of whom I am the chief.” Paul was the

chief of sinners, and yet he was saved by Christ. So Christ is willing and

able to save you, though you were the chief sinner on the face of the earth.

If Christ came into this world and died to save such as you, will it not be a

fearful thing if you die without being saved by Him? Surely you have lived

long enough without Christ. You have despised Jesus long enough. What

has the world done for you, that you love it so much? Did the world die for

you? Will the world blot out your sins or change your heart? Will the world

carry you to heaven? No, no! You may go back to the world if you please,

but it can only destroy your poor soul. “She that liveth in pleasure is dead

while she liveth.”—1 Tim. 5:6. Read these words in your Bible, and mark

them; and if you go back, that mark will be a witness against you before the

great white throne, when the books are opened. Have you not lived long

enough in pleasure? Come and try the pleasures of Christ,—forgiveness and

a new heart. I have not been at a dance or any worldly amusement for many

years, and yet I believe I have had more pleasure in a single day than you

have had all your life. In what? you will say. In feeling that God loves me,

—that Christ has washed me,—and in feeling that I shall be in heaven when

the wicked are cast into hell. “A day in thy courts is better than a

thousand.”—Ps. 84:10.

I do not know what is to be the result of your anxieties. I do not know

whether you will be drawn to Christ, or driven back into the whirlpool of a

perishing world; but I know that all will soon be settled for eternity. I was in

a very wicked family to-day, where a child had died. I opened my Bible,

and explained this verse to them over the coffin of their little one: “It is

appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” Heb. 9:27.

Solemn words! we have only once to die, and the day is fixed. If you die

wrong the first time, you cannot come back to die better a second time. If

you die without Christ, you cannot come back to be converted and die a

believer,—you have but once to die. Oh! pray that you may find Christ

before death finds you. “After this the judgment.” Not, after this purgatory.

No further opportunity to be saved: “after this the judgment.” As death

leaves you, so judgment finds you. If you die unsaved, you will be so in the

judgment. May I never see you at the left hand! If I do, you will remember

how I warned you, and prayed for you, and besought you to come to the

Lord Jesus.

Come to Jesus,—He will in nowise cast you out.—Your affectionate

friend, etc.

TO A SOUL INQUIRING AFTER JESUS

The wise men—Guilt in us, righteousness in Jesus

ST PETER’S, Monday, September 18, 1842.

MY DEAR C.,—I do not and cannot forget you; and though it is very late,

I have to write you a few lines to say, Follow on to know Jesus. I do not

know if you can read my crooked writing, but I will make it as plain as I

can. I was reading this morning, Luke 2:29, what old Simeon said when he

got the child Jesus into his arms: “Now lettest Thou thy servant depart in

peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” If you

get a firm hold of the Lord Jesus, you will be able to say the same.

If you had died in your ignorance and sin, dear soul, where would you

have been this night? Ah! how shall we sufficiently praise God if He really

has brought you to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! Ps. 36:12, 13, will

suit your case. If you all are really brought to Christ, it will be something

like the case of the wise men of the East, Matt. 2. When they were in their

own country, God attracted their attention by means of a star. They followed

it, and came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the

Jews? for we are come to worship Him.” Herod and Jerusalem were

troubled at the saying. No one was seeking Christ but themselves. The

world thought they were mad; but soon they saw the star again, and it led

them to the house where the infant Saviour lay,—his robe of state a

swaddling band, his cradle the manger. Yet they kneeled down and called

Him, “my Lord and my God,”—they got their own souls saved, and gave

Him gifts, the best they had, and then departed into their own country with

great joy in their hearts, and heaven in their eye. So it may be with you. The

most around you care not for Jesus. But you are asking, “Where is He?—we

are come to be saved by Him.” None around you can tell. They think you

are going out of your mind. But God is leading you to the very spot where

the Redeemer is,—a lowly, despised, spit-upon, crucified Saviour. Can this

be the Saviour of the world? Yes, dear soul; kneel down and call Him your

Redeemer. He died for such as you and me. And now you may go away into

your own country again, but not as you came. You will carry with you joy

unspeakable and full of glory. A young woman called upon me on

Wednesday last, whom I had never seen before. She said she was a stranger

from another part of Scotland; she came to this town about a year ago, and

attended St Peter’s, and there for the first time learned that she was a sinner

and needed Christ. About four weeks ago she found rest and joy at the

Saviour’s feet. I said to her, “Then you will bless God that He brought you

from your own country to this place.” She said, “I often do that.” Another

woman came the same evening, whom I had never seen. She said she had

been married eight years to a wicked husband. One of her neighbours had

brought her to our church, and now she feels that Christ has saved her soul.

Thus the work goes on: “The Lord added to the church daily such as

shall be saved.” A young woman was with me to-night in great distress. She

said, “I have a wicked heart within me that would sink a world.” I said, “I

am thankful to hear you complain of your wicked heart, dear friend, it is

unsearchably wicked. There is not a sin committed on earth or in hell but

has its spring and fountain in your breast and mine. You are all sin,—your

nature is sin,—your heart is sin,—your past life is sin,—your prayers are all

sin.” Oh that you would despair of being righteous in yourself! Then take

the Lord Jesus for your righteousness. In Him is no sin. And He stood for

us, and offers to be your shield,—your way to the Father. You may be

righteous in Christ with a perfect righteousness, broad as the law, and pure

as the light of heaven. If you had an angel’s righteousness, you might well

lay it down and put on Jesus. The robe of a blood-washed sinner is far

whiter than that of an angel. Do not fear the frown of the world. When a

blind man comes against you in the street, you are not angry at him; you say

he is blind, poor man, or he would not have hurt me. So you may say of the

poor world, when they speak evil of Christians, they are blind. If they knew

their sin and misery, and the love of Jesus, they would cleave to Him also.

Fear not them which kill the body, and after that have no more that they can

do. Keep close to the Lord Jesus. He is greater than all that can be against

you; He is the Shepherd of his sheep; He will defend you from wolves. Pray

for the Holy Spirit, dear friend. Ask Him to come into your heart, and abide

there. It is a mean dwelling for such a guest. Still He will make it clean and

holy by dwelling in it. Ask Him to teach you to pray, Rom. 8:26, 27. He

will give you “groanings that cannot be uttered.” Ask Him to change your

heart and make it like that of Jesus. Ask Him to write the law upon your

heart, and to keep you in every time of need. I fear you are weary of my

long sermons. Remember, if you are not saved, I will be a witness against

you in the judgment-day.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall;

If ye tarry till you’re better,

You will never come at all.

Not the righteous—sinners Jesus came to call.

Farewell! Write me soon all your heart.—Ever yours till glory, etc.

TO THE SAME

Trials from a blind world—How the death of Christ is an atonement

LONDON, November 5, 1842.

MY DEAR C.,—I pray for you that your faith may not fail. Hold fast by

Jesus for a little while, and then we shall be for ever with the Lord, where

the unbelieving will never be. I got safely up to town without stopping. The

young man in the coach with us was Lord P. He and I were alone all night in

the railway carriage, and I would fain have told him the way to be saved,

but when morning dawned I lost him. I preached twice on Thursday, and

once last night, and now I am preparing for to-morrow. I feel, like John the

Baptist, the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The mad world presses

on like a bird hasting to the snare. They do not know that the dead are there,

and her guests are in the depths of hell.

I thank God without ceasing when I remember you all,—how God

opened your eyes and hearts, and made you flee from the wrath to come,

and believe the record which God hath given concerning his Son. “Fear

none of those things which thou shalt suffer.” “Be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life,” Rev. 2:10. Do not be surprised if

worldly people mock you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely.

Jesus told you it would be so. “If you were of the world, the world would

love its own.” You hare been long enough of the world. Did the world ever

hate you then? So now, when you have come out from among them, and are

cleaving to Jesus, do you think they will love you? Remember Jesus loves

you. God is for you and who can be against you? Remember, all who have

gone to heaven before you suffered the same things; see Rev. 7:14: “These

are they that came out of great tribulation.”

You wish to understand more about Christ’s death being an atonement. I

shall try and explain. The curse which Adam by his sins brought upon us all

was this, “Thou shalt surely die.”—Gen. 2:17. This included the death of

the body, the death of the soul, and the eternal destruction of both in hell.

This is the curse that hangs over every unpardoned sinner. And our sins

have only added certainty and weight to the awful curse, for the “wages of

sin is death.” Now, when the Son of God said He would become our Surety

and Saviour, the Father said, “Thou must die for them;” see John 10:17, 18:

“I lay down my life.” “This commandment have I received from my

Father.” It is true, Christ did not suffer eternal destruction in hell; but He

was a person so glorious and excellent—God’s own Son—that His short

sufferings were equal in value to our eternal agonies. So that, in the eye of

law, and in God’s account, Jesus has suffered all that you and I were

condemned to suffer. Hence that sweet, sweet passage, “Comfort ye,

comfort ye, … for she hath received (in Christ) of the Lord’s hand double

for all her sins.”—Isa. 40:1, 2. Christ’s dying for us is as much in God’s

account as if we had twice over borne the eternal agonies of hell. Hence that

sweet song which God enabled you and G. to sing: “I will praise Thee;

though Thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and Thou

comfortedst me.”—Isa. 12:1. Hence also that triumphant question, “Who is

he that condemneth? It is Christ that died.”—Rom. 8:34.

Keep looking, then, to Jesus, dear soul, and you will have the peace that

passeth all understanding. Whenever Satan accuses you, send him to the

stripes of the Lord Jesus. Deal gently and tenderly with your unconverted

friends. Remember you were once as blind as they. “He was despised, and

WE esteemed Him not.”—Isa. 53. Honour your mother in the Lord. Give her

all reverence and obedience in things not sinful. Ask—to read and pray over

Matt. 18:3–6. I would love much to visit the cottage on my return, but I fear

I shall be kept in town till Friday, so that I must travel night and day home.

The Lord bless you, and keep you cleaving to Christ the true vine. You have

found the pearl of great price. Go and sin no more. “If any man draw back,

my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” God is able to keep you from

falling. In his dear arms I leave you.—Yours, etc.

TO A SOUL THAT HAD BEGUN TO SEE CHRIST

What you want in yourself is to Be found in double measure in Christ

DUNDEE, November 1842.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—Why did you not write me a few lines? It would be

occupation to you, and your soul might find rest, even when pouring itself

out to another. I do trust you are seeking hard after Him whom your soul

loveth. He is not far from any one of us. He is a powerful and precious

Saviour, and happy are they who put their trust in Him. He is the Rose of

Sharon, lovely to look upon, having all divine and human excellences

meeting in himself; and yet He is the Lily of the Valleys,—meek and lowly

in heart, willing to save the vilest. He answers the need of your soul. You

are all guilt; He is a fountain to wash you. You are all naked; He has a

wedding garment to cover you. You are dead; He is the life. You are all

wounds and bruises; He is the Balm of Gilead. His righteousness is broader

than your sin; and then He is so free. Remember the word we read at the

draw-well: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Look at

Isa. 40:1, 2: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” If you receive Christ as

your Surety, you have realized double punishment for all your sins. The

sufferings of Christ for us were as honouring to God as if we had suffered

eternal punishment thrice over. If you will only open your arms to receive

Christ as your Surety, then your iniquity is pardoned. You will taste

immediate forgiveness. Your warfare with the law and an accusing

conscience will be immediately accomplished. If you will only lay hold on

Christ now, you will feel the force of that sweet command, “Comfort ye,

comfort ye;” double comfort, double peace, for in Jesus you have suffered

double wrath. Pray over that verse; and may He who first made the light to

shine out of darkness shine into your heart, to let you see the way of

salvation clearly. Soon may you sing: “Thou wast angry with me; but thine

anger is turned away, and Thou comfortest me.” “Oh, to grace how great a

debtor!” You are always in my prayers, that God would reveal himself unto

you. Oh the joy of being able to say, “My Beloved is mine, and I am his!”—

Ever yours in the gospel, etc.

TO THE REV. P. L. MILLER, WALLACETOWN

A word in season to the weary

September 14, 1842.

MY DEAR PATRICK,—When I last saw Horatius, I agreed not to ask him at

all at the autumn communion, but only in the spring I know not well where

to look, as A. is to undertake the Edinburgh communion.

Don’t be cast down, except for sin. Lie low in self, and set both feet on

the Rock of Ages. The sun, by one blink, can give a smile to nature; so can

the Lord’s face give life to our dark souls. Numbers do not prove life

always. Remember the well of Sychar. Get much of the hidden life in your

own soul; soon it will make life spread around.

Try prayer, when preaching fails. He can turn the water into wine.

Farewell!—Ever yours in Jesus, etc.

TO THE REV. J. MILNE, PERTH

Another word in season to a brother

September 24, 1842

MY DEAR BROTHER,—I long after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. If I

make you sorry, who is he that maketh me glad, but the same who is made

sorry by me? I often try to carry you to Jesus, as the four friends did the

palsied man, and I have been longing to hear you say that his word to you

was, “Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee;” and then, “Arise and

walk.” I wonder often God does not hide his face from me and lay me low,

yet He restores my soul after many falls. He holds me by my right hand,

and I believe will bring me to glory, though the weakest and most

inconstant of all his saved ones. We shall praise more loudly than other

men, and love more ardently, and gaze upon his wounds more wistfully, and

say, He gave himself for us. Cheer up, brother, and tell poor sinners what

Jesus can do; for if He could not save the vilest of them all, we had never

preached the good news.

If I could be with you, how gladly would I, but I do not see my way. I

have promised to be in London the first Sabbath of November, which will

take me soon away, and for a long time, from this poor flock.

Will you come to me on Monday the 17

, the last day of the concert for

prayer? I think of printing a similar tract to last year’s, or perhaps the same,

with improvements. Suggest something.

This is Saturday, and I am empty. Oh for fulness out of Him! Why do

we not take all out of Jesus?—Ever yours till glory dawn, etc.

TO THE REV. J. MILNE, PERTH

Breathings of heart

December 13, 1842.

MY DEAR BROTHER,—We are to have the communion, if God permit, on 1

January 1843. A. B. is to be with me. Could you come down on the

Thursday or Friday previous, and give us a good and comfortable word in

the evening, 29

or 30

December—either you choose, or both if you prefer

that?

I preach at Newtyle to-night, and to-morrow evening at Lintrathen in a

barn, and on Thursday at Kirriemuir. Pray for me, for I am a poor worm, all

guilt and all helplessness, but still able to say, In the Lord have I

righteousness and strength. When shall the day break and the shadows flee

away? When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall

be done away. I long for love without any coldness, light without dimness,

and purity without spot or wrinkle. I long to be at Jesus’ feet, and tell Him I

am all his, and ever will be.—Yours till then, etc.

TO ONE WHO HAD LATELY TAKEN UP THE CROSS

Kept by God—Meeting with God

ST PETER’S, January 31, 1843.

MR DEAR M.,—I was glad indeed to hear that you are prospering, and

that you do not repent having made Moses’ choice,—Heb. 11:24, 25,—of

which I used to tell you so often. Happy is that people whose God is the

Lord. You remember what Ruth said when she clave to Naomi?—“Thy

people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” I have not got your note

by me, and it is late, but I will answer it to-morrow. I only write a line to-

night to strengthen your faith,—“that I may be comforted together with you,

by the mutual faith both of you and me.”—Rom. 1:12. I have been

remaining quiet since I wrote you last, that I may gather strength for the

north. I expect hard service, but I hope Jesus will be with me. You

remember the sweet promise Jacob got at Bethel while he slept at the foot

of that wondrous ladder: “Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all

places whither thou goest; for I will not leave thee until I have done that

which I have spoken to thee of.” That promise is to you and me as truly as

to Jacob. Therefore do not fear though you may be taken among those who

are strangers to Jesus and his love. There is a sweet promise, Ezek. 11:16. I

have felt its preciousness in foreign lands. Jesus himself will be our

sanctuary not made with hands. I was preaching on Thursday last on Rev.

19:12: “On his head were many crowns;” trying to teach them the kingly

office of the Lord Jesus. It was a very solemn night. On Sabbath I lectured

on Heb. 9:9, 10, and preached in the evening on Isa. 49:5: “Though Israel

be not gathered;” showing that however many will be lost by unbelief, still

Christ would not lose one beam of his glory. If all the world were blind, and

said the sun was dark, that would not take away one bright ray from it. It

was a very awful subject, and my heart yearned over poor lost sinners. Four

little girls have come since, asking, “What must I do to be saved?” Three of

them were awakened before, and one very lately. A widow came last night

whom I never saw before, to tell me that she had found the Lord Jesus. To-

night we have been at a large meeting about the tracts which are distributed

monthly to every house in town,—a very sweet society. It is now late, and I

am talking a little while with you as we used to do before retiring. Did you

read Gen. 32. to-day? What a solemn chapter! Do you ever come to a spot

you can call Mahanaim, where the angels of God meet you? I trust you are

one of the heirs of salvation, and that the angels are sent forth to minister to

you. Unconverted souls have no such privilege. You see Jacob was going on

God’s errand, at God’s command (see 31:3), when the angels of God met

him. Oh, it is sweet to go on God’s errands! How long we went Satan’s, and

the world’s, and our own, “serving diverse lusts and pleasures!” Do you not

feel your heart lighter now as you walk on the narrow way? Is not a

Christian’s darkest hour calmer than the world’s brightest? Is not Jacob’s

prayer in his distress an interesting one? He puts God in remembrance of

his promise. This is what we should do: “The Lord which said unto me.”

And “Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.”—Gen. 32:9, 12. God

commands us to do this: “Put me in remembrance.” Isa. 43:26. It is a

blessed way of praying, to pray upon a promise, and to plead, “Do as Thou

hast said.” You remember Faith’s Plea, a little book Miss C. gave you. Who

do you think the man was that wrestled with Jacob? Was it not Jesus, the

sinner’s Friend? At the daybreak Jacob began to see his blessed features,

and when his thigh was out of joint he could do nothing but hang upon Him.

This is what you and I should do. Say, “I will not let Thee go except Thou

bless me.” Are there not some spots that you can call Peniel, where you

have met Jehovah-Jesus face to face? When you do get into his presence, oh

do not weary of it; do not soon let go your hold. I am sure we lose much by

our slight hold on Jesus. I was telling an interesting story to-night. Thirty

thousand Spaniards lately came over the Pyrenees into France, to escape the

civil wars. Some Geneva youths determined to take the opportunity of

providing them with Spanish Testaments. The London Society granted them

10,000 copies. With these they set off and distributed freely. But the

Spanish priests had come over, and would not allow the Spaniards to

receive or keep them. Many were burned or torn; they called them “The

Plague.” One Spanish youth bought a Testament—kept it, read it, believed

on Jesus; and when his countrymen returned to Spain, he stayed behind to

hear more of these wonders of redeeming love. Was not this one precious

soul worth all the expense and trouble a thousand times over? “Be not

weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Be

active for God; you have lost much time already. Do nothing rashly, nothing

unfeminine: give no just cause for reproach, but do not fear ridicule or

proud men’s sneers. If they knew what you know, they would rather inquire,

“Oh that I knew where I might find Him!” Meanwhile, good night. May He

who never slumbers nor sleeps watch over you all, and keep you till your

dying day! May Jesus be near you, and make you his own! I fear I must not

visit Kelso this season. I leave for the north on Monday, and do not expect

to be home till the 25

. I fear this cuts off all hope of my visiting R—the

time you mention. I do hope to be in England early in the summer, but

before that I do not see my way. But I shall gladly leave myself in Jehovah’s

hand. Present duty is ours; neither must we consult our mere wishes. If I

hear from you before I leave, I shall try and send you another line. I am glad

you teach in the classes, and I think I see you telling all you know.

Remember Paul; when his heart was changed, for thirty years be did

nothing else than serve Jesus. He laboured away in the service of Him who

died for him, and plucked him from the burning. It is interesting to notice

also, how often Paul told them of his own conversion. He told it to the Jews

—Acts 22; then to Agrippa—Acts 26; then to the Galatians—Gal. 1:13–16;

then to the Philippians—Phil. 3:4. I think this is an example for us to do the

same, cautiously and wisely. John Newton once preached in Newgate to the

prisoners. He chose 1 Tim. 1:15 for his text, and told them his own history,

so that they wept and he wept. Pray for me still, that my way may be made

plain. This is one of the blessings of having spiritual children, that you will

surely pray for me. Do not cease to pray for ——, that her eyes may be

opened to see her true condition, and that she may call upon Jesus before it

be too late. I must now leave you and write a little to others. I preach at

Wallacetown to-night. May the Master be there! Oh He is a sweet Master!

One smile from Jesus sustains my soul amid all the storms and frowns of

this passing world. Pray to know Jesus better. Have no other righteousness,

no other strength, but only Jesus. Soon we shall see Him coming in the

clouds of heaven. May you be kept faithful to death.—Ever your loving

friend, etc.

TO M. B.

One of his flock who had felt deserted in soul

PETERHEAD, February 7, 1843.

DEAR FRIEND,—I was very happy to hear from you. I grieve to hear of

your sorrow; but Job’s sorrow was deeper, and David’s also, in Ps. 42. If

you cannot say, “I found Him whom my soul loveth,” is it not sweet that

you can say, “I am sick of love”—He is my beloved still, though He has

withdrawn himself and is gone for a time? Seek into the cause of your

declension. See that it be not some Achan in your bosom,—some idol set up

in the corner of your heart. See that it be not some allowed sin,—an

unlawful attachment that is drawing you away from the bleeding side of

Jesus, and bringing a cloud between you and that bright Sun of

Righteousness. When you find out the cause, confess it and bewail it in the

ear of a listening God. Tell Him all; keep nothing back. If you cannot find

out the cause, ask Him to tell it you. Get it washed in the blood of Jesus.

Then get it subdued.—Micah 7:19. None but the Lord Jesus can either

pardon or subdue. Remember not to rest in a state of desertion. “I will rise

now and go about the city.” And yet do not think that you have some great

thing to do before regaining peace with God. The work on which peace is

given has all been done by Jesus for us. “The word is nigh thee.” Christ is

the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The sunshine is always sweeter after we have been in the shade; so will

you find Jesus in returning to Him. True, it is better never to wander; but

when you have wandered, the sooner you return the happier you will be. “I

will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than

now.” Hos. 2:7.

Do not delay, but humble yourself under his mighty hand, and He will

exalt you in due season. I have been speaking to-night in this place to a

large and attentive audience on Zech. 9:9. May you be enabled to apply it.

Remember me to Mrs K——, and also to all your fellow-servants whom I

know and love in the truth. Tell N—C—to make sure that she is in Christ,

and not to take man’s word for it. Tell E—L—to abide in Jesus; and tell her

brother to take care lest he be a rotten branch of the true vine. Tell W—J—

to be faithful unto death.

I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the truth.—

I am, your loving pastor, etc.

TO THE REV ALEX. GATHERER, DUNDEE

During his visit to the north

ELLON, February 20, 1843

DEAR FRIEND,—I was glad to hear from you in this far-off land. I am

deeply grieved to hear that fever still prevails. God is pleading hard with my

poor flock. I am glad to hear of your preaching on such precious texts, and

hope they were blessed to many. Never forget that the end of a sermon is

the salvation of the people. I feel more and more that it is God’s cause in

which we are embarked. King Jesus is a good master. I have had some

sweet seasons of communion with an unseen God, which I would not give

for thousands of gold and silver. May you have much of his presence with

you! Write me to Cruden, or, if immediately, to Captain Shepherd’s,

Straloch, New Machar.—Ever yours in Jesus, etc.

TO ONE WHO HAD MET WITH A BEREAVEMENT

Sorrow of the world—Incidents

March 8, 1843.

MY DEAR ——,—I know you will be wearying to hear from me; but it

has scarcely been in my power till now, I have had so many things to do

since my return. I trust Jesus is making known to you his power to calm the

soul in the deepest trials. “Where is your faith?” He said to the disciples;

and He says to you, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

I was much afflicted for your sakes to read the solemn letter you sent

me. Do you remember the words, “He must needs go through Samaria?”

We are getting new light upon their meaning.

I was reading to-day about godly sorrow, and the sorrow of the world.

Do you know the difference between these two?

Had this blow come upon you in your unconverted state, it would have

wrought, perhaps, only the sorrow of the world,—carnal sorrow,—sorrow

that drives us away from God,—makes us murmur and complain of his

dealings. Like Pharaoh, who turned harder every blow that God struck,—

even the loss of his first-born only hardened him. But godly sorrow, or more

literally, “sorrow towards God,”—grief that brings us to the feet of God,—

worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. It is used as an

instrument to bring the humbled soul to cleave to Jesus. Oh may it be so

with you! Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He shall

exalt you in due season. Improve the season while it lasts. The farmer

improves the seed-time, to cast in the seed into the furrows. Now, when

God has made long the furrow by the plough of affliction in your heart, oh

see that you let the sower sow the good seed deep in your hearts. I trust H.

B—may be made a great blessing and comfort to you next Sabbath. May

you all be enabled to meet with Jesus at his own table, and to tell Him all

your sorrows there, and ask grace to keep you in the evil day.

I would like well to be with you; but in body this may not be. In heart I

am often with you, because I can say what I was reading to-day: “Ye are in

my heart to live and to the with you.” 2 Cor 7:3.

I preached twenty-seven times when I was away, in twenty-four

different places. I was very, very tired, and my heart has beat too much ever

since, but I am wonderfully well I have “fightings without and fears within”

just now. Do pray earnestly for me,—as indeed I know you do. I wish you

had been with me last night. When I was away, the people agreed to meet

twice a week in the lower schoolroom to pray for me; and now that I have

come back, we have continued the meetings. The school is quite crammed.

Such sweet loud singing of praise I never heard, and many tears.

I stood by a poor socialist in the agonies of death to-day. He was quite

well yesterday. He anxiously wished me to come and pray. Oh to be ready

when the Bridegroom comes!

Farewell. Peace from above fill your soul, your friend and brother

prays, etc.

ANOTHER TO ONE BEREAVED

Betake yourself to Him that is ever the same

March 9, 1843.

MY DEAR ——,—I did not think I would have been so long in answering

you in your time of sorrow, but I have been more than occupied. I earnestly

trust that this sad bereavement may be greatly blessed by God to you. Pray

that you may not lose this precious opportunity of giving your hand and

heart for ever away to the Lord Jesus. May Hosea 2:14 be fulfilled in you

all: “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak

comfortably unto her;” and that clear promise: “I will cause you to pass

under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.” Ezek.

20:35–37. This solemn event shows you what I always used to tell you, how

short your life is,—what a vapour,—how soon the joys that depend on the

creatures may be dried up; that “one thing is needful,” and that Mary was

wise in choosing the good part that cannot be taken away from her. You

remember the first night you were in St Peter’s I showed you this preaching

from Ps. 16:6: “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a

goodly heritage.” I am indeed more than ever anxious about you, that you

receive not the grace of God in vain. It is the furnace that tries the metal,

and it is affliction that tries the soul whether it be Christ’s or not. I am

jealous over you with a godly jealousy, lest the furnace should show you to

be reprobate silver. Do let me hear how your soul truly is,—whether you

can see the hand of a Father in this bereavement,—and whether you are

more than ever determined, through grace, to be the Lord’s. How sweet that

Jesus ever liveth! He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. You

will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling

wilderness. Then He is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation,

—a rock rising above the storm. The Bible, too, is more full of meaning.

Have you ever prayed over that verse: “He doth not afflict willingly?” Lam.

3:33. Oh precious book, that conveys such a message to the mourner’s

dwelling! And does not trial bring more meaning out of that verse: “We

know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to

them who are the called according to his purpose?” Rom. 8:28. The Bible is

like the leaves of the lemon-tree—the more you bruise and wring them, the

sweeter the fragrance they throw around. “Is any afflicted? let him pray.”

Do you not find that prayer is sweeter now? The soul finds vent for its

feelings toward God. “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver

thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” When I had my fever abroad, Mr Bonar

whispered that verse into my ear. I had nearly lost all my faculties,—I could

remember nothing except that I was far from home; but that verse kept

sounding in my ears when I was nearly insensible: “I called, and He

delivered me.”

Are you preparing to go to the Lord’s table next Lord’s day? May you

indeed have the wedding garment,—righteousness without works,—and see

the King in his beauty,—and give yourself away to Him, saying, “I am my

beloved’s, and my beloved is mine!” It should be a solemn sacrament to

you. I can add no more. Write me soon, dear G——, and tell me all that is

in your heart, and whether the voice of the Comforter does not say, Be still!

when death has left so deep a silence in your family.—Believe me ever your

friend in Jesus, etc.

TO ONE COMPLAINING OF THE PLAGUES OF THE HEART

Passing on to glory

ST PETER’S, March 8, 1843.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—I send a few lines to you in answer to yours. You

complain of the plague of your own heart, and so you will till you die. You

know little yet of its chambers of imagery. All that is ours is sin. Our

wicked heart taints all we say and do; hence the need of continual

atonement in the blood of Jesus. It is not one pardoning that will serve the

need of our souls. We must have daily, hourly pardons. I believe you are in

the furnace, but it is a short one. Soon the Bridegroom will come, and we

shall be with Him, and like Him, and God shall wipe away all tears from

our eyes. I burst through all the cobwebs of present things, and, his Spirit

anointing my eyes, look at Jesus as one beside me. Blessed Elder Brother,

with two natures—God and man—ever-living, never-dying, never-

changing! I was preaching last Sabbath on Heb. 9:13, 14: “He through the

Eternal Spirit offered himself. It was very sweet to myself. In the afternoon

I preached on Rev. 2:4, 5: “I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy

first love.” I fear many of my people have done so; therefore it was very

suitable. Several I see have felt it very deeply. In the evening I preached on

Ps. 78:41: “They turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One

of Israel,”—on the sinfulness of limiting God. It was a very sweet and

solemn day. Meantime, stay your soul on God. “Thou wilt keep him in

perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”

A few more trials, a few more tears, a few more days of darkness, and we

shall be for ever with the Lord! “In this tabernacle we groan, being

burdened.” All dark things shall yet be cleared up, all sufferings healed, all

blanks supplied, and we shall find fulness of joy (not one drop wanting) in

the smile and presence of our God. It is one of the laws of Christ’s

kingdom, “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of

God.” We must not reckon upon a smooth road to glory, but it will be a

short one. How glad I am that you have “received the word in much

affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost!” Cleave closely to Jesus, that you

may not have to say in a little, “Oh that I had affliction back again to

quicken me in prayer, and make me lie at his feet!”

Trials make the promise sweet,

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to his feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.

This land will soon be strangely convulsed, if God prevent not. The

plans now preparing for carrying the gospel into every corner of the land

are sweet indeed. If I be spared and strengthened, I go to London towards

the end of April. My stay must be very short. It is also intended to send me

to the General Assembly in May. My poor flock, how I yearn over them! So

many of them careless, and judgment at the door! Mr Burns comes to me

to-morrow.

I must add no more, as I have work before me. May you experience

more and more, that “when He giveth quietness, none can make trouble!”—

even as you once experienced the other, “When He hideth his face, who

then can behold Him?” Soon we shall see Him as He is; then our trials shall

be done. We shall reign with Him, and be entirely like Him. The angels will

know us by our very faces to be brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Remember Jesus for us is all our righteousness before a holy God, and

Jesus in us is all our strength in an ungodly world. Persevere ever to death;

eternal life will make up for all. I was reading to-day, “God hath granted

repentance unto life.” Remember Barnabas’s advice, “Cleave to the

Lord,”—not to man, but to the Lord. May He perfect all that concerneth

you. Do not fear the face of man. Remember how small their anger will

appear in eternity. Till then, believe me, your friend in gospel bauds, etc.

SERMONS AND OTHER REMAINS

Those who had an opportunity of hearing Mr M‘CHEYNE at those times when his soul was most

enlarged, and his lips fresh touched with the live coal, will be ready to remark that some of his most

impressive Sermons (e.g. The Great White Throne) are not here. This is true; and the reason is, that

they were not found in his MSS. I might indeed have given full notes from the records of hearers; but it

was far better to adhere to what was found in his own handwriting, that so the reader may be sure

that, if he has not before him the discourses as they were delivered, he has at least what passed

through the author’s soul.

SERMONS, ETC.

SERMON I

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by

me.”—JOHN 14:6

IT is the saying of an old divine, that God often orders it, that when He is in

hand with the greatest mercies for us, then we are most of all sinning

against Him; which He doth to magnify his love the more.

In the words I have read, we find an example of this. At no time did the

heart of Jesus overflow with a tenderer and more sovereign love to his

disciples, than when He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” They were

troubled by many things. He had told them that He was going to leave

them; He had told them that one should betray Him, that another should

deny Him, that they should all be offended because of Him that very night;

and perhaps they thought He was going from them in anger. But whatever

the cause of their trouble was, Jesus’ bosom was like a vessel full to

overflowing, and these words were the overlipping drops of love: “Let not

your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Surely such

words of confiding tenderness were never whispered in this cold world

before; and oh then, think how cold, how dark, how dull is the question

with which Thomas breaks in upon the heavenly discourse: “Thomas saith

unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know

the way?” And yet how condescendingly does Jesus bear with their cold-

hearted dulness! How lovingly does He begin the very alphabet of salvation

with them, and not only answers, but over-answers Thomas,—gives him

more than he could ask or think. He asked about the way and the place; but

Christ answers, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto

the Father but by me.” Regarding this, then, as a complete description of the

gospel salvation, let us go over the different parts of it.

I. Christ is the Way.—“I am the way; no man cometh,” etc. The whole

Bible bears witness that by nature we have no way to the Father. We are by

nature full of sin, and God is by nature infinitely holy,—that is, He shrinks

away from sin. Just as the sensitive plant, by its very nature, shrinks away

from the touch of a human hand, so God, by his very nature, shrinks away

from the touch of sin. He is everlastingly separate from sinners; He is of

purer eyes than to behold iniquity.

(1.) This was impressively taught to Adam and the patriarchs. As long

as Adam walked holily, God dwelt in him, and walked in him, and

communed with him; but when Adam fell, “God drove the man out of

paradise; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubim and a

flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.”

This flaming sword between the cherubim was a magnificent emblem of

God,—the just and sin-hating God. In the bush, He appeared to Moses as a

consuming fire; in the temple, He appeared between the cherubim in the

milder glory of the Shechinah; but here He appeared between the cherubim

as a sword,—a just and sin-hating God. And I beseech you to remark, that

this flaming sword turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life. If it

had not turned every way,—if it had left some footpath unglared across,—

then Adam might have stolen in by that footpath, and made his own way to

the tree of life. But no: whatever avenue he tried,—however secret,

however narrow, however steep and difficult, however silently he crept

along,—still this flaming meteor met him, and it seemed to say, “How can

man be just with God? by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh living be

justified.” Well might Adam sit down, wearied with the vain search for a

pathway into life; for man by nature has no way to the Father.

But Christ says, “I am the way.” As He says in Psalm 16, “Thou wilt

show me the path of life.” No man could find out this path of life; but Jesus

says, “Thou wilt show it me: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right

hand are pleasures for evermore.” Jesus pitied the poor sons of Adam

vainly struggling to find out a way into the paradise of God, and He left the

bosom of the Father, just that He might open up a way for us into the bosom

of the Father. And how did He do it? Was it by escaping the vigilance of the

flaming sword? No; for it turned every way. Was it by exerting his divine

authority, and commanding the glittering blade to withdraw? No; for that

would have been to dishonour his Father’s law instead of magnifying it. He

therefore became a man in our stead,—yea, became sin. God caused to meet

on Him the iniquities of us all. He advanced in our stead to meet that fiery

meteor,—He fell beneath its piercing blade; for He remembered the word of

the prophet, which is written: “Awake, O sword! against my shepherd, and

against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts.”

And now, since the glittering blade is bathed in the side of the

Redeemer, the guiltiest of sinners—whoever you be, whatever you be—

may enter in over his bleeding body, may find access to the paradise of

God, to eat of the tree of life, and live for ever. Come quickly,—doubt not;

for He says, I am the way.

(2.) The same fact—that man has by nature no way to the Father—was

impressively taught to Moses and the people of Israel.

When God condescended to dwell among the children of Israel, He

dwelt peculiarly in the holiest of all—the innermost apartment of the Jewish

temple. There the visible token of his presence rested between the

cherubim, at one time described to us as a light inaccessible and full of

glory, at another time as a cloud that filled the temple. But this innermost

apartment, or holiest of all (or secret place, as it is called in the Psalms),

was separated from the holy place by a curtain or veil; and through that veil

no man was allowed to pass, lest he should die, except the high priest, who

entered in once in the year, not without blood. Now, no picture could

express more plainly that the way into the holiest was not made manifest,

that no sinful man has any way of coming into the presence of God.

But Jesus says, “I am the way.” Jesus was grieved that we were shut out

from the holiest of all—from the presence of God; for He knew by

experience that in that presence there is fulness of joy. But how did He open

the way? Did He pull aside the veil, that we might steal in secretly and

easily into the presence of the Father? No; but He offered himself an

offering to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God. “He said, It is

finished, and bowed his head and gave up the ghost. And, behold, the veil

of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom.” It is finished:

the punishment of the law is borne, the demands of the law are answered,

the way is finished, the veil is rent from the top to the bottom! Not a shred

of the dreadful curtain now remains to intercept us. The guiltiest, the vilest

sinner of you all, has now liberty to enter in through the rent veil, under the

light of Jehovah’s countenance,—to dwell in the secret of his tabernacle, to

behold his beauty, and to inquire in his temple.

And now, my friends, is this your way of coming to the Father? Christ

says, “I am the way; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” If, then,

you will still keep to your own way, whatever it be,—whether it be the way

of tears, or penances, or vows of amendment, or hopes that God will not

deal strictly,—if you will not be warned, you will find in the judgment-day

that the cherubic sword turned every way, and that you are left a prey to the

consuming fire.

But oh! if there be one soul that can find no peace in any self-righteous

way,—if there be one of you who find that you are lost in yourself,—

behold, Christ says to you, “I am the way,” as He says in another place, “I

am the door.” It is a full, free, and open way, and it is a way for sinners.

Why wait a moment longer? There was once a partition wall between you

and God; but Christ hath cast it down. God was once angry; but his anger is

turned away from this blessed path. In Christ He is ever well pleased.

II. Christ is the Truth.—The whole Bible, and the whole of experience,

bear witness that by nature we are ignorant of the truth. No doubt there are

many truths which an unconverted man does know. He may know the truths

of mathematics and arithmetic,—he may know many of the common every-

day truths; but still it cannot be said that an unconverted man knows the

truth, for Christ is the truth. Christ may be called the key-stone of the arch

of truth. Take away the key-stone of an arch, and the whole becomes a heap

of rubbish. The very same stones may be there; but they are all fallen,

smothered, and confused,—without order, without end. Just so take Christ

away, and the whole arch of truth becomes a heap of rubbish. The very

same truths may be there; but they are all fallen,—without coherence,

without order, without end. Christ may be called the sun of the system of

truth. Take away the sun out of our system, and every planet would rush

into confusion. The very same planets would be there; but their conflicting

forces would draw them hither and thither, orb dashing against orb in

endless perplexity. Just so take Christ away, and the whole system of truth

rushes into confusion. The same truths may be in the mind, but all

conflicting and jarring in inextricable mazes; for “the path of the wicked is

as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.” But let Christ be revealed

to an unconverted soul,—let it not be merely a man speaking about Christ

unto him, but let the Spirit of God reveal Him,—and there is revealed, not a

truth, but the truth. You put the key-stone into the arch of truth; you restore

the sun to the centre of the system. All truth becomes orderly and

serviceable in that mind.

Now He knows the truth with regard to himself. Did the Son of God

really leave the bosom of the Father to bear wrath in our stead?—then I

must be under wrath. Did the Lord Jesus become a servant, that He might

obey the will of God instead of sinners?—then I must be without any

righteousness,—a child of disobedience.

Again, knowing Christ, he knows the truth with regard to God. Did God

freely give up his Son to the death for us all?—then, if I believe in Jesus,

there is no condemnation to me. God is my Father, and God is love.

My friends, have you seen Christ, who is the truth? Has He been

revealed to you, not by flesh and blood, but by the Spirit of our God? Then

you know how true it is that in Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and

knowledge,”—that Ho is the “Alpha and Omega,” the beginning and the

ending of all knowledge. But if you have not seen Christ, then you know

nothing yet as you ought to know; all your knowledge is like a bridge

without a key-stone,—like a system without a sun. What good will it do you

in hell that you knew all the sciences in the world, all the events of history,

and all the busy politics of your little day? Do you not know that your very

knowledge will be turned into an instrument of torture in hell? Oh, how will

you wish in that day that you had read your newspaper less and your Bible

more,—that with all your getting, you had got understanding,—that with all

your knowledge, you had known the Saviour, whom to know is life

everlasting!

III. Christ is the Life.—The whole Bible bears witness that by nature we

are dead in trespasses and sins,—that we are as unable to walk holily in the

world, as a dead man is unable to rise and walk.

Both Scripture and experience alike testify that we are by nature dead in

trespasses and sins; and yet it is not a death in which we are wholly

inactive, for in it we are said to walk according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air.

This truth is taught us impressively in that vision of the prophet Ezekiel,

where he was carried out by the Spirit, and set down in the midst of an open

valley full of dry bones; and as he passed by them round about, behold,

there were very many in the open valley, and lo! they were very dry.

Just such is the view which every child of God gets of the world. The

dry bones are very many, and they are very dry; and he asks the same

question which God asked of Ezekiel: “Can these bones live?” Oh yes, my

friends; and does not experience teach you the same thing? True, the dead

cannot know that they are dead; and yet, if the Lord touch your heart, you

will find it out. We prophesy to dry bones; for this is the Lord’s way;—

while we prophesy, the breath enters in. Look back over your life, then. See

how you have walked according to the course of this world. You have

always been like a man swimming with the stream,—never like a man

swimming against the current. Look into your heart, and see how it has

turned against all the commandments: you feel the Sabbath to be a

weariness, instead of calling it a delight and honourable. If ever you tried to

keep the commandments of God—if ever you tried to keep your eyes from

unlawful desires, your tongue from words of anger or gossiping or

bitterness, your heart from malice and envy and covetousness,—if ever you

have tried this, and I fancy most unconverted men have tried it,—if ever

you have tried this, did you not find it impossible? It was like raising the

dead. Did you not find a struggle against yourself? Oh how plain that you

are dead,—not born again! Marvel not that we say unto you, Ye must be

born again. You must be joined to Christ, for Christ is the life. Suppose it

were possible for a dead limb to be joined into a living body so completely

that all the veins should receive the purple tide of living blood,—suppose

bone to join on to bone, and sinew to sinew, and nerve to nerve,—do you

not see that that limb, however dead before, would become a living limb?

Before, it was cold and stiff and motionless, and full of corruption; now it is

warm and pliable, and full of life and motion. It is a living limb, because

joined on to that which is life. Or, suppose it possible for a withered branch

to be grafted into a living vine so completely that all the channels should

receive the flow of the generous sap, do you not see that that branch,

however dead before, becomes a living branch? Before, it was dry and

fruitless and withered; now, it is full of sap, of life, and vigour. It is a living

branch, for it is joined to the vine, which is its life. Well, then, just in the

same way, Christ is the life of every soul that cleaves to Him. He that is

joined to the Lord is one spirit. Is your soul like a dead limb—cold, stiff,

motionless, and full of corruption? Cleave you to Christ, be joined to Him

by faith, and you shall be one spirit,—you shall be made warm and

vigorous and full of activity in God’s service.

Is your soul like a withered branch—dry, fruitless, and withered,

wanting both leaves and fruit? Cleave you to Christ; be joined to Him, and

you shall be one spirit. You will find it true that Christ is the life; your life

will be hid with Christ in God. You will say, I live; “yet not I, but Christ

liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of

the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Remember then, my unbelieving friends, the only way for you to

become holy is to become united to Christ. And remember you, my

believing friends, that if ever you are relaxing in holiness, the reason is, you

are relaxing your hold on Christ. Abide in me, and I in you; so shall ye bear

much fruit. Severed from me, ye can do nothing.

DUNDEE, 1836.

SERMON II

“Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” HEB. 3:1.

WHEN a traveller passes very rapidly through a country, the eye has no time

to rest upon the different objects in it, so that, when he comes to the end of

his journey, no distinct impressions have been made upon his mind,—he

has only a confused notion of the country through which he has travelled.

This explains how it is that death, judgment, eternity, make so little

impression upon most men’s minds. Most people never stop to think, but

hurry on through life, and find themselves in eternity before they have once

put the question, “What must I do to be saved?” More souls are lost through

want of consideration than in any other way.

The reason why men are not awakened and made anxious for their souls

is, that the devil never gives them time to consider. Therefore God cries,

Stop, poor sinner, stop and think. Consider your ways. “Oh that you were

wise, that you understood this, that you considered your latter end!” And,

again He cries, “Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.”

In the same way does the devil try to make the children of God doubt if

there be a Providence. He hurries them away to the shop and market. Lose

no time, he says, but make money. Therefore God cries, Stop, poor sinner,

stop and think; and Jesus says, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they

grow; consider the ravens, which have neither storehouse nor barn.”

In the same way does the devil try to make the children of God live

uncomfortable and unholy lives. He beguiles them away from simply

looking to Jesus: he hurries them away to look at a thousand other things, as

he led Peter, walking on the sea, to look round at the waves. But God says,

Look here, consider the Apostle and High Priest of your profession; look

unto me and be ye saved; run your race, looking unto Jesus; consider Christ,

the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

I. Believers should live in daily consideration of the greatness and glory

of Christ

(1.) There was once a time when time was not,—when there was no

earth, neither sun, nor moon, nor star; a time when you might have

wandered through all space, and never found a resting-place to the sole of

your foot,—when you would have found no creatures anywhere, but God

everywhere,—when there were no angels with golden harps hymning

celestial praises, but God alone was all in all.

Ques.—Where was Jesus then? Ans.—He was with God. “In the

beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” He was near to God,

and in perfect happiness there. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of

his way, before his works of old. Then I was by Him as one brought up with

Him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before Him.” He was in

the bosom of God: “The only-begotten Son which is in the bosom of the

Father.” He was in perfect glory there: “O Father, glorify Thou me with

thyself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was!”

Ques.—What was Jesus then? Ans.—He was God. The Word was with

God, and “was God.” He was equal with the Father. “He thought it no

robbery to be equal with God.” He was rich. “He was the brightness of his

Father’s glory, and the express image of his person.”

Now, brethren, could I lift you away to that time when God was alone

from all eternity; could I have shown you the glory of Jesus then,—how He

dwelt in the bosom of the Father, and was daily his delight; and could I

have told you, “That is the glorious Being who is to undertake the cause of

poor lost sinners,—that is He who is going to put himself in their room and

stead, to suffer all they should suffer, and obey all they should obey,—

consider Jesus, look long and earnestly, weigh every consideration in the

balance of the soundest judgment,—consider his rank, his nearness, his

dearness to God the Father,—consider his power, his glory, his equality to

God the Father in everything,—consider, and say do you think you would

entrust your case to Him? do you think He would be a sufficient

Saviour?”—oh, brethren, would not every soul cry out, He is enough—I

want no other Saviour?

(2.) Again, there was a time when this world sprang into being,—when

the sun began to shine, and earth and seas began to smile. There was a time

when myriads of happy angels springing into being, first spread their wings,

doing his commandments,—when the morning stare sang together, and all

the sons of God shouted for joy.

Ques.—What was Jesus doing then? Ans.—“Without Him was not

anything made that was made.” “By Him were all things created that are in

heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,

or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him

and for Him.” Oh, brethren, could I lift you away back to that wonderful

day, and show you Jesus calling all the angels into being, hanging the earth

upon nothing;—could you have heard the voice of Jesus saying, “Let there

be light, and there was light;”—and could I have told you, “That is He who

is yet to undertake for sinners; consider Him, and see if you think He will

be a sufficient Saviour; look long and earnestly;”—good news, good news

for sinners, if this mighty Being undertake for us!—I can as little doubt the

sureness and completeness of my salvation as I can doubt the sureness of

the solid earth beneath my feet.

(3.) But the work of creation is long since passed. Jesus has been upon

our earth. And now He is not here—He is risen. Eighteen hundred years and

more have passed since Christ was upon the earth.

Ques.—Where is Jesus now? Ans.—” He is set down at the right hand

of the Majesty on high.” He is upon the throne with God in his glorified

body, and his throne is for ever. A sceptre is put into his hand—a sceptre of

righteousness, and the oil of gladness is poured over Him. All power is

given to Him in heaven and on earth.

Oh, brethren, could you and I pass this day through these heavens, and

see what is now going on in the sanctuary above,—could you see what the

child of God now sees who died last night,—could you see the Lamb with

the scars of his five deep wounds in the very midst of the throne,

surrounded by all the redeemed, every one having harps and golden vials

full of odours,—could you see the many angels round about the throne,

whose number is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of

thousands, all singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,”—and were one

of these angels to tell you, “This is He that undertook the cause of lost

sinners; He undertook to bear their curse and to do their obedience; He

undertook to be the second Adam,—the man in their stead; and lo! there He

is upon the throne of heaven;—consider Him,—look long and earnestly

upon his wounds—upon his glory,—and tell me, do you think it would be

safe to trust Him? do you think his sufferings and obedience will have been

enough?”—Yes, yes, every soul exclaims, Lord, it is enough! Lord, stay thy

hand! Show me no more, for I can bear no more. Oh, rather let me ever

stand and gaze upon the almighty, all-worthy, all-divine Saviour, till my

soul drink in complete assurance that his work undertaken for sinners is a

finished work! Yes, though the sins of all the world were on my one wicked

head, still I could not doubt that his work is complete, and that I am quite

safe when I believe in Him.

I would now plead with believers.—Some of you have really been

brought by God to believe in Jesus. Yet you have no abiding peace, and

very little growing in holiness. Why is this? It is because your eye is fixed

anywhere but on Christ. You are so busy looking at books, or looking at

men, or looking at the world, that you have no time, no heart, for looking at

Christ.

No wonder you have little peace and joy in believing. No wonder you

live so inconsistent and unholy a life. Change your plan. Consider the

greatness and glory of Christ, who has undertaken all in the stead of sinners,

and you would find it quite impossible to walk in darkness, or to walk in

sin. Oh what mean, despicable thoughts you have of the glorious Immanuel!

Lift your eyes from your own bosom, downcast believer,—look upon Jesus.

It is good to consider your ways, but it is far better to consider Christ.

I would now invite anxious souls.—Anxious soul! have you understood

all the glory of Christ? Have you understood that He undertook for guilty

sinners? And do you doubt if He be a sufficient Saviour? Oh, what mean

views you have of Christ if you dare not risk your soul upon Him!

Objection.—I do not doubt that Christ has suffered and done quite

enough, but I fear it was for others, and not for me. If I were sure it was for

me, I would be quite happy. Ans.—It is nowhere said in the Bible that

Christ died for this sinner or that sinner. If you are waiting till you find your

own name in the Bible, you will wait for ever. But it is said a few verses

before that, “He tasted death for every man;” and again, “He is the

propitiation for the sins of the whole world.” Not that all men are saved by

Him. Ah! no; the most never come to Jesus, and are lost; but this shows that

any sinner may come, even the chief of sinners, and take Christ as his own

Saviour. Come you then, anxious soul; say you, He is my refuge and my

fortress; and then, be anxious, if you can.

II. Consider Christ as the Apostle or Messenger of God

The word apostle means messenger,—one ordained and sent on a

particular embassy. Now Christ is an Apostle, for God ordained mid sent

Him into the world.

In the Old Testament, the name by which He is oftenest called is the

Angel of the Lord, or the Messenger of the Covenant. He is called God’s

Elect, chosen for the work; He is called God’s Servant; He is called the

Messiah, or the Christ, or the Anointed, because God anointed Him and sent

Him to the work. In the New Testament, over and over again Christ calls

himself the Sent of God. “As Thou hast sent me into the world, so have I

sent them into the world, that the world may know that Thou hast sent me.”

“And these have known that Thou hast sent me.” All this shows plainly that

it is not the Son alone who is interested in the saving of poor sinners, but

the Father also. “The Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

Objection.—True, Christ is a great and glorious Saviour, and able to

accomplish anything to save poor sinners; but perhaps God the Father may

not agree to pour out his wrath upon his Son, or to accept of his Son as a

surety in our stead. Ans.—Look here, Christ is the Apostle of God. It is as

much God the Father’s work, as it is Christ’s work. It occupied as much of

the heart of God as ever it did of the heart of Christ. God loved the world as

much and truly as ever Christ loved the world. God gave his Son, as much

as Christ gave himself for us. So God the Holy Spirit is as much interested

in it as the Father and Son. God gave his Son,—the Spirit anointed Him and

dwelt in Him without measure. At his baptism God acknowledged Him for

his beloved Son,—the Holy Spirit came on Him like a dove.

Oh! brethren, could I lift you away to the eternity that is past,—could I

bring you into the council of the Eternal Three; and as it was once said, “Let

us make man,” could I let you hear the word, “Let us save man,”—could I

show you how God from all eternity designed his Son to undertake for poor

sinners; how it was the very plan and the bottommost desire of the heart of

the Father that Jesus should come into the world, and do and die in the stead

of sinners; how the Holy Spirit breathed sweetest incense, and dropped like

holiest oil upon the head of the descending Saviour,—could I show you the

intense interest with which the eye of God followed Jesus through his whole

course of sorrow and suffering and death,—could I show you the anxious

haste with which God rolled away the stone from the sepulchre while it was

yet dark, for He would not leave his soul in hell, neither suffer his Holy One

to see corruption,—could I show you the ecstasies of love and joy that beat

in the bosom of the infinite God when Jesus ascended to his Father and our

Father; how He welcomed Him with a fulness of kindness and grace which

God alone could give, and God alone could receive, saying, “Thou art my

Son, this day have I ‘begotten Thee; Thou art indeed worthy to be called my

Son; never till this day wast Thou so worthy to be called mine; thy throne,

O God, is for ever and ever; sit Thou on my right hand until I make thine

enemies thy footstool;”—O sinner, will you ever doubt any more whether

God the Father be seeking thy salvation,—whether the heart of Christ and

of his Father be the same in this one grand controversy? O believer,

consider this apostle of God,—meditate on these things,—look and look

again, until your peace be like a river, and your righteousness like the waves

of the sea,—till the breathing of your soul be, Abba, Father!

III. Consider Christ as the High Priest of our profession

The duty of the high priest was twofold: 1

, to make Atonement; 2d, to

make Intercession.

When the high priest slew the goat at the altar of burnt-offerings, he did

it in presence of all the people, to make atonement for them. They all stood

around, gazing and considering their high priest; and when he gathered the

blood into the golden basin, and put on the white garments, and passed

away from their sight within the veil, their eye followed him, till the

mysterious curtain hid him from their sight. But even then the heart of the

believing Jew followed him still. Now he is drawing near to God for us;

now he is sprinkling the blood seven times before the mercy-seat, saying,

Let this blood be instead of our blood; now he is praying for us.

Brethren, let us also consider our great High Priest.

(1.) Consider Him making Atonement.—You cannot look at Him on the

cross as the disciples did; you cannot see the blood streaming from his five

deep wounds; you cannot see Him shedding his blood that the blood of

sinners might not be shed. Yet still, if God spare us, you may see bread

broken and wine poured out,—a living picture of the dying Saviour. Now,

brethren, the atonement has been made, Christ has died, his sufferings are

all past. And how is it that you do not enjoy peace? It is because you do not

consider. “Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Consider,—

has Jesus died in the stead of guilty sinners, and do you heartily consent to

take Jesus to be the man in your stead? then, you do not need to die. Oh,

happy believer, rejoice evermore! Live within sight of Calvary, and you will

live within sight of glory; and, oh, rejoice in the happy ordinance that sets a

broken Saviour so plainly before you!

(2.) Consider Christ as making Intercession.—When Christ ascended

from the Mount of Olives, and passed through these heavens, carrying his

bloody wounds into the presence of God,—and when his disciples had

gazed after Him, till a cloud received Him out of their sight,—we are told

that they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. What! are they joyful at

parting with their blessed Master? When He told them He was to leave

them, sorrow filled their hearts, and He had to argue with them and comfort

them, saying, “Let not your heart be troubled; it is expedient for you that I

go away.” How, then, are they changed? Jesus has left them, and they are

filled with joy. Oh! here is the secret,—they knew that Christ was now

going into the presence of God for them, that their great High Priest was

now entering within the veil to make intercession for them.

Now, believer, would you share in the great joy of the disciples?

Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. He is

above yon clouds, and above yon sky. Oh that you would stand gazing up

into heaven, not with the bodily eye, but with the eye of faith! Oh, what a

wonderful thing the eye of faith is! It sees beyond the stars, it pierces to the

throne of God, and there it looks on the face of Jesus making intercession

for us, whom having not seen we love; in whom, though now we see Him

not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Oh! if you would live thus, what sweet peace would fill your bosom!

And how many droppings of the Spirit would come down on you in answer

to the Saviour’s prayer! Oh! how your face would shine like Stephen; and

the poor blind world would see that there is a joy which the world cannot

give, and the world cannot take away,—a heaven upon earth!

DUNDEE, 1836.

SERMON III

“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple-tree among the trees of

the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight,

and his fruit was sweet unto my taste.”—SONG OF SOLOMON 2:2, 3.

IF an unconverted man were taken away into heaven, where Christ sits in

glory, and if he overheard Christ’s words of admiring love towards the

believer, he could not understand them,—he could not comprehend how

Christ should see a loveliness in poor religious people whom he in the

bottom of his heart despised. O again, if an unconverted man were to

overhear a Christian at his devotions when he is really within the veil, and

were to listen to his words of admiring, adoring love towards Christ, he

could not possibly understand them,—he could not comprehend how the

believer should have such a burning affection toward one unseen, in whom

he himself saw no form nor comeliness. So true it is that the natural man

knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto

him. There may be some now hearing me who have a rooted dislike to

religious people,—they are so stiff, so precise, so gloomy, you cannot

endure their company! Well, then, see here what Christ thinks of them: “As

the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” How different

you are from Christ! There may be some hearing me who have no desires

after Jesus Christ,—who never think of Him with pleasure; you see no form

nor comeliness in Him,—no beauty that you should desire Him; you do not

love the melody of his name; you do not pray to Him continually. Weil,

then, see here what the believer thinks of Him,—how different from you,

—“As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among

the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was

sweet to my taste.” Oh that you would be awakened by this very thing,—

that you are so different from Christ, and so different from the believer,—to

think that you must be in a natural condition, you must be under wrath!

Doctrine.—The believer is unspeakably precious in the eyes of Christ,

and Christ is unspeakably precious in the eyes of the believer.

I. Inquire what Christ thinks of the believer.—“As the lily among the

thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”

Christ sees nothing so fair in all this world as the believer. All the rest

of the world is like thorns; but the believer is like a beautiful lily in his eyes.

When you are walking in a wilderness all overgrown with briars and thorns,

if your eye falls upon some lonely flower, tall and white, and pure and

graceful, growing in the midst of the thorns, it looks peculiarly beautiful. If

it were in the midst of some rich garden among many other flowers, then it

would not be so remarkable; but when it is encompassed with thorns on

every side, then it engages the eye. Such is the believer in the eyes of

Christ. “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”

(1.) See what Christ thinks of the unconverted world. It is like a field

full of briars and thorns in his eyes. First, Because fruitless. “Do men gather

grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” So Christ gets no fruit from the

unconverted world. It is all one wide thorny waste. Second, Because, when

the word is preached among them, it is like sowing among thorns. “Break

up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” When the sower sowed,

some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them; so is

preaching to the unconverted. Third, Because their end will be like that of

thorns—they are dry, and fit only for the burning. “As thorns cut up shall

they be burned in the fire.” “For the earth, which is often rained upon and

only bears thorns and briars, is rejected, and nigh unto cursing, whose end is

to be burned.” My friends, if you are in a Christless state, see what you are

in the eyes of Christ—thorns. You think that you have many admirable

qualities, that you are valuable members of society, and you have a hope

that it shall be well with you in eternity. See what Christ says, You are

thorns and briars, useless in this world, and fit only for the burning.

(2.) See what Christ thinks of the believer: “As the lily among thorns,

so is my love among the daughters.” The believer is like a lovely flower in

the eyes of Christ. First, Because justified in the eyes of Christ, washed in

his blood, he is pure and white as a lily. Christ can see no spot in his own

righteousness, and therefore He sees no spot on the believer. Thou art all

fair, my love,—as a lily among thorns, so is my love. Second, A believer’s

nature is changed. Once he was like the barren, prickly thorn, fit only for

burning; now Christ has put a new spirit in him,—the dew has been given to

him, and he grows up like the lily. Christ loves the new creature. “All my

delight is in them.” “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the

daughters.” Are you a Christian? then never mind though the world despise

you, though they call you names; remember Christ loves you; He calls you

“my love.” Abide in Him, and you shall abide in his love. “If ye continue in

my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Third, Because so lonely in the

world. Observe, there is but one lily, but many thorns. There is a great

wilderness all full of thorns, and only one lonely flower. So there is a world

lying in wickedness, and a little flock that believe in Jesus. Some believers

are cast down because they feel solitary and alone. If I be in the right way,

surely I would not be so lonely. Surely the wise, and the amiable, and the

kind people I see round about me,—surely, if there were any truth in

religion, they would know it. Be not cast down. It is one of the marks of

Christ’s people that they are alone in the world, and yet they are not alone.

It is one of the very beauties which Christ sees in his people, that they are

solitary among a world of thorns. “As a lily among thorns, so is my love

among the daughters.” Do not be discouraged. This world is the world of

loneliness. When you are transplanted to yon garden of God, then you shall

be no more lonely, then you shall be away from all the thorns. As flowers in

a rich garden blend together their thousand odours to enrich the passing

breeze, so, in the paradise above, you shall join the thousands of the

redeemed, blending with theirs the odour of your praise; you shall join with

the redeemed, as living flowers, to form a garland for the Redeemer’s brow.

II. Inquire what the believer thinks of Christ.—“As the apple tree

among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down

under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”

(1.) Christ is more precious than all other saviours in the eye of the

believer. As a traveller prefers an apple-tree to every other tree of the wood,

because he finds both shelter and nourishing food under it, so the believer

prefers Christ to all other saviours. When a man is travelling in eastern

countries, he is often like to drop down under the burning rays of the sun. It

is a great relief when he comes to a wood. When Israel were travelling in

the wilderness, they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water and

seventy palm-trees, and they encamped there by the water. They were glad

of the shelter of the trees. So Micah says that God’s people “dwell solitarily

in the wood;” and Ezekiel promises, “they shall sleep in the woods.”

But if the traveller be hungry and faint for lack of food, then he will not

be content with any tree of the wood, but he will choose out a fruit-tree,

under which he may sit down and find nourishment as well as shade. He

sees a fair apple-tree; he chooses it out of all the trees of the wood, because

he can both sit under its shadow and eat its pleasant fruits. So is it with the

soul awakened by God. He feels under the heat of God’s anger; he is in a

weary land; he is brought into the wilderness; he is like to perish; he comes

to a wood; many trees offer their shade; where shall he sit down? Under the

fir-tree? Alas! what fruit has it to give? he may die there. Under the cedar-

tree, with its mighty branches? Alas! he may perish there, for it has no fruit

to give. The soul that is taught of God seeks for a complete Saviour. The

apple-tree is revealed to the soul. The hungry soul chooses that evermore.

He needs to be saved from hell and nourished for heaven. “As the apple-tree

among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.”

Awakened souls, remember you must not sit down under every tree that

offers itself. “Take heed that no one deceive you; for many shall come in

Christ’s name, saying, I am Christ, and deceive many.” There are many

ways of saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. You will be tempted

to find peace in the world, in self-repentance, in self-reformation.

Remember, choose you a tree that will yield fruit as well as shade. “As the

apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.”

Pray for a choosing faith. Pray for an eye to discern the apple-tree. Oh!

there is no rest for the soul except under that Branch which God has made

strong. My heart’s desire and prayer for you is, that you may all find rest

there.

(2.) Why has the believer so high an esteem of Christ?

Ans. 1.—Because he has made trial of Christ. “I sat down under his

shadow with great delight.” All true believers have sat down under the

shadow of Christ. Some people think that they shall be saved because they

have got a head-knowledge of Christ. They read of Christ in the Bible, they

hear of Christ in the house of God, and they think that is to be a Christian.

Alas! my friends, what good would you get from an apple-tree, if I were

only to describe it to you—tell you how beautiful it was—how heavily

laden with delicious apples? Or, if I were only to show you a picture of the

tree, or if I were to show you the tree itself at a distance, what the better

would you be? You would not get the good of its shade or its pleasant fruit.

Just so, dear brethren, what good would you get from Christ, if you only

hear of Him in books and sermons, or if you see Him pictured forth in the

sacrament, or if you were to see Him with your bodily eye? What good

would all this do, if you do not sit down under his shadow? Oh, my friends,

there must be a personal sitting down under the shadow of Christ if you

would be saved! Christ is the bush that has been burned, yet not consumed.

Oh! it is a safe place for a hell-deserving sinner to rest.

Some may be hearing me who can say, “I sat down under his shadow.”

And yet you have forsaken Him. Ah! have you gone after your lovers, and

away from Christ? Well, then, may God hedge up your way with thorns.

Return, return, O Shulamite! There is no other refuge for your soul. Come

and sit down again under the shadow of the Saviour.

Ans. 2.—Because he sat down with great delight.

, Some people think there is no joy in religion,—it is a gloomy thing.

When a young person becomes a Christian, they would say, Alas! he must

bid farewell to pleasure,—farewell to the joys of youth, farewell to a merry

heart. He must exchange these pleasures for reading of the Bible and dry

sermon books,—for a life of gravity and preciseness. This is what the world

says. What does the Bible say? “I sat down under his shadow with great

delight.” Ah! let God be true, and every man a liar. Yet no one can believe

this except those who have tried it. Ah! be not deceived, my young friends;

the world has many sensual and many sinful delights,—the delights of

eating and drinking, and wearing gay clothes,—the delights of revelry and

the dance. No man of wisdom will deny that these things are delightful to

the natural heart; but oh! they perish in the using, and they end in an eternal

hell. But to sit down under the shadow of Christ, wearied with God’s

burning anger, wearied with seeking after vain saviours, at last to find rest

under the shadow of Christ, ah! this is great delight. Lord, evermore may I

sit under this shadow! Lord, evermore may I be filled with this joy!

2d, Some people are afraid of anything like joy in religion. They have

none themselves, and they do not love to see it in others. Their religion is

something like the stars, very high, and very clear, but very cold. When they

see tears of anxiety, or tears of joy, they cry out, Enthusiasm, enthusiasm!

Well, then, to the law, and to the testimony. “I sat down under his shadow

with great delight.” Is this enthusiasm? O Lord, evermore give us this

enthusiasm! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in

believing! If it be really in sitting under the shadow of Christ, let there be no

bounds to your joy. Oh, if God would but open your eyes, and give you

simple, childlike faith, to look to Jesus, to sit under his shadow, then would

songs of joy rise from all our dwellings. Rejoice in the Lord always, and

again I say, Rejoice!

3d, Because the fruit of Christ is sweet to the taste. All true believers

not only sit under the shadow, but partake of his pleasant fruits. Just as

when you sit under an apple-tree, the fruit hangs above you and around you,

and invites you to put out the hand and taste; so when you come to submit

to the righteousness of God, bow your head, and sit down under Christ’s

shadow, all other things are added unto you. First, Temporal mercies are

sweet to the taste. None but those of you who are Christians know this,

when you sit under the shadow of Christ’s temporal mercies, because

covenant mercies. “Bread shall be given you; your water shall be sure.”

These are sweet apples from the tree Christ. O Christian! tell me, is not

bread sweeter when eaten thus? Is not water richer than wine, and Daniel’s

pulse better than the dainties of the king’s table? Second, Afflictions are

sweet to the taste. Every good apple has some sourness in it. So is it with

the apples of the tree of Christ. He gives afflictions as well as mercies; He

sets the teeth on edge; but even these are blessings in disguise,—they are

covenant gifts. Oh! affliction is a dismal thing when you are not under his

shadow. But are you Christians? look on your sorrows as apples from that

blessed tree. If you knew how wholesome they are, you would not wish to

want them. Several of you know it is no contradiction to say, These apples,

though sour, are sweet to my taste. Third, The gifts of the Spirit are sweet to

the taste. Ah! here is the best fruit that grows on the tree; here are the ripest

apples from the topmost branch. You who are Christians know how often

your soul is fainting. Well, here is nourishment to your fainting soul.

Everything you need is in Christ. “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Dear

Christian, sit much under that tree, feed much upon that fruit. “Stay me with

flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love.” Fourth, Promises of

glory. Some of the apples have a taste of heaven in them. Feed upon these,

dear Christians. Some of Christ’s apples give you a relish for the fruit of

Canaan—for the clusters of Eshcol. Lord, evermore give me these apples:

for oh! they are sweet to my taste.

ST PETER’S, 1837.

SERMON IV

“A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is

furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as

every tree.”—EZEK. 21:9, 10.

FROM the second verse of this chapter we learn that this prophecy was

directed against Jerusalem: “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and

drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of

Israel.”

We have already told you that Ezekiel, while yet a youth, was carried

captive by Nebuchadnezzar, and placed, with a number of his countrymen,

by the river of Chebar. It was there that he delivered his prophecies during a

space of twenty-two years. The prophecy I have read was delivered in the

seventh year of his captivity, and just three years before Jerusalem was

destroyed and the temple burnt. From verse 2, we learn that these words

were directed against Jerusalem; for though God had taken Ezekiel away to

minister to the captives by the river of Chebar, yet He made him send many

a message of warning and of mercy to his beloved Jerusalem. “Son of man,

set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places,

and prophesy against the land of Israel.”

God had already fulfilled many of the words of his prophets against

Jerusalem. He had fulfilled the word of Jeremiah against one of their kings

(Jehoiakim). “He shall be buried with the burial of an ass: drawn and cast

forth beyond the walls of Jerusalem.” He had fulfilled the word of the same

prophet in carrying another king (Jehoiakin) to Babylon with all the goodly

vessels of the house of the Lord. But still neither prophecies nor judgments

would awaken Jerusalem; so that we are told (2 Chron. 36:12) that

Zedekiah, the next king, “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his

God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, speaking from

the mouth of the Lord.” Vers. 14–16: “Moreover, all the chief of the priests

and the people transgressed very much, after all the abominations of the

heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord, which he had hallowed in

Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his

messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on

his people, and on his dwelling-place: but they mocked the messengers of

God, and despised his works, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of

the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

It was in a time of great hardness and impenitence in Jerusalem that the

prophecy before me was delivered, and just three years before the wrath of

God was poured on them to the uttermost. First, All was mirth and

sensuality in Jerusalem. Second, The false prophets prophesied peace, and

the people loved to have it so. Third, There was no noise but that of revelry

within the devoted city. But in the midst of that din and revelry, the lone

prophet by the river of Chebar heard the muttering of the distant thunder.

The faithful servant of God saw God arming himself as a mighty man for

the war, and the glittering sword of vengeance in his hand, and he calls

aloud to his countrymen, all at ease, with awakening thunders, “A sword, a

sword is sharpened, and also furbished: it is sharpened to make a sore

slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth?”

My friends, those of you who are unconverted are in the very same

situation as Jerusalem was. In the years that are now fled like the mists of

the morning, how many messages have you had from God! How many

times has He sent his messengers to you, rising up early and sending them!

His Bible has been in your houses, a silent but most mighty pleader for

God; his providence has been in your families, in sickness and death, in

plenty or poverty,—all, all beseeching you to flee from the wrath to come,

—all, all beseeching you to cleave to the Lord Jesus, the only, the all-

sufficient Saviour. All these messages have come to you, and you are yet

unconverted—still dead, dry bones, without Christ and without God in the

world; and you are saying, Soul, take thine ease, eat and drink and be merry.

But do, my friends, hearken once more, for God does not wish any to

perish. I have a word from God unto thee: “A sword, a sword is sharpened,

and also furbished: it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished

that it may glitter: should we then make mirth?”

Doctrine.—It is very unreasonable in unconverted persons to make

mirth.

(1.) It is unreasonable, because they are under condemnation.—The

sword is sharpened, and also furbished. It is sharpened to make a sore

slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter. Should we then make mirth?

There is a common idea that men are under probation, as Adam was, and

that Christless persons will not be condemned till the judgment; but this is

not the case. The Bible says, “He that believeth not is condemned already.”

“He that hath not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on

him.” “Cursed is every one [not shall be] who continueth not in all things

written in the book of the law to do them.” Christless souls are at present in

the horrible pit, every mouth is stopped, and they are guilty before God.

They are in prison, ready to be brought out to execution. Therefore, when

God sends us to preach to Christless persons, He calls it “preaching to the

spirits in prison,” that is, who are under condemnation. The sword is not

only unsheathed, it is sharpened and furbished. It is held over their heads.

Should they then make mirth? It is unreasonable in a condemned

malefactor to make mirth. Would it not greatly shock every feeling mind to

see a company of men condemned to die, meeting and making merry,

talking lightly and jestingly, as if the sword was not over them? Yet this is

the case of those of you who are unconverted and yet live lives of mirth.

You have been tried in the balance and found wanting. You have been

condemned by the righteous Judge. Your sentence is past. You are now in

prison; neither can you break out of this prison: the sword is whetted and

drawn over you. And oh! is it not most unreasonable to make mirth? Is it

not most unreasonable to be happy and contented with yourself and merry

with your friends? Is it not madness to sing the song of the drunkard? “Eat,

drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die.”

(2.) Because God’s instruments of destruction are all ready.—Not only

are Christless persons condemned already, but the instruments of their

destruction are prepared and quite ready. The sword of vengeance is

sharpened, and also furbished. When swords are kept in the armoury, they

are kept blunt, that the rust may not hurt their edge; but when work is to be

done, and they are taken out for the slaughter, then they are furbished and

sharpened,—made sharp and glittering. So it is with the sword of the

executioner: when not in use, it is kept blunt; but when work is to be done,

it is sharpened and made ready. It is sharpened and furbished just before the

blow is struck, that it may cut clean. So is it with God’s sword of

vengeance. It is not sheathed and blunt,—it is sharpened and furbished,—it

is quite ready to do its work,—it is quite ready for a sore slaughter. The

disease by which every unconverted man is to die is quite ready,—it is

perhaps in his veins at this very moment. The accident by which he is to

drop into eternity is quite ready,—all the parts and means of it are arranged.

The arrow that is to strike him is on the string,—perhaps it has left the

string, and is even now flying towards him.

The place in hell is quite ready for every unconverted soul. When Judas

died, the Scripture says, “he went to his own place.” It was his own place

before he went there, being quite prepared and ready for him. As when a

man retires at night to his sleeping room, it is said he has gone to his own

room, so a place in hell is quite ready for every Christless person. It is his

own place. When the rich man died and was buried, he was immediately in

his own place. He found everything ready. He lifted up his eyes in hell,

being in torments. So hell is quite ready for every Christless person. It was

prepared, long ago, for the devil and his angels. The fires are all quite ready,

and fully lighted and burning.

Ah! should Christless souls then make mirth? A malefactor might

perhaps say that he would be merry as long as the scaffold was not erected

on which he was to die. But if he were told that the scaffold was quite

ready,—that the sword was sharpened, and the executioner standing ready,

—oh! would it not be madness to make mirth? Alas! this is your madness,

poor Christless soul. You are not only condemned, but the sword is

sharpened and ready that is to smite your soul; and yet you can be happy,

and dream away your days and nights in pleasures that perish in the using.

The disease is ready, the accident is ready, the arrow is on the string, the

grave is ready, yea, hell itself is ready, your own place is made ready; and

yet you can make mirth! You can play games and enjoy company! How

truly is your laughter like the crackling of thorns under a pot: a flashy blaze,

and then the blackness of darkness for ever!

(3.) The sword may come down at any one moment.—Not only are

Christless persons condemned already, and not only is the sword of

vengeance quite ready, but the sword may come down at any one moment.

It is not so with malefactors; their day is fixed and told them, so that they

can count their time. If they have many days, they make merry to-day at

least, and begin to be serious to-morrow. But not so Christless persons; their

day is fixed, but it is not told them. It may be this very moment. Ah! should

they then make mirth?

Some malefactors have been found very stout-hearted to the very last.

Many have received their sentence quite unmoved, and with a determined

countenance. Some have even gone to the scaffold quite unmoved; some

even with a light, careless spirit. But when the head is laid down upon the

block,—when the eyes are covered, and the neck laid bare,—when the

glittering sword is lifted high in the air, and may come down any one

moment,—that is a dreadful time of suspense. It would be very horrible to

see a man in a light careless spirit at that time. Oh! it would be madness to

be merry then. Alas! this is your madness, poor Christless soul. You are not

only condemned, and not only is the sword ready, but it may fall on you at

any one moment. Your head is, as it were, on the block. Your neck is bared

before God, and the whetted sword is held over you; and yet can you make

mirth? Can you take up your mind with business and worldly things, and

getting rich, building and planting, and this night your soul may be required

of you? Can you fill up your time with games and amusements, and foolish

books and entertaining companions? Can you fill up your hours after work

with loose talk and wanton behaviour, adding sin to sin, treasuring up wrath

against the day of wrath, when you know not what hour the wrath of God

may come upon you to the uttermost? Can you go prayerless to your bed at

night, your mind filled with dark and horrid imaginations not fit to be

named, and yet you may be in hell before the morning? A sword, a sword; it

is furbished!

(4.) Because God has made no promise to Christless souls to stay his

hand one moment.—All the promises of God are yea and amen, that is, they

are true. He always fulfils his promises. But the same scripture says they are

“yea and amen in Christ Jesus.” All God’s promises are made to Christ, and

to sinners that cleave to Christ. I believe that it is impossible, in the nature

of things, that God would make a promise to an unconverted man.

Accordingly, all God’s promises are made to Christ, and to every sinner that

cleaves on to Christ. But unconverted persons are those who have never

come to Christ; therefore there are no promises made to them. God nowhere

promises to make them anxious. He nowhere promises to bring them to

Christ. He nowhere promises to keep them one moment out of hell. “Should

they then make mirth?”

Let me speak to Christless persons who are at ease. Many of you

hearing me may know that you are in a Christless state; and yet you know

that you are at ease and happy. Why is this? It is because you hope to be

brought to Christ before you die. You say, Another day will do as well, and

I will hear thee again of this matter; and therefore you take your ease now.

But this is very unreasonable. It is not worthy of a rational being to act in

this way. God has nowhere promised to bring you to Christ before you die.

God has laid himself under no manner of obligation to you. He has nowhere

promised that you shall see to-morrow, or that you shall hear another

sermon. There is a day near at hand when you shall not see a to-morrow. If

this be not the last, there is a sermon yet to be preached which will be the

last you will ever hear.

Let me speak to Christless persons who are anxious about their souls.

Some hearing me know that they are in a Christless condition, and this

made them anxious; and yet it is to be feared some are losing that anxiety,

and now going back to the mirth of the world. Why is this? This is most

unreasonable. If you are still out of Christ, however anxious you have been,

remember God has made no promises to save you. The sword is still over

you, furbished and sharpened. Ah! do not then make mirth. Strive to enter

in at the strait gate. Take the kingdom of heaven by violence. Press into it.

Never rest till you are in the bonds of the covenant. Then be as happy as the

day is long.

(5.) It is a sore slaughter: “A sword! a sword!”

, Sore, because it will be on all who are Christless.—The

dreadfulness of the slaughter in Jerusalem was, that all were slain, both old

and young. The command which the prophet heard was (9:5), “Go ye

through the city, and smite. Let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity.

Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women; but

come not near any man upon whom is the mark.” Such is the sore slaughter

waiting on unconverted souls. All Christless persons will perish, young and

old. God will not spare, neither will his eye pity. Think of this, old grey-

headed persons, that have lived in sin, and never come to Christ; if you die

thus, you will certainly perish in the sore slaughter. Think of this, middle-

aged persons, hard-working merchants and labourers, who make money,

but do not sell all for the pearl of great price. Think of this, ye Marthas,

who are careful and troubled about many things, but who forget the one

thing that is needful, you also will fall in the sore slaughter. Think of this,

young persons, who live without prayer, yet in mirth and jollity; you that

meet to jest and be happy on Sabbath evenings; you that walk in the sight of

your own eyes,—you, too, will fall in that sore slaughter. Think of this, little

children, you that are the pride of your mother’s heart, but who have gone

astray from the womb, speaking lies. Little children who are fond of your

plays, but are not fond of coming to Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of little

children, the sword will come on you also. Oh! it is a sore slaughter that

will not spare the young, nor the lovely, nor the kind—the gentle mother

and affectionate child—the widow and her only son. Should you then make

mirth? Unconverted families, when you meet in the evening to jest and

sport with one another, ask this one question, Should we make mirth? Is

your mirth reasonable? Is it worthy of rational beings? Unconverted

companions, who meet so often for mirth and amusement, should you make

mirth together when you are in such a case? Ah! how dismal will the

contrast be when God says, Bind them in bundles to burn them!

2d, Sore slaughter because the sword is the sword of God.—If it were

only the sword of man that is furbished and sharpened for the slaughter, it

would not be very terrible. But it is the sword of Almighty God, and

therefore it is very terrible. “Fear not them that kill the body, but after that

have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear:

Fear Him, who after He hath killed the body, is able to cast body and soul

into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear Him.” If it were the sword of man, it

could reach only to the body; but, ah! it is the sword of God, and the iron

will enter into the soul. It is the same sword that appeared in the garden of

Eden,—“a flaming sword, that turned every way to keep the way of the tree

of life.” It is the same sword which pierced the side of Jesus Christ in his

agony. “Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is

my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep

shall be scattered.” It is that sword of which Christ speaks, when He says,

“It shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with hypocrites: there

shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Dear brethren, it is not a few flesh wounds that that sword will make. It

will cut asunder,—it will be a death-blow,—eternal death. It is a death

which body and soul will be always dying, yet never dead.

(1.) Let me speak to the old.—There may be some hearing me in whom

these three things meet, namely, that they are old, and Christless, and full of

mirth. Oh! if there be such hearing me, consider your ways,—consider if

your mirth be worthy of a rational being. I have shown you plainly out of

the Scriptures what your case is: First, That you are condemned already.

Second, That God’s sword is ready. Third, That it may come down any

moment. Fourth, That God has made you no promise to stay his hand. And,

Fifth, That it will be a sore slaughter. Consider, then, if it be reasonable to

believe a lie,—to deceive your own soul, and say, Peace, peace, when there

is no peace. In the ordinary course of things, you must soon go the way of

all living,—you must be gathered to your fathers; and then all that I have

said will be fulfilled. Should you then make mirth? Are you tottering on the

brink of hell, and yet living prayerless and Christless, and playing yourself

with straws,—telling over the oft-repeated tale of youth, and laughing over

the oft-repeated jest? Alas! what a depth of meaning was there in the word

of Solomon! “I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is

heaviness.”

(2.) Let me speak to the young.—There may be many hearing me in

whom these three things meet: They are young in years, far from Christ,

and yet full of mirth. Now, my dear friends, I entreat you to consider

whether your mirth is reasonable. The sword is sharpened for a sore

slaughter. Should you then make mirth?

Obj. 1.—Youth is the time for mirth. Ans.—I know well youth is the

time for mirth. The young lamb is a happy creature as it springs about on

the green pasture. The young kid leaps from rock to rock with liveliest glee.

The young horse casts its heels high in the air, full of life and activity. But

then they have no sin, and you have; they have no hell, and you have. If you

will come to Jesus Christ now, and be freed from wrath, ah! then you will

find that youth is the time for mirth,—youth is the time for enjoying sweet

peace in the bosom, and liveliest intercourse with God, and brightest hopes

of glory.

Obj. 2.—You would have us to be gloomy and sad. Ans.—God forbid.

All that I maintain is, that until you are come to Christ, your mirth is mad

and unreasonable. If you will come to Christ, then be as happy as you will;

there are no bounds to your joy there, for you will joy in God. And when

you die, you will come to fulness of joy in his presence, and pleasures at his

right hand for evermore.

Obj. 3.—If I be Christless, it will not bring me into Christ to be sad, and

therefore I may as well be merry. Ans.—True, to be sad will not bring you

into Christ; and yet, if you were really awakened to cry to God,

peradventure He would hear your cry. If you were striving to enter in, you

might find entrance. If you were pressing into the kingdom, you might take

it by violence. Seek meekness, seek righteousness. It may be ye shall be hid

in the day of the Lord’s anger. If you stay where you are, you are sure to be

lost. If you live on in carnal security, in mirth and jollity, while you are out

of Christ, you are sure to perish.

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the

days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of

thine eyes; but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into

judgment.”

DUNDEE 1837.

SERMON V

“Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”—PROV. 8:4.

(1.) These are the words of wisdom; and wisdom in the book of

Proverbs is none other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is

evident from chap. 1:23, where He says, “Behold, I will pour out my Spirit

unto you;” but it is Christ alone who has the gift of the Holy Spirit. And

again, from 8:22, where He says, “The Lord possessed me in the beginning

of his way;” and verse 30: “Then I was by Him as one brought up with

Him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before Him.” These

words are true of none but of Jesus Christ,—the Word that was with God,

and was God, by whom all things were made.

(2.) The places He goes to with the invitation.—First, He goes to the

country. He climbs every eminence, and cries there; then He descends to the

highway where many roads meet. Second, He goes to the city. He begins at

the gates, where the people are assembled to make bargains and hear

causes; then He proceeds along the principal avenue into the city, and cries

in at every door as He passes. He first goes out into the highways and

hedges, then goes into the streets and lanes of the city, carrying the blessed

message.

(3.) Observe the manner in which He invites.—He cries aloud,—He

puts forth the voice,—He stands and cries,—He calls and lifts up his voice,

—He seems like some merchant offering his wares, first in the market, and

then from door to door. Never did busy crier offer to sell his goods with

such anxiety as Jesus offers his salvation; verse 10: “Receive my

instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.”

(4.) Observe to whom the invitation is addressed.—Verse 4: “Unto you,

O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.” Merchants only offer

their goods to certain classes of the people that will buy; but Jesus offers his

to all men. Wherever there is a son of Adam,—wherever there is one born

of woman,—the word is addressed to him: he that hath ears to hear, let him

hear.

Doctrine.—Christ offers himself as a Saviour to all of the human race.

I. The most awakening truth in all the Bible.—It is commonly thought

that preaching the holy law is the most awakening truth in the Bible,—that

by it the mouth is stopped, and all the world becomes guilty before God;

and, indeed, I believe this is the most ordinary mean which God makes use

of. And yet to me there is something far more awakening in the sight of a

Divine Saviour freely offering himself to every one of the human race.

There is something that might pierce the heart that is like a stone in that cry:

“Unto you, O men, I call; and ray voice is to the sons of man.”

(1.) Had you lived in the days when Noah built the ark,—had you seen

that mighty vessel standing open and ready, inviting all the world to come

into its roomy cavities, would it not have been the most awakening of all

sights? Could you have looked upon it without thinking of the coming flood

that was to sweep the ungodly world away?

(2.) Had you lived in the times when Jesus was on the earth,—had you

seen Him riding down the Mount Olivet, and stopping when He came in

sight of Jerusalem, lying peaceful and slumbering at his feet,—had you seen

the Son of God weep over the city, and say, “If thou hadst known, even

thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! but now

they are hid from thine eyes,”—would you not have felt that some awful

destruction was awaiting the slumbering city? Would He shed these tears

for nothing? Surely He sees some day of woe coming which none knows

but himself.

(3.) Just so, dear friends, when you see Jesus here running from place to

place,—from the high places to the highways,—from the highways to the

city gates,—from the gates to the doors; when you hear his anxious cry,

“Unto you, O men, I call,”—does it not show that all men are lost,—that a

dreadful hell is before them? Would the Saviour call so loud and so long if

there was no hell?

Apply this to slumbering souls.

, Mark who it is that calls you—it is Wisdom!—Jesus Christ, in whom

are bid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. “Unto you, O men, I

call.” Often, when ministers prick your hearts in their sermons, you go

homo and say, “Oh! it was only the word of a minister,—shall I tremble at

the words of a man?” But here is the word of no minister, but of Christ.

Here is the word of one who knows your true condition,—who knows your

heart and your history,—who knows your sins done in the light, and done in

the dark, and done in the recesses of your heart,—who knows the wrath that

is over you, and the hell that is before you. “Unto you, O men, I call.”

2d, Mark in how many places He calls you.—In the high places and the

highways, in the gates, in the entries, at the coming in of the doors. Has it

not been so with you? Have you not been called in the Bible, in the family,

in the house of prayer? You have gone from place to place, but the Saviour

has gone after you. You have gone to places of diversion, you have gone to

places of sin, but Christ has followed you. You have laid down on a bed of

sickness, and Christ has followed you. Must not the sheep be in great

danger, when the Shepherd follows so far in search of it?

3d, How loud He cries.—He calls and lifts up the voice. Has it not been

so with you? Has He not knocked loudly at your door, in warnings, in

providences, in deaths? Has He not cried loudly in the preached word?

Sometimes, when reading the Bible alone, has not the voice of Christ been

louder than thunder?

, He cries to all.—Had He cried to the old, then the young would

have said, “We are safe, we do not need a Saviour.” Had He cried to the

young, the old men among you would have said, “He is not for us.” Had he

called to the good or to the bad, still some would have felt themselves

excused. But He cries to you all. There is not one person hearing, but Jesus

cries to you. Then all are lost,—old and young, rich and poor. Whatever you

think of yourselves, Jesus knows you to be in a lost condition; therefore this

piercing cry, “Unto you, O men, I call.”

II. The most comforting truth in the Bible.—When awakened persons

are first told of Jesus Christ, it generally adds to their grief. They see plainly

that He is a very great and glorious Saviour; but then they feel that they

have rejected Him, and they fear that He never can become their Saviour.

Very often awakened persons sit and listen to a lively description of Christ,

—of his work of substitution in the stead of sinners; but their question still

is, “Is Christ a Saviour to me?” Now, to this question I answer, Christ is

freely offered to all the human race. “Unto you, O men, I call.” If there were

no other text in the whole Bible to encourage sinners to come freely to

Christ, this one alone might persuade them. There is no subject more

misunderstood by unconverted souls than the unconditional freeness of

Christ. So little idea have we naturally of free grace, that we cannot believe

that God can offer a Saviour to us, while we are in a wicked, hell-deserving

condition. Oh, it is sad to think how men argue against their own happiness,

and will not believe the very word of God!

All the types show the Saviour to be free to all.

(1.) The brazen serpent was lifted up in sight of all Israel, that any one

might look and be healed; and Christ himself explains this: “So must the

Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth on Him should not

perish, but have everlasting life.”

(2.) The Refuge City set on a hill, with its gates open night and day,

showed this. Whosoever will, may flee for refuge to the hope set before us.

(3.) The angels over Bethlehem repeated the same thing: “Behold, I

bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” And the

last invitation of the Bible is the freest of all: “Whosoever will, let him take

the water of life freely.” Mark, also, in the text before us: “Unto you, O

men, I call.” This shows that He is not free to devils; but to all men,—to

every one that has human form and human name,—the Saviour is now free.

It is not for any goodness in men, not for any change in them that Christ

offers himself, but just in their lost condition as men. He freely puts himself

within their reach. There are many stratagems by which the devil contrives

to keep man away from Christ.

(1.) Some say, There is no hope for me. “There is no hope, no; for I

have loved strangers, and after them I will go. I have committed such great

sins, I have sunk so deep in the mire of sin, I have served my lusts so long,

that there is no use of me thinking of turning. There is no hope, no.” To you

I answer, There is hope,—your sins may be forgiven for Christ’s sake,—

there is forgiveness with God. Ah, why should Satan so beguile you? True,

you have waded deep into the mire of sin, you have destroyed yourself; and

yet in Christ there is help. He came for such as you. Christ speaks in these

words to you: you are of the human race, and Christ is free to all of the

human race,—“Unto you, O men, I call.”

(2.) “I have not the least care about my soul. Up to this moment I never

listened to a sermon, nor attended to a word in the Bible. I have no wish to

hear of Christ, or God, or eternal things.” To you I answer, Still Christ is

quite free to you. Though you have no care for your soul, yet Christ has,

and wishes to save it. Though you do not care for Christ, yet He cares for

yon, and stretches out his hands to you. Christ did not come to the earth

because people were caring about their souls, but because we were lost. You

are only the more lost. Christ is all the more seeking you. This day you may

find a Saviour, “Unto you, O men, I call.”

(3.) “If I knew I were one of the elect, I would come; but I fear I am

not.” To you I answer, Nobody ever came to Christ because they knew

themselves to be of the elect. It is quite true that God has of his mere good

pleasure elected some to everlasting life, but they never knew it till they

came to Christ. Christ nowhere invites the elect to come to Him. The

question for you is not, Am I one of the elect? but, Am I of the human race?

(4.) Some of you may be saying, “If I could see my name in the Bible,

then I would believe that Christ wants me to be saved. When Christ called

Zaccheus, He said, ‘Zaccheus, come down.’ He called him by name, and he

came down immediately. Now, if Christ would call me by name, I would

run to Him immediately.” Now, to you I say, Christ does call you by your

name, for He says, “To you, O men, I call.” Suppose that Christ had written

down the names of all the men and women in the world, your name would

have been there. Now, instead of writing down every name, He puts them

all together in one word, which includes every man, and woman, and child:

“Unto you, O men, I call; and my words are to the sons of man.” So your

name is in the Bible. “Go and preach the gospel to every creature.”

(5.) “If I could repent and believe, then Christ would be free to me; but

I cannot repent and believe.” To you I say, Are you not a man, before you

repent and believe? then Christ is offered to you before you repent. And,

believer, Christ is not offered to you because you repent, but because you

are a vile, lost sinner. “Unto you, O men, I call.”

(6.) “I fear the market is over. Had I come in the morning of life,—I

believe Christ was offered me then, in youth, at my first sacrament,—but

now I fear the market-day is done.” Are you not still a man,—one of the

human race? True, you have refused the Saviour for years, yet still He

offers himself to you. It was not for any goodness that He offered himself to

you at first, but because you were vile and lost. You are vile and lost yet, so

He offers himself to you still. “Unto you, O men, I call.”

I would here, then, take occasion to make offer of Christ with all his

benefits to every soul in this assembly. To every man and woman and child

I do now, in the name of my Master, make full, free offer of a crucified

Saviour to be your surety and righteousness, your refuge and strength. I

would let down the gospel cord so low, that sinners, who are low of stature,

like Zaccheus, may lay hold of it. Oh! is there none will lay hold on Christ,

the only Saviour?

III. The most condemning truth in the Bible

If Christ be freely offered to all men, then it is plain that all who live

and die without accepting Christ shall meet with the doom of those who

refuse the Son of God. “He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

all they that hate me love death.” Ah! it is a sad thing that the very truth,

which is life to every believing soul, is death to all others. “This is the

condemnation.” We are a sweet savour of Christ unto God. When the

ignorant heathens stand at the bar of God—Hindoos, and Africans, and

Chinese—who have never had the offer of Christ made to them, they will

not be condemned as those will that have lived and died unsaved under a

preached gospel. Tyre and Sidon will not meet the same doom as Chorazin

and Bethsaida, and unbelieving Capernaum.

Oh, brethren, you are without excuse in the sight of God, if you go

home unsaved this day! The gospel cord has been let down very low to

every one of you this day. If you go away without laying hold, your

condemnation will be heavier at the last day. If Christ had not come to you,

you had not had sin, but now you have no cloak for your sin.

Objection.—But my heart is so hard that I cannot believe,—my heart is

so set upon worldly things that I cannot turn to Christ. I was born this way.

Ans.—This does but aggravate your guilt. It is true you were born thus, and

that your heart is like the nether millstone. But that is the very reason God

will most justly condemn you; because from your infancy you have been

hardhearted and unbelieving. If a thief, when tried before the judge on

earth, were to plead guilty, but to say that he had always been a thief,—that

even in infancy his heart loved stealing,—would not this just aggravate his

guilt, that he was habit and repute a thief?—So you.

Oh, brethren, if you could die and say that Christ had never been

offered to you, you would have an easier hell than you are like to have! You

must go away either rejoicing in or rejecting Christ this day,—either won,

or more lost than ever. There is not one of you but will yet feel the guilt of

this Sabbath-day. This sermon will meet you yet. See that ye refuse not him

that speaketh: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

ST PETER’S 1888.

SERMON VI

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes which

we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life (for the Life was

manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life which

was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); that which we have seen and heard declare

we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the

Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be

full.”—1 JOHN 1:1–4.

I. The subject of John’s preaching

It was Jesus Christ and Him crucified. “That which we have seen and

heard, declare we unto yon.” This was the preaching of John the Baptist:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” He

pointed to Jesus. This was the preaching of Philip—Acts 8:5: “Philip went

down to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” And when he came to

the Ethiopian eunuch, “he preached unto him Jesus.” This was the

preaching of Paul: “I determined to know nothing among you, but Jesus

Christ and Him crucified.” This was the beginning, and middle, and end of

the preaching of Paul. This was the preaching of John: To declare all that he

had seen with his eyes, heard with his ears, handled with his hands, of

Immanuel,—this was the object of his life,—this was the Alpha and Omega

of his preaching. He knew that Jesus was like the alabaster box, full of

spikenard, very costly; and his whole labour was to break the box and pour

forth the good ointment before the eyes of fainting sinners, that they might

be attracted by the sweet savour. He knew that Jesus was a bundle of myrrh,

and his whole life was spent in opening it out to sinners, that they might be

overcome by the refreshing odours. He carried about the savour of Christ

with him wherever he went. He knew that Jesus was the Balm of Gilead,

and his labour was to open out this bruised balm before the eyes of sick

souls, that they might be healed.

(1.) His Eternity.—“That which was from the beginning.” John had

often heard Jesus speak of his eternity. “In the beginning was the Word.”

“Before Abraham was, I am.” He remembered how Jesus said in prayer in

the garden, “Glorify me with the glory which I had with Thee before the

world was.” “Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” John

thus knew that He was the Eternal One,—that He was before all visible

things, for He made them all. By Him God made the world. Even at the

time John was leaning on his bosom, he felt that it was the bosom of the

Uncreated One. John always declared this; he loved to make Him known. O

beloved! if you have come to lean on the bosom of Jesus, you have come to

the Uncreated One—the Eternal One.

(2.) Was with the Father.—John knew, from Prov. 8:30, that Jesus had

been with the Father: “Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him, and

I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before Him.” He had heard Jesus

tell many of the secrets of his Father’s bosom, from which he knew that He

had been with the Father: “All things that I have heard of my Father I have

made known unto you.” He had heard Jesus plainly say, “I came forth from

the Father, and am come into the world.” “Again I leave the world, and go

to the Father.” John felt, even when Jesus was washing his feet, that this

was the man that was God’s fellow. Even when he saw Jesus on the cross,

with his pale lips and bleeding hands and feet, like a tortured worm, and “no

man,” he knew that this was the man that was God’s fellow. He lived to

declare this. Do you thus look to Jesus? Have you beheld the glory, as of the

only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth? O tempest-tossed soul,

this is He that comes to save thee!

(3.) Eternal Life.—John knew that Jesus was the Author of all natural

life,—that not a man breathes, no beast of the forest roars, no bird stoops on

the wing, but they all receive the stream of life from the hand of Immanuel.

He had seen Jesus raise the ruler’s daughter from the dead, and call Lazarus

from the tomb. He knew that Jesus was the Author of all life in the soul. He

had heard Jesus say, “As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth

whom He will, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” “My sheep

know my voice, and I give unto them eternal life.” He had heard Him say,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Above all, he had felt in his own soul

that Christ was the Eternal Life. In that morning, when he sat with his father

Zebedee in the boat, mending their nets, Jesus said, “Follow me!” and the

life entered into his soul, and he found it a never-failing spring of life.

Christ was his life; therefore did he make Him known as the Eternal Life.

Even when he saw Him give up the ghost; when he saw his pale, lifeless

body, the stiff hands and feet the glazed eye, the body cold as the rocky

tomb where they laid Him; still he felt that this was the Eternal Life. O

beloved! do you believe that He is the life of the world? Some of you feel

your soul to be dead—lifeless in prayer—lifeless in praise. Oh look on Him

whom John declares to you! All is death without Him. Bring your dead soul

into union with Him, and He will give you eternal life.

(4.) Manifested.—O beloved, if Jesus had not been manifested, you had

never been saved! It would have been quite righteous in God to have kept

his Son in his own bosom,—to have kept that jewel in his own place upon

the throne of heaven. God would have been the same lovely God; but we

would have lain down in a burning hell. If that Eternal Life which was with

the Father—if He had remained in his glory as the Living One, then you

and I would have borne our own curse. But He was manifested: “God was

manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, believed on in

the world, received up into glory.” John saw Him: he saw his lovely

countenance; he beheld his glory, as the glory of the only-begotten of the

Father, full of grace and truth. He saw that better Sun veiled with flesh that

could not keep the beams of his Godhead from shining through. He saw him

on the Mount, when his face shone like the sun. He saw Him in the garden,

when He lay upon the ground. He saw Him on the cross, when He hung

between earth and heaven. He looked upon Him,—many a time he looked

up on his heavenly countenance,—his eye met his eye. He heard Him,—

heard the voice that said, “Let there be light!” He heard the voice like the

sound of many waters. He heard all his gracious words,—his words

concerning God and the way of peace. He heard Him say to a sinner, “Be of

good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.” He handled Him,—he put his bands

in his hands, his arms around his arms, and his head upon his bosom.

Perhaps he handled his body when it was taken from the cross,—touched

the cold clay of Immanuel. O beloved, it is a manifested Christ we declare

unto you. It is not the Son in the bosom of the Father; that would never have

saved you. It is Jesus manifested in flesh. The Son of God living and dying

as man in the stead of sinners; Him we declare unto you.

Learn the true way of coming to peace.—It is by looking to a

manifested Jesus. Some of yon think you will come to peace by looking in

to your own heart. Your eye is riveted there. You watch every change there.

If you could only see a glimpse of light there, oh, what joy it would give

you! If you could only see a melting of your stony heart, if you could only

see your heart turning to God, if you could only see a glimpse of the image

of Jesus in your heart, you would be at peace; but you cannot,—all is dark

within. Oh, dear souls, it is not there you will find peace! You must avert

the eye from your bosom altogether. You must look to a declared Christ.

Spread out the record of God concerning his Son. The gospels are the

narrative of the heart of Jesus, of the work of Jesus, of the grace of Jesus.

Spread them out before the eye of your mind, till they fill your eye. Cry for

the Spirit to breathe over the page, to make a manifested Christ stand out

plainly before you; and the moment that you are willing to believe all that is

there spoken concerning Jesus, that moment you will wipe away your tears,

and change your sighs for a new song of praise.

II. The object John had in view by preaching Christ

(1.) That ye may have fellowship with us.—To have fellowship with

another is to have things in common with him. Thus, in Acts 4:32, the first

Christians were “of one heart and of one soul; neither said any that aught of

the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in

common.” They had all their goods in common; they shared what they had

with one another. This is what John desired in spiritual things,—that we

should share with him in his spiritual things, share and share alike.

, Forgiveness.—Some people think it impossible to have the same

forgiveness that the apostles had,—that it would be very bold to think of

tasting the same. But is it not far bolder to say that John is a liar, and that

the Holy Spirit is a liar? for he here says plainly, that all his preaching, and

all his desire was, that you should have fellowship with him. Yes, sinner,

forgiveness is as open to you as it was to John. The blood that washed him

is ready to wash you as white as snow. John had the same need of Christ

that the vilest of you have. Only look to a declared Immanuel; clear your

eye from unbelief, and look at a freely-revealed Jesus, and you will find the

same forgiveness is as free to you as it was to John.

2d, The same love of Jesus.—John was the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Just as Daniel was the prophet whom He greatly loved,—“a man greatly

beloved.”—so John was the disciple whom Jesus loved. At the last supper

which Jesus had in this world, John leaned upon his bosom. He had the

nearest place to the heart of Christ of any in all the world. Perhaps you think

it is impossible you can ever come to that. Some of you are trembling afar

off; but you, too, if you will only look where John points you, if you will

only believe the full record of God about Jesus, will share the love of Jesus

with John, you will be one of his peculiarly beloved ones. Those that

believe most, get most love; they come nearest to Jesus—they do, as it

were, lay their head on his breast; and no doubt you will one day really

share that bosom with John. If you believe little, you will keep far off from

Jesus.

3d, The same fatherly dealings as John.—John experienced many

wonderful dealings of God. He experienced many of the prunings of the

Father. He was a fruitful branch, and the Father pruned him that he might

bring forth more fruit. When he was very old, he was banished to Patmos,

an island in the Ægean Sea, and, it is supposed, made a slave in the mines

there. He was a companion in tribulation; but he had many sweet shinings

of the Father’s love to his soul. He had sweet revelations of Christ in the

time of his affliction; and he was joyfully delivered out of all his troubles.

He experienced peculiarly the fatherly dealings of God. And so may you do,

believer. Look where John looked, believe as John believed; and, like him,

you will find that you have a Father in heaven, who will care for you, who

will correct you in measure, who will stay his rough wind in the day of his

east wind, who will preserve you unto his heavenly kingdom.

(2.) Fellowship with the Father.—O beloved, this is so wonderful, that I

could not have believed it, if I had not seen it! Shall a hell-deserving worm

come to share with the holy God? Oh the depth and the length of the love of

God, it passeth knowledge!

, In his holiness.—A natural man has not a spark of God’s holiness in

him. There is a kind of goodness about you. You may be kind, pleasant,

agreeable, good-natured, amiable people,—there may be a kind of integrity

about you, so that you are above stealing or lying; but as long as you are in

a natural state, there is not a grain of God’s holiness in you. You have not a

grain of that absolute hatred against all sin which God has; you have none

of that flaming love for what is lovely, pure, holy, which dwells in the heart

of God. But the moment you believe on a manifested Christ, that moment

you receive the Spirit,—the same Spirit which dwells in the infinite bosom

of the Father dwelleth in you; so you become partakers of God’s holiness,—

you become partakers of the divine nature. You will not be as holy as God;

but the same stream that flows through the heart of God will be given you.

Ah! does not your heart break to be holier? Look then to Jesus, and abide in

Him, and you will share the same spirit with God himself.

2d, In his joy.—No joy is like the divine joy. It is infinite, full, eternal,

pure unmingled joy. It is light, without any cloud to darken it; it is calm,

without any breath to ruffle it. Clouds and darkness are round about Him,

storms and fire go before Him; but within all is peace ineffable,

unchangeable. Believers in some measure share in this joy. We might

mention some of the elements of God’s joy. First, Alt things happen

according to the good pleasure of his will. He has fore-ordained whatsoever

comes to pass. Nothing comes unprepared upon God. Many things are

hateful in his sight, yet, looking on the whole, He can delight in all. If you

have come to Christ, you will have some drops of his joy. You can look

upon all events with a calm, holy joy, knowing that your Father’s will and

purposes alone shall stand. Second, The conversion of souls. There is joy in

the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting, more than over

ninety-nine who need no repentance. I have no doubt that this is one of the

great elements of his joy—seeing souls brought into his favour. God loves

to save; He delighteth in mercy; He delights when He can be a just God and

a Saviour. If you are come to Christ, you will have the same joy.

(3.) Fellowship with the Son

, We share with the Son in his justification.—Once Jesus was

unjustified; once there were sins laid to his charge,—the sins of many. It

was this that occasioned his agony in the garden, on the cross. His only

comfort was, “He is near that justifieth me.” He knew the time would be

short. But now the wrath of God has all fallen upon Him. The thunder-

clouds of God’s anger have spent all their lightnings on his head. The vials

of God’s wrath have poured out their last drops upon Him. He is now

justified from all the sins that were laid upon Him. He has left them with the

grave-clothes. His fellow-men and devils laid all sins to his charge; He was

silent. Do you believe this record concerning the Son? Do you cleave to

Jesus as yours? Then you have fellowship with Him in his justification. You

are as much justified as Christ is. There is as little guilt lying upon you as

there is upon Christ. The vials of wrath have not another drop for Christ,

nor another drop for you. You are justified from all things.

2d, His adoption.—When Jesus went up to heaven, He said, “I go to my

Father.” When He entered heaven, the word of God was “Thou art my Son;

sit Thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Oh, it

was a blessed exchange, when He left the frowns and curses of this world

for the embrace of his Father’s arms,—when He left the thorny crown for a

crown of glory,—when He came from under the wrath of God into the

fatherly love of God! Such is your change, you that believe in Jesus. You

have fellowship with the Son, you share in his adoption. He says, “I ascend

to my Father and your Father.” God is as much your Father as He is Christ’s

Father, your God as Christ’s God. Oh, what a change! for an heir of hell to

become an heir of God, and joint-heir with Christ; to inherit God; to have a

son’s interest in God! Eternity alone will teach you what is in that word,

“heir of God.”

(4.) Joy full.—Other joys are not filling. Creature joys only fill a small

part of the soul. Money, houses, lands, music, entertainments, friends, these

are not filling joys; they are just drops of joys. But Christ revealed makes

the cup run over. “Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”

Believing in a manifested Christ fills the heart full of joy. “In thy presence

is fulness of joy.” Christ brings the soul into God’s presence. One smile of

God fills the heart more than ten thousand smiles of the world.

You that have nothing but creature joy, hunting after butterflies, feeding

upon carrion, why do you spend money for that which is not bread? You

that are afflicted, tempest-tossed, and not comforted, look to a manifested

Jesus. According to your faith so be it unto you. Believe none, and you will

have no joy. Believe little, and you will have little joy. Believe much, and

you will have much joy. Believe all, and you will have all joy, and your joy

will be full. It will be like a bowl lipping over, good measure, pressed

down, and running over. Amen.

ST PETER’S, 1839.

SERMON VII

“A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”—SONG 4:12.

Doctrine.—The believer is Christ’s garden.

I. The name here given to believers.—“My sister, my spouse,” or rather,

“my sister-spouse.” There are many sweet names from the lips of Christ

addressed to believers: “O thou fairest among women,” 1:8; “My love,” 2:2;

“My love, my fair one,” 2:10; “O my dove,” 2:14; “My sister, my love, my

dove, my undefiled,” 5:2; “O prince’s daughter,” 7:1. But here is one more

tender than all, “My sister, my spouse,” 4:9; and again, verse 10, and here,

verse 12. To be spoken well of by the world is little to be desired; but to

hear Christ speak such words to us, is enough to fill our hearts with

heavenly joy. The meaning you will see by what Paul says, 1 Cor. 11:5:

“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other

apostles?” He means power to marry one who is like-minded—a sister in

the Lord; one who will be both a wife and a sister in Christ Jesus—a wife by

covenant, a sister by being born of the same Father in heaven. So Christ

here says of believers, “My sister, my spouse,” that they are not only united

to Him by choice and covenant, but are like-minded also.

II. These two things are inseparable.—Some would like to be the

spouse of the Saviour, without being the sister. Some would like to be saved

by Christ, but not to be made like Christ. When Christ chooses a sinner, and

sets his love on the soul, and when He woos the soul and draws it into

covenant with himself, it is only that He may make the soul a sister,—that

He may impart his features, his same heart, his all, to the soul. Now, many

rest in the mere forgiveness of sins. Many have felt Christ wooing their

soul, and offering himself freely to them, and they have accepted Him. They

have consented to the match. Sinful and worthless and hell-deserving, they

find that Christ desires it; that He will not be dishonoured by it; that He will

find glory in it; and their heart is filled with joy in being taken into covenant

with so glorious a bridegroom. But why has He done it? To make you

partaker of his holiness, to change your nature, to make you sister to

himself,—of his own mind and spirit. He has sprinkled you with clean

water, only that He may give you a new heart also. He brings you to himself

and gives you rest only that He may make you learn of Him his meekness

and lowliness in heart.

(1.) Inseparable.—You cannot be the spouse of Christ without

becoming sister also. Christ offers to be the bridegroom of sin-covered

souls. He came from heaven for this; took flesh and blood for this. He tries

to woo sinners, standing and stretching out his hands. He tells them of all

his power, and glory, and riches, and that all shall be theirs. He is a blood-

sprinkled bridegroom; but that is his chief loveliness. The soul believes his

word, melts under his love, consents to be his. “My beloved is mine, and I

am his.” Then He washes the soul in his own blood; clothes it in his own

righteousness; takes it in with Him to the presence of his Father. From that

day the soul begins to reflect his image. Christ begins to live in the soul.

The same heart, the same spirit, are in both. The soul becomes sister as well

as spouse,—Christ’s not only by choice and covenant, but by likeness also.

Some of you Christ has chosen; you have become his justified ones. Do you

rest there? No; remember you must be made like Him,—reflect his image;

you cannot separate the two.

(2.) The order of the two.—You must be first the spouse before you can

be the sister of Christ,—his by covenant before his by likeness. Some think

to be like Christ first,—that they will copy his features till they recommend

themselves to Christ. No, this will not do. He chooses only those that have

no comeliness—polluted in their own blood, that He may have the honour

of washing them. “When thou wast in thy blood,” Ezek. 16:6. Are there any

trying to recommend themselves to Christ by their change of life? Oh, how

little you know Him! He comes to seek those who are black in themselves.

Are there some of you poor, defiled, unclean? You are just the soul Christ

woos. Proud, scornful? Christ woos you. He offers you his all, and then He

will change you.

III. To what Christ compares believers: “A garden enclosed.”—The

gardens in the East are always enclosed; sometimes by a fence of reeds,

such are the gardens of cucumbers in the wilderness; sometimes by a stone

wall, as the garden of Gethsemane; sometimes by a hedge of prickly pear.

But what is still more interesting is, they are often enclosed out of a

wilderness. All around is often barren sand; and this one enclosed spot is

like the garden of the Lord. Such is the believer.

(1.) Enclosed by election.—In the eye of God, the world was one great

wilderness,—all barren, all dead, all fruitless. No part was fit to bear

anything but briars. It was nigh unto cursing. One part was no better than

another in his sight. The hearts of men were all hard as rock, dry and barren

as the sand. Out of the mere good pleasure of his will, He marked out a

garden of delights where He might show his power and grace, that it might

be to his praise. Some of you know your election of God by the fruits of it,

—by your faith, love, and holiness. Be humbled by the thought that it was

solely because He chose you. Why me, Lord? why me?

(2.) Enclosed by the Spirit’s work.—Election is the planning of the

garden. The Spirit’s work is the carrying it into effect. “He fenced it,” Isa.

5:2. When the Spirit begins his work, it is separating work. When a man is

convinced of sin, he is no more one with the careless, godless world. He

avoids his companions—goes alone. When a soul comes to Christ, it is still

more separated. It then comes into a new world. He is no more under the

curse—no more under wrath. He is in the smile and favour of God. Like

Gideon’s fleece, he now receives the dew when all around is dry.

(3.) Enclosed by the arms of God.—God is a wall of fire. Angels are

around the soul. Elisha’s hill was full of horses of fire. God is round about

the soul, as the mountains stand round about Jerusalem. The soul is hid in

the secret of God’s presence. No robber can ever come over the fence. “A

vineyard of red wine: I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment:

lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.” Isa. 27:2, 3. This is sung over

thee.

IV. Well-watered garden.—Watered in three ways. First, By a hidden

well. It is the custom in the East to roll a stone over the mouth of a well, to

preserve the water from sand. Second, By a fountain of living water—a well

always bubbling up. Third, By streams from Lebanon.

(1.) “A spring shut up.”—This describes the Spirit in the heart, in his

most secret manner of working. In some gardens there is only this secret

well. A stone is over the mouth. If you wish to water the garden, you must

roll away the stone, and let down the bucket. Such is the life of God in

many souls. Some of you feel that there is a stone over the mouth of the

well in you. Your own rocky heart is the stone. Stir up the gift of God which

is in thee.

(2.) A well of living water.—This is the same as John 4,—a well that is

ever full and running over. Grace new every moment; fresh upspringings

from God. Thus only will you advance.

(3.) Streams from Lebanon.—These are very plentiful. On all sides they

fall in pleasant cascades, in the bottom unite into broad full streams, and on

their way water the richest gardens. The garden of Ibrahim Pacha, near

Acre, is watered with streams from Lebanon. So believers are sometimes

favoured with streams from the Lebanon that is above. We receive out of

Christ’s fulness,—drink of the wine of his pleasures. Oh for more of these

streams of Lebanon! Even in the dry season they are full. The hotter the

summer, the streams from Lebanon become the fuller, because the heat only

melts the mountain snows.

V. The fruit.—The very use of a garden is to bear fruit and flowers. For

this purpose it is enclosed, hedged, planted, watered. If it bear no fruit nor

flowers, all the labour is lost labour. The ground is nigh to cursing. So is it

with the Christian. Three remarkable things are here.

(1.) No weeds are mentioned.—Pleasant fruit-trees, and all the chief

spices; but no weeds. Had it been a man that was describing his garden, he

would have begun with the weeds—the unbelief, corruption, evil tempers,

etc. Not so Christ. He covers all the sins. The weeds are lost sight of. He

sees no perversity. As in John 17: “They have kept thy word; they are not of

the world.” As in Rev. 2:2: “I know thy works.”

(2.) Fruits.—The pomegranate—the very best; all pleasant fruits. And

all his own. “From me is thy fruit found;” “His pleasant fruits,” verse 16.

The graces that Christ puts into the heart and brings out of the life are the

very best, the richest, most pleasant, most excellent that a creature can

produce. Love to Christ, love to the brethren, love to the Sabbath,

forgiveness of enemies, all the best fruits that can grow in the human heart.

Unreasonable world! to condemn true conversion, when it produces the

very fruits of paradise, acceptable to God, if not to you. Should not this

make you stand and consider?

(3.) Spices.—These spices do not naturally grow in gardens. Even in the

East there never was such a display as this. So the fragrant graces of the

Spirit are not natural to the heart. They are brought from a far country. They

must be carefully watched. They need the stream, and the gentle zephyr.

Oh, I fear most of you should hang your heads when Christ begins to speak

of fragrant spices in your heart! Where are they? Are there not talkative,

forward Christians? Are there not self-seeking, praise-seeking, man-

pleasing Christians? Are there not proud-praying Christians? Are there not

ill-tempered Christians? Are there not rash, inconsiderate ones? Are there

not idle, lazy, bad-working Christians? Lord, where are the spices? Verily,

Christ is a bundle of myrrh. Oh to be like Him! Oh that every flower and

fruit would grow! They must come from above. Many there are of whom

one is forced to say, “Well, they may be Christians; but I would not like to

be next them in heaven!” Cry for the wind: “Awake, O north wind; and

come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow

out.”

SERMON VIII

“(Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?) I raised thee up under

the apple-tree: there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy

is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the

substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”—SONG 8:5–7.

WE are introduced to the great Redeemer and a believing soul, and are made

to overhear their converse.

I. The posture of the church

(1.) From the wilderness.—To a child of God this world is a wilderness.

First, Because everything is fading here. Here is nothing abiding; money

takes wings and flees away; friends die. All are like grass; and if some are

more beautiful or more engaging than others, still they are only like the

flower of the grass,—a little more ornamented, but withering often sooner.

Sometimes a worldly comfort is like Jonah’s gourd,—it came up over his

head to be a shadow to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding

glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm, when the morning rose the

next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. So our worldly comfort

sometimes grows up over our head like a shadow, and we are exceeding

glad of our gourd; but God prepares a worm, we faint, and are ready to die.

Here we have no continuing city; but we seek one to come. This is a

wilderness: “Arise, depart, this is not thy rest, for it is polluted.” An

experienced Christian looks upon everything here as not abiding; for the

things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

Second, Because everything is stained with sin here. Even the natural

scenery of this world is stained with sin. The thorns and thistles tell of a

cursed earth. Above all, when you look at the floods of ungodly men.—“We

are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” The world does not

know a Christian, and does not love him. Though you love them, and would

lay down your body that they might pass over to glory, yet they will not

hear. Above all, the sin in our own heart makes us bend down under our

burden, and feel this to be a valley of weeping. Ah! wretched man, if we

had no body of sin, what a sweet glory would appear in everything; we

would sing like the birds in spring.

(2.) Coming out of it.—Unconverted souls are going down into the

wilderness to perish there. All Christians are coming up out of it. Sabbath-

days are like milestones, marking our way; or rather they are like the wells

we used to come to at evening. Every real Christian is making progress. If

the sheep is on the shoulder of the shepherd, it is always getting nearer the

fold. With some the shepherd takes long steps. Dear Christians, you should

be advancing, getting higher, nearer to Canaan, riper for glory. In the south

of Russia, the country is of vast plains, rising by steppes. Dear friends, you

should get on to a higher place; up another step every Sabbath-day. In

travelling, you never think of making a house in the wilderness. So, dear

friends, do not take up your rest here, we are journeying. Let all your

endeavours be to get on in your journey.

(3.) Leaning upon her beloved.—It is very observable that there is none

here but the bride and her beloved in a vast wilderness. She is not leaning

upon him with one arm, and upon somebody else with the other; but she is

leaning upon him alone. So is it with the soul taught of God; it feels alone

with Christ in this world; it leans as entirely upon Christ as if there were no

other being in the universe. She leans all her weight upon her husband.

When a person has been saved from drowning, they lean all their weight

upon their deliverer. When the lost sheep was found, he took it upon his

shoulder. You must be content then to lean all your weight upon Christ.

Cast the burden of temporal things upon Him. Cast the care of your soul

upon Him. If God be for us, who can be against us? They that wait upon the

Lord shall renew their strength. The eagle soars so directly upward, that

poets have fancied it was aiming at the sun. So does the soul that waits on

Christ.

II. Christ’s word to the leaning soul

(1.) “I raised thee up,” etc.—He reminds the believer of his natural

state. Every soul now in Christ was once like an exposed infant (Ezek. 16),

cast out into the open field. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity.” Do not

forget what you were. If ever you come to forget what you were, then you

may be sure you are not right with God. Observe when the contrition

comes. When you are leaning on Christ, then He tells you of your sin and

misery, Ezek. 36:31.

(2.) He reminds you of his love: “I raised thee up.” He himself is the

apple-tree, open on all sides round, affording shadow and fruit. I raised

thee. Christ not only shelters, but draws into the shelter. “To Him be glory.”

Are there not some who feel like an infant—cast out? Turn your eye to

Christ, He only can raise up your soul under the apple-tree.

III. The leaniny soul cries for continued grace

Set me as a seal.—It is a sure mark of grace to desire more. The High

Priest had a beautiful breastplate over his breast, adorned with jewels,—

make me one of these. He had also a jewel on each shoulder,—make me

one of these. These were bound with chains of gold, but the believer with

chains of love. This is a true mark of grace. If you be contented to remain

where you are, without any more nearness to God, or any more holiness,

this is a clear mark you have got none. Hide me deeper, bind me closer, and

carry me more completely.

(1.) The love of Christ is strong as death.—Death is awfully strong.

When he comes upon a stout young man, he brings him down. So is the

love of Christ.

(2.) Cruel, or stubborn, as the grave.—The grave will not give up its

dead, nor will Christ give up his own. Oh! pray that this love may embrace

you. Vehement as hell,—unquenchable fire. You have your choice, dear

friends, of two eternal fires. “Who shall separate us from the love of

Christ,” etc.? Rom. 8 Floods cannot drown it,—afflictions cannot.

(3.) It cannot be bought.—“If a man would give all the substance,” etc.

You must accept it free or not at all.

DUNDEE, 1840

SERMON IX

“After his I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and

kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with

white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God

which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the

throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces and

worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and

honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders

answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came

they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came

out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the

Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in his temple:

and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither

thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the

midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”—REV. 7:9 to the end.

IT is one thing to read these words with a poet’s eye, and another thing to

read them with the eye of a Christian. Oh pray, dear friends, that the Spirit

may tear away the veil from our hearts, and show us the grand realities that

are here! It is sweet and profitable—

(1.) For the awakening of the ungodly, that you may see what are the

exercises of the heavenly world, and how unfit you would be for them. I

suppose many of you feel that you have not washed your robes, and that

you could not sing their song. Then you must be on the road to hell.

(2.) For the instruction of believers.—It shows you what are the chief

employments of that happy world, where we shall so soon be; it gives you

the key-note of the heavenly song; it teaches you to spend much of your

time in the same exercises in which you shall spend eternity.

(3.) For comfort to afflicted believers.—It shows you how short your

trials will be. These light afflictions are but for a moment; you need not

murmur nor grieve,—a little while, and we shall be with Christ, and God

shall wipe away all your tears. For this end it was given to John.

I. What John saw and heard

(1.) A great multitude of all nations.—When John was on earth he saw

but few believers: “We are of God, and the whole world lieth in

wickedness.” The church was like a lily in a field of thorns, lambs in the

midst of wolves; but now quite different,—thorns are plucked away, the

lilies innumerable. “Out of all nations.”—Perhaps he could discern his

fellow-apostles, his own brother James, and holy Paul, and angel-faced

Stephen; the dark Egyptian, the swarthy Ethiopian, the woolly-headed

negro, the far distant Chinese, the Burman, the Hindoo, the blue-eyed

German, the dark-eyed Italian, and multitudes perhaps from a distant island

of the sea. Every country had its representatives there,—some saved out of

every land. All were like Christ, and yet all retained their different

peculiarities. Learn that Christ will have a glorious crown.—He shall see of

the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. Often, when I look at a large town

like Dundee, and see so few converted to Christ, my heart sickens within

me; I often feel as if we were labouring for nought and in vain. Although

there has been so much blessing, yet such masses of ungodly families! But

oh, cheer up, Christ shall have his full crown! Though there should not be

another saved out of this place, Christ will have his full reward. We shall be

quite satisfied when we see the whole. He hath mercy on whom He will

have mercy. Learn the power of his blood. It blots out the sins of all that

multitude,—sins of every name and dye. Why not yours? Oh! when such a

glorious company are saved, why should you be lost? When so many are

going out of this place, why should you keep back?

(2.) Their position.—They stood before the throne,—yea, nearer than

the angels, for they stood round about. The redeemed stood next the throne,

the angels round them. This marks their complete righteousness. But the

ungodly cannot stand in the judgment. If God were only to bring an ungodly

man into his presence, he would die. You greatly mistake if you think God

needs to put out great strength to destroy you. As a cloud is dried up by

being in the light of the sun, so you would perish at the presence of God as

a moth in a candle. But this great company stand next the throne,—God’s

eye full upon them. In Christ they stand, not in themselves. Nearer than

angels: the angels have only creature-righteousness,—these have on

Creator-righteousness. The righteousness of Christ is a million times more

lovely than that of the highest angel, therefore they stand nearer. The

righteousness of God is upon them all,—who shall condemn? If you are

ever to be near God, you may come freely to Him now Why keep so far

away?

(3.) Their dress; white robes and palms.—They have all the same dress,

there is no difference. It is the garment of Christ. One was a far greater

believer than another,—made far greater advances in holiness,—yet the

same dress. Whiter than the angels, verse 13. The angels also are

represented as dressed in white; yet it would appear that their robes were far

outshone by the bright shining raiment of the redeemed. The angels have on

creature-righteousness, the redeemed the righteousness of God. This is what

is now offered to you, sinners. Awakened persons are sometimes led to cry,

“Oh that I had never sinned!” but here is something better than if you had

never sinned. Palms are signs of victory. The Jews used to take branches of

palms at the feast of tabernacles, or ingathering, which was a type of

heaven. The angels have no palms, for they have fought no fight, they have

gained no victory. Every one that has a white robe has a palm. Every one

that is in Christ shall overcome. Be not afraid of your enemies.

(4.) Their song. The substance of it—Salvation.—They give God all the

glory. On earth, there are many that cannot believe in an electing God—that

God chose them for no good in them; but in heaven they all feel it, and give

Him all the praise. On earth, many speak of making themselves willing; but

in heaven they sing “Salvation to God.” On earth, many go about to

establish their own righteousness; in heaven, “glory to the Lamb.” On earth,

many take Christ as part of their righteousness, and their duties as part; in

heaven, all give glory to the Lamb. What say you to this song? Does it find

an echo in your heart? Remember you must begin it now, if yon are to sing

it afterwards. The effect of it—it stirs up the hearts of the angels, verses 11,

12. Often on earth, when one believer begins to praise God for what He has

done for his soul, it stirs up the hearts of others. So in heaven, when the

angels hear the voice of redeemed sinners,—brands plucked out of the fire,

—standing in near the throne, they will obtain a ravishing view of the glory

of God, his mercy and grace, they will fall down and worship God. They

will not envy the redeemed their place; but, on the contrary, be filled with

intense praise by hearing of what God has done for their souls. How do you

feel when you hear of others being saved and brought nearer to God than

you? Do you envy and hate them, or do you fall down and praise God for

it?

II. Their past history—verses 13, 14

Two particulars are given. Each had a different history; still in these two

they were alike.

(1.) They had washed their robes.—This leads us back to their

conversion. Once every one of that company had filthy garments. They

were like Joshua, their garment was spotted by the flesh. It was like a

garment with the leprosy in it. Some stained with blood,—spots of blood

upon their garments; some with adultery; some with disobedience to

parents; some with pride, falsehood, evil speaking,—all, all were stained.

Every one was convinced that he could not make himself clean; he could

not wash his garments nor throw them off; he was brought to see himself

lost and helpless. Jesus was revealed to him, and his precious blood shed for

sinners, even the chief, saying to the heavy laden, “Come to me.” Of all that

company, there is not one stands there in any other way. All are washed in

blood. It is their only way of standing. Have you been washed in blood?

You will find not one in heaven who went there in any other way. You think

to go to heaven by your own decency, innocency, attention to duties. Well,

you would be the only such one there: all are washed in blood. Come and

let us reason together.

(2.) They came out of great tribulation.—Every one that gets to the

throne must put their foot upon the thorn. The way to the crown is by the

cross. We must taste the gall if we are to taste the glory. When justified by

faith, God led them into tribulations also. When God brought Israel through

the Red Sea, He led them into the wilderness; so, when God saves a soul,

He tries it. He never gives faith without trying it. The way to Zion is

through the Valley of Baca. You must go through the wilderness of Jordan if

you are to come to the Land of Promise. Some believers are much surprised

when they are called to suffer. They thought they would do some great thing

for God; but all that God permits them to do is to suffer. Go round every

one in glory,—every one has a different story, yet every one has a tale of

suffering. One was persecuted in his family,—by his friends and

companions; another was visited by sore pains and humbling disease,—

neglected by the world; another was bereaved of children; another had all

these afflictions meeting in one,—deep called unto deep. Mark, all are

brought out of them. It was a dark cloud, but it passed away; the water was

deep, but they have reached the other side. Not one of them blames God for

the road He led them: “Salvation” is their only cry. Is there any of you, dear

children, murmuring at your lot? Do not sin against God. This is the way

God leads all his redeemed ones. You must have a palm as well as a white

robe. No pain, no palm; no cross, no crown; no thorn, no throne; no gall, no

glory. Learn to glory in tribulations also. “I reckon that the sufferings of this

present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be

revealed in us.”

III. Future history

(1.) Immediate service of God.—Here, we are allowed to spend much of

our time in our worldly callings. It is lawful for a man to win his bread, to

plough, sow, reap, to spin and weave. Then, all our strength will be put

forth in the immediate service of God. We shall stand before Him, and He

shall dwell among us. It will be a perpetual Sabbath. We shall spend eternity

in loving God, in adoring, admiring, and praising God. We should spend

much of our present time in this. Some people imagine that they are not

serving God unless they are visiting the sick, or engaged in some outward

service; whereas the highest of all service is the love of adoration in the

soul. Perhaps God gets more glory by a single adoring look of some poor

believer on a sick-bed, than from the outward labours of a whole day.

(2.) Not in the wilderness any more.—At present we are like a flock in

the wilderness, our soul often hungry, and thirsty, and sorely tried. Often we

feel as if we could go no farther, but must lie down and die. Often we feel

temptations too much for us, or persecutions too strong for us to bear. When

we are with Christ we shall hunger no more, all our pains shall be ended.

Learn to glorify Him in the fires, to sing in the wilderness. This is the only

world where you can give God that glory.

(3.) Father, Son, and Spirit will bless us.—The Lamb shall feed us: He

that died for us. We shall always see our security before us in our Surety; no

trembling shall ever come over our soul. He shall be one like us—a Lamb—

like the least of us; we shall learn of God from Him. The Spirit will be like

“living fountains of waters.” Here, we never have enough; there, without

measure. The Father will be a father to us. He will wipe away tears—the

tears we shed in dying,—wilderness tears,—the tears over lost friends, and

a perishing world. “What manner of persons ought we to be!”

DUNDEE, 1840

SERMON X

“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto his brethren, that He might be a

merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins

of the people. For in that He himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succour them

that are tempted.”—HEB. 2:16–18.

Doctrine—Christ a merciful High Priest.

I. The sovereign mercy of Christ in becoming man.—“For verily He

took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of

Abraham.” We read of two great rebellions in the history of the universe—

the rebellion of the angels, and the rebellion of man. For infinitely wise and

gracious purposes God planned and permitted both of these, that out of evil

He might bring forth good. The first took place in heaven itself. Pride was

the sin by which the angels fell, and therefore it is called “the condemnation

of the devil.” “They kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.”

“God spared them not, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into

chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” The next fall took place

upon earth. Satan tempted, and man fell,—believed the devil rather than

God, and so came under the curse: “Thou shalt surely die.” Both of these

families came under the same frown—under the same condemnation; both

were condemned to the same “everlasting fire.” But the glorious Son of

God resolved, from all eternity, to die for sinners. Now, for which of the

two shall He die? Perhaps the angels in heaven would long that He should

die for their once brother angels. The angelic nature was higher than that of

man. Men had fallen deeper into sin than the rebel angels. Will He not die

for angels? Now, here is the answer: “Verily He took not on Him the nature

of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.” Here is sovereign

mercy passing by one family and coming to another. Let us wonder and

adore the sovereign mercy of Jesus.

(1.) Do not be surprised if Jesus passes many by. The Lord Jesus has

been riding through our country in a remarkable manner, seated on his

white horse, and wearing many crowns. He has sent out many arrows and

pierced many hearts in this place, and brought many to his feet; but has He

not passed many by? Are there not many given up to their own hearts’ lust,

and walking in their own counsel? Be not surprised. This is the very way

He did when He came to this earth; He passed the gate of hell. Although his

bosom was full of love and grace, although “God is love,” He felt it not

inconsistent to pass fallen angels by, and to come and die for men. And so,

though Jesus is love still, yet He can save some, and leave others to be

hardened. “Many widows were in Israel in the time of Elijah the prophet;

but unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Zidon,

unto a woman that was a widow.” And many lepers were in Israel at the

time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman

the Syrian.

(2.) If Christ has visited your soul, give Him all the glory. “Not unto us,

Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.” The only reason why you

are saved is the sovereign compassion of Jesus. It is not that you are better

than others, that you were less wicked, of better dispositions, more attentive

to your Bible. Many who have been left have been much more blameless in

their life. It is not that you have sat under a peculiar ministry. God has made

the same ministry a means of hardening multitudes. It is the free grace of

God. Love God for ever and ever, because He chose you of his own free

will. Adore Jesus, that He passed by millions, and died for you. Adore the

Holy Ghost, that He came out of free sovereign mercy and awakened you. It

will be matter of praise through eternity.

(3.) If Christ is now visiting your soul, do not trifle with Him. Some

persons, when Christ begins to knock at the door of their heart, put Him off

from time to time. They trifle with their convictions. They say, I am too

young yet, let me taste a little more pleasure of the world: youth is the time

for mirth; another time I will open the door. Some say, I am too busy; I have

to provide for my family; when I have a more convenient season I will call

for Thee. Some say, I am strong and healthy; I hope I have many years to

live; when sickness comes, then I will open the door. Consider that Christ

may not come again. He is knocking now: let Him in. Another day He may

pass by your door. You cannot command convictions of sin to come when

you like. Christ is entirely sovereign in saving souls. No doubt, many of you

have had your last knock from Christ. Many of you that were once

concerned are not so now; and you cannot bring it back again. There is no

doubt a time in every man’s life, when, if he opens the door, he will be

saved; if he does not, he will perish. Probably this may be that time to many

of you. Christ may be giving last knocks to some to-day.

II. Christ made like us in all things.—Christ not only became man, but

it behoved Him to be made like us in all things. He suffered, being tempted.

In my last lecture, I showed you the only two points in which He was

different from us. First, In being God as well as man. In the manger at

Bethlehem there lay a perfect infant, but there also was Jehovah. That

mysterious being who rode on an ass’s colt, and wept over Jerusalem, was

as much a man as you are, and as much God as the Father is. The tears He

shed were human tears, yet the love of Jehovah swelled below his mantle.

That pale being that hung quivering on the cross was indeed man; it was

human blood that flowed from his wounds; but He was as truly God.

Second, In being without sin. He was the only one in human form of whom

it can be said, He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners;

the only one on whom God could look down from heaven, and say, “This is

my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Every member of our body

and faculty of our mind we have used as the servants of sin. Every member

of his body and faculty of his mind were used only as servants to holiness.

His mouth was the only human mouth from which none but gracious words

ever proceeded. His eye was the only human eye that never shot forth

flames of pride, or envy, or lust. His hand was the only human hand that

never was stretched forth but in doing good. His heart was the only human

heart that was not deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. When

Satan came to Him, he found nothing in Him. Now, in these two things it

behoved Him to be unlike his brethren, or He could not have been a Saviour

at all. In all other things it behoved Him to be made like us. There was no

part of our condition that He did not humble himself unto.

(1.) He passed through all the terms of our life from childhood to

manhood. First, He was an infant of days, exposed to all the pains and

dangers of infancy. “Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.” Second, He bore the trials and pains of boyhood. Many

a one, no doubt, would wonder at the holy boy in the carpenter’s shop at

Nazareth. He grew in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and

with man. Third, He bore the afflictions and anxieties of manhood, when He

began to be about thirty years of age.

(2.) He tasted the difficulties of many situations in life. The first thirty

years, it is probable, He shared the humble occupation of Joseph the

carpenter; He tasted the trials of working for his daily bread. Then He

subsisted on the kindness of others. Certain women, which followed Him,

ministered unto Him of their substance. He had not where to lay his head.

Many a night He spent on the Mount of Olives, or on the hills of Galilee.

Then He bore the trials of a gospel minister. He preached from morning till

night, and yet with how small success! so that He could say, “I have

laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain.” How

often He was grieved by their unbelief! He marvelled at their unbelief. “Oh

faithless generation! how long shall I be with you, how long shall I suffer

you!” How often He offended many by his preaching! “Many said, This is

an hard saying; who can hear it?” “From that time many of his disciples

went back, and walked no more with Jesus.” John 6:66. How often they

hated Him for his love! “For my love they are my adversaries: but I gave

myself unto prayer.” Ps. 109:4. How his own disciples grieved Him by their

want of faith! “O ye of little faith, have I been so long time with you!” The

unbelief of Thomas; their sleeping in the garden; forsaking Him and

fleeing; Peter denying, Judas betraying Him!

(3.) What trials He had from his own family! Even his own brothers did

not believe on Him, but mocked. The people of his town tried to throw Him

over the rocks. What pain He suffered from his mother, when He saw the

sword piercing her fond heart! how He said to John, “Behold thy mother!”

and to his mother, “Behold thy son!” even in the midst of his dying agonies.

(4.) What trials from Satan! Believers complain of Satan, but they never

felt his power as Christ did. What an awful conflict was that during forty

days in the wilderness! How fearfully did Satan urge on Pharisees, and

Herod, and Judas, to torment Him! What an awful hour was that when He

said, This is your hour, and the power of darkness! What an awful cry was

that, “Save me from the lion’s mouth!” (Ps. 22:22), when He felt his soul in

the very jaws of Satan!

(5.) What trials from God! Believers often groan under the hidings of

God’s countenance; but ah! they seldom taste even a drop of what Christ

drank. What dreadful agony was that in Gethsemane, when the blood

gushed through the pores! How dreadful was that frown of God on the

cross, when He cried, “My God, my God!” In all these things, and a

thousand more, He was made like unto his brethren. He came into our place

Through eternity we shall study these sufferings.

, Learn the amazing love of Christ, that He should leave glory for

such a condition.

2d, Learn to bear sufferings cheerfully. You have not yet suffered as He

did.

III. The end—That He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest.—

The work of Christ as an high priest is here laid down as twofold. First, To

make an atonement for our sins. Second, To succour his people under

temptations.

(1.) To make atonement.—This is the great work of Christ as our High

Priest. For this it was needful that He should become man and die. Had He

remained God alone in the bosom of his Father, He might have pitied us,

but He could not have died for us, nor taken our sins away. We must have

perished. Every priest in the Old Testament was a type of Jesus in this;

every lamb that was slain typified Jesus offering up his own body a sacrifice

for our sins.

Let your eye rest there if you would be happy. Those few dark hours on

Calvary, when the great High Priest was offering up the amazing sacrifice,

give light for eternity to the believing soul. This only will cheer you in

dying. Not your graces, not your love to Christ, not anything in you, but

only this—Christ hath died. He loved me, and gave himself for me. Christ

hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(2.) To succour the tempted.—All believers are a tempted people. Every

day they have their trials; every time is to them a time of need. The

unconverted are little tempted; they are not in trouble as others, neither are

they plagued like other men. They do not feel temptations rising in their

heart; nor do they know the power of Satan. Before conversion, a man

believes as little in the devil as he believes in Christ. But when a man comes

to Christ, then he becomes a tempted soul, “poor and needy, seeking water

and there is none.”

He is tempted by God.—God did tempt Abraham; not to sin, for God

cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man. Still, God

always tries his children. He never gives faith but He brings his child into a

situation where it will be tried. Sometimes He exalts him, to try if he will

turn proud and forget God; sometimes He brings him low, to see if he will

murmur against God. Blessed is the man that endureth temptations.

Sometimes He brings them into a strait, where the trial is, whether they will

believe in Him alone, or trust to flesh and blood.

The world tempts a child of God.—They watch for their halting. They

love nothing better than to see a child of God fall into sin. It soothes their

conscience to think that all are equally bad. They frown; they smile.

Their own heart is a fountain of temptation.—Sometimes it says, What

harm is there in that?—it is a little sin; or, I will just sin this once, and never

again; or, I will repent after and be saved.

Satan hurls his fiery darts.—He terrifies them away from Christ,

disturbs them at prayer, fills their mind with blasphemies, hounds on the

world against them.

Ah! believers, you are a tempted people. You are always poor and

needy. And God intends it should be so, to give you constant errands to go

to Jesus. Some may say, it is not good to be a believer; but ah! see to whom

we can go.

We have a merciful and faithful High Priest. He suffered, being

tempted, just that He might succour them that are tempted. The high priest

of old not only offered sacrifice at the altar,—his work was not done when

the lamb was consumed. He was to be a father to Israel. He carried all their

names graven over his heart,—he went in and prayed for them within the

veil. He came out and blessed the people, saying, “The Lord bless thee and

keep thee. The Lord make his face shine,” etc. Num. 6:24–26.

So it is with the Lord Jesus. His work was not all done on Calvary. He

that died for our sins lives to pray for us,—to help in every time of need. He

is still man on the right hand of God. He is still God, and therefore, by

reason of his divinity, is present here this day as much as any of us. He

knows your every sorrow, trial, difficulty; every half-breathed sigh He

hears, and brings in notice thereof to his human heart at the right hand of

God. His human heart is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; it pleads

for you, thinks on you, plans deliverance for you.

Dear tempted brethren! Go boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain

mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need.

Are you bereaved of one you loved? Go and tell Jesus; spread out your

sorrows at his feet. He knows them all; feels for you in them all. He is a

merciful High Priest. He is faithful too, never awanting in the hour of need.

He is able to succour you by his word, by his Spirit, by his providence. He

gave you all the comfort you had by your friends. He can give it you

without them. He has taken away the stream that you may go to the

fountain.

Are you suffering in body? Go to this High Priest. He is intimately

acquainted with all your diseases; He has felt that very pain. Remember

how, when they brought to Him one that was deaf and had an impediment

in his speech, He looked up to heaven and sighed, and said, Ephphatha! He

sighed over his misery. So He sighs over you. He is able to give you

deliverance, or patience to bear it, or improvement by it.

Are you sore tempted in soul—put into trying circumstances, so that

you know not what to do? Look up; He is able to succour you. If He had

been on earth, would you not have gone to Him—would you not have

kneeled and said, Lord, help me? Does it make any difference that He is at

the right hand of God? He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

SERMON XI

ORDINATION SERMON

(At the Ordination of the Rev. P. L. MILLER, Wallacetown, Dundee, 1840.)

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the

dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;

reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.”—2 TIM. 4:1, 2.

I. Where faithful ministers stand—“Before God and the Lord Jesus

Christ.” There is not a more awfully affecting situation in the whole world

than that in which a faithful minister stands.

(1.) Before God.—This is true in two ways:

, As a sinner saved by grace.—He was once far off, but is now

brought nigh by the blood of Jesus. Having “boldness to enter into the

holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath

consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,” he draws near.

He stands within the veil—in the holiest of all—in the love of God. He is

justified before God. A faithful minister is an example to his flock of a

sinner saved. God says to him as He did to Abraham, “Walk before me, and

be thou perfect.” He can say with Paul, “I was a blasphemer, and a

persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy.” A faithful minister is like

Aaron’s rod, that was laid up beside the ark of God and budded there.

2d, As a servant.—In the East, servants always stand in the presence of

their master, watching his hand. The Queen of Sheba said to Solomon,

“Happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee and hear

thy wisdom.” So it is said of the angels, that “they do always behold the

face of my Father which is in heaven.” Even when most engaged in the

service of the saints, they feel under his all-seeing, holy, living eye. So

ought faithful ministers to feel. They should feel constantly in his presence,

—under his soul-piercing, gentle guiding, holy, living eye. “I will guide

thee with mine eye.” “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.” Ah!

how often we feel we are before man. Then all power withers, and we

become weak as other men; but oh! how sweet to feel in the presence of

God, as if there were no eye on us but God’s. In prayer, how sweet to feel

before Him; to kneel at his footstool, and to put our hand upon the mercy-

seat—no curtain, no veil, no cloud between the soul and God! In preaching,

how sweet to say, like Elijah, when he stood before Ahab, “I stand before

the Lord God of Israel!” To stand at his feet, in his family, in his pavilion,

oh believers, it is then we get above the billows! The applause of men, the

rage and contempt of men, then pass by us like the idle wind which we

regard not. Thus is a minister like a rock in the ocean; the mountain-billows

dash upon its brow, and yet it stands unshaken.

(2.) Before Jesus Christ.—This also is true in two ways:

, The faithful minister has a present sight of Christ as his

Righteousness. He is like John the Baptist. “Seeing Jesus coming unto him,

he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” Or like Isaiah, he saw “his glory, and

spake of Him.” His own soul is ever watching at Gethsemane and at

Golgotha. Oh brethren, it is thus only we can ever speak with feeling, or

with power, or with truth, of the unsearchable riches of Christ! We must

have the taste of the manna in our mouth, “milk and honey under our

tongue,” else we cannot tell of its sweetness. We must be drinking the living

water from the smitten rock, or we cannot speak of its refreshing power. We

must be hiding our guilty souls in the wounds of Jesus, or we cannot with

joy speak of the peace and rest to be found there. This is the reason why

unfaithful ministers are cold and barren in their labours. They speak, like

Balaam, of a Saviour whose grace they do not feel. They speak, like

Caiaphas, of the blood of Christ, without having felt its power to speak

peace to the troubled heart. This is the reason why many good men have a

barren ministry. They speak from clear head-knowledge, or from past

experience, but not from a present grasp of the truth—not from a present

sight of the Lamb of God. Hence their words fall like a shower of snow,—

fair and beautiful, but cold and freezing. The Lord give us to stand in the

presence of the Lord Jesus.

2d, The faithful minister should feel the presence of a living Saviour. A

minister should be like the bride in the Song: “Leaning upon her beloved.”

This was Jeremiah’s strength (1:8): “Be not afraid of their faces, for I am

with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” So it was with Paul (Acts 18:9,

10): “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee,

and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this

city.” So Jesus told all the disciples: “Yet a little while, and the world seeth

me not; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” And again He says

expressly: “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.” Yes,

brethren, Christ is as truly walking in the midst of the seven golden

candlesticks, as truly in this place to-day, as if you saw Him with your

bodily eyes. His humanity is at the right hand of God,—appearing in the

presence of God for us. His Godhead fills all in all. Thus He is with us,—

standing with our right hand, so that we cannot be moved. It is sweet to

know and feel this. Thus only can we be sustained amid all the trials of the

ministry. Are we weary? we can lean, like John, upon his bosom. Are we

burdened with a sense of sin? we can hide in the clefts of that Rock of

Ages. Are we empty? we can look up to Him for immediate supply. Are we

hated of all men? we can hide under his wings. Stand before the Lord Jesus

Christ, and then you may smile at Satan’s rage, and face a frowning world.

Learn here also the guilt of refusing a gospel ministry: “He that refuseth

you, refuseth me; and he that refuseth me, refuseth Him that sent me.”

(3.) Within sight of judgment—“Who shall judge the quick and

dead.”—Ministers and their flocks shall meet together before the throne of

the Lord Jesus. That will be a solemn day. They have many solemn

meetings on earth. An ordination day is a solemn day. Their meetings from

Sabbath to Sabbath are solemn meetings; and sacrament days are very

solemn days. But their meeting at the judgment-seat will be by far the most

solemn of all. Then,

, The minister will give in his account, either with joy or with grief.

He will no more meet to plead with the people, or to pray with them, but to

bear witness how they received the word. Of some he will give account

with a joyful countenance,—that they received the word with all readiness

of mind,—that they were converted and became like little children: these

will be his joy and crown. Of most with grief,—that he carried the message

to them, but they would not come—they made light of it; or perhaps they

listened for a while, but drew back into perdition. He will be a swift witness

against them in that day. “Depart, ye cursed.”

2d, Then the people will give in their account of the minister. If he was

faithful; if he made it his meat and drink to do the will of God; if he

preached the whole truth with seriousness, urgency, love; if he was holy in

his life; if he preached publicly, and from house to house; then that minister

shall shine like the stars. If he was unfaithful; if he fed himself, but not the

flock; if he did not seek the conversion of souls, did not travail in birth; if

he sought his own ease, his own wealth, his own praise, and not their souls;

then shall the loud curses of ruined souls fall on that wretched man, and

God shall say, Take the unfaithful servant, and bind him hand and foot, and

cast him into outer darkness. Oh! believers, it is the duty of ministers to

preach with this solemn day in their eye. We should stand, like Abraham,

looking down on the smoke of Sodom; like John, listening to the new song

and golden harps of the new Jerusalem. Would not this take away the fear of

man? Would not this make us urgent in our preaching? You must either get

these souls into Christ, or you will yet see them lying down in everlasting

burnings. Oh! brethren, did I not say truly that the place where a minister

stands is the most solemn spot in all this world?

II. The grand business of the faithful minister.—Described in two ways:

First, Generally—Preach the Word; Second, More in detail—Reprove,

rebuke, exhort.

(1.) Preach the Word.—The grand work of the minister, in which he is

to lay out his strength of body and mind, is preaching. Weak and foolish as

it may appear, this is the grand instrument which God has put into our

hands, by which sinners are to be saved, and saints fitted for glory. It

pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. It

was to this our blessed Lord devoted the years of his own ministry. Oh,

what an honour has He put upon this work, by preaching in the synagogues,

in the temple, and by the blue waves of Galilee, under the canopy of

heaven! Has He not consecrated this world as preaching ground? This was

the grand work of Paul and all the apostles; for this was our Lord’s

command: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.” Oh! brethren,

this is our great work. It is well to visit the sick, and well to educate

children and clothe the naked. It is well to attend presbyteries. It is well to

write books or read them. But here is the main thing—preach the word. The

pulpit is, as George Herbert says, “our joy and throne.” This is our watch-

tower. Here we must warn the people. The silver trumpet is put into our

hand. Woe be unto us if we preach not the gospel.

The Matter—The Word.—It is in vain we preach, if we preach not the

word,—the truth as it is in Jesus.

, Not other matters.—“Ye are my witnesses.” “The same came to

bear witness of that light.” We are to speak of nothing but what we have

seen and heard from God. It is not the work of the minister to open up

schemes of human wisdom or learning, not to bring his own fancies, but to

tell the facts and glories of the gospel. We must speak of what is within the

word of God.

2d, Preach the word—the most essential parts especially. If you were

with a dying man, and knew he had but half an hour to live, what would you

tell him? Would you open up some of the curiosities of the word, or enforce

some of the moral commands of the word? Would you not tell him his

undone condition by nature and by wicked works? Would you not tell him

of the love and dying of the Lord Jesus? Would you not tell him of the

power of the Holy Spirit? These are the essential things which a man must

receive or perish. These are the great subject-matters of preaching. Should

we not preach as Jesus did when He went to Emmaus, when He began at

Moses and all the prophets, and expounded to them the things concerning

himself? Let there be much of Christ in your ministry, says the excellent

Eliot. Rowland Hill used to say, See there be no sermon without three R’s in

it: Ruin by the fall, Righteousness by Christ, and Regeneration by the Spirit.

Preach Christ for awakening, Christ for comforting, Christ for sanctifying.

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3d, Preach as the word.—I would humbly suggest for the consideration

of all ministers, whether we should not preach more in the manner of God’s

word. Is not the word the sword of the Spirit? Should not our great work be

to take it from its scabbard, to cleanse it from all rust, and then to apply its

sharp edge to the consciences of man? It is certain the fathers used to preach

in this manner. Brown of Haddington used to preach as if he had read no

other book than the Bible. It is the truth of God in its naked simplicity that

the Spirit will most honour and bless. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy

word is truth.”

(2.) Reprove, rebuke, exhort.—The first work of the Spirit on the

natural heart is to reprove the world of sin. Although He is the Spirit of

love,—although a dove is his emblem,—although He be compared to the

soft wind and gentle dew,—still his first work is to convince of sin. If

ministers are filled with the same Spirit, they will begin in the same way. It

is God’s usual method to awaken them, and bring them to despair of

salvation by their own righteousness, before He reveals Christ to them. So it

was with the jailor. So it was with Paul; be was blind three days. A faithful

minister must lay himself out for this. Plough up the fallow ground, and

sow not among thorns. Men must be brought down by law work to see their

guilt and misery, or all our preaching is beating the air. Oh! brethren, is this

our ministry? Let us do this plainly. The most, I fear, in all our

congregations, are sailing easily down the stream into an undone eternity,

unconverted and unawakened. Brethren, they will not thank us in eternity

for speaking smooth things,—for sewing pillows to their arm-holes, and

crying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. No, they may praise us now,

but they will curse our flattery in eternity. Oh for the bowels of Jesus Christ

in every minister, that we might long after them all! Exhort.—The original

word means to comfort,—to speak as the Comforter does. This is the

second part of the Spirit’s work, to lead to Christ, to speak good news to the

soul. This is the most difficult part of the Christian ministry. Thus did John:

“Behold the Lamb of God.” Thus did Isaiah: “Comfort ye, comfort ye.”

Thus did our Lord command: “Go, preach the gospel to every creature.” It

is true this makes the feet of the gospel messenger beautiful on the

mountains. He has to tell of a full, free, Divine Saviour.

And here I would observe what appears to me a fault in the preaching

of our beloved Scotland. Most ministers are accustomed to set Christ before

the people. They lay down the gospel clearly and beautifully, but they do

not urge men to enter in. Now God says, Exhort,—beseech men,—persuade

men; not only point to the open door, but compel them to come in. Oh to be

more merciful to souls, that we would lay hands on men and draw them in

to the Lord Jesus!

III. The manner

(1.) With long-suffering.—There is no grace more needed in the

Christian ministry than this. This is the heart of God the Father towards

sinners: “He is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should

perish.” This is the heart of the Lord Jesus. How tenderly does He cry, “Oh!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I,” etc. This is the mind of the Holy

Spirit in striving with men. He will not always strive, but oh how long He

does strive with men! Dear believers, had He not striven long with us, we

would this day have been like Lot’s life, monuments of grace resisted. Now,

such ought ministers to be. Above all men we need “love that suffers long

and is kind.” Sometimes, when sinners are obstinate and hard-hearted, we

are tempted to give up in despair, or to lose temper and scold them,—like

the disciples calling down fire from heaven. But, brethren, we must be of

another spirit. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Only be filled with the Spirit of Christ, and it will make us patient toward

all. It will make us cry, “How often would I,” etc.

(2.) With doctrine.—Some good men cry, Flee, flee, without showing

the sinner what he is to flee from; and again, they cry, Come, come, without

showing plainly the way of pardon and peace. These men act as one would

do who should run through the streets crying, Fire, fire, without telling

where. In the preaching of the apostles you will observe the clear and

simple statement of the truth preceding the warm and pathetic exhortation.

This has always been followed by the most judicious and successful

divines.

It behoves ministers to unite the cherub and the seraph in their ministry,

—the angel of knowledge and the angel of burning zeal. If we would win

souls, we must point clearly the way to heaven, while we cry, Flee from the

wrath to come. I believe we cannot lay down the guilt of man—his total

depravity—and the glorious gospel of Christ too clearly; that we cannot

urge men to embrace and flee too warmly. Oh for a pastor who unites the

deep knowledge of Edwards, the vast statements of Owen, and the

vehement appeals of Richard Baxter!

(3.) With urgency.—If a neighbour’s house were on fire, would we not

cry aloud and use every exertion? If a friend were drowning, would we be

ashamed to strain every nerve to save him? But alas! the souls of our

neighbours are even now on their way to everlasting burnings,—they are

ready to be drowned in the depths of perdition. Oh! shall we be less earnest

to save their never-dying souls, than we would be to save their bodies? How

anxious was the Lord Jesus in this! When He came near and beheld the city,

He wept over it. How earnest was Paul! “Remember that by the space of

three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Such

was George Whitfield; that great man scarcely ever preached without being

melted into tears. Brethren, there is need of the same urgency now. Hell is

as deep and as burning as ever. Unconverted souls are as surely rushing to

it. Christ is as free—pardon as sweet as ever! Ah! how we shall be amazed

at our coldness when we do get to heaven!

(4.) At all times.—Our Lord went about continually doing good; He

made it his meat and drink. “Daily in the temple.” So should we. Satan is

busy at all times; he does not stand upon ceremony; he does not keep

himself to Sabbath-days, or canonical hours. Death is busy. Men are dying

while we are sleeping. About fifty die every minute; nearly one every

second entering into an unchangeable world! The Spirit of God is busy.

Blessed be God, He hath cast our lot in times when there is the moving of

the great Spirit among the dry bones. Shall ministers then be idle, or stand

upon ceremony? Oh that God would baptize us this day with the Holy

Ghost and with fire, that we might be all changed as into a flame of fire,

preaching and building up Christ’s church till our latest, our dying hour!

CHARGE TO THE MINISTER

MY DEAR BROTHER,—It is not many years ago since you and I played

together as children, and now, by the wonderful providence of God, I have

been appointed to preside at your ordination to the office of the holy

ministry. Truly his way is in the sea, and his path in the deep waters. Do not

think, then, that I mean to assume an authority which I have not. I cannot

speak to you as a father, but as a brother beloved in the Lord let me address

a few words of counsel to you.

(1.) Thank God for putting you into the ministry—“I thank Christ Jesus

my Lord for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” “To

me, who am less than the least of all saints,” etc. Oh brother, thank God for

saving your soul; for sending his Spirit into your heart, and drawing you to

Christ! But this day you have a new cause of thankfulness in being put into

the ministry. It is the greatest honour in this world. “Had I a thousand lives,

I would willingly spend them in it; and had I a thousand sons, I would

gladly devote them to it.” True, it is an awfully responsible office: the

eternity of thousands depends on your faithfulness; but ah! the grace is so

full, and the reward so glorious. “If,” said the dying Payson, “If ministers

only saw the preciousness of Christ, they would not be able to refrain from

clapping their hands with joy, and exclaiming, I am a minister of Christ! I

am a minister of Christ!” Do not forget, then, dear brother, amid the broken

accents of confession from a broken heart, to pour out a song of

thankfulness. Thanks be to God, for my own part, during the few years I

have been a minister; I can truly say that I desire no other honour upon

earth than to be allowed to preach the everlasting gospel. Thanks be to God

for his unspeakable gift.

(2.) Seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit.—The more anointing of the

Holy Spirit you have, the more will you be a happy, holy, and successful

minister. You remember the two olive-trees that stood close by the golden

candlestick, and emptied the golden oil oat of themselves. These represent

successful ministers, anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole

earth. The Lord make you like one of them. Remember John the Baptist:

“He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, and many of the children of Israel

shall he turn to the Lord their God.” The Lord fill you in like manner, and

then you will be a converting minister. Remember the apostles. Before the

day of Pentecost they were dry, sapless trees,—they had little fruit; but

when the Spirit came on them like a mighty rushing wind, then three

thousand were pricked to the heart.

Oh! brother, plead with God to fill you with the Spirit, that you may

stand in his counsel, and cause the people to hear his words, and turn many

from the evil of their ways. You know that a heated, iron, though blunt, can

pierce its way even where a much sharper instrument, if cold, could not

enter. Pray that you may be filled with the fire of the Spirit, that you may

pierce into the hard hearts of unconverted sinners.

(3.) Do not rest without success in your ministry.—Success is the rule

under a living ministry; want of success is the exception. “The want of

ministerial success.” says Robinson, “is a tremendous circumstance, never

to be contemplated without horror.” Your people will be of two kinds:—

, The Lord’s people.—Those who are already in Christ, seek for

success among them. He gave some pastors and teachers for the perfecting

of the saints. Never forget Christ’s words: “Feed my sheep, feed my lambs.”

Be like Barnabas, a son of consolation. Exhort them to cleave to the Lord.

Do not say, “They are safe, and I will let them alone.” This is a great

mistake. See how Paul laid out his strength in confirming the disciples. Be a

helper of their joy. Do not rest till you get them to live under the pure, holy

rules of the gospel.

2d, The great mass you will find to be unconverted.—Go, brother,

leaving the ninety-nine, go after the one sheep that was lost. Leave your

home, your comforts, your bed, your case, your all, to feed lost souls. The

Lord of Glory left heaven for this; it is enough for the disciple to be as his

Master. It is said of Alleine, that “he was infinitely and insatiably greedy of

the conversion of souls.” Rutherford wrote to his dear people, “My Witness

is above, that your heaven would be two heavens to me, and the salvation of

you all as two salvations to me.” The Lord give you this heavenly

compassion for this people. Do not be satisfied without conversion. You

will often find that there is a shaking among the dry bones,—a coming

together bone to his bone,—skin and flesh come upon them, but no breath

in them. Oh! brother, cry for the breath of heaven. Remember a moral

sinner will lie down in the same hell with the vilest.

(4.) Lead a holy life.—I believe, brother, that you are born from above,

and therefore I have confidence in God touching yon, that you will be kept

from the evil. But oh! study universal holiness of life. Your whole

usefulness depends on this, Your sermon on Sabbath lasts but an hour or

two,—your life preaches all the week. Remember, ministers are standard-

bearers. Satan aims his fiery darts at them. If he can only make you a

covetous minister, or a lover of pleasure, or a lover of praise, or a lover of

good eating, then he has ruined your ministry for ever. Ah! let him preach

on fifty years, he will never do me any harm. Dear brother, cast yourself at

the feet of Christ, implore his Spirit to make you a holy man. Take heed to

thyself, and to thy doctrine.

(5.) Last of all, be a man of prayer.—Give yourself to prayer, and to the

ministry of the word. If you do not pray, God will probably lay you aside

from your ministry, as He did me, to teach you to pray. Remember Luther’s

maxim, “Bene orâsse est bene studuisse.” Get your texts from God,—your

thoughts, your words, from God. Carry the names of the little flock upon

your breast, like the High Priest; wrestle for the unconverted. Luther spent

his three best hours in prayer. John Welch prayed seven or eight hours a

day. He used to keep a plaid on his bed, that he might wrap himself in it

when he rose during night. Sometimes his wife found him on the ground

lying weeping. When she complained, he would say, “Oh woman! I have

the souls of three thousand to answer for, and I know not how it is with

many of them.” Oh that God would pour down this spirit of prayer on you

and me, and all the ministers of our beloved church, and then we shall see

better days in Scotland. I commend you to God, etc.

CHARGE TO THE PEOPLE

DEAR BRETHREN,—I trust that this is to be the beginning of many happy

days to you in this place. Gifts in answer to prayer are always the sweetest.

I believe your dear pastor has been given you in answer to prayer, for I do

not think your wonderful unanimity can be accounted for in any other way.

(1.) Love your pastor.—So far as I know him, he is worthy of I your

love. I believe he is one to whom the Lord has been very merciful, that God

has already owned his labours, and I trust will a thousand times more.

Esteem him very highly in love for his work’s sake. You little know the

anxieties, temptations, pains, and wrestlings, he will be called to bear for

you. Few people know the deep wells of anxiety in the bosom of a faithful

pastor. Love and reverence him much. Do not make an idol of him; that will

destroy his usefulness. It was said of the Erskines, that men could not see

Christ over their heads. Remember, look beyond him and above him. Those

that would have worshipped Paul were the people who stoned him. Do not

stumble at his infirmities. There are spots upon the sun, and infirmities in

the best of men. Cover them—do not stumble at them. Would you refuse

gold because it was brought you in a ragged purse? Would you refuse pure

water because it came in a chipped bowl? The treasure is in an earthen

vessel.

(2.) Make use of your pastor.—He has come with good news from a far

country. Come and hear.

, Wait patiently on his ministry.—He does not come in his own name.

The Lord is with him. If you refuse him, you will refuse Christ; for he is the

messenger of the Lord of Hosts.

2d, Welcome him into your houses. He is coming, like his Master, to

seek that which was lost, and to bind up that which is broken; to strengthen

that which was sick, and to bring again that which was driven away. You

have all need of him, whether converted or not. Remember there is an awful

curse against those who receive not gospel messages. He will shake the dust

off his feet against you, and that dust will rise against you in judgment.

3d, Do not trouble him about worldly matters.—His grand concern is to

get your soul saved. He is not a man of business, but a man of prayer. He

has given himself to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

, Go freely to him about your souls.—“The minister’s house was

more thronged than ever the tavern had wont to be.” These were happy

days. There is no trade I would like to see broken in this place but that of

the taverners. It is a soul-destroying trade. I would like to see the taverns

emptied, and the minister’s house thronged. Do not hesitate to go to him. It

is your duty and your privilege. It is your duty. It will encourage him, and

show him how to preach to your souls. It is your privilege. I have known

many get more light from a short conversation than from many sermons.

, Be brief.—Tell your case. Hear his word and be gone. Remember

his body is weak, and his time precious. You are stealing his time from

others or from God. I cannot tell you what a blessing it will be if you will be

very short in your calls. The talk of the lips tendeth to penury.

(3.) God’s children, pray for him.—Pray for his body, that he may be

kept strong, and spared for many years. Pray for his soul, that he may be

kept humble and holy,—a burning and a shining light,—that he may grow.

Pray for his ministry, that it may be abundantly blessed,—that he may be

anointed to preach good tidings. Let there be no secret prayer without

naming him before your God, no family prayer without carrying your pastor

in your hearts to God. Hold up his hands, so Israel will prevail against

Amalek.

(4.) Unconverted souls, prize this opportunity.—I look on this

ordination as a smile of Heaven upon you. God might have taken away

ministers from this town instead of giving us more. I believe the Lord Jesus

is saying, “I have much people in this city.” The door is begun to be opened

this day. The Spirit is beginning to shine. Oh that you would know the day

of your visitation! This is the market-day of grace beginning in this end of

the town, and you should all come to buy. Oh that you knew the day of your

visitation! Some, I fear, will be the worse of this ministry, and not the better.

The election will be saved, and the rest be blinded. Some will yet wish they

had died before this church was opened. Be sure, dear souls, that you will

either be saved, or more lost, by this ministry. Your pastor comes with the

silver trumpet of mercy. Why will ye turn it into the trumpet of judgment?

He comes with glad tidings of great joy. Why should you turn them into sad

tidings of endless woe? He comes to preach the acceptable day of the Lord.

Why will ye turn it into the day of vengeance of our God?

Dec. 1840.

SERMON XII

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth

is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God,

and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can

he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who

loveth God love his brother also.”—1 JOHN 4:18–21.

Doctrine.—Perfect love casteth out fear.

I. The state of an awakened soul.—“Fear hath torment”

There are two kinds of fear mentioned in the Bible very opposite from

one another. The one is the very atmosphere of heaven, the other is the very

atmosphere of hell.

(1.) There is the fear of love.—This is the very temper of a little child:

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This was the mind of Job.

“He feared God and hated evil.” Nay, it is the very spirit of the Lord Jesus.

On Him rested “the spirit of the fear of the Lord, and made Him of quick

understanding in the fear of the Lord.”

(2.) There is the fear of terror.—This is the very temper of devils: “The

devils believe and tremble.” This is what was in Adam and Eve after the

Fall; they fled from the voice of God, and tried to hide themselves in one of

the trees of the garden. This was the state of the jailor when he trembled,

and sprang in and brought them out, and fell at their feet, saying, “Sirs,

what must I do to be saved!” This is the fear here spoken of—tormenting

fear. “Fear hath torment.” Some of you have felt this fear that hath torment.

Many more might feel it this day; you are within reach of it. Let me explain

its rise in the soul.

, A natural man casteth off fear, and restrains prayer before God.

“They have been at ease from their youth, and settled down upon their lees;

they have not been emptied from vessel to vessel, therefore their taste

remains in them, and their scent is not changed.” They are like fallow-

ground that has never been broken up by the plough, but is overrun with

briers and thorns. Are there not some among you that never trembled for

your soul? You think you are as good as your neighbours. Ah! well, your

dream will be broken up one day soon.

2d, When the Spirit of God opens the eyes, He makes the stoutest sinner

tremble. He shows him the number of his sins, or rather that they cannot be

numbered. Before, he had a memory that easily forgot his sins; oaths

slipped over his tongue, and he knew it not; every day added new sins to his

page on God’s book, yet he remembered not. But now the Spirit of God sets

all his sins straight before him. All unpardoned, long-forgotten enormities,

rise up behind him. Then he begins to tremble. “Innumerable evils have

compassed me about.”

3d, The Spirit makes him feel the greatness of sin, the exceeding

sinfulness of it. Before, it seemed nothing; but now, it rises like a flood over

the soul. The wrath of God he feels abiding on him; a terrible sound is in his

ears. He knows not what to do; his fear hath torment. Sin is seen now as

done against a holy God; done against a God of love; done against Jesus

Christ and his love.

, A third thing which awfully torments the soul is corruption working

in the heart. Often persons under conviction are made to feel the awful

workings of corruption in their heart. Often temptation and conviction of sin

meet together and awfully torment the soul, rending it in pieces. Conviction

of sin is piercing his heart, driving him to flee from the wrath to come; and

yet at the same moment some raging lust, or envy, or horrid malice, is

boiling in his heart, driving him towards hell. Then a man feels a hell within

him. In hell there will be this awful mixture: there will be an overwhelming

dread of the wrath of God, and yet corruption, boiling up within, will drive

the soul more and more into the flames. This is often felt on earth. Some of

you may be feeling it. This is the fear that hath torment.

, Another thing the Spirit convinces the soul of, is his inability to help

himself. When a man is first awakened, he says, I shall soon get myself out

of this sad condition. He falls upon many contrivances to justify himself. He

changes his life; he tries to repent, to pray. He is soon taught that “his

righteousnesses are filthy rags”—that he is trying to cover rags with filthy

rags; he is brought to feel that all he can do signifies just nothing, and that

he never can bring a clean thing out of an unclean. This sinks the soul in

gloom. This fear hath torment.

, He fears he shall never be in Christ. Some of you perhaps know that

this fear hath torment. The free offer of Christ is the very thing that pierces

you to the heart. You hear that He is altogether lovely—that He invites

sinners to come to Him—that He never casts out those that do come. But

you fear you will never be one of these. You fear you have sinned too long

or too much—you have sinned away your day of grace. Ah! this fear hath

torment.

Some will say, “It is not good to be awakened, then.”

Ans. 1. It is the way to peace that passeth understanding.—It is God’s

chosen method, to bring you to feel your need of Christ before you come to

Christ. At present your peace is like a dream! when you awake you will find

it so. Ask awakened souls if they would go back again to their slumber. Ah,

no; if I die, let me die at the foot of the cross; let me not perish unawakened.

Ans. 2. You must be awakened one day.—If not now, you will

afterwards, in hell. After death, fear will come on your secure souls. There

is not one unawakened soul in hell; all are trembling there. The devils

tremble; the damned spirits tremble. Would it not be better to tremble now,

and flee to Jesus Christ for refuge? Now, He is waiting to be gracious to

you. Then, He will mock when your fear cometh. You will know to all

eternity that “fear hath torment.”

II. The change on believing.—“There is no fear in love.” “Perfect love

casteth out fear.”

(1.) The love here spoken of is not our love to God, but His love to us;

for it is called perfect love. All that is ours is imperfect. When we have

done all, we must say, “We are unprofitable servants.” Sin mingles with all

we think and do. It were no comfort to tell us, that if we would love God

perfectly, it would cast out fear; for how can we work that love into our

souls? It is the Father’s love to us that casteth out fear. He is the Perfect

One. All his works are perfect. He can do nothing but what is perfect. His

knowledge is perfect knowledge; his wrath is perfect wrath; his love is

perfect love. It is this perfect love which casteth out fear. Just as the

sunbeams cast out darkness wherever they fall, so does this love cast out

fear.

(2.) But where does this love fall?—On Jesus Christ. Twice God spake

from heaven, and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased.” God perfectly loves his own Son. He Sees infinite beauty in his

person. God sees himself manifested. He is infinitely pleased with his

finished work. The infinite heart of the infinite God flows out in love

towards our Lord Jesus Christ. And there is no fear in the bosom of Christ.

All his fears are past. Once He said, “While I suffer thy terrors I am

distressed;” but now He is in perfect love, and perfect love casteth out fear.

Hearken, trembling souls! Here you may find rest to your souls. You do not

need to live another hour under your tormenting fears. Jesus Christ has

borne the wrath of which you are afraid. He now stands a refuge for the

oppressed—a refuge in the time of trouble. Look to Christ, and your fear

will be cast out. Come to the feet of Christ, and you will find rest. Call upon

the name of the Lord, and you will be delivered. You say you cannot look,

nor come, nor cry, for you are helpless. Hear, then, and your soul shall live.

Jesus is a Saviour to the helpless. Christ is not only a Saviour to those who

are naked and empty, and have no goodness to recommend themselves, but

He is a Saviour to those who are unable to give themselves to Him. You

cannot be in too desperate a condition for Christ. As long as you remain

unbelieving, you are under his perfect wrath—wrath without any mixture.

The wrath of God will be as amazing as his love. It comes out of the same

bosom. But the moment you look to Christ, you will come under his perfect

love—love without any coldness—light without any shade—love without

any cloud or mountain between. God’s love will cast out all your fears.

III. His love gives boldness in the day of judgment, ver. 17.—There is a

great day coming, often spoken of in the Bible—the day of judgment—the

day when God shall judge the secrets of men’s hearts by Christ Jesus. The

Christless will not be able to stand in that day. The ungodly shall not stand

in the judgment. At present, sinners have much boldness; their neck is an

iron sinew, and their brow brass. Many of them cannot blush when they are

caught in sin. Amongst ourselves, is it not amazing how bold sinners are in

forsaking ordinances? With what a brazen face will some men swear! How

bold some ungodly men are in coming to the Lord’s table! But it will not be

so in a little while. When Christ shall appear,—the holy Jesus, in all his

glory,—then brazenfaced sinners will begin to blush. Those that never

prayed will begin to wail. Sinners, whose limbs carried them stoutly to sin

and to the Lord’s table last Sabbath, will find their knees knocking against

one another. Who shall abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand

when He appears? When the books are opened,—the one the book of God’s

remembrance, the other the Bible,—then the dead will be judged out of

those things written in the books. Then the heart of the ungodly will die

within them; then will begin “their shame and everlasting contempt.” Many

wicked persons comfort themselves with this, that their sin is not known—

that no eye sees them; but in that day the most secret sins will be all brought

out to the light. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an

account thereof in the day of judgment.” How would you tremble and blush,

O wicked man, if I were now to go over before this congregation the secret

sins you have committed during the past week,—all your secret fraud and

cheating, your secret uncleanness, your secret malice and envy,—how you

would blush and be confounded! How much more in that day, when the

secrets of your whole life shall be made manifest before an assembled

world! What eternal confusion will sink down your soul in that day! You

will be quite chop-fallen; all your pride and blustering will be gone.

All in Christ will have boldness—

(1.) Because Christ shall be Judge.—What abundant peace will it give

you in that day, believer, when you see Christ is Judge!—He that shed his

blood for you—He that is your Surety, your Shepherd, your all. It will take

away all fear. Yon will be able to say, Who shall condemn? for Christ hath

died. In the very hand that opens the books yon will see the marks of the

wounds made by your sins. Christ will be the same to you in the judgment

that He is now.

(2.) Because the Father himself loveth you.—Christ and the Father are

one. The Father sees no sin in yon; because, as Christ is, so are you in this

world. You are judged by God according to what the Surety is; so that

God’s love will be with you in that day. You will feel the smile of the

Father, and you will hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Come, ye blessed of

my Father.”

Learn to fear nothing between this and judgment. Fear not—wait on the

Lord, and be of good courage.

IV. The consequences of being in the love of God

(1.) “We love Him, because He first loved us,” ver. 19.—When a poor

sinner cleaves to Jesus, and finds the forgiving love of God, he cannot but

love God back again. When the prodigal returned home, and felt his father’s

arms around his neck, then did he feel the gushings of affection toward his

father. When the summer sun shines full down upon the sea, it draws the

vapours upward to the sky. So when the sunbeams of the Sun of

Righteousness fall upon the soul, they draw forth the constant risings of

love to Him in return.

Some of you are longing to be able to love God. Come into his love,

then. Consent to be loved by Him, though worthless in yourself. It is better

to be loved by Him than to love, and it is the only way to learn to love Him.

When the light of the sun falls upon the moon, it finds the moon dark and

unlovely; but the moon reflects the light, and casts it back again. So let the

love of God shine into your breast, and you will cast it back again. The love

of Christ constraineth us. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” The

only cure for a cold heart is to look at the heart of Jesus.

Some of you have no love to God because you love an idol. You may be

sure you have never come into his love—that curse rests upon you: “If any

man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema maranatha.”

(2.) We love our brother also.—If you love an absent person, you will

love their picture. What is that the sailor’s wife keeps so closely wrapped in

a napkin, laid up in her best drawer among sweet-smelling flowers? She

takes it out morning and evening, and gazes at it through her tears. It is the

picture of her absent husband. She loves it because it is like him. It has

many imperfections, but still it is like. Believers are the pictures of God in

this world. The Spirit of Christ dwells in them. They walk as He walked.

True, they are full of imperfections; still they are true copies. If you love

Him, you will love them; you will make them your bosom friends.

Are there none of you that dislike real Christians? You do not like their

look, their ways, their speech, their prayers. You call them hypocrites, and

keep away from them. Do you know the reason? You hate the copy, because

you hate the original; you hate Christ, and are none of his.

ST PETER’S, 1840.

SERMON XIII

ACTION SERMON.—October 25, 1840

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus

Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the

world.”—GAL. 6:14.

Doctrine.—Glorying in the Cross.

I. The subject here spoken of by Paul—The Cross of Christ

This word is used in three different senses in the Bible. It is important

to distinguish them.

(1.) It is used to signify the wooden cross—the tree upon which the

Lord Jesus was crucified. The punishment of the cross was a Roman

invention. It was made use of only in the case of slaves, or very notorious

malefactors. The cross was made of two beams of wood crossing each

other. It was laid on the ground, and the criminal stretched upon it. A nail

was driven through each hand, and one nail through both the feet. It was

then lifted upright, and let fall into a hole, where it was wedged in. The

crucified man was then left to die, hanging by his hands and feet. This was

the death to which Jesus stooped. “He endured the cross, despising the

shame.” “He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Matt. 27:40, 42; Mark 15:30, 32; Luke 23:26; John 19:17, 19, 25, 31; Eph.

2:16.

(2.) It is used to signify the way of salvation by Jesus Christ crucified.

So 1 Cor. 1:18, “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish

foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the power of God;” compared

with verse 23, “We preach Christ crucified,” etc. Here it is plain the

preaching of the Cross and the preaching of Christ crucified are the same

thing. This is the meaning in the passage before us, “God forbid that I

should glory,” etc. It is the name given to the whole plan of salvation by a

crucified Redeemer. That little word implies the whole glorious work of

Christ for us. It implies the love of God in giving his Son (John 3:16); the

love of Christ in giving himself (Eph. 5:2); the incarnation of the Son of

God; his substitution—one for many; his atoning sufferings and death. The

whole work of Christ is included in that little word, the Cross of Christ.

And the reason is plain; his dying on the cross was the lowest point of his

humiliation. It was there He cried, “It is finished!”—the work of my

obedience is finished, my sufferings are finished, the work of redemption is

complete, the wrath of my people is finished; and He bowed the head and

gave up the ghost. Hence his whole finished work is called the Cross of

Christ.

(3.) It is used to signify the sufferings borne in following Christ. “If any

man will come after me, lot him deny himself, and take up his cross and

follow me,” Matt. 16:24. When a man determines to follow Christ, he must

give up his sinful pleasures, his sinful companions; he meets with scorn,

ridicule, contempt, hatred, the persecution of worldly friends; his name is

cast out as evil. “He that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer

persecution.” Now, to meet all these is to “take up the cross.” “He that

taketh not up his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

In the passage before us the words are used in the second meaning,—

the plan of salvation by a crucified Saviour.

Dear friends, it is this that is set before you in the broken bread and

poured out wine,—the whole work of Christ for the salvation of sinners.

The love and grace of the Lord Jesus are all gathered into a focus there. The

love of the Father; the covenant with the Son; the love of Jesus; his

incarnation, obedience, death; all are set before you in that broken bread

and wine. It is a sweet, silent sermon. Many a sermon contains not Christ

from beginning to end. Many show Him doubtfully and imperfectly. But

here is nothing else but Christ, and Him crucified. Most rich and speaking

ordinance! Pray that the very sight of that broken bread may break your

hearts, and make them flow to the Lamb of God. Pray for conversions from

the sight of the broken bread and poured out wine. Look attentively, dear

souls and little children, when the bread is broken and the wine poured out.

It is a heart-affecting sight. May the Holy Spirit bless it. Dear believers,

look you attentively, to get deeper, fuller views of the way of pardon and

holiness. A look from the eye of Christ to Peter broke and melted his proud

heart,—he went out and wept bitterly. Pray that a single look of that broken

bread may do the same for you. When the Roman centurion, that watched

beside the cross of Jesus, saw Him die, and the rocks rend, he cried out,

“Truly this was the Son of God!” Look at this broken bread, and you will

see the same thing, and may your heart be made to cry after the Lord Jesus.

When the dying thief looked on the pale face of Immanuel, and saw the

holy majesty that beamed from his dying eye, he cried, “Lord, remember

me!” This broken bread reveals the same thing. May the same grace be

given you, and may you breathe the cry, Lord, remember me.

Oh get ripening views of Christ, dear believers! The corn in harvest

sometimes ripens more in one day than in weeks before. So some Christians

gain more grace in one day than for months before. Pray that this may be a

ripening harvest-day in your souls.

II. Paul’s feelings towards the Cross of Christ—“God forbid,” etc.

(1.) It is implied that he had utterly forsaken the way of righteousness

by deeds of the law. Every natural man seeks salvation by making himself

better in the sight of God. He tries to mend his life; he puts a bridle on his

tongue; he tries to command his feelings and thoughts, all to make himself

better in the sight of God. Or he goes further: tries to cover his past sins by

religious observances; he becomes a religious man, prays, weeps, reads,

attends sacraments, is deeply occupied in religion, and tries to get it into his

heart; all to make himself appear good in the eye of God, that he may lay

God under debt to pardon and love him. Paul tried this plan for long. He

was a Pharisee, touching the righteousness in the law blameless; he lived an

outwardly blameless life, and was highly thought of as a most religious

man. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”

When it pleased God to open his eyes, he gave up this way of self-

righteousness for ever and ever; he had no more any peace from looking in,

—“we have no confidence in the flesh;” he bade farewell for ever to that

way of seeking peace. Nay, he trampled it under his feet. “I do count them

but dung that I may win Christ.” Oh! it is a glorious thing when a man is

brought to trample under feet his own righteousness; it is the hardest thing

in the world.

(2.) He betook himself to the Lord Jesus Christ.—Paul got such a view

of the glory, brightness, and excellency of the way of salvation by Jesus,

that it filled his whole heart. All other things sunk into littleness. Every

mountain and hill was brought low, the crooked was made straight, the

rough places smooth, and the glory of the Lord was revealed. As the rising

sun makes all the stars disappear, so the rising of Christ upon his soul made

everything else disappear. Jesus, suffering for us, filled his eye—filled his

heart. He saw, believed, and was happy. Christ for us, answered all his need.

From the Cross of Christ a ray of heavenly light flamed to his soul, filling

him with light and joy unspeakable. He felt that God was glorified, and he

was saved; he cleaved to the Lord with full purpose of heart. Like Edwards,

“I was unspeakably pleased.”

(3.) He gloried in the Cross.—He confessed Christ before men; he was

not ashamed of Christ before that adulterous generation; he gloried that this

was his way of pardon, peace, and holiness. Ah! what a change! Once he

blasphemed the name of Jesus, and persecuted to the death those that called

on his name; now it is all his boast: “Straightway he preached Christ in the

synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Once he gloried in his blameless

life when he was among Pharisees; now he glories in this, that he is the

chief of sinners, but that Christ died for such as he. Once he gloried in his

learning, when he sat at the feet of Gamaliel; now he glories in being

reckoned a fool for Christ’s sake,—in being a little child, led by the hand of

Jesus. At the Lord’s table, among his friends, in heathen cities, at Athens, at

Rome, among the wise or unwise, before kings and princes, he glories in it

as the only thing worthy of being known,—the way of salvation by Jesus

Christ and Him crucified.

Dear friends, have you been brought to glory only in the Cross of

Christ?

(1.) Have you given over the old way of salvation by the deeds of the

law? Your natural heart is set upon that way. You are always for making

yourself better and better, till you can lay God under obligation to pardon

you. You are always for looking in for righteousness. You are looking in at

your convictions, and sorrow for past sins,—your tears and anxious prayers;

or you are looking in at your amendment,—forsaking of wicked courses,

and struggles after a new life; or you are looking at your own religious

exercises,—your fervency and enlarged heart in prayer, or in the house of

God; or you are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit in you,—the graces

of the Spirit. Alas! alas! The bed is shorter than that you can stretch

yourself on it, the covering is narrower than that you can wrap yourself in it.

Despair of pardon in that way. Give it up for ever. Your heart is desperately

wicked. Every righteousness in which your heart has anything to do is vile

and polluted, and cannot appear in his sight. Count it all loss, filthy rags,

dung, that you may win Christ.

(2.) Betake yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe the love of the

Lord Jesus Christ. He delighteth in mercy; He is ready to forgive; in Him

compassions flow; He justifies the ungodly. Have you seen the glory of the

Cross of Jesus? Has it attracted your heart? Do you feel unspeakably

pleased with that way of salvation? Do you see that God is glorified when

you are saved? that God is a God of majesty, truth, unsullied holiness, and

inflexible justice, and yet you are justified? Does the Cross of Christ fill

your heart? Does it make a great calm in your soul,—a heavenly rest? Do

you love that word: “the righteousness of God,” “the righteousness which is

by faith,” the righteousness without works? Do you sit within sight of the

Cross? Does your soul rest there?

(3.) Glory only in the Cross of Christ.—Observe, there cannot be a

secret Christian. Grace is like ointment hid in the hand, it bewrayeth itself.

A lively Christian cannot keep silence. If you truly feel the sweetness of the

Cross of Christ, you will be constrained to confess Christ before men. “It is

like the best wine, that goeth down sweetly, causing lips to speak.” Do you

confess Him in your family? Do you make it known there that you are

Christ’s? Remember, you must be decided in your own house. It is the mark

of a hypocrite to be a Christian everywhere except at home. Among your

companions, do you own Him a friend whom you have found? In the shop

and in the market, are you willing to be known as a man washed in the

blood of the Lamb? Do you long that all your dealings be under the sweet

rules of the gospel? Come, then, to the Lord’s table, and confess Him that

has saved your soul. Oh! grant that it may be a true, free, and full

confession. This is my sweet food, my lamb, my righteousness, my Lord

and my God, my all in all. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the

Cross.” Once you gloried in riches, friends, fame, sin; now in a crucified

Jesus.

III. The effects.—“The world is crucified to me, and I unto the

world.”—“If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature,” etc. When

the blind beggar of Jericho got his eyes opened by the Lord, this world was

all changed to him, and he to the world. So it was with Paul. No sooner did

he rise from his knees, with the peace of Jesus in his heart, than the world

got its death-blow in his eyes. As he hurried over the smooth stones of the

streets of Damascus, or looked down from the flat roof of his house upon

the lovely gardens on the banks of the Abana, the world and all its dazzling

show seemed to his eye a poor, shrivelled, crucified thing. Once it was his

all. Once its soft and slippery flatteries were pleasant as music to his ear.

Riches, beauty, pleasure, all that the natural eye admires, his heart was once

set upon; but the moment he believed on Jesus all these began to die. True,

they were not dead, but they were nailed to a cross. They no more had that

living attraction for him they once had; and now every day they began to

lose their power. As a dying man on the cross grows weaker and weaker

every moment, while his heart’s blood trickles from the deep gashes in his

hands and feet, so the world, that was once his all, began to lose every

moment its attractive power. He tasted so much sweetness in Christ, in

pardon, access to God, the smile of God, the indwelling Spirit, that the

world became every day a more tasteless world to him.

Another effect was, “I to the world.”—As Paul laid his hand upon his

own bosom, he felt that it also was changed. Once it was as a mettled race-

horse that paces the ground and cannot be bridled in; once it was like the

fox-hounds on the scent, impatient of the leash,—his heart thus rushed after

fame, honour, worldly praise; but now it was nailed to the cross, a broken,

contrite heart. True, it was not dead. Many a fitful start his old nature gave,

that drove him to his knees and made him cry for grace to help; but still, the

more he looked to the cross of Jesus, the more his old heart began to die.

Every day he felt less desire for sin,—more desire for Christ, and God, and

perfect holiness.

Some may discover that they have never come to Christ. Has the world

been crucified to you? Once it was your all—its praise, its riches, its songs,

and merry-makings. Has it been nailed to the cross in your sight? Oh! put

your hand on your heart. Has it lost its burning desire after earthly things?

They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts.

Do you feel that Jesus has put the nails through your lusts? Do you wish

they were dead? What answer can you make, sons and daughters of

pleasure, to whom the dance, and song, and the glass, and witty repartee,

are the sum of happiness? Ye are none of Christ’s. What answer can you

make, lovers of money, sordid money-makers, who had rather have a few

more sovereigns than the grace of God in your heart? What answer can you

make, flesh-pleasers, night-walkers, lovers of darkness? Ye are not Christ’s.

Ye have not come to Christ. The world is all alive to you, and you are living

to the world. You cannot glory in the cross, and love the world. Ah! poor

deluded souls, you have never seen the glory of the way of pardon by Jesus.

Go on; love the world; grasp every pleasure; gather heaps of money; feed

and fatten on your lusts; take your fill. What will it profit you when you

lose your own soul?

Some are saying, Oh that the world were crucified to me, and I to the

world! Oh that my heart were as dead as a stone to the world, and alive to

Jesus! Do you truly wish it? Look, then, to the cross. Behold the amazing

gift of love. Salvation is promised to a look. Sit down, like Mary, and gaze

upon a crucified Jesus. So will the world become a dim and dying thing.

When you gaze upon the sun, it makes everything else dark; when you taste

honey, it makes everything else tasteless: so when your soul feeds on Jesus,

it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things,—praise, pleasure, fleshly

lusts, all lose their sweetness. Keep a continued gaze. Run, looking unto

Jesus. Look, till the way of salvation by Jesus fills up the whole horizon, so

glorious and peace-speaking. So will the world be crucified to you, and you

unto the world.

SERMON XIV

“Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before

Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of

rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the

fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good: and what

doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy

God?”—MICAH 6:6–8.

Doctrine.—The good way of coming before the Lord.

The question of an awakened soul.—“Wherewith shall I come before

the Lord?” An unawakened man never puts that question. A natural man

has no desire to come before God, or to bow himself before the High God.

He does not like to think of God. He would rather think of any other

subject. He easily forgets what he is told about God. A natural man has no

memory for divine things, because he has no heart for them. He has no

desire to come before God in prayer. There is nothing a natural map hates

more than prayer. He would far rather spend half an hour every morning in

bodily exercise or in hard labour, than in the presence of God. He has no

desire to come before God when he dies. He knows that he must appear

before God, but it gives him no joy. He had rather sink into nothing; he had

rather never see the face of God. Ah! my friends, is this your condition?

now surely you may know that you have “the carnal mind which is enmity

against God!” You are like Pharaoh: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey

Him?” You say to God, “Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge of

thy ways.” What an awful state it is to be in, to have no desire after Him

who is the fountain of living waters!

I. Here is the piercing question of every awakened soul

(1.) An awakened soul feels that his chief happiness is in coming before

God. This was unfallen Adam’s happiness. He felt like a child under a

loving Father’s eye. It was his chief joy to come before God, to be loved by

Him, to be like a mote in the sunbeam, to be continually basked in the

sunshine of his love, no cloud or veil coming between. This is the joy of

holy angels, to come before the Lord, and bow before the High God. In his

presence is fulness of joy. “The angels do always behold the face of my

Father.” On whatever errand of love they fly, they still feel that his eye of

love is on them,—this is their daily, hourly joy. This is the true happiness of

a believer. Hear David (Psalm 42), “As the hart panteth after the water-

brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God,

for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” He panteth

not after the gifts of God,—not his favours or comforts,—but after himself.

A believer longs after God—to come into his presence, to feel his love, to

feel near to Him in secret, to feel in the crowd that he is nearer than all the

creatures. Ah! dear brethren, have you ever tasted this blessedness? There is

greater rest and solace to be found in the presence of God for one hour, than

in an eternity of the presence of man. To be in his presence—under his love,

under his eye—is heaven, wherever it be. God can make you happy in any

circumstances. Without Him, nothing can.

(2.) An awakened soul feels difficulties in the way.—“Wherewith,” etc.

There are two great difficulties.

, The nature of the sinner.—“Wherewith shall I,” etc. When God

really awakens a soul, He shows the vileness and hatefulness of himself. He

directs the eye within. He shows him that every imagination of his heart has

been only evil continually; that every member of his body he has used in the

service of sin; that he has treated Christ in a shameful manner; that he has

sinned both against law and love; that he has kept the door of his heart

barred against the Lord Jesus, till his head was filled with dew, and his

locks with the drops of the night. Oh! brethren, if God has ever discovered

yourself to you, you would wonder that such a lump of hell and sin should

have been permitted to live and breathe so long,—that God should have had

patience with you till this day. Your cry will be, “Wherewith shall I come

before the Lord?” Though all the world should come before Him, how can

2d, The nature of God.—“The High God.” When God really awakens a

soul, He generally reveals to him something of his own holiness and

majesty. Thus He dealt with Isaiah (6): “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne

high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the

seraphim; one cried to another, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the

whole earth is filled with his glory. Then said I, Woe is me, for I am

undone.” When Isaiah saw that God was so great a God, and so holy, he felt

himself undone. He felt that he could not stand in the presence of so great a

God. Oh! brethren, have you ever had a discovery of the highness and

holiness of God, so as to lay you low at his feet? Oh! pray for such a

discovery of God as Job had: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the

ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee: wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in

dust and ashes.” Alas! I fear that most of you will never know that God with

whom you have to do, till you stand guilty and speechless before his great

white throne. Oh that you would pray for a discovery of Him now, that you

may cry, “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before

the High God!”

3d, The anxiety of the awakened soul leads to the question

—“Wherewith?”—Ah! it is a piercing question. It is the question of one

who has been made to feel that “one thing is needful.” Anything he has he

would give up to get peace with God. If he had a thousand rams, or ten

thousand rivers of oil, he would gladly give them. If the life of his children,

the dearest objects on this earth, would attain it, he would give them up. If

he had a thousand worlds, he would give all for an interest in Christ. Woe to

you that are at ease in Zion. Woe to those of you that never asked this

question, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? Ah! foolish triflers with

eternal things! Poor butterflies, that flutter on from flower to flower, and

consider not the dark eternity that is before you! Prepare to meet thy God, O

Israel! Ye are hastening on to death and judgment, yet never ask, What

garment shall cover me, when I stand before the great white throne? If you

were going to appear before an earthly monarch, you would ask beforehand,

Wherewith shall I be attired? If you were to be tried at an earthly bar, you

would make sure of an advocate. How is it you press on so swiftly to the

bar of God, and never ask the question, Wherewith shall I appear! “If the

righteous scarcely are saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner

appear?”

II. The answer of peace to the awakened soul.—“He hath showed thee,

O man, what is good.” Nothing that man can bring with him will justify him

before God. The natural heart is always striving to bring something to be a

robe of righteousness before God. There is nothing a man would not do,—

nothing he would not suffer,—if he might only cover himself before God.

Tears, prayers, duties, reformations, devotions; the heart will do anything to

be righteous before God. But all this righteousness is filthy rags. For,

(1.) The heart remains an awful depth of corruption. Everything in

which that heart has any share is polluted and vile. Their very tears and

prayers would need to be washed.

(2.) Supposing this righteousness perfect, it cannot cover the past. It

answers only for the time in which it was done. Old sins, and the sins of

youth, still remain uncovered.

Oh! dear brethren, if Jesus is to justify you, He must do as He did to

Joshua, “Take away the filthy garments from him;” and “I will clothe thee

with change of raiment,” Zech. 3:4. The hand of Jesus alone can take off

your filthy garments. The hand of Jesus alone can clothe you with change of

raiment.

Christ is the good way.—“He hath showed thee,” etc. “Stand ye in the

ways, and see, and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk

therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Christ is the good way to the

Father. First, Because He is so suitable. He just answers the case of the

sinner: for every sin of the sinner He has a wound, for every nakedness He

has a covering, for every emptiness He has a supply. There is no fear but He

will receive the sinner, for He came into the world on purpose to save

sinners. There is no fear but the Father will be well pleased with us in Him,

for the Father sent Him, laid our iniquity upon Him, raised Him from the

dead, and points you to Him. “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good.”

Second, He is so free.—“As by one man’s disobedience many were made

sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” As far

as the curse by Adam extends, so far does the offer of pardon by Jesus

extend. Here is good news to the vilest of men. You may be covered just as

completely and as freely as those that have never sinned as you have done.

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good.” Third, He is so God-

glorifying.—All other ways of salvation are man-glorifying, but this way is

God-glorifying; therefore it is good. That way is good and best which gives

the glory to the Lamb. The way of righteousness by Jesus is good, on this

account, that Jesus gets all the praise. To Him be glory. It is of faith, that it

might be by grace. If a man could justify himself, or if he could believe of

himself and draw the righteousness of Christ over his soul, that man would

glory. But when a man lies dead at the feet of Jesus, and Jesus spreads his

white robe over him, out of free sovereign mercy, then Jesus gets all the

praise.

Have you chosen the good way of being justified? This is the way

which God has been showing from the foundation of the world. He showed

it in Abel’s lamb, and in all the sacrifices, and by all the prophets. He shows

it by his Spirit to the heart. Has this good way been revealed to you? If it

has, you will count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge

of it. Oh, sweet, divine way of justifying a sinner! Oh that all the world but

knew it! Oh that we saw more of it! Oh that you could make use of it!

“Walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

III. God’s requirement of the justified.—When Jesus healed the

impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, He said to him, “Behold, thou art

made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing happen unto thee.” And again,

when He covered the sin of the adulteress, He said, “Neither do I condemn

thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8. So here, when He shows the good way

of righteousness, He adds, “And what doth the Lord require of thee?”

(1.) God requires his redeemed ones to be holy.—If you are his

brethren, He will have you righteous, holy men.

, He requires you to do justly—to be just in your dealings between

man and man. This is one of his own glorious features. He is a just God.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” “He is my Rock, and there is

no unrighteousness in Him.” Are yon come to Him by Jesus?—He requires

you to reflect his image. Are you his child?—you must be like Him. Oh,

brethren, be exact in your dealings! Be like your God. Take care of

dishonesty; take care of trickery in business. Take care of crying up your

goods when selling them, and crying them down when buying them. “It is

naught, it is naught, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he

boasteth.” It shall not be so among you. God requires you to do justly.

2d, He requires you to love mercy.—This is the brightest feature in the

character of Christ. If you are in Christ, drink deep of his spirit; God

requires you to be merciful. The world is selfish, unmerciful. An

unconverted mother has no mercy on the soul of her own child. She can see

it dropping into hell without mercy. Oh, the hellish cruelty of unconverted

men! It shall not be so with you. Be merciful, as your Father in heaven is

merciful.

3d, He requires you to walk humbly with thy God.—Christ says, “Learn

of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart.” If God has covered all your black

sins, rebellions, backslidings, outbreakings, then never open your mouth

except in humble praise. God requires this at your hand. Walk with God,

and walk humbly.

(2.) Remember this is God’s end in justifying you.—He loved the

church, and gave himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it. This

was his great end, to raise up a peculiar people to serve Him, and bear his

likeness, in this world and in eternity. For this He left heaven, for this He

groaned, bled, died, to make you holy. If you are not made holy, Christ died

in vain for you.

(3.) Whatever He requires, He gives grace to perform.—Christ is not

only good as our way to the Father, but He is our fountain of living waters.

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is enough in Christ to

supply the need of all his people. An old minister says, A child can carry

little water from the sea in its two hands, and so it is little we get out of

Christ. There are unsearchable riches in Him.

Be strong in the grace that is in Him. Live out of yourself, and live upon

Him; go and tell Him, that since He requires all this of thee, He must give

thee grace according to your need. My God shall supply all your need,

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He hath showed you one

that is good, even the fair Immanuel: now lean upon Him; get life from Him

that shall never die; get living water from Him that shall never dry up. Let

his hand hold you up amid the billows of this tempestuous sea. Let his

shoulder carry you over the thorns of this wilderness. Look as much to Him

for sanctification as for justification.

So will your walk be close with God,

Calm and serene your frame;

So purer light shall mark the road

That leads you to the Lamb.

SERMON XV

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members warring

against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my

members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank

God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but

with the flesh the law of sin.”—ROM. 7:22–25.

A BELIEVER is to be known not only by his peace and joy, but by his warfare

and distress. His peace is peculiar: it flows from Christ; it is heavenly, it is

holy peace. His warfare is as peculiar: it is deep-seated, agonizing, and

ceases not till death. If the Lord will, many of us have the prospect of sitting

down next Sabbath at the Lord’s table. The great question to be answered

before sitting down there is, Have I fled to Christ or no?

’Tis a point I long to know,

Oft it causes anxious thought,

Do I love the Lord or no?

Am I his, or am I not?

To help you to settle this question, I have chosen the subject of the

Christian’s warfare, that you may know thereby whether you are a soldier of

Christ—whether you are really fighting the good fight of faith.

I. A believer delights in the law of God.—“I delight in the law of God

after the inward man,” ver. 22.

(1.) Before a man comes to Christ, he hates the law of God—his whole

soul rises up against it. “The carnal mind is enmity,” etc., 8:7. First,

Unconverted men hate the law of God on account of its purity. “Thy word

is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.” For the same reason worldly

men hate it. The law is the breathing of God’s pure and holy mind. It is

infinitely opposed to all impurity and sin. Every line of the law is against

sin. But natural men love sin, and therefore they hate the law, because it

opposes them in all they love. As bats hate the light, and fly against it, so

unconverted men hate the pure light of God’s law, and fly against it.

Second, They hate it for its breadth. “Thy commandment is exceeding

broad.” It extends to all their outward actions, seen and unseen; it extends to

every idle word that men shall speak; it extends to the looks of their eye; it

dives into the deepest caves of their heart; it condemns the most secret

springs of sin and lust that nestle there. Unconverted men quarrel with the

law of God because of its strictness. If it extended only to my outward

actions, then I could bear with it; but it condemns my most secret thoughts

and desires, which I cannot prevent. Therefore ungodly men rise against the

law. Third, They hate it for its unchangeableness. Heaven and earth shall

pass away, but one jot or one tittle of the law shall in no wise pass away. If

the law would change, or let down its requirements, or die, then ungodly

men would be well pleased. But it is unchangeable as God: it is written on

the heart of God, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. It

cannot change unless God change; it cannot die unless God die. Even in an

eternal hell its demands and its curses will be the same. It is an

unchangeable law, for He is an unchangeable God. Therefore ungodly men

have an unchangeable hatred to that holy law.

(2.) When a man comes to Christ, this is all changed. He can say, “I

delight in the law of God after the inward man.” He can say with David,

“Oh how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” He can say with

Jesus, in the 40

Psalm, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is

within my heart.”

There are two reasons for this:—

, The law is no longer an enemy.—If any of you who are trembling

under a sense of your infinite sins, and the curses of the law which you have

broken, flee to Christ, you will find rest. You will find that He has fully

answered the demands of the law as a surety for sinners; that He has fully

borne all its curses. You will be able to say, “Christ hath redeemed me from

the curse of the law, being made a curse for me, as it is written, Cursed,”

etc. You have no more to fear, then, from that awfully holy law: you are not

under the law, but under grace. You have no more to fear from the law than

you will have after the judgment-day. Imagine a saved soul after the

judgment-day. When that awful scene is past; when the dead, small and

great, have stood before that great white throne; when the sentence of

eternal woe has fallen upon all the unconverted, and they have sunk into the

lake whose fires can never be quenched; would not that redeemed soul say,

I have nothing to fear from that holy law; I have seen its vials poured out,

but not a drop has fallen on me? So may you say now, O believer in Jesus!

When you look upon the soul of Christ, scarred with God’s thunderbolts;

when you look upon his body, pierced for sin, you can say, He was made a

curse for me; why should I fear that holy law?

2d. The Spirit of God writes the law on the heart.—This is the promise:

“After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts,

and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my

people.” Jer. 31:33. Coming to Christ takes away your fear of the law; but it

is the Holy Spirit coming into your heart that makes you love the law. The

Holy Spirit is no more frightened away from that heart; He comes and

softens it; He takes out the stony heart and puts in a heart of flesh; and there

He writes the holy, holy, holy law of God. Then the law of God is sweet to

that soul; he has an inward delight in it. “The law is holy, and the

commandment holy, and just, and good.” Now he unfeignedly desires every

thought, word, and action to be according to that law. “Oh that my ways

were directed to keep thy statutes: great peace have they that love thy law,

and nothing shall offend them.” The 119

Psalm becomes the breathing of

that new heart. Now also he would fain see all the world submitting to that

pure and holy law. “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because they keep

not thy law.” Oh that all the world but knew that holiness and happiness are

one! Oh that all the world were one holy family, joyfully coming under the

pure rules of the gospel! Try yourselves by this. Can you say, “I delight,”

etc.? Do you remember when you hated the law of God? Do you love it

now? Do you long for the time when you shall live fully under it—holy as

God is holy, pure as Christ is pure?

Oh come, sinners, and give up your hearts to Christ, that He may write

on it his holy law! You have long enough had the devil’s law graven on

your hearts: come you to Jesus, and He will both shelter you from the

curses of the law, and He will give you the Spirit to write all that law in

your heart; He will make you love it with your inmost soul. Plead the

promise with Him. Surely you have tried the pleasures of sin long enough.

Come, now, and try the pleasures of holiness out of a new heart.

If you die with your heart as it is, it will be stamped a wicked heart to

all eternity. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let

him be filthy still.” Rev. 22:11. Oh come and get the new heart before you

die; for except you be born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God!

II. A true believer feels an opposing law in his members.—“I see

another law,” etc., ver. 23. When a sinner comes first to Christ, he often

thinks he will now bid an eternal farewell to sin: now I shall never sin any

more. He feels already at the gate of heaven. A little breath of temptation

soon discovers his heart, and he cries out, “I see another law.”

(1.) Observe what he calls it—“another law;” quite a different law from

the law of God; a law clean contrary to it. He calls it a “law of sin,” ver. 25;

a law that commands him to commit sin, that urges him on by rewards and

threatenings—“a law of sin and death,” 8:2; a law which not only leads to

sin, but leads to death, eternal death: “the wages of sin is death.” It is the

same law which, in Galatians, is called “the flesh:” “The flesh lusteth

against the Spirit,” etc., Gal. 5:17. It is the same which, in Eph. 4:22, is

called “the old man,” which is wrought according to the deceitful lusts; the

same law which in Col. 3 is called “your members”—“Mortify, therefore,

your members, which are,” etc.; the same which is called “a body of death,”

Rom. 7:24. The truth then is, that in the heart of the believer there remains

the whole members and body of an old man, or old nature: there remains

the fountain of every sin that has ever polluted the world.

(2.) Observe again what this law is doing—“warring.” This law in the

members is not resting quiet, but warring—always fighting. There never

can be peace in the bosom of a believer. There is peace with God, but

constant war with sin. This law in the members has got an army of lusts

under him, and he wages constant war against the law of God. Sometimes,

indeed, an army are lying in ambush, and they lie quiet till a favourable

moment comes. So in the heart the lusts often lie quiet till the hour of

temptation, and then they war against the soul. The heart is like a volcano:

sometimes it slumbers and sends up nothing but a little smoke; but the fire

is slumbering all the while below, and will soon break out again. There are

two great combatants in the believer’s soul. There is Satan on the one side,

with the flesh and all its lusts at his command; then on the other side there is

the Holy Spirit, with the new creature all at his command. And so “the flesh

lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these two are

contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Is Satan ever successful? In the deep wisdom of God the law in the

members does sometimes bring the soul into captivity. Noah was a perfect

man, and Noah walked with God, and yet he was led captive. “Noah drank

of the wine, and was drunken.” Abraham was the “friend of God,” and yet

he told a lie, saying of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Job was a perfect

man, one that feared God and hated evil, and yet he was provoked to curse

the day wherein he was born. And so with Moses, and David, and Solomon,

and Hezekiah, and Peter, and the apostles.

(1.) Have you experienced this warfare? It is a clear mark of God’s

children. Most of you, I fear, have never felt it. Do not mistake me. All of

you have felt a warfare at times between your natural conscience and the

law of God. But that is not the contest in the believer’s bosom. It is a

warfare between the Spirit of God in the heart, and the old man with his

deeds.

(2.) If any of you are groaning under this warfare, learn to be humbled

by it, but not discouraged.

, Be humbled under it.—It is intended to make you lie in the dust, and

feel that you are but a worm. Oh! what a vile wretch you must be, that even

after you are forgiven, and have received the Holy Spirit, your heart should

still be a fountain of every wickedness! How vile, that in your most solemn

approaches to God, in the house of God, in awfully affecting situations,

such as kneeling beside the death-bed, you should still have in your bosom

all the members of your old nature! Let this make you lie low.

2d, Let this teach you your need of Jesus.—You need the blood of Jesus

as much as at the first. You never can stand before God in yourself. You

must go again and again to be washed; even on your dying bed you must

hide under Jehovah our Righteousness. You must also lean upon Jesus. He

alone can overcome in you. Keep nearer and nearer every day.

3d, Be not discouraged.—Jesus is willing to be a Saviour to such as

you. He is able to save you to the uttermost. Do you think your case is too

bad for Christ to save? Every one whom Christ saves had just such a heart

as you. Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life. Take up the

resolution of Edwards: “Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my

fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.” “Him that over-

cometh will I make a pillar,” etc.

III. The feelings of a believer during this warfare

(1.) He feels wretched.—“O wretched man that I am!” ver. 24. There is

nobody in this world so happy as a believer. He has come to Jesus, and

found rest. He has the pardon of all his sins in Christ. He has near approach

to God as a child. He has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. He has the hope

of glory. In the most awful times he can be calm, for he feels that God is

with him. Still there are times when he cries, O wretched man! When he

feels the plague of his own heart; when he feels the thorn in the flesh; when

his wicked heart is discovered in all its fearful malignity; ah, then he lies

down, crying, O wretched man that I am! One reason of this wretchedness

is, that sin, discovered in the heart, takes away the sense of forgiveness.

Guilt comes upon the conscience, and a dark cloud covers the soul. How

can I ever go back to Christ? he cries. Alas! I have sinned away my Saviour.

Another reason is, the loathsomeness of sin. It is felt like a viper in the

heart. A natural man is often miserable from his sin, but he never feels its

loathsomeness; but to the new creature it is vile indeed. Ah! brethren, do

you know anything of a believer’s wretchedness? If you do not, you will

never know his joy. If you know not a believer’s tears and groans, you will

never know his song of victory.

(2.) He seeks deliverance.—“Who shall deliver me?” In ancient times,

some of the tyrants used to chain their prisoners to a dead body; so that,

wherever the prisoner wandered, he had to drag a putrid carcase after him.

It is believed that Paul here alludes to this inhuman practice. His old man he

felt a noisome putrid carcase, which he was continually dragging about with

him. His piercing desire is to be freed from it. Who shall deliver us? You

remember once, when God allowed a thorn in the flesh to torment his

servant,—a messenger of Satan to buffet him,—Paul was driven to his

knees. “I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” Oh, this is

the true mark of God’s children! The world has an old nature; they are all

old men together. But it does not drive them to their knees. How is it with

you, dear souls? Does corruption felt within drive you to the throne of

grace? Does it make you call on the name of the Lord? Does it make you

like the importunate widow: “Avenge me of mine adversary?” Does it make

you like the man coming at midnight for three loaves? Does it make you

like the Canaanitish woman, crying after Jesus? Ah, remember, if lust can

work in your heart, and you lie down contented with it, you are none of

Christ’s!

(3.) He gives thanks for victory.—Truly we are more than conquerors

through Him that loved us; for we can give thanks before the fight is done.

Yes, even in the thickest of the battle we can look up to Jesus, and cry,

Thanks to God. The moment a soul groaning under corruption rests the eye

on Jesus, that moment his groans are changed into songs of praise. In Jesus

you discover a fountain to wash away the guilt of all your sin. In Jesus you

discover grace sufficient for you,—grace to hold you up to the end,—and a

sure promise that sin shall soon be rooted out altogether. “Fear not, I have

redeemed thee. I have called thee by my name; thou art mine.” Ah, this

turns our groans into songs of praise! How often a psalm begins with groans

and ends with praises! This is the daily experience of all the Lord’s people.

Is it yours? Try yourselves by this. Oh, if you know not the believer’s song

of praise, you will never cast your crowns with them at the feet of Jesus!

Dear believers, be content to glory in your infirmities, that the power of

Christ may rest upon you. Glory, glory, glory to the Lamb!

SERMON XVI

THE BROKEN HEART

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not

despise.”—Ps. 51:17.

NO psalm expresses more fully the experience of a penitent believing soul:

—First, His humbling confession of sin, vers. 3, 4, 5. Second, His intense

desire for pardon through the blood of Christ, ver. 7. Third, His longing

after a clean heart, ver. 10. Fourth, His desire to render something to God

for all his benefits. (1.) He says, I will teach transgressors thy ways. (2.) My

lips shall show forth thy praise. (3.) He will give a broken heart, vers. 16,

17. Just as, long ago, they used to offer slain lambs in token of

thanksgiving, so he says he will offer up to God a slain and broken heart.

Every one of you, who has found the same forgiveness, should come to the

same resolution—offer up to God this day a broken heart.

I. The natural heart is sound and unbroken

The law, the gospel, mercies, afflictions, death, do not break the natural

heart. It is harder than stone; there is nothing in the universe so hard. “Ye

stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness,” Isa. 46:12. “We have walked

to and fro through the earth, and behold all the earth sitteth still and is at

rest,” Zech. 1:11. “I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men

that are settled on their lees,” Zeph. 1:12. “They have made their faces

harder than a rock,” Jer. 5:3. “Careless women,” Isa. 32:10. “Women that

are at ease,” ver. 11.

Why?—First, The veil is upon their hearts. They do not believe the

Bible, the strictness of the law, the wrath to come; the face of a covering is

over their eyes. Second, Satan has possession. Satan carries the seed away.

Third, Dead in trespasses and sins. The dead hear not, feel not; they are past

feeling. Fourth, They build a wall of untempered mortar. They hope for

safety in some refuge of lies—that they pray, or give alms.

Pray God to keep away from you the curse of a dead, unbroken heart.

First, Because it will not last long; you are standing on slippery places; the

waves are below your feet. Second, Because Christ will laugh at your

calamity. If you were now concerned, there is hope. Ministers and

Christians are ready; Christ is ready; but afterwards He will laugh.

II. The awakened heart is wounded, not broken

(1.) The law makes the first wound.—When God is going to save a soul,

He brings the soul to reflect on his sins: “Cursed is every one,” etc.

“Whatsoever things the law saith,” etc. “I was alive without the law once,”

etc. Life and heart appear in awful colours.

(2.) The majesty of God makes the next wound.—The sinner is made

sensible of the great and holy Being against whom he has sinned. “Against

Thee,” Ps. 51:4.

(3.) The third wound is from his own helplessness to make himself

better.—Still the heart is not broken; the heart rises against God. First,

Because of the strictness of the law. Second, Because faith is the only way

of salvation, and is the gift of God. Third, Because God is sovereign, and

may save or not as He will. This shows the unbroken heart. There is no

more miserable state than this.

Learn—It is one thing to be awakened, and another thing to be saved.

Do not rest in convictions.

III. The believing heart is a broken heart two ways

(1.) It is broken from its own righteousness.—When the Holy Spirit

leads a man to the cross, his heart there breaks from seeking salvation by

his own righteousness. All his burden of performance and contrivances

drops. First, The work of Christ appears so perfect,—the wisdom of God

and the power of God,—divine righteousness. “I wonder that I should ever

think of any other way of salvation. If I could have been saved by my own

duties, my whole soul would now have refused it. I wonder that all the

world did not see and comply with this way of salvation by the

righteousness of Christ.”—(Brainerd, p. 319.) Second, The grace of Christ

appears so wonderful. That all this righteousness should be free to such a

sinner! That I so long neglected, despised, hated it, put mountains between,

and yet that He has come over the mountains! “That thou mayest remember

and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy

shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done,” Ezek.

16:63. Have you this broken heart—broken within sight of the cross? It is

not a look into your own heart, or the heart of hell, but into the heart of

Christ, that breaks the heart. Oh, pray for this broken heart! Boasting is

excluded. To Him be glory: Worthy is the Lamb! All the straggles of a self-

righteous soul are to put the crown on your own head instead of at the feet

of Jesus.

(2.) Broken from love of sin.—When a man believes on Christ, he then

sees sin to be hateful. First, It separated between him and God, made the

great gulf, and kindled the fires of hell. Second, It crucified the Lord of

Glory; weighed down his soul; made Him sweat, and bleed, and die. Third,

It is the plague of his heart now. All my unhappiness is from my being a

sinner. Now he mourns sore like a dove, that he should sin against so much

love. “Then shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings wherein ye

have been defiled, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight.”

IV. Advantages of a broken heart

(1.) It keeps you from being offended at the preaching of the Cross.—A

natural heart is offended every day at the preaching of the cross. Many of

you, I have no doubt, hate it. The preaching of another’s righteousness,—

that you must have it or perish,—many, I have no doubt, are often enraged

at this in their hearts. Many, I doubt not, have left this church on account of

it; and many more, I doubt not, will follow. All the offence of the cross is

not ceased. But a broken heart cannot be offended. Ministers cannot speak

too plainly for a broken heart. A broken heart would sit for ever to hear of

the righteousness without works.

Many of you are offended when we preach plainly against sin. Many

were offended last Sabbath. But a broken heart cannot be offended, for it

hates sin worse than ministers can make it. Many are like the worshippers

of Baal: “Bring forth thy son that he may die,” Judges 6:30. But a broken

heart loves to see the idol stamped upon and beaten small.

(2.) A broken heart is at rest.—The unconverted heart is like the

troubled sea: “Who will show us any good?” It is going from creature to

creature. The awakened soul is not at rest; sorrows of death, pains of hell,

attend those who are forgetting their resting-place. But the broken heart

says, “Return unto thy rest, O my soul.” The righteousness of Christ takes

away every fear, “casts out fear.” Ever, the plague of the heart cannot truly

disturb, for he casts his burden on Jesus.

(3.) Nothing can happen wrong to it.—To the unconverted, how

dreadful is a sick-bed, poverty, death—tossed like a wild beast in a net! But

a broken heart is satisfied with Christ. This is enough; he has no ambition

for more. Take away all, this remains. He is a weaned child.

SERMON XVII

“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.”—Ps. 58:3–5.

IT has been supposed by some interpreters that this psalm was written as a

prophetic description of the unjust judges who condemned our Lord Jesus

Christ. (1.) It begins by reproving them for their unjust judgment: “Do ye

indeed,” etc., ver. 1. (2.) It opens up the dark recesses of their heart and

history: “The wicked are estranged from the womb,” etc., ver. 3. And (3.) It

shows their coming destruction: “The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth

the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,” ver. 10.

However this may be, they were of the same nature with us. The scribes and

Pharisees who condemned our Lord had hearts of the same kind as ours, so

that we may learn this day the awful depravity of the heart of man.

I. Original depravity.—“The wicked are estranged from the womb,”

ver. 3. The expression “from the womb” occurs frequently in Scripture, and

means from the very first period of our existence. The angel of the Lord

said to the wife of Manoah, “The child shall be a Nazarite unto God from

the womb,” Judges 13:5; that is, from the very first point of its existence.

God says to Jeremiah (1:5), “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;

and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and

ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah was set apart as a

prophet before he was born. Paul says, “But when it pleased God, who

separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to

reveal his Son in me,” Gal. 1:15. Paul was set apart by God for the work of

the ministry from the very first. So, in the words before us, it is declared

that from the very first we are estranged from God. Now, this estrangement

is twofold.

(1.) Of the head.—The whole mind is estranged from God. “At that

time ye were without God.” The natural man is ignorant of God from the

very womb. God is a stranger to him, so that he does not know Him. He has

no true discovery of God’s infinite purity, of his immutable justice, and of

the strictness of the law. He does not know the love of God, nor how freely

He has provided a Saviour. He is mainly ignorant of God. “God is not in all

his thoughts,” Ps. 10:4. Either he does not turn his mind upon God at all, or

else he thinks Him altogether such an one as himself. “There is none that

understandeth,” Ps. 14:2.

(2.) Of the heart.—A new-born child will naturally feel after its

mother’s breast; it naturally seeks the breast. But it does not in the same

manner seek after God. “There is none that seeketh after God.” From the

very first we dislike God. A child soon comes to relish the presence of its

earthly parents, and of other children. It does not relish the presence of God.

The natural tendency of the heart is to go away from God, and to remain out

of his sight. A natural man does not like the presence of a very eminent

saint. If he has full liberty, he will leave the room and seek other company

more suited to his taste. This is the very way he treats God. God is too holy

for him,—He is too pure,—and therefore he does all he can to leave his

company. This is the reason you cannot get unconverted men to pray in

secret. They would rather spend half an hour in the tread-mill every

morning than go to meet God. This is the true condition of every one of you

who is now unconverted; indeed, it was the condition of us all, but some of

you have been brought out of it. From the time you were in the womb till

now, your whole head and heart have been turned away from God. “The

imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth,” etc., Gen. 8:21. “Who

can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Job 14:4. Your whole

nature is totally depraved. You are accustomed to think that you have some

parts good; that though some part was depraved, yet some part remained

sound. But learn that the whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. Your

whole history is covered with sin. You are accustomed to think that great

part of your life has been innocent. You admit that some pages of your life

are stained with crimson and scarlet sins,—some pages you blush to look

back upon,—but surely you have some fair leaves also. Learn that you are

“estranged from the womb.” Every moment you have spent without God,

and turning away from God,—every page has got this written at the top of

it, This day God was not in all his thoughts, he did not like to retain God in

his knowledge. “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only

evil continually,” Gen. 6:5.

II. Actual sin—“They go astray,” etc.—There are two paths from which

every natural man goes astray as soon as born.

(1.) The way of God’s commandments.—This is the pure way of night in

which holy angels walk. “They do his commandments, hearkening to the

voice of his word,” Ps. 103. It is a pure way, having ten paths in which the

feet of the upright love to go. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who

walk in the law of the Lord.” “Make me to go in the path of thy

commandments; for therein do I delight.” From this we go astray as soon as

born, speaking lies. One of these paths says, “Thou shalt not bear false

witness against thy neighbour;” but this is one of the very first that is

forsaken,—speaking lies. “We all like sheep have gone astray, turning every

one to his own way,” Isa. 53:6.

(2.) The way of pardon.—Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way;” and

again, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life.” The

same, “The redeemed shall walk there,” Isa. 35:9. From this way also “they

go astray as soon as born, speaking lies.” Life is given to sinners just that

they may enter upon this way but they spend it in going further and further

away. The parable of the lost sheep shows the true state of every

unconverted soul wandering away from the Good Shepherd. He is seeking

to save the lost; you are wandering further and further away. “They are all

gone out of the way,” Rom. 3:12. “Destruction and misery are in their ways,

and the way of peace have they not known.” And, oh! what fearful meaning

does this give to the declaration, “speaking lies;” for it is written, “Who is a

liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?” 1 John 2:22. And again,

“He that believeth not God, hath made God a liar.” No man can go away

from Christ without speaking lies.

Learn—The fearful condition of those of you who are natural men.

, From the day you were born you have gone astray from the path of

God’s commandments. Every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, has

been filled up with sin. Every day has seen you go further from holiness,

further from God, nearer to hell. You are treasuring up wrath against the day

of wrath. Oh! what a treasure, heaping up fuel to burn you through eternity.

If any of you live in drinking or swearing, or any one sin, you are heaping

up fuel for your eternal hell. You are getting further on in your sin. You are

wreathing your chains more and more round you. By a law of human

nature, every time you sin, the habit becomes stronger, so that you are every

day becoming more completely like the devil. It is every day more hard to

turn. Experience shows that most people are converted when young. Dear

young people, every day you live in sin it will be more impossible to turn.

“They that seek me early shall find me.”

2d, From the day you were born you have gone astray from Christ. The

Good Shepherd has been seeking you. Every day you remain unsaved, you

are wandering away from Him. Every day you are getting nearer to hell and

further from Christ. Unbelief gets stronger every day.

III. The deadly enmity of natural men to God.—“Their poison,” etc.—

For two reasons:—

(1.) Because they are the children of the old serpent, the devil.—All

natural men are the seed of the serpent.—See Gen. 3:15. All who oppose

and dislike the children of God, do so because they are the seed of the

serpent, and the poison of the old serpent remains in them. John the Baptist

called the Pharisees a generation of vipers: “O generation of vipers!” Matt.

3:7. In a still more dreadful manner did our blessed Lord: “Ye serpents, ye

generation of vipers!” Matt. 23:33. The Pharisees and Sadducees were not

of a different nature from us; they had the same flesh and blood, and the

same wicked heart; they were children of their father the devil, and the lusts

of their father they would do “Their poison was like the poison of a

serpent.”

(2.) Because they have a mortal enmity to God.—The poison of the

serpent is deadly poison. When it darts its envenomed sting into a man, it

seeks to kill him. Such is the cruel venom of the natural heart against God.

He is a mortal enemy to God’s holy government. It has been said, “If the

throne of God were within your reach, and you knew, it would not be safe

one hour.” He is a mortal enemy to the very being of God. “The fool has

said in his heart, There is no God,” Ps. 14:1. It is in his heart he says this;

this is the secret desire of every unconverted bosom. If the breast of God

were within the reach of men, it would be stabbed a million of times in one

moment. When God was manifest in the flesh, He was altogether lovely; He

did no sin; He went about continually doing good: and yet they took Him

and hung Him on a tree; they mocked Him and spit upon Him. And this is

the way men would do with God again.

Learn—First, The fearful depravity of your heart. I venture to say there

is not an unconverted man present who has the most distant idea of the

monstrous wickedness that is now within his breast. Stop till you are in hell,

and it will break out unrestrained. But still let me tell you what it is; you

have a heart that would kill God if you could. If the bosom of God were

now within your reach, and one blow would rid the universe of God, you

have a heart fit to do the deed. Second, The amazing love of Christ: “While

we were enemies, Christ died for us.”

IV. Deaf to the voice of the gospel.—It is a well-known fact that many

kinds of serpents can be tamed by the power of music. This is referred to in

Eccles. 10:11 and Jer. 8:17. Many travellers in Egypt and India have seen

this. But there is said to be one kind of serpent which is either deaf, so that

it cannot hear the music, or it has the power of making itself deaf for the

time, so that it is not charmed. So it is with unconverted men.

Christ is the great charmer. His voice is like the sound of many waters.

Never man spake like this man. When Andrew and Peter heard it, they left

all and followed Him; so did James, and John, and Matthew. When the

bride hears Him, she cries, The voice of my beloved! When the sheep hear

his voice, they follow Him; when the dead hear his voice, they live; when

the heavy laden hear it, they find rest.

But unconverted men will not hear. They are like Manasseh—they will

not hearken; they are like the Jews when Stephen preached—they stopped

their ears and ran.

Ah! how many of you are doing this very thing—stopping your ears!

How many of you stop your ears with the noise of the world, its business

and care,—some with a favourite lust! The voice of the Great Charmer has

been often heard in this place, and some have heard it and followed Him;

and why are you left behind?

Learn—First, The folly of this. He is charming you to bless you—to

bring you to peace, pardon, holiness. “There is no other name given among

men whereby you can be saved.” Second, The guilt of this. It is the highest

sin of all, to “refuse Him that speaketh from heaven,” Heb. 12:25. It is put

last here. It is unpardonable. All manner of sin and blasphemy may be

forgiven to you; but if you will not hear the voice of Christ, you must

perish. Christ is knocking at your door and saying, “If any man hear my

voice, I will come in.” Oh, think of the guilt of letting the Son of God stand

at your door! Some would fain lay the blame off themselves; but God

washes himself clear of the unbeliever’s guilt. It is you that stop your ear;

ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. You will one day find that he that

believeth not shall be damned.

SERMON XVIII

“O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a

morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”—HOSEA 6:4.

Doctrine.—The impressions of natural men are fading.

In these words, God complains that He did not know what to do with

Israel, their impressions were so fading. He says, verse 5, that He had

hewed them by the prophets, and slain them by the words of his mouth; and

their judgments were as the light that goeth forth. At one time He sent them

severe awakening messages of coming wrath; then messages of love and

grace, as bright and as many as the beams of the sun. They were a little

impressed by them; the cloud of distress began to gather on their brow; the

dew of grief seemed to start to their cheek, but it soon dried up. It was like

the morning cloud and early dew that goeth away. So it is with all the

unconverted persons in this congregation, who will finally perish. God has

sent them awakening messages; hewed them by the prophets, and slain

them by the words of his mouth. He has sent them also sweet encouraging

messages; his judgments have been like the light that goeth forth. They

think, and are impressed for a little, but it soon dies away. “O Ephraim,

what shall I do,” etc.

I. The fact that the impressions of natural men fade away

(1.) Prove the fact from Scripture.—The Scriptures abound with

examples of it. First, Lot’s wife. She was a good deal awakened. The

anxious faces of the two angelic men—their awful words, and merciful

hands—made a deep impression on her. The anxiety of her husband, too,

and his words to his sons-in-law, sunk into her heart. She fled with anxious

steps; but as the morning brightened, her anxious thoughts began to wear

away. She looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Second, Israel at the

Red Sea. When Israel had been led through the deep water in safety, and

when they saw their enemies drowned, then they sang God’s praise. Their

hearts were much affected by this deliverance. They sang, “The Lord is my

strength and song, He also is become my salvation.” They sang his praise,

but soon forgot his works. In three days they were murmuring against God

because of the bitter waters. Third, Once a young man came running to

Jesus, and he kneeled down, saying, “Good Master, what good thing shall I

do that I may inherit eternal life?” A flash of conviction had passed over his

conscience; he was now kneeling at the feet of Christ, but he never kneeled

there any more; he went away sorrowful. His goodness was like a morning

cloud. Fourth, Once Paul preached before Felix, the Roman governor; and

as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix

trembled. The preaching of the gospel made the proud Roman tremble on

his throne, but did it save his soul? Ah, no! “Go thy way for this time; when

I have a more convenient season I will send for thee.” His goodness was

like the morning cloud. Fifth, Again, Paul preached before King Agrippa

and his beautiful Bernice, with all the captains and chief men of the city.

The word troubled Agrippa’s heart,—the tear started into his royal eye,—

for a moment he thought of leaving all for Christ. “Almost thou persuadest

me to be a Christian.” But ah! his goodness was like a morning cloud and

early dew. In all these the cloud gathered over them,—for a moment the

dew glistened in their eye, but soon it passed away, and left the hard rocky

heart behind.

(2.) Prove the fact from experience.—Most men under a preached

gospel have their times of awakening. If the impressions of natural men

were permanent, then most would be saved; but we know that this is not the

case. Few there be that find it. Perhaps I would not go far wrong if I were to

say that there may not be ten grown-up men in this congregation who have

never experienced any concern for their soul, and yet I fear there may be

hundreds who will finally perish.

, How many have had a time of awakening in childhood,—when they

were prayed over by a believing mother, or warned by a believing father, or

taught by a faithful Sabbath-school teacher; how many have had deep

impressions made at the Sabbath school; but they have passed away like the

morning cloud and early dew!

2d, At their first communion, when they first spoke to a minister about

their soul, and heard his piercing questions and faithful warnings, when

they got their token from his hand, when they first received the bread and

wine, and sat at the table of the Lord, they trembled; the tear dimmed their

eye; they went home to pray. But soon it wore away. The world—pleasure

—cares—involved the mind, and all was gone like the cloud and the dew.

3d, A first sickness. How many, laid down on a bed of sickness, are

made to look over the verge of the grave! They tremble as they think how

unprepared they are to die; and now they begin to vow and resolve, If the

Lord spare me, I will avoid evil companions, I will pray and read my Bible,

etc.; but no sooner are they better than the resolutions are forgotten, like the

cloud and dew.

, First death in a family. What a deep impression this makes on a

feeling heart! That lovely circle is broken round the fire, and never will be

whole again. Now they begin to pray,—to turn to Him that smites. Perhaps,

kneeling beside the cold body, they vow no longer to go back to sin and

folly. Or, following the body to the grave, while the big tear stands in the

eye, they promise to bury all their sins and follies in the grave of their

beloved one. But soon a change comes over them,—the tears dry up, and

the prayer is forgotten. The world takes its place again and reigns. Their

goodness is as the morning cloud.

, In a time of awakening, many receive deep impressions. Some are

alarmed to see others alarmed that are no worse than they. Many have their

feelings stirred,—their affections moved. Many are brought to desire

conversion,—to weep and to pray. Mr Edwards mentions that there was

scarcely an individual in the whole town unconcerned; there were tokens of

God’s presence in every house. So here; and yet, when the time is past, how

soon they sink back into former indifference! Their goodness is as the

morning cloud.

Dear friends, ye are my witnesses. I do not know, but I believe I am not

wrong in stating, that by far the greater number of you have been under

remorse at some time or another, and yet God and your own consciences

know how fading these impressions have been. Just as the morning cloud

passes off the mountain’s brow, and the dew is dried up from the rock, and

leaves it a rock still, so your impressions have passed away, and left you a

rocky heart still. So it is in those that perish. The way to hell is paved with

good intentions, and hell is peopled with those who once wept and prayed

for their souls. “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?”

(3.) Let us show the steps of impressions fading away.—When a natural

man is under concern, he begins to make a very diligent use of the means of

grace.

, Prayer.—When a man is under the fear of hell, he begins to pray,

and often he has very melting and sweet affections in prayer. As long as his

impressions last, he may be very constant in his duty. But will he always

call upon God? When his concern ceases, his praying in secret gradually

ceases also. Not all at once, but by degrees he gives up secret prayer. Once

he has been out in company, another time kept long at business, another

time he is sleeping, and so by degrees he gives it up altogether. “O

Ephraim,” etc.

2d, Hearing the word.—When a man is first awakened, he comes well

out to the preaching of the word. He knows that God blesses especially the

preaching of the word,—that it pleases God by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe. He is an arrested hearer; be drinks in the words of

the minister; he is lively in his attendance on the word; if there be preaching

in the week-evening, he puts by his work in order to be there. But when his

concern wears away, he begins to weary first of the weekday service, then

of the Sabbath; then perhaps he seeks a more careless ministry, where he

may slumber on till death and judgment. Ah! this has been the course of

thousands in this place. “O Ephraim,” etc.

3d, Asking counsel of ministers.—When souls are under remorse, they

often ask counsel of the under shepherds of Christ. “Going and weeping,

they come to seek the Lord their God: they ask the way to Zion.” They go

to the watchman, saying, Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth? This is one of

the duties of the faithful pastor, for “the priest’s lips should keep

knowledge; and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the

messenger of the Lord of Hosts.” But when concern dies away, this dies

away. Many come once, that never come again. “O Ephraim,” etc.

, Avoiding sin.—When a man is under convictions, he always avoids

open sin,—flees from it with all his might. He reforms his life; his soul is

swept and garnished. But when his concern dies away, his lusts revive, and

he goes back like a dog to his vomit, and like the sow that was washed to its

wallowing in the mire. If there was anything saving in the impressions of

natural men, they would turn holier; but, on the contrary, they turn worse

and worse. Seven devils enter into that man, and the latter end is worse than

the beginning. “O Ephraim,” etc.

II. Reasons why the impressions of natural men die away

(1.) They never are brought to feel truly lost.—The wounds of natural

men are generally skin deep. Sometimes it is just a flash of terror that has

alarmed them. Often it is the sense of some one great sin they have

committed. Sometimes it is only sympathy with others,—fleeing because

others flee. They are often brought to say, I am a great sinner; I fear there is

no mercy for me. Still they are not brought to feel undone,—their mouth is

not stopped,—they do not cover the lip like the leper. They think a little

prayer, sorrow, repentance, amendment, will do. If they could only change

their way. They are not brought to see that all they do just signifies nothing

toward justifying them. If they were brought to feel their utterly lost state,

and their need of another’s righteousness, they never could rest in the world

again.

(2.) They never saw the beauty of Christ.—A flash of terror may bring a

man to his knees, but will not bring him to Christ. Ah! no; love must draw.

A natural man, under concern, sees no beauty nor desirableness in Christ.

He is not brought to look to Him whom he pierced, and to mourn. When

once a man gets a sight of the supreme excellence and sweetness of Christ,

—when he sees his fulness for pardon, peace, holiness,—he will never draw

back. He may be in distress and in darkness; but he will rise and go about

the city to seek Him whom his soul loveth. The heart that has once seen

Christ is smit with the love of Him, and never can rest nor take up with

others short of Him.

(3.) He never had heart-hatred of sin.—The impressions of natural men

are generally of terror. They feel the danger of sin, not the filthiness of it.

They feel that God is just and true; that the law must be avenged; that the

wrath of God will come. They see that there is hell in their sins; but they do

not feel their sins to be a hell. They love sin; they have no change of nature.

The Spirit of God does not dwell in them; and therefore the impression

wears easily away, like as on sand. Those that are brought to Christ are

brought to see the turpitude of sin. They cry not, Behold I am undone; but,

Behold I am vile. As long as sin is in their breast, they are kept fleeing to

the cross of Christ.

(4.) They have no promises to keep their impressions.—Those who are

in Christ have sweet promises. “I will put my fear in their hearts,” Jer.

32:40. “Being confident that He which hath begun a good work in you will

perform it,” Phil. 1:6. But natural men have no interest in these promises;

and so, in the time of temptation, their anxieties easily wear away.

III. Sadness of their case

(1.) God mourns over their case.—“O Ephraim.” It must be a truly sad

case that God mourns over. When Christ wept over Jerusalem, it showed it

was in a desperate case, because that eye that wept saw plainly what was

coming; and, accordingly, in a few years, that lovely city was a ruined heap,

and multitudes of those then living were in hell, and their children

vagabonds. When Christ looked round on the Pharisees with anger, being

grieved at the hardness of their hearts, it showed a desperate case; He would

not grieve for nothing. So here you may be sure the case of natural men

who lose their impressions is very desperate, from these words of God, “O

Ephraim.”

(2.) God has no new method of awakening.—God speaks as even at a

loss what to do, to show you that there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

You have heard all the awakening truths in the Bible, and all the winning,

comforting truths. You have been at Sinai, and at Gethsemane, and at

Calvary: what more can I do unto thee? These have been pressed home

upon you by divine providences, in affliction, by the bed of death, and in a

time of wide awakening. You have passed through a season when it was

tenfold more likely that you would be truly converted than any other time.

You are sunk back! Ah! the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and you

are not saved. God has no more arrows in his quiver, no new arguments, no

other hell, no other Christ.

(3.) No good by your past impressions.—When the cloud is dried up off

the mountain’s brow, and the dew off the rock, the mountain is as great as

before, and the rock as hard; but when convictions fade away from the heart

of a natural man, they leave the mountain of his sins much greater, and his

rocky heart much harder. It is less likely that that man will ever be saved.

Just as iron is hardened by being melted and cooled again; just as a person

recovering from fever relapses, and is worse than before.

, You are now older, and every day less likely to be saved; your heart

gets used to its old ways of thinking and feeling; the old knee cannot easily

learn to bend.

2d, You have offended the Spirit; you have missed your opportunity;

you have vexed the Holy Spirit; convictions are not in your own power; the

Spirit hath mercy on whom He will have mercy.

3d, You have got into the way of putting aside convictions. The eyelid

naturally closes when any object is coming against it; so does the heart of a

practised worldling close and shut out convictions.

, When you come to hell, you will wish you never had had

convictions, they will make your punishment so much the greater.

I would now entreat all who have any impressions not to let them slip.

It is a great mercy to live under a gospel ministry; still greater to live in a

time of revival; still greater to have God pouring the Spirit into your heart,

awakening your soul. Do not neglect it, do not turn back; remember Lot’s

wife. Escape for thy life; look not behind thee; tarry not in all the plain.

Escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

SERMON XIX

“She hath done what she could; she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”—MARK

14:8.

Doctrine.—Do what you can.

From the Gospel of John (11:2), we learn that this woman was Mary,

the sister of Lazarus and Martha. We have already learned that she was an

eminent believer: “She sat at the feet of Jesus, and heard his word.” Jesus

himself said of her: “Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be

taken away from her.” Now it is interesting to see this same Mary eminent

in another way,—not only as a contemplative believer, but as an active

believer.

Many seem to think, that to be a believer is to have certain feelings and

experiences; forgetting all the time that these are but the flowers, and that

the fruit must follow. The engrafting of the branch is good, the inflowing of

the sap good, but the fruit is the end in view. So faith is good, and peace and

joy are good, but holy fruit is the end for which we are saved.

I trust many of you, last Sabbath, were like Mary, sitting at the

Redeemer’s feet, and hearing his word. Now I would persuade you to be

like Mary, in doing what you can for Christ. If you have been bought with a

price, then glorify God in your body and spirit, which are his. I beseech you

by the mercies of God.

I. These are things which we can do

(1.) We could love Christ, pray and praise more.—What this woman

did she did to Christ. Jesus had saved her soul, had saved her brother and

sister, and she felt that she could not do too much for Him. She brought an

alabaster box of ointment, very costly, and brake the box and poured it on

his head. No doubt, she loved his disciples,—holy John and frank Peter,—

yet still she loved Christ more. No doubt she loved Christ’s poor, and was

often kind to them; yet she loved Jesus more. On his blessed head, that was

so soon to be crowned with thorns,—on his blessed feet, that were so soon

to be pierced with nails,—she poured the precious ointment This is what we

should do. If we have been saved by Christ, we should pour out our best

affections on Him. It is well to love his disciples, well to love his ministers,

well to love his poor, but it is best to love himself. We cannot now reach his

blessed head, nor anoint his holy feet; but we can fall down at his footstool,

and pour out our affections towards Him. It was not the ointment Jesus

cared for,—what does the King of Glory care for a little ointment?—but it

is the loving heart, poured out upon his feet; it is the adoration, praise, love,

and prayers of a believer’s broken heart, that Christ cares for. The new heart

is the alabaster box that Jesus loves.

Oh, brethren, could you not do more in this way? Could you not give

more time to pouring out your heart to Jesus—breaking the box, and filling

the room with the odour of your praise? Could you not pray more than you

do to be filled with the Spirit, that the Spirit may be poured down on

ministers, and God’s people, and on an unconverted world? Jesus loves

tears and groans from a broken heart.

(2.) We could live holier lives.—The church is thus described in the

Song of Solomon: “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like

pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders

of the merchant?” The holiness of the believer is like the most precious

perfume. When a holy believer goes through the world, filled with the

Spirit, made more than conqueror, the fragrance fills the room; “’tis as if an

angel shook his wings.” If the world were full of believers, it would be like

a bed of spices; but oh how few believers carry much of the odour of

heaven along with them! How many you might be the means of saving, if

you lived a holy, consistent life,—if you were evidently a sacrifice bound

upon God’s altar! Wives might thus, without the word, win their husbands,

when they see your chaste conversation coupled with fear; parents might in

this way save their children, when they saw you holy and happy; children

have often thus saved their parents. Servants, adorn the doctrine of God

your Saviour in all things; let your light shine before men. The poorest can

do this as well as the richest, the youngest as well as the oldest. Oh, there is

no argument like a holy life!

(3.) You could seek the salvation of others.—If you have really been

brought to Christ and saved, then you know there is a hell,—you know that

all the unconverted around you are hastening to it; you know there is a

Saviour, and that He is stretching out his hands all the day long to sinners.

Could you do no more to save sinners than you do? Do you do all you can?

You say you pray for them; but is it not hypocrisy to pray and do nothing?

Will God hear these prayers? Have you no fears that prayers without

labours are only provoking God? You say you cannot speak, you are not

learned. Will that excuse stand in the judgment? Does it require much

learning to tell fellow-sinners that they are perishing! If their house was on

fire, would it require much learning to wake the sleepers?

Begin at home.—Could you not do more for the salvation of those at

home? If there are children or servants, have you done all you can for them?

Have you done all you can to bring the truth before them, to bring them

under a living ministry, to get them to pray and give up sin?

Do you do what you can for your neighbours? Can you pass your

neighbours for years together, and see them on the broad way, without

warning them? Do you make a full use of tracts, giving suitable ones to

those that need them? Do you persuade Sabbath-breakers to go to the house

of God? Do you do anything in Sabbath schools? Could you not tell little

children the way to be saved? Do you do what you can for the world? The

field is the world.

(4.) Feed Christ’s poor.—I am far from thinking that the wicked poor

should be passed over, but Christ’s poor are our brothers and sisters. Do you

do what you can for them? In the great day, Christ will say to those on his

right hand, “Come ye blessed, for I was an hungered, and ye gave me

meat.” They stand in the place of Christ. Christ does not any more stand in

need of Mary’s ointment, or Martha’s hospitality, or the Samaritan’s drink

of water. He is beyond the reach of these things, and will never need them

more; but He has left many of his brothers and sisters behind in this world,

some diseased, some lame, some like Lazarus all covered with sores; and

He says, What ye do to them, ye do to me. Do you live plainly, in order to

have more to give away? Do you put away vain and gaudy clothes, that you

may be able to clothe the naked? Are you thrifty in managing what you

have, letting nothing be lost?

II. Reasons why we should do what we can

(1.) Christ has done what He could for us.—“What could have been

done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” Isa. 5:4. He thought

nothing too much to do and to suffer for us. While we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us. Greater love than this hath no man. All his life, between

the manger at Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary, was spent in labours and

infinite sufferings for us. All that we needed to suffer, He suffered; all that

we need to obey, He obeyed. All his life in glory He spends for us. He ever

liveth to make intercession for us. He is head over all things for us; makes

everything in all worlds work together for our good. It is all but incredible

that each person of the Godhead has made himself over to us to be ours.

The Father says, “I am thy God;” the Son, “Fear not, for I have redeemed

thee;” the Holy Ghost makes us a temple, “I will dwell in them, and walk in

them.” Is it much that we should do all we can for Him,—that we should

give ourselves up to Him who gave himself for us?

(2.) Satan does all he can.—Sometimes he comes as a lion—your

adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may

devour; sometimes as a serpent, “as the serpent beguiled Eve;” sometimes

as an angel of light. He does all he can to tempt and beguile the saints,

leading them away by false teachers, injecting blasphemies and polluted

thoughts into their minds, casting fiery darts at their souls, stirring up the

world to hate and persecute them, stirring up father and mother against the

children, and brother against brother. He does all he can to lead captive

wicked men, blinding their minds, not allowing them to listen to the gospel,

steeping them in swinish lusts, leading them into despair. When he knows

his time is short, he rages all the more. Oh, should not we do all we can, if

Satan does all he can?

(3.) We have done all we could the other way.—This was one of Paul’s

great motives for doing all he could: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord for

putting me into the ministry; for I was a blasphemer, and persecutor, and

injurious.” He never could forget how he had persecuted the church of God,

and wasted it; and this made him as diligent in building it up, and haling

men and women to Christ. He preached the faith which once he destroyed.

So with Peter: “Let us live the rest of our time in the flesh not to the lusts of

men, but to the will of God; for the time past of our lives may suffice to

have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness,

lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.”

So with John Newton: “How can the old African blasphemer be silent?” So

with many of you; you ran greedily after sin; you were at great pains and

cost, and did not spare health, or money, or time, to obtain some sinful

gratification. How can you now grudge anything for Christ? Only serve

Christ as zealously as you once served the devil.

(4.) Christ will own and reward what we do.—The labour that Christ

blesseth is believing labour. It is not words of human wisdom, but words of

faith, that God makes arrows. The word of a little maid was blessed in the

house of Naaman the Syrian. “Follow me” was made the arrow to pierce the

heart of Matthew. It is all one to God to save, whether with many, or with

them that have no might. If you would do all you can, the town would be

filled with the fragrance. Christ will reward it. He defended Mary’s work of

love, and said it should be spoken of over all the world, and it will yet be

told in the judgment. A cup of cold water He will not pass over. “Well done,

good and faithful servant.”

(5.) If you do not do all you can, how can you prove yourself a

Christian?—“Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To

visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself

unspotted from the world.” You are greatly mistaken if you think that to be

a Christian is merely to have certain views, and convictions, and spiritual

delights. This is all well; but if it leads not to a devoted life, I fear it is all a

delusion. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

III. Let us answer objections

(1.) The world will mock at us.—Ans. This is true. They mocked at

Mary; they called it waste and extravagance; and yet, Christ said it was well

done. So, if you do what you can, the world will laugh at you, but you will

have the smile of Christ. They mocked at Christ when He was full of zeal;

they said He was mad and had a devil. They mocked at Paul, and said he

was mad; and so with all Christ’s living members. “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye

are partakers of the sufferings of Christ.” “If ye suffer with Him, ye shall

also reign with Him.”

(2.) What can I do?—I am a woman.—Mary was a woman, yet she did

what she could. Mary Magdalene was a woman, and yet she was first at the

sepulchre. Phebe was a woman, yet a succourer of many, and of Paul also.

Dorcas was a woman, yet she made coats and garments for the poor at

Joppa. I am a child—Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God perfects

praise. God has often used children in the conversion of their parents.

(3.) I have too little grace to do good.—“He that watereth others, shall

be watered himself.” “The liberal soul shall be made fat.” “It pleased the

Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell.” There is a full supply of the

Spirit to teach you to pray; a full supply of grace to slay your sins and

quicken your graces. If you use opportunities of speaking to others, God

will give you plenty. If you give much to God’s poor, you shall never want a

rich supply. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,

always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good

work.” “Bring all the tithes unto my storehouse, and prove me now

herewith.” “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of

all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses

shall burst out with new wine.”

April 26, 1842.

SERMON XX

“It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found Him whom my soul loveth: I held Him, and

would not let Him go, until I had brought Him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of

her that conceived me”—SONG 3:4.

HAVE you found Him whom your soul loveth? Have you this day seen his

beauty, heard his voice, believed the record concerning Him, sat under his

shadow, found fellowship with Him? Then hold Him, and do not let Him go.

I. Motives

(1.) Because peace is to be found in Him.—Justified by faith, we have

peace with God,—not peace with ourselves, not peace with the world, with

sin, with Satan, but peace with God. True divine peace is to be found only

in believing—only in keeping fast hold of Christ. If you let Him go, you let

go your righteousness; for this is his name. You are then without

righteousness, without a covering from the wrath of God, without a way to

the Father. The law will again condemn you; God’s frown will again

overshadow you; you will again have terrors of conscience. Hold Him then,

and do not let Him go. Whatever you let go, let not Christ go; for He is our

peace, not in knowledge, not in feeling, but trust in Him alone.

(2.) Holiness flows from Him.—No true holiness in this world, but it

springs from Him. A living Christ is the spring of holiness to all his

members. As long as we hold Him, and do not let Him go, our holiness is

secure. He is engaged to keep us from falling. He loves us too well to let us

fall under the reigning power of sin. His word is engaged: “I will put my

Spirit within you.” His honour would be tarnished if any that cleave to Him

were suffered to live in sin. If you let Him go, you will fall into sin. You

have no strength, no store of grace, no power to resist a thousand enemies,

no promises. If Christ be for you, who can be against you? but if you let go

his arms, where are you?

(3.) Hope of glory is in Him.—We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

If you have found Jesus this day, you have found a way into glory. A few

steps more, you can say, and I shall be for ever with the Lord. I shall be free

from pain and sorrow, free from sin and weakness, free from enemies. As

long as you hold Christ, you can see your way to the judgment-seat. “Thou

wilt guide me with thy counsel, and receive me to thy glory.” This gives

you such joy, such transporting desires alter the heavenly world! But let

Christ go, and this will be gone. Let Christ go, and how can you die? The

grave is covered with clouds of threatening. Let Him go, and how can yon

go to the judgment—where can you appear?

II. Means

(1.) Christ promises to keep you holding Him.—If you are really

holding Christ this day, you are in a most blessed condition, for Christ

engages to keep you cleaving to Him. “My soul followeth hard after Thee,

and thy right hand upholdeth me.” He that is the Creator of the world is the

upholder of it, so He that new creates the soul keeps it in being. This is

never to be forgotten. Not only does the church lean on her beloved, but He

puts his left hand under her head, and his right hand doth embrace her “I

taught Ephraim how to go, taking them by their arms.” It is good for a child

to hold fast by its mother’s neck; but ah! that would be a feeble support, if

the maternal arm did not enfold the child, and clasp it to her bosom. Faith is

good; but ah! it is nothing without the grace that gave it. “I will put my fear

in your heart.”

(2.) Faith in Christ.—The only way to hold fast is to believe more and

more. Get a larger acquaintance with Christ,—with his person, work, and

character. Every page of the gospel unfolds a new feature in his character,—

every line of the epistles discloses new depths of his work. Get more faith,

and you will get a firmer hold. A plant that has got a single root may be

easily torn up by the hand, or crushed by the foot of the wild beast, or

blown down by the wind; but a plant that has a thousand roots struck down

into the ground can stand. Faith is like the root. Many believe a little

concerning Christ,—one fact. Every new truth concerning Jesus is a new

root struck downwards. Believe more intensely. A root may be in a right

direction, but, not striking deep, it is easily torn up. Pray for deep-rooted

faith. Pray to be stablished, strengthened, settled. Take a long intense look

at Jesus,—often, often. If you wanted to know a man again, and he was

going away, you would take an intense look at his face. Look then at Jesus

—deeply, intensely—till every feature is graven on your heart. Thomas

Scott overcame the fear of death by looking intensely at his dead child, who

had died in the Lord.

(3.) Prayer.—Jacob at Bethel. “Take hold of my strength,” Isa. 27:5.

You must begin and pray after another fashion than you have done. Let it be

real intercourse with God, like Hezekiah, Jacob, Moses, etc.

(4.) By not offending Him.—First, By sloth. When the soul turns sleepy

or careless, Christ goes away. Nothing is more offensive to Christ than

sloth. Love is an ever-active thing, and when it is in the heart it will keep us

waking. Many a night his love to us kept Him waking. Now, can you not

watch with Him one hour? Song 5:2. Second, By idols. You cannot hold

two objects. If you are holding Christ to-day, and lay hold of another object

to-morrow, He cannot stay. He is a jealous God. You cannot keep worldly

companions and Christ too. “A companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

When the ark came into the house of Dagon, it made the idol fall flat. Third,

By being unwilling to be sanctified. When Christ chooses us, and draws us

to himself, it is that He may sanctify us. Christ is often grieved away, by our

desiring to reserve one sin. Fourth, By an unholy house. “I brought Him

into my mother’s house.” Remember to take Christ home with you, and let

Him rule in your house. If you walk with Christ abroad, but never take Him

home, you will soon part company for ever.

SERMON XXI

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the

Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory.”—COL. 1:27.

THE gospel is here described as “Christ in you the hope of glory.” There are

two distinct senses in which these words may be taken, and I cannot

positively determine which is the true one. It is possible that both may be

intended. I shall open up both.

I. Christ in you, means Christ embraced by faith as our righteousness

and strength; and this is the sure ground upon which we hope for glory. In

this sense it appears to be used, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by

faith,” Eph. 3:17. When a sinner’s heart is opened by the Holy Spirit, when

the beauty and excellence of the Saviour is shown to him, the heart

inwardly embraces and cleaves to Christ. Every new discovery of Christ to

the soul renews this act of inward cleaving to the Lord Jesus. Every

reproach, every temptation, every fall into sin, every bereavement, makes

the soul more really, firmly, and fully embrace the Lord Jesus; and so, by

continual faith, Christ may be said to dwell in the heart, as in Eph. 3:17,

“That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith.” Christ thus embraced is the

hope of glory. It is this constant abiding faith—this close embracing of

Christ as all our righteousness—it is this which gives a calm, sweet, full,

peaceful hope of glory. The soul that can say, Christ is mine, can also say,

Glory is mine; for we need nothing but Christ to shelter us in the judgment-

day. Can you say that Christ is thus in you the hope of glory? If you have

not got Christ, you have no good hope of glory.

II. Christ formed in the soul by the Spirit.—See Gal. 4:19. Christ

formed in the soul is also the hope of glory, and this I take to be the full

meaning of this verse. So, “Abide in me, and I in you;” John 15:4. “I in

them, and Thou in me;” John 17:23. “And I in them,” ver. 26.

(1.) The mind of Christ is formed in the soul.—“We have the mind of

Christ,” 1 Cor. 2:16. By the mind, I understand the thinking powers of man.

Now, every believer has the mind of Christ formed in him. He thinks as

Christ does: “This is the spirit of a sound mind,” 2 Tim 1:7. This is being of

the same mind in the Lord. I do not mean that a believer has the same all-

seeing mind, the same infallible judgment concerning everything as Christ

has; but up to his light he sees things as Christ does.

He sees sin as Christ does. Christ sees sin to be evil and bitter. He sees

it to be filthy and abominable—its pleasures all a delusion. He sees it to be

awfully dangerous. He sees the inseparable connection between sin and

suffering. So does a believer.

He sees the gospel as Christ does. Christ sees amazing glory in the

gospel, the way of salvation which He himself has wrought out. It appears a

most complete salvation to Him—most free—most glorifying to God and

happy for man. So does the believer.

He sees the world as Christ does. Christ knows what is in man. He

looked on this world as vanity compared with the smile of his Father. Its

riches, its honours, its pleasures, appeared not worth a sigh. He saw it

passing away. So does the believer.

He sees time as Christ did. “I must work the work of Him that sent me

while it is day; the night cometh”—“I come quickly.” So does a believer

look at time.

He sees eternity as Christ does. Christ looked at everything in the light

of eternity. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” Everything is

valuable in Christ’s eyes, only as it bears on eternity. So with believers.

(2.) The heart of Christ.—By the heart I mean the affections—that part

of us that loves or hates, hopes and fears. We have Christ’s heart formed in

us: “I will put my Spirit within you”—“I in you”—“My words abide in

you.”

, The same love to God.—What intense delight Jesus had in his

Father! “Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have

known Thee”—“I am not alone, for the Father is with me”—“I thank Thee,

O Father”—“Abba, Father”—“Father, into thy hand I commend my spirit.”

So with every believer.

2d, The same aversion to God’s frown.—“Why hast Thou forsaken

me?” Ps. 22:1. “Thou hast brought me into the dust of death,” ver. 15. “Thy

wrath lieth hard upon me,” Ps. 88:7. “Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me

down,” Ps. 102:10. So with the children of God. “I will say unto God my

Rock, Why hast Thou forgotten me?” Ps. 42:9.

3d, The same love to saints.—“To the saints that are in the earth, and to

the excellent, in whom is all my delight,” Ps. 16:3. “Having loved his own

which were in the world, He loved them to the end,” John 13:1. “Greater

love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,”

John 15:13. “I will come again, and receive you to myself,” John 15:3.

“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 9:4. So it is with all true

believers. Every one that loveth is born of God.

, Compassion to sinners.—This was the main feature of Christ’s

character. This brought Him from heaven to die. This made Him weep over

Jerusalem,—long to gather her children. This makes Him delay his coming,

not willing that any should perish. 2 Pet. 3:9. All Christ’s own are like Him

in this. The same heart throbs within them.

, Tenderness to the awakened.—“He will not break the bruised reed.”

Oh the tenderness of the lips that said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden!” Such are all Christians.

(3.) The life of Christ.—They live the same life in the main that Christ

did in the world. Though they have many falls, wax cold, etc., still the main

current of their life is Christ living in them. “Christ liveth in me,” Gal. 2:20.

“I will dwell in them, and walk in them,” 2 Cor. 6:16.

Bearing reproaches.—“When He was reviled, He reviled not again;

when He suffered, He threatened not,” 1 Pet. 2:23. Christ felt reproach

keenly: “Reproach hath broken mine heart.” Still He reviled no man, but

prayed for them. So believers.

In doing good.—“He went about doing good.” He made this his meat

and drink. So will all who have Christ formed in them. They do good, and

to communicate forget not. They are the almoners of the world. “They

parted to all men,” Acts 2:45.

In being separate from sinners.—Christ walked through the midst of

sinners undefiled. Like a beam of light piercing into a foul dungeon, or like

a river purifying and fertilizing, itself untainted, so did Christ pass through

this world; and so do all his own. “I will not know a wicked person,” Ps.

101:4.

But how is it that Christ formed in us is the hope of glory?—First, Not

legally. Christ in the soul is not our title to glory. We must have a complete

righteousness to be our title; but Christ in the soul is not complete. Most are

sadly deficient in many of the main features of Christ. It is Christ for us,

laid hold on by faith, that is our title to glory. Christ our wedding garment—

the Lord our righteousness; this, and this alone, can give us boldness in the

day of judgment. Second, Still really it is so. (1.) It is evidence that we have

believed on Christ. A man may know that he has believed on Christ without

any evidences. “He that believes has the witness in himself.” But if a man

has believed, the effects will soon be seen. Christ will be formed in him,

and then he will have double evidence that Christ is his. “He that lacketh

these things is blind,” 2 Pet. 1:9. (2.) It is meetness for glory. A holy

believer feels heaven begun. “The kingdom of God is within you.” He can

say, Now I know I shall soon be in heaven, for it is already begun in me.

Christ lives in me. I shall soon be for ever with the Lord.

Improvement

(1.) Have you got the legal title to glory?—Christ dwelling in you by

faith? You have heard how those who are enlightened by God embrace

Christ, and put Him on abidingly for righteousness. Have you done so?

Have you put on Christ? This is the only legal title to glory. If you have not

this, your hope is a dream.

(2.) Have you got the meetness for glory?—Christ formed in you? Does

Christ live in you, and walk in you? “Without holiness no man shall see the

Lord.”

DUNDEE, 1843.

He writes at the close of his notes after sermon—“Very sweet and solemn night.”

SERMON XXII

A CASTAWAY

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my

body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I

myself should be a castaway.”—1 COR. 9:26, 27.

OBSERVE, (1.) How earnestly Paul sought the kingdom of heaven.—“I

therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the

air,” ver. 26. It was long after his conversion that Paul writes in this manner.

He could say, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He felt it better to

depart and be with Christ. He knew there was a crown laid up for him; and

yet see how earnest he was to advance in the divine life. He was like one at

the Grecian games running for a prize. This is the way all converted persons

should seek salvation. “So run that ye may obtain.” It is common for many

to sit down after conversion, and say, I am safe, I do not need to strive any

more. But Paul pressed toward the mark.

(2.) One particular in which he was very earnest.—“I keep under my

body, and bring it into subjection.” He had observed in the Grecian games

that those who were to run and fight, were very attentive to this: “And every

man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things,” ver. 25. This

was one thing that Paul strove for, to be temperate in all things, especially

in eating and drinking: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.”

(3.) His reason for all this earnestness.—“Lest, when I have preached

to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Not that Paul had not an

assurance of his salvation; but he felt deeply that his high office in the

church would not save him although he was one of the apostles,—the

apostle of the Gentiles,—one that had laboured more than all the rest.

Though many had been converted under his ministry, he knew that still that

would not keep him from being a castaway. Judas had preached to others,

and yet was cast away. Paul felt also, that if he lived a wicked life, he would

surely be cast away. He knew there was an indissoluble connection between

living in sin and being cast away, and therefore it was a constant motive to

him to holy diligence. What he feared was, being “a castaway.” The word is

frequently translated “reprobate.” It is taken from the trying of metals the

dross, or part that is thrown away, is said to be reprobate, or cast away.

What is it to be east away?

I. Wicked men shall be cast away from God.—“Depart from me, ye

cursed,” Matt. 25:41. “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction

from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,” 2 Thess.

1:9.

(1.) Away from Christ.—At present, ungodly men are often near to

Christ. Christ stands at their door and knocks. He stretches out his hands to

them all the day long. He speaks to them in the Bible and the preached

gospel. He says, Come unto me, and I will give you rest. Him that cometh

unto me, I will in nowise cast out. But when Christ pronounces that

sentence, “Depart from me, ye cursed,” there will not be one knock more,

not one invitation more, not one sweet offer more. Christ is the only way to

the Father; but it shall be then closed for ever. Christ is the only door; but it

shall then be shut for evermore. It is the blessedness of the redeemed that

they shall be with Christ. “Today shalt thou be with me.” Having a desire to

be absent from the body and present with the Lord. So shall they be ever

with the Lord. His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see his face. It is

this that maintains the eternal calm in the bosom of the redeemed. But the

ungodly shall be cast away from all this. “Bind him hand and foot, and cast

him into utter darkness.”

(2.) Away from God.—True, the wicked can never be cast away from

the presence of God. “If I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there!” Ps.

139:8. Job says, “Hell is naked before Him, and destruction hath no

covering” (26:6). His almighty power creates it; his breath kindles it. “The

breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it,” Isa. 30:33.

But they shall be banished,—

, From the fruition of God.—God said to Abraham, “I am thy shield,

and thine exceeding great reward.” God makes himself over to the believing

soul, saying, I will be thy God. David says, “God is the strength of my

heart, and my portion for ever.” Who can tell the joy of those who enjoy

God, who have God, the infinite God, as their portion? From this the

Christless shall be cast away. You will have no portion in God. God will not

be your God. His attributes will be all against you.

2d, From the favour of God.—“In thy favour is life.” The favour of God

is what believers feel on earth. A beam of God’s countenance is enough to

fill the heart of a believer to overflowing It is enough to light up the pale

cheek of a dying saint with seraphic brightness, and make the heart of the

lone widow sing for joy. From all this the Christless shall be cast away for

ever; and instead of it, Jehovah’s frown shall light on them for ever. “It is a

fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

3d, Cast away from the blessing of God.—God is the fountain of all

blessing. No creature is good or pleasant any more than God makes it to be

so. The sun warms us, our food nourishes us, our friends are pleasant to us:

because God makes them so. All the joys in the world are but beams from

that uncreated light; but separate a man from God, and all becomes dark.

God is the fountain of all joy: separate a man from God finally, and no

creature can give him joy. This is to be cast away, cut off from God for ever

and ever. Though there were no lake of fire, this of itself would be hell.

II. Wicked men shall be cast away by the Holy Spirit.—It is not often

thought of, but it is true, that the Holy Spirit is now dealing and striving

with natural men. All the decency and morality of unconverted men is to be

attributed to the restraining grace of the Holy Spirit.

(1.) The Holy Spirit works on natural men through the ordinances.—

The ordinance of family worship is often greatly blessed to restrain wicked

children, so that they are kept from vicious courses and outbreaking sins.

The ordinance of the read and preached word is also greatly blessed in this

way to restrain wicked men. The awful threatenings of the word—the sweet

invitations and promises of the gospel—have this effect on unconverted

men, that they are greatly restrained from going to extreme lengths in

wickedness.

(2.) The Holy Spirit also works through providences in restraining

wicked men.—He places them in such circumstances that they cannot sin as

they would otherwise do. He often reduces them to poverty, so that they

cannot run into the vices they were inclined unto; or He lays sickness on

their body, so that their keen relish for sin is greatly blunted; or He terrifies

them by bereavements, so that they are kept in the bondage of fear, and dare

not sin with so high a hand as they would otherwise do.

(3.) The Holy Spirit also restrains through convictions of sin.—Many

men have deep wounds of conviction who are never saved. Many are

pierced with arrows of the word from time to time, and thus are driven

away from their wicked companions, and scared from open sin. Restraining

grace is an amazing work of God. It is more wonderful than his setting a

bound to the sea that it cannot pass over. Think what a hell every

unconverted bosom would become, if the Spirit were to withdraw and give

men over to their own heart’s lusts! Think what a hell an unconverted

family would become, if the Spirit were to withdraw his bands! What

hatreds, strifes, murders, parricides, would take place! Think what a hell

this town would become, if every Christless man were given over to the

lusts of his own heart!

Now this is to be a castaway. “My Spirit shall not always strive with

man,” Gen. 6:3. The Holy Spirit, I believe, strives with all men: “Ye do

always resist the Holy Ghost,” Acts 7:51; but He will not always strive.

When the day of grace is done, when the sinner sinks into hell, the Spirit

will strive no more.

, The Spirit will strive no more through ordinances. There will be no

family worship in hell, no Bible read, no psalms sung. There will be no

Sabbath in hell, no preached gospel, no watchmen to warn you of your sin

and danger. The voice of the watchman will be silent; the danger has come;

your doom will be past, and no room for repentance.

2d, The Spirit will no more strive through providences. There will be no

more poverty or riches, no more sickness or bereavements, no kindly

providences restraining the soul from sin, nothing but anguish and despair

unutterable.

3d, There will be no more convictions by the Spirit. Conscience will

condemn, but it will not restrain. Your hearts will then break out. All your

hatred to God, the fountains of contempt and blasphemy in your heart, will

be all broken up. You will blaspheme the God of heaven. All your lusts and

impurities, that have been pent up and restrained by restraining grace and

the fear of man, will burst forth with amazing impetuosity. You will be as

wicked and blasphemous as the devils around you.

Oh the misery of this! it is an evil thing and bitter. The way of

transgressors is hard. Ah! sinners, you will yet find sin the hardest of all

masters; you will yet find your grovelling lusts to be worse than the worm

that never dies. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still,” Rev. 22:11.

III. Wicked men shall be cast away by all the creatures.—The state of

unconverted men at present, although a very dreadful one, is yet not

hopeless. The angels watch the unconverted, to see if there are any signs of

repentance. It is believed that the holy angels are present in the assembly of

God’s worshippers. 1 Tim 5:21. And if so, no doubt they watch your faces,

to see if a tear starts into your eye, or a prayer trembles on your lip. There

would be joy this day among the angels, if one sinner was to repent.

The redeemed on earth are peculiarly interested in unconverted souls.

They pray for them night and day, many of them with tears; many a child of

God wets his pillow with tears in behalf of perishing souls. Jeremiah wept

in secret places for their pride. David says, “Rivers of water run down mine

eyes.” They seek your conversion more than any personal benefit. Ministers

are set apart to seek after lost and perishing souls. “Go rather to the lost

sheep of the house of Israel.” If ministers are like their Master, this will be

their great errand,—that by all means we may save some. But when the day

of grace is past, all holy creatures will cast you away. Reprobate silver shall

men call them, for the Lord hath rejected them.

The angels will no longer take any interest in you. They will know that

it is not fit they should pity you any more. You will be tormented in the

presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

The redeemed will no longer pray for you, nor shed another tear for

you. They will see you condemned in the judgment, and not put in one word

for you. They will see you depart into everlasting fire, and yet not pray for

you. They will see the smoke of your torments going up for ever and ever,

and yet cry, Alleluiah!

Ministers will no more desire your salvation. It will no more be their

work. The number of the saved will be complete without you; the table will

be full. Ministers will bear witness against you in that day.

Even devils will cast you off. As long as you remain on earth, the devil

keeps you in his train; he flatters you, and gives you many tokens of his

friendship and esteem; but soon he will cast you off. You will be no longer

pleasant to him; you will be a part of his torment; and he will hate you and

torment you, because you deceived him, and he deceived you.

IV. Wicked men shall be cast away by themselves.—It is said, they shall

wish to die, and shall not be able: they shall seek death, and death shall flee

from them. I believe that some suicides experience the beginnings of hell. I

believe Judas did: he could not bear himself, and he tried to cast himself

away. This will be the feeling of lost souls. They will not be able to bear the

sight of themselves; they will be weary of being; they will wish they had

never been. At present, unconverted men are often very self-complacent.

They love to employ their faculties; the wheels of their life go smoothly;

their affections are pleasant. Memory has many pleasant green spots to look

back upon. How different when the day of grace is done! (1.) The

understanding will be clear and full to apprehend the real nature of your

misery. Your mind will then see the holiness of God, his almightiness, his

majesty. You will see your own condemned condition, and the depth of your

hell. (2.) The will in you will be all contrary to God’s will: even though you

see it add to your hell, yet you will hate all that God loves, and love all that

God hates. (3.) Your conscience is God’s vicegerent in the soul. It will

accuse you of all your sins. It will set them in order and condemn you. (4.)

Your affections will still love your kindred. “I have five brethren,” you will

say. Earthly fathers who are evil know how to give good gifts to their

children. Even in hell you will love your own kindred; but ah! what misery

it will cost you, when you hear them sentenced along with you! (5.) Your

memory will be very clear. You will remember all your misspent Sabbaths;

your sermons heard, as if you did not hear; your place in the house of God;

your minister’s face and voice; the bell: through millions of ages after this,

you will remember these, as if yesterday. (6.) Your anticipations.—

Everlasting despair. Oh, how you will wish you had never been! How you

will wish to tear out your memory, these tender affections, this accusing

conscience! You will seek death, and it will flee from you. This, this is to be

lost! This is everlasting destruction! This is to be a castaway!

Lessons

(1.) Let believers learn Paul’s earnest diligence.—A wicked life will

end in being a castaway. These two are linked together, and no man can

sunder them.

(2.) Hell will be intolerable.—I have not spoken of the lake of fire, of

the utter darkness, and the worm that never dies. I have spoken only of the

mental facts of hell; and yet these by themselves are intolerable. Oh, who

can tell what it will be when both meet, and meet eternally? “Who knows

the power of thine anger?” Oh do not keep away from Christ now! Now He

says, Come; soon, soon He will say, Depart. Oh do not resist the Holy Spirit

now! Now He strives, but He will not always strive with you. Soon, soon

He will leave you. Oh do not despise the word of ministers and godly

friends! Now they plead with you, weep for you, pray for you. Soon, soon

they will be silent as the grave, or sing hallelujah to see you lost! Oh do not

be proud and self-admiring! Soon you will loathe the very sight of yourself,

and wish you had never been!

(3.) The amazing love of Christ in bearing all this for sinners.—Christ

is a wrath-bearing Surety. All that is included in being a castaway He bore.

Amen.

January 1843

SERMON XXIII

A COMMUNION SABBATH IN ST PETER’S

I. SERMON

“Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am; that they may behold

my glory, which Thou hast given me; for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”—

JOHN 17:24.

I. The manner of this prayer.—“Father, I will.” This is the most wonderful

prayer that ever rose from this earth to the throne of God, and this petition is

the most wonderful in the prayer. No human lips ever prayed thus before:

“Father, I will.” Abraham was the friend of God, and got very near to God

in prayer; but he prayed as dust and ashes. “I have taken upon me to speak

unto God, that am but dust and ashes.” Jacob had power with God, and

prevailed, yet his boldest word was, “I will not let Thee go except Thou

bless me.” Daniel was a man greatly beloved, and got immediate answers to

prayer, and yet he cried to God as a sinner: “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive!

O Lord, hearken and do!” Paul was a man who got very near to God, and

yet he says, “I bow my knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ.” But when Christ prayed, He cried, “Father, I will.” Why did He

pray thus? He was God’s fellow. “Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd,

against the man that is my fellow.” He thought it no robbery to be equal

with God. It was He that said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” So

now He says, “Father, I will.”

He spoke as the Intercessor with the Father.—He felt as if his work

were already done: “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.”

He felt as if He had already suffered the cross, and now claims the crown.

“Father, I will.” This is the intercession now heard in heaven.

He had one will with the Father—“I and my Father are one.” One God,

one in heart and will. True, He had a holy human soul, and therefore a

human will; but his human will was one with his divine will. The human

string in his heart was tuned to the same string with his divine will.

Learn how surely this prayer will be answered, dear children of God. It

is impossible this prayer should be unanswered. It is the will of the Father

and of the Son. If Christ wills it, and if the Father wills it, you may be sure

nothing can hinder it. If the sheep be in Christ’s hand, and in the Father’s

hand, they shall never perish.

II. For whom He prays.—“They also whom Thou hast given me.” Six

times in this chapter does Christ call his people by this name: “They whom

Thou hast given me.” It seems to have been a favourite word of Christ,

especially when carrying them on his heart before the Father. The reason

seems to be that He would remind the Father that they are as much the

Father’s as they are his own; that the Father has the same interest in them

that He has, having given them to Him before the world was. And so He

repeats it in ver. 10: “All mine are thine, and thine are mine.” Before the

world was, the Father chose a people out of this world. He gave them into

the hand of Christ, charging Him not to lose one,—to bear their sins on his

own body on the tree,—to raise Him up at the last day. And, accordingly,

He says, “Of all whom Thou hast given me have I lost none.” Is there any

mark on those who are given to Christ? They are no better than others.

Sometimes He chooses the worst! Ans.—Yes. “All that the Father giveth me

shall come to me.” One of the sure marks of all that were given to Christ is

that they come to Jesus: “They all come to Jesus the Mediator of the new

covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling.” Are you come to Christ? Has

your heart been opened to receive Christ? Has Christ been made precious to

you?—then you may be quite sure you were given to Christ before the

world was. Your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and your name is on

the breastplate of Christ. It is for you He prays, “Father, I will that that soul

be with me.” Christ will never lose you. The Father which gave you to Him

is greater than all, and none is able to pluck you out of the Father’s hand.

III. The Argument—“For Thou lovedst me.”—He reminds the Father of

his love to Him before the world was. When there was no earth, no sun, no

man, no angel,—when He was by Him,—then Thou lovedst me. Who can

understand this love,—the love of the uncreated God to his uncreated Son?

The love of Jonathan to David was very great, surpassing the love of

women. The love of a believer to Christ is very great, for they see Him to be

altogether lovely. The love of a holy angel to God is very ardent, for they

are like a flame of fire. But these are all creature loves; these are but

streams; but the love of God to his Son is an ocean of love. There is

everything in Christ to draw the love of his Father. Now discern his

argument,—If Thou love me, do this for my people.

Just as He said to Paul, “Why persecutest thou me?” He felt himself one

with his afflicted members on earth. Just as He will say at the last day,

“Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it

unto me.” He reckons believers a part of himself; what is done to them is

done to Him. So here, when He carries them to his Father, this is all his

argument: “Thou lovedst me.” If Thou love me, love them, for they are part

of me.

See how surely Christ’s prayer will be answered for you, beloved. He

does not plead that you are good and holy; He does not plead that you are

worthy; He only pleads his own loveliness in the eyes of the Father. Look

not on them, He says, but look on me. Thou lovedst me before the

foundation of the world.

Learn to use the same argument with God, dear believers. This is asking

in Christ’s name, for the Lord’s sake; this is the prayer that is never refused.

See that you do not come in your own name, else yon will be cast out.

Come thus to his table. Say to the Father, Accept me, for Thou lovedst

Him from the foundation of the world.

IV. The prayer itself.—Two parts

(1.) “That they may be with me.”—(1.) What He does not mean.—He

does not mean that we should be presently taken out of this world. Some of

you that have come to Christ may, this day, be favoured with so much of his

presence, and of the love of the Father, so much of the joy of heaven, and

such a dread of going back to betray Christ in the world, that you may be

wishing that this house were indeed the gate of heaven; you may desire that

you might be translated from the table below at once to the table above. “I

am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and be with Christ.”

Still Christ does not wish that. “I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out

of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil.” “Whither I

go, thou canst not follow me now” (Like that woman in Brainerd’s Journal

—“O blessed Lord, do come! Oh, do take me away; do let me die and go to

Jesus Christ. I am afraid, if I live, I shall sin again.”) (2.) What He does

mean.—He means, that when our journey is done, we should come to be

with Him. Every one that comes to Christ has a journey to perform in this

world. Some have a long, and some a short one. It is through a wilderness.

Still Christ prays that at the end, you may be with Him. Every one that

comes to Christ hath his twelve hours to fill up for Christ. “I must work the

works of Him that sent me, while it is day.” But when that is done, Christ

prays that yon may be with Him. He means that you shall come to his

Father’s house with Him. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” You

shall dwell in the same house with Christ. You are never very intimate with

a person till you see them in their own house—till you know them at home.

This is what Christ wants with us—that we shall come to be with Him, at

his own home. He wants us to come to the same Father’s bosom with Him.

“I ascend to my Father and your Father.” He wants us to be in the same

smile with Him, to sit on the same throne with Him, to swim in the same

ocean of love with Him.

Learn how certain it is that you shall one day soon be with Christ. It is

the will of the Father, it is the will of the Son. It is the prayer of Christ. If

you have really been brought to Christ, you shall never perish. You may

have many enemies opposing you in your way to glory. Satan desires to

have you, that he may sift you like wheat. Your worldly friends will do all

they can to hinder you. Still you shall be with Christ. We shall see your face

at the table of glory. You have a hard heart, an unbelieving heart, a heart

deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. You often think your

heart will lead you to betray Christ. Still you shall be with Christ. If you are

in Christ to-day, you shall be ever with the Lord. You have lived a wicked

life. You have dreadful sins to look back upon. Still, if you are come to

Jesus, this is his word to thee, “Thou shalt be with me in paradise.” In truth,

Christ cannot want you. You are his jewels—his crown. Heaven would be

no heaven to Him, if you were not there. This may give you courage in

coming to the Lord’s table. Some of you fear to come to this table, because,

though you cleave to Christ to-day, you fear you may betray Him to-

morrow. But you need not fear. “He that hath begun a good work in you

will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ.” You shall sit at the table above,

where Christ himself shall be at the head. You need not fear to come to this

table.

(2.) To behold my glory which Thou hast given me.—There are three

stages in the glory of Christ. It will be the employment of heaven to behold

them all.

, The original glory of Christ.—This is his underived, uncreated

glory, as the equal of the Father. It is spoken of in Prov. 8:30: “Then I was

by Him, as one brought up with Him; I was daily his delight, rejoicing

always before Him.” And again, in this prayer, “The glory which I had with

Thee before the world was,” ver. 5 Of this glory no man can speak, no

angel, no archangel. One thing alone we know, that we are to honour the

Son, even as we honour the Father. He shared with the Father in being the

all-perfect One, when there was none to admire, none to adore, no angels

with golden harps, no seraphs to hymn his praise, no cherubim to cry, Holy,

holy, holy. Before all creatures were, He was—one with the infinitely

perfect, good, and glorious God. He was then all that He afterwards showed

himself to be. Creation and redemption did not change Him. They only

revealed what He was before. They only provided objects for those beams

of glory to rest upon, that were shining as fully before, from all eternity.

Eternity will be much taken up with praising God that ever He revealed

himself at all; that ever He came out from the retirement of his lovely and

blissful eternity.

2d, When He became flesh.—“The Word was made flesh.” Christ did

not get more glory by becoming man, but He manifested his glory in a new

way. He did not gain one perfection more by becoming man; He had all the

perfections of God before. But now these perfections were poured through a

human heart. The almightiness of God now moved in a human arm. The

infinite love of God now beat in a human heart. The compassion of God to

sinners now glistened in a human eye. God was love before, but Christ was

love covered over with flesh. Just as you have seen the sun shining through

a coloured window,—it is the same sunlight still, and yet it shines with a

mellowed lustre,—so in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The perfection of the Godhead shone through every pore, through every

action, word, and look,—the same perfections,—they were only shining

with a mellowed brightness. The veil of the temple was a type of his flesh,

because it covered the bright light of the holiest of all. But just as the bright

light of the Shechinah often shone through the veil, so did the Godhead of

Christ force itself through the heart of the man Christ Jesus. There were

many openings of the veil when the bright glory shone through.

1. When He turned the water into wine.—He manifested forth his glory,

and his disciples believed on Him. Almighty power spoke in a human voice,

and the lore of God, too, shone in it; for He showed that He came to turn all

our water into wine.

2. When He wept over Jerusalem.—That was a great outlet of his glory.

There was much that was human in it. The feet were human that stood upon

Mount Olivet. The eyes were Unman eyes that looked down upon the

dazzling city The tears were human tears that fell upon the ground. But oh,

there was the tenderness of God beating beneath that mantle! Look and live,

sinners. Look and live. Behold your God! He that hath seen a weeping

Christ hath seen the Father. This is God manifest in the flesh. Some of you

fear that the Father does not wish you to come to Christ and be saved. But

see here, God is manifest in flesh. He that hath seen Christ hath seen the

Father. See here the heart of the Father and the heart of the Son laid bare.

Oh, wherefore should you doubt? Every one of these tears trickles from the

heart of God.

3. On the cross.—The wounds of Christ were the greatest outlets of his

glory that ever were. The divine glory shone more out of his wounds than

out of all his life before. The veil was then rent in twain, and the full heart

of God allowed to stream through. It was a human body that writhed, pale

and racked, upon the accursed tree; they were human hands that were

pierced so rudely by the nails; it was human flesh that bore that deadly gash

upon the side; it was human blood that streamed from hands, and feet, and

side; the eye that meekly turned to his Father was a human eye; the soul that

yearned over his mother was a human soul. But oh, there was divine glory

streaming through all; every wound was a mouth to speak of the grace and

love of God! Divine holiness shone through. What infinite hatred of sin was

there when He thus offered himself a sacrifice without spot unto God!

Divine wisdom shone through: all created intelligences could not have

devised a plan whereby God would have been just, and yet the justifies.

Divine love: every drop of blood that fell came as a messenger of love from

his heart to tell the love of the fountain. This was the love of God. He that

hath seen a crucified Christ hath seen the Father. Oh, look on the broken

bread, and you will see this glory still streaming through! Here is the heart

of God laid bare,—God is manifest in flesh. Some of you are poring over

your own heart,—examining your feelings,—watching your disease. Avert

the eye from all within. Behold me,—behold me! Christ cries. Look to me,

and be ye saved. Behold the glory of Christ! There is much difficulty about

your own heart, but no darkness about the heart of Christ. Look in through

his wounds; believe what yon see in Him.

3d, Christ’s glory above.—I cannot speak of this. I trust I shall one day

soon see it. He has not laid aside the glory which He had on earth. He is still

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. But He has got more glory

now. His humanity is no more a veil to hide any of the beams of his

Godhead. God shines all the more plainly through Him. He has got many

crowns now,—the oil of gladness now,—the sceptre of righteousness now.

Heaven will be spent in beholding his glory.—We shall see the Father

eternally in Him. We shall look in his face, and in his human eye shall read

the tender love of God to us for ever. We shall hear from his holy human

lips plainly of the Father. “In that day I shall no more speak to you in

parables, but show you plainly of the Father.” We shall look on his scars,

healed, yet plain and open on his hands, and feet, and side, and heaven-

bright brow, and shall read eternally there the hatred of God against sin, and

his love to us that made Him die for us. And sometimes, perhaps, we may

lean our head where John leaned his, upon his holy bosom. Oh! if heaven is

to be spent thus, what will you do, who have never seen his glory?

Oh beloved, if your eternity is to be spent thus, spend much of your

time thus! If you are to be thus engaged at the table above, be thus engaged

now at the table below.

COMMUNION SABBATH, Jan. 19, 1840.

II. FENCING THE TABLES

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of

the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’

feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to

keep back part of the price of the land? Whilst it remained, was it not thine own? and after it

was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?

Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias, bearing these words, fell down, and

gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men

arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three

hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her,

Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said

unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet

of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she

down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found

her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the

church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many

signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s

porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them. And

believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)”—ACTS 5:1–

14.

There have been hypocrites in the church of Christ from the beginning.

There was one, Judas, even among the twelve apostles; and in the apostolic

church there was an Ananias and a Sapphira. Attend (1.) To their sin—a lie.

When so much of the Spirit was given, all were of one heart and one soul.

Those that had estates, sold them, and brought the price, and laid it at the

apostles’ feet. It was a lovely sight to see. Among the rest came one

Ananias; he was rich. From some worldly motive, he had joined himself to

the Christians—husband and wife, both Christless, graceless souls. He sold

his possessions to be like the rest, and brought a part, and said it was his all!

He pretended to be a Christian—he pretended that grace was in his heart. It

was not a lie to man only, but to the Holy Ghost; for he was declaring that

God had wrought a change upon his soul, when there was none—he was

still old Ananias. (2.) Their punishment.—They fell down and gave up the

ghost. Oh! it is an awful thing when sinners die in the act of sin—with the

lie in their mouth—with the oath on their tongue. So it was with poor

Ananias and his wife. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—they were

in the place where all liars go. (3.) The effect—great fear came upon them

all. None durst join themselves to the apostles’ company.

Dear friends, these things are written for our learning. Are there none

come up here to-day with Ananias’ lie in their heart?

The broken bread and poured-out wine represent the broken body and

shed blood of Christ. Oh! it is enough to melt the heart of the stoutest to

look at them. To take that bread and that wine is declaring that yon do close

with Christ—that you take Him to be your Saviour—that God has opened

your heart to believe. In marriage, the acceptance of the right hand is a

solemn declaration, by sign, that you accept the bride or bridegroom; and so

in the Lord’s Supper. If it is not so with you, them it is a lie; and it is a lie to

the Holy Ghost. Ananias came declaring that he had got the Spirit’s work

upon his heart. It was a time when much of God’s Spirit had been given,

vers. 31, 32. It is likely he and his wife had some convictions. But since it

was false—since he was not really what he pretended to be—it was said,

“he lied to the Holy Ghost.” So, dear friends, the Holy Ghost is peculiarly

present in this ordinance. He glorifies Christ. He has converted many in this

place. To sin to-day, is to lie against the Holy Ghost. By coming to the table,

you profess that you are under the Spirit’s teaching. If you are not, you lie

unto the Holy Ghost!

Now, do you know that you have not come to Christ? Do you know that

you are unconverted? And will you sit down there and take the bread and

wine? Take heed, Ananias! Thou art not lying to a man, but unto God.

Perhaps there is one among you who is secretly addicted to drinking, to

swearing, to uncleanness. Will yon come and take the bread and wine? Take

heed, Ananias!

Perhaps there are two of you, husband and wife, who know that neither

of you were ever converted. You never pray together, and yet you agree

together to come here. Take heed, Ananias and Sapphira!

Is there none of you a persecutor? Suppose a father, whose children

have come to Christ, but in your heart you hate their change; you oppose it

with bitter words; and yet, with a smooth countenance, you come to sit

beside them at the same table! O hypocrite, take heed lest you drop down

dead! Draw back that hand lest it wither! If we should see the cup drop

from your hand, and the eye glaze, and the feet become cold, oh, where

would your soul be?

Dear children of God, do not be discouraged from coming to this holy

table. It is spread for sinners that have come to Jesus. “Oh, come and dine!”

Some of you say, “I do not know the way to this table.” Jesus says, “I am

the way.” Some of you say, “I am blind; I cannot see my sins, nor my

Saviour.” Go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Some of you say, “I am naked.”

Jesus says, “I counsel thee to buy of me white raiment, that thou mayest be

clothed.” You are polluted in your own blood; but has Christ thrown his

skirt over you? Then do not fear; come with his robe on you. Come thus,

and you come welcome.

III. TABLE SERVICE

(The only specimen of his Table Service, found in his own handwriting, but without date.)

“My beloved is mine, and I am his.”

(1.) In the arms of my faith He is mine. I was once of the world—cold

and careless about my soul. God awakened me, and made me feel I was

lost. I tried to make myself good—to mend my life; but I found it in vain: I

sat down more lost than before. 1 was then told to believe on the Lord

Jesus. So I tried to make myself believe. I read books on faith, and tried to

bend my soul to believe, that so I might get to heaven; but still in vain. I

found it written, “Faith is the gift of God.” “No man can call Jesus Lord, but

by the Holy Ghost.” So I sat down more lost than ever. Whilst I was thus

helpless, Jesus drew near,—his garments dipped in blood. He had waited

long at my door, though I knew it not. “His head was filled with dew, and

his locks with the drops of the night.” He had five deep wounds, and He

said, “I died in the stead of sinners; and any sinner may have me for a

Saviour. You are a helpless sinner, will you have me?” How can I resist

Him?—He is all I need! I held Him, and would not let Him go. “My beloved

is mine.”

(2.) In the arms of my love, He is mine. Once I did not know what

people meant by loving Jesus. I always wished to ask how they could love

one whom they had never seen; but was answered, “Whom not having seen,

we love.” But now that I have hidden in Him—now that I am cleaving to

Him—now I feel that I cannot but love Him; and I long to see Him, that I

may love Him more. Many a time I fall into sin, and that takes away my

feeling of safety in Christ. Darkness comes, all is clouded, Christ is away.

Still even then I am sick of love. Christ is not light and peace to me; but I

follow hard after Him amid the darkness,—He is precious to me; and even

though I be in darkness, He is my beloved still. “This is my beloved, and

this is my friend.”

(3.) He is mine in the Sacrament.—Many a time, have I said to Him in

prayer, Thou art mine. Many a time, when the doors were shut, and Jesus

came in showing his wounds, saying, “Peace be unto you,” my soul clave to

Him, and said, “My Lord and my God!” My beloved, Thou art mine! Many

a time have I trysted with Him in lonely places, where there was no eye of

man. Many a time have I called to the rocks and trees to witness that I took

Him to be my Saviour. He said to me, “I will betrothe thee unto me for

ever;” and I said to Him, “My beloved is mine.” Many a time have I gone

with some Christian friend, and we poured out our trembling hearts

together, consulting one with another as to whether we had liberty to close

with Christ or no; and both together we came to this conclusion, that if we

were but helpless sinners we had a right to close with the Saviour of

sinners. We clave to Him, and called Him ours. And now have we come to

take Him publicly, to call an ungodly world to witness, to call heaven and

earth for a record to our soul, that we do close with Christ. See He giveth

himself to us in the bread; lo! we accept of Him in accepting this bread.

Bear witness, men and angels, bear witness, all the universe—“My beloved

is mine.”

(The communicants then partook of the broken bread and the cup of blessing.)

(It was his custom, after they had communicated, to speak briefly on a

few suitable texts, before dismissing them from the tables. On Sabbath, Jan.

19, the texts were, “Love one another;” “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father

in my name, He will give it;” “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in

me ye shall have peace.”)

IV. ADDRESS AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence

of his glory with exceeding joy.”—JUDE 24.

There is no end to a pastor’s anxieties. Our first care is to get you into

Christ; and next, to keep you from falling. I have a good hope, dearly

beloved, that a goodly number of you have this day joined yourselves to the

Lord. But now a new anxiety begins, to get you to walk in Christ,—to walk

after the Spirit. Here we are to tell you of what God our Saviour is able to

do for you: First, To keep you from falling all the way; Second, To present

you faultless at the end.

I. To keep you from falling

(1.) We are not able to keep you from falling.—Those that lean on

ministers lean on a reed shaken with the wind. When a soul has received

saving good through a minister, he often thinks that he will be kept from

falling by the same means. He thinks, “Oh, if I had this friend always beside

me to warn me, to advise me!” No; ministers are not always by, nor godly

friends. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for

ever? We may soon be taken from you, and there may come a famine of the

bread. And, besides, our words will not always tell. When temptation and

passions are strong, you would not give heed to us.

(2.) You are not able to keep yourselves from falling.—At present you

know little of the weakness or wickedness of your own heart. There is

nothing more deceitful than your estimate of your own strength. Oh, if you

saw your soul in all its infirmity; if you saw how every sin has its fountain

in your heart; if you saw what a mere reed you are, you would cry, “Lord,

hold up my goings.” You may be at present strong; but stop till an inviting

company occur; stop till a secret opportunity. Oh how many have fallen

then! At present you feel strong,—your feet like hinds’ feet. So did Peter at

the Lord’s table. But stop till this burst of feeling has passed away; stop till

you are asked to join in some unholy game; stop till some secret

opportunity of sinning all unseen,—till some bitter provocation rouses your

anger,—and you will find that you are weak as water, and that there is no

sin that you may not fall into.

(3.) Our Saviour-God is able.—Christ deals with us as you so with your

children. They cannot go alone; yon hold them: so does Christ by his Spirit.

“I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms,” Hos. 11:3. Breathe

this prayer: “Lord, take me by the arms.” John Newton says, When a

mother is teaching her child to walk on a soft carpet, sue will sometimes let

it go, and it will fall, to teach it its weakness; but not so on the brink of a

precipice. So the Lord will sometimes let you fall, like Peter on the waters,

though not to your injury. The shepherd layeth the sheep on his shoulder; it

matters not how great the distance be; it matters not how high the

mountains, how rough the path: our Saviour-God is an almighty Shepherd.

Some of you have mountains in your way to heaven,—some of you have

mountains of lusts in your hearts, and some of you have mountains of

opposition: it matters not, only lie on the shoulder. He is able to keep you;

even in the dark valley He will not stumble.

II. To present you faultless

(1.) Faultless in righteousness.—As long as you live in your mortal

body, you will be faulty in yourself. It is a soul-ruining error to believe

anything else. Oh, if ye would be wise, be often looking beneath the robe of

the Redeemer’s righteousness to see your own deformity! It will make you

keep faster hold of his robe, and keep you washing in the fountain. Now,

when Christ brings you before the throne of God, He will clothe you with

his own fine linen, and present you faultless. Oh, it is sweet to me to think

how soon you shall be the righteousness of God in Him. What a glorious

righteousness that can stand the light of God’s face I Sometimes a garment

appears white in dim light: when you bring it into the sunshine you see the

spots. Oh prize, then, this divine righteousness, which is your covering.

(2.) Faultless in holiness.—My heart sometimes sickens when I think

upon the defects of believers; when I think of one Christian being fond of

company, another vain, another given to evil speaking. Oh, aim to be holy

Christians!—bright, shining Christians. The heaven is more adorned by the

large bright constellations than by many insignificant stars; so God may be

more glorified by one bright Christian than by many indifferent ones. Aim

at being that one.

Soon we shall be faultless. He that begun will perform it. We shall be

like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. When you lay down this body, you

may say, Farewell lust for ever,—farewell my hateful pride,—farewell

hateful selfishness,—farewell strife and envying,—farewell being ashamed

of Christ. Oh, this makes death sweet indeed! Oh, long to depart and to be

with Christ!

III. To Him be glory

(1.) Oh, if anything has been done for your soul, give Him the glory!

Give no praise to others; give all praise to Him. (2.) And give Him the

dominion too. Yield yourselves unto Him, soul and body.

SERMON XXIV

THE VOICE OF MY BELOVED

“The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart; behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth

at the windows, showing himself through the lattice. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise

up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the

turtle is heard in our land; the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender

grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the

clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy

voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes,

that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his; he

feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and

be thou like a roe, or a young hart, upon the mountains of Bether.”—SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8–17.

THERE is no book of the Bible which affords a better test of the depth of a

man’s Christianity than the Song of Solomon. (1.) If a man’s religion be all

in his head—a well-set form of doctrines, built like mason-work, stone

above stone—but exercising no influence upon his heart, this book cannot

but offend him; for there are no stiff statements of doctrine here upon which

his heartless religion may be built. (2.) Or, if a man’s religion be all in his

fancy—if, like Pliable in the Pilgrim’s Progress, he be taken with the

outward beauty of Christianity—if, like the seed sown upon the rocky

ground, his religion is fixed only in the surface faculties of the mind, while

the heart remains rocky and unmoved; though he will relish this book much

more than the first man, still there is a mysterious breathing of intimate

affection in it, which cannot but stumble and offend him. (3.) But if a man’s

religion be heart religion—if he hath not only doctrines in his head, but

love to Jesus in his heart—if he hath not only heard and read of the Lord

Jesus, but hath felt his need of Him, and been brought to cleave unto Him,

as the chiefest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely, then this book

will be inestimably precious to his soul; for it contains the tenderest

breathings of the believer’s heart towards the Saviour, and the tenderest

breathings of the Saviour’s heart again towards the believer.

It is agreed among the best interpreters of this book—(1.) That it

consists not of one song, but of many songs; (2.) That these songs are in a

dramatic form; and (3.) That, like the parables of Christ, they contain a

spiritual meaning, under the dress and ornaments of some poetical incident.

The passage which I have read forms one of these dramatical songs, and

the subject of it is, a sudden visit which an Eastern bride receives from her

absent lord. The bride is represented to us as sitting lonely and desolate in a

kiosk, or Eastern arbour—a place of safety and of retirement in the gardens

of the East—described by modern travellers as “an arbour surrounded by a

green wall, covered with vines and jessamines, with windows of lattice-

work.”

The mountains of Bether (or, as it is on the margin, the mounts of

division), the mountains that separate her from her beloved, appear almost

impassable. They look so steep and craggy, that she fears he will never be

able to come over them to visit her any more. Her garden possesses no

loveliness to entice her to walk forth. All nature seems to partake in her

sadness; winter reigns without and within; no flowers appear on the earth;

all the singing birds appear to be sad and silent upon the trees; and the

turtle’s voice of love is not heard in the land.

It is whilst she is sitting thus lonely and desolate that the voice of her

beloved strikes upon her ear. Love is quick in hearing the voice that is

loved; and therefore she hears sooner than all her maidens, and the song

opens with her bursting exclamation, “The voice of my beloved!” When she

sat in her solitude, the mountains between her and her lord seemed nearly

impassable, they were so lofty and so steep; but now she sees with what

swiftness and ease he can come over these mountains, so that she can

compare him to nothing else but the gazelle, or the young hart, the loveliest

and swiftest creatures of the mountains. “My beloved is like a roe, or a

young hart.” Yea, while she is speaking, already he has arrived at the garden

wall; and now, behold, “he looketh in at the window, showing himself

through the lattice.” The bride next relates to us the gentle invitation, which

seems to have been the song of her beloved as he came so swiftly over the

mountains. While she sat alone, all nature seemed dead—winter reigned;

but now he tells her that he has brought the spring-time along with him.

“Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the

rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the

singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The

fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give

a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Moved by this

pressing invitation, she comes forth from her place of retirement into the

presence of her lord, and clings to him like timorous dove to the clefts of

the rock; and then he addresses her in these words of tenderest and most

delicate affection: “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret

places of the precipice, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice;

for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” Joyfully agreeing to

go forth with her lord, she yet remembers that this is the season of greatest

danger to her vines, from the foxes which gnaw the bark of the vines; and

therefore she will not go forth without leaving this command of caution to

her maidens: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our

vines have tender grapes.” She then renews the covenant of her espousals

with her beloved, in these words of appropriating affection: “My beloved is

mine, and I am his; let him feed among the lilies.” And last of all, because

she knows that this season of intimate communion will not last, since her

beloved must hurry away again over the mountains, she will not suffer him

to depart without beseeching him that he will often renew these visits of

love, till that happy day dawn when they shall not need to be separated any

more: “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved,

and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.”

We might well challenge the whole world of genius to produce in any

language a poem such as this—so short, so comprehensive, so delicately

beautiful. But what is far more to our present purpose, there is no part of the

Bible which opens up more beautifully some of the innermost experience of

the believer’s heart.

Let us now, then, look at the parable as a description of one of those

visits which the Saviour often pays to believing souls, when He manifests

himself unto them in that other way than He doeth unto the world.

I. When Christ is away from the soul of the believer, he sits alone.—We

saw in the parable, that, when her lord was away, the bride sat lonely and

desolate. She did not call for the young and the gay to cheer her solitary

hours. She did not call for the harp of the minstrel to soothe her in her

solitude. There was no pipe, nor tabret, nor wine at her feasts. No, she sat

alone. The mountains seemed all but impassable. All nature partook of her

sadness. If she could not be glad in the light of her lord’s countenance, she

was resolved to be glad in nothing else. She sat lonely and desolate. Just so

it is with the true believer in Jesus. Whatever be the mountains of Bether

that have come between his soul and Christ,—whether he hath been

seduced into his old sins, so that “his iniquities have separated again

between him and his God, and his sins have hid his face from Him, that He

will not hear,”—or whether the Saviour hath withdrawn for a season the

comfortable light of his presence for the mere trial of his servant’s faith, to

see if, when he “walketh in darkness and hath no light, he will still trust in

the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God,”—whatever the

mountains of separation be, it is the sure mark of the believer that he sits

desolate and alone. He cannot laugh away his heavy care, as worldly men

can do. He cannot drown it in the bowl of intemperance, as poor blinded

men can do. Even the innocent intercourse of human friendship brings no

balm to his wound—nay, even fellowship with the children of God is now

distasteful to his soul. He cannot enjoy what he enjoyed before, when they

that feared the Lord spoke often one to another. The mountains between

him and the Saviour seem so vast and impassable, that he fears He will

never visit him more. All nature partakes of his sadness—winter reigns

without and within. He sits alone, and is desolate. Being afflicted, he prays;

and the burden of his prayer is the same with that of an ancient believer:

“Lord, if I may not be made glad with the light of thy countenance, grant

that I may be made glad with nothing else; for joy without Thee is death.”

Ah! my friends, do you know anything of this sorrow? Do you know

what it is thus to sit alone and be desolate, because Jesus is out of view? If

you do, then rejoice, if it be possible, even in the midst of your sadness! for

this very sadness is one of the marks that you are a believer—that you find

all your peace and all your joy in union with the Saviour.

But ah, how contrary is the way with most of you! You know nothing of

this sadness. Yes, perhaps you make a mock at it. You can be happy and

contented with the world, though you have never got a sight of Jesus. You

can be merry with your companions, though the blood of Jesus has never

whispered peace to your soul. Ah, how plain that yon are hastening on to

the place where “there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked!”

II. Christ’s coming to the desolate believer is often sudden and

wonderful.—We saw in the parable, that it was when the bride was sitting

lonely and desolate that she heard suddenly the voice of her lord. Love is

quick in hearing; and she cries out, “The voice of my beloved!” Before, she

thought the mountains all but impassable; but now she can compare his

swiftness to nothing but that of the gazelle or the young hart. Yea, whilst

she speaks, he is at the wall—at the window—showing himself through the

lattice. Just so is it oftentimes with the believer. While he sits alone and

desolate, the mountains of separation appear a vast and impassable barrier

to the Saviour, and he fears He may never come again. The mountains of a

believer’s provocations are often very great. “That I should have sinned

again, who have been washed in the blood of Jesus. It is little that other men

should sin against Him; they never knew Him—never loved Him as I have

done. Surely I am the chief of sinners, and have sinned away my Saviour.

The mountain of my provocations hath grown up to heaven, and He never

can come over it any more.” Thus it is that the believer writes bitter things

against himself; and then it is that oftentimes he hears the voice of his

beloved. Some text of the word, or some word from a Christian friend, or

some part of a sermon, again reveals Jesus in all his fulness—the Saviour of

sinners, even the chief. Or it may be that He makes himself known to the

disconsolate soul in the breaking of bread, and when He speaks the gentle

words, “This is my body, broken for you; this cup is the New Testament in

my blood, shed for the remission of the sins of many; drink ye all of it,”—

then he cannot but cry out, “The voice of my beloved! behold, He cometh

leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.”

Ah! my friends, do you know anything of this joyful surprise? If you

do, why should you ever sit down despairingly, as if the Lord’s hand were

shortened at all that He cannot save, or as if his ear were grown heavy that

He cannot hear? In the darkest hour say, “Why art thou cast down, O my

soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Still trust in God, for I shall

yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Come

expectingly to the word. Do not come with that listless indifference, as if

nothing that a fellow-worm can say were worth your hearing. It is not the

word of man, but the word of the living God. Come with large expectations,

and then you will find the promise true, that He filleth the hungry with good

things, though He sends the rich empty away.

III. Christ’s coming changes all things to the believer, and his love is

more tender than ever.—We saw in the parable that when the bride sat

desolate and alone, all nature was steeped in sadness. Her garden possessed

no charms to draw her forth, for winter reigned without and within. But

when her lord came so swiftly over the mountains, he brought the spring

along with him. All nature is changed as he advances, and his invitation is,

“For the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; arise, my love, my fair

one, and come away.” Just so it is with the believer when Christ is away; all

is winter to the soul. But when He comes again over the mountains of

provocation, He brings a gladsome spring-time along with Him. When that

Sun of Righteousness arises afresh upon the soul, not only do his

gladdening rays fall upon the believer’s soul, but all nature rejoices in his

joy. The mountains and hills burst forth before Him into singing, and all the

trees of the field clap their hands. It is like a change of season to the soul. It

is like that sudden change from the pouring rains of a dreary winter to the

full blushing spring, which is so peculiar to the climes of the Sun.

The world of nature is all changed. Instead of the thorn comes up the

fir-tree, and instead of the brier comes up the myrtle-tree. Every tree and

field possesses a new beauty to the happy soul. The world of grace is all

changed. The Bible was all dry and meaningless before; now, what a flood

of light is poured over its pages! how full, how fresh, how rich in meaning,

how its simplest phrases touch the heart! The house of prayer was all sad

and dreary before—its services were dry and unsatisfactory; but now, when

the believer sees the Saviour, as he hath seen Him heretofore within his

holy place, his cry is: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! a

day in thy courts is better than a thousand.” The garden of the Lord was all

sad and cheerless before; now tenderness towards the unconverted springs

up afresh, and love to the people of God burns in the bosom—then they that

fear the Lord speak often one to another. The time of singing the praises of

Jesus is come, and the turtle voice of love to Jesus is once more heard in the

land; the Lord’s vine flourishes, and the pomegranate buds, and Christ’s

voice to the soul is, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

As the timorous dove pursued by the vulture, and well-nigh made a

prey, with fluttering anxious wing, hides itself deeper than ever in the clefts

of the rock, and in the secret places of the precipice, so the backslidden

believer, whom Satan has desired to have, that he might sift him as wheat,

when he is restored once more to the all-gracious presence of his Lord,

clings to Him with fluttering, anxious faith, and hides himself deeper than

ever in the wounds of his Saviour. Thus it was that the fallen Peter, when he

had so grievously denied his Lord, yet, when brought again within sight of

the Saviour, standing upon the shore, was the only one of the disciples who

girt his fisher’s coat unto him, and cast himself into the sea to swim to

Jesus; and just as that backslidden apostle, when again he had hidden

himself in the clefts of the Rock of Ages, found that the love of Jesus was

more tender towards him than ever, when he began that conversation,

which, more than all others in the Bible, combines the kindest of reproofs

with the kindest of encouragements, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me

more than these?” just so does every backslidden believer find, that when

again he is hidden in the freshly opened wounds of his Lord, the fountain of

his love begins to flow afresh, and the stream of kindness and affection is

fuller and more overflowing than ever, for his word is, “Oh, my dove, that

art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the precipice, let me see

thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy

countenance is comely.”

Ah, my friends, do you know anything of this? Have you ever

experienced such a coming of Jesus over the mountain of your

provocations, as made a change of season to your soul? and have you,

backslidden believer, found, when you hid yourself again deeper than ever

in the clefts of the rock—like Peter girding his fisher’s coat unto him, and

casting himself into the sea—have you found his love tenderer than ever to

your soul? Then, should not this teach you quick repentance when you have

fallen? Why keep one moment away from the Saviour? Are you waiting till

you wipe away the stain from your garments? Alas! what will wipe it off,

but the blood you are despising? Are you waiting till you I make yourself

worthier of the Saviour’s favour? Alas! though you wait till all eternity, you

can never make yourself worthier. Your sin and misery are your only plea.

Come, and you will find with what tenderness He will heal your

backslidings, and love you freely; and say, “Oh, my dove,” etc.

IV. I observe the threefold disposition of fear, love, and hope, which

this visit of the Saviour stirs up in the believer’s bosom. These three form,

as it were, a cord in the restored believer’s bosom, and a threefold cord is

not easily broken.

(1.) First of all, there is fear.—As the bride in the parable would not go

forth to enjoy the society of her lord, without leaving the command behind

to her maidens to take the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, so does

every believer know and feel that the time of closest communion is also the

time of greatest danger. It was when the Saviour had been baptized, and the

Holy Ghost, like a dove, had descended upon Him, and a voice, saying,

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,”—it was then that He

was driven into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; and just so it is

when the soul is receiving its highest privileges and comforts, that Satan

and his ministers are nearest—the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.

(1.) Spiritual pride is near. When the soul is hiding in the wounds of the

Saviour, and receiving great tokens of his love, then the heart begins to say,

Surely I am somebody—how far I am above the everyday run of believers!

This is one of the little foxes that eats out the life of vital godliness. (2.)

There is making a Christ of your comforts—looking to them, and not to

Christ—leaning upon them, and not upon your beloved. This is another of

the little foxes. (3.) There is the false notion that now you must surely be

above sinning, and above the power of temptation, now yon can resist all

enemies. This is the pride that goes before a fall—another of the foxes, the

little foxes, that spoil the vines. Never forget, I beseech you, that fear is a

sure mark of a believer. Even when you feel that it is God that worketh in

you, still the word saith, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling;—

even when your joy is overflowing, still remember it is written, “Rejoice

with trembling;” and again: “Be not high-minded, but fear.” Remember the

caution of the bride, and say: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil

the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”

(2.) But if cautious fear be a mark of a believer in such a season, still

more is appropriating love. When Christ comes anew over mountains of

provocation, and reveals himself to the soul free and full as ever, in another

way than He doth unto the world, then the soul can say, “My beloved is

mine, and I am his.” I do not say that the believer can use these words at all

seasons. In times of darkness and in times of sinfulness the reality of a

believer’s faith is to be measured rather by his sadness than by his

confidence. But I do say, that, in seasons when Christ reveals himself afresh

to the soul, shining out like the sun from behind a cloud, with the beams of

sovereign, unmerited love—then no other words will satisfy the true

believer but these: “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” The soul sees Jesus

to be so free a Saviour—so anxious that all should come to Him and have

life—stretching out his hands all the day—having no pleasure in the death

of the wicked—pleading with men: “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?”

The soul sees Jesus to be so fitting a Saviour—the very covering which the

soul requires. When first he hid himself in Jesus, he found Him suitable to

all his need—the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. But now he finds

out a new fitness in the Saviour, as Peter did when he girt his fisher’s coat

unto him, and cast himself into the sea. He finds that He is a fitting Saviour

for the backsliding believer; that his blood can blot out even the stains of

him who, having eaten bread with Him, has yet lifted up the heel against

Him. The soul sees Jesus to be so full a Saviour—giving to the sinner not

only pardons, but overflowing, immeasurable pardons—giving not only

righteousness, but a righteousness that is more than mortal, for it is all

divine—giving not only the Spirit, but pouring water on him that is thirsty,

and floods upon the dry ground. The soul sees all this in Jesus, and cannot

but choose Him and delight in Him with a new and appropriating love,

saying, “My beloved is mine.” And if any man ask, How darest thou, sinful

worm, to call that Divine Saviour thine? the answer is here, For I am his:

He chose me from all eternity, else I never would have chosen Him. He

shed his blood for me, else I never would have shed a tear for Him. He cried

after me, else I never would have breathed after Him. He sought after me,

else I never would have sought after Him. He hath loved me, therefore I

love Him. He hath chosen me, therefore I evermore choose Him. “My

beloved is mine, and I am his.”

(3.) But, lastly, if love be a mark of the true believer at such a season, so

also is prayerful hope. It was the saying of a true believer, in an hour of

high and wonderful communion with Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be

here!” My friend, you are no believer, if Jesus hath never manifested

himself to your soul in your secret devotions—in the house of prayer, or in

the breaking of bread—in so sweet and overpowering a manner, that you

have cried out, “Lord, it is good for me to be here!” But though it be good

and very pleasant, like sunlight to the eyes, yet the Lord sees that it is not

wisest and best always to be there. Peter must come down again from the

mount of glory, and fight the good fight of faith amid the shame and

contumely of a cold and scornful world. And so must every child of God.

We are not yet in heaven, the place of open vision and unbroken enjoyment.

This is earth, the place of faith, and patience, and heavenward-pointing

hope. One great reason why close and intimate enjoyment of the Saviour

may not be constantly realized in the believer’s breast is, to give room for

hope, the third string that forms the threefold cord. Even the most

enlightened believers are walking here in a darksome night, or twilight at

most; and the visits of Jesus to the soul do but serve to make the

surrounding darkness more visible. But the night is far spent, the day is at

hand. The day of eternity is breaking in the east. The Sun of Righteousness

is hasting to rise upon our world, and the shadows are preparing to flee

away. Till then, the heart of every true believer, that knows the preciousness

of close communion with the Saviour, breathes the earnest prayer, that Jesus

would often come again, thus sweetly and suddenly, to lighten him in his

darksome pilgrimage. Ah! yes, my friends, let every one who loves the

Lord Jesus in sincerity, join now in the blessed prayer of the bride: “Until

the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou

like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.”

SERMON XXV

OUR DUTY TO ISRAEL

“To the Jew first.”—ROM. 1:16.

MOST people are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The wise are ashamed of

it, because it calls men to believe and not to argue, the great are ashamed of

it, because it brings all into one body; the rich are ashamed of it, because it

is to be had without money and without price; the gay are ashamed of it,

because they fear it will destroy all their mirth; and so the good news of the

glorious Son of God having come into the world a Surety for lost sinners, is

despised, uncared for—men are ashamed of it. Who are not ashamed of it?

A little company, those whose hearts the Spirit of God has touched. They

were once like the world, and of it; but He awakened them to see their sin

and misery, and that Christ alone was a refuge, and now they cry, None but

Christ! none but Christ! God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of

Christ. He is precious to their heart—He lives there; He is often on their

lips; He is praised in their family; they would fain proclaim Him to all the

world. They have felt in their own experience that the gospel is the power

of God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Dear friends,

is this your experience? Have you received the gospel not in word only, but

in power? Has the power of God been put forth upon your soul along with

the word? Then this word is yours: I am not ashamed of the gospel of

Christ.

One peculiarity in this statement I wish you to notice. He glories in the

gospel as the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first; from which I

draw this DOCTRINE—That the gospel should be preached first to the Jews

(1.) Because judgment will begin with them—“Indignation and wrath, to

the Jew first,” Rom. 2:6–10. It is an awful thought, that the Jew will be the

first to stand forward at the bar of God to be judged. When the great white

throne is set, and He sits down upon it from whose face the heavens and

earth flee away; when the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the

books are opened, and the dead are judged out of those things that are

written in the books; is it not a striking thought, that Israel—poor, blinded

Israel—will be the first to stand in judgment before God?

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels

with Him—when He shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and before Him

shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another,

as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats—when the awful sentence

comes forth from his lips, Depart, ye cursed—and when the guilty many

shall move away from before Him into everlasting punishment—is it not

enough to make the most careless among you pause and consider, that the

indignation and wrath shall first come upon the Jew—that their faces will

gather a deeper paleness, their knees knock more against each other, and

their hearts die within them more than others?

Why is this? Because they have had more light than any other people.

God chose them out of the world to be his witnesses. Every prophet was

sent first to them; every evangelist and apostle had a message for them.

Messiah came to them. He said, “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the

house of Israel.” The word of God is still addressed to them. They still have

it pure and unadulterated in their hand. Yet they have sinned against all this

light—against all this lore. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the

prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I

have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathers its chickens under its

wings, and ye would not!” Their cup of wrath is fuller than that of other

men—their sea of wrath is deeper. On their very faces, you may read in

every clime, that the curse of God is over them.

Is not this a reason, then, why the gospel should first be preached to the

Jew? They are ready to perish—to perish more dreadfully than other men.

The cloud of indignation and wrath that is even now gathering above the

lost, will break first upon the head of guilty, unhappy, unbelieving Israel.

And have you none of the bowels of Christ in you, that you will not run first

to them that are in so sad a case? In an hospital, the kind physician runs first

to that bed where the sick man lies who is nearest to die. When a ship is

sinking, and the gallant sailors have left the shore to save the sinking crew,

do they not stretch out the arm of help first to those that are readiest to

perish beneath the waves? And shall we not do the same for Israel? The

billows of God’s anger are ready to dash first over them—shall we not seek

to bring them first to the Rock that is higher than they? Their case is more

desperate than that of other men—shall we not bring the good Physician to

them, who alone can bring health and cure?—for the gospel is the power of

God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

I cannot leave this head without speaking a word to those of you who

are in a situation very similar to that of Israel—to you who have the word of

God in your hands, and yet are unbelieving and unsaved. In many respects,

Scotland may be called God’s second Israel. No other land has its Sabbath

as Scotland has; no other land has the Bible as Scotland has; no other land

has the gospel preached, free as the air we breathe, fresh as the stream from

the everlasting hills. Oh then, think for a moment, you who sit under the

shade of faithful ministers, and yet remain unconcerned and unconverted,

and are not brought to sit under the shade of Christ, think how like your

wrath will be to that of the unbelieving Jew! And think, again, of the

marvellous grace of Christ, that the gospel is first to you. The more that

your sins are like scarlet and like crimson, the more is the blood free to you

that washes white as snow; for this is still his word to all his ministers,

Begin at Jerusalem.

(2.) It is like God to care first for the Jews.—It is the chief glory and joy

of a soul to be like God. You remember this was the glory of that condition

in which Adam was created. “Let us make man in our image, after our

likeness.” His understanding was without a cloud. He saw, in some

measure, as God seeth; his will flowed in the same channel with God’s will;

his affections fastened on the same objects which God also loved. When

man fell, we lost all this, and became children of the devil, and not children

of God. But when a lost soul is brought to Christ, and receives the Holy

Ghost, he puts off the old man, and puts on the new man, which after God

is created in righteousness and true holiness. It is our true joy in this world

to be like God. Too many rest in the joy of being forgiven, but our truest joy

is to be like Him. Oh rest not, beloved, till you are renewed after his image,

till you partake of the divine nature. Long for the day when Christ shall

appear, and we shall be fully like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Now, what I wish to insist upon at present is, that we should be like

God, even in those things which are peculiar. We should be like Him in

understanding, in will, in holiness, and also in his peculiar affections. “Love

is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He

that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love.” But the whole Bible

shows that God has a peculiar affection for Israel. You remember when the

Jews were in Egypt, sorely oppressed by their taskmasters, God heard their

cry, and appeared to Moses: “I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my

people, and I have heard their cry, for I know their sorrows.”

And, again, when God brought them through the wilderness, Moses

tells them why He did it. “The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor

choose you because ye were more in number than any people, for ye were

the fewest of all people, but because the Lord loved you,” Deut. 7:7.

Strange, sovereign, most peculiar love! He loved them because He loved

them. Should we not be like God in this peculiar attachment?

But you say, God has sent them into captivity. Now, it is true God hath

scattered them into every land: “The precious sons of Zion, comparable to

fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers!” Lam. 4:2. But what

says God of this? “I have left mine house, I have forsaken mine heritage, I

have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies,” Jer.

12:7. It is true that Israel is given for a little moment into the hand of her

enemies, but it is as true that they are still the dearly beloved of his soul.

Should we not give them the same place in our heart which God gives them

in his heart? Shall we be ashamed to cherish the same affection which our

heavenly Father cherishes? Shall we be ashamed to be unlike the world, and

like God in this peculiar lore for captive Israel?

But you say, God has cast them off. Hath God cast away his people

which He foreknew? God forbid! The whole Bible contradicts such an idea.

“Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against

him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore my bowels are troubled

for him: I will sorely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord,” Jer. 31:20. “I

will plant them again in their own land assuredly, with my whole heart and

with my whole soul.” “Zion saith, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord

hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should

not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet

will I not forget thee,” Isa. 49:14. “And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is

written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away

ungodliness from Jacob.” Now the simple question for each of you is, and

for our beloved church, Should we not share with God in his peculiar

affection for Israel? If we are filled with the Spirit of God, should we not

love as He loves? Should we not grave Israel upon the palms of our hands,

and resolve that through our mercy they also may obtain mercy?

(3.) Because there is peculiar access to the Jews.—In almost all the

countries we have visited, this fact is quite remarkable; indeed, it seems in

many places as if the only door left open to the Christian missionary is the

door of preaching to the Jews.

We spent some time in Tuscany, the freest state in the whole of Italy.

There you dare not preach the gospel to the Roman Catholic population.

The moment you give a tract or a Bible, it is carried to the priest, and by the

priest to the government, and immediate banishment is the certain result.

But the door is open to the Jews. No man cares for their souls; and therefore

you may carry the gospel to them freely.

The same is the case in Egypt and in Palestine.—You dare not preach

the gospel to the deluded followers of Mahomet; but you may stand in the

open market-place and preach the gospel to the Jews, no man forbidding

you. We visited every town in the Holy Land where Jews are found. In

Jerusalem and in Hebron we spoke to them all the words of this life. In

Sychar we reasoned with them in the synagogue, and in the open bazaar. In

Chaifa, at the foot of Carmel, we met with them in the synagogue. In Zidon

also we discoursed freely to them of Jesus. In Tyre we first visited them in

the synagogue and at the house of the Rabbi, and then they returned our

visit, for when we had lain down is the khan for the heat of mid-day, they

came to us in crowds. The Hebrew Bible was produced, and passage after

passage explained, none making us afraid. In Saphet, and Tiberias, and

Acre, we had the like freedom. There is indeed perfect liberty in the Holy

Land to carry the gospel to the Jew.

In Constantinople, if you were to preach to the Turks, as some have

tried, banishment is the consequence; but to the Jew you may carry the

message. In Wallachia and Moldavia the smallest attempt to convert a

Greek would draw down the instant vengeance of the Holy Synod and of

the government. But in every town we went freely to the Jews: in

Bucharest, in Foxany, in Jassy, and in many a remote Wallachian hamlet, we

spoke without hindrance the message to Israel. The door is wide open.

In Austria, where no missionary of any kind is allowed, still we found

the Jews willing to hear. In their synagogues we always found a sanctuary

open to us; and often, when they knew they could have exposed us, they

concealed that we had been there.

In Prussian Poland, the door is wide open to nearly 100,000 Jews. You

dare not preach to the poor Rationalist Protestants. Even in Protestant

Prussia this would not be allowed; but you may preach the gospel to the

Jews. By the law of the land every church is open to an ordained minister;

and one of the mission aries assured me that he often preached to 400 or

500 Jews and Jewesses at a time. Schools for Jewish children are also

allowed. We visited three of them, and heard the children taught the way of

salvation by a Redeemer. Twelve years ago the Jews would not have come

near a church.

If these things be true,—and I appeal to all of you who know these

countries if it is not; if the door in one direction is shut, and the door to

Israel is so widely open; oh, do you not think that God is saying by his

providence, as well as by his word, Go rather to the lost sheep of the house

of Israel? Do you think that our church, knowing these things, will be

guiltless if we do not obey the call? for the gospel is the power of God unto

salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

(4.) Because they will give life to the dead world.—I have often thought

that a reflective traveller, passing through the countries of this world, and

observing the race of Israel in every land, might be led to guess, merely

from the light of his natural reason, that that singular people are preserved

for some great purpose in the world. There is a singular fitness in the Jew to

be the missionary of the world. They have not that peculiar attachment to

home and country which we have. They feel that they are outcasts in every

land. They are also inured to every clime: they are to be found amid the

snows of Russia, and beneath the burning sun of Hindostan. They are also

in some measure acquainted with all the languages of the world, and yet

have one common language—the holy tongue—in which to communicate

with one another. All these things must, I should think, suggest themselves

to every intelligent traveller as he passes through other lands. But what says

the word of God?

“It shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O

house of Judah and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a

blessing,” Zech. 8:13. To this day they are a curse among all nations, by

their unbelief—by their covetousness; but the time is coming when they

shall be as great a blessing as they have been a curse.

“And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a

dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man,

nor waiteth for the sons of men,” Micah 5:7. Just as we have found, among

the parched hills of Judah, that the evening dew, coming silently down,

gave life to every plant, making the grass to spring, and the flowers to put

forth their sweetest fragrance, so shall converted Israel be when they come

as dew upon a dead, dry world.

“In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of

all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a

Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you,”

Zech. 8:23. This never has been fulfilled; but as the word of God is true,

this is true. Perhaps some one may say, If the Jews are to be the great

missionaries of the world, let us send missions to them only. We have got a

new light; let us call back our missionaries from India. They are wasting

their precious lives there in doing what the Jews are to accomplish. I grieve

to think that any lover of Israel should so far pervert the truth, as to argue in

this way. The Bible does not say that we are to preach only to the Jew, but to

the Jew first. “Go and preach the gospel to all nations,” said the Saviour.

Let us obey his word like little children. The Lord speed our beloved

missionaries in that burning clime. The Lord give them good success, and

never let one withering doubt cross their pure minds as to their glorious

field of labour. All that we plead for is, that, in sending out missionaries to

the heathen, we may not forget to begin at Jerusalem. If Paul be sent to the

Gentiles, let Peter be sent to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad; and

let not a by-corner in your hearts be given to this cause; let it not be an

appendix to the other doings of our church, but rather let there be written on

the forefront of your hearts, and on the banner of our beloved church, “To

the Jew first,” and “Beginning at Jerusalem.”

Lastly, Because there is a great reward. Blessed is he that blesseth thee;

cursed is he that curseth thee. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall

prosper that love her. We have felt this in our own souls. In going from

country to country, we felt that there was One before us preparing our way.

Though we have had perils in the waters, and perils in the wilderness, perils

from sickness, and perils from the heathen, still from all the Lord has

delivered us; and if it shall please God to restore our revered companions in

this mission in peace and safety to their anxious families, we shall then have

good reason to say, that in keeping his commandment there is great reward.

But your souls shall be enriched also, and our church too, if this cause

find its right place in your affections. It was well said by one who has a

deep place in your affections, and who is now on his way to India, that our

church must not only be evangelical, but evangelistic also, if she would

expect the blessing of God. She must not only have the light, but dispense it

also, if she is to be continued as a steward of God. May I not take the liberty

of adding to this striking declaration, that we must not only be evangelistic,

but evangelistic as God would have us to be,—not only dispense the light

on every hand, but dispense it first to the Jew?

Then shall God revive his work in the midst of the years. Our whole

land shall be refreshed as Kilsyth has been. The cobwebs of controversy

shall be swept out of our sanctuaries, the jarrings and jealousies of our

church be turned into the harmony of praise, and our own souls become like

a well-watered garden.

SERMON XXVI

“BLESSED ARE THE DEAD.”

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest

from their labours; and their works do follow them.”—REV. 14:13.

THERE are two remarkable things in the manner in which those words are

given to us.

I. They are the words of the Father echoed back by the Spirit.—“I heard

a voice from heaven.” “Yea, saith the Spirit.” John’s eye had been riveted

upon the wondrous sight mentioned in verse 1. A Lamb stood on Mount

Zion, and one hundred and forty-four thousand redeemed ones following

Him whithersoever He goeth, when suddenly a still small voice broke upon

his ear, saying, “Write, Blessed are the dead;” and then the Holy Spirit

breathed, Amen. “Yea, saith the Spirit.”

It is written in the law that the testimony of two witnesses is true. Now,

here are two witnesses,—the Father of all, and the Holy Spirit the

Comforter, both testifying that it is a happy thing to die in the Lord. Is there

any of you, God’s children, who tremble at the thought of dying? Does

death appear a monster with a dreadful dart, ready to destroy you? Here are

two sweet and blessed witnesses who declare that death has lost his sting—

that the grave has lost its victory. Listen, and the frown will disappear from

the brow of death,—the valley will be filled with light; the Father and the

Holy Spirit both unite in saying, “Blessed are the dead.”

II. “Write.”—Whatever is written down is more durable, and less liable

to be corrupted, than that which is only spoken from mouth to mouth. For

this reason, God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, written with

his own finger on two tables of stone. For the same reason, He commanded

them, on the day they passed over Jordan, to set up great stones, and plaster

them with plaster, and write upon them all the words of that law. For the

same reason, God commanded his servants the prophets to write their

prophecies, and the apostles to write their gospels and epistles, so that we

have a permanent Bible instead of floating tradition. For this reason did Job

wish his words to be written. “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they

were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and with

lead in the rock for ever! I know that my Redeemer liveth,” Job 19:25. It

was one of his precious, ever memorable sayings,—a saying to comfort the

heart of a drooping believer in the darkest hour,—“I know that my

Redeemer liveth.” For the same reason did the voice from heaven say,

“Write,”—do not hear it only, but write it—print it in a book—grave it with

an iron pen—with lead in the rock for ever.

“Blessed are the dead.” Learn the value of this saying. It is a golden

saying—there is gold in every syllable of it. It is sweeter than honey and the

honeycomb,—more precious than gold, yea, much fine gold. It is precious

in the eyes of God. Write it deep in your hearts; it will solemnize your life,

and will keep you from being led away by its vain show. It will make the

syren songs of this world inconvenient and out of tune; it will sweetly

soothe you in the hour of adversity; it will rob death of its sting, and the

grave of its victory. Write, write deep on your heart, “Blessed are the dead

which die in the Lord.”

Now, consider the words themselves.

(1) “Blessed are the dead.”—The world say, Blessed are the living; but

God says, Blessed are the dead. The world judge of things by sense—as

they outwardly appear to men; God judges of things by what they really are

in themselves—He looks at things in their real colour and magnitude. The

world says, “Better is a living dog than a dead lion.” The world look upon

some of their families, coming out like a fresh blooming flower in the

morning,—their cheeks covered with the bloom of health, their step

bounding with the elasticity of youth,—riches and luxuries at their

command,—long, bright summer days before them. The world says, “There

is a happy soul.” God takes us into the darkened room, where some child of

God lately dwelt. He points to the pale face where death sits enthroned, the

cheek wasted by long disease, the eye glazed in death, the stiff hands

clasped over the bosom, the friends standing weeping around, and He

whispers in our ears, “Blessed are the dead.” Ah, dear friends, think a

moment!—whether does God or you know best? Who will be found to be in

the right at last? Alas, what a vain show you are walking in! Disquieted in

vain. “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that

perish.” Even God’s children sometimes say, “Blessed are the living.” It is a

happy thing to live in the favour of God,—to have peace with God,—to

frequent the throne of grace,—to burn the perpetual incense of praise,—to

meditate on his word,—to hear the preached gospel,—to serve God; even to

wrestle, and run, and fight in his service, is sweet. Still God says, “Blessed

are the dead.” If it be happy to have his smile here, how much happier to

have it without a cloud yonder! If it be sweet to be the growing corn of the

Lord here, how much better to be gathered into his barn! If it be sweet to

have an anchor within the veil, how much better ourselves to be there,

where no gloom can come! In “thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right

hand are pleasures for evermore.” Even Jesus felt this,—God attests it.

“Blessed are the dead.”

(2.) Not all the dead, but those that “die in the Lord.” It is truly amazing

the multitudes that die. “Thou carriest them away as with a flood.” Seventy

thousand die every day, about fifty every minute,—nearly one every second

passing over the verge. Life is like a stream made up of human beings,

pouring on, and rushing over the brink into eternity. Are all these blessed?

Ah, no. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” Of all that vast

multitude continually pouring into the eternal world, a little company alone

have savingly believed on Jesus. “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way

that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” It is not all the dead

who are blessed. There is no blessing on the Christless dead; they rush into

an undone eternity, unpardoned, unholy. You may put their body in a

splendid coffin; you may print their name in silver on the lid; you may bring

the well-attired company of mourners to the funeral, in suits of solemn

black; you may lay the coffin slowly in the grave; you may spread the

greenest sod above it; you may train the sweetest flowers to grow over it;

you may cut a white stone, and grave a gentle epitaph to their memory;—

still it is but the funeral of a damned soul. You cannot write blessed where

God hath written “cursed.” “He that believeth shall be saved; he that

believeth not shall be damned.”

Consider what is implied in the words “in the Lord.”

, That they were joined to the Lord.—Union to the Lord has a

beginning. Every one that is blessed in dying has been converted. You may

dislike the word, but that is the truth. They were awakened—began to weep

—pray—weep as they went to seek the Lord their God. They saw

themselves lost, undone, helpless,—that they could not be just with a holy

God. They became babes. The Lord Jesus drew near, and revealed himself.

“I am the Bread of Life.” “Him that cometh unto me, I will in nowise cast

out.” They believed and were happy,—rejoiced in the Lord Jesus,—counted

everything but loss for Christ. They gave themselves to the Lord. This was

the beginning of their being in Christ.

Dear friends, have you had this beginning? Have you under gone

conversion—the new birth—grafting into Christ? Call it by any name you

will, have you the thing? Has this union to Christ taken place in your

history? Some say, I do not know. If at any time of your life you had been

saved from drowning,—if you were actually drowned and brought to life

again,—you would remember it to your dying hour. Much more if you had

been brought to Christ. If you had been blind, and by some remarkable

operation your eyes were opened when you were full grown, would you

ever forget it? So, if you have been truly brought into Christ, you may

easily remember it. If not, you will die in your sins. Whither Christ has

gone, thither you cannot come. “Except ye repent and be converted, ye shall

all likewise perish.”

2d, Perseverance is implied.—Not all that seem to be branches are

branches of the true vine. Many branches fall off the trees when the high

winds begin to blow—all that are rotten branches. So in times of

temptation, or trial, or persecution, many false professors drop away. Many

that seemed to be believers went back, and walked no more with Jesus.

They followed Jesus—they prayed with Him—they praised Him; but they

went back, and walked no more with Him. So is it still. Many among us

doubtless seem to be converted; they begin well and promise fair, who will

fall off when winter comes. Some have fallen off, I fear, already; some

more may be expected to follow. These will not be blessed in dying. Oh, of

all death-beds, may I be kept from beholding the death-bed of the false

professor! I have seen it before now, and I trust I may never see it again.

They are not blessed after death. The rotten branches will burn more

fiercely in the flames. Oh, think what torment it will be, to think that you

spent your life in pretending to be a Christian, and lost your opportunity of

becoming one indeed! Your hell will be all the deeper, blacker, hotter, that

you knew so much of Christ, and were so near Him, and found Him not.

Happy are they who endure to the end, who are not moved away from the

hope of the gospel, who, when others go away, say, Lord, to whom can we

go? In prosperity, they follow the Lord fully; in adversity, they cleave to

Him closer still, as trees strike their roots deeper in storms. Is this your

case?—endure it to the end. “Be not moved away from the hope of the

gospel,” Col. 1:23. “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the

beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end,” Heb. 3:15. Even in the

dark valley you will cling to Him still. Come to Him as ye came at first—a

guilty creature, clinging to the Lord our Righteousness. Thou wast made my

sin. This is to die in the Lord, and this is to be blessed.

III. Reasons why they are blessed

(1.) Because of the time.—“From henceforth.” The time of the

persecutions of Popery was coming on. He was to wear out the saints of the

Most High; he was to overcome and slay the followers of the Lamb. Happy

are they that are taken from the evil to come. The righteous perish, and no

man layeth it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, none considering that

they are taken away from the evil to come. This is one reason why it is

better to be with Christ. Persecutions and troubles are not easy to flesh and

blood. If in our day we be called to them, we must bear them boldly,

knowing that a good reward is provided for those that overcome. See Rev.

2:3—“And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast

laboured, and hast not fainted.” But if it be the will of God to call us away

before the day of trial come, we must say, “Blessed are the dead who die in

the Lord from henceforth.” There will be no persecutions there. All are

friends to Jesus there,—every one contending who shall cast their crowns

lowest at his feet, who shall exalt Him highest in their praise. No discord

there. None to rebuke our song there.

(2.) They rest from their labours.—That which makes everything

laborious here is sin—the opposition of Satan and the world, and the drag of

our old nature. Some believers have a constant struggle with Satan. He is

standing at their right hand to resist them; he is constantly distracting them

in prayer, hurling fiery darts at their soul, tempting to the most horrid sin.

Their whole life is labour. But when we die in the Lord, we shall rest from

this labour. Satan’s work will be clean done. The accuser of the brethren

will no more annoy. No lion shall be there, neither shall any ravenous beast

go up thereon, but the redeemed shall walk there. But above all, the wicked

heart, the old man, the body of sin, makes this life a dreadful labour. When

we wake in the morning, it lies like a weight upon us. When we would run

in the way of God’s commandments, it drags us back. When we would fly,

it weighs us down. When we would pray, it fills our mouth with other

things. “O wretched man that I am!” But to depart and be with Christ, is to

be free from this. We shall drop this body of sin altogether. No more any

flesh—all spirit, all new man; no more any weight or drag—we shall rest

from our labours. Oh, it is this makes death in the Lord blessed! We shall

not rest from all work; we shall be as the angels of God—we shall serve

Him day and night in his temple. We shall not rest from our work, but from

our labours. There will be no toil, no pain, in our work. We shall rest in our

work. Oh, let this make you willing to depart, and make death look

pleasant, and heaven a home. “We shall rest from our labours.” It is the

world of holy love, where we shall give free, full, unfettered, unwearied

expression to our love for ever.

(3.) Works follow.—Our good works done in the name of Jesus shall

then be rewarded. First, Observe, they shall not go before the soul. It is not

on account of them we shall be accepted. We must be accepted first

altogether on account of Him in whom we stand. Second, Our evil works

shall be forgotten,—buried in the depths of the sea,—forgotten, no more

mentioned. Third, All that we have done out of love to Jesus shall then be

rewarded. We may forget them, and say to Jesus, “When saw we Thee sick,

or in prison, and came unto Thee?” But He will not forget them: “Inasmuch

as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done

it unto me.” A cup of cold water shall not go unrewarded.

Look to the recompense of reward, dear friends, and it will take the

sting from death.

IV. What followed.—The Lord Jesus “put in his sickle and reaped.” See

vers. 14, 15.

(1.) Learn that the Lord Jesus gathers his sheaves before a storm, just as

farmers do; so when you see Him gathering ripe saints, be sure that a storm

is near.

(2.) Learn that Jesus gathers his saints in love. When Jesus gathers his

own, He does it in love. Do not mourn for them as those who have no hope.

Jesus has gathered them into his bosom. They shall shine as the sun.

SERMON XXVII

ADDRESS ON THE CLOSE OF A COMMUNION SABBATH

“What have I to do any more with idols?”—HOSEA 14:8.

EVERY one who has been truly united to Christ, and has this day confessed

Him before men, should now take up these words, and solemnly, in the

presence of God, declare, “What have I to do any more with idols?” Two

reasons are given.

I. God loves you freely.—Ver. 4. If you are this day come to Jesus, God

loves you freely. If you believe on Him that justifieth the ungodly, your

faith is counted for righteousness. As long as you came to God in yourself,

you were infinitely vile, loathsome, condemned—mountains of iniquity

covered your soul; but blessed, blessed, blessed be the Holy Spirit who has

led you to Jesus. You have come to God’s righteous Servant, who by his

knowledge justifies many, because He bears their iniquities. Your sins are

covered, God sees no iniquity in you; God loves you freely, his anger is

turned away from you. What have you to do, then, any more with idols? Is

not the love of God enough for thee? The loving and much-loved wife is

satisfied with the love of her husband; his smile is her joy, she cares little

for any other. So, if you have come to Christ, thy Maker is thine husband;

his free love to you is all you need, and all you can care for; there is no

cloud between you and God, there is no veil between you and the Father;

you have access to Him who is the fountain of happiness, of peace, of

holiness,—what have you to do any more with idols? Oh! if your heart

swims in the rays of God’s love, like a little mote swimming in the

sunbeam, you will have no room in your heart for idols.

II. The Spirit, like dew, descends on your souls.—“I will be like the

dew,” ver. 5. If you are this day united to Jesus, the Spirit will come like

dew upon your soul. The Spirit is given to them that obey Jesus: “I will pray

the Father.” When all nature is at rest, not a leaf moving, then at evening the

dew comes down—no eye to see the pearly drops descending, no ear to hear

them falling on the verdant grass: so does the Spirit come to you who

believe. When the heart is at rest in Jesus,—unseen, unheard by the world,

the Spirit comes, and softly fills the believing soul, quickening all, renewing

all within. “If I go away, I will send Him unto you.” Dear little ones, whom

God hath chosen out of this world, you are like Gideon’s fleece: the Lord

will fill you with dew when all around is dry. You are his vineyard of red

wine; He says, I will water it every moment—silently, unfelt, unseen, but

surely. But, ah! that Spirit is a Holy Spirit. “I the Lord thy God am a jealous

God.” He cannot bear an idol in his temple. When the ark of God was

carried into the temple of Dagon, the idol fell flat before it; much more

when the Holy Spirit comes into the heart will He cast out the idols.

“When Christ came into the temple, He found those that sold oxen, and

sheep, and doves, and the changers of money, sitting; and when He had

made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple.” John

2:15. So when the Holy Spirit comes into any heart, He drives out the

buyers and sellers. If you have received the Spirit, you will be crying now

in your heart, Lord, take these things hence; drive them out of my heart.

What have I to do any more with idols? Some of the idols to be cast away

are—

(1.) Self-righteousness.—This is the largest idol of the human heart,—

the idol which man loves most, and God hates most Dearly beloved, you

will always be going back to this idol. You are always trying to be

something in yourself,—to gain God’s favour by thinking little of your sin,

or by looking to your repentance, tears, prayers, or by looking to your

religious exercises, your frames, etc., or by looking to your graces—the

Spirit’s work in your heart. Beware of false Christs. Study sanctification to

the utmost, but make not a Christ of it. God hates this idol more than all

others, because it comes in the place of Christ; it sits on Christ’s throne. Just

as the worship of the Virgin Mary is the worst of all kinds of idolatry,

because it puts her in the place of Christ, so self-righteousness is the idol

God hates most, for it sits on the throne of Christ. Dash it down, dear

friends; let it never appear again. It is like Manasseh’s carved image in the

holiest of all. When Manasseh came home an altered man to Jerusalem,

would not his first visit be to the holiest of all? With eager hand he would

draw the veil aside; and when he found the carved image, he would dash it

down from the throne of God. Go and do likewise. If you feel God’s love

freely by the righteousness without works, then why would you go back to

this grim idol? What have I to do any more with idols?

(2.) Darling sins.—Every man has his darling sins. Long they kept you

from the Lord Jesus. You have this day declared that you were willing to

leave them all for Christ. Go home, then, and perform your vows. After

Hezekiah’s passover, when they had enjoyed much of the love and Spirit of

God, “all Israel that were present went home, and broke the images in

pieces, and cut down the groves, until they had utterly destroyed them all.”

You might have seen them entering the shady groves and dashing down the

carved images. Go you and do likewise. Dash down family idols, unholy

practices that have spread through your family. Dash down secret idols in

your own heart. Leave not one. Remember, one Achan in the camp troubled

Israel, and they were smitten before their enemies. So, one idol left in your

heart may trouble you. Let Achan be slain if you would go on your way

rejoicing. What have I to do any more with idols? “If thy right hand offend

thee, cut it off.”

(3.) Unlawful attachments.—There is not a more fruitful source of sin

and misery than unlawful attachments. How much of the poetry and music

of our country are given over to the worship of the idols of a foolish heart!

How many are given over to worship a piece of clay that will soon be eaten

of worms! Oh, my friends, have you felt the love of God? Do you feel the

sweet, full beams of his grace shining down upon your soul? Have you

received the dew of his Spirit? How can you, then, any more love a creature

that is void of the grace of God? What have you to do any more with idols?

Dear young persons, abhor the idea of marriage with the unconverted. Be

nor unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Marry only in the Lord.

Remember, if it be otherwise, it is a forbidden marriage. There may be none

on earth so kind or faithful as to forbid the banns; earthly friends may be

kind and smiling; the marriage circle may be gay and lovely; but God

forbids the banns. But may there not be a lawful attachment? I believe there

may; but take heed it be not an idol. I believe they are happiest who are

living only for eternity, who have no object in this world to divert their

hearts from Christ. “The time is short; it remaineth that they who have

wives be as though they had none.” What have I to do any more with idols?

(4.) Ministers.—You have good reason to love ministers, and to esteem

them highly for their work’s sake. They love you; they watch for your souls

as they that must give an account; they bear you on their hearts; they travail

in birth till Christ be formed in you; they spend and are spent for you; they

often endure amazing temptations, agonies, wrestlings for your sake.

Some have been your spiritual fathers. This is a holy tie that will never

be broken. You have good reason to love your spiritual father. You may

have ten thousand instructors in Christ, etc.; but ah, make not an idol of

them. The people that would have worshipped Paul, were the very people

that stoned him, and left him for dead. Oh, I wish that this day may bring

you so near to Christ, and so much under the love of God and the dew of

Israel, that you shall no more glory in man! What have I to do any more

with idols?

(5.) Earthly pleasures.—This is a smiling, dazzling idol, that has ten

thousand worshippers—lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. What

have you to do any more with this idol? Sometimes it is a gross idol. The

theatre is one of its temples—there it sits enthroned. The tavern is another,

where its reeling, staggering votaries sing its praise. What have you to do

with these? Have you the love of God in your soul—the Spirit of God in

you? How dare you cross the threshold of a theatre or a tavern any more!

What! the Spirit of God amid the wanton songs of a theatre, or the

boisterous merriment of a tavern! Shame on such practical blasphemy! No;

leave them, dear friends, to be cages of devils and of every unclean and

hateful bird. You must never cross their threshold any more. What shall I

say of games—cards, dice, dancing? I will only say this, that if you love

them, you have never tasted the joys of the new creature. If you feel the

love of God and the Spirit, you will not lightly sin these joys away amid the

vain anxieties of cards, or the rattling of senseless dice. What shall I say of

simpering tea-parties, the pleasures of religious gossiping, and useless calls,

without meaning, sincerity, or end? I will only say, they are the happiest of

God’s children who have neither time nor heart for these things. I believe

there cannot be much of the Spirit where there is much of these. What shall

I say of dress? A young believer, full of faith and joy, was offered a present

of flowers for her hair. She would not take them. She was pressed to accept

them; still she refused. Why will you not? Ah, she said, how can I wear

roses on my brow, when Christ wore thorns on his? The joy of being in

Christ is so sweet, that it makes all other joys insipid, dull, lifeless. In his

right hand are riches and honours; in his left are length of days. His ways

are ways of pleasantness. What, then, have I to do any more with idols?

(6.) Money.—Dear souls, if you have felt the love of God—the dew—

you must dash down this idol. You must not love money. You must be more

open-hearted, more open-handed, to the poor. “He that gives to the poor

lends to the Lord.” “Inasmuch as ye did it to the least of these, my brethren,

ye did it unto me.” You must build more churches. God be praised for what

has been done: but you must do far more. I have as many in this parish who

go nowhere as would fill another church. You must give more to missions,

to send the knowledge of Jesus to the Jews, and to the Gentile world. Oh!

how can you grasp your money in hand so greedily, while there are

hundreds of millions perishing? You that give tens must give your

hundreds. You that are poor must do what you can. Remember Mary, and

the widow’s mite. Let us resolve to give the tenth of all we have to God.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having

all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

(7.) Fear of man.—Grim idol—bloody-mouthed—many souls he has

devoured and trampled down into hell! His eyes are full of hatred to

Christ’s disciples. Scoffs and jeers lurk in his eye. The laugh of the scorner

growls in his throat. Cast down this idol. This keeps some of you from

secret prayer, from worshipping God in your family, from going to lay your

case before ministers, from openly confessing Christ. You that have felt

God’s love and Spirit, dash this idol to pieces. Who art thou, that thou

shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die? Fear not, thou worm Jacob. What

have I to do any more with idols?

Dearly beloved and longed for, my heart’s desire for you is, to see you a

holy people. How much longer my ministry may be continued among you,

God only knows; but if God give me health and grace among you, I here

willingly devote my all to Him. No moment, no pleasure, no ease, no

wealth, do I wish for myself. I feel that He has bought me, and I am his

property. Oh come, give yourselves to the Lord with me! Bind yourself to

the horns of God’s altar. Time past is enough to have been the devil’s—the

world’s—our own. Now let us be Christ’s alone. Are you willing? Lord,

bear witness; seal it in heaven; write it in thy book. Bear witness, angels,

devils, scowling world—bear witness, sun and moon—bear witness, stones

and timber—bear witness, Jesus, Lamb of God! We are thine now, and thine

for ever. What have we to do any more with idols?

October 1840.

SERMON XXVIII

ADDRESS AFTER THE COMMUNION

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep

yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal

life.”—JUDE 20, 21.

I. Those that have been built on Christ, have need to build themselves

still more on Christ.—If you come rightly to this table, you have been hewn

out of the rock, and carried and laid on the sure foundation. Others set at

nought that stone, but to you it is the only name under heaven. You have

been built on Christ alone for righteousness. Think not all is done—forget

what is behind. You have begun salvation, work out your salvation.

(1.) Build yourselves more simply on Christ—on Christ alone—his

blood and righteousness. Some are like a stone resting half on the

foundation and half on the sand. Some take half their peace from Christ’s

finished work, and half from the Spirit’s work within them. Now the whole

of our justification must be from Christ alone. Other foundation can no man

lay.

(2.) Build yourselves more surely on Christ.—Some stones do not lie

smoothly on the foundation—they are apt to totter. Seek, brethren to get a

sure founding on the Lord Jesus Christ. “If ye continue in the faith,

grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.”

It is easy to sail with a gentle sea and the wind in the west, but the gale tries

whether the ship be rightly balanced. It is easy to believe in a sunny day like

this, when broken bread and poured out wine have been in your hands; but

stop till you are in the wilderness, or afar at sea alone—stop till fresh guilt

lies on the conscience—stop till a strong temptation blows—Oh then to rely

on Christ alone for righteousness! Under a sight of sin—Satan grappling

with the soul—Oh then to look up into the face of Christ and say, Thou art

my robe, my righteousness, my shield—thy blood, thy obedience is enough

for me! This is to believe.

II. Pray in the Holy Ghost.—When a believer prays, he is not alone—

there are three with him: the Father seeing in secret, his ear open; the Son

blotting out sin, and offering up the prayer; the Holy Ghost quickening and

giving desires. There can be no true prayer without these three. Some

people pray like a parrot, repeating words when the heart is far from God.

Some pray without the Father. They do not feel. They are speaking to the

back of their chair, or to the world, or to the empty air. Some pray without

the Son. They come in their own name—in their own righteousness. That is

the sacrifice of fools. Some pray without the Holy Ghost. These are not

filled with divine breathings. Dear friends, if you would live, you must

pray; and if you would pray with acceptance, you must pray to the Father in

the name of Jesus, and by his Spirit quickening.

(1.) Get the Holy Ghost.—Many seem not to know if there be a Holy

Spirit. Jesus being raised by the Father, has obtained the Spirit. Ask Him.

(2.) Let Him breathe within you.—Do not vex Him.

(3.) Pray without ceasing.—Whatever you need, ask Him immediately.

Have set times of approaching God solemnly. Let nothing interfere with

these times. Take your best time.

III. Keep yourselves in the love of God.—It is when you are built on

Christ, and praying in the Holy Ghost, that you keep yourselves in the love

of God. There is one glorious Being whom God loves infinitely. “I am not

alone, for the Father is with me.” He loved Him from eternity, for the pure,

spotless image of himself. He loved Him for laying down his life. He is well

pleased for his righteousness’ sake. The eye of the all-perfect One rests with

perfect complacency on Him. Have you this day come into Christ—this day

come under his shield—are this day found in Him? If you are in the love of

God, keep yourselves there.

(1.) Care not for the love of the world.—If you were of the world, the

world would love its own. Its best smiles are little worth. The world is a

dying thing—a crucified man to them that are in Christ.

(2.) Prize the love of God.—Oh, it is sweet to be in the garden of spices

—to have God for your refuge—God rejoicing over you! First, This takes

all the sting away from affliction. God is love to me. The hand that wounds

is the gentlest and most loving. Second, This takes their sting from the

world’s reproaches. Third, This makes death sweet. It is a leap into the arms

of infinite love, though to some a leap into a dark eternity. Oh keep

yourselves in the love of God!

IV. Looking for mercy.—You will be incomplete Christians if you do

not look for the coming again of the Lord Jesus. If the table has been sweet

to-day, what will it be when Jesus comes again to receive us to himself? If

his love-letters and love-tokens, sent from a far country, be so sweet, what

will the Bridegroom himself be when He comes and takes us by the hand to

present us to himself, and acknowledge us before an assembled world?

(1.) You will get an open acquittal on that day.—Now He gives us

sweet acquittal at the bar of conscience—He says: “Peace be unto you.” But

when it is open, we shall wear the blood-washed robe. It will need to be

mercy even at that day.

(2.) Perfect deliverance from sin.—Now He gives us the victory by

faith. He gives us to feel the thorn, and to look up for grace sufficient. Then

He will take the thorn away. We shall be like Jesus in soul and body. Oh, be

casting sweet looks of love toward that day! When a child is expecting an

elder brother’s return, when he is to bring some gift, how often he runs to

the window and watches for his coming! Your elder Brother is coming with

a sweet gift. Oh, cast your eye often toward the clouds, to see if they will

break and let his beautiful feet through! Shorten the time by anticipation.

(3.) Jesus no more dishonoured.—Honour to the Lamb is a sweet mercy

to a believing soul. A high day like this, when Jesus gets many a crown cast

at his feet, is sweet to a believing soul. How much more the day when we

shall wear his full crown, and when the slain Lamb shall be fully praised;

and when He shall come to be glorified, who once came to be spit upon!

That truly shall be mercy to our poor soul. Our cup shall run over.

3d January 1841.

SKETCHES OF HIS SERMONS

WHICH HE EXTENDED IN THE DELIVERY

ON— Isa. 48:18.

“Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy

righteousness as the waves of the sea.”

I. Their peace would have been like a river.—(1.) It has a source. It

begins at the fountain of Christ’s blood. (2.) It is fed from above. Rains and

showers feed the rivers: the shower of grace swells the rivers of peace. (3.)

It has inundations, as the Nile. An awakening providence often makes it

overflow. Afflictions and the consolations under them always, if the

sufferings are the sufferings of Christ. Sacramental times also; hence the

desirableness of frequency in the administration of the Lord’s Supper. (4.) It

gets broader and broader to the sea. The Tay. “The path of the just is like the

shining light.” Try yourselves by this text. (5.) It is fertilizing. It conveys

nourishment. Egypt owes all its fertility to the Nile. The peace of Christ

makes every grace grow. Holiness always grows out of a peaceful breast.

II. Their righteousness would have been as the waves of the sea.—The

righteousness of Christ is compared to the waves of the sea. Because, (1.) It

covers over the highest sins. (2.) It covers again and again. (3.) It is infinite

righteousness. You cannot count the waves of the sea.

Inference.—God wishes men to be saved. God sometimes pleads with

men to be saved for his own pleasure: it would be pleasant to Him; it would

make Him glad; as in the parable of the lost sheep. Sometimes He pleads

for his own glory. Jer. 13:16; Mal. 2:1. But here it is for the happiness of

sinners themselves. So Ps. 81:13. Once more, He pleads with men, because

unwilling that any should perish. 2 Pet. 3:9.

ON— Rom. 4:4–8.

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh

not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even

as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness

without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are

covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

I. The way in which the natural man seeks salvation.—“Worketh,” ver.

4. Wishes it to be of desert.

II. The better way.—The old way. David’s, Abel’s. “Worketh not.”

III. The blessedness.—David speaks of this.

At a later period he took the same text, dividing it thus:—

I. The working plan.

II. The believing plan.

ON— Prov. 14:9.

“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.”

I. What the natural heart thinks of sin.—(1.) Men sin easily. As a

fountain casting out its waters. Jer. 7. Such is the natural flow of their heart.

(2.) They bear the load lightly. At ease in Zion. (3.) The heavier the load,

they sin the more easily. Like a river filled. Eph. 4:19.

II. What God thinks of sin.—(1.) He says He hates it. Jer. 44:4. (2.) He

has prepared hell for it. (3.) He has punished it in his Son.

III. What awakened souls think of it.—Rom. 7:9; John 16; Ps. 51. The

jailor. The sting.

IV. What believers think of it.

ON— 1 John 4:7–13.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and

knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the

love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we

might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that Ho loved us, and sent

his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love

one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and

his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He

hath given us of his Spirit.”

I. It is a delicate love.—“Beloved, let us love one another.”

II. It is self-denying love.—Hear its language: “If God so loved us, we

ought,” etc. Ver. 11.

III. It is God-like love.—Ver. 12. It is produced by the Spirit of God

moving in the heart, and it imitates God. “If God so loved,” etc.

IV. It is never-failing love.—For no fountain is so unfailing as the heart

of God, which is its fountain.

ON— Zech. 12:10, 13:1.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace

and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall

mourn for Him as one mourneth for his only son, and they shall be in bitterness for Him as one

that is in bitterness for his first-born.… In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house

of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.”

I. The great spring.—“I will pour.”

II. The great agent.—“The spirit of grace and supplication.”

III. The effect.—They look; they mourn; they see the fountain opened.

ON— Jer. 33:16.

“The Lord our Righteousness.”

DEEP wounding, from views of Christ pierced by our sins, precedes deep

peace from views of his righteousness. Originally spoken to Judah and

Israel.

I. It is the sight of a divine righteousness.—Jehovah has made the

atonement.

II. It is a living righteousness.—Jehovah is the righteousness. A living

one gives it. He is exalted to give it. He comes to you with the offer of it.

III. It is an appropriated righteousness.—It would not give me peace to

see all the world clothed in Christ, if I were not. No delight to me except I

am sitting under his shade myself—under the rock. The joy of Paul was,

“Christ is made unto us;” of Thomas, “My Lord.”

Application.—(1.) The rest of a believer consists in knowing that

Jehovah is his righteousness. (2.) The folly of those who rest in seeking is

evident—“ever learning.” (3.) We see the misery of unbelievers. There is a

glorious divine righteousness that would make the blackest fair. It will be

your eternal torment, that so glorious a righteousness was offered you, and

you died without it.

ON—Rev. 20:11–15.

And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled

away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before

God: and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and

the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their

works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and

hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

I. The Throne and the Judge

The Throne.—(1.) Great.—Because so many are to stand before it;

because so great a Saviour is to sit down upon it; because everlasting

sentences are to be given out from it. (2.) White.—Because of his holiness,

because of his equity. He will be righteous in acquitting and in condemning.

None can cast a stain upon it. The Judge.—Christ himself. (1.) Because He

is the Son of man; knows by experience our inmost feelings, John 5:22–27.

(2.) As a reward for his pains, Phil. 2. (3.) For the comfort of the godly. (4.)

For the confusion of the Christless.

Lessons.—(1.) Prepare for it. (2.) Go to a throne of grace. (3.) Care for

one another’s souls.

II. The Judged.—(1.) All. The dead, small and great; men of all ranks

and degrees; rulers and subjects; parents and children; pastors and people;

none too high, none too low. (2.) From all places; grave, sea, death, hell.

(3.) Stand together, Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2. (4.) Before God. (5.) Must come

forth, John 5.

III. The Books opened.—(1.) The Book of Remembrance.—Malachi 3;

Ps. 54. Thoughts, words, and actions; secret sins done in the heart, or in the

dark; secret fraud and uncleanness; forgotten sins. The good deeds of the

saints; a cup of cold water; Mary’s ointment; not according to your

appearance, nor your professions, nor the thoughts of other men, nor your

own self-flatteries, but by “works.” (2.) The Bible.—John 12:48. The law;

the gospel; not according to your present rule; men judge themselves by one

another, or by themselves, or by their fancy. (3.) Book of Life.—To show

that his everlasting counsels had been fulfilled. To show the source from

which every one was saved.

IV. The Sentence.—(1.) This explains why God does not now take

vengeance. Did not the hand wither? The atheist in France. The railway. (2.)

The folly of secret sin. (3.) Repent. God commandeth all men everywhere

to repent, because He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the

world.

LEBANON—ITS SCENERY AND ALLUSIONS

[It will be interesting to many to see how his rich imagination used at times to revel amid the

beautiful images and figures of the divine word. I insert two specimens, of which the first was written

in his earlier days, when his taste for Scripture imagery was fresh, and his peculiar style just forming.

It is a critical essay read in the Exegetical Society, while he was a student in the Divinity Hall.]

“O LORD GOD, I pray Thee, let me go over and see the good land that is

beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.” Such was the prayer

of Moses in the land of Moab. Whether he had heard by report of the glory

of snow-capped Lebanon from Egyptian traffickers in balm and myrrh and

spiceries, or knew of it only by finding it in the charter of Israel’s promised

inheritance there is a peculiar beauty and fulness in the prayer, when, as

descriptive of the good land, he asks to see the chief object of its moral

beauty, and that of its chief natural beauty—Zion and Lebanon; the one the

type of all spiritual, the other of all temporal blessings to Israel. What a

refreshing sight to his eye, yet undimmed with age, after resting for forty

years on the monotonous scenery of the desert, now to rest upon Zion,

embosomed in olive-clad hills, and Lebanon with its vine-clad base, and

overhanging forests, and towering peaks of snow! “I pray Thee, let me go

over and see the good land, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.”

The same taste which inspired the wish of the venerable lawgiver,

descended to the people whom he led to Canaan to such a degree, that Zion

and Lebanon have afforded more materials for figure and allusion to the

prophets and sweet singers of Israel than perhaps any other individual

natural objects whatever. To consider the beauty and propriety of a few of

these allusions to Lebanon, is the object of my present investigation.

I. The first passage I mean to observe upon is the 29

Psalm—“a Psalm

of David,” in which the strength of Jehovah is celebrated; and the

exemplification of it is evidently taken from a thunder-storm in Lebanon.

The Psalm seems to be addressed to the angels; see Ps. 89:7. It thus begins:

“Render unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty,

Render unto Jehovah glory and strength;

Render to Jehovah the glory of his name,

Bow down to Jehovah in the majesty of holiness!”

Immediately follows the description of the thunder-storm, in which it

does not seem fanciful to observe the historical progression which is usual

on such occasions. The first lines seem to describe only the noise of the

thunder, the description growing more intense as the rumbling draws nearer:

“The voice of Jehovah is above the waters;

The God of Glory thundereth!

Jehovah is louder than many waters.

The voice of Jehovah in strength,

The voice of Jehovah in majesty!”

But now the effects become visible; the storm has descended on the

mountains and forests:

“The voice of Jehovah shivers the cedars,

Even shivers Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon;

And makes them to skip, like a calf,

Lebanon and Sirion, like a young buffalo.

The voice of Jehovah forketh the lightning’s flash!”

From the mountains the storm sweeps down into the plains, where,

however, its effects are not so fearful as on the mountains.

“The voice of Jehovah causeth the desert to tremble—

The voice of Jehovah causeth to tremble the desert of Kadesh—

The voice of Jehovah causeth the oaks to tremble,

And lays bare the forests!

Therefore, in his temple every one speaks of his glory.”

The description of the swollen torrents closes the scene:

“Jehovah upon the rain-torrent sitteth,

Yea, sitteth Jehovah a King for ever.”

And the moral or application of the whole is—

“Jehovah to his people will give strength;

Jehovah will bless his people with peace.”

have to remark several things in connection with Lebanon which may

illustrate this beautiful Psalm. That thunder-storms are frequent in these

mountains is matter of historical fact; insomuch that Volney could not give

a description of the magnificent view from the top of Lebanon without

mentioning “clouds rolling at your feet” as one ingredient in the scenery. As

the Mediterranean stretches away from the very foot of Lebanon, we can be

at no loss to find the “many waters,” whose roaring was drowned in the

voice of Jehovah’s thunder. Or, if our interpretation of the particle (“above”)

be thought not the usual one, we may imagine that the storm came over the

sea, and that the spectator, standing on Lebanon, and watching its progress

as it advances towards him, says—

“The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters;

The God of Glory thundereth!

Jehovah is upon many waters!”

The increasing growling of the thunder, when it reaches the mountains,

and reverberates among the valleys, is well represented in the increasing

power of the lines,—

“The voice of Jehovah is in strength,

The voice of Jehovah in majesty!”

The only remark which I make upon the cedars at present is, that by the

testimony of all travellers, “these noble trees grow amongst the snow, near

the highest peak of Lebanon.”—(See Maundrell.) This fact gives peculiar

significancy to their being placed first in the work of devastation: and also

their great size. “The old ones which remain,” says Maundrell, “are of a

prodigious bulk. I measured one of the largest, and found it twelve yards six

inches in girth, and yet sound, and thirty-seven yards in the spread of its

boughs. At about five or six yards from the ground, it was divided into five

limbs, each of which was equal to a great tree.” The testimony of Pococke,

in 1738, is very similar. The testimony of another traveller, quoted by

Rosenmüller, is also interesting, showing well the intensiveness of the

parallelism. “We saw others, indeed,” says he, “on the confines of Judea

and Samaria, but nowhere so lofty as in Lebanon.”

“The voice of Jehovah shivers the cedars,

Jehovah shivers even the cedars of Lebanon!”

These mighty trees of God, which for ages have stood the force of the

tempest, rearing their ever-green colossal boughs in the region of

everlasting snow, are the first objects of the fury of the lightning, which is

well known to visit first the highest objects.

The sixth verse presents rather more difficulty. The original is,

“And makes them skip like a young calf,

Lebanon and Sirion, like a young buffalo.”

At first sight it might appear that the cedars were still meant, and that

Lebanon and Sirion were used by metonymy for the cedars which grew

upon them. But, (1.) We never hear of cedars growing upon Sirion, or

Shemir, or Hermon, for it has all these names; and, (2.) There is a parallel

passage where this interpretation will hardly answer, in Ps. 114. Describing

the exodus of Israel, it says,

“The mountains skipt like rams,

And the little hills like lambs.”

The same verb occurs here, the verb which means “to skip, to dance,”

used in Nahum 3:2 to signify the jolting of chariots, and also in Joel 2:5. In

both these instances, rough motion, accompanied with noise, seems

intended. Now, though this may very well be understood as a highly

figurative description, as it undoubtedly is, of the usual effects of a thunder-

storm; yet it is interesting to compare it with the following passage of

Volney, which describes certain phenomena as frequent in Mount Lebanon,

which may give a new meaning to the “skipping of the mountains.”

“When the traveller,” says he, “penetrates the interior of these

mountains, the ruggedness of the roads, the steepness of the declivities, the

depth of the precipices, have at first a terrific effect; but the sagacity of the

mules which bear him soon inspires him with confidence, and enables him

to examine at his ease the picturesque scenes which succeed one another, so

as almost to bewilder him. There, as in the Alps, he sometimes travels

whole days to arrive at a spot which was in sight when he set out. He turns,

he descends, he winds round, he climbs; and under this perpetual change of

position, one is ready to think that a magical power is varying at every step

the beauties of the landscapes. Sometimes villages are seen, ready as it were

to slide down the steep declivities, and so disposed that the roofs of the one

row of houses serve as a street to the row above. At another time, you see a

convent seated on an isolated cone, like Marshaia in the valley of Tigré.

Here a rock is pierced by a torrent, forming a natural cascade, as at Nahr-el-

Leban; there another rock assumes the appearance of a natural wall. Often

on the sides, ledges of stones, washed down and left by the waters, resemble

ruins disposed by art. In some places, the waters, meeting with inclined

beds, have undermined the intermediate earth, and have formed caverns, as

at Nahr-el-Kelb, near Antoura. In other places they have worn for

themselves subterranean channels, through which flow little rivulets during

part of the year, as at Mar Hama. Sometimes these picturesque

circumstances have become tragical ones Rocks loosened or thrown off

their equilibrium by thaw or earthquake, have been known to precipitate

themselves on the adjacent dwellings, and crush the inhabitants. An

accident of this kind, about twenty years ago, buried a whole village near

Mar Djordos, so as to leave no trace of its existence. More recently, and

near the same spot, the soil of a hill, planted with mulberry-trees and vines,

detached itself by a sudden thaw, and, sliding over the surface of the rock

which it had covered, like a vessel launched from the stocks, established

itself entire in the valley below.”

In the next line the storm has forced its way to the unenclosed plains, or

to the Arabian desert, according to Rosenmüller.

“The voice of Jehovah causeth the desert to tremble,

The voice of Jehovah causeth to tremble the desert of Kadesh.”

That Kadesh-Naphtali is meant, the geographical position of Lebanon

would make us believe, though this is not necessary. And although Syria is

much exposed to earthquakes—as, for example, that of Aleppo in 1822,

which was sensibly felt at Damascus—yet it does not seem necessary to

imagine anything further than the usual effects of a thunder-storm.

The oaks and forests of verse 9 suit well with the description given of

the lower limbs of Lebanon, which abound in “thickets of myrtle, woods of

fir, walnut-trees, carob-trees, and Turkish oaks.” And the rain-torrent of

verse 10 is admirably descriptive of the sudden swell of the thousand

streams which flow from Lebanon. According to modern travellers, the

number of watercourses descending from Lebanon is immense; and the

suddenness of the rise of these streams may be gathered from the

contradictions in their accounts. The Nahr-el-Sazib is described by one as

“a rivulet, though crossed by a bridge of six arches;” by another it is called

“a large river.” The Damour (the ancient Tamyras), which flows

immediately from Lebanon, is “a river,” says Maundrell, “apt to swell much

upon sudden rains; in which case, precipitating itself from the mountains

with great rapidity, it has been fatal to many a passenger.” He mentions a

French gentleman, M. Spon, who, a few years before, in attempting to ford

it, was hurried down by the stream, and perished in the sea. This is one

instance of very many in the mountains of Lebanon, where the brook, which

is usually nearly dry, becomes all at once an impassable torrent. When

Volney looked upon the risers of Syria in summer, he doubted whether they

could be called rivers. But had he ventured to cross them after a thunder-

storm, his scepticism would no longer have had room or time to exercise

itself, and he would have felt the propriety of the Psalmist’s painting, when

he says—

“Jehovah sitteth on the rain-torrents,

Jehovah sitteth a King for ever.”

But the imagery of this Psalm is not more beautiful and appropriate

than is the moral application. To what end this painting of fearful power,—

of strength able to break through all obstacles, shiver the cedars and shake

the mountains? All this might, so fearfully exemplified in the thunder, is

exercised by Jehovah for his people. Every attribute of Jehovah is on their

side. And the sweet calm which follows upon the thunder-storm—when the

sun breaks through the dusky clouds and makes all nature smile again with

renewed and heightened brightness—is not more brilliant and delightful

than the peace with which Jehovah blesses those for whose sakes He has

displayed the might of his arm.

“Jehovah to his people will give strength;”

Or,

“Jehovah for his people will display strength;

Jehovah will bless his people with peace.”

II. The next passage wherein I shall attempt to examine the allusion to

Jehovah, is in Psalm 72:16, rendered in our version thus:—

“There shall be a handful of corn in the earth,

Upon the top of the mountains;

The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon;

And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”

The original words for “handful of corn” are rendered by Gesenius

“abundance of corn”—deriving the word from the Arabic verb “to

disperse,” compared with a similar root in Chaldee and Hebrew Though the

Septuagint and Syriac are both obscure, they yet manifestly favour this

rendering. And this being the meaning, I would understand the whole as a

species of introverted parallelism, where the outside lines answer to one

another, and the inside lines form a sort of parenthesis.

“There shall be abundance of corn in the earth,

Upon the top of the mountains,

His fruit shall shake like Lebanon,

And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”

The earth is to be so thoroughly cultivated in Messiah’s day, that there

shall be corn on the very tops of the mountains, for “his fruit shall shake

like Lebanon.” It is, however, altogether worthy of inquiry, with what

propriety Lebanon can be brought in to paint the extreme fertility and

productiveness of the very tops of the hill, which is to signalize Messiah’s

day. The following passage of Volney may perhaps throw some light upon

the subject: “By dint of skill and labour, they have compelled a rocky soil to

become fertile. Sometimes, to avail themselves of the waters, they have

made a channel for them by means of a thousand windings, on the

declivities, or have arrested them in the valleys by embankments. At other

times they have propped up the earth that was ready to roll down, by means

of terraces and walls. Almost all the mountains being thus husbanded,

present the appearance of a staircase, or of an amphitheatre, each tier of

which is a row of vines or mulberry-trees. I have counted upon one

declivity as many as a hundred, or a hundred and twenty tiers, from the

bottom of the valley to the top of the hill. I forgot for the moment that I was

in Turkey.”

The evidence of Volney is unexceptionable. For confirmation, however,

I may add a sentence from another excellent observer: “We passed through

a beautiful and romantic country, inhabited by the Maronites. The road was

along the roots of Libanus. The sides of the mountains are interspersed with

numerous villages, around which the ground is highly cultivated, either with

corn, vines, olive or mulberry-trees, the earth being supported by terraces,

formed of dry masonry, having the appearance of the seats of an

amphitheatre.”

To understand the images taken from Mount Lebanon, it is necessary to

remark, that four enclosures of mountains are described as rising one upon

another. The first and lowest of these is described as rich in grain and fruits.

The second is barren, being covered only with thorns, rocks, and flints. The

third, though higher still, is blessed with a perpetual spring; the trees are

always green. There are innumerable orchards laden with fruit, and it forms

altogether a terrestrial paradise,

“Where fruits and blossoms blush,

In social sweetness, on the self-same bough.”

The fourth, or highest ridge of all, is the region of perpetual snow. Now, the

imagery in the 72d Psalm is evidently taken from the first of these ridges of

Lebanon, where (most probably following the ancient mode of cultivating)

the monks of Lebanon—for they were the chief cultivators of the terraced

soil—industriously husband every particle of productive earth. In the

expressive words of Burckhardt, “every inch of ground is cultivated,”—so

that no image could have been more singularly expressive of the universal

cultivation under Messiah’s reign, than to say, that “his fruit shall shake like

Lebanon;” or, understanding the Psalmist to speak figuratively, what moral

landscape could be painted more richly than he does when he intimates that

those barren mountains of our world, which at present yield no fruit unto

God, shall be cultivated in that day so industriously and so fully, that the

fruit shall wave like the terraced corn-fields, or shake like the hanging

mulberry-trees on the terraced heights of Lebanon?

III. My only other allusion from the Psalms is in Psalm 92:12, 14—

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree;

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

They shall be fat and flourishing.”

Laying aside entirely any inquiry as to the palm-tree, and laying aside

the difficulty contained in the 13

verse, I have only to compare this

description of the cedar in Lebanon with the accounts of those who have

visited them in modern days. Without believing (as the Maronites or

Christian inhabitants of the mountains do) that the seven very ancient

cedars which yet remain in the neighbourhood of the village of Eden in

Lebanon are the remains of the identical forest which furnished Solomon

with timber for the temple, full three thousand years ago, they can yet be

proved to be of very great antiquity. These very cedars were visited by

Belonius in 1550, nearly three hundred years ago, who found them twenty-

eight in number. Rawolf, in 1575, makes them twenty-four. Dandini, in

1600, and Thevenot about fifty years after, make them twenty-three.

Maundrell, in 1696, found them reduced to sixteen. Pococke, in 1738, found

fifteen standing, and a sixteenth recently blown down, or (may we not

conjecture?) shivered by the voice of God. In 1810, Burckhardt counted

eleven or twelve; and Dr Richardson, in 1818, states them to be no more

than seven. There cannot be a doubt, then, that these cedars, which were

esteemed ancient nearly three hundred years ago, must be of a very great

antiquity; and yet they are described by the last of these travellers as “large,

and tall, and beautiful, the most picturesque productions of the vegetable

world that we had seen.” The oldest are large and massy, rearing their heads

to an enormous height, and spreading their branches afar. Pococke also

remarks, that “the young cedars are not easily known from pines. I

observed, they bear a greater quantity of fruit than the large ones.” This

shows that the old ones still bear fruit, though not so abundantly as the

young cedars, which, according to Richardson, are very productive, and cast

many seeds annually. How appropriate, then, and full of meaning, is the

imagery of the Psalmist—

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree;

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

They shall be fat and nourishing!”

IV. In the Song of Songs the allusions to Lebanon are very many, and of

exquisite beauty. I am sorry that my time will suffer me only to glance at

one in chap. 4:8–15:—

“Come with me from Lebanon,

My spouse with me from Lebanon:

Look from the top of Amana,

From the top of Shenir and Hermon,

From the lions’ dens,

From the mountains of the leopards.”

It is evident here that the bridegroom is pressing the bride to quit

Lebanon along with him, because of the dangers to be apprehended from

the beasts of prey. He seems to bid her look from these dangerous heights

down into the secure and pleasant valleys below, where many a delicious

wilderness of flowers and fruits was visible. In the mountains above

Canobin, tigers are said to be frequently met with. I suppose, says

Burckhardt, ounces are meant. Speaking of some sepulchres cut in the

limestone mountains opposite Saide (ancient Sidon), Hasselquist says, a

great part of them are now open, and serve for huts for shepherds, or dens

for wild beasts. And, lastly, we have the story of Thammuz—

“Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured

The Syrian damsels to lament his fate

In amorous ditties all a summer’s day:

While smooth Adonis, from his native rock,

Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood

Of Thammuz yearly wounded.”

These testimonies show the propriety with which Lebanon is described

as dangerous from wild beasts. Looking from the summits of the hills, the

view, as described by travellers, is exquisite in the extreme. Every valley

seems cultivated like a garden, watered by numberless fountains and

rivulets, such as the scene to which the bridegroom points the eye of the

spouse. By a fine turn of thought he immediately breaks out into a

comparison of his beloved to one of these gardens:—

“A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse—

A spring shut up—a fountain sealed.

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,

With pleasant fruits, camphire, and spikenard,

Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,

With all trees of frankincense;

Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices;

A fountain of gardens,

A well of living waters,

And streams from Lebanon.”

I have not now leisure to show, from modern travellers, the immense

variety of fruit, and flower, and aromatic shrubs, with which the vales of

Lebanon are enriched. The village of Eden and the Convent of Canobin

might alone give illustration of this remarkable passage. On the last verse

alone do I offer a remark. The spouse is compared to three kinds of

fountains:—(1.) To a fountain of gardens; an artificial fountain, so

distributed that it supplies more than one garden, or different parts of the

same garden. (2.) To a well of living waters; a fresh springing well to

supply the fountain. And, (3.) To streams from Lebanon, rivulets constantly

descending from the snow of Lebanon, and subterraneously supplying the

well of living waters. This is a most precise and accurate description of a

great number of the garden-fountains at the foot of Mount Libanus. Of the

first, the garden of Fahkr-eldin, near Tyre, gives a good example. “The

walks are shaded with orange-trees of a large spreading size, and I all of so

fine a growth that one cannot imagine anything more perfect in their kind.

Every one of these lesser squares was bordered with stone; and in the stone-

work were troughs, very artificially contrived, for conveying the water all

over the garden, there being little outlets at every tree for the stream as it

passes by to flow out and water it.” Ras-el-ayin, where are Solomon’s

cisterns, may illustrate the whole passage. “There are three cisterns entire at

this day; one about a furlong and a half from the sea, the other two a little

farther up. The former is of an octagonal figure, twenty-two yards in

diameter. Upon the brink of it you have a walk round, eight feet broad, from

which, descending, you have another walk twenty-one feet broad. The

whole vessel contains a vast body of excellent water, and is so well supplied

from its fountain, that, though there issues from it a stream like a brook

during four miles, yet it is always brim-full. On the east side of this cistern

was the ancient outlet of the water by an aqueduct, raised about sixty yards

from the ground, and containing a channel one yard wide.

“The fountain of these waters is as unknown as the author of them. It is

certain, from their rising so high, that they must be brought from some part

of the mountains, which are about a league distant; and it is as certain that

the work was well done at first, seeing it performs its office at so great a

distance of time. Hasselquist is probably right in concluding that the water

which fills these reservoirs comes from subterranean springs, and rises in

their bottoms, as it does in the birkets, or reservoirs, in the road from

Damascus to Jacob’s Bridge. Are we to suppose the source fictitious, and

formed by a subterraneous canal drawn from the mountains? But why not

have brought the cistern to the rock itself? It is a more simple explanation to

suppose it natural, and to conclude that advantage has been taken of one of

these ancient or subterranean rivers, of which Syria presents numerous

instances. The idea of imprisoning this stream to make it reascend and gain

its level, is worthy of the Phœnicians.”—(Modern Travels in Syria, p. 36.)

Such, then, in some degree, is the image by which the bridegroom

portrays the bride; and in reflecting upon it, it is hardly possible to resist the

risings of imagination when we remember that the bridegroom is the

Saviour, and the bride the Church of the Redeemed. The subterranean

streams from Lebanon answer so well to the unseen supplies of grace, and

the well of living waters to the living water which is in the believer

springing op unto everlasting life, and the fountain of gardens to the

fertilizing stream of love and of good works wherewith He nourishes and

diffuses his good things to all around, that we may be pardoned for thus

laying aside for a moment the severity of sober criticism to indulge the

dream of a not unholy imagination.

SOME NOTES ON THE TYPES FOUND IN THE

TABERNACLE

WHEN you would teach a little child in the simplest and most interesting

way, you do it by means of pictures. In the very same way did God teach

Israel concerning Him who was the consolation of Israel. When they sat

under the shadow of the pillar cloud, and were sheltered from the burning

rays of an eastern sun, God wanted to teach them that Christ was a shade on

their right hand; that He would come between them and the burning wrath

of God. When they followed the light of the pillar of fire, God wanted to

teach them that Christ was the light of this world; that whoso followeth Him

shall not walk in darkness. When they gathered the snow-white manna, and

ground it in mills, and baked it in pans, God wanted to teach them that a

bruised Saviour must be the daily food of our soul. When they drank of the

gushing river that flowed out of the smitten rock, God wanted to teach them

that they might daily receive the full streams of the Holy Spirit from the

smitten Saviour—that if any man thirst, he should come to Christ and drink.

I. THE HIGH PRIEST

But of all the types and images of the glorious Saviour, the most living,

the most wonderful, was the Jewish High Priest, with his holy garments, for

glory and for beauty. See Exod. 28:2. These garments were glorious and

beautiful in two respects:—First, They had a natural glory: they were made

of the costliest materials—of gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and

fine twined linen, ver. 5. No expense of labour or of riches was spared to

make them splendid and attractive. But, second, They had a spiritual glory

—a glory and a beauty that far excelled the other, inasmuch as they clearly

represented the excellences of Christ, our glorious High Priest and Saviour.

May the Lord lift away the veil, and reveal to us from under the

covering our glorious Immanuel, so that every soul may cry out, He is the

chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.

I. The Ephod and the Robe of the Ephod.—Vers. 6–8, 31, 32.—Observe

three things with regard to it. (1.) It was made of the finest materials (ver. 6)

—of gold, and of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and of fine twined linen: the

richest of metals was there; the deepest, most beautiful dyes; the finest and

purest linen. (2.) It was wrought with the greatest skill (ver. 32). God seems

actually to have given the spirit of wisdom to the workmen who made it. It

is said to have been made with “cunning work;” and the girdle, which was

part of the ephod, is called “the curious girdle.” (3.) It covered the priest

from head to foot. The ephod and the robe, when put together, formed a

complete garment.

How plainly does this point out the beautiful garment of our

Redeemer’s righteousness—his glorious finished work, which He came

from heaven to work out! (1.) It is of the finest materials: it is the sufferings

and obedience of the Son of God—of God manifest in flesh. Ah, who can

tell the costliness of that robe? It is called (Ps. 45) “clothing of wrought

gold,” “raiment of needlework.” It is called (Rev. 3:18) gold and fine linen

—“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire.” (2.) It was wrought

with all the skill of Heaven; for the gospel is the power of God and the

wisdom of God. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and

knowledge. Angels desire to look into these things. It is the mystery of God

and of Christ. (3.) It covered Christ from head to foot; it covered his whole

soul from the cradle to the cross; so that He was beautiful and glorious in

the eyes of the Father. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased.”

Dear friends, put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. Have no confidence in the

flesh; but rejoice in Christ Jesus. Put on this ephod of righteousness, this

cunning work of God, this curious girdle of a Redeemer’s righteousness.

There is the gold of Christ’s Godhead in it,—the purple and scarlet of a

Redeemer’s blood,—the fine twined linen of his spotless obedience. With

what confidence the high priest could enter the holiest when clothed with

this wonderful garment! So you, clothed in Christ, may come boldly to the

throne of grace, to find mercy and grace to help in time of need. “I counsel

thee,” etc.

II. The stones on his shoulders, 9–12.—Observe three things here: (1.)

That they were precious stones on which the names of the children of Israel

were engraved, “two onyx stones.” (2.) That they were set in ouches, or

sockets of gold, and fastened by chains. (3.) That these two stones were put

upon the high priest’s shoulders, and he was to bear them before the Lord

upon his shoulders.

How plainly does this point out the care that the great Redeemer takes

of all that are his own! (1.) They are precious in his night—they are his

jewels; and “they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I

make up my jewels.” “Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all

people; for all the earth is mine.” They are redeemed with his blood: no

wonder they are precious. When a man has spent much on anything, it

becomes precious to him. (2.) They are set in sockets of gold, and bound to

him with chains of gold. These chains and sockets of gold are the love of

Christ—his electing love, his drawing love, his covenant love. “I have loved

thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn

thee.” (3.) They are on his shoulders; so are all believers. “When he hath

found it, He layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.” Never does the Saviour

find a lost soul, but He sets him high on his shoulder. “Even to your old age

I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will

bear; even I will carry and will deliver you.”

Have you taken Christ to be your Surety and High Priest? (1.) Then you

are on his shoulder—engraved there, set in gold there, chained there—you

shall never perish. He has set you as a seal upon his arm. Lean all your

weight on Him. Do not distrust Him. You cannot carry yourself. Lean all on

Him. (2.) Be like Christ. You too are a priest. Be like Christ in this. Bear up

the children of God. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of

Christ. Look not every one on his own things, but every roan also on the

things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Be

helpers of one another’s joy.

III. Breastplate of judgment, 15–29.—Observe three things. (1.) Here

also all the names of the children of Israel were graven on precious stones;

but observe the difference. Before there were two onyx stones; here are

twelve different stones—all different—all precious. (2.) Here also the

stones were set in gold enclosings, and the whole was bound to the ephod

with golden chains. (3.) It was fastened, not upon his shoulders, but upon

his breast over his heart, ver. 29. Aaron shall bear.

How plainly does this point out a new feature in the love and tenderness

of Christ for his own redeemed ones!

(1.) Observe how precious his people are to Him. There is a variety

among the stones,—every one is different, yet all are precious. So there is a

great variety among Christ’s people, yet all are precious to Christ. Some are

chosen in infancy, like John the Baptist and Jeremiah, sanctified from the

womb. Some are chosen in old age. Some are taken who have committed

but little sin, like Martha and Mary; some who have committed much, like

the woman which was a sinner, and the dying thief. Some are taken from a

cottage, some from a palace; all different, yet all jewels in the eyes of the

Redeemer.

(2.) Observe they are all bound upon his heart. So believers are bound

on Christ’s heart when He goeth in before the Father. He is able to save to

the uttermost. Dear children of God, you often think that Christ forgetteth

you; that the glories of heaven have dazzled his eyes; that the songs of

angels have entranced his ear; that the joys of his Father’s right hand have

filled all his heart; that He has no thought of you. See here, you are bound

to his heart, you are enclosed there, graven there. “Like as a father pitieth

his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” “Behold my mother

and my brethren.” He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Can a

mother forget her sucking child? Will you ever distrust Christ any more? “I

will pray the Father;” “He maketh intercession for us.” “I pray for them; I

pray not for the world;” “Neither pray I for these alone.”

Be like Christ. Ye are priests. Let the children of God be precious to

you: bound to your hearts with golden chains of love. Love all God’s

children; especially pray for them. Brethren, pray for us.

IV. The Plate on forehead, 36–38.—Observe three things. (1.) That it

was a plate of pure gold—not wrought gold, nor mixed with anything else,

but pure gold. (2.) That holiness to the Lord was deeply engraven on it; it

was not superficially written, but graven like a seal. (3.) It was to be always

on the forefront of his mitre, and on his forehead—conspicuous without

concealment.

How plainly does this point out the native holiness of our glorious

Redeemer! From first to last He was a holy Saviour. (1.) His holiness was

like the fine gold, without mixture, without alloy. (2.) It was deeply

engraved in his heart,—not mere appearance, outside holiness. (3.) It was

obvious, open holiness. It was visible in his holy brow, in his meek and

dove-like eye. His whole life was holiness to the Lord. Such au High Priest

became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.

Even in his mother’s womb He was “that holy thing.” In his life “He did no

sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” In his death “He through the

eternal Spirit offered himself without spot unto God.” He was, as it were,

the essence of holiness. This might well be the motto on his brow—

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

(1.) Learn what a complete Saviour we have.—If He had had one sin or

infirmity, He would have needed to have died for his own sin. But He knew

no sin, and was therefore made sin for us. Oh rejoice in this holy Saviour!

(2.) Learn to be like Him.—“I am the vine, ye are the branches.” If any

man be in Christ, he is a new creature. If you are saved by Christ’s blood,

be filled with Christ’s Spirit. Remember, you too must be holiness to the

Lord. The Spirit must write the law upon your heart—grave it deeply; and

yet let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works,

may glorify your Father which is in heaven. Your holiness must be in your

heart, and yet upon your forehead too. Let everything you have and are be

devoted to Him. On the bells upon the horses let it be written, “Holiness to

the Lord.”

V. The Bells and Pomegranates, 33–35.—(1.) The pomegranate is a tree

with a beautiful flower and fruit, growing in fruitful gardens. It was used in

the high priest’s garments, to mark fruitfulness and fragrance. (2.) The bell

was to give a pleasant tinkling sound whenever the high priest walked, in

going in or coining out. How plainly did this signify, that wherever Christ

goes, there is the fragrance of sweetest gardens, and a gladsome sound of

melody! There was once a time in Scotland, when our glorious High Priest

walked amid the golden candlesticks—when He came into his garden, and

fed among the lilies. Oh that Christ would come in among you, and reveal

himself unto you! Then would the winter be past, the rains would be over

and gone, the flowers would appear on the earth, and the time of the singing

of birds be come. His presence makes summer,—all his garments smell of

myrrh. Your souls would become a well-watered garden. When Jesus comes

in, it is gladsome music to the soul. It is like the sound of the silver

trumpets; it is the melody of bells. Happy is the people that know the joyful

sound: “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Has the sound of a present Saviour ever fallen upon your ear?

Christians, you are priests. Be like Christ in this. (1.) Wherever you go,

carry a savour of Christ. His name is like ointment poured forth; it is like

the vine flourishing, and the pomegranate budding. Let men take knowledge

of you that you have been with Jesus; let it be plain that you come from

within the veil; let the smell of your garments be as a field which the Lord

hath blessed. (2.) Carry a sound of Christ wherever you go. Not a step,

Christians, without the sound of the gospel bell! Even in smallest things, be

spreading the glad sound. Edwards says, wherever a godly person enters, he

is a greater blessing than if the greatest monarch were entering. So be it

with you.

Now, my dear friends, it appears to me, that even the tracts for which

you contribute are like those little bells. They are small and despised by

some, yet they carry the clear sound of the gospel wherever they go. What

Christian among you would not love to see them multiplied, till every

family on the globe should hear the message of mercy? Come, then, to the

help of the Lord against the mighty.

II. THE HOLY PLACE

The Holy Place was the first chamber of the tabernacle, into which all

the priests were allowed to enter continually to trim the lamps, and light

them at evening—to burn incense at the golden altar, and to arrange the

shew-bread on the golden table. Its contents were—the golden candlestick,

the altar of incense, not here mentioned, and the table of shew-bread.

I dare not speak positively on so difficult a subject, but I will open up

freely what appears to me to be the true meaning of the Holy Place.

I think it represented the condition of Christ mystical, that is, of Christ

and his church before the veil was rent, i.e. before the death of Christ.

(1.) There was a bright golden candlestick, filled with beaten oil,

lighted every evening by the priest. This clearly represented Christ and his

members, filled with the Holy Spirit. But then the light was confined to a

small chamber; it did not spread afar, like a beacon across the dark world.

So Christ and his people, during the Old Testament church, were a shrouded

light. It was a golden candlestick, filled with oil, and lighted, but its beams

confined within boards and curtains. It is true, a few stray beams did escape,

so as to attract the Queen of Sheba from a far country, and the Ethiopian

eunuch in his chariot, and the Roman centurion, who loved their nation, and

built them a synagogue. Still the Jewish Church was not evangelistic. It was

not intended at that time to spread the light to other nations. But when Jesus

comes, He breaks down the boards and curtains, and says, “Ye are the light

of the world,” “among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

(2.) In like manner, there was a golden altar where incense was burnt

every morning and evening, representing the intercession of Christ and his

saints. Still, it is remarkable that this altar was not within the veil—it was

not in the holiest of all.

The Holy Ghost here plainly signified, that the church in the wilderness

had not that liberty in prayer which we now have. They had not that

intimate nearness to God which the New Testament believers enjoy. It is

true, Israel were a praying people. David sought God’s face seven times a

day, and Daniel kneeled upon his knees three times a day; and the 67

Psalm shows that they often remembered us poor Gentiles in their

intercessions. “God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face to

shine upon us, that thy way may be known on the earth, and thy saving

health among all nations.” Still, they had not that near, full, intimate liberty

at the throne of grace, which is granted to those who are taught by the Spirit

to pray, Let us draw near, Abba, Father.

(3.) There was a pure table covered with twelve loaves, a loaf for each

tribe of Israel; and only the priests were allowed to eat it. This plainly

intimated Christ offered only to the twelve tribes of Israel—the dispensation

in which the offer of salvation was nearly confined to the Jews. How

different from the day when Jesus broke the loaves, and distributed to the

multitudes; or that day when Jesus said, “I am the bread of God which

cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world; I am the bread of

life; He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me

shall never thirst!”

The Holy Place was then a shadow of good things to come. Oh, how

great is our privilege who live in the clear gospel day! and how awful your

condemnation, if, when the shadows are fled away, and Christ the substance

is freely offered, you still reject Him! “If he that despised Moses’ law died

without mercy under two or three witnesses, of how much sorer

punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under

foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant an unholy

thing, and done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

III. THE MOST HOLY PLACE

I. Its situation and name, ver. 3. After the second veil. The veil here

spoken of is described, Exod. 26:31–33. It was made of blue, and purple,

and scarlet, and fine twined linen. It hung upon four pillars, and divided

between the holy place and the most holy. It is the same veil that was rent in

twain when Jesus died Matt. 27:51.

The chamber here mentioned, then, was the innermost of all—four

square, the walls composed of boards overlaid with gold, covered in with

curtains, having no light except the bright cloud that dwelt between the

cherubims, the token that God had his dwelling there.

II. Its contents

(1.) The golden censer. “Which had the golden censer,” ver. 4. This was

not the golden altar of incense, which was not in the holiest of all, and is not

here mentioned. It is the censer spoken of, Lev. 16:12. On the solemn day of

atonement, when the high priest entered into the holiest, he first took this

golden censer, and filled it with burning coals from the altar of burnt

offering. He then entered the holy place, and took a handful of sweet

incense from the golden altar of incense, the incense beaten small, and then

he drew aside the second veil, and entered the holiest of all, burning the

incense all the time. He was thus surrounded with a cloud of fragrant

incense as he stood before the mercy-seat.

The meaning of this is very obvious: the Holy Ghost signified by this,

Jesus our Intercessor. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous. This is the Angel of Intercession whom John saw

(Rev. 8:3), offering up the prayers of all saints with much incense. The

prayers of the highest believers are all sinful and polluted. There is so much

unbelief, so much selfishness, so much forgetfulness mingling with all, that

every prayer is sin. But if you put them into the golden censer, Jesus Christ

the righteous will cover all the sin, and offer them up with much incense.

This is the only way of acceptable worship. Is this your way of praying?

Have you such a sense of sin that you are ashamed of your prayers? or do

you put them into Christ’s censer? It is an affecting thought that the censer

of Christ is so often empty—so few prayers put into it. Here is the reason

why the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to God. Prov. 15:8. You do

not put it into the censer of Jesus to be perfumed with the cloud of incense.

(2.) The ark.—This was a chest made of shittim wood, and overlaid

round about, i.e. within and without, with pure gold. The only thing which it

contained in its bosom was the two tables of stone on which God wrote,

with his own finger, the Ten Com mandments. 1 Kings 8:9. The ark was the

chief thing about the tabernacle. It is the first thing Moses was commanded

to make. Exod. 25. When Israel brought the ark into the field of battle, the

Philistines cried out, “God is come into their camp.” It was for the ark of

God that Eli’s heart trembled; and when his daughter-in-law died, she called

her child Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of

God is taken.” 1 Sam. 4:13–22. It was for looking into the ark of God that

God smote the men of Bethshemesh. 1 Sam. 6:19, 20. It was for putting out

his hand to touch the ark of God that Uzzah died. 2 Sam. 6:6. It was the ark

of God that brought such blessing into the house of Obed-edom. 2 Sam.

6:11. When Solomon had built the temple, all was incomplete until the ark

was brought into it; as it is written in the 132d Psalm, ver. 8, “Arise, O

Lord, into thy rest; Thou, and the ark of thy strength.”

Although we have no express warrant in the word of God, yet I have no

doubt that the ark was intended to represent Christ the fulfiller of all

righteousness.

Jeremiah spake of Him, 23:6, “This is his name whereby He shall be

called, The Lord our righteousness;” and in the 40

Psalm He says to the

Father (ver. 8), “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within

my heart.” And thus, when He came, He told John, “It becometh us to fulfil

all righteousness.” And Paul tells us, “By the obedience of one shall many

be made righteous,” Rom. 5. This is the main thing in the gospel, just as the

ark was the main thing under the law. Without the ark, the tabernacle was

but an empty form. Without Christ, our law-fulfilling righteousness,

religion is but a form and a shadow.

Is the Lord our righteousness the main thing in your soul? Has the ark

of God its proper place in your heart? “Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; Thou,

and the ark of thy strength.”

(3.) The hidden manna.—“Wherein was the golden pot that had

manna.” When God led Israel through the wilderness, “He fed them with

the corn of heaven; man did eat angels’ food.” He rained down manna on

them every morning for forty years. At that time God commanded them to

preserve an omer of it (enough for one person) in a golden pot, “that they

may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness,” Exod.

16:32. Paul here tells us it was kept in a golden pot, beside the ark within

the veil.

There can be no doubt that the manna was a type of Jesus—the

nourishment of his people. The bread of God is He which cometh down

from heaven and giveth life unto the world. “I am the bread of life,” John

6:33. But the hidden manna represented Christ within the veil; and,

accordingly, the promise to him that overcometh in the church of Smyrna

runs thus: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,”

Rev. 2:17. Jesus is not to be our food only in the wilderness, but in eternity;

we shall still feed on that hidden manna—that bread of God.

(4.) Aaron’s rod.—“And Aaron’s rod that budded.” This rod was

originally the branch of an almond tree, which Moses cut in the wilderness.

It became his shepherd’s rod. It was the same which God changed into a

serpent (Exod. 4:3–17), and made it the wonder-working rod. By it the

waters were made blood, the Red Sea was divided. By the same rod the

rock was smitten at Meribah, and gave drink to the many thousands of

Israel—Exod. 17; and by it the rock was smitten a second time, when

Moses spoke unadvisedly with his lips. Num. 20:9. The same rod was laid

up before the Lord in the rebellion of Korah (Num. 17), to prove that the

priesthood belonged to the family of Aaron. “It budded, and brought forth

buds, and blossomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” And God

commanded it to be kept in the holiest of all, as a token against the rebels.

We have no positive Scripture authority for saying that this rod represented

Christ; and yet who can doubt it? Originally an almond wand, growing in

the wilderness, it represents Jesus, the root out of a dry ground, without

form or comeliness, having no beauty that we should desire Him—the man

whose name is the Branch.

As the wonder-working rod, it represents Jesus the power of God

mighty to save, mighty also to destroy; doing as never man did, and

speaking as never man spake, so that the people said, “It was never so seen

in Israel.”

As smiting the rock, it represents Jesus as the Priest pouring out his soul

unto death, submitting to the stroke of his own holy law, consenting to his

own death, and bringing out streams of life from his own wounds.

As blossoming and bearing almonds before the Lord, it represents the

root out of a dry ground becoming a fruitful vine. It represents the

fruitfulness of Jesus’ priesthood—that his sufferings are now past, that He

blossoms within the veil.

(5.) The mercy-seat.—This was a lid or covering to the ark of pure gold,

of the same length and breadth as the ark itself. Exod. 25:17. It was the only

lid which the ark had, and it fitted in exactly, so as to cover it close. The two

cherubims stood upon it, being of one piece, beaten out of the same pure

metal. It was upon this lid that the bright cloud, which showed a present

God, rested, so that it was called the mercy-seat.

There can be no doubt that this was intended to represent Christ our

propitiation. First, He is called by this very name, Rom. 3:25, where the

word rendered “a propitiation” is literally “a mercy-seat.” Second, The

mercy-seat was sprinkled with blood. The blood of the bullock and the

blood of the goat was sprinkled on the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-

seat upon the ground. Lev. 16:14, 15. We are nowhere told that the blood

was ever wiped off that golden mercy-seat, so that there can be no doubt it

was kept perpetually stained with the blood. The bright shining gold of the

mercy-seat was kept constantly dimmed with the blood, and the ground

before it was kept always stained with the same. Third, It was the meeting-

place with the sinners. “There will I meet with thee, and commune with

thee from off the mercy-seat,” Exod. 25:22. It is the same with “the throne

of grace.” “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find

mercy,” Heb. 4:16. Sinners, have you come to this mercy-seat, this throne

of grace, this propitiation—all washed with blood? It is here God is willing

to meet with you, and bless you, and do you good. Through this man is

preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.

(6.) The cherubim.—“And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the

mercy-seat.” The cherubims were first seen at the entrance of the garden of

Eden, one on each side of the flaming sword that kept the way of the tree of

life. Moses was commanded to make two of gold. Exod. 25:18. They were

to be beaten out of the mercy-seat, of the same piece of metal; they were to

stand upon the mercy-seat, their wings overshadowing it, and their faces

bending toward it. The same creatures seem to be described by Isaiah, as

seraphim standing above the throne; and by Ezekiel, as bearing God’s

throne—Ezek. 1:10; and by John, as standing round it. Rev. 4.

It is now generally agreed by interpreters, that the cherubims were

emblems of the church of the redeemed in heaven. First, They were of one

piece with the mercy-seat, even as the church is united to Christ. Second,

They stood upon the mercy-seat, sprinkled with blood; they have no other

standing. The blood that was sprinkled on the mercy-seat sprinkled them

also. Third, They gazed down upon the mercy-seat, even as the redeemed

shall spend eternity in beholding that amazing propitiation, which brought

glory to God in the highest, and peace to guilty men. Fourth, They are the

dwelling-place of God. “Thou that dwellest between the cherubim,” Ps.

80:1; literally, Thou that inhabitest the cherubim. But this is said to be the

privilege of the redeemed alone. “An habitation of God, through the Spirit.”

Ye are the temple of the living God. Fifth, They sing, Thou hast redeemed

us. Rev. 4. Are you ever to be in heaven, dear friends, you must stand there

like the cherubims, your feet upon the blood-stained mercy-seat, your eyes

fixed on Jesus, our ever-fulfilling Saviour; dwelt in by God, and singing:

“Thou hast redeemed me.”

III. Let us consider now the meaning of the chamber itself, “The holiest

of all.” It typified three things.

(1.) Christ.—He was the true holiest of all. Dan. 9:24. The veil is

expressly said to be his flesh. Heb. 10:20. The bright cloud, dwelling in frail

boards and curtains, represented God manifest in flesh.

(2.) The gracious presence of God.—This it undoubtedly means. Heb.

10:19: Having boldness to enter into the holiest. Believers are there invited

to draw near into the holiest—to Him that dwelleth between the cherubims.

It is here we are invited to pour out our hearts to God. Have you learned to

spend much of your time within the veil? You would be less moved by all

the changes, and bereavements, and disappointments of a passing world.

Heb. 4:16—throne of grace: mourners come, draw near and pour out your

sorrows there.

(3.) Heaven itself—“Into heaven itself,” ver. 24. Proved also by the

promise of the hidden manna: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the

soul, sure and stedfast, and which entereth in within the veil,” Heb. 6:19.

Christ is the sum of heaven. He is the ark in which God’s law eternally

dwells—the mercy-scat where we shall ever meet with God. He is the

hidden manna on which we shall eternally feed. He is the rod that budded—

the true vine that shall nourish us to all eternity.

Just as the cherubim there stood gazing on the mercy-seat, and on the

bright cloud that covered it; so the redeemed shall spend eternity in

beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. Are you to enter

there? you must have blood, the blood of Jesus, in your hand. You must

have the smoke of the incense around you, and the white linen coat girding

you. Thus and thus only will you enter into glory. Even in heaven we must

be covered with Christ’s death and righteousness. You must live in Christ,

and die in Christ, and spend eternity in Christ.

PIECES ALREADY PUBLISHED

EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS

ANSWERS TO QUERIES ON THE SUBJECT OF THE REVIVAL OF

RELIGION IN ST PETER’S PARISH, DUNDEE

Submitted to a Committee of the Presbytery of Aberdeen.

IN December 1840, the Presbytery of Aberdeen appointed a committee to

inquire into the Revival which had recently occurred in different parts of the

country, or were taking place at that time. The committee, besides hearing

evidence viva voce, issued queries which were sent, amongst other

ministers, to Mr M‘Cheyne. The following are copies of these queries, and

of his answers:—

I. Have Revivals taken place in your parish or district; and if so, to what extent, and by what

instrumentality and means?

II. Do you know what was the previous character and habits of the parties?

III. Have any who are notorious for drunkenness, or other immoralities, neglect of family duties

or public ordinances, abandoned their evil practices, and become remarkable for their diligence in the

use of the means of grace?

IV. Could you condescend on the number of such cases?

V. Has the conduct of any of the parties been hitherto consistent; and how long has it lasted?

VI. Have the means to which the Revivals are ascribed been attended with beneficial effects on

the religious condition of the people at large?

VII. Were there public manifestations of physical excitement, as in audible sobs, groans, cries,

screams, etc.?

VIII. Did any of the parties throw themselves into unusual posturse?

IX. Were there any who fainted, fell into convulsions, or were ill in other respects?

X. How late have you ever known Revival meetings last?

XI. Do you approve or disapprove of these meetings upon the whole? In either case, have the

goodness to state why.

XII. Was any death occasioned, or said to be occasioned, by over-excitement in any such case?

If so, state the circumstances, in so far as you know them.

XIII. State any other circumstances connected with Revivals in your parish or district, which,

though not involved in the foregoing queries, may tend to throw light upon the subject.”

ADDITIONAL QUERIES

“XIV. What special circumstances in the preaching or ministrations of the instruments appear to

have produced the results in each particular case which may have come under your notice?

“XV. Did the person or persons whom you described as the instruments in producing the effects

above adverted to address children? At what hour? In what special terms? And what might be the age

of the youngest of them?”

MR M‘CHEYNE’S ANSWERS

Answer to Query I.—It is my decided and solemn conviction, in the

sight of God, that a very remarkable and glorious work of God, in the

conversion of sinners and edifying of saints, has taken place in this parish

and neighbourhood. This work I have observed going on from the very

beginning of my ministry in this place in November 1836, and it has

continued to the present time; but it was much more remarkable in the

autumn of 1839, when I was abroad on a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews,

and when my place was occupied by the Rev. W. C. Burns. Previous to my

going abroad, and for several months afterwards, the means used were of

the ordinary kind. In addition to the services of the Sabbath, in the summer

of 1837, a meeting was opened in the church, on Thursday evenings, for

prayer, exposition of Scripture, reading accounts of Missions, Revivals of

Religion, etc.; Sabbath schools were formed, private prayer-meetings were

encouraged, and two weekly classes for young men and young women were

instituted, with a very large attendance. These means were accompanied

with an evident blessing from on high in many instances. But there was no

visible or general movement among the people until August 1839, when,

immediately after the beginning of the Lord’s work at Kilsyth, the word of

God came with such power to the hearts and consciences of the people here,

and their thirst for hearing it became so intense, that the evening classes in

the schoolroom were changed into densely crowded congregations in the

church, and for nearly four months it was found desirable to have public

worship almost every night. At this time, also, many prayer-meetings were

formed, some of which were strictly private or fellowship meetings, and

others, conducted by persons of some Christian experience, were open to

persons under concern about their souls. At the time of my return from the

Mission to the Jews, I found thirty-nine such meetings held weekly in

connection with the congregation, and five of these were conducted and

attended entirely by little children. At present, although many changes have

taken place, I believe the number of these meetings is not much diminished.

Now, however, they are nearly all of the more private kind—the deep and

general anxiety, which led to many of them being open, having in a great

degree subsided. Among the many ministers who have assisted here from

time to time, and especially in the autumn of 1839, I may mention Mr

Macdonald of Urquhart, Mr Cumming of Dumbarney, Mr Bonar of Larbert,

Mr Bonar of Kelso, and Mr Somerville of Anderston. Some of these were

present here for a considerable time, and I have good reason for believing

that they were eminently countenanced by God in their labours.

As to the extent of this work of God, I believe it is impossible to speak

decidedly. The parish is situated in the suburb of a city containing 60,000

inhabitants. The work extended to individuals residing in all quarters of the

town, and belonging to all ranks and denominations of the people. Many

hundreds, under deep concern for their souls, have come, from first to last,

to converse with the ministers; so that I am deeply persuaded, the number of

those who have received saving benefit is greater than any one will know

till the judgment-day.

II., III. The previous character of those who seem to have been

converted was very various. I could name not a few in the higher ranks of

life that seem evidently to have become new creatures, who previously

lived a worldly life, though unmarked by open wickedness. Many, again,

who were before nominal Christians, are now living ones. I could name,

however, far more, who have been turned from the paths of open sin and

profligacy, and have found pardon and purity in the blood of the Lamb, and

by the Spirit of our God; so that we can say to them, as Paul said to the

Corinthians, “Such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are

sanctified, but ye are justified,” etc. I often think, when conversing with

some of these, that the change they have undergone might be enough to

convince an atheist that there is a God, or an infidel that there is a Saviour.

IV. It is not easy for a minister, in a field like this, to keep an exact

account of all the cases of awakening and conversion that occur; and there

are many of which he may never hear. I have always tried to mark down the

circumstances of each awakened soul that applied to me, and the number of

these, from first to last, has been very great. During the autumn of 1839 not

fewer that from 600 to 700 came to converse with the ministers about their

souls; and there were many more, equally concerned, who never came

forward in this way. I know many who appear to have been converted, and

yet have never come to me in private; and I am every now and then meeting

with cases of which I never before heard. Indeed, eternity alone can reveal

the true number of the Lord’s hidden ones among us.

V. With regard to the consistency of those who are believed to have

been converted, I may first of all remark, that it must be acknowledged, and

should be clearly understood, that many who came under concern about

their souls, and seemed for a time to be deeply convinced of sin, have gone

back again to the world. I believe that, at that remarkable season in 1839,

there were very few persons who attended the meetings without being more

or less affected. It pleased God at that time to bring an awfully solemn sense

of divine things over the minds of men. It was, indeed, the day of our

merciful visitation. But many allowed it to slip past them without being

saved; and these have sunk back, as was to be expected, into their former

deadness and impenitence. Alas! there are some among us, whose very

looks remind you of that awful warning, “Quench not the Spirit.”

Confining our view, however, to those who, as far as ministers could

judge by the rules of God’s word, seemed to be savingly converted, I may

with safety say, that I do not know of more than two who have openly given

the lie to their profession. Other cases of this kind may have occurred, but

they are unknown to me. More, I have little doubt, will eventually occur; for

the voice of God teaches us to expect such things. Some of those converted

have now walked consistently for four years; the greater part from one to

two years. Some have had their falls into sin, and have thus opened the

mouths of their adversaries; but the very noise that this has made, shows

that such instances are very rare. Some have fallen into spiritual darkness;

many, I fear, have left their first love; but yet I see nothing in all this but

what is incident in the case of every Christian church. Many there are

among us, who are filled with light and peace, and are examples to the

believers in all things. We had an additional communion season at my

return from the Continent, which was the happiest and holiest that I was

ever present at. The Monday was entirely devoted to thanksgiving, and a

thank-offering was made among us to God for his signal mercies. The times

were hard, and my people are far from wealthy, yet the sum contributed was

£71. This was devoted to missionary purposes. It is true that those whom I

esteem as Christians do often grieve me by their inconsistencies; but still I

cannot help thinking that, if the world were full of such, the time would be

come when “they shall neither hurt nor destroy in all God’s holy mountain.”

VI. During the progress of this work of God, not only have many

individuals been savingly converted, but important effects have also been

produced upon the people generally. It is indeed amazing, and truly

affecting to see, that thousands living in the immediate vicinity of the spot

where God has been dealing so graciously, still continue sunk in deep

apathy in regard to spiritual things, or are running on greedily in open sin.

While many from a distance have become heirs of glory, multitudes, I fear,

of those who live within the sound of the Sabbath bell continue to live on in

sin and misery. Still, however, the effects that have been produced upon the

community are very marked. It seems now to be allowed, even by the most

ungodly, that there is such a thing as conversion. Men cannot any longer

deny it. The Sabbath is now observed with greater reverence than it used to

be; and there seems to be far more of a solemn awe upon the minds of men

than formerly. I feel that I can now stop sinners in the midst of their open

sin and wickedness, and command their reverent attention, in a way that I

could not have done before. The private meetings for prayer have spread a

sweet influence over the place. There is far more solemnity in the house of

God; and it is a different thing to preach to the people now from what it

once was. Any minister of spiritual feeling can discern that there are many

praying people in the congregation. When I came first here, I found it

impossible to establish Sabbath schools on the local system; while, very

lately, there were instituted with ease nineteen such schools, that are well

taught and well attended.

VII., VIII., IX. As I have already stated, by far the most remarkable

season of the working of the Spirit of God in this place was in 1839, when I

was abroad. At that time there were many seasons of remarkable solemnity,

when the house of God literally became “a Bochim, a place of weepers.”

Those who were privileged to be present at these times will, I believe, never

forget them. Even since my return, however, I have myself frequently seen

the preaching of the word attended with so much power, and eternal things

brought so near, that the feelings of the people could not be restrained. I

have observed at such times an awful and breathless stillness pervading the

assembly; each hearer bent forward in the posture of rapt attention; serious

men covered their faces to pray that the arrows of the King of Zion might

be sent home with power to the hearts of sinners. Again, at such a time, I

have heard a half-suppressed sigh rising from many a heart, and have seen

many bathed in tears. At other times I have heard loud sobbing in many

parts of the church, while a deep solemnity pervaded the whole audience. I

have also, in some instances, heard individuals cry aloud, as if they had

been pierced through with a dart. These solemn scenes were witnessed

under the preaching of different ministers, and sometimes occurred under

the most tender gospel invitations. On one occasion, for instance, when the

minister was speaking tenderly on the words, “He is altogether lovely,”

almost every sentence was responded to by cries of the bitterest agony. At

such times I have seen persons so overcome, that they could not walk or

stand alone. I have known cases in which believers have been similarly

affected through the fulness of their joy. I have often known such

awakenings to issue in what I believe to be real conversion. I could name

many of the humblest, meekest believers, who at one time cried out in the

church under deep agony. I have also met with cases where the sight of

souls thus pierced has been blessed by God to awaken careless sinners who

had come to mock.

I am far from believing that these signs of deep alarm always issue in

conversion, or that the Spirit of God does not often work in a more quiet

manner. Sometimes, I believe, He comes like the pouring rain; sometimes

like the gentle dew. Still I would humbly state my conviction, that it is the

duty of all who seek the salvation of souls, and especially the duty of

ministers, to long and pray for such solemn times, when the arrows shall be

sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies, and our slumbering congregations

shall be made to cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

X., XI. None of the ministers who have been engaged in the work of

God here have ever used the name “Revival meeting;” nor do they approve

of its use. We are told in the Acts that the apostles preached and taught the

gospel daily; yet their meetings are never called Revival meetings. No other

meetings have taken place here, but such as were held for the preaching and

teaching of the gospel, and for prayer. It will not be maintained by any one,

that the meetings in the sanctuary every Lord’s day are intended for any

other purpose than the revival of genuine godliness, through the conversion

of sinners and the edification of saints. All the meetings in this place were

held, I believe, with a single eye to the same object. There seems, therefore,

to be no propriety in applying the name peculiarly to any meetings that have

been held in this place. It is true, indeed, that on week evenings there is not

generally the same formality as on Sabbaths; the congregation are

commonly dressed in their working clothes, and the minister speaks with

less regular preparation.

During the autumn of 1839 the meetings were in general dismissed at

ten o’clock; although in several instances the state of the congregation

seemed to be such as to demand that the ministers should remain still longer

with them, that they might counsel and pray with the awakened. I have

myself once or twice seen the service in the house of God continue till

about midnight. On these occasions the emotion during the preaching of the

word was so great, that after the blessing had been pronounced at the usual

hour, the greater part of the people remained in their seats or occupied the

passages, so that it was impossible to leave them. In consequence of this, a

few words more were spoken suited to the state of awakened souls; singing

and prayer filled up the rest of the time. In this way the meeting was

prolonged by the very necessity of the case. On such occasions I have often

longed that all the ministers in Scotland were present, that they might learn

more deeply what the true end of our ministry is. I have never seen or heard

of anything indecorous at such meetings; and on all such occasions, the

feelings that filled my soul were those of the most solemn awe, the deepest

compassion for afflicted souls, and an unutterable sense of the hardness of

my own heart. I do entirely and solemnly approve of such meetings,

because I believe them to be in accordance with the word of God, to be

pervaded by the Spirit of Christ, and to be ofttimes the birthplaces of

precious, never-dying souls. It is my earnest prayer that we may yet see

greater things than these in all parts of Scotland.

XII. There was one death that took place in very solemn circumstances

at the time of the work of God in this place, and this was ascribed by many

of the enemies to religious excitement. The facts of the case, however,

which were published at the time, clearly show that this was a groundless

calumny.

XIII. I have been led to examine with particular care the accounts that

have been left us of the Lord’s marvellous works in the days that are past,

both in our own land and in other parts of the world, in order that I might

compare these with what has lately taken place at Dundee, and in other

parts of Scotland. In doing this, I have been fully convinced that the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Kirk of Shotts, and again, a century

after, at Cambus lang, etc., in Scotland, and under the ministry of President

Edwards in America, was attended by the very same appearances as the

work in our own day. Indeed, so completely do they seem to agree, both in

their nature and in the circumstances that attended them, that I have not

heard a single objection brought against the work of God now which was

not urged against it in former times, and that has not been most scripturally

and triumphantly removed by Mr Robe in his Narrative, and by President

Edwards in his invaluable Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New

England: “And certainly we must throw by all talk of conversion and

Christian experience; and not only so, but we must throw by our Bibles, and

give up revealed religion, if this be not in general the work of God.”

XIV. I do not know of anything in the ministrations of those who have

occupied my pulpit that may with propriety be called peculiar, or that is

different from what I conceive ought to characterize the services of all true

ministers of Christ. They have preached, so far as I can judge, nothing but

the pure gospel of the grace of God. They have done this fully, clearly,

solemnly; with discrimination, urgency, and affection. None of them read

their sermons. They all, I think, seek the immediate conversion of the

people, and they believe that, under a living gospel ministry, success is

more or less the rule, and want of success the exception. They are, I believe,

in general, peculiarly given to secret prayer; and they have also been

accustomed to have much united prayer when together, and especially

before and after engaging in public worship. Some of them have been

peculiarly aided in declaring the terrors of the Lord, and others in setting

forth the fulness and freeness of Christ as the Saviour of sinners; and the

same persons have been, at different times, remarkably assisted in both

these ways. So far as I am aware, no unscriptural doctrines have been

taught, nor has there been a keeping back of any part of “the whole counsel

of God.”

XV. The ministers engaged in the work of God in this place, believing

that children are lost, and may through grace be saved, have therefore

spoken to children as freely as to grown persons; and God has so greatly

honoured their labours, that many children, from ten years old and upwards,

have given full evidence of their being born again. I am not aware of any

meetings that have been held peculiarly for children, with the exception of

the Sabbath schools, the children’s prayer-meetings, and a sermon to

children on the Monday evening after the Communion. It was commonly at

the public meetings in the house of God that children were impressed; often

also in their own little meetings, when no minister was present.

March 1841.

ANOTHER LILY GATHERED

CONVERSION OF JAMES LAING

“My beloved is gone down into his garden to gather lilies.”—SONG 6:2.

GOD loves his mighty works to be remembered. We easily forget the most

amazing displays of his love and power, and therefore it is right often to set

up a stone of remembrance. When Israel passed over Jordan on dry land,

God commanded Joshua to take twelve stones out of the dry bed of the

river, and to set them up at Gilgal, for a memorial, “that all the people of the

earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty,” Josh. 4:24.

Whenever the children of Israel looked upon these massy stones, they

would remember how God brought their fathers through the swellings of

Jordan.

God has done great things for us in this corner of his vineyard, whereof

we are glad. The Word has often grown mightily and prevailed. Many old

sinners and many young ones have given clear evidence of a saving change.

And though we cannot say that “the Lord added to the church daily such as

should be saved,” yet we can say, that from the first day, until now, He has

never left himself without a witness.

We have done little in the way of making known the doings of the Lord.

The record of many a saved soul is on high, and many in their heavenly

walk amid a polluted world are living monuments of what a God of grace

can do. In this little narrative we would raise up an humble stone to the

memory of a dear boy who now sleeps in Jesus, and to the praise of that

God and Saviour who planted, watered, and gathered his own lily.

JAMES LAING was born on 28

July 1828, and lost his mother before he

was eight years old. Of the living members of the family I do not mean to

speak; they have not yet finished their course, but are still in the valley of

tears, and trials, and temptations. This only mast be noticed, that not long

after God took away the mother, He dealt so graciously with the elder sister,

that she was henceforth fitted to watch over the other children with a

mother’s tenderness.

James was seized with the same fever as that of which his mother died,

and he never enjoyed good health afterwards. He was naturally a very quiet

and reserved boy, not so rough in his language as many of the boys around.

One day, when he was lying on his dying bed, I was asking his sister what

kind of boy he had been. She said that he was as wicked as other boys, only

he did not swear. After I was gone, he told his sister that she was wrong. He

never used to swear at home, because he was afraid he would be punished

for it; but when among his companions he often used to swear. “Ah!” added

he, “it is a wonder God did not send me to hell when I was a swearer.”

Another day, hearing some boys swearing near his window, he said, “It is a

wonder God did not leave me to swear among these boys yet.” Such was

the early life of this boy. He did not know the God who guided him, and in

whose hand his breath was; and such is the life of most of our children—

they “cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God.”

The Holy Spirit strives even with children. And when they grieve Him,

and resist his awakening hand, He suffers long with them. The first time

that James showed any concern for his soul was in the autumn of 1839. It

was a solemn time in this place; St Peter’s was like Bethel. The divine

ladder was set down in the midst of the people, and its top reached up to

heaven, and even strangers were forced to say, “Surely God is in this place.”

Oh that these sweet days would come back again! His elder brother,

Alexander, a sailor boy, was at that time awakened, and the same glorious

Spirit seemed to visit James for a time. One evening their sister Margaret,

returning home from a meeting, found her two brothers on their knees

earnestly crying for mercy. She did not interrupt them; but Alexander

afterwards said to her, “Jamie feels that he needs Christ too. We will easily

know if he be in earnest, for then he will not need to be bidden to pray.”

The test was a trying one; James soon gave up secret prayer, and proved

that his goodness was like a morning cloud and the early dew which goeth

away. This is the mark of the hypocrite laid down by Job, “Will he always

call upon God?” Job 27:10.

Another night Margaret observed James coming from the prayer-

meeting in the school in great distress. He kept close by the wall of the

church, that he might escape observation. He was much concerned that

night, and, after retiring to rest, said to his sister, in his own Scottish dialect,

“There’s me come awa’ without Christ to-night again.”

One Thursday evening he attended the weekly meeting held in the

church. The passage explained was Romans 4:4–6, and sinners were urged

to receive the “righteousness without works.” Many were deeply affected,

and would not go away even after the blessing. James was one of those who

remained, and when I came to him he was weeping bitterly. I asked him if

he cared for his soul: he said, “Whiles.” I asked if he prayed: he said, “Yes.”

He was much concerned on his return home that night both for others and

for his own soul. But these dew-drops were soon dried up again.

He attended the Sabbath school in the lane where their cottage stands.

Often, when the teacher was reading the Bible or some awakening

anecdote, the tears flowed down his cheeks; but he tried to conceal his

emotion from the other boys, lest they should laugh at him. He afterwards

said in his last illness, “Oh that I had just another night of the Sabbath

school! I would not care though they should laugh at me now.” Sometimes,

during the reading and prayer in the family, the word of God was like a fire

to him, so that he could not bear it; and after it was over, he would run to

his wild companions in order to drown the cries of his awakened

conscience.

In July 1841 he went up to Glammis for his health. I was preaching in

the neighbourhood, and he wished much to go and hear, but was not able to

walk the distance. One night he heard Mr Cormick of Kirriemuir preach in a

cottage on John 7:37. He felt it deeply, and wept bitterly; but he remarked

that none of the people wept. He knew well when people showed any

concern for their soul; and he often remarked that to be anxious is not to be

in Christ. When he came home, he spoke much of the carelessness of the

people where he had been. “Ah! Margaret, there was no Bible read yonder.

The people a’ went to their bed just as if there had not been a God.” What a

faithful picture is this of the state of many of our country parishes!

One night after his return, a neighbour was sitting by the fire reading

the work of an old divine. It stated that even carnal men sometimes receive

a conviction they never can forget. She turned to James, and asked him if he

had never received a conviction that he could not forget. “Yes,” he said, “I

can never forget it; but we cannot seek Christ twice.” Thus did the long-

suffering of God wait upon this little boy, the good Spirit strove with him,

and Jesus stood at the door and knocked; but he would not hear.

The day of Immanuel’s power, and the time of love, was, however, near

at hand. As the cold winds of October set in, his sickly frame was much

affected: he became weak and breathless. One Tuesday, in the end of

October, he turned decidedly worse, and became intensely anxious about

the salvation of his soul. His lamentable cry was, “Oh, Jesus, save me—

save me!” Margaret asked if his concern was real, for he had often deceived

her hopes before. He wept, and said, “Yes.” His body was greatly pained;

but he forgot all in the intense anxiety for his precious, never-dying soul.

On the Saturday I paid a visit to their humble cottage, and found the little

sufferer sitting by the fire. He began to weep bitterly while I spoke to him

of Jesus having come into the world to save sinners. I was enabled in a

simple manner to answer the objections that sinners make to an immediate

closing with Christ. Margaret wondered; for the minister could not have

spoken more to the case of her brother if he had known it; and she inwardly

thanked God, for she saw that He was directing it. James spent the rest of

the day on his knees in evident distress of soul. Oh how little the most of

those called Christians know what it is to pass through such deep waters!

Margaret asked him if he was seeking Jesus: he said, “Yes.” She asked, “If

he would like anything—a bit of bread?” he said, “No; but I would take a

bit of the bread of life if you would give it me.” She replied, “I cannot give

you that; but if you seek it, you will get it.” He remained alone till evening,

and was never off his knees. Towards night he came to the other end of the

cottage, and put this question: “Have I only to believe that Jesus died for

sinners? Is that all?” He was told, “Yes.” “Well, I believe that Jesus died for

me, for I am a poor, hell-deserving sinner. I have been praying all this

afternoon, that when Jesus shed his blood for sinners, He would sprinkle

some of it upon me, and He did it.” He then turned up Rom. 5:8, and read

these words, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” His sister

wept for joy, and James added, “I am not afraid to die now, for Jesus has

died for me.” Often after this he bade his sister read to him Rom. 5, Ps. 103,

and Ps. 116. These were favourite portions with him.

From that day it was a pleasant duty indeed to visit the cottage of this

youthful inquirer. Many a happy hour have I spent beneath that humble

roof. Instead of dropping passing remarks, I used generally to open up a

passage of the word, that he might grow in knowledge. I fear that, in

general, we are not sufficiently careful in regularly instructing the sick and

dying. A pious expression and a fervent prayer are not enough to feed the

soul that is passing through the dark valley. Surely if sound and spiritual

nourishment is needed by the soul at any time, it is in such an hour when

Satan uses all his arts to disturb and destroy.

One Thursday afternoon I spoke to him on Matt. 23:37, “How often

would I have gathered your children.” He was in great darkness that day,

and, weeping bitterly, said, “I fear I have never been gathered to Christ; but

if I have never been gathered, oh that I were gathered to Christ now!” After

I was gone he said, “It would give me no peace though the minister and

everybody said I was a Christian, if I had not the sense of it between God

and myself.”

He was very fond of the Song of Solomon, and many parts of it were

opened up to him. One day I spoke on Song 5:13, “His lips are like lilies,

dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.” I told him that these were some of the

drops that fell from the lips of Jesus: “If any man thirst, let him come to me

and drink.” “I came to seek and to save that which was lost.” “Wilt thou be

made whole?” “I give unto them eternal life.” He said solemnly, “That’s

fine.”

Another day, Song 1:5, “I am black, but comely,” was explained. He

said, “I am black as hell in myself, but I’m all fair in Jesus.” This was ever

after a common expression of his. Another day I spoke on Song 5:15: “His

legs are like pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold;” and showed

the almighty strength of the Lord Jesus. The next day when I came in, I

asked him how he was; but, without answering my question, he said, “I am

glad you told me that about Jesus’ legs being like pillars of marble, for now

I see that He is able to carry me and all my sins.”

On one occasion he said, “I am glad this psalm is in the Bible.” “What

psalm?” He answered, “ ‘Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale.’ He has

promised to be with me, and God is as good as his word.”

At another time I read to him Isaiah 43:2: “When thou passest through

the waters, I will be with thee;” and explained that when he came to the

deep deep waters, the Lord Jesus would put his foot down beside his, and

wade with him. This often comforted him, for he believed it as firmly as if

he had seen the pierced foot of Jesus placed beside his own; and he said to

Margaret, “If Christ put down his foot beside mine, then I have nothing to

fear.”

One Sabbath I had been preaching on Caleb following the Lord fully

(Num. 14:24), and had stated that every sin committed after conversion

would take away something from the believer’s weight of eternal glory.

Alexander, his brother, was present, it being his only Sabbath on shore. He

was much troubled, and said, “Ah! I fear mine will be all lost.” He told the

statement to James, who was also troubled. Alexander said, “You don’t

need to be troubled, Jamie; you are holy.” James wept, and said, “I wonder

to hear you speak.” Alexander said, “Ah! but you are holier than me.”

In the same sermon I had said that if believers did nothing for Christ,

they would get in at the door of heaven, but nothing more. The sailor-boy

told this to his brother, who wept again, saying, “I have done nothing for

Christ.” Alexander said he had done lees. James added, “I would like to be

near Jesus. I could not be happy unless I was near Him.” Speaking of those

who had gone to glory long ago, James said that “those who died in Christ

now, and did most for Him. Jesus would take them in by (that is, near to

himself), though they were late of coming.”

How lovely this simple, domestic scene! Happy families; but, ah! how

few where the children fear the Lord, and speak often one to another. Surely

the Lord stands behind the wall hearkening, and He will write their words in

his book of remembrance. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up my jewels.”

Some of my dear brethren in the ministry visited this little boy, to see

God’s wonderful works in Him, and to be helpers of his joy. It is often of

great importance, in visiting the dying, to call in the aid of a fellow-

labourer. Different lines of testimony to the same Saviour are thus brought

to meet in the chamber of sorrow. In the mouth of two or three witnesses

shall every word be established. Mr Cumming of Dumbarney, visiting him

one day, asked him if he suffered much pain. James—“Sometimes.” Mr C.

—“When you are in much pain, can you think on the sufferings of the Lord

Jesus?” James—“When I see what Jesus suffered for me, it takes away my

pain. Mine is nothing to what He suffered.” He often repeated these words:

“My light affection, which is but for a moment.”

At another time, Mr Miller of Wallacetown called with me, and our

little sufferer spoke very sweetly on eternal things. Mr M.—“Would you

like to get better?” James—“I would like the will of God.” Mr M.—“But if

you were getting better, would you just live as you did before?” James—“If

God did not give me grace, I would.” During the same visit I was asking

Margaret when he was first awakened. She told me of his first concern, and

then of the first day I had called. James broke in, and said, “Ah! but we

must not lean upon that.” His meaning was, that past experiences are not the

foundation of a sinner’s peace. I never met with any boy who had so clear a

discovery of the way of pardon and acceptance through the doing and dying

of the Lord Jesus, laid to our account. One time I visited him, I said, “I have

been thinking of this verse to-day: ‘The Lord is well pleased for his

righteousness’ sake,’ ” Isa. 42:21. He said, “Explain that to me, for I don’t

understand it.” I opened it up to him, but I feared he did not take up the

meaning. Some days after he said to his sister, “Margaret, I have been

thinking of a sweet verse to-day.” She asked what it was; but it had slipped

from his memory. M.—“Was it about Christ?” James—“Ay.” She quoted

one, James—“No, that’s not it.” At length she quoted, “The Lord is well

pleased,” etc. “Ah! that’s it (he said); I was thinking it’s no for my

righteousness’ sake, but for his righteousness’ sake.” This showed how

fully he embraced what so few comprehend—the way of salvation by “the

obedience of one” for many. Surely God was his teacher, for God alone can

reveal the sweetness and glory of this truth to the soul of man!

Mr Bonar of Collace often visited him, and these were sweet visits to

little James. One day, when Mr Bonar had been opening up some Scripture

to him, he said, “Do you know what I am saying, Jamie?” James—“Yes, but

I canna get at it (I cannot feel its power); I see it all.” Mr B.—“I think there

would be a pleasure in seeing the people drink when Moses struck the rock,

even though one did not get a drink themselves.” James—“Ah! but I would

like a drink.”

One of the loveliest features in the character of this little boy, was his

intense love to the souls of men. He often spoke with me on the folly of

men living without Christ in the world. I shall never forget the

compassionate glance of his clear blue eye as he said, “What a pity it is that

they do not a’ come to Christ!—they would be sic happy.” He often

reminded me of the verse: “Love is of God, and every one that loveth is

born of God,” 1 John 4:7.

One Sabbath evening I spoke to the scholars in the Sabbath school

about him. When the school was over, they all came into his cottage to see

him. The little throng stood silent round his bed, while he spoke to them

with great solemnity. “You all know what I was; I was no better than you;

but the Holy Spirit opened my eyes, and I saw that I was on the very brink

of hell. Then I cried to Jesus to save me, and give me a new heart; I put my

finger on the promise, and would not come away without it: and He gave

me a new heart; and He is as willing to give you all a new heart. I have

sinned with you; now I would like you to come to Christ with me. You

would be far happier in Christ than at your play. There are sweeter pleasures

in Christ. Here are two awful verses to me:—

“ ‘There is a dreadful hell,

And everlasting pains;

There sinners must with devils dwell

In darkness, fire, and chains.

Can such a wretch as I

Escape this cursed end?

And may I hope, whene’er I die,

I shall to heaven ascend?’ ”

Then, pointing to the fire, he said, “You could not keep your finger long

there; but remember hell is a lake of fire. I would give you all a prayer to

pray to-night. Go and tell Jesus that you are poor, lost, hell-deserving

sinners, and tell Him to give you a new heart. Mind, He’s willing, and oh!

be earnest—ye’ll no get it unless ye be earnest.”

These were nearly his very words. Strange scene! a dying boy speaking

to his fellows. They were impressed for a time, but it soon wore away.

Several Sabbath evenings the same scene was renewed. The substance of all

his warnings was, “Come to Christ and get a new heart.” He often told me

afterwards that he had been inviting them to Christ, “but (he added) they’ll

no come.”

One evening during the week, a number of the children came in. After

speaking to them in a very solemn manner, he took from under his pillow a

little book, called A Letter about Jesus Christ. He turned up the part where

it tells of six boys laying their finger on the promise (Ezek. 36:26), and

pleading for its fulfilment. He was not able to read it to them, but he said he

would give it to them; and each boy should keep it two days, and read it,

and do the same. The boys were much impressed, and agreed to the

proposal.

One day, during his illness, his sister found him crying very bitterly.

She asked him what ailed him. He said, “Do you remember when I was at

the day-school at the time of the Revival? One day when we were writing

our copies, one of the boys had been some anxious about his soul; he wrote

a line to me on a slip of paper: ‘Ezek. 36:26. To James Laing. Pray over it.’

I took the paper, read it, and tore it, and threw it on the floor, and laughed at

the boy. Oh, Margaret, if I hadna laughed at him, maybe he would have

sought Christ until he had found Him! Maybe I have been the means of

ruining his soul to all eternity!” In how touching a manner this shows the

tenderness of his care for the souls of others; and also how a rash word or

deed, little thought of at the time, may plant a sting in the dying pillow.

One night I went with my little cousin to see James. I said, “I have

brought my Jamie to see you.” He took him kindly by the hand, and said,

“We’re twa Jamies thegither. May we both meet in heaven. Be earnest to get

Christ. You’ll no get Christ unless you are earnest.” When we were gone, he

said to his sister, “Although Jamie bides with the minister, unless the Spirit

open his eyes, he canna get Christ.”

His knowledge of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel was very

wonderful. It was not mere head knowledge—it came fresh and clear from

the heart, like spring water welling up from a great depth. He felt the

sovereignty of God very deeply. Once I quoted to him the hymn,

“Chosen not for good in me.”

He said, “I am sure it was for naething in me. I am a hell-deserving sinner.”

Often, when speaking of the great things God had done for their family, he

would say, “Ah! Margaret, I wonder that Christ would look in here and take

us.” Once he said, “I wonder how Jesus died for such a sinner as me. Why

me, Lord, why me?”

The greatest want in the religion of children is generally sense of sin.

Artless simplicity and confidence in what is told, are in some respects

natural to children; and this is the reason why we are so often deceived by

promising appearances in childhood. The reality of grace in a child is best

known by his sense of sin. Little James often wondered “how God sent his

servant sic often to him, such a hell-deserving sinner.” This was a common

expression of his. On one occasion he said, “I have a wicked wicked heart,

and a tempting devil. He’ll not let me alone, but this is all the hell that I’ll

get. Jesus bore my hell already. Oh, Margaret, this wicked heart of mine

would be hell enough for me though there was no other! But there are no

wicked hearts in heaven.” Often he prayed, “Come, Holy Spirit, and make

me holy—make me like Jesus.”

The way of salvation through the righteousness of Christ was always

sweet to him. He had an uncommon grasp of it; Christ crucified was all his

salvation and all his desire. One day his sister said to him, “You must meet

death in Jesus, and go to the judgment-seat in Jesus, and spend eternity in

Jesus. You will be as hell-deserving in yourself when you stand before the

throne as now.” He smiled sweetly, and said, “Oh, Margaret, I see it must be

all Jesus from beginning to end!”

Another time a little boy who was in concern for his soul came to see

James, and told him how many chapters he had read, and how often he had

prayed. James did not answer at the time, but a little after he said to his

sister, “David was here, and told me how many chapters he had read, etc. I

see he’s upon the working plan; but I must tell him that it’s no his reading,

nor yet his praying, but Jesus alone that must save him.”

Another day he said, “The devil is letting me see that this word and

another word in my prayer is sin, but I just tell him it is all sin. I bid him go

to Jesus, there is no sin in Him; and I have taken Him to be my Saviour.”

He had a very clear discovery of the dead and helpless condition of the

carnal mind, and of the need of the Holy Spirit to convert the soul. Telling

me once of the boy under concern, and of what he had been saying to him,

he added, “But it is nonsense to speak of these things without the Holy

Spirit.” At another time I was speaking on John 14:1. He seemed to be

thinking about something else, and suddenly said, “When we lose our first

love, it’s no easy getting our second love; only the Spirit of God can give

it.”

Often, when he saw the family preparing to go to church, he would pray

that I might be filled with the Holy Spirit in speaking, so that some sinners

might be caught. “I mind often sitting on the pulpit stairs careless; I would

like if I had that place again. If I had but one sermon, I would not be so

careless now.” He often wished to be carried to the church, but was never

able to bear the exertion.

He was no stranger to temptations from the wicked one. I scarcely ever

visited him but he spoke to me of these. Once he said, “The devil often

tempts me to think upon good people, but I tell him it is Christ I want.”

Another time, “What do you think? The devil now tempts me to believe that

I’ll never be saved, because I have repented on my death-bed.” Often, when

tempted, he would cry, “If I perish, I’ll perish at Christ’s feet.” A few days

before he died, he said, “I am afraid I will not be saved yet, for the devil

will catch my soul as it leaves my body. But Jesus says, ‘Ye shall never

perish.’ If I am in the hand of Jesus, the devil cannot pluck me out there.”

Once I found him kneeling on a pillow by the fire; he complained of

great darkness, and doubted his interest in Christ. I told him that we must

not close with Christ because we feel Him, but because God has said it, and

that we must take God’s word even in the dark. After that he always seemed

to trust God in the dark, even at times when he had no inward evidence of

being Christ’s. At one of these times, a believer, who is often in great

darkness, came in, and asked him, “When you are in darkness, Jamie, how

do you do? Can you go to Jesus?” He answered, in his own pointed manner,

“Annie, woman, I have no ither gate to gang.”

The last text I explained to him was 2 Tim. 4:7: “I have fought a good

fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” I was wonderfully

helped in showing him that, from conversion to coronation, the life of a

believer was one continued fight. He said, “Would you not think that the

devil would let a poor young creature like me alone? but he’s an awful

tempter.”

He had a mind that loved to think on the deep things of God. One day a

believer called and prayed beside his bed, asking for him that he might be

“filled with all the fulness of God.” The same person came another day, and

before praying inquired, “What shall I ask for you?” He said, “You mind

what you sought for me the last time. You prayed that I might be filled with

all the fulness of God: I canna get any more than that, but dinna seek any

less to-day.”

A dear Christian lady used to bring him flowers. She spoke to him of

Christ being the “lily of the valley,” and on one occasion brought him one.

He asked her to pick it out from the rest, and give it into his hand. Holding

the gentle flower in his pale wasted fingers, he looked at it, and said, “This

might convince the world that there is a God, though there were nothing

else. Ay, there is a God—there is a heaven—there is a hell—and there is a

judgment-seat—whether they will believe it or no.” He said this in a very

solemn way, pausing between every member of the sentence.

He loved singing praise to God, though not able to join in it himself. He

frequently made us sing beside his bed, and often bade them sing the 23d

Psalm. “I have no strength to sing here (he would say); I have a heart, but

not strength: when I get to heaven, I’ll be able to sing there.” Sometimes he

would bid them sing these words, “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord.” He

often repeated that hymn, and he left it in charge that it should be sung by

the scholars on the night of his death. The 65

Paraphrase was also precious

to him, especially that part: “Hark how the adoring hosts above.” He loved

these verses, and often wished that he were among that praising company.

My sister once sent him a hymn: “The fulness of Jesus.” He said he

liked it all, but he liked the last verse best.

“I long to be with Jesus

Amid the heavenly throng,

To sing with saints his praises,

To learn the angels’ song.”

He delighted in secret prayer. In weakness and pain, yet he spent hours

upon his knees, communing with an unseen God. When unable for the

outward part of the exercise, he said, “Oh, Margaret, I prayed to Jesus as

long as I was able; but now I’m not able, and He does not want it from me;

but I’m just always giving Him my heart.” Many a night he got no sleep. I

asked him if he wearied during the silent watches. He said, “No; his left

hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” God gave this

dear boy a very calm and cheerful spirit in the midst of all his trials. Neither

bodily pain nor the assaults of the devil could sour his temper, or ruffle his

placid brow. At any time when his pain increased, he would say, “It is the

Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.” One time, in deep darkness, he

cried out, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Again, when his

soul was more in the light, he would say, “I long to depart, and to be with

Christ, which is far better;” “but then I’m willing to wait the Lord’s time;

good is the will of the Lord.” Again he would say, “I long to be with Jesus. I

long to see Jesus that died for me. If I am spared to go out again, I must just

go leaning upon these words, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ They will be

sure to mock me, but they mocked Jesus before.” Once he said to me, “I

wondered when I have heard you say that Christ was sweet; but now I feel

Him to be sweet, sweet.” One time I spoke of the fulness that is in Christ; he

said afterwards, “I just think that I am lying with my mouth at Christ,

drawing from Him.”

On the last day of 1841 he said to his sister, “I will tell you what I

would like for my New Year (gift). I would like a praying heart, and a heart

to love Christ more.” Next day a woman came in, and said, “Poor Jamie!

you’ll get no fun this New Year’s Day.” James said, “Poor body, she thinks

like as I care for the New Year. I have far better than you have, though you

had the whole world. This is the happiest New Year’s Day that ever I had,

for I have Christ.” She was very deaf, and did not hear what he said; but he

often pitied that woman, and prayed for her.

At another time his father said, “Poor Jamie!” He replied, “Ah, father,

don’t call me poor, I am rich; they that have Christ have all things.”

A little after the New Year, he said, “Margaret, I am not to die yet, for I

have mair to suffer; but I am willing, though it should be for years.” On one

occasion, when he was suffering much pain, he said, “Five minutes in glory

will make up for all this suffering.”

When Margaret had to go out with her father’s dinner, she used to lock

the door, leaving James alone within. On returning, she asked, “Were you

wearying, Jamie?” His reply was, “Oh no, Jesus takes care of me when you

are out.” One of his country friends came in one day to see him, and said, “I

am sure you have a weary time of it, Jamie.” He said, “Oh no, I never

weary; Christ keeps me from wearying.”

After a very happy communion season in April, I went to visit him, and

he spoke in a most touching manner. “I was not sorry on Sabbath that all the

people were sitting at the Lord’s table, and me lying here; for I thought I

would soon be at the table above with Christ, and then I would be far

happier.”

In a season of great darkness he said, “Margaret, give me my Bible”

(meaning a little book of texts, called Dew-Drops). When he had got it, he

sought out the verse, “The Lord is a stronghold in the day of trouble, and

He knoweth them that trust in Him.” He said, “Margaret, I’ll trust in Him,

though I cannot see Him. I will lie down upon that verse.” When his bed

was made at night, he would take another verse to lie down upon, as he

called it; so he was fed by the dew and the word.

A young woman who lived in the same lane was awakened to deep

concern the same winter that James was brought to Christ. Before her

concern she never came in to see James, though her mother often advised

her to do so. But when she was brought to feel her sin and misery, she came

in every Sabbath night, and was always tenderly kind to James. “How are

you to-night, Jamie?” she would say; “you are well off when you can say, I

have found Christ.” Early in spring this young woman evidently found the

true rest for her weary soul in Jesus. She became a candidate for the Lord’s

table, and was to have been admitted, but God called her away to sit at the

table that can never be drawn. She died full of joy, with the praises of God

upon her lips. Margaret had been present at this interesting death-bed, and

when she returned home she told James. He answered with great

composure, “I wish I had been away with her; but I must wait the Lord’s

time. Betsy is singing now, and I will soon be there too.”

James used to take the bitterest medicines without any reluctance. He

folded his hands, shut his eyes, and asked God to bless it to him. “Ah!

Margaret, if God do not bless it to me, it will do me no good.” Often she

asked, “Is it not bitter?” He would say, “Yes, but Jesus had a bitterer cup to

drink for me.”

In the summer of 1841, another remarkable boy, named James Wallace,

had died in the Lord. He was one whom God taught in a wonderful manner.

He had a singular gift of prayer, and was made useful to many, both old and

young. James Laing had known him well in former days. In 1839, a

younger brother of James Laing, named Patrick, had died also, not without

pleasing marks of having undergone a divine change. It is needful to know

these things, to understand the following dream of our little pilgrim.

A short time after he believed, he said, “Margaret, I will tell you my

dream.” Margaret was afraid of some fancy leading him astray, and asked

what it was. James—“I thought there was a ladder, the foot of it on earth,

and the top of it reached to heaven. I thought it was heaven I saw. There

was a great multitude of people, but I knew none of them but Patrick and

Jamsie Wallace. When I was standing on the first or second step of the

ladder, Jamsie Wallace looked down and said, ‘Ay, here’s another one

coming stepping up.’ ” He explained it by referring to Jacob’s ladder, and

that Jesus is the ladder. Margaret said, “Ay, and you are just on the first

step.”

He was very fond of the life of John Ross, and nearly had it by heart.

He said he was in the same mind. Another little book he loved was, “A

Dying Thief and a Dying Saviour.” He left it to his father. The hymn at the

end of it, “There is a fountain filled with blood,” often fed his soul.

He could write a little, and, like John Ross, he used that talent in writing

down precious sentences. One of his little papers is now before me: “Stand

fast in the Lord. Be ye faithful unto death. Abide in Him, abide in Him.

Pray without ceasing. This is the end.”

In the latter part of his illness he was used as an instrument in

awakening another boy, whose impressions I earnestly hope may never

wear away. D. G. had been a very wild boy—so much so, that he was

expelled from the Sabbath school. He found his way into James’ cottage,

and there saw exemplified the truths he would not listen to in school. From

that day till James died, David regularly visited him, and learned from him

with deepest interest the things that belonged to his peace. James often

prayed with him alone. Sometimes both prayed at the same time for a new

heart. Margaret was always made to withdraw at these times. He pleaded

with this boy to seek Jesus when young, “for it’s easier to find Jesus when

we are young. Look at Annie (a grown-up person, who had been long under

concern), she has been long in seeking Christ, and she is long in finding.

Mind what I told you, for I will soon be in heaven.” Boy—“Will you get to

heaven?” James—“Oh yes! all that believe in Christ get to heaven, and I

believe that Jesus died for me. Now, David, if I see you on the left hand,

you will mind that I often bade you come to Christ.” Boy—“I’ll have

naebody to pray with me, and tell me about my soul, when you are dead.”

James—“I have bidden Margaret pray for you, and I have told the minister;

and go you to our kirk, and he will tell you the way to come to Christ.”

Three times a-day did this anxious inquirer seek the prayers and

counsels of his youthful instructor, till James’ strength gave way, and he

could talk no more. The day before he died the boy came in; James could

hardly speak, but he looked steadily at him, and said, “Seek on, David.”

The last visit I paid to this young Christian was on the Tuesday before

he died, in company with Mr Miller of Wallacetown, and Mr Smith, one of

our Jewish missionaries at Pesth, who was that same day to sail from his

native land. After speaking a little we prayed, and I asked what I would

pray for him. James said, “Dying grace.” He shook hands with us all. When

the missionary held his hand, he said, “God’s people have much need to

pray for you, and for them there.” When we had gone out he said, “Maybe

I’ll never see the minister again.”

On the Thursday he said, “Ah! Margaret, mind it’s no easy to die. You

know nothing about it. Even though you have Christ, it is dark.” The same

day he bade her give D. G. his Sunday trousers and new boots, that he

might go to the church. He gave his father The Dying Thief; and said, “I am

going to give A lick my Bible” (meaning Dew-Drops). There was a piece of

money under his pillow. He said it was to buy Bibles to them that never

heard of Jesus.

His aunt came in on the Friday morning. He said, “Ok, aunt, don’t put

off seeking Christ to a death-bed, for if I had Christ to seek to-day, what

would have become of me? but I have given my heart to Christ.” Margaret

asked him, “What will I do? I will miss your company in the house.” James

answered, “You maun just go the mair to Jesus. Do not be ill about me now,

when I am dead, Margaret. If I thought that, I would be sorry; and more

than that, God would be angry at you, for I would be far happier. It is better

to depart and be with Christ. Ask grace to keep you from it.”

All that day he spoke very little. In the evening he grew much worse.

His sister wished to sit up with him that night, but he would not allow her.

She said, “These eyes will soon see Him whom your soul loves.” James

said, “Ay.” After midnight Margaret, seeing him worse, arose and woke her

father. She tried to conceal her tears; but James saw them, and said, with a

look of solemn earnestness, “Oh, woman, I wonder to see you do the like of

that!” He spoke little after this, and about one o’clock on the Saturday

morning, 11

June 1842, fell asleep in Jesus.

From this affecting history, all children, and especially the dear children

committed to my care, should learn an impressive lesson. What is said of

Abel is true of this dear boy: “He, being dead, yet speaketh.” He warned

many of you when he was on his dying bed; he prayed for you, and longed

for your conversion; and now that he has gone to the world of praise, and

holiness, and love, the history of his dying hours is a warning and an

invitation to each of you. You see here that you are not too young to have

the Holy Spirit striving with you. You are not too young to resist the Holy

Ghost. You are not too young to be converted and brought to Christ. If you

die without Christ, you will surely perish. The most of you are wicked, idle,

profane, prayerless, ungodly children. Many of you are open Sabbath-

breakers, liars, and swearers. If you die thus, you will have your part in the

lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. You will see this little boy, and

others whom you know, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust

out. Oh, repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out! You

may die very soon. Oh that your latter end may be like his!

Parents also may learn from this to seek the salvation of their children.

Alas! most parents in our day are like the cruel ostrich in the wilderness,

“which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust; and

forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break

them: She is hardened against her young ones as though they were not

hers,” Job 39:14–16. How many of you hold up your children before God

and the congregation, and solemnly vow to bring them up for God, to pray

for them and in your family with them, and then return to your house with

the guilt of perjury upon your soul! Alas, are not the family altars of

Scotland for the most part broken down, and lying desolate? Is not family

government in most of your houses an empty name? Do not family quarrels,

and unholy companies, and profane jests, and sordid worldliness, prevail in

most of your tabernacles? What can you expect but that your children shall

grow up in your image, formalists, sacrament-breakers, loose livers, fierce,

incontinent, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of

God? Oh that God would touch your hearts by such a tale as this, that you

may repent and turn to the Lord, and yearn over your children in the bowels

of Jesus Christ! Would you not love to see them fall asleep in Jesus? Would

you not love to meet them at the right hand of the Judge? Seek their

conversion now, if you would meet them in glory hereafter. How will you

bear to hear their young voices in the judgment, saying, “This father never

prayed for me; this mother never warned me to flee from the wrath to

come?”

Dear brethren in the ministry, and labourers in the Sabbath school,

suffer the word of exhortation from one who is “your brother and

companion in tribulation.” May we not learn from this to be more earnest,

both in prayers and labours, in seeking the salvation of little children? We

have here one bright example more in addition to all those who have been

recorded before, that God can convert and edify a child with the same ease

with which He can change the heart of a grown man. I have with religious

care refrained from embellishing, or in any way exaggerating, the simple

record of God’s dealings with this boy. We must not “speak wickedly for

God, nor talk deceitfully for Him.” All who knew him can bear witness that

I have spoken “the words of truth and soberness.” Indeed the half has not

been told.

How evident is it, then, that God is willing and able to convert the

young! How plain that if God give grace, they can understand and relish

divine things as fully as those of mature age! A carnal mind of the first

order will evermore despise and reject the way of salvation by Christ; but

the mind of a child, quickened by the Holy Spirit, will evermore realize and

delight in the rich and glorious mystery of the gospel. “I thank Thee, O

Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from

the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father,

for so it seemed good in thy sight.” Let us awake from an unbelieving

dream. Let us no more be content to labour without fruit. Let us seek the

present conversion to Christ of our little children. Jesus has reason to

complain of us that He can do no mighty works in our Sabbath schools

because of our unbelief.

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be

honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

THE Lord’s Supper is the sweetest of all ordinances: 1. Because of the time

when it was instituted. “The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was

betrayed, took bread.” It was the darkest night that ever was in this world,

and yet the brightest—the night when his love to sinners was put to the

severest test. How amazing that He should remember our comfort at such a

time! 2. Because it is the believer’s ordinance. It is the duty of all men to

pray. God hears even the ravens when they cry, and so He often hears the

prayers of unconverted men.—Ps. 107; Acts 8:22. It is the duty of all men

to hear the preached gospel. “Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to

the sons of men.” But the Lord’s Supper is the children’s bread; it is

intended only for those who know and love the Lord Jesus. 3. Because

Christ is the beginning, middle, and end of it. “This do in remembrance of

me.” “Ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” There are many sermons

in which Christ is not from beginning to end; many books where you cannot

find the fragrance of his name: but there cannot be a sacrament where

Christ is not from beginning to end. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the

Lord’s Supper; it is all Christ and Him crucified. These things give a

peculiar sweetness to the broken bread and poured out wine.

I fear the Lord’s Supper is profaned in a dreadful manner among you.

Many come who are living in positive sins, or in the neglect of positive

duties. Many come who know that they were never converted; many who in

their hearts ridicule the very thoughts of conversion. Unworthy

communicating is a fearful sin; on account of it God is greatly provoked to

withdraw his Spirit from you, to visit you with frowns of providence, and to

seal you to the day of perdition. Am I become your enemy because I tell

you the truth? Deal honestly with your soul, and pray over what I am now

writing; and may He who opened the heart of Lydia open your heart while I

explain.

THE ACTIONS OF THE COMMUNICANT

I. He takes the bread and the wine.—When the minister offers the bread

and wine to those at the table, this represents Christ freely offered to

sinners, even the chief. The receiving of the bread and wine means—I do

thankfully receive the broken, bleeding Saviour as my Surety. The act of

taking that bread and wine is an appropriating act; it is saying before God,

and angels, and men, and devils, “I do flee to the Lord Jesus Christ as my

refuge.” Noah entering into the ark was an appropriating act. Let others fly

to the tops of their houses, to their castles and towers, to the rugged rocks,

to the summits of the highest mountains,—as for me, I believe the word of

God, and flee to the ark as my only refuge.—Heb. 11:7. When the

manslayer fled into the city of refuge, it was an appropriating act. As he

entered breathless at the gates of Hebron, his friends might cry to him, Flee

unto the wilderness! or, Flee beyond Jordan! But no, he would say, I believe

the word of God, that I shall be safe only within these walls; this is my

refuge city, here only will I hide!—Josh. 20. When an Israelite brought an

offering of the herd or of the flock, when the priest had bound it with cords

to the horns of the altar, the offerer laid his hands upon the head of the

lamb: this was an appropriating act, as much as to say, I take this lamb as

dying for me. The world might say, How will this save you? mend your life,

give alms to the poor. I believe the word of God, he would say; I do not

wish to bear my own sins, I lay them on the Lamb of God.—Lev. 1:4. When

the woman, trembling, came behind Jesus and touched the hem of his

garment, this also was an appropriating act. Her friends might say to her,

Come and try some more physicians, or wait till you are somewhat better.

No, said she, “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be made whole,” Mark

5:28. In the 42d Psalm, David’s enemies said to him continually, “Where is

thy God?” This made tears his meat night and day. It was like a sword in his

bones. But in the 43d Psalm he gathers courage, and says, “I will go unto

the altar of God,” where the lamb was slain; and then he says, “Unto God,

my exceeding joy.” You say, I have no God: behold, I take this lamb as slain

for me, and therefore God is my God. In the Song of Solomon, when the

bride found him whom her soul loved, she says, “I held him, and would not

let him go.” This was true appropriating faith. The world might say to her,

“Come this way, and we will show thee other beloveds, fairer than thy

beloved.” Nay, saith she, “I held him, and would not let him go. This is my

beloved, and this is my friend.” Song 3:4.

Just such, beloved, is the meaning of receiving broken bread and poured

out wine at the Lord’s table. It is the most solemn appropriating act of all

your lives. It is declaring by signs, “I do enter into the ark; I flee into the

city of refuge; I lay my hand on the head of the Lamb; I do touch the hem of

his garment; I do take Jesus to be my Lord and my God; I hold Him, and by

grace I will never let Him go.” It is a deliberate closing with Christ, by

means of signs, in the presence of witnesses. When the bride accepts the

right hand in marriage before many witnesses, it is a solemn declaration to

all the world that she does accept the bridegroom to be her only husband.

So, in the Lord’s Supper, when you receive that bread and wine, you

solemnly declare, that, forsaking all others, you heartily do receive the Lord

Jesus as your only Lord and Saviour.

If these things be true, should not many stay away from this holy table?

Many of you know that a work of grace has never been begun in your heart;

you never were made to tremble for your soul; you never were made to

pray, “God be merciful to me a sinner;” you never were brought to “rejoice,

believing in God.” Oh, beloved, let me say it with all tenderness, this table

is not for you. Many of you know you are not in a state you would do to die

in. You say, “I hope to turn yet before I die.” Does not this show that your

sins are not covered—that you are not born again—that you are not fled to

the hope set before you? This table is not for you. Some of you know well

that you have had convictions of sin, but they have passed away. The walls

of the house of God have seen you trembling on the brink of eternity, but

you were never brought to “peace in believing”—to “peace with God.” You

have drowned your anxieties in the whirl of business or of pleasure. You

have drawn back. Your goodness is like the “morning cloud and early dew,

it goeth away.” This table is not for you. I speak to your sense of honour

and common honesty. In worldly things, would you tell a lie either by word

of mouth or by signs? And is it a light matter to tell a lie in eternal things?

Will you deliberately declare, by taking the broken bread and poured out

wine, what you know to be a lie? Oh, pray over the story of Ananias and

Sapphira, and tremble.—Acts 5:1–11. May it not be said in heaven of many,

“Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God?”

A word to trembling, believing souls. This feast is spread for you. “Eat,

O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” If you have faith as a

grain of mustard-seed, come. If you are “weak in the faith,” ministers are

commanded to receive you. If on the morning of the communion Sabbath,

even for the first time in your life, Christ appear full and free to you, so that

you cannot but believe on Him, do not hesitate to come. Come to the table,

leaning on the Beloved, and you will have John’s place there. You will lean

peacefully upon his breast.

II. He eats the bread and drinks the wine.—“Take, eat”—“Drink ye all

of it.” Eating and drinking in this ordinance imply feeding upon Christ. It is

said of bread that it “strengtheneth man’s heart,” and of wine, that it

“maketh glad the heart of man.” Bread is the staff of life, and wine is very

reviving to those who, like Timothy, have often infirmities. They are the

greatest nutritive blessings which man possesses. To feed on them in the

Lord’s Supper is as much as to say, I do feed on Jesus, as my only strength;

“in the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” To take the bread into the

hand is saying by signs, “He is made of God unto me righteousness.” To

feed upon it is saying, “He is made unto me sanctification.”

When Israel fed on manna for forty years, and drank water from the

rock, they were strengthened for their journey through the howling

wilderness. This was a picture of believers journeying through this world.

They feed every day on Christ their strength; He is their daily manna; He is

the rock that follows them. When the bride sat under the shadow of the

apple-tree, she says, “His fruit was sweet to my taste;” and again, “Stay me

with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love.” Believers, this

is a picture of you. No sooner are you sheltered by the Saviour, than you are

nourished and renewed by Him. He comforts your hearts, and stablishes

you in every good word and work. In the 36

Psalm, when David speaks of

men trusting under the wings of the Lord Jesus, he adds, “They shall be

abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and Thou shalt make

them drink of the river of thy pleasures.” Little children, you know by

experience what this means. When you were brought to believe on the Son

of God, you were adopted into his family, fed with the children’s bread, and

your heart filled with the holy pleasures of God. The same thing is

represented in feeding on the bread and wine. It is a solemn declaration in

the sight of the whole world, that you have been put into the clefts of the

smitten rock, and that you are feeding on the honey treasured there. It is

declaring that you have sat down under Christ’s shadow, and that you are

comforted and nourished by the fruit of that tree of life. It is saying, “I have

come to trust under the shadow of his wings, and now I drink of the river of

his pleasures.” It is a sweet declaration of your own helplessness and

weakness, and that Christ is all your strength—all your life.

If this be true, should not many stay away from the Lord’s table? Many

of you know that you were never really grafted into the true vine—that you

never received any nourishment from Christ—that you never received the

Holy Spirit. Many of you know that you are dead branches—that you only

seem to be united to the vine—that you are the branches that bear no fruit,

which He taketh away. Why should you feed on that bread and wine? Some

of you may know that you are dead in sins, unconverted, unborn again—

that you never experienced any change of heart like that spoken of, Ezek.

36:26. This bread and wine are not for you. Some of you know that you are

living under the power of sins that you could name: some of you, perhaps,

in secret profanation of the holy Sabbath, “doing your own ways, finding

your own pleasures, speaking your own words.” Some, perhaps, in secret

swearing, or lying, or dishonesty, or drinking, or uncleanness! Ah! why

should you feed on this bread and wine? It will do you no good. Can you

for a moment doubt that you will eat and drink unworthily? Dare you do

this? Pray over these awful words and tremble: “He that eateth and drinketh

unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.”

All who are really “looking unto Jesus” are invited to come to the

Lord’s table. Some feel like a sick person recovering from a fever: you are

without strength, you cannot lift your hand or your head. Yet you look unto

Jesus as your strength: He died for sinners, and He lives for them. You look

to Him day by day. You say, He is my bread, He is my wine; I have no

strength but what comes from Him. Come you and feed at the Lord’s table,

and welcome. Some feel like a traveller when he arrives at an inn, faint and

weary: you have no strength to go farther, you cannot take another step; but

you lean on Jesus as your strength; you believe that word: “Because I live,

ye shall live also.” Come you and feed on this bread and wine, with your

staff in your hand and shoes on your feet, and you will “go on your way

rejoicing.” Feeble branches need most nourishment. The more you feel your

weakness, the amazing depravity of your heart, the power of Satan, and the

hatred of the world, the more need have you to lean on Jesus, to feed on this

bread and wine—you are all the more welcome.

III. He shares the bread and wine with others.—The Lord’s table is not

a selfish, solitary meal. To eat bread and wine alone is not the Lord’s

Supper. It is a family meal of that family spoken of in Eph. 3:15. You do not

eat and drink alone by yourself; you share the bread and wine with all at the

same table. Jesus said, “Drink ye all of it.”

This expresses love to the brethren,—a sweet feeling of oneness with

“all those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity,”—a heart-filling desire that

all should have the same peace, the same joy, the same spirit, the same

holiness, the same heaven with yourself. You remember the golden

candlestick in the temple, with its seven lamps. It was fed out of one golden

bowl on the top of it, which was constantly full of oil. The oil ran down the

shaft of the candlestick, and was distributed to each lamp by seven golden

pipes or branches. All the lamps shared the same oil. It passed from branch

to branch. None of the lamps kept the oil to itself; it was shared among

them all. So it is in the vine-tree. The sap ascends from the root, and fills all

the branches. When one branch is satisfied, it lets the stream pass on to the

next; nay, it carries the rich juice to the smaller twigs and tendrils, that all

may have their share—that all may bear their precious fruit. So it is with the

body. The blood comes from the heart in full and nourishing streams,—it

flows to all the members,—one member conducts it to another, that all may

be kept alive, and all may grow.

So it is in the Lord’s Supper. The bread and wine are passed from hand

to hand, to show that we are members one of another. “For we being many,

are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread” 1

Cor. 10:17. It is a solemn declaration that you are one with all true

Christians, one in peace, one in feeling, one in holiness; and that if one

member suffer, you will suffer with it, or if one member be honoured, you

will rejoice with it. You thereby declare that you are branches of the true

Vine, and are vitally united to all the branches—that you wish the same

Holy Spirit to pervade every bosom. You declare that you are lamps of the

same golden candlestick, and that you wish the same golden oil to keep you

and them burning and shining as lights in a dark world. Learn, once more,

that most should stay away from this table. Some of you know that you

have not a spark of love to the Christians. You persecute them, or despise

them. Your tongue is like a sharp razor against them; you ridicule their

notions of grace, and conversion, and the work of the Spirit. You hate their

conversation; you call it cant and hypocrisy. When they are speaking on

divine things with a full heart, and you come in, they are obliged to stop

because you dislike it. Why should you come to this holy table? What is

hypocrisy, if this is not? You put on a serious face and air; you press eagerly

in to the table; you sit down, and look deeply solemnized; you take the

bread into your hand, pretending to declare that you have been converted,

and brought to accept of a crucified Christ. You then eat of the broken bread

and drink of that cup with evident marks of emotion, pretending that you

are one of those who live upon Jesus, who are filled with the Spirit. You

then pass the bread and wine to others, pretending that you love the

Christians,—that you wish all to be partakers with you in the grace of the

Lord Jesus; and yet all the while you hate and detest them, their thoughts,

their ways, their company. You would not for the world become a man of

prayer. Beloved souls, what is hypocrisy, if this is not? I solemnly declare,

that I had rather see you “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against

the disciples of the Lord,” than come to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Are

you not afraid, lest, while you are sitting at the table, you should hear the

voice of the Lord Jesus saying, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a

kiss?”

Dear believer, you “know that you are passed from death unto life,

because you love the brethren.” This pure and holy life is one of the first

feelings in the converted bosom. It is divine and imperishable. You are a

companion of all that fear God. It would be hell to you to spend eternity

with wicked men. Come and show this love at the feast of love. The table in

the upper room at Jerusalem was but a type and earnest of the table in the

upper room of glory. Soon we shall exchange the table below for the table

above, where we shall give full expression to our love to all eternity. There

no betrayers can come—“no unclean thing can enter.” Jesus shall be at the

head of the table, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO YOUNG COMMUNICANTS, TO BE ANSWERED IN SECRET TO

GOD

1. Is it to please your father or mother, or any one on earth, that you think

of coming to the Lord’s table?

2. Is it because it is the custom, and your friends and companions are

coming?

3. Is it because you have come to a certain time of life?

4. What are your real motives for wishing to come to the Lord’s table? Is

it to thank God for saving your soul?—Ps. 116:12, 13; to

remember Jesus?—Luke 22:19; to get near to Christ?—John

13:23; or is it for worldly character? to gain a name? to gain

money?—Matt. 26:15.

5. Who do you think should come to the Lord’s table? who should stay

away?

6. Do you think any should come but those who are truly converted? and

what is it to be converted?

7. Would you come if you knew yourself to be unconverted?

8. Should those come who have had deep concern about their soul, but are

not come to Christ?

9. Do you think you have been awakened by the Holy Spirit? brought to

Christ? born again? What makes you think so?

10. What is the meaning of the broken bread and poured out wine?

11. What is the meaning of taking the bread and wine into your hand?

Have you as truly received the Lord Jesus Christ?

12. What is the meaning of feeding upon them? Are you as truly living

upon Christ?

13. What is the meaning of giving the bread and wine to those at the same

table with you? Do you as truly love the brethren?

SCRIPTURES TO BE MEDITATED ON AT A COMMUNION SEASON

Exod. 12; Ps. 22, 51, 69, 116; Song of Sol.; Isa. 53; Matt. 22:1–14; 26,

27; Mark 14, 15; Luke 22, 23; John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17; 1 Cor. 11:23–34.

ST PETER’S, DUNDEE, Oct. 1841.

THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings

unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the

captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the Acceptable Year

of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our Lord: to comfort all that mourn: to appoint unto

them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the

garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: that they might be called trees of righteousness, the

planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”—ISA. 61:1–3.

IT is six years, this day, since I first preached to you, as your pastor, from

these blessed words. These years have rolled past us like a mighty river. It is

a solemn thing to look over them. In climbing a lofty mountain, it is

pleasant to come every now and then to a resting-place, where you may

stand and look back. You can thus see the progress you have made, and you

can observe the prospect winding all around you. In like manner, in going

up the hill of Zion, it is pleasant to come to such a resting-place as this day

affords, that we may stand and see what progress we have made, and

whether we have a wider, brighter prospect of eternal glory. How many

have left our company since these six years began! They have gone to

render their last account in the world where time is not measured by years.

Of some I trust we can say, “Blessed are the dead, for they died in the

Lord.” Many, I trust, have been born again—passed from death unto life—

begun a new life that shall never have an end. Some, I hope, have been

brought to climb a step higher on Jacob’s ladder—to get nearer the top of

Pisgah, to see more of Canaan’s happy land. Some, I fear, have gone back,

and walk no more with Jesus. Ye did run well, who did hinder you? You did

put your hand to the plough, but you have turned back, and are not fit for

the kingdom of God. Some, I fear, are six years nearer to hell; your ear

more deaf to the voice of the charmer; your heart more wedded to its idols

—more dead to God. Let us solemnly look back this day, both minister and

people, and, oh, let us take warning by the errors of the past, and begin a

new and better course from this day.

I. The anointing of the Holy Spirit makes a successful gospel minister.

—So it was in Christ’s ministry. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,”

etc. So it is in every ministry. The more anointing of the Holy Spirit, the

more success will the minister have.

You remember the two olive-trees that grew close beside the golden

candlestick, and emptied the golden oil out of themselves.—Zech. 4:12.

These represent successful ministers—“anointed ones that stand by the

Lord of the whole earth.” Oh, see what need there is that ministers be filled

with the Spirit—that, like John, they be “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”—

that Christ’s people may be kept “like a lamp that burneth!” You remember

John the Baptist. The angel said of him before he was born, “He shall be

filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” What then will

his success be? “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord

their God.” Oh learn what need there is that ministers be filled with the

Holy Ghost, that they may be converting ministers—that, like John, they

may “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the

wisdom of the just.”

You remember the apostles. Before the day of Pentecost they were dry,

sapless trees. They went over the cities of Israel preaching the glad tidings

of the kingdom, and yet it would seem they had little or no success. They

could not number many spiritual children. But when the day of Pentecost

was fully come—when the Spirit came on them like a mighty rushing wind

—then behold what a change! Under the first sermon three thousand men

were pricked in their heart, and said, “Men and brethren, what must we

do?” Oh see what need we have of a day of Pentecost to begin in the hearts

of ministers, that our words may be like fire, and the hearts of the people

like wood!

In looking back upon my ministry, I am persuaded that this has been the

great thing wanting. We have not been like the green olive-trees; we have

not been like John the Baptist, filled with the Holy Ghost; we have not been

like the apostles on the day of Pentecost, filled as with a mighty rushing

wind; we have not been able to say, like the Saviour, “The Spirit of the Lord

God is upon me,” or you would not be as you are this day. There would not

be so many dead sinners amongst you—slumbering under the voice of

gospel mercy, on the very brink of hell. There would not be so many

labouring and heavy laden souls going from mountain to hill, forgetting

your resting-place. There would not be so many children of light walking in

darkness—dull, heavy, beclouded Christians. That is a piercing word: “If

they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words,

then they should have turned from their evil way, and from the evil of their

doings,” Jer. 23:22. Success is the rule under a living ministry. Want of

success is the exception. Oh pray that if God spare us another year, we may

be more like the high priest, who first went into the holiest of all, and then

came out and lifted up his hands and blessed the people! Pray that we may

be more like the angels, who always behold the face of our Father, and

therefore are like a flame of fire. “He maketh his angels spirits, his

ministers a flame of fire.” You know that a heated iron, though blunt, will

pierce its way, even where a much sharper instrument, if it be cold, cannot

penetrate. So, if only our ministers be filled with the Spirit, who is like fire,

they will pierce into the hardest hearts, where the sharpest wits cannot find

their way. It was thus with Whitfield: that great man lived so near to God,

he was so full of heavenly joy and of the Spirit of God, that souls were

melted under him like snow in thaw-time. John Newton mentions it as a

fact, that, in a single week, Whitfield received no fewer than a thousand

letters from persons distressed in conscience under his preaching. Oh pray

that we may not be “clouds without water” which indeed have all the

appearance of clouds, but have no rain in them! Pray that we may come to

you as Paul came to the Corinthians, “in weakness, and in fear, and in much

trembling; and that our speech and our preaching may not be with enticing

words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” 1

Cor. 2:2–4.

II. The subject matter of all faithful preaching

(1.) A faithful minister preaches good tidings to all distressed

consciences.—This was one great object of Christ’s ministry. “The Lord

hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek” etc. Jesus came to

be a Saviour to the meek—not the naturally gentle and sweet-tempered, but

those who are concerned about their souls. Men naturally say, “I am rich

and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” therefore they are

proud, and their tongue walketh through the earth. But when God begins a

work of grace in their heart, He convinces of sin, He humbles them to the

dust, and makes them feel “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,

and naked.” Jesus always offered himself as a Saviour to such. One poor

leper said, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Jesus said, “I

will, be thou clean.” Nay, He left an invitation which will be precious to

burdened souls even to the end of the world: “Come unto me, all ye that

labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Matt. 11:28.

Jesus came “to bind up the broken-hearted.” There is many a wounded

heart that is not broken. The broken-hearted are those who have lost all

hope of saving themselves by their own righteousness. As long as a person

has hope, the heart remains whole and unbroken. As long as a sailor’s wife

has hope that her husband’s vessel may outride the storm, her heart is calm

within her; but when the fatal news comes—when an eye-witness tells that

he saw the lifeless body sinking in the waves—the thread of hope is cut

asunder, her heart dies within her, she droops, she sits down broken-hearted.

As long as an awakened sinner has hope of saving himself—as long as he

thinks that self-reformation, weeping over past sins, and resolving against

future ones, will clear him before God—so long his heart is calm; but when

the fatal news comes, that all he does is done out of a sinful heart, that even

“his righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” that “by the deeds of the law no

flesh can be justified,” then does the heart of the sinner die within him; he

says, “It is done now, it is all done now, I never can do anything to justify

myself.” Is this the state of your soul? This is a case for Christ. He justifieth

the ungodly; He imputes righteousnees without works; his blood and

righteousness are ready for poor broken-hearted sinners. They are the very

souls that answer Him; He is the very Saviour that answers them. Once a

broken-hearted woman, who had spent her all upon physicians, and was

nothing better, but rather worse, came behind Jesus, and touched the hem of

his garment. Did He show himself the Saviour of the broken-hearted? Yes;

He said, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Jesus came “to proclaim liberty to the captives.” All natural men are

slaves. Some are bound, and know it not, like the slave in the West Indies,

who could not comprehend what liberty meant. They are corded by their

sins, yet say, I am free. Some are bound and know it. They are awakened to

feel the galling chains of lust; they feel their feet sinking in miry clay. Some

of you know what it is to sin and weep, and sin and weep again. “The way

of transgressors is hard.” Jesus came to be a Saviour to such. He came not

only to be our righteousness, but to be a fountain of life. “In the Lord have I

righteousness and strength.” Once there was a man possessed by a legion of

devils, exceeding fierce, who wore no clothes, and dwelt among the tombs.

But Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to go out of him, and “he sat down

at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.”

One great object of our ministry among you has been to bring good

tidings to distressed consciences. Blessed be God, there have always been

some distressed consciences among you from the first day until now. In

almost all our parishes, in these remarkable times, there are many souls

under conviction of sin. There are always some who feel uneasy under the

word—who feel that their heart is not right with God, that they are slaves of

sin, and who go on from day to day carrying a heavy burden. I have always

tried to speak to such souls. I have shown you plainly that you are not safe

because you are anxious; that you need to be in Christ Jesus; that these

convictions may die away. I have tried to let down the gospel cord within

your reach. I have showed you that Christ offers himself in a peculiar

manner to such as you. “The whole have no need of a physician, but they

who are sick.” How often Brainerd records it in his journal, that a heavy

laden soul was brought to true and solid comfort in Christ this day! Why

have I so seldom to record the same thing of weary souls among you? For

years I have gone among you preaching the only foundation of a sinner’s

peace. Yet how few have had a lively and soul-refreshing view of Christ!

How few can say, “What things were gain to me, these I count loss for

Christ!” Ah! my friends, the fault lies with you or with me, for God has no

pleasure in a burdened soul. “Oh that ye had hearkened to my

commandments, for then had your peace been like a river, and your

righteousness like the waves of the sea!”

(2.) A faithful pastor comforts mourners in Zion.—This was another

great object of Christ’s ministry—“to comfort all that mourn,” etc. There

are many things to bring a cloud over the brow of a Christian. There are

outward troubles. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Persecutions

will come: “a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Temptations

will come; they are common to man. Sloth and want of watchfulness often

bring into darkness.—Song 5:2–8. The body of sin often makes us cry, “Oh

wretched man!” But the Lord Jesus has the tongue of the learned, to speak a

word in season to them that are weary. The religion of Jesus is eminently

the religion of joy. He does not love to see his church sitting in ashes,

mourning, and heavy with sorrow. He loves to see her putting on his

beautiful righteousness, filled with the Holy Spirit of joy, and covered with

the garment of praise, waving like green trees of righteousness to his glory.

Once “Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus; but when he saw the

wind boisterous, he began to sink, and cried, Lord, save me. And

immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto

him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Christ has an

almighty arm for sinking disciples to cling to. Once two disciples were

walking towards a village north of Jerusalem. They talked earnestly

together to beguile the way, and they were sad. A stranger drew near, and

went with them; and as he went He expounded to them, in all the Scriptures,

the things concerning Jesus. In breaking of bread He was revealed to them,

and left them exclaiming, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” So Jesus

reveals himself to his own to this day, and makes the sad bosom burn with

holy joy.

This has been one of the chief objects of my ministry among you. That

scripture has been for some time deeply engraved upon my memory and

heart, “He gave some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints,

for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Eph.

4:11, 12; and, accordingly, it has been my endeavour to lead mourners in

Zion to a meeting with Christ, who alone can restore comfort to them. What

has been our success? I fear there are not many of you as happy as you

might be. Are not most, like Peter, sinking; or sad, like the two going to

Emmaus? Are not most in all our parishes rather seeking than finding rest?

How little is there among you of the “beauty—the oil of joy, and the

garment of praise!” How few can truly sing the 103d Psalm; how few feel

their sins removed, as far as east is from the west; how few keep themselves

in the love of God; how few have Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith;

how few are filled with all the fulness of God, and rejoice with joy

unspeakable, and full of glory!

How often Brainerd mentions in his journal: “Numbers wept

affectionately, and to appearance unfeignedly, so that the Spirit of God

seemed to be moving on the face of the assembly;” and again, “They

seemed willing to have their ears bored to the door-posts of God’s house,

and to be his servants for ever!” How little is there of this divine presence

and holy impression in our assemblies! How many a meeting for prayer has

lost the fervency which once it had! Ah! surely the fault lies with you or

with me. Immanuel is still in the midst of us. He is still “full of grace and

truth;” He is “the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” Oh that the little

flock in this place were covered with his beauty, filled with his holy joy, and

clothed with his garment of praise!

(3.) A faithful watchman preaches a free Saviour to all the world.—This

was the great object of Christ’s ministry—“To proclaim the acceptable year

of the Lord.” “Unto you, O men, I call,” was the very motto of his life. On

the year of jubilee the silver trumpet was made to sound throughout the

whole land. Every man might return to his possession; every slave might go

free. Christ felt that the trumpet of the true jubilee was committed to Him;

and therefore his feet were beautiful upon the mountains, and He went

about continually publishing glad tidings of peace. Once He stood among a

crowd of unbelieving Jews. His word was, “Him that cometh unto me I will

in nowise cast out;” and again, to a similar crowd He said, “I am the door;

by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” When He died upon the

cross, the priests scoffed at Him, the people wagged their heads at Him, the

soldiers cast lots for his garment; but “the veil of the temple was rent from

the top to the bottom,”—this signifying that the way into the holiest was

now made manifest, that any sinner might enter in and be saved. When He

arose from the dead, there were but five hundred brethren who believed on

his name: the whole world was lying in the wicked one; every creature

under the frown of an angry God. “Go ye,” said He, “into all the world, and

preach the gospel to every creature.” When Laodicea became a dead and

lukewarm church, fit only to be spued out of Christ’s mouth, you would

have expected a message of judgment. No, He sends one of free, boundless,

glorious grace. “If any man will hear my voice and open the door, I will

come in to him.”

This has been the great object of our ministry. In all our parishes, at the

present day, the great mass of the people are living without Christ, and

without God, and without hope in the world. The most, even of church-

going people, it is to be feared, are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ever since

coming among you, our great object has been to awaken such. We have

proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our

God. We have told you that Christ is freely offered to you in your present

condition, whatever that may be; that though you have lived in sin, and are

now living in sin, and God is angry with you every day, still Christ is free to

you every day. We have told you that though you do not care for your soul,

still Christ cares for it; though you are lost, still Christ is seeking the lost;

though you are loving your simplicity, delighting in scorning, and hating

knowledge, still Christ is crying after you; that before you repent, and

before you believe, Christ is freely offered unto you: “All day long have I

stretched out my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

What has been our success? Blessed be God, there are some of you who

have fled for refuge to the hope set before you; but the most sleep on. Six

acceptable years have passed over yon. A year of gospel preaching is an

acceptable year; a year of revival, when many have been pressing into the

kingdom of God, is still more an acceptable year: both these have passed

over you. The door has stood open all this time, and any sinner among you

might have entered in. Bibles, ministers, providence, the Spirit striving—all

have been pressing you to enter in. But you are still without—Christless,

unpardoned, unborn again, unsaved. What can you look for but “the day of

vengeance?” A year of mercy is past, a day of vengeance is coming. God

pleads long, but judgment will be the work of a day. How many among you

will never see such another season of grace as that which lately passed over

yon! You will probably never again have such an opportunity to be saved.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and you are not saved.” Many of

you will one day wish you had never heard of the acceptable year; many of

you will wish that you had never heard the preached gospel,—that you had

perished before the glorious work of God began. “Oh that ye were wise,

that ye understood this: that ye would consider your latter end.”

ST PETER’S, DUNDEE, Nov. 27, 1842.

REASONS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD FLY TO CHRIST

WITHOUT DELAY

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”—Ps. 90:14.

THE late Countess of Huntingdon was not only rich in this world, but rich in

faith, and an heir of the kingdom. When she was about nine years of age she

saw the dead body of a little child of her own age carried to the grave. She

followed the funeral; and it was there that the Holy Spirit first opened her

heart to convince her that she needed a Saviour. My dear little children,

when you look upon the year that has come to an end, may the Holy Spirit

bring you to the same conviction; may the still small voice say in your

heart, Flee now from the wrath to come. Fly to the Lord Jesus without

delay. “Escape for thy life: look not behind thee.”

I. Because life is very short.—“The days of our years are three-score

years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is

their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Even those who live longest, when they come to die, look back on their life

as upon a dream. It is “like a sleep.” The hours pass rapidly away during

sleep; and when you awake, you hardly know that any time is passed. Such

is life. It is like “a tale that is told.” When you are listening to an

entertaining tale, it fills up the time, and makes the hours steal swiftly by.

Even so “we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

You have seen a ship upon the river, when the sailors were all on board,

the anchor heaved, and the sails spread to the wind, how it glided swiftly

past, bounding over the billows; so is it with your days: “They are passed

away as the swift ships.” Or perhaps you have seen an eagle, when from its

nest in the top of the rocks it darts down with quivering wing to seize upon

some smaller bird, how swiftly it flies; so is it with your life: It flies “as the

eagle hasteth to the prey.” You have noticed the mist on the brow of the

mountain early in the morning, and you have seen, when the sun rose with

his warm, cheering beams, how soon the mist melted away. And “what is

your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then

vanisheth away.”

Some of you may have seen how short life is in those around you.

“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do I they live for ever?”

How many friends have you lying in the grave! Some of you have more

friends in the grave than in this world. They were carried away “as with a

flood,” and we are fast hastening after them. In a little while the church

where you sit will be filled with new worshippers—a new voice will lead

the psalm—a new man of God fill the pulpit. It is an absolute certainty that,

in a few years, all of you who read this will be lying in the grave. Oh, what

need, then, to fly to Christ without delay! How great a work you have to do!

How short the time you have to do it in! You have to flee from wrath, to

come to Christ, to be born again, to receive the Holy Spirit, to be made meet

for glory. It is high time that you seek the Lord. The longest lifetime is short

enough. Seek conviction of sin and an interest in Christ. “Oh, satisfy me

early with thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all my days.”

II. Because life is very uncertain.—Men are like grass: “In the morning,

it groweth up and flourisheth: in the evening, it is cut down and withereth.”

Most men are cut down while they are green. More than one-half of the

human race die before they reach manhood. In the city of Glasgow alone,

more than one-half of the people die before the age of twenty. Of most men

it may be said, “He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down.” Death is

very certain, but the time is very uncertain. Some may think they shall not

die because they are in good health; but you forget that many die in good

health by accidents and other causes. Again, riches and ease and comforts,

good food and good clothing, are no safeguards against dying. It is written,

“The rich man also died, and was buried.” Kind physicians and kind friends

cannot keep you from dying. When death comes, he laughs at the efforts of

physicians—he tears you from the tenderest arms. Some think they shall not

die because they are not prepared to die; but you forget that most people die

unprepared, unconverted, unsaved. You forget that it is written of the strait

gate, “Few there be that find it.” Most people lie down in a dark grave, and

in darker eternity. Some of you may think you shall not die because you are

young. You forget that one-half of the human race die before they reach

manhood. The half of the inhabitants of this town die before they are

twenty. Oh, if you had to stand as often as I have beside the dying bed of

little children—to see their wild looks and outstretched hands, and to hear

their dying cries—you would see how needful it is to fly to Christ now. It

may be your turn next. Are you prepared to die? Have you fled for refuge to

Jesus? Have you found forgiveness? “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for

thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

III. Most that are ever saved fly to Christ when young.—It was so in the

days of our blessed Saviour. Those that were come to years were too wise

and prudent to be saved by the blood of the Son of God, and He revealed it

to those that were younger and had less wisdom. “I thank Thee, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise

and prudent, and revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it

seemed good in thy sight.” “He gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries

them in his bosom.” So it has been in almost all times of the revival of

religion. If you ask aged Christians, the most of them will tell you that they

were made anxious about their souls when young.

Oh, what a reason is here for seeking an early inbringing to Christ! If

you are not saved in youth, it is likely you never will. There is a tide in the

affairs of souls. There are times which may be called converting times. All

holy times are peculiarly converting times. The Sabbath is the great day for

gathering in souls—it is Christ’s market-day. It is the great harvest-day of

souls. I know there is a generation rising up that would fain trample the

Sabbath beneath their feet; but prize you the Sabbath-day. The time of

affliction is converting time. When God takes away those you love best, and

you say, “This is the finger of God,” remember it is Christ wanting to get in

to save you: open the door and let Him in. The time of the striving of the

Holy Spirit is converting time. If you feel your heart pricked in reading the

Bible, or in hearing your teacher, “quench not the Spirit;” “resist not the

Holy Ghost;” “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.” Youth is converting time.

“Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” Oh, you that

are lambs, seek to be gathered with the arm of the Saviour, and carried in

his gentle bosom. Come to trust under the Saviour’s wings. “Yet there is

room.”

IV. Because it is happier to be in Christ than out of Christ.—Many that

read these words are saying in their heart, It is a dull thing to be religious.

Youth is the time for pleasure—the time to eat, drink, and be merry; to rise

up to play. Now, I know that youth is the time for pleasure; the foot is more

elastic then—the eye more full of life—the heart more full of gladness. But

that is the very reason why I say youth is the time to fly to Christ. It is far

happier to be in Christ than to be out of Christ.

(1.) It satisfies the heart.—I never will deny that there are pleasures to

be found out of Christ. The song and the dance, and the exciting game, are

most engaging to young hearts. But ah! think a moment. Is it not an awful

thing to be happy when you are unsaved? Would it not be dreadful to see a

man sleeping in a house all on fire? And is it not enough to make one

shudder to see you dancing and making merry when God is angry with you

every day?

Think again. Are there not infinitely sweeter pleasures to be had in

Christ? “Whoso drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whoso drinketh

of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” “In thy presence is

fulness of joy: at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” To be forgiven,

to be at peace with God, to have Him for a Father, to have Him loving us

and smiling on us, to have the Holy Spirit coming into our hearts, and

making us holy, this is worth a whole eternity of your pleasures. “A day in

thy courts is better than a thousand.” Oh to be “satisfied with favour, and

full with the blessing of the Lord!” Your daily bread becomes sweeter. You

eat your meat “with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God.” Your

foot is more light and bounding, for it bears a ransomed body. Your sleep is

sweeter at night, for “so He giveth his beloved sleep.” The sun shines more

lovingly, and the earth wears a pleasanter smile, because you can say, “My

Father made them all.”

(2.) It makes you glad all your days.—The pleasures of sin are only “for

a season;” they do not last. But to be brought to Christ is like the dawning

of an eternal day; it spreads the serenity of heaven over all the days of our

pilgrimage. In suffering days, what will the world do for you? “Like vinegar

upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.” Believe me, there

are days at hand when you will “say of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth,

What doth it?” But if you fly to Jesus Christ now, He will cheer you in the

days of darkness. When the winds are contrary and the waves are high,

Jesus will draw near, and say, “Be not afraid; it is I.” That voice stills the

heart in the stormiest hour. When the world reproaches you, and casts out

your name as evil—when the doors are shut—Jesus will come in, and say,

“Peace be unto you.” Who can tell the sweetness and the peace which Jesus

gives in such an hour? One little girl that was early brought to Christ felt

this when long confined to a sick-bed. “I am not weary of my bed,” she

said, “for my bed is green, and all that I meet with is perfumed with love to

me. The time, night and day, is made sweet to me by the Lord. When it is

evening, it is pleasant; and when it is morning, I am refreshed.”

Last of all, in a dying day, what will the world do for you? The dance,

and the song, and the merry companion, will then lose all their power to

cheer you. Not one jest more; not one smile more. “Oh that you were wise,

that you would understand this, and consider your latter end!” But that is

the very time when the soul of one in Christ rejoices with a joy unspeakable

and full of glory. “Jesus can make a dying bed softer than downy pillows

are.” You remember, when Stephen came to die, they battered his gentle

breast with cruel stones; but he kneeled down and said, “Lord Jesus, receive

my spirit.” John Newton tells us of a Christian girl who, on her dying day,

said, “If this be dying, it is a pleasant thing to die.” Another little Christian,

of eight years of age, came home ill of the malady of which he died. His

mother asked him if he were afraid to die. “No,” said he, “I wish to die, if it

be God’s will: that sweet word, Sleep in Jesus, makes me happy when I

think on the grave.”

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again till Christ be formed

in you,” if you would live happy and die happy, come now to a Saviour. The

door of the ark is wide open. Enter now, or it may be never.

WHY IS GOD A STRANGER IN THE LAND?

“O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in

the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest Thou be

as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us,

and we are called by thy name; leave us not.”—JER. 14:8, 9.

IN many parts of Scotland there is good reason to think that God is not a

stranger, but that the Lord Jesus has been making himself known, and that

the Holy Spirit has been quickening whom He will. Still, in most parts of

our land, it is to be feared that God is a stranger, and like a wayfaring man

who turneth aside to tarry for a night.

(1.) How few conversions are there in the midst of us! When God is

present with power in any land, then there are always many awakened to a

sense of sin, and flocking to Christ. One godly minister, speaking of such a

time, says, “There were tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It

was a time of joy in families, on account of salvation being brought unto

them. Parents were rejoicing over their children as new-born, husbands over

their wives, and wives over their husbands. The town seemed to be full of

the presence of God. It never was so full of love nor of joy, and yet never so

full of distress, as it was then.” We have nothing of the kind amongst us.

Alas! what a dismal contrast do most of our families present! How many

families where there is not one living soul!

(2.) How much deadness there is among true Christians! In times of

reviving, when God is present with power in any land, not only are

unconverted persons awakened and made to flee to Christ, but those who

were in Christ before, receive new measures of the Spirit; they undergo, as

it were, a second new-birth; they are brought into the palace of the King,

and say, “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is

better than wine.” A dear Christian in such a time says, “My wickedness, as

I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable—like an infinite

deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what

my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and

multiplying infinite by infinite. Very often these expressions are in my

mind, and in my mouth—infinite upon infinite, infinite upon infinite.” How

little of this feeling is there amongst us! How few seem to feel sin as an

infinite evil! How plain that God is a stranger in the land!

(3.) How great is the boldness of sinners in sin! As in Jeremiah’s day, so

in ours, many seem as if “their neck were an iron sinew, and their brow

brass.” When God is present with power, then open sinners, though they

may remain unconverted, are often much restrained. There is an awe of God

upon their spirits. Alas! it is not so amongst us. The flood-gates of sin are

opened. “They declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.” Is it not, then, a

time to cry, “Oh the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof,” etc.?

Should we not solemnly ask this question, What are the reasons why

God is such a stranger in this land?

I. In ministers.—Let us begin with those who bear the vessels of the

sanctuary.

(1.) It is to be feared there is much unfaithful preaching to the

unconverted. Jeremiah complained of this in his day: “They have healed the

hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there

is no peace.” Is there no reason for the same complaint in our own day? The

great part of all our congregations are out of Christ, and lying night and day

under the wrath of the Lord God Almighty; and yet it is to be feared that the

most of the minister’s anxiety and painstaking is not taken up about them,

that his sermons are not chiefly occupied with their case. All the words of

men and angels cannot describe the dreadfulness of being Christless; and

yet, it is to be feared, we do not speak to those who are so with anything

like sufficient plainness, frequency, and urgency. Alas! how few ministers

are like the angels at Sodom, mercifully bold to lay hands on lingering

sinners! How few obey that word of Jude, “Save with fear, pulling them out

of the fire!”

Many of those who deal faithfully, yet do not deal tenderly. We have

more of the bitterness of man than of the tenderness of God. We do not

yearn over men in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote of “the enemies of

the cross of Christ” with tears in his eyes! There is little of his weeping

among ministers now. “Knowing the terrors of the Lord,” Paul persuaded

men. There is little of this persuading spirit among ministers now. How can

we wonder that the dry bones are very, very dry—that God is a stranger in

the land?

(2.) It is to be feared there is much unfaithfulness in setting forth Christ

as a refuge for sinners. When a sinner is newly converted, he would fain

persuade every one to come to Christ,—the way is so plain, so easy, so

precious. He thinks, Oh, if I were but a minister, how I would persuade

men! This is a true feeling and a right feeling. But oh, how little is there of

this among ministers! David said, “I believed, therefore have I spoken.”

Few are like David in this. Paul said he was “determined to know nothing

among men but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Few are like Paul in this.

Many do not make it the end of their ministry to testify of Jesus as the

hiding-place for sinners. It is to be feared that many are like the Scribes and

Pharisees: they hold the door in their hand; they enter not in themselves,

and them that are entering in they hinder. Some set forth Christ plainly and

faithfully, but where is Paul’s beseeching men to be reconciled? We do not

invite sinners tenderly; we do not gently woo them to Christ; we do not

authoritatively bid them to the marriage; we do not compel them to come in;

we do not travail in birth till Christ be formed in them the hope of glory.

Oh, who can wonder that God is such a stranger in the land?

II. In Christian people

(1.) In regard to the word of God. There seems little thirst for hearing

the word of God among Christians now. As a delicate stomach makes a man

eat sparingly, so most Christians seem sparing in their diet in our day. Many

Christians seem to mingle pride with the hearing of the word. They come

rather as judges than as children. Few behave themselves as a weaned child.

Most seem to prefer the seat of Moses to the seat of Mary at the feet of

Christ. Many come to hear the word of a man that shall die, and not the

word of the living God. Oh, should not Christians be taught this prayer: “Oh

the hope of Israel,” etc.?

(2.) In regard to prayer. There is much ploughing and much sowing, but

very little harrowing in of the seed by prayer. God and your conscience are

witnesses how little you pray. You know you would be men of power if you

were men of prayer, and yet ye will not pray. Unstable as water, you do not

excel. Luther set apart his three best hours for prayer. How few Luthers we

have now! John Welsh spent seven hours a day in prayer. How few Welshes

we have now!

It is to be feared there is little intercession among Christians now. The

high priest carried the names of the children of Israel upon his shoulders

and breast when he drew near to God—a picture of what Christ now does,

and all Christians should do. God and your conscience are witnesses how

little you intercede for your children, your servants, your neighbours, the

church of your fathers, and the wicked on every side of you,—how little

you pray for ministers, for the gift of the Spirit, for the conversion of the

world,—how selfish you are even in your prayers!

It is to be feared there is little union in prayer. Christians are ashamed

to meet together to pray. Christ has promised, “If two of you shall agree on

earth, touching something that ye shall ask, it shall be done for you of my

Father.” Many Christians neglect this promise. In the Acts, we find that

when the apostles and disciples were praying together, “the place was

shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with

the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Oh, how

often and how long have we despised this way of obtaining the outpouring

of the Spirit! Do not some persons speak slightingly of united prayer? Here

is one reason why God commands the clouds that they rain no rain on us.

He waits till we seek Him together, and then He will open the windows of

heaven and pour down a blessing. Oh that all Christians would lift up the

cry, “Oh the hope of Israel!”

III. In unconverted souls.—There is much to blame in ministers, and

much in the people of God, but most of all to blame in unconverted souls.

(1.) Sinners in our day have great insensibility as to their lost condition.

Many know that they never believed on the Son of God, and yet they are

smiling and happy. Many know that they were never born again, and that

the Bible says they cannot see the kingdom of God; and yet their step is as

light, and their laugh as loud, as if they were heirs of the kingdom of God,

instead of heirs of hell! It is this that keeps God away, and makes Him a

stranger in the land.

(2.) Sinners in our day have great insensibility as to their need of Jesus

Christ. The Bible declares Him to be the Friend of sinners; yet how many

read this who are contented to live without knowing Him! Though

Christians are always speaking of the excellency of Christ—that He is the

chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely; yet most see no form

nor comeliness in Christ, no beauty that they should desire Him. They are

willing to hear of heaven or hell rather than of Christ. Ah! this is the

crowning sin of Scotland, contempt of Christ, rejection of a freely-offered

Saviour! Oh, ye deaf adders, that will not hear the voice of the charmers, it

is you that make God a stranger in the land, and like a wayfaring man that

turneth aside to tarry for a night!

(3.) There has been much resisting of the Spirit in our day. In some

parts of Scotland this is eminently true. Many have been pricked to the

heart, and yet have smothered their convictions. Some have been brought to

intense anxiety about their souls, but have looked back, like Lot’s wife, and

become pillars of salt! Oh, it is this keeps God away!

Dear unconverted sinners, ye little know how much you are interested

in that this should be a time of reviving from the presence of the Lord. It is

not our part to tell of coming judgments, of fire from heaven or fire from

hell; but this we can plainly see, that unless the Spirit of God shall come

down on our parishes like rain on the mown grass, many souls that are now

in the land of peace shall soon be in the world of tossing and anguish! There

may be no sudden judgments; hell may not be rained down from heaven, as

upon Sodom; the earth may not yawn to receive her prey, as in the camp of

Israel; but Sabbath-breakers, liars, swearers, drunkards, unclean persons,

formalists, worldlings, and hypocrites, yea, all Christless souls, will quietly

slip away, one by one, into an undone eternity! Come, then, and let every

believer, and, above all, every minister, stir up his heart to lay hold on God

and cry, “Oh, the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why

shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that

turneth aside to tarry for a night?”

It has been the practice of many ministers in England and Scotland to

hold a concert for prayer every Saturday morning, from seven to eight

o’clock. Several ministers of our own church have been in use to meet at

the throne of grace on Saturday evening, at seven o’clock. Many

congregations in different parts of Scotland have agreed to a concert for

prayer in secret, and in the family, from eight to nine on Sabbath mornings.

Might not the Christian ministers and people of Scotland, while

separated in body, in this manner maintain union in prayer, and so the cloud

of blessing, that is now like a man’s hand, might spread over the whole sky,

and bring times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord?

I LOVE THE LORD’S DAY

“The Sabbath was made for man.”

DEAR FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN,—As a servant of God in this dark and cloudy

day, I feel constrained to lift up my voice in behalf of the entire

sanctification of the Lord’s day. The daring attack that is now made by

some of the Directors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on the law of

God and the peace of our Scottish Sabbath—the blasphemous motion which

they mean to propose to the shareholders in February next—and the wicked

pamphlets which are now being circulated in thousands, full of all manner

of lies and impieties—call loudly for the calm, deliberate testimony of all

faithful ministers and private Christians in behalf of God’s holy day. In the

name of all God’s people in this town and in this land, I commend to your

dispassionate consideration the following

REASONS WHY WE LOVE THE LORD’S DAY

(1.) Because it is the Lord’s day.—“This is the day which the Lord hath

made; we will rejoice, and be glad in it,” Ps. 118:24. “I was in the Spirit on

the Lord’s day,” Rev. 1:10. It is his, by example. It is the day on which He

rested from his amazing work of redemption. Just as God rested on the

seventh day from all his works, wherefore God blessed the Sabbath-day,

and hallowed it; so the Lord Jesus rested on this day from all his agony, and

pain, and humiliation. “There remaineth therefore the keeping of a Sabbath

to the people of God,” Heb. 4:9. The Lord’s day is his property, just as the

Lord’s Supper is the supper belonging to Christ. It is his table. He is the

bread. He is the wine. He invites the guests. He fills them with joy and with

the Holy Ghost. So it is with the Lord’s day. All days of the year are

Christ’s, but He hath marked out one in seven as peculiarly his own. “He

hath made it,” or marked it out. Just as He planted a garden in Eden, so He

hath fenced about this day and made it his own.

This is the reason why we love it, and would keep it entire. We love

everything that is Christ’s. We love his word. It is better to us than

thousands of gold and silver. “O how we love his law! it is our study all the

day.” We love his house. It is our trysting-place with Christ, where He

meets with us and communes with us from off the mercy-seat. We love his

table. It is his banqueting-house, where his banner over us is love—where

He looses our bonds, and anoints our eyes, and makes our hearts burn with

holy joy. We love his people, because they are his, members of his body,

washed in his blood, filled with his Spirit, our brothers and sisters for

eternity. And we love the Lord’s day, because it is his. Every hour of it is

dear to us—sweeter than honey, more precious than gold. It is the day He

rose for our justification. It reminds us of his love, and his finished work,

and his rest. And we may boldly say that that man does not love the Lord

Jesus Christ who does not love the entire Lord’s day.

Oh Sabbath-breaker, whoever you be, you are a sacrilegious robber!

When you steal the hours of the Lord’s day for business or for pleasure, you

are robbing Christ of the precious hours which He claims as his own. Would

you not be shocked if a plan were deliberately proposed for breaking

through the fence of the Lord’s table, and turning it into a common meal, or

a feast for the profligate and the drunkard? Would not your best feelings be

harrowed to see the silver cup of communion made a cup of revelry in the

hand of the drunkard? And yet what better is the proposal of our railway

directors? “The Lord’s day” is as much his day as “the Lord’s table” is his

table. Surely we may well say, in the words of Dr Love, that eminent

servant of Christ, now gone to the Sabbath above, “Cursed is that gain,

cursed is that recreation, cursed is that health, which is gained by criminal

encroachments on this sacred day.”

II. Because it is a relic of Paradise and type of Heaven.—The first

Sabbath dawned on the bowers of a sinless paradise. When Adam was

created in the image of his Maker, he was put into the garden to dress it and

to keep it. No doubt this called forth all his energies. To train the luxuriant

vine, to gather the fruit of the fig-tree and palm, to conduct the water to the

fruit-trees and flowers, required all his time and all his skill. Man was never

made to be idle. Still, when the Sabbath-day came round, his rural

implements were all laid aside; the garden no longer was his care. His calm,

pure mind looked beyond things seen into the world of eternal realities. He

walked with God in the garden, seeking deeper knowledge of Jehovah and

his ways, his heart burning more and more with holy love, and his lips

overflowing with seraphic praise. Even in paradise man needed a Sabbath

Without it Eden itself would have been incomplete. How little they know

the joys of Eden, the delight of a close and holy walk with God, who would

wrest from Scotland this relic of a sinless world!

It is also the type of heaven. When a believer lays aside his pen or

loom, brushes aside his worldly cares, leaving them behind him with his

week-day clothes, and comes up to the house of God, it is like the morning

of the resurrection, the day when we shall come out of great tribulation into

the presence of God and the Lamb. When he sits under the preached word,

and hears the voice of the shepherd leading and feeding his soul, it reminds

him of the day when the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed

him and lead him to living fountains of waters. When he joins in the psalm

of praise, it reminds him of the day when his hands shall strike the harp of

God—

“Where congregations ne’er break up,

And Sabbaths have no end.”

When he retires, and meets with God in secret in his closet, or, like Isaac, in

some favourite spot near his dwelling, it reminds him of the day when “he

shall be a pillar in the house of our God, and go no more out.”

This is the reason why we love the Lord’s day. This is the reason why

we “call the Sabbath a delight.” A well-spent Sabbath we feel to be a day of

heaven upon earth. For this reason we wish our Sabbaths to be wholly given

to God. We love to spend the whole time in the public and private exercises

of God’s worship, except so much as is taken up in the works of necessity

and mercy. We love to rise early on that morning, and to sit up late, that we

may have a long day with God.

How many may know from this that they will never be in heaven! A

straw on the surface can tell which way the stream is flowing. Do you abhor

a holy Sabbath? Is it a kind of hell to you to be with those who are strict in

keeping the Lord’s day? The writer of these lines once felt as you do. You

are restless and uneasy. You say, “Behold, what a weariness is it!” “When

will the Sabbath be gone, that we may sell corn?” Ah! soon, very soon, and

you will be in hell. Hell is the only place for you. Heaven is one long,

never-ending, holy Sabbath-day. There are no Sabbaths in hell.

III. Because it is a day of blessings.—When God instituted the Sabbath

in paradise, it is said, “God blessed the Sabbath-day, and sanctified it,” Gen.

2:3. He not only set it apart as a sacred day, but made it a day of blessing.

Again, when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week

before dawn, He revealed himself the same day to two disciples going to

Emmaus, and made their hearts burn within them. Luke 24:13. The same

evening He came and stood in the midst of the disciples, and said, “Peace

be unto you;” and He breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy

Ghost,” John 20:19. Again, after eight days—that is, the next Lord’s day—

Jesus came and stood in the midst, and revealed himself with unspeakable

grace to unbelieving Thomas. John 20:26. It was on the Lord’s day, also,

that the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Acts 2:1; compare Lev.

23:15, 16. That beginning of all spiritual blessings, that first revival of the

Christian church, was on the Lord’s day. It was on the same day that the

beloved John, an exile on the sea-girt isle of Patmos, far away from the

assembly of the saints, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and received his

heavenly revelation. So that in all ages, from the beginning of the world,

and in every place where there is a believer, the Sabbath has been a day of

double blessing. It is so still, and will be, though all God’s enemies should

gnash their teeth at it. True, God is a God of free grace, and confines his

working to no time or place; but it is equally true, and all the scoffs of the

infidel cannot alter it, that it pleases Him to bless his word most on the

Lord’s day. All God’s faithful ministers in every land can bear witness that

sinners are converted most frequently on the Lord’s day—that Jesus comes

in and shows himself through the lattice of ordinances oftenest on his own

day. Saints, like John, are filled with the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and enjoy

their calmest, deepest views into the eternal world.

Unhappy men, who are striving to rob our beloved Scotland of this day

of double blessing, “ye know not what you do.” You would wrest from our

dear countrymen the day when God opens the windows of heaven and pours

down a blessing. You want to make the heavens over Scotland like brass,

and the hearts of our people like iron. Is it the sound of the golden bells of

our ever-living High Priest on the mountains of our land, and the breathing

of his Holy Spirit over so many of our parishes, that has roused up your

satanic exertions to drown the sweet sound of mercy by the deafening roar

of railway carriages? Is it the returning vigour of the revived and chastened

Church of Scotland that has opened the torrents of blasphemy which you

pour forth against the Lord of the Sabbath? Have your own withered souls

no need of a drop from heaven? May it not be the case that some of you are

blaspheming the very day on which your own soul might have been saved?

Is it not possible that some of you may remember, with tears of anguish in

hell, the exertions which you are now making, against light and against

warning, to bring down a withering blight on your own souls and on the

religion of Scotland?

To those who are God’s children in this land, I would now, in the name

of our common Saviour, who is Lord of the Sabbath-day, address

A WORD OF EXHORTATION

I. PRIZE THE LORD’S DAY.—The more that others despise and trample on

it, love you it all the more. The louder the storm of blasphemy howls around

you, sit the closer at the feet of Jesus. “He must reign till He has put all

enemies under his feet.” Diligently improve all holy time. It should be the

busiest day of the seven; but only in the business of eternity. Avoid sin on

that holy day. God’s children should avoid sin every day, but most of all on

the Lord’s day. It is a day of double cursing as well as of double blessing.

The world will have to answer dreadfully for sins committed in holy time.

Spend the Lord’s day in the Lord’s presence. Spend it as a day in heaven.

Spend much of it in praise and in works of mercy, as Jesus did.

II. DEFEND THE LORD’S DAY.—Lift up a calm undaunted testimony

against all the profanations of the Lord’s day. Use all your influence,

whether as a statesman, a magistrate, a master, a father, or a friend, both

publicly and privately, to defend the entire Lord’s day. This duty is laid

upon you in the Fourth Commandment. Never see the Sabbath broken

without reproving the breaker of it. Even worldly men, with all their pride

and contempt for us, cannot endure to be convicted of Sabbath-breaking.

Always remember God and the Bible are on your side, and that you will

soon see these men cursing their own sin and folly when too late. Let all

God’s children in Scotland lift up a united testimony especially against

these three public profanations of the Lord’s day:—

(1.) The keeping open of Reading-Rooms.—In this town, and in all the

large towns of Scotland, I am told, you may find in the public reading-

rooms many of our men of business turning over the newspapers and

magazines at all hours of the Lord’s day; and especially on Sabbath

evenings, many of these places are filled like a little church. Ah, guilty

men! how plainly you show that you are on the broad road that leadeth to

destruction. If you were a murderer or an adulterer, perhaps you would not

dare to deny this. Do you not know, and all the sophistry of hell cannot

disprove it, that the same God who said, “Thou shalt not kill,” said also,

“Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy?” The murderer who is dragged

to the gibbet, and the polished Sabbath-breaker, are one in the sight of God.

(2.) The keeping open Public-Houses.—Public-houses are the curse of

Scotland. I never see a sign, “Licensed to sell spirits,” without thinking that

it is a licence to ruin souls. They are the yawning avenues to poverty and

rags in this life, and, as another has said, “the short cut to hell.” Is it to be

tamely borne in this land of light and reformation, that these pest-houses

and dens of iniquity—these man-traps for precious souls—shall be open on

the Sabbath, nay, that they shall be enriched and kept afloat by this unholy

traffic, many of them declaring that they could not keep up their shop if it

were not for the Sabbath market-day? Surely we may well say, “Cursed is

the gain made on that day.” Poor wretched men! Do you not know that

every penny that rings upon your counter on that day will yet eat your flesh

as if it were fire—that every drop of liquid poison swallowed in your gaslit

palaces will only serve to kindle up the flame of “the fire that is not

quenched?”

(3.) Sunday Trains upon the Railway.—A majority of the Directors of

the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway have shown their determination, in a

manner that has shocked all good men, to open the railway on the Lord’s

day. The sluices of infidelity have been opened at the same time, and floods

of blasphemous tracts are pouring over the land, decrying the holy day of

the blessed God, as if there was no eye in heaven, no King on Zion Hill, no

day of reckoning.

Christian countrymen, awake! and, filled by the same spirit that

delivered our country from the dark superstitions of Rome, let us beat back

the incoming tide of infidelity and enmity to the Sabbath.

Guilty men! who, under Satan, are leading on the deep, dark phalanx of

Sabbath-breakers, yours is a solemn position. You are robbers. You rob God

of his holy day. You are murderers. You murder the souls of your servants.

God said, “Thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy servant;” but you

compel your servants to break God’s law, and to sell their souls for gain.

You are sinners against light. Your Bible and your catechism, the words of

godly parents, perhaps now in the Sabbath above, and the loud

remonstrances of God-fearing men, are ringing in your ears, while you

perpetrate this deed of shame, and glory in it. You are traitors to your

country. The law of your country declares that you should “observe a holy

rest all that day from your own words, works, and thoughts;” and yet you

scout it as an antiquated superstition. Was it not Sabbath-breaking that made

God cast away Israel? And yet you would bring the same curse on Scotland

now. You are moral suicides, stabbing your own souls, proclaiming to the

world that you are not the Lord’s people, and hurrying on your souls to

meet the Sabbath-breaker’s doom.

In conclusion, I propose, for the calm consideration of all sober-minded

men, the following

SERIOUS QUESTIONS

(1.) Can you name one godly minister, of any denomination in all

Scotland, who does not hold the duty of the entire sanctification of the

Lord’s day?

(2.) Did you ever meet with a lively believer in any country under

heaven—one who loved Christ, and lived a holy life—who did not delight

in keeping holy to God the entire Lord’s day?

(3.) Is it wise to take the interpretation of God’s will concerning the

Lord’s day from “men of the world,” from infidels, scoffers, men of unholy

lives, men who are sand-blind in all divine things, men who are the enemies

of all righteousness, who quote Scripture freely, as Satan did, to deceive and

betray?

(4.) If, in opposition to the uniform testimony of God’s wisest and

holiest servants—against the plain warnings of God’s word, against the very

words of your catechism, learned beside your mother’s knee, and against

the voice of your outraged conscience—you join the ranks of the Sabbath-

breakers, will not this be a sin against light, will it not lie heavy on your

soul upon your deathbed, will it not meet you in the judgment-day?

Praying that these words of truth and soberness may be owned of God,

and carried home to your hearts with divine power—I remain, dear fellow-

countrymen, your soul’s well-wisher, etc.

December 18, 1841.

SCRIPTURES TO BE MEDITATED ON

1. Sabbath commanded.—Ex. 16:22–30; 20:8–11; 35:1–3. Lev. 19:3–

30. Deut. 5:12–15. Neh. 9:14.

2. A sign of God’s people.—Ex. 31:12–17. 2 Kings 4:23. Ezek. 20:12.

Lam. 1:7. Heb. 4:9.

3. Sabbath-breaking punished.—Num. 15:32–36. Lev. 26:33–35. 2

Chron. 36:21. Jer. 17:19–end. Lam. 2:6. Ezek. 20:12–26. Amos 8:4–14.

4. Day of blessing.—Gen. 2:2, 3. Ex. 16:24. Lev. 24:8. Num. 28:9, 10.

Isa. 56:1–8; 58:13, 14. John 20:1, 19, 26. Acts 2:1, with Lev. 23:15. Rev.

1:10.

5. Rulers should guard the Sabbath.—Ex. 20:10. Neh. 13:15–22.

6. Sabbath in gospel times.—Psalm 118:24. Isa. 66:23. Ezek. 46:1.

Mark 2:27, 28. Acts 2:1; 20:6, 7. 1 Cor. 16:2. Rev. 1:10.

LETTER ON SABBATH RAILWAYS

TO ALEXANDER M‘NEILL, ESQ., ADVOCATE

SIR,—I have read the report of your speech at the meeting of Directors of

the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, on Tuesday, 16

November last, and

also the motion which you propose to lay before the shareholders on the 24

February. As a Christian minister, and a free British subject, I take leave to

express in this manner the deep feelings of righteous indignation which

these have awakened, not in my breast only, but in the breast of every

believing man whom I know.

You candidly acknowledge that in the ranks of your opponents are to be

found “men of lofty intellect, of great learning and piety, and unbounded

benevolence,” and yet, in the same breath, you say, “You must judge for

yourself, according to the reason and plain sense of the matter.” That is to

say, that the host of intellectual and pious men who are arrayed against you

do not judge according to reason or plain sense in this matter, but by some

airy superhuman notions, which a man of sense may brush aside as so many

cobwebs. Ah! sir, speak out your mind. Tell what it is that lies at the bottom

of your enmity to the entire preservation of the Lord’s day. It is the

concealment of your sentiments that is the darkest part of your whole

address. You are an utter stranger to me, and I dare not judge as to your true

motives. But every thinking man cannot but form this opinion in his own

mind, that the reason why you despise the lessons of all God’s holiest and

wisest servants in this land, is not that you think little of the resolutions of

popular assemblies (that is a miserable subterfuge, unworthy of any but a

mere debater), but that you despise and trample under foot the divine

message which they bring. You say you are threatened to be overwhelmed

with a flood of obloquy. Do not be afraid. You are on the world’s side—“the

world cannot hate you”. There are not many to lift up their voices in behalf

of the holy Sabbath. Those who do, are the followers of one who bade us

bless and curse not. You say “you do not court approbation, and you care

nothing for condemnation.” This may be a brave speech; few will regard it

as a wise one. If you mean that you do not care for the condemnation of

worldly men, there would be something right in that, for in doing our duty

we must expect that the world which crucified our Lord will not spare his

servants; but if you mean that you do not care for the condemnation of

God’s people, and of the word of God, and of the Lord Jesus, who is to be

your Judge, then will you soon repent your words with bitter tears. Why, sir,

what are you, that you should say, “I care nothing for condemnation?” “Can

thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the day that I shall deal

with thee?” “Hast thou an arm like God, or canst thou thunder with a voice

like Him?” If the condemnation of your words, which God’s people are now

testifying in every part of the land, be righteous condemnation—if it be in

accordance with the word of God and the mind of Christ—is it the part of a

wise man to say, “I care not for it?” You may say so now in the blindness of

your heart, but the day is at hand when you will feel the reverse.

And now one word as to your proposed motion. It runs as follows:

—“Whereas it is the duty of the directors of the company to give implicit

obedience to the law of God, etc.,—This meeting resolves that it is not

inconsistent with the duty of the directors as aforesaid, and they are hereby

enjoined to provide trains to be run from the cities of Edinburgh and

Glasgow respectively, in the morning and in the evening of Sunday,” etc.

I do not know whether this motion has come entirely from your own

mind, or whether several have agreed with you in it; but I here freely state

my conviction, formed upon the calm and deliberate study of the motion,

and without the slightest desire to use a harsh or improper term, that THE

MOTION IS BLASPHEMOUS. You say, first, that it is your duty to give implicit

obedience to the law of God. What is the law of God? “Remember the

Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not

do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy

maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in

six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day,

and hallowed it.” Exod. 20:8–11. Now, sir, if, as I presume, you spent your

early years in Scotland, trained up, perhaps, under the watchful eye of one

who prayed for her child that he might walk in wisdom’s ways, you cannot

be ignorant of the explanation given of this commandment in the Shorter

Catechism. (Qu. 60.) “The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all

that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful

on other days, spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of

God’s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of

necessity and mercy.” This is the law of God, and this is the received

interpretation of it, both of which were, no doubt, in your eye when you

penned that memorable sentence, “It is the duty of the directors to give

implicit obedience to the law of God.” And yet, before the ink was dry, you

write down, “The directors are enjoined to provide trains to be run in the

morning and evening of Sunday.” In other words, you hold in your hand the

two Tables of Stone, written with God’s finger, and you say we should obey

this; and then you dash them on the ground, and say it is our duty,

notwithstanding, to trample on and defy them. Ah! sir, you may call this

reason and plain sense, but simpler men can see that it is open mockery of

God’s holy law, and of Him on whose heart it was graven from eternity.

Such lip-acknowledgment of God and his law God hates and despises. I

solemnly declare, and it is the feeling of many besides me, that I would

have been less shocked if you had written down, “It is the duty of the

directors to break God’s law.” That would have been honest and downright,

and thousands would have applauded you. But when you set out with the

hypocritical declaration that it is your duty to give implicit obedience to the

law of God, and then conclude by declaring your resolution to break it, I

believe in my I heart, that not only will God’s children abhor the

blasphemy, but honest, worldly men will despise your cowardice. And now,

sir, I have done. You little know the feelings of deep compassion with

which you, and the unhappy men who voted with you, are regarded by

many an humble and holy believer, who loves, because he knows, the

preciousness of an unbroken Sabbath-day. Never in all my experience did I

meet with a child of God who did not prize, above all other earthly things,

the privilege of devoting to his God the seventh part of his time. It is still a

sign between God and his Israel. It is this simple fact, sir, that affords me

ground to fear that, with all your talents, with all your reason and plain

sense, you are yet an utter stranger to the peculiar tastes and joys and hopes

of those who love the Lord. You proclaim your own shame. You prove,

even to the blind world, that you are not journeying toward the Sabbath

above, where the Sabbath-breaker cannot come. If you shall really carry

your motion, against the prayers and longings of God’s people in this land,

then, sir, you will triumph for a little while; but Scotland’s sin, committed

against light, and against solemn warning, will not pass unavenged. I am,

sir, etc.

P.S.—As an advocate learned in the law, you must be well aware that

the law of God, as expounded by the Confession of Faith of the Established

Church of Scotland (and which is subscribed by every denomination of

orthodox Dissenters in Scotland), is also the law of the land, as ratified and

enacted by the Act 1690 of the Parliament of Scotland, in the two following

clauses:—

“As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be

set apart for the worship of God, so, in his word, by a positive, moral, and

perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, He hath particularly

appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto Him; which,

from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last

day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the

first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord’s day, and is to

be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.”

“This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due

preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand,

do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words,

and thoughts, about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are

taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship,

and in the duties of necessity and mercy.”

If this be true, which you know it is, then you stand convicted before

the British public as one who proclaimed it to be the duty of the directors to

break both the law of God and the law of the land.

ST PETER’S, DUNDEE, 1

December 1841.

COMMUNION WITH BRETHREN OF OTHER

DENOMINATIONS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DUNDEE WARDER.”

DEAR SIR,—Allow me, for the first time in my life, to ask a place in your

columns. My object in doing so is not to defend myself, which we are all

perhaps too ready to do, but to state simply and calmly what appear to me to

be the scriptural grounds of Free Ministerial Communion among all who

are faithful ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whatever name known

among men. These views I have long held: they were maintained by the

early Reformers, and by the Church of Scotland in her best days; and I bless

God that, by the decision of the last General Assembly, they are once more

declared to be the principles of our beloved church. I am anxious to do this,

because the question is one of great difficulty, requiring deeper thought than

most have bestowed upon it; and it is of vast importance, in this day of

conflicting opinions, to be firmly grounded on the Lord’s side.

Of the respectable ministers, who so lately officiated for me during my

illness, I shall say nothing, except that they agreed to assist me in a time of

need in the kindest manner, and that, however much I differ from them on

several points of deepest interest, I, along with many in the church, do

regard them as faithful ministers of Christ; and I trust they will utterly

disregard the poor insinuations as to their motives (contained in the letters

of your correspondents), which, I regret to say, disfigure your last paper.

In order to clear our way in this subject, allow me to open up, first, the

subject of Free Communion among private Christians, and then that of Free

Communion among Christian ministers.

1. I believe it to be the mind of Christ, that all who are vitally united to

Him, should love one another, exhort one another daily, communicate freely

of their substance to one another when poor, pray with and for one another,

and sit down together at the Lord’s table. Each of these positions may be

proved by the word of God. It is quite true that we may be frequently

deceived in deciding upon the real godliness of those with whom we are

brought into contact. The apostles themselves were deceived, and we must

not expect to do the work of the ministry with fewer difficulties than they

had to encounter. Still I have no doubt from Scripture that, where we have

good reason for regarding a man as a child of God, we are permitted and

commanded to treat him as a brother; and, as the most sacred pledge of

heavenly friendship, to sit down freely at the table of our common Lord, to

eat bread and drink wine together in remembrance of Christ. The reason of

this rule is plain. If we have solid ground to believe that a fellow-sinner has

been, by the Holy Spirit, grafted into the true vine, then we have ground to

believe that we are vitally united to one another for eternity. The same

blood has washed us, the same Spirit has quickened us, we lean upon the

same pierced breast, we love the same law, we are guided by the same

sleepless eye, we are to stand at the right hand of the same throne, we shall

blend our voices eternally in singing the same song: “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Is it not reasonable, then, that we should own one another on earth as

fellow-travellers to our Father’s house, and fellow-heirs of the incorruptible

crown? Upon this I have always acted, both in sitting down at the Lord’s

table and in admitting others to that blessed privilege. I was once permitted

to unite in celebrating the Lord’s Supper in an upper room in Jerusalem.

There were fourteen present, the most of whom, I had good reason to

believe, knew and loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Several were godly

Episcopalians, two were converted Jews, and one a Christian from

Nazareth, converted under the American missionaries. The bread and wine

were dispensed in the Episcopal manner, and most were kneeling as they

received them. Perhaps your correspondents would have shrunk back with

horror, and called this the confusion of Babel. We felt it to be sweet

fellowship with Christ and with the brethren; and as we left the upper room,

and looked out upon the Mount of Olives, we remembered with calm joy

the prayer of our Lord that ascended from one of its shady ravines, after the

first Lord’s Supper: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which

shall believe in me through their word, that they all may be ONE.”

The table of Christ is a family table spread in this wilderness, and none

of the true children should be absent from it, or be separated while sitting at

it. We are told of Rowland Hill that, upon one occasion, “when he had

preached in a chapel where none but baptized adults were admitted to the

sacrament, he wished to have communicated with them, but was told

respectfully, You cannot sit down at our table. He only calmly replied, “I

thought it was the Lord’s table.”

The early Reformers held the same view. Calvin wrote to Cranmer that

he would cross ten seas to bring it about. Baxter, Owen, and Howe, in a

later generation, pleaded for it; and the Westminster Divines laid down the

same principle in few but solemn words: “Saints, by profession, are bound

to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God—

which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all

those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.” These

words, embodied in our standards, show clearly that the views maintained

above are the very principles of the Church of Scotland.

2. The second scriptural communion is Ministerial Communion. Here

also I believe it to be the mind of Christ, that all who are true servants of the

Lord Jesus Christ, sound in the faith, called to the ministry, and owned of

God therein, should love one another, pray one for another, bid one another

God-speed, own one another as fellow-soldiers, fellow-servants, and

fellow-labourers in the vineyard, and, so far as God offereth opportunity,

help one another in the work of the ministry. Each of these positions also

may be proved by the word of God. I am aware that, practically, it is a point

of far greater difficulty and delicacy than the communion of private

Christians, because I can own many a one as a fellow-Christian, and can

joyfully sit down with him at the Lord’s table, while I may think many of

his views of divine truth defective, and could not receive him as a sound

teacher. But although caution and sound discretion are no doubt to be used

in applying this or any other Scripture rule, yet the rule itself appears to be

simple enough—that, where any minister of any denomination holds the

Head, is sound in doctrine and blameless in life, preaches Christ and Him

crucified as the only way of pardon and the only source of holiness,

especially if he has been owned of God in the conversion of souls and

upbuilding of saints, we are bound to hold ministerial communion with him,

whenever Providence opens the way. What are we that we should shut our

pulpits against such a man? True, he may hold that Prelacy is the scriptural

form of church government; he may have signed the 37

article of the

Church of England, giving the Queen the chief power in all causes, whether

ecclesiastical or civil: still, if he be a Berridge or a Rowland Hill, he is an

honoured servant of Christ. True, he may hold Establishments to be

unscriptural—he may not see, as I do, that the Queen is the minister of God,

and ought to use all her authority in extending, defending, and maintaining

the Church of Christ: still, if he be like some I could name, he is a faithful

servant of Christ. True, he may have inconsistencies of mind which we

cannot account for—he may have prejudices of sect and education which

destroy much of our comfort in meeting him (and can we plead exemption

from these?)—he may sometimes have spoken rashly and uncharitably (I

also have done the same): still, I cannot but own him as a servant of Christ.

If the Master owns him in his work, shall the sinful fellow-servant disown

him? Shall we be more cautious than our Lord? True, he may have much

imperfection in his views; so had Apollos. He may be to be blamed in some

things, and withstood to the face; so it was with Peter. He may have acted a

cowardly part at one time; so did John Mark. Still I maintain that unless he

has shown himself a Demas, “a lover of this present world,” or one of those

who have a “form of godliness, denying the power thereof,” we are not

allowed to turn away from him, nor to treat him as an adversary.

Such were the principles of the Reformers. Calvin says of Luther, when

he was loading him with abuse, “Let him call me a dog or a devil, I will

acknowledge him as a servant of Christ.” The devoted Usher preached in

the pulpit of Samuel Rutherford; and at a later date, before the unscriptural

Act of 1799 was passed, to hinder faithful English ministers from carrying

the light of divine truth into the death-like gloom of our Scottish parishes, a

minister of the Synod of Glasgow defended himself for admitting Whitfield

into his pulpit in these memorable words:—“There is no law of Christ, no

Act of Assembly, prohibiting me to give my pulpit to an Episcopal,

Independent, or Baptist minister, if of sound principles in the fundamentals

of religion, and of sober life.” The same truth is clearly to be deduced from

the 25

chapter of the Confession of Faith, where it is declared that “the

visible church consists of all those throughout the world that profess the

true religion, together with their children.” And then it is added, “Unto this

catholic, visible church, Christ hath given the ministry,” etc. From which it

plainly follows, that faithful ministers belonging to all parts of the visible

church are to be recognised as ministers whom Christ hath given. Such I

believe to be the principles of God’s word; such are clearly the views of the

standards of our Church; and I do hail it as a token that the Spirit of God

was really poured down upon the last General Assembly, that they so

calmly and deliberately swept away the unchristian Act of 1799 from the

statute-book, and returned to the good old way.

It has often been my prayer, that no unfaithful minister might ever be

heard within the walls of St Peter’s. My elders and people can bear witness

that they have seldom heard any voice from its pulpit that did not proclaim

“ruin by the Fall, righteousness by Christ, and regeneration by the Spirit.”

Difficult as it is in these days to find supply, I had rather that no voice

should be heard there at all than “the voice of strangers,” from whom

Christ’s sheep will flee. Silence in the pulpit does not edify souls, but it

does not ruin them. But the living servant of Christ is dear to my heart, and

welcome to address my flock, let him come from whatever quarter of the

earth he may. I have sat with delight under the burning words of a faithful

Lutheran pastor. I have been fed by the ministrations of American

Congregationalists and devoted Episcopalians, and all of my flock who

know and love Christ would have loved to hear them too. If dear Martin

Boos were alive, pastor of the Church of Rome though he was, he would

have been welcome too; and who that knows the value of souls and the

value of a living testimony would say it was wrong?

Had I admitted to my pulpit some frigid Evangelical of our own church

—(I allude to no individual, but I fear it is a common case)—one whose

head is sound in all the stirring questions of the day, but whose heart is cold

in seeking the salvation of sinners, would any watchful brother of sinners

have sounded an alarm in the next day’s gazette to warn me and my flock of

the sin and danger? I fear not. And yet Baxter says of such a man, “Nothing

can be more indecent than to hear a dead preacher speaking to dead sinners

the living truth of the living God.” With such ministers I have no

communion. “O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their

assembly, mine honour, be not thou united.”

In conclusion, let me notice the effect of this Free Ministerial

Communion upon our glorious struggle for Christ’s kingly office in

Scotland. I believe, with many of my brethren, that the Church of Scotland

is at this moment a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid. I believe she is a

spectacle to men and to angels, contending in the sight of the universe for

Christ’s twofold crown—his crown over nations, and his crown over the

visible Catholic Church. She stands between the Voluntary on the one side,

and the Erastian on the other, and with one hand on the word of God, and

the other lifted up to heaven, implores her adorable Head to uphold her as a

faithful witness unto death, in a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy.

In generations past this cause has been maintained in Scotland at all hands,

and against all enemies; and if God calls us to put our feet in the blood-

stained footsteps of the Scottish worthies, I dare not boast, but I will pray

that the calm faith of Hugh Mackail, and the cheerful courage of Donald

Cargill, may be given me. But is this a reason why we should not live up to

the spirit of the New Testament, in our dealing with Christians and

Christian ministers of other denominations? Is this a reason why we should

not wipe off every stain from the garments of our beloved church? Is it not

the very thing that demands that each member of our church should set his

house in order, purging out all the old leaven of carnal division, reforming

his own spirit and family, according to the rule of God’s word; that elders

and ministers should seek revival and reformation in their private and

public walk, and pant after more of the spirit of our suffering Head and

Elder Brother? If a faithful Episcopal minister be wrong in his views of

church government, as I believe he is; if many of our faithful Dissenting

brethren are wrong in opposing Christ’s headship over nations, as I believe

they are, what is the scriptural mode of seeking to set them right? Is it to set

up unscriptural barriers between us and them? Is it to count them as

enemies, however much Christ acknowledges them as good and faithful

servants? Is it to call them by opprobrious epithets, to impute mean and

wicked motives for their undertaking the holiest services, to rake among the

ashes for their hard sayings? I think not. Christ’s way is a more excellent

way, however unpleasant to the proud, carnal heart. “Let us, therefore, as

many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise

minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” I have looked at this question

from the brink of eternity, and in such a light, I can assure your

correspondents that, if they know the Lord, they will regret, as I have done,

the want of more caution in speaking of the doings and motives of other

men. Let us do our part towards our Dissenting brethren according to the

Scriptures, however they may treat us. We shall be no losers. Perhaps we

may gain those who are brethren indeed to think more as we do. At least

they will love us, and cease to speak evil of us.

If our church is to fall under the iron foot of despotism, God grant that

it may fall reformed and purified; pure in its doctrine, government,

discipline, and worship; scriptural in its spirit; missionary in its aim, and

holy in its practice; a truly golden candlestick; a pleasant vine. If the

daughter of Zion must be made a widow, and sit desolate on the ground,

grant her latest cry may be that of her once suffering, now exalted Head:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”—I remain, dear sir,

yours, etc.

ST PETER’S, DUNDEE, July 6, 1842.

TO THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his

bosom.”—ISAIAH 40:11.

BELOVED CHILDREN,—Jesus is the Good Shepherd. His arm was stretched

out on the cross, and his bosom was pierced with the spear. That arm is able

to gather yon, and that bosom is open to receive you. I pray for you every

day that you may be saved by Christ. He said to me, “Feed my lambs,” and

I daily return the words to Him, “Lord, feed my lambs.” In the bowels of

Jesus Christ, I long after you all. I believe Christ has gathered some of you.

But are no more to be gathered? Are no more green brands to be plucked

from the burning? Will no more of you hide beneath the white robe of

Jesus? Oh, come! for “yet there is room.” Lift up your hearts to God while I

tell you something more of the Good Shepherd.

I. JESUS HAS A FLOCK

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.” Every shepherd must have a

flock, and so has Christ. I once saw a flock in a valley near Jerusalem; and

the shepherd went before them and called the sheep, and they knew his

voice and followed him. I said, This is the way Jesus leads his sheep. Oh

that I may be one of them!

(1.) Christ’s flock is a little flock.—Hear what Jesus says: “Fear not,

little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 12:32. Pray to be among the little flock. Look at the world—eight

hundred millions of men, women, and children, of different countries,

colour, and language, all journeying to the judgment-seat! Is this Christ’s

flock? Ah, no! Five hundred millions never heard the sweet name of Jesus,

and of the rest the most see no beauty in the Rose of Sharon. Christ’s is a

little flock. Look at this town. What crowds press along the streets on a

market-day! What a large flock is here! Is this the flock of Christ? No. It is

to be feared that most of these are not the brothers and sisters of Christ; they

do not bear his likeness; they do not follow the Lamb now, and will not

follow Him in eternity. Look round the Sabbath schools. What a number of

young faces are there! How many beaming eyes! How many precious souls!

Is this the flock of Christ? No, no. The most of you have hard and stony

hearts; the most of you love pleasure more than God; the most of you love

sin, and lightly esteem Christ. “What a pity it is that they do not a’ come to

Christ, for they would be sic happy!” said one of yourselves. I could weep

when I think how many of you will live lives of sin, and die deaths of

horror, and spend an eternity in hell. Beloved children, pray that you may

be like the one lily among many thorns—that you may be the few lambs in

the midst of a world of wolves.

(2.) Christ’s sheep are marked sheep.—In almost every flock the sheep

are all marked in order that the shepherd may know them. The mark is often

made with tar on the woolly back of the sheep. Sometimes it is the first

letter of the owner’s name. The use of the mark is, that they may not be lost

when they wander among other sheep. So it is with the flock of Jesus. Every

sheep of his has two marks. One mark is made with the blood of Jesus.

Every sheep and lamb in Christ’s flock was once guilty and defiled with sin,

altogether become filthy. But every one of them has been drawn to the

blood of Jesus and washed there. They are all like sheep “come up from the

washing.” They can all say, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from

our sins in his own blood,” Rev. 1:5. Have you this mark? Look and see.

You can never be in heaven unless you have it. Every one there has washed

his robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7:14.

Another mark is made by the Holy Spirit. This is not a mark which you can

see outside, like the mark on the white wool of the sheep. It is deep, deep in

the bosom, where the eye of man cannot look. It is A NEW HEART. “A new

heart also will I give you,” Ezek. 36:26. This is the seal of the Holy Spirit,

which He gives to all them that believe. With infinite power He puts forth

his unseen hand, and silently changes the heart of all that are truly Christ’s.

Have you got the new heart? You never will go to heaven without it. “If any

man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Beloved children, pray

for these two marks of the sheep of Jesus—forgiveness through blood and a

new heart. Oh, be in earnest to get them, and to get them now. Soon the

Chief Shepherd will come, and set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats

on his left. Where will you be in that day?

(3.) Christ’s sheep all flock together.—Sheep love to go together. A

sheep never goes with a wolf or with a dog, but always with the flock.

Especially when a storm is coming down, they keep near one another. When

the sky turns dark with clouds, and the first drops of a thunder-shower are

coming on, the shepherds say that you will see the sheep flocking down

from the hills, and all meeting together in some sheltered valley. They love

to keep together. So it is with the flock of Jesus. They do not love to go with

the world, but always one with another. Christian loves Christian. They

have the same peace, the same Spirit, the same Shepherd, the same fold on

the hills of immortality. Especially in the dark and cloudy day, such as our

day is likely to be, the sheep of Christ are driven together, to weep together.

They love to pray together, to sing praise together, to hide in Christ

together.

“Little children, love one another.” Make companions of those that fear

God. Flee from all others. Who can take fire into their bosom, and not be

burned? I remember of one little boy who was indeed a lamb of Christ’s

fold. He could not bear a lie; and whenever he found any of his companions

telling a falsehood, he left their company altogether. There was one boy

with whom he was very intimate. This boy one day began to boast of

something he had done, which boast our little Christian saw at once to be a

lie. Upon this he told him that he must never again come to his house, and

that he would have nothing more to do with him till he was a better boy. His

mother asked him how he would soon know when he was a better boy. He

said that he would see some marks which would show him that he was

better. “And what marks will you know it by?” “I think,” said he, “the

biggest mark will be that he loves God.”

II. WHAT JESUS DOES FOR HIS FLOCK

(1.) He died for them.—“I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.” This is the chief beauty in Christ. The wounds

that marred his fair body make Him altogether lovely in a needy sinner’s

eye. All that are now and ever shall be the sheep of Christ, were once

condemned to die. The wrath of God abode upon them. They were ready to

drop into the burning lake. Jesus had compassion upon them, left his

Father’s bosom, emptied himself, became a worm and no man, and died

under the sins of many. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

This is the grace of the Lord Jesus. Every one in the flock can say, “He

loved me, and gave himself for me.”

(2.) He seeks and finds them.—We would never seek Christ if He did

not seek us first. We would never find Christ if He did not find us. “The Son

of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” I once asked a

shepherd, “How do you find sheep that are lost in the snow?” “Oh,” he said,

“we go down into the deep ravines, where the sheep go in storms; there we

find the sheep huddled together beneath the snow.” “And are they able to

come out when you take away the snow?” “Oh, no; if they had to take a

single step to save their lives, they could not do it. So we just go in and

carry them out.” Ah, this is the very way Jesus saves lost sheep. He finds us

frozen and dead in the deep pit of sin. If we had to take a single step to save

our souls, we could not do it; but He reaches down his arm and carries ns

out. This He does for every sheep He saves. Glory, glory, glory be to Jesus,

the Shepherd of our souls. Oh, children, let Jesus gather you. Feel your

helpless condition, and look up and say, Lord, help me.

(3.) He feeds them.—“By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and

shall go in and out and find pasture.” If Jesus has saved you, He will feed

you. He will feed your body. “I have been young, and now am old; yet

never saw I the righteous for saken, nor his seed begging bread.”

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed;

From them let us learn to trust for our bread:

His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied,

So long as ’tis written—The Lord will provide.

He will feed your soul. He that feeds the little flower in the cleft of the

craggy precipice, where no hand of man can reach it, will feed your soul

with silent drops of heavenly dew. I shall never forget the story of a little

girl in Belfast, in Ireland. She was at a Sabbath school, and gained a Bible

as a prize for her good conduct. It became to her a treasure indeed. She was

fed out of it. Her parents were wicked. She often read to them, but they

became worse and worse. This broke Eliza’s heart. She took to her bed and

never rose again. She desired to see her teacher. When he came he said,

“You are not without a companion, my dear child,” taking up her Bible.

“No,” she replied—

“Precious Bible! what a treasure

Does the word of God afford!

All I want for life or pleasure,

Food and med’cine, shield and sword.

Let the world account me poor,

Having this, I ask no more.”

She had scarcely repeated the lines when she hang back her head and died.

Beloved children, this is the way Jesus feeds his flock. He is a tender,

constant, almighty Shepherd. If you become his flock, He will feed you all

the way to glory.

III. JESUS CARES FOR LAMBS

“He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”

Every careful shepherd deals gently with the lambs of the flock. When the

flocks are travelling, the lambs are not able to go far; they often grow weary

and lie down. Now, a kind shepherd stoops down and puts his gentle arm

beneath them, and lays them in his bosom. Such a shepherd is the Lord

Jesus, and saved children are his lambs. He gathers them with his arm, and

carries them in his bosom. Many a guilty lamb He has gathered and carried

to his Father’s house. Some He has gathered out of this place whom you

and I once knew well.

Before He came into the world, Jesus cared for lambs. Samuel was a

very little child, no bigger than the least of you, when he was converted. He

was girded with a linen ephod, and his mother made him a little coat, and

brought it to him every year. One night as he slept in the Holy Place, near

where the ark of God was kept, he heard a voice cry, “Samuel!” He started

up and ran to old Eli, whose eyes were dim, and said, “Here am I, for thou

calledst me.” And Eli said, “I called not, lie down again.” He went and lay

down, but a second time the voice cried, “Samuel!” He rose and went to Eli,

saying, “Here am I, for thou didst call me.” And Eli said, “I called not, my

son, lie down again.” A third time the holy voice cried, “Samuel!” And he

arose and went to Eli with the same words. Then Eli perceived that the Lord

had called the child; therefore Eli said, “Go, lie down; and it shall be if He

call thee, thou shalt say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth!” So he went

and lay down. A fourth time (how often Christ will call on little children!)

the voice cried, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, Lord,

for thy servant heareth!” Thus did Jesus gather this lamb with his arm and

carried him in his bosom. For “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him;

And the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh,” 1 Sam. 3.

Little children, of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you,

pray that the same Lord would reveal himself to you. Some people say, you

are too young to be converted and saved. I But Samuel was not too young.

Christ can open the eyes of a child as easily as of an old man. Yea, youth is

the best time to be saved in. You are not too young to die, not too young to

be judged, and therefore not too young to be brought to Christ. Do not be

contented to hear about Christ from your teachers; pray that He would

reveal himself to you. God grant there may be many little Samuels amongst

you.

Jesus cares for lambs still. The late Duke of Hamilton had two sons.

The eldest fell into consumption, when a boy, which ended in his death.

Two ministers went to see him at the family seat, near Glasgow, where he

lay. After prayer, the youth took his Bible from under his pillow, and turned

up to 2 Tim. 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I

have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of

righteousness;” and added, “This, sirs, is all my comfort!” When his death

approached, he called his younger brother to his bed, and spoke to him with

great affection. He ended with these remarkable words: “And now, Douglas,

in a little time you will be a duke, but I shall be a king.”

Let me tell you a word of another gentle lamb, whom Jesus gathered,

and whom I saw on her way from grace to glory. She was early brought to

Christ, and early taken to be with Him where He is. She told her

companions that she generally fell asleep on these words, “His left hand is

under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me;” and sometimes on

these, “Underneath are the everlasting arms.” She said she did not know

how it was, but somehow she felt that Christ was always near her. Another

time she said, “I think it’s the best way to make myself as loathsome as I

can before Him, and then to look to Jesus.” When seized with her last

illness, and told that the doctors thought she would not live long, she looked

quite composed, and said, “I am very happy at that.” She said she could not

love Jesus enough here; that she would like to be with Him, and then she

would love Him as she ought. To her tender, watchful relative she said, “I

wonder at your often looking so grave. I’m surprised at it, for 1 think I am

the happiest person in the house. I have every temporal comfort, and then I

am going to Jesus.” After a companion had been with her, she said,

“Margaret quite entered into my happiness; she did not look grave, but

smiled; that showed how much she loves me.” When sitting one evening,

her head resting on a pillow, she was asked, “Is there anything the matter,

my darling?” “Oh,” she said, “I am only weak. I am quite happy. Jesus has

said. ‘Thou art mine.’ ” Another day, when near her last, one said to her,

“Have you been praying much to-day?” “Yes,” she replied, “and I have

been trying to praise too.” “And what have you been praising for?” “I praise

God,” she said, “for all the comforts I have. I praise Him for many kind

friends,—you know He is the foundation of all; and I praise Him for taking

a sinner to glory.”

These are a few of the many golden sayings of this lamb of Christ, now,

I trust, safe in the fold above. Would you wish to be gathered thus? Go now

to some lonely place—kneel down, and call upon the Lord Jesus. Do not

leave your knees until you find Him. Pray to be gathered with his arm, and

carried in his bosom. Take hold of the hem of his garment, and say, “I must

not—I dare not—I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me.”

O seek him in earnest, and seek Him in time,

For they that seek early shall find;

While they that neglect Him are hardened in crime,

And never can come to this pure blessed clime—

They perish in anguish of mind.

DAILY BREAD

BEING A CALENDAR FOR READING THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD IN A YEAR

“Thy word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it.”

MY DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up within me new

desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved.

“God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus

Christ.” What the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? There is

plainly a weight lying on the spirits of all good men, and a looking for some

strange work of judgment coming upon this land. There is need now to ask

that solemn question: “If in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they

wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or

upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven

more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day.

Then we shall be able to say, like David, “The proud have had me greatly in

derision, yet have I not declined from thy law.” “Princes have persecuted

me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.”

It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading,

in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the

whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding

in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.

I am quite aware that such a plan is accompanied with many

DANGERS

(1.) Formality.—We are such weak creatures that any regularly

returning duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form. The tendency of

reading the word by a fixed rule may, in same minds, be to create this

skeleton religion. This is to be the peculiar sin of the last days: “Having the

form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Guard against this. Let

the calendar perish rather than this rust eat up your souls.

(2.) Self-righteousness.—Some, when they have devoted their set time

to reading the word, and accomplished their prescribed portion, may be

tempted to look at themselves with self-complacency. Many, I am

persuaded, are living without any divine work on their soul—unpardoned

and unsanctified, and ready to perish—who spend their appointed times in

secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in the right hand.

(3.) Careless reading.—Few tremble at the word of God. Few, in

reading it, hear the voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. Some, by

having so large a portion, may be tempted to weary of it, as Israel did of the

daily manna, saying, “Our soul loatheth this light bread!” and to read it in a

slight and careless manner. This would be fearfully provoking to God. Take

heed lest that word be true of you: “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness

is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts.”

(4.) A yoke too heavy to bear.—Some may engage in reading with

alacrity for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden, grievous to be borne.

They may find conscience dragging them through the appointed task

without any relish of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw

aside the fetter, and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is

not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy.

If there be so many dangers, why propose such a scheme at all? To this

I answer, that the best things are accompanied with danger, as the fairest

flowers are often gathered in the clefts of some dangerous precipice. Let us

weigh

THE ADVANTAGES

(1.) The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the

course of a year.—The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms

twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all

equally divine: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in

righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some

parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete Christians.

(2.) Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read.—Often

believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of

spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once

in a very simple manner.

(3.) Parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their

children and servants.—It is much to be desired that family worship were

made more instructive than it generally is. The mere reading of the chapter

is often too like water spilt on the ground. Let it be read by every member

of the family beforehand, and then the meaning and application drawn out

by simple question and answer. The calendar will be helpful in this. Friends,

also, when they meet, will have a subject for profitable conversation in the

portions read that day. The meaning of difficult passages may be inquired

from the more judicious and ripe Christians, and the fragrance of simpler

scriptures spread abroad.

(4.) The pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are

feeding.—He will thus be enabled to speak more suitably to them on the

Sabbath; and both pastor and elders will be able to drop a word of light and

comfort in visiting from house to house, which will be more readily

responded to.

(5.) The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened—

We shall be often led to think of those dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

here and elsewhere, who agree to join with us in reading these portions. We

shall oftener be led to agree on earth, touching something we shall ask of

God. We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same

confessions, praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the some

words of eternal life.

CALENDAR

DIRECTIONS

1. The centre column contains the day of the month. The two first

columns contain the chapter to be read in the family. The two last columns

contain the portions to be read in secret.

2. The head of the family should previously read over the chapter for

family worship, and mark two or three of the most prominent verses, upon

which he may dwell, asking a few simple questions.

3. Frequently the chapter named in the calendar for family reading

might be read more suitably in secret; in which case the head of the family

should intimate that it be read in private, and the chapter for secret reading

may be used in the family.

4. The metrical version of the Psalms should be read or sung through at

least once in the year. It is truly an admirable translation from the Hebrew,

and is frequently more correct than the prose version. If three verses be

sung at each diet of family worship, the whole Psalms will be sung through

in the year.

5. Let the conversation at family meals often turn upon the chapter read

and the psalm sung. Thus every meal will be a sacrament, being sanctified

by the word and prayer.

6. Let our secret reading prevent the dawning of the day. Let God’s

voice be the first we hear in the morning. Mark two or three of the richest

verses, and pray over every line and word of them. Let the marks be neatly

done, never so as to abase a copy of the Bible.

7. In meeting believers on the street or elsewhere, when an easy

opportunity offers, recur to the chapters read that morning. This will be a

blessed exchange for those idle words which waste the soul and grieve the

Holy Spirit of God. In writing letters to those at a distance, make use of the

provision that day gathered.

8. Above all, use the word as a lamp to your feet and a light to your

path—your guide in perplexity, your armour in temptation, your food in

times of faintness. Hear the constant cry of the great Intercessor,

“SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH.”

JANUARY

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED HEAR YE HIM.

FAMILY Day SECRET

GEN 1 MAT 1 1 EZRA 1 ACTS 1

GEN 2 MAT 2 2 EZRA 2 ACTS 2

GEN 3 MAT 3 3 EZRA 3 ACTS 3

GEN 4 MAT 4 4 EZRA 4 ACTS 4

GEN 5 MAT 5 5 EZRA 5 ACTS 5

GEN 6 MAT 6 6 EZRA 6 ACTS 6

GEN 7 MAT 7 7 EZRA 7 ACTS 7

GEN 8 MAT 8 8 EZRA 8 ACTS 8

GEN 9-10 MAT 9 9 EZRA 9 ACTS 9

GEN 11 MAT 10 10 EZRA 10 ACTS 10

GEN 12 MAT 11 11 NEH 1 ACTS 11

GEN 13 MAT 12 12 NEH 2 ACTS 12

GEN 14 MAT 13 13 NEH 3 ACTS 13

GEN 15 MAT 14 14 NEH 4 ACTS 14

GEN 16 MAT 15 15 NEH 5 ACTS 15

GEN 17 MAT 16 16 NEH 6 ACTS 16

GEN 18 MAT 17 17 NEH 7 ACTS 17

GEN 19 MAT 18 18 NEH 8 ACTS 18

GEN 20 MAT 19 19 NEH 9 ACTS 19

GEN 21 MAT 20 20 NEH 10 ACTS 20

GEN 22 MAT 21 21 NEH 11 ACTS 21

GEN 23 MAT 22 22 NEH 12 ACTS 22

GEN 24 MAT 23 23 NEH 13 ACTS 23

GEN 25 MAT 24 24 ESTHER 1 ACTS 24

GEN 26 MAT 25 25 ESTHER 2 ACTS 25

GEN 27 MAT 26 26 ESTHER 3 ACTS 26

GEN 28 MAT 27 27 ESTHER 4 ACTS 27

GEN 29 MAT 28 28 ESTHER 5 ACTS 28

GEN 30 MARK 1 29 ESTHER 6 ROM 1

GEN 31 MARK 2 30 ESTHER 7 ROM 2

GEN 32 MARK 3 31 ESTHER 8 ROM 3

FEBRUARY

I HAVE ESTEEMED THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH MORE THAN MY NECESSARY FOOD.

FAMILY Day SECRET

GEN 33 MARK 4 1 ESTHER 9-10 ROM 4

GEN 34 MARK 5 2 JOB 1 ROM 5

GEN 35-36 MARK 6 3 JOB 2 ROM 6

GEN 37 MARK 7 4 JOB 3 ROM 7

GEN 38 MARK 8 5 JOB 4 ROM 8

GEN 39 MARK 9 6 JOB 5 ROM 9

GEN 40 MARK 10 7 JOB 6 ROM 10

GEN 41 MARK 11 8 JOB 7 ROM 11

GEN 42 MARK 12 9 JOB 8 ROM 12

GEN 43 MARK 13 10 JOB 9 ROM 13

GEN 44 MARK 14 11 JOB 10 ROM 14

GEN 45 MARK 15 12 JOB 11 ROM 15

GEN 46 MARK 16 13 JOB 12 ROM 16

GEN 47 LUK 1 to v 38 14 JOB 13 1 COR 1

GEN 48 LUK 1 v 39 15 JOB 14 1 COR 2

GEN 49 LUK 2 16 JOB 15 1 COR 3

GEN 50 LUK 3 17 JOB 16-17 1 COR 4

EXODUS 1 LUK 4 18 JOB 18 1 COR 5

EXODUS 3 LUK 5 19 JOB 19 1 COR 6

EXODUS 3 LUK 6 20 JOB 20 1 COR 7

EXODUS 4 LUK 7 21 JOB 21 1 COR 8

EXODUS 5 LUK 8 22 JOB 22 1 COR 9

EXODUS 6 LUK 9 23 JOB 23 1 COR 10

EXODUS 7 LUK 10 24 JOB 24 1 COR 11

EXODUS 8 LUK 11 25 JOB 25-26 1 COR 12

EXODUS 9 LUK 12 26 JOB 27 1 COR 13

EXODUS 10 LUK 13 27 JOB 28 1 COR 14

11-12 to v 21 LUK 14 28 JOB 29 1 COR 15

MARCH

MARY KEPT ALL THESE THINGS, AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.

FAMILY Day SECRET

Ex 12 v 22 LUK 15 1 JOB 30 1 COR 16

EX 13 LUK 16 2 JOB 31 2 COR 1

EX 14 LUK 17 3 JOB 32 2 COR 2

EX 15 LUK 18 4 JOB 33 2 COR 3

EX 16 LUK 19 5 JOB 34 2 COR 4

EX 17 LUK 20 6 JOB 35 2 COR 5

EX 18 LUK 21 7 JOB 36 2 COR 6

EX 19 LUK 22 8 JOB 37 2 COR 7

EX 20 LUK 23 9 JOB 38 2 COR 8

EX 21 LUK 24 10 JOB 39 2 COR 9

EX 22 JOHN 1 11 JOB 40 2 COR 10

EX 23 JOHN 2 12 JOB 41 2 COR 11

EX 24 JOHN 3 13 JOB 42 2 COR 12

EX 25 JOHN 4 14 PROV 1 2 COR 13

EX 26 JOHN 5 15 PROV 2 GAL 1

EX 27 JOHN 6 16 PROV 3 GAL 2

EX 28 JOHN 7 17 PROV 4 GAL 3

EX 29 JOHN 8 18 PROV 5 GAL 4

EX 30 JOHN 9 19 PROV 6 GAL 5

EX 31 JOHN 10 20 PROV 7 GAL 6

EX 32 JOHN 11 21 PROV 8 EPH 1

EX 33 JOHN 12 22 PROV 9 EPH 2

EX 34 JOHN 13 23 PROV 10 EPH 3

EX 35 JOHN 14 24 PROV 11 EPH 4

EX 36 JOHN 15 25 PROV 12 EPH 5

EX 37 JOHN 16 26 PROV 13 EPH 6

EX 38 JOHN 17 27 PROV 14 PHIL 1

EX 39 JOHN 18 28 PROV 15 PHIL 2

EX 40 JOHN 19 29 PROV 16 PHIL 3

LEV 1 JOHN 20 30 PROV 17 PHIL 4

LEV 2-3 JOHN 21 31 PROV 18 COL 1

APRIL

O SEND OUT THY LIGHT AND THY TRUTH! LET THEM LEAD ME.

FAMILY Day SECRET

LEV 4 PSA 1-2 1 PROV 19 COL 2

LEV 5 PSA 3-4 2 PROV 20 COL 3

LEV 6 PSA 5-6 3 PROV 21 COL 4

LEV 7 PSA 7-8 4 PROV 22 1 THESS 1

LEV 8 PSA 9 5 PROV 23 1 THESS 2

LEV 9 PSA 10 6 PROV 24 1 THESS 3

LEV 10 PSA 11-12 7 PROV 25 1 THESS 4

LEV 11-12 PSA 13-14 8 PROV 26 1 THESS 5

LEV 13 PSA 15-16 9 PROV 27 2 THESS 1

LEV 14 PSA 17 10 PROV 28 2 THESS 2

LEV 15 PSA 18 11 PROV 29 2 THESS 3

LEV 16 PSA 19 12 PROV 30 1 TIM 1

LEV 17 PSA 20-21 13 PROV 31 1 TIM 2

LEV 18 PSA 22 14 ECCLES 1 1 TIM 3

LEV 19 PSA 23-24 15 ECCLES 2 1 TIM 4

LEV 20 PSA 25 16 ECCLES 3 1 TIM 5

LEV 21 PSA 26-27 17 ECCLES 4 1 TIM 6

LEV 22 PSA 28-29 18 ECCLES 5 2 TIM 1

LEV 23 PSA 30 19 ECCLES 6 2 TIM 2

LEV 24 PSA 31 20 ECCLES 7 2 TIM 3

LEV 25 PSA 32 21 ECCLES 8 2 TIM 4

LEV 26 PSA 33 22 ECCLES 9 TITUS 1

LEV 27 PSA 34 23 ECCLES 10 TITUS 2

NUMB 1 PSA 35 24 ECCLES 11 TITUS 3

NUMB 2 PSA 36 25 ECCLES 12 PHILEM 1

NUMB 3 PSA 37 26 SONG 1 HEB 1

NUMB 4 PSA 38 27 SONG 2 HEB 2

NUMB 5 PSA 39 28 SONG 3 HEB 3

NUMB 6 PSA 40-41 29 SONG 4 HEB 4

NUMB 7 PSA 42-43 30 SONG 5 HEB 5

MAY

FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE SCRIPTURES.

FAMILY Day SECRET

NUM 8 PSA 44 1 SONG 6 HEBREWS 6

NUM 9 PSA 45 2 SONG 7 HEBREWS 7

NUM 10 PSA 46-47 3 SONG 8 HEBREWS 8

NUM 11 PSA 48 4 ISA 1 HEBREWS 9

NUM 12-13 PSA 49 5 ISA 2 HEBREWS 10

NUM 14 PSA 50 6 ISA 3-4 HEBREWS 11

NUM 15 PSA 51 7 ISA 5 HEBREWS 12

NUM 16 PSA 52-54 8 ISA 6 HEBREWS 13

NUM 17-18 PSA 55 9 ISA 7 JAMES 1

NUM 19 PSA 56-57 10 8-9 to v 7 JAMES 2

NUM 20 PSA 58-59 11 9 v 8, 10 v 4 JAMES 3

NUM 21 PSA 60-61 12 ISA 10 v 5 JAMES 4

NUM 22 PSA 62-63 13 ISA 11-12 JAMES 5

NUM 23 PSA 64-65 14 ISA 13 1 PETER 1

NUM 24 PSA 66-67 15 ISA 14 1 PETER 2

NUM 25 PSA 68 16 ISA 15 1 PETER 3

NUM 26 PSA 69 17 ISA 16 1 PETER 4

NUM 27 PSA 70-71 18 ISA 17-18 1 PETER 5

NUM 28 PSA 72 19 ISA 19-20 2 PETER 1

NUM 29 PSA 73 20 ISA 21 2 PETER 2

NUM 30 PSA 74 21 ISA 22 2 PETER 3

NUM 31 PSA 75-76 22 ISA 23 1 JOHN 1

NUM 32 PSA 77 23 ISA 24 1 JOHN 2

NUM 33 PSA 78 to v 37 24 ISA 25 1 JOHN 3

NUM 34 PSA 78 v 38 25 ISA 26 1 JOHN 4

NUM 35 PSA 79 26 ISA 27 1 JOHN 5

NUM 36 PSA 80 27 ISA 28 2 JOHN 1

DEUT 1 PSA 81-82 28 ISA 29 3 JOHN 1

DEUT 2 PSA 83-84 29 ISA 30 JUDE 1

DEUT 3 PSA 85 30 ISA 31 REV 1

DEUT 4 PSA 86-87 31 ISA 32 REV 2

JUNE

BLESSED IS HE THAT READETH AND THEY THAT HEAR.

FAMILY Day SECRET

DEUT 5 PSA 88 1 ISA 33 REV 3

DEUT 6 PSA 89 2 ISA 34 REV 4

DEUT 7 PSA 90 3 ISA 35 REV 5

DEUT 8 PSA 91 4 ISA 36 REV 6

DEUT 9 PSA 92-93 5 ISA 37 REV 7

DEUT 10 PSA 94 6 ISA 38 REV 8

DEUT 11 PSA 95-96 7 ISA 39 REV 9

DEUT 12 PSA 97-98 8 ISA 40 REV 10

DEUT 13-14 PSA 99-101 9 ISA 41 REV 11

DEUT 15 PSA 102 10 ISA 42 REV 12

DEUT 16 PSA 103 11 ISA 43 REV 13

DEUT 17 PSA 104 12 ISA 44 REV 14

DEUT 18 PSA 105 13 ISA 45 REV 15

DEUT 19 PSA 106 14 ISA 46 REV 16

DEUT 20 PSA 107 15 ISA 47 REV 17

DEUT 21 108-109 16 ISA 48 REV 18

DEUT 22 110-111 17 ISA 49 REV 19

DEUT 23 112-113 18 ISA 50 REV 20

DEUT 24 114-115 19 ISA 51 REV 21

DEUT 25 PSA 116 20 ISA 52 REV 22

DEUT 26 117-118 21 ISA 53 MATT 1

27-28 to v 19 119 to v 24 22 ISA 54 MATT 2

28 v 20 v 25 to 48 23 ISA 55 MATT 3

DEUT 29 v 49 to 72 24 ISA 56 MATT 4

DEUT 30 v 73 to 96 25 ISA 57 MATT 5

DEUT 31 v 97 to 120 26 ISA 58 MATT 6

DEUT 32 v 121 to 144 27 ISA 59 MATT 7

DEUT 33-34 v 145 to 176 28 ISA 60 MATT 8

JOS 1 120-122 29 ISA 61 MATT 9

JOS 2 123-125 30 ISA 62 MATT 10

JULY

THESE RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY.

FAMILY Day SECRET

JOS 3 Ps 126-128 1 ISA 63 MATT 11

JOS 4 PS 129-131 2 ISA 64 MATT 12

5-6 to v 5 PS 132-134 3 ISA 65 MATT 13

6 v 6 PS 135-136 4 ISA 66 MATT 14

JOS 7 PS 137-138 5 JER 1 MATT 15

JOS 8 PS 139 6 JER 2 MATT 16

JOS 9 PS 140-141 7 JER 3 MATT 17

JOS 10 PS 142-143 8 JER 4 MATT 18

JOS 11 PS 144 9 JER 5 MATT 19

JOS 12-13 PS 145 10 JER 5 MATT 20

JOS 14-15 PS 146-147 11 JER 7 MATT 21

JOS 16-17 PS 148 12 JER 8 MATT 22

JOS 18-19 PS 149-150 13 JER 9 MATT 23

JOS 20-21 ACTS 1 14 JER 10 MATT 24

JOS 22 ACTS 2 15 JER 11 MATT 25

JOS 23 ACTS 3 16 JER 12 MATT 26

JOS 24 ACTS 4 17 JER 13 MATT 27

JUDGES 1 ACTS 5 18 JER 14 MATT 28

JUDGES 2 ACTS 6 19 JER 15 MARK 1

JUDGES 3 ACTS 7 20 JER 16 MARK 2

JUDGES 4 ACTS 8 21 JER 17 MARK 3

JUDGES 5 ACTS 9 22 JER 18 MARK 4

JUDGES 6 ACTS 10 23 JER 19 MARK 5

JUDGES 7 ACTS 11 24 JER 20 MARK 6

JUDGES 8 ACTS 12 25 JER 21 MARK 7

JUDGES 9 ACTS 13 26 JER 22 MARK 8

10-11 to v 11 ACTS 14 27 JER 23 MARK 9

11 v 12 ACTS 15 28 JER 24 MARK 10

JUDGES 12 ACTS 16 29 JER 25 MARK 11

JUDGES 13 ACTS 17 30 JER 26 MARK 12

JUDGES 14 ACTS 18 31 JER 27 MARK 13

AUGUST

SPEAK, LORD! FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH.

FAMILY Day SECRET

JUDGES 15 ACTS 19 1 JER 28 MARK 14

JUDGES 16 ACTS 20 2 JER 29 MARK 15

JUDGES 17 ACTS 21 3 JER 30-31 MARK 16

JUDGES 18 ACTS 22 4 JER 32 PSA 1-2

JUDGES 19 ACTS 23 5 JER 33 PSA 3-4

JUDGES 20 ACTS 24 6 JER 34 PSA 5-6

JUDGES 21 ACTS 25 7 JER 35 PSA 7-8

RUTH 1 ACTS 26 8 JER 36-45 PSA 9

RUTH 2 ACTS 27 9 JER 37 PSA 10

RUTH 3-4 ACTS 28 10 JER 38 PSA 11-12

1 SAM 1 ROM 1 11 JER 39 PSA 13-14

1 SAM 2 ROM 2 12 JER 40 PSA 15-16

1 SAM 3 ROM 3 13 JER 41 PSA 17

1 SAM 4 ROM 4 14 JER 42 PSA 18

1 SAM 5-6 ROM 5 15 JER 43 PSA 19

1 SAM 7-8 ROM 6 16 JER 44 PSA 20-21

1 SAM 9 ROM 7 17 JER 46 PSA 22

1 SAM 10 ROM 8 18 JER 47 PSA 23-24

1 SAM 11 ROM 9 19 JER 48 PSA 25

1 SAM 12 ROM 10 20 JER 49 PSA 26-27

1 SAM 13 ROM 11 21 JER 50 PSA 28-29

1 SAM 14 ROM 12 22 JER 51 PSA 30

1 SAM 15 ROM 13 23 JER 52 PSA 31

1 SAM 16 ROM 14 24 LAMEN 1 PSA 32

1 SAM 17 ROM 15 25 LAMEN 2 PSA 33

1 SAM 18 ROM 16 26 LAMEN 3 PSA 34

1 SAM 19 1 COR 1 27 LAMEN 4 PSA 35

1 SAM 20 1 COR 2 28 LAMEN 5 PSA 36

1 SAM 21-22 1 COR 3 29 EZEKIEL 1 PSA 37

1 SAM 23 1 COR 4 30 EZEKIEL 2 PSA 38

1 SAM 24 1 COR 5 31 EZEKIEL 3 PSA 39

SEPTEMBER

THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL.

FAMILY Day SECRET

1 SAM 25 1 COR 6 1 EZEK 4 Ps 40-41

1 SAM 26 1 COR 7 2 EZEK 5 PS 42-43

1 SAM 27 1 COR 8 3 EZEK 6 PS 44

1 SAM 28 1 COR 9 4 EZEK 7 PS 45

29-30 1 COR 10 5 EZEK 8 PS 46-47

1 SAM 31 1 COR 11 6 EZEK 9 PS 48

2 SAM 1 1 COR 12 7 EZEK 10 PS 49

2 SAM 2 1 COR 13 8 EZEK 11 PS 50

2 SAM 3 1 COR 14 9 EZEK 12 PS 51

2 SAM 4-5 1 COR 15 10 EZEK 13 PS 52-54

2 SAM 6 1 COR 16 11 EZEK 14 PS 55

2 SAM 7 2 COR 1 12 EZEK 15 PS 56-57

2 SAM 8-9 2 COR 2 13 EZEK 16 PS 58-59

2 SAM 10 2 COR 3 14 EZEK 17 PS 60-61

2 SAM 11 2 COR 4 15 EZEK 18 PS 62-63

2 SAM 12 2 COR 5 16 EZEK 19 PS 64-65

2 SAM 13 2 COR 6 17 EZEK 20 PS 66-67

2 SAM 14 2 COR 7 18 EZEK 21 PS 68

2 SAM 15 2 COR 8 19 EZEK 22 PS 69

2 SAM 16 2 COR 9 20 EZEK 23 PS 70-71

2 SAM 17 2 COR 10 21 EZEK 24 PS 72

2 SAM 18 2 COR 11 22 EZEK 25 PS 73

2 SAM 19 2 COR 12 23 EZEK 26 PS 74

2 SAM 20 2 COR 13 24 EZEK 27 PS 75-76

2 SAM 21 GAL 1 25 EZEK 28 PS 77

2 SAM 22 GAL 2 26 EZEK 29 78 to v 37

2 SAM 23 GAL 3 27 EZEK 30 78 v 38

2 SAM 24 GAL 4 28 EZEK 31 PS 79

1 KINGS 1 GAL 5 29 EZEK 32 PS 80

1 KINGS 2 GAL 6 30 EZEK 33 PS 81-82

OCTOBER

O HOW I LOVE THY LAW! IT IS MY MEDITATION ALL THE DAY.

FAMILY Day SECRET

1 KINGS 3 EPH 1 1 EZEK 34 Ps 83-84

1 KINGS 4-5 EPH 2 2 EZEK 35 PS 85

1 KINGS 6 EPH 3 3 EZEK 36 PS 86

1 KINGS 7 EPH 4 4 EZEK 37 PS 87-88

1 KINGS 8 EPH 5 5 EZEK 38 PS 89

1 KINGS 9 EPH 6 6 EZEK 39 PS 90

1 KINGS 10 PILLS 1 7 EZEK 40 PS 91

1 KINGS 11 PILLS 2 8 EZEK 41 PS 92-93

1 KINGS 12 PILLS 3 9 EZEK 42 PS 94

1 KINGS 13 PILLS 4 10 EZEK 43 PS 95-96

1 KINGS 14 COL 1 11 EZEK 44 PS 97-98

1 KINGS 15 COL 2 12 EZEK 45 PS 99-101

1 KINGS 16 COL 3 13 EZEK 46 PS 102

1 KINGS 17 COL 4 14 EZEK 47 PS 103

1 KINGS 18 1 THESS 1 15 EZEK 48 PS 104

1 KINGS 19 1 THESS 2 16 DAN 1 PS 105

1 KINGS 20 1 THESS 3 17 DAN 2 PS 106

1 KINGS 21 1 THESS 4 18 DAN 3 PS 107

1 KINGS 22 1 THESS 5 19 DAN 4 108-109

2 KINGS 1 2 THESS 1 20 DAN 5 110-111

2 KINGS 2 2 THESS 2 21 DAN 6 112-113

2 KINGS 3 2 THESS 3 22 DAN 7 114-115

2 KINGS 4 1 TIM 1 23 DAN 8 PS 116

2 KINGS 5 1 TIM 2 24 DAN 9 117-118

2 KINGS 6 1 TIM 3 25 DAN 10 119 to v 24

2 KINGS 7 1 TIM 4 26 DAN 11 v 25 to 48

2 KINGS 8 1 TIM 5 27 DAN 12 v 49 to 72

2 KINGS 9 1 TIM 6 28 HOSEA 1 v 73 to 96

2 KINGS 10 2 TIM 1 29 HOSEA 2 v 97 to 120

2 KINGS 11--12 2 TIM 2 30 HOSEA 3-4 v 121 to 144

2 KINGS 13 2 TIM 3 31 HOSEA 5-6 v 145 to 176

NOVEMBER

AS NEW-BORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY.

FAMILY Day SECRET

2 KINGS 14 2 TIM 4 1 HOSEA 7 Ps 120-122

2 KINGS 15 TITUS 1 2 HOSEA 8 PS 123-125

2 KINGS 16 TITUS 2 3 HOSEA 9 PS 126-128

2 KINGS 17 TITUS 3 4 HOSEA 10 PS 129-131

2 KINGS 18 PHILEMON 1 5 HOSEA 11 PS 132-134

2 KINGS 19 HEB 1 6 HOSEA 12 PS 135-136

2 KINGS 20 HEB 2 7 HOSEA 13 PS 137-138

2 KINGS 21 HEB 3 8 HOSEA 14 PS 139

2 KINGS 22 HEB 4 9 JOEL 1 PS 140-141

2 KINGS 23 HEB 5 10 JOEL 2 PS 142

2 KINGS 24 HEB 6 11 JOEL 3 PS 143

2 KINGS 25 HEB 7 12 AMOS 1 PS 144

1 CHR 1-2 HEB 8 13 AMOS 2 PS 145

1 CHR 3-4 HEB 9 14 AMOS 3 PS 146-147

1 CHR 5-6 HEB 10 15 AMOS 4 PS 148-150

1 CHR 7-8 HEB 11 16 AMOS 5 LUK 1 to v 38

1 CHR 9-10 HEB 12 17 AMOS 6 LUK 1 v 39

1 CHR 11-12 HEB 13 18 AMOS 7 LUK 2

1 CHR 13-14 JAMES 1 19 AMOS 8 LUK 3

1 CHR 15 JAMES 2 20 AMOS 9 LUK 4

1 CHR 16 JAMES 3 21 OBADIAH 1 LUK 5

1 CHR 17 JAMES 4 22 JONAH 1 LUK 6

1 CHR 18 JAMES 5 23 JONAH 2 LUK 7

1 CHR 19-20 1 PETER 1 24 JONAH 3 LUK 8

1 CHR 21 1 PETER 2 25 JONAH 4 LUK 9

1 CHR 22 1 PETER 3 26 MICAH 1 LUK 10

1 CHR 23 1 PETER 4 27 MICAH 2 LUK 11

1 CHR 24-25 1 PETER 5 28 MICAH 3 LUK 12

26-27 2 PETER 1 29 MICAH 4 LUK 13

1 CHR 28 2 PETER 2 30 MICAH 5 LUK 14

DECEMBER

THE LAW OF HIS GOD IS IN HIS HEART; NONE OF HIS STEPS SHALL SLIDE.

FAMILY Day SECRET

1 CHR 29 2 PETER 3 1 MICAH 6 LUK 15

2 CHR 1 1 JOHN 1 2 MICAH 7 LUK 16

2 CHR 2 1 JOHN 2 3 NAHUM 1 LUK 17

2 CHR 3-4 1 JOHN 3 4 NAHUM 2 LUK 18

5-6 to v 11 1 JOHN 4 5 NAHUM 3 LUK 19

6 v 12 1 JOHN 5 6 HAB 1 LUK 20

2 CHR 7 2 JOHN 1 7 HAB 2 LUK 21

2 CHR 8 3 JOHN 1 8 HAB 3 LUK 22

2 CHR 9 JUDE 1 9 ZEPH 1 LUK 23

2 CHR 10 REV 1 10 ZEPH 2 LUK 24

2 CHR 11-12 REV 2 11 ZEPH 3 JOHN 1

2 CHR 13 REV 3 12 HAGGAI 1 JOHN 2

2 CHR 14-15 REV 4 13 HAGGAI 2 JOHN 3

2 CHR 16 REV 5 14 ZECH 1 JOHN 4

2 CHR 17 REV 6 15 ZECH 2 JOHN 5

2 CHR 18 REV 7 16 ZECH 3 JOHN 6

2 CHR 19-20 REV 8 17 ZECH 4 JOHN 7

2 CHR 21 REV 9 18 ZECH 5 JOHN 8

2 CHR 22-23 REV 10 19 ZECH 6 JOHN 9

2 CHR 24 REV 11 20 ZECH 7 JOHN 10

2 CHR 25 REV 12 21 ZECH 8 JOHN 11

2 CHR 26 REV 13 22 ZECH 9 JOHN 12

2 CHR 27-28 REV 14 23 ZECH 10 JOHN 13

2 CHR 29 REV 15 24 ZECH 11 JOHN 14

2 CHR 30 REV 16 25 12-13 to v 1 JOHN 15

2 CHR 31 REV 17 26 13 v 2 JOHN 16

2 CHR 32 REV 18 27 ZECH 14 JOHN 17

2 CHR 33 REV 19 28 MAL 1 JOHN 18

2 CHR 34 REV 20 29 MAL 2 JOHN 19

2 CHR 35 REV 21 30 MAL 3 JOHN 20

2 CHR 36 REV 22 31 MAL 4 JOHN 21

SONGS OF ZION

CHEER AND GUIDE PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM

1. THE BARREN FIG-TREE

WITHIN a vineyard’s sunny bound

An ample fig-tree shelter found,

Enjoying sun and showers—

The boughs were graceful to the view,

With spreading leaves of deep-green hue,

And gaily blushing flowers.

When round the vintage season came,

This blooming fig was still the same,

As promising and fair;

But though the leaves were broad and green

No precious fruit was to be seen,

Because no fruit was there.

“For three long years,” the master cried,

“Fruit on this tree to find I’ve tried,

But all in vain my toil;

Ungrateful tree! the axe’s blow

Shall lay thy leafy honours low:

Why cumbers it the soil?”

“Ah! let it stand just one year more,”

The dresser said, “till all my store

Of rural arts I’ve shown:

About the massy roots I’ll dig;

And if it bear, we’ve gained the fig,—

If not, then cut it down.”

How many years hast thou, my heart,

Acted the barren fig-tree’s part,

Leafy, and fresh, and fair,—

Enjoying heavenly dews of grace,

And sunny smiles from God’s own face!—

But where the fruit? ah! where?

How often most the Lord have prayed

That still my day might be delayed,

Till all due means were tried!

Afflictions, mercies, health, and pain,

How long shall these be all in vain

To teach this heart of pride!

Learn, O my soul, what God demands

Is not a faith like barren sands,

But fruit of heavenly hue.

By this we prove that Christ we know,

If in his holy steps we go:

Faith works by love, if true.

August 14, 1834.

2. JEHOVAH TSIDKENU

“THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”

(THE WATCHWORD OF THE REFORMERS)

I ONCE was a stranger to grace and to God,

I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;

Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree.

Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage,

Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;

But e’en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree,

Jehovah Tsidkenu seem’d nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,

I wept when the waters went over his soul

Yet thought not that my sins had nail’d to the tree,

Jehovah Tsidkenu—’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,

Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;

No refuge, no safety in self could I see—

Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;

My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came

To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free—

Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,

Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;

In Thee I shall conquer by flood and by field—

My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,

This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath,

For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,

Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be.

November 18, 1331

3. “THEY SING THE SONG OF MOSES”

DARK was the night, the wind was high,

The way by mortals never trod;

For God had made the channel dry,

When faithful Moses stretched the rod.

The raging waves on either hand

Stood like a massy tott’ring wall,

And on the heaven-defended band

Refused to let the waters fall.

With anxious footsteps, Israel trod

The depths of that mysterious way;

Cheered by the pillar of their God,

That shone for them with fav’ring ray.

But when they reached the opposing shore,

As morning streaked the eastern sky,

They saw the billows hurry o’er

The flower of Pharaoh’s chivalry.

Then awful gladness filled the mind

Of Israel’s mighty ransomed throng;

And while they gazed on all behind,

Their wonder burst into a song.

Thus, thy redeemed ones, Lord, on earth,

While passing through this vale of weeping,

Mix holy trembling with their mirth,

And anxious watching with their sleeping

The night is dark, the storm is loud,

The path no human strength can tread;

Jesus, be Thou the pillar-cloud,

Heaven’s light upon our path to shed.

And oh! when, life’s dark journey o’er,

And death’s enshrouding valley pass.

We plant our foot on yonder shore,

And tread you golden strand at last

Shall we not see with deep amaze,

How grace hath led us safe along;

And whilst behind—before, we gaze,

Triumphant burst into a song!

And even on earth, though sore bested,

Fightings without, and fears within;

Sprinkled to-day from slavish dread,

To-morrow captive led by sin:

Yet would I lift my downcast eyes

On Thee, Thou brilliant tower of fire-

Thou dark cloud to mine enemies—

That hope may all my breast inspire.

And thus the Lord, my strength, I’ll praise,

Though Satan and his legions rage;

And the sweet song of faith I’ll raise,

To cheer me on my pilgrimage.

EDINBURGH, 1835.

4. ON MUNGO PARK’S FINDING A TUFT OF GREEN MOSS

IN THE AFRICAN DESERT

“Whatever way I turned, nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw myself in the midst of a

vast wilderness, in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage

animals, and men still more savage. I was five hundred miles from the nearest European

settlement. At this moment, painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small

moss in fructification irresistibly caught my eye. I mention this to show from what trifling

circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation; for though the whole plant was not

larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its

roots, leaves, and capsule, without admiration. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered,

and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small

importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his

own image? Surely not. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled

forward, assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed.”—PARK’S TRAVELS.

THE sun had reached his mid-day height,

And poured down floods of burning light

On Afric’s barren land;

No cloudy veil obscured the sky,

And the hot breeze that struggled by

Was filled with glowing sand.

No mighty rock upreared its head,

To bless the wanderer with its shade,

In all the weary plain;

No palm-trees with refreshing green.

To glad the dazzled eye, were seen,

But one wide sandy main.

Dauntless and daring was the mind

That left all home-born joys behind

These deserts to explore—

To trace the mighty Niger’s course,

And find it bubbling from its source.

In wilds untrod before.

And ah! shall we less daring show,

Who nobler ends and motives know

Than ever heroes dream—

Who seek to lead the savage mind

The precious fountain-head to find

Whence flows salvation’s stream?

Let peril, nakedness, and sword,

Hot barren sands, and despot’s word

Our burning zeal oppose—

Yet, Martyn-like, we’ll lift the voice,

Bidding the wilderness rejoice

And blossom as the rose.

Sad, faint, and weary on the sand

Our traveller sat him down; his hand

Covered his burning head.

Above, beneath, behind, around,—

No resting for the eye he found;

All nature seemed as dead.

One tiny tuft of moss alone,

Mantling with freshest green a stone,

Fixed his delighted gaze:

Through bursting tears of joy he smiled,

And while he raised the tendril wild,

His lips o’erflowed with praise.

“Oh, shall not He who keeps thee green

Here in the waste, unknown, unseen,

Thy fellow-exile save?

He who commands the dew to feed

Thy gentle flower, can surely lead

Me from a scorching grave!”

The heaven-sent plant new hope inspired—

New courage all his bosom fired,

And bore him safe along;

Till with the evening’s cooling shads

He slept within the verdant glade,

Lulled by the negro’s song.

Thus, we in this world’s wilderness.

Where sin and sorrow, guilt, distress,

Seem undisturbed to reign,

May faint because we feel alone,

With none to strike our favourite tone

And Join our homeward strain.

Yet, often in the bleakest wild

Of this dark world, some heaven-born child.

Expectant of the skies,

Amid the low and vicious crowd,

Or in the dwellings of the proud,

Meets our admiring eyes.

From gating on the tender flower,

We lift our eyes to Him whose power

Hath all its beauty given;

Who, in this atmosphere of death,

Hath given it life and form and breath,

And brilliant hues of heaven.

Our drooping faith, revived by sight,

Anew her pinion plumes for flight.

New hope distends the breast;

With joy we mount on eagle wing,

With bolder tone our anthem sing

And seek the pilgrim’s rest

March 1886.

5. “I AM DEBTOR”

WHEN this passing world is done,

When has sunk you glaring sun,

When we stand with Christ in glory,

Looking o’er life’s finished story,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When I hear the wicked call

On the rocks and hills to fall,

When I see them start and shrink

On the fiery deluge brink,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne

Dressed in beauty not my own,

When I see Thee as Thou art,

Love Thee with unsinning heart,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When the praise of heaven I hear

Loud as thunders to the ear,

Loud as many waters’ noise,

Sweet as harp’s melodious voice,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

Even on earth, as through a glase

Darkly, let thy glory pass,

Make forgiveness feel so sweet,

Make thy Spirit’s help so meet,

Even on earth, Lord, make me know

Something of how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,

Wakened up from wrath to flee,

Hidden in the Saviour’s side,

By the Spirit sanctified,

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,

By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,

Dark as midnight’s gloomy shroud;

But, when fear is at the height,

Jesus comes, and all is light:

Blessed Jesus! bid me show

Doubting saints how much I owe

When in flowery paths I tread,

Oft by sin I’m captive led;

Oft I fall, but still arise;

The Spirit comes—the tempter flies:

Blessed Spirit! bid me show

Weary sinners all I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign—

Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain,

But a night thine anger burns—

Morning comes, and joy returns:

God of comforts! bid me show

To thy poor, how much I owe.

May 1837.

6. CHILDREN CALLED TO CHRIST

LIKE mist on the mountain,

Like ships on the sea,

So swiftly the years

Of our pilgrimage flee;

In the grave of our fathers

How soon we shall lie!

Dear children, to-day

To a Saviour fly.

How sweet are the flowerets

In April and May!

But often the frost makes

Them wither away.

Like flowers you may fade;

Are you ready to die?

While “yet there is room,”

To a Saviour fly.

When Samuel was young,

He first knew the Lord,

He slept in his smile

And rejoiced in his word;

So most of God’s children

Are early brought night:

Oh, seek Him in youth—

To a Saviour fly.

Do you ask me for pleasure?

Then lean on his breast,

For there the sin-laden

And weary find rest.

In the valley of death

You will triumphing cry—

“If this be called dying,

“Tis pleasant to die!”

Jan. 1, 1831.

7 “THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A

LIGHT UNTO MY PATH”

WHEN Israel knew not where to go.

God made the fiery pillar glow;

By night, by day, above the camp

It led the way—their guiding lamp:

Such is thy holy word to me

In day of dark perplexity.

When devious paths before me spread,

And all invite my foot to tread,

I hear thy voice behind me say—

“Believing soul, this is the way;

Walk thou in it.” O gentle Dove,

How much thy holy law I love!

My lamp and light

In the dark night

When Paul amid the seas seemed lost,

By Adrian billows wildly tossed,

When neither sun nor star appeared,

And every wave its white head reared

Above the ship, beside his bed

An angel stood, and “Fear not” said.

Such is thy holy word to me

When tossed upon affliction’s sea:

When floods come in unto my soul,

And the deep waters o’er me roll,

With angel voice thy word draws near

And says, “’Tis I, why shouldst thou fear?

Through troubles great my saints must go

Into their rest, where neither woe

Nor sin can come; where every tear

From off the cheek shall disappear,

Wiped by God’s hand.” O gentle Dove,

Thy holy law how much I love!

My lamp and light

In the dark night

When holy Stephen dauntless stood

Before the Jews, who sought his blood.

With angel face he looked on high,

And wondering, through the parted sky.

Saw Jesus risen from his throne

To claim the martyr as his own.

Angelic peace that sight bestowed,

With holy joy his bosom glowed;

And while the murderous stones they hurled,

His heaven-wrapt soul sought yonder world

Of rest. “My spirit, Saviour, keep,”

He cried, he kneeled, he fell asleep.

Such be thy holy word to me

In hour of life’s extremity!

Although no more the murdering hand

Is raised within our peaceful land—

The church has rest, and I may ne’er

Be called the martyr’s crown to wear:

Yet still, in whatsoever form

Death comes to me—in midnight storm

Whelming my bark, or in my nest,

Gently dismissing me to rest,—

O grant me in thy word to see

A risen Saviour beckoning me.

No evil then my heart shall fear

In the dark valley. Thou art near!

My trembling soul and Thou, my God,

Alone are there; thy staff and rod

Shall comfort me. O gentle Dove,

How much thy holy law I love!

My lamp and light

In the dark night.

1838.

8. FOUNTAIN OF SILOAM

Isaiah 8:6.

BENEATH Moriah’s rocky side

A gentle fountain springs;

Silent and soft its waters glide,

Like the peace the Spirit brings.

The thirsty Arab stoops to drink

Of the cool and quiet wave,

And the thirsty spirit stops to thine

Of Him who came to save.

Siloam is the fountain’s name,

It means “One sent from God;”

And thus the Holy Saviour’s fame

It gently spreads abroad.

O grant that I, like this sweet well,

May Jesus’ image bear,

And spend my life, my all, to tell

How full his mercies are.

Foot of Carmel, June 1839.

9. THE SEA OF GALILEE

How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave,

O sea of Galilee!

For the glorious One who came to save

Hath often stood by thee.

Fair are the lakes in the land I love,

Where pine and heather grow;

But thou hast loveliness far above

What Nature can bestow.

It is not that the wild gazelle

Comes down to drink thy tide,

But He that was pierced to save from hell

Oft wandered by thy side.

It is not that the fig-tree grows,

And palms, in thy soft air,

But that Sharon’s fair and bleeding Rose

Once spread its fragrance there.

Graceful around thee the mountains meet,

Thou calm reposing sea;

But ah! far more, the beautiful feet

Of Jesus walked o’er thee.

These days are past—Bethsaida, where?

Chorazin, where art thou?

His tent the wild Arab pitches there,

The wild reeds shade thy brow.

Tell me, ye mouldering fragments, tell,

Was the Saviour’s city here?

Lifted to heaven, has it sunk to hell,

With none to shed a tear?

Ah! would my flock from thee might learn

How days of grace will flee;

How all an offered Christ who spurn,

Shall mourn at last, like thee.

And was it beside this very sea,

The new-risen Saviour said

Three times to Simon, “Lovest thou me?

My lambs and sheep, then feed.”

O Saviour! gone to God’s right hand!

Yet the same Saviour still,

Graved on thy heart is this lovely strand

And every fragrant hill.

Oh! give me, Lord, by this sacred ways,

Threefold thy love divine,

That I may feed, till I find my grave,

Thy flock—both thine and mine.

Sea of Galilee, 16

July 1839.

10. TO YONDER SIDE

Luke 8:22–25.

BEHIND the hills of Naphtali

The sun went slowly down,

Leaving on mountain, tower, and tree,

A tinge of golden brown.

The cooling breath of evening woke

The waves of Galilee,

Till on the shore the waters broke

In softest melody.

“Now launch the bark,” the Saviour cried—

The chosen twelve stood by—

“And let us cross to yonder side,

Where the hills are steep and high.”

Gently the bark o’er the water creeps.

While the swelling sail they spread,

And the wearied Saviour gently sleeps

With a pillow ‘neath his head.

On downy bed the world seeks rest,

Sleep files the guilty eye;

But he who leans on the Father’s break

May sleep when storms are nigh.

But soon the lowering sky grew dark

O’er Bashan’s rooky brow—

The storm rushed down upon the bark.

And waves dashed o’er the prow.

The pale disciples trembling spake,

While yawned the watery grave.

“We perish, Master! Master, wake!

Carest Thou not to save?”

Calmly He rose with sovereign will,

And hushed the storm to rest.

“Ye waves,” He whispered, “Peace! be still?”

They calmed like a pardoned breast.

So have I seen a fearful storm

O’er wakened sinner roll,

Till Jesus’ voice and Jesus’ form

Said, “Peace, thou weary soul”

And now He bends his gentle eye

His wondering followers o’er,

“Why raise this unbelieving cry?

I said, To yonder shore.”

When first the Saviour wakened me,

And showed me why He died,

He pointed o’er life’s narrow sea,

And said, “To fonder side.”

“I am the ark where Noah dwelt,

And heard the deluge roar:

No soul can perish that has felt

My rest—To yonder shore.”

Peaceful and calm the tide of life.

When first I sailed with Thee—

My sins forgiven—no inward strike—

My breast a glassy sea.

But soon the storm of passion raves—

My soul is tempest-tossed—

Corruptions rise, like angry waves:

“Help, Master, I am lost!”

“Peace! peace! be still thou raging breast,

My fulness is for thee”—

The Saviour speaks, and all is rest,

Like the wares of Galilee.

And now I feel his holy eye

Upbraids my heart of pride—

“Why raise this unbelieving cry?

I said, To yonder side.”

Begum at the Lake of Galilee, 15

July 1839.

11. ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA IN THE BAY OF

CARMEL

O LORD, this swelling, tideless sea

Is like thy love in Christ to me:

The ceaseless wares that fill the bay

Through flinty rooks hare worn their way,

And thy unceasing lore alone

Hath broken through this heart of stone.

The countless smile that gilds the deep

When sunbeams on the water sleep,

Is like thy countless smile of grace

When I am seen in Jesus’ face.

No ebbing tide these waters know,

Pure, placid, constant in their flow:

No ebb thy love to me hath known

Since first it chose me for thine own.

Or if, perchance, at thy command,

The wave retiring leaves the sand,

One moment all is dry, and then

It turns to fill the shore again:

So hare I found thy wondrous grace

Forsake my soul a little space;

Barren and cold, deserted, dry,

A helpless worm, to Thee I cry:

Thy face is hid a little while,

But with the morning comes thy smile—

Jesus once more his beauty shows,

And all my heart with peace o’erflows.

These deep blue waters lave the shore

Of Israel, as in days of yore!

Though Zion like a field is ploughed,

And Salem’s covered with a cloud—

Though briers and thorns are tangled o’er,

Where vine and olive twined before—

Though turbaned Moslems tread the gate,

And Judah sits most desolate—

Their nets o’er Tyre the fishers spread,

And Camel’s top is withered—

Yet still these waters clasp the shore

As kindly as they did before!

Such is thy love to Judah’s race,

A deep unchanging tide of grace.

Though scattered now at thy command,

They pine away in every land,

With trembling heart and failing eyes,

And deep the veil on Israel lies,

Yet still thy word Thou canst not break,

“Beloved for their fathers’ sake.”

July 1839, near Acre.

12. THE CHILD COMING TO JESUS

SUFFER me to come to Jesus,

Mother, dear, forbid me not;

By his blood from hell He frees us,

Makes us fair without a spot.

Suffer me, my earthly father,

At his pierced feet to fall:

Why forbid me? help me, rather;

Jesus is my all in all.

Suffer me to run unto Him:

Gentle sisters, come with me.

Oh that all I love but knew Him!

Then my home a heaven would be,

Loving playmates, gay and smiling.

Bid me not forsake the cross;

Hard to bear is your reviling,

Yet for Jesus all is dross.

Yes, though all the world have chid me,

Father, mother, sister, friend—

Jesus never will forbid me!

Jesus loves me to the end!

Gentle Shepherd, on thy shoulder

Carry me, a sinful lamb;

Give me faith, and make me bolder,

Till with Thee in heaven I am.

July 1841.

13. OIL IN THE LAMP For A Sabbath Clam MATT.

25:1–18.

TEN virgins, clothed in white,

The Bridegroom went to meet;

Their lamps were burning bright;

To guide his welcome feet.

Five of the band were wise—

Their lamps with oil filled high;

The rest this care despise,

And take their vessels dry.

Long time the Lord abode—

Down came the shades of night—

The weary virgins nod,

And then they sleep outright.

At midnight came the cry

Upon their startled ear:

Behold the Bridegroom nigh,

To light his steps appear!

They trim their lamps; in vain

The foolish virgins toil:

Our lamps are out, O deign

To give us of your oil!

Not so, the wise ones cry,

No oil have we to spare;

But swiftly run and buy,

That you the joy may share.

They went to buy, when lo!

The Bridegroom comes in state,

Within those ready go,

And shut the golden gate.

The foolish virgins now

Before the gateway crowd;

With terror on their brow

They knock and cry aloud:

“Lord, open is our call—

Hast Thou our names forgot?”

Sadly the accents fall—

“Depart, I know you not.”

Learn here, my child, how vain

This world, with all its lies;

Those who the kingdom gain

Alone are truly wise.

How vain the Christian name,

If still you live in sin:

A lamp and wick and flame,

No drop of oil within!

Is your lamp filled, my child,

With oil from Christ above?

Has He your heart, so wild,

Made soft and full of love?

then you are ready now

With Christ to enter in;

To see his holy brow,

And bid farewell to sin.

Sinners! behold the gate

Of Jesus open still;

Come, ere it be too late,

And enter if you will.

The Saviour’s gentle hand

Knocks at your door to-day;

But vain his loud demand—

You spurn his love away.

So at the Saviour’s door

You’ll knock, with trembling heart

The day of mercy o’er,

Jesus will say—Depart.

1841.

14. ON J. T., A BELIEVING BOY,

Who died Feb. 1842

I LITTLE thought, when last we met,

Thy sun on earth was nearly set:

I said what I can ne’er forget,

“Dear boy, we’ll meet again.”

Though thou wert tossed upon thy bed,

And sometimes criedst, “My head, my head!”

Yet still the smile came back—I said,

“Fair boy, we’ll meet again.”

No hope thy weeping mother had,

Thy sister’s face as pale and sad,

But thine was always bright and glad—

Dear boy, we’ll meet again.

“’Twas kind,” thou saidst, “in God to die

For worms like me. Once I would fly

A darkened room—now Christ is nigh,”—

Fair boy, we’ll meet again.

“love you well, my mother dear—

I love you all, yet shed no tear—

I’d rather be with Christ than here—

Farewell, we’ll meet again.

“I fain would live to preach to men;

But, if my God should spare till then,

I would be loth to die again,”—

Dear boy, we’ll meet again.

The Sabbath-sun rose bright and clear

When thine was setting on us here,

To shine more bright in yonder sphere—

Farewell, we’ll meet again.

I stood beside thy silent bed:

Thy marble brow was cold and dead,

Thy gentle soul was fled—was fled—

Dear boy, we’ll meet again.

I saw thee in thy narrow rest,

The clods upon thy coffin pressed;

The clouds dropped tears, yet in my breast

God said, “We’ll meet again.”

Yes, parents, smile through all your tears;

A crown of life your darling wears;

The grave a shady porch appears,

To where we’ll meet again.

The precious dust beneath that lies,

Shall at the call of Jesus rise,

To meet the Bridegroom in the skies,

That day we’ll meet again.

McCheyne, R. M., & Bonar, A. A. (1894). Memoir and Remains of the

Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne (388–488). Edinburgh; London: Oliphant

Anderson & Ferrier.

McCheyne, R. M., & Bonar, A. A. (1894). Memoir and Remains of the

Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne (488–590). Edinburgh; London: Oliphant

Anderson & Ferrier.