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diff --git a/old/15251-8.txt b/old/15251-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df05df1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/15251-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7694 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne +by Andrew A. Bonar + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne + +Author: Andrew A. Bonar + +Release Date: March 4, 2005 [EBook #15251] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBERT MURRAY M'CHEYNE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Keren Vergon, and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + + + + + + The Biography of + + + Robert Murray M'Cheyne + + + +[Illustration: Robert Murray M'Cheyne with Signature] + + + * * * * * + + + + + The Biography of + + Robert Murray M'Cheyne + + + BY + + ANDREW A. BONAR + + + + + ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE + GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN + + * * * * * + + + + +PUBLISHER'S PREFACE + + +The telling of the deeply spiritual life story of the young minister +of the Gospel of St. Peters Church, Dundee, Scotland, Robert Murray +M'Cheyne, has been used of God to bring challenge, blessing and +inspiration to hundreds of thousands down through the years since his +death in 1843 at the early age of 30. Few men have lived a life filled +with such power and blessing in such a short span of years. + +Dr. Andrew A. Bonar's biography of this stalwart young man of God has +been the standard recognized work on the life of this prince among +men. This biography is from the larger _Memoirs and Remains of the Rev. +Robert Murray M'Cheyne_ with just the memoirs--or biography--reprinted. +The "remains," letters and sermons of M'Cheyne have been recently +republished in the Wyckliffe Series issued by the Moody Press, but we +are presenting in the pages of this volume Bonar's soul-stirring +biography of this young man who was so completely and wholly +surrendered to the will of God. Dr. Wilbur M. Smith, in his +"Profitable Bible Study," says, "Every minister, of whatever +denomination, should have this marvelous work." + +The publishers of this unabridged edition send it forth once again +with the earnest prayer that God will continue to use it to the +inspiration and challenge of young and old alike to realize what can +be done with a life completely and absolutely dedicated to Him. + + * * * * * + + + + + 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 dropped 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 vigor--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 demeanor 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 friends 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 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, 8th July 1851, 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 forever, 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 vigor, 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, gentle-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, + Labor 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; + 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 care 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 + 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 + 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; + 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-wrung cry + Of timid faith, + 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, + 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. + + 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 labors 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 (8th 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 +theses 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 or 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 +_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 forever 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 sins, 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 slipped 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. Poetentia 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 must 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,[1] 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!"] + + [1] He says of him on another occasion, _June 8, 1834_: "A man + greatly beloved of whom the world was not worthy." "An apostolic + man." His own calm deep holiness, resembled in many respects Mr. + Martin's daily walk. + +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 harbor true. + + When the storm descends + From an angry sky, + Ah! where from the winds + Shall the vessel fly? + [Away, then--oh, fly + From the joys of earth! + Her smile is a lie-- + There's a sting in her mirth.]* + + 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. + + *Come, leave the dreams + Of this transient night, + And bask in the beams + Of an endless light. + + *TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: In the original "Memoirs and Remains of + the Reverend Robert Murray McCheyne", the passage in brackets + was the first half of the last, eight-line stanza, and the + following quartet was part of the eight-line stanza beginning + "When the storm descends". + + +"_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 Hume'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 colors 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 dishonored 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 labor." + +"_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 forever and ever? Alas, +alas! my soul, where shall 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 than +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 put 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 forever. 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 recognizing 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[2] 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, 27th July, at +the College gate; shook hands, and little thought I was to see him no +more on earth." + + [2] Son of the minister of Drumelzier,--very promising and very + amiable. + +"_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. Bruce'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 'twas 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? + Through 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 be? 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 labor. 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! Must 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_ [[Hebrew: meilivo]], 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 labor. 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 register of his spiritual state. + +"_May 9._--How kindly has God thwarted me in every instance where I +sought to en lave 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?"[3] + + [3] It is worthy of notice how often the Lord has done much work + by a few years of holy labor. In our Church, G. Gillespie and J. + Durham died at thirty-six; Hugh Binning at twenty-six; Andrew + Gray when scarcely at twenty-two. Of our witnesses, Patrick + Hamilton was cut off at twenty-four, and Hugh M'Kail at + twenty-six. In other churches we might mention many, such as John + Janeway at twenty-three, David Brainerd at thirty, and Henry + Martyn at thirty-two. Theirs was a short life, filled up with + usefulness, and crowned with glory. Oh to be as they! + +_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. +"This 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 15th. However, this +attack was of short duration. On the 21st 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 24th:-- + + 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 persuaded, 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 learned experimentally to ask, "Who is +he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the +Son of God!" I 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 +learned 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 labors. 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 us 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.[4] + + [4] The members of this Society were--Rev. _William Laughton_, + now Minister of St Thomas's, Greenock, in connection with the + Free Church; _Thomas Brown,_ Free Church, Kinneff; _William + Wilson_, Free Church, Carmyllie; _Horatius Bonar_, Free Church, + Kelso; _Andrew A. Bonar_, Free Church, Collace; _Robert M. + M'Cheyne; Alexander Somerville_, Free Church, Anderston, Glasgow; + _John Thomson_, Mariners' Free Church, Leith; _Robert K. + Hamilton_, Madras; _John Burne_, for some time at Madeira; + _Patrick Borrowman_, Free Church, Glencairn; _Walter Wood_, Free + Church, Westruther; _Henry Moncrieff_, Free Church, Kilbride; + _James Cochrane_, Established Church, Cupar; _John Miller_, + Secretary to Free Church Special Commission; _G. Smeaton_, Free + Church, Auchterarder; _Robert Kinnear_, Free Church, Moffat; and + _W.B. Clarke_, Free Church, Half-Morton. Every meeting was opened + and closed with prayer. Minutes of the discussions were kept; and + the essays read were preserved in volumes. A very characteristic + essay of Mr. M'Cheyne's is "Lebanon and its Scenery" (inserted in + the _Remains_), wherein he adduces the evidence of travellers for + facts and customs which he himself was afterwards to see. Often, + in 1839, pleasant remembrances of these days of youthful study + were suggested by what we actually witnessed; and in the essay + referred to I find an interesting coincidence. He writes: "What a + refreshing sight to his eye, yet undimmed with age, after resting + forty years on the monotonous scenery of the desert, now to rest + on Zion's olive-clad hills, and Lebanon, with its vine-clad base + and overhanging forests, and towering peaks of snow!" This was + the very impression on our minds when we ourselves came up from + the wilderness as expressed in the _Narrative_, chap. 2--"May 29. + Next morning we saw at a distance a range of hills, running north + and south, called by the Arabs _Djebel Khalie_. After wandering + so many days in the wilderness, with its vast monotonous plains + of level sand, the sight of these distant mountains was a + pleasant relief to the eye; and we thought we could understand a + little of the feeling with which Moses, after being forty years + in the desert, would pray, 'I pray Thee let me go over,'" Deut. + 3:25. + +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 endeavored 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 candor 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 object 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 he 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 LABORS 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 labor 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 1st 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 honor 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,[5] '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 +minster, 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." + + [5] He here refers to the _Full and Candid Acknowledgment of + Sin_, for Students and Ministers, drawn up by the Commission of + Assembly in 1651, and often reprinted since. + +It was not till the 7th of November that he began his labors 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 labor 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 M'Cheyne in the duties of assistant in his +field of labor; 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 labor +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 labored 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 labor 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 forever 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 labor 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 this 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 labor alone, bearing unaided the burden of 6,000 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 labor +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 veil, 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 labors, 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 laborer 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 neighboring 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 fervor 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 21st 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 honor 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 labor 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 labor. 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 1:4, '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. Oh 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 had been, "The wicked shall be +turned into hell." On hearing this awful test, 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, then 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_ honor, but let _thine_ +be exalted forever." + +"_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 honor, 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 savor 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 ease 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 5th 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 +honor as his, and therefore shut my 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 lead 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, that 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 Ahimaaz, 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. 7th) 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 labor; 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 clamors can + disturb. It lightens all labor, 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 1st 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 14th) +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.[6] 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. + + [6] See this characteristic sermon in the Remains. + +As he was now to leave this sphere, he sought out, with deep anxiety, +a laborer who would help their overburdened pastor, in true love to +the people's souls. He believed he had found such a laborer 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 labor in your clear 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 labor 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 us 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 vigor 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 learned 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 marvelously to visit him in his ministry. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +FIRST YEARS OF LABOR 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 shall 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"_--I 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 labored 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 learned; +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.[7] In the +evening of that day, Mr. Bonar again preached on "_These times of +refreshing._" "A noble sermon, showing 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." + + [7] The _Acceptable Year of the Lord_ was one of these + Anniversary Sermons, preached November 1840. + +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 labors 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 the 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 of 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_[8] +in our faith." + + [8] Compare Zechariah 4:12 with John 15:5. + +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 I +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 +endeavored to have all his life; not for study, but for prayer. He +never labored 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 _quoard sacra_ +parish, detached from St. John's. It contains a population of 4,000 +souls, very many of whom never crossed the threshold of any sanctuary. +His congregation amounted at the very outset, to about 1,100 hearers, +one-third of whom came from distant parts of the town. + +Here was a wide field for parochial labor. 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 impenetrate 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 labor 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. 15th--Still dying like; spoke as yesterday. She never opened +her eyes. 16th--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 neighbors also always gather in. +17th--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. 20th--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. 5th--Still living; spoke +to her of Christ, and of full salvation. (Myself confined in the house +till the 16th.)--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! 17th--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. 18th--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. 19th--Spoke on '_Convincing of sin and +righteousness._' Rather more heart to hear. 20th--Psalm 51. Her look +and her words were lightsome. 23d--Faintish and restless; no sign of +peace. '_I am the way_,' and Psalm 25. 24th--Still silent and little +sign of anything. 26th--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. 7th--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 learned 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;[9] 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. II 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." + + [9] Baxter (_Reformed Pastor_) says, "I dare prognosticate from + knowledge of the nature of true grace, that all godly ministers + will make conscience of this duty, and address themselves to it, + unless they be, by some extraordinary accident, disabled." + +Partly from his state of health, and partly from the vast accumulation +of other labors, 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 labor. 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 labors +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 examination 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.[10] 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." + + [10] The first text he gave to be thus hidden in the heart was + Isaiah 34:15; "Until the Spirit be poured out from on high." + +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.[11] 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. + + [11] "Gration est pulchro veniens e corpore virtus." + +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 endeavored 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 Revelation 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 forever 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 odor 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 favor 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 labor 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" ([Greek: aphilarguros] 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 his 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 8th. "I was much troubled about being asked to go to a +neighboring 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 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 labor 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 labors, +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 as +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 labors 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 country of Forfar. The +Church Extension Scheme, though much misrepresented and much +misunderstood, had in view as its genuine, sincere endeavor, 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 favorable 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 candor, 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 thy 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 +laboring 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 Healing 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 neighbors, 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 labor 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 labored 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.[12] His beautiful hymn, _I +am a debtor_, was written in May 1837, at a leisure hour. + + [12] Baxter's words are not less than the truth: "Recreation to a + minister must be as whetting is with the mower, that is, only to + be used so far as is necessary for his work. May a physician in + the plague-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is + necessary for his life, when so many are expecting his help in a + case of life and death?" "Will you stand by and see sinners + grasping under the pangs of death, and say, God doth not require + me to make myself a drudge to save them? Is this the voice of + ministerial or Christian compassion, or rather of _sensual + laziness and diabolical cruelty_?"--_Ref. Past_. 6:6 + +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 honor me, I will honor," I 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 demeanor 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-laborer 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 fed 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."[13] + + [13] [Greek: Egô men dê katanoôn tou andros tên te sophian kai + tên gennaiotêta oute mê memnêsthai dynamai autou, oute memnêmenos + mê ouk epainein. Ei de tis tôn aretês ephiemenôn ôphelimôterô + tini Sôkratous synegeneto ekeinon egô ton andra + axiomakariototaton nomizô.] + +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 honor 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 labors. 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 he 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 my 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 unto 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," I 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 during 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 the sweet word from +Cumming yesterday, 'When the poor and needy seek water,' etc. Lord, +grant some wakening this day,--to some bringing peace--comfort to +mourners,--fulness to believers,--an advance in holiness in me and my +children! III 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 this day!" + +In addition to the other blessings which the Lord sent by his means to +the place where he labored, 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 ardor, 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 labor; 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 learned 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 labor 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 labors, 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 labor 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 labor, 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 + labor 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 alarming 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 labor, 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 +labors 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 recognized 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 1st 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 [Hebrew: tavuach aleinu], "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 forever." + +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 heat 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." "Whoso 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-laborer 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 recognized therein the easy +outflowing of the indwelling Spirit. The fountain springing up into +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-tree 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 8th 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![14] + + [14] It is a somewhat curious occurrence, that the remnants of + this Bible were found and drawn up from the bottom of the well, + in July 1843, by Dr. Wilson and his fellow-traveller, who + employed a Samaritan from Sychar to descend and examine the well. + +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 8th 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.[15] 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. + + [15] He alludes here to the decision of the House of Lords in the + Auchterarder case. + + "We left Alexandria on 16th May 1839, parting from many kind + friends in that strange city. We and our baggage were mounted on + seventeen donkeys, like the sons of Jacob, when they carried corn + out of Egypt. Our saddle was our bedding, viz. a rug to lie on, a + pillow for the head, and a quilt to wrap ourselves in. We + 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 the 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 somwhat 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 sidesaddle,--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 toward 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 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 II 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 color 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 + laborers now? Judah is gone into captivity before the enemy. + There are few men left in the land; not a vine is there. 'The + vine languisheth.' 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 favorite; 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 Sanor. 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 +Phoenicia and Galilee. Never did Mr. M'Cheyne seem more gladsome +than in gazing on these regions. + +At Tyre, he remembered the request of an elder in the parish of +Larbert, who had written to 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 labors, 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 left 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 of 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 favor +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 laborers, 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 8th,--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, "laboring 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-laborer: "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 Calman, 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-- + +[Hebrew: + tsuri goali + maheir v'chish p'dut ] + +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 +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 +honored of God to open the floodgate 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 occured +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 +failing 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 honored in the place where he himself had +labored 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 I 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 II +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 honor, and glory, +and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb +forever 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 ([Greek: + hagatha]) 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 I 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, II 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 labors 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 +_31st_: "Stay where you are, dear brother, as long as the Lord has any +work for you to do.[16] 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." + + [16] Mr Burns was at that time in Perth, and there had begun to be + some movement among the dry bones. + +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," I 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, them 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 +honor of man in a work of Revival? Is it not the honor 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."[17] + + [17] _Reformed Pastor_, 4:2. + +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 honor 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 shall not open thy mouth any more_.' A child of shame made one +of honor. 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 stopped 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 1st, 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 neighborhood, 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 clear 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.[18] 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 H.' 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." + + [18] See the Remains, for some of that day's solemn words. + +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 I 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 I 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 forever. 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: honor 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 priming-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 humor. + +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' (I 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' (I 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 7th, and on the 10th witnessed at +Belfast the union between the Synod of Ulster and the Secession. He +speaks of it as a most solemn scene--500 ministers and elders present. +During his stay there, he pleaded the cause of the Jews in Mr. +Morgan's church, Mr. Wilson's, and some others; and 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 +25th 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, 1st, to discover chaff which we thought to be +wheat; 2nd, to lead some to greater distrust of themselves, when their +eyes are opened: 3rd, 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 +labors), 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 laboring, there were marks of the Spirit everywhere; +and the people crossing the lake in hundreds, to listen to the words +of life on the hillside, 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 11th, 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 he 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 pipit, 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 25th and 26th +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 labor 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 +labors 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 +laboring 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 has 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.[19] + + [19] He afterwards preached the same subject with equal + impressiveness in the Meadows at Dundee. It was in the open air and + the rain fell heavy, yet the dense crowd stood still to the last. + +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 labors. +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 17th. 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,--1st, It +was not to be found in the word of God; 2nd, It destroyed the duty of +"trying the spirits;" 3rd, 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,--1st, 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, 2nd, It was to be hailed for other reasons, +viz., Christ's kingly offices would be better known, the truth would +be spread into desolate parishes, and faithful ministers would be +refined. And when, on March 7th 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 I 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 labor. +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?_" II 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.[20] 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. + + [20] How true, yet awful, is the language of Dr Owen (quoted in + Bridges' _Christian Ministry_, p. 168), "He that would go down to + the pit in peace, let him obtain a great repute for religion; let + him preach and labour to make other better than he is himself, and + in the meantime neglect to humble his heart, to walk with God in + manifest holiness and usefulness, and he will not fail of his end." + +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, "[Greek: +Nyn gar archên echô tou mathêteuesthai]"--"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 labor 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, I Thess. 5:23, + Rom. 6:14, Rom. 5:9, 10, and such scriptures, should be ever + before me ... Paul's thorn, II 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, I Cor. 7:2; + fleeing, I Tim. 6:11, I 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,' I 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; I Cor. 6 ... I ought never to + forget that sin 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 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 must 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 unto 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 +(II 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 labor 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 I +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 Committee of the +Convocation, he accompanied Mr. Alexander of Zirkcaldy 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 so 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 +24th, 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 1st, 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 he 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 5th, 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 12th, he preached upon Heb. 9:15 in the forenoon, and +Rom. 9:22, 23, in the afternoon, with uncommon solemnity; and it was +observed, both then and on other late occasions, he spoke with +peculiar strength upon the sovereignty of God. These were his last +discourses to his people in St. Peter's. That same 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 6th 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 rumor 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 21st) 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, I Cor. 15:58--'Be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the +work of the Lord,'" dwelling with much emphasis on the last clause, +"_forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord_." +At another time he seemed to feel himself 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 25th. 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 favored; 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 forever 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 colors had +lost their bright hue, or any leaf of 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 +labor, and patience, and cannot bear them that are evil, and we have +borne, and for his name's sake we labor, and have not fainted;" but we +want the fervor 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 +forever? 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_!" + + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + +Underscores (_text_) indicate text italicised in the original book, as +in the last line of printed book (above). + +Footnotes were moved from individual pages to the end of the affected +paragraph. + +This e-book is a reproduction of an original that itself is an excerpt +of a larger work, as stated in the Publisher's Preface. There were a +number of spelling and punctuation errors, too numerous to detail, +that were corrected in this version of the book. There are also a +number of stylistic differences between the works including format of +references (e.g. Roman vs. decimal numbers), italics and poetry +indentings. In these instances, this e-book has been made to follow +the excerpted reprint, and not the original, larger work. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne +by Andrew A. 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