ig a ~by. THE LIFE AND REMAINS, LETTERS, LECTURES, AND POEMS OF THE REV. ROBERT MURRAY M'CHEYNE, MINISTER Or ST. PETER'S CHURCH, DUNDRB. BY THE EEY. AJSTDEEW A. BONAR, MINISTER OF THE FRKE CHURCH OP SCOTLAND, COLLACR. SEVENTH AMERICAN FROM THE TWENTT-FIEST EDINBTJEGH EDITION. TO WHICH IS ADDDED, FAMILIAR LETTERS FROM THE HOLY LAND," &c 1STEW YOEK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 BROADWAY. 1860. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. IN this Memoir, very much has been preserved of Mi M'CHEYNI/S own words, as well as feelings. Still there is a de- fect quite apparent. All who knew him not only saw in him a burning and a shining light, but felt also the breathing of the hidden life of God ; and there is no narrative that can fully ex- press ihis peculiarity of the living man. Yet, nevertheless, as I have had the prayers of many, and have myself throughout asked the Lord to guide me with his eye, I believe he will not let this record of his servant go forth unblessed. The Portrait is not an exact likeness : it was executed after his death from a very imperfect sketch but it will recall his form to all who knew him. It is now a year since he rested from his labors ; and this Memoir is a record of some of those works that fol- low him. Oci- ICK. March 25, 1844 M08E9 CONTENTS. MEMOIR. CHAP I. His YOUTH ^.ND PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY, . < .. 11 His LABORS IN THE VINEYARD BEFORE ORDINATIOH, . . . .33 . Ill FIRST YEARS OF LABOR IN DUNDEE, . . . . . . .51 .. IV. His MISSION TO PALESTINE AND THK JEWS, ...... 77 .. V DAYS OF REVIVAL, ... ...... .TO .. VI. THE LATTER DAYS OF HIS MINISTRY, ....... 128 LETTERS. 1. To Rev. R. MACDONALD, during illness, before going to Palestine, . . . .149 2. .. Mrs. THAIN, during the continuance of the same, ...... 151 3. . . Do. before going on the Mission, ....... 151 4. .. M'^s COLLIER. How his silence may be useful, ....*. 153 5. .. Rev. W. C. BURNS, on his coming to supply his place, . . . . .155 6. PASTORAL LETTERS, No. 1. View of what has happened, . . . . .156 7. .. .. 2. Past times of privilege, . ... . ,159 8 .. .. 3. How God works by Providence, . . . . .162 9 .. .. 4. God the answerer of prayer, ..... 165 10 .. .. 5. Returns made to God, Isaiah v., . . . . .169 11 .. .. 6. Self-devotedness, ....... 173 12. .. .. 7. Unexpected calls, ....... 176 13. .. .. 8. Warnings to the unsaved, 180 14. .. .. 9. From Leghorn. Travels, . . . . . .184 15. . . . . 10. From Breslaw. Travels, . . . . * .189 16. To Rev. J. ROXBURGH. From Jerusalem Account of the Land, . . . .195 17. . . Rev. R. MACDONALD. From Carmel. Do., . . . . . .200 18. .. Rev. VV. C. BURNS. Inquiries about the Revival, . . , . . .803 19. .. Miss COLLIER. Riches of Christ, 204 20. .. Mr. J. T. JUST. Prayer-meeting?, ........ 206 21. .. A PARISHIONER in sickness. Troubles sanctify, . . . . . .207 22 .. A SOUL WHOM HE NEVER SAW. Looking to Jesus, . . . . .208 23. .. Rev. W. C. BURNS. A Minister's Afflictions, . . , .210 84. . . Rev. DAN. EDWARDS. What a Missionary must seek, . . . .211 25. . . Do. Holiness and success, . . . ... . .211 26. Mrs. THAIN When invited to rest a while, . . . . . .212 27. .. ONE WHOSE FACE WAS ZIONWARD, . ...... . 212 28. .. A. 8. L. The person and heart of Jesus, ....... 214 29. . . Mr. W. C. BURNS. Awakenings Personal holiness, 21C 30. . . Rev. P. L. MILLER. On beginning his Ministry, . . . . .218 31. . . Mr. G. SHAW. The Jews Studies, .218 32. . . His SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS, . ...... 221 33. . . BLAIRGOWRIE SOCIETY. Advices, . ..... 222 34. . . A SOUL SEEKING JESUS, No. 1. Corruption, ...... 223 35 .. 2. The Righteousness of Christ, ... 234 36 .. 3. Joy in believing, 37 .. 4. Christ is precious, . . . . . .226 38 .. 5. Found in Christ, 227 39. . . . . . . . . 6. Leaning on Jesus, ..... 228 40. .. THE MEMBERS OF A PBAYKB-MEETINQ. The Sower, . . . . .230 41. .. M.S. Trying dispensations, 233 4-2. . . E. R. Corruptions drive us to Christ, ....... 234 43. . . J. T. A boy anxious about his soul, ........ 235 44. .. A.T. On the death of his brother, ........ 236 45. .. Rev. D. CAMPBELL. Advice to a brother In sickness, . . . . .237 46. .. Rev. HOB. BONAB. Breathings after holiness, 238 47. .. Rev. R. MACDONALD. Words of counsel, . ...... 239 48. . . THE TEACHER OK A FEMALE SCHOOL. Do what you can, .... 240 49. .. ONE AWAKENED FBOM SLEEP. Call to Jesus, ...... 240 50. . . A SOUL INQUIRING AFTKB JESUS. What is in Christ, . . . . .242 51. . . Do. Trials Atonement in Christ, . . . . .244 52. .. ONE WHO HAD BEGUN TO SEE JESUS, ... . . 245 53. .. Rev. P L. Mm** A vord to the weary, ... . . . 2 CONTENTS. P*g 54. To Rev. JOHN MILNE. Another word to a brother, ...... 247 55 . . Do. Breathings of heart, ...... 247 56. . . ONE WHO HAD LATELY TAKEN UP THE CROSS, ...... 248 57. . . ONE OF HIS FLOCK DESERTED IN SOUL, ....... 250 58. .. Rev. ALEX. GATHERER. Visit to the North, . ..... 251 59. .. ONE WHO HAD SUFFERED BEREAVEMENT. Sorrow of the world, . . . 252 60. .. ANOTHER TO ONE BEREAVED. Christ the same, . .... 2;3 Ci. .. ONE COMPLAINING OF HEART PLAQUES. Passing to glcry, ..... 254 SPECIMENS OF HIS SKETCHES OF SERMONS. Isaiah xlviii. 18 .256 Romans iv. 4-8, 25fi Proverbs xiv. 9, ............ 257 Uohniv. 7-13 257 Zechariah xii. 10 257 Jeremiah xxxiii. 16, .253 Revelation xx. 11-15, ........... 258 LEBANON ITS SCENERY AND ALLUSIONS, ........ 259 NOTES ON THE TYPES FOUND IN THB TABERNACLE, ....... 268 OTHER PIECES ALREADY PUBLISHED. EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS, ... ...... 280 ANOTHER LILY GATHERED CONVERSION or JAMES LAINO, . . . . . 287 THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME, ......... 302 TUB ACCEPTABLE YEAR or THE LORD, ........ 309 REASONS WHY CHILDREN SHOULD FLY TO CHRIST, ..... . 315 WHY is GOD A STRANGER IN THE LAND? ........ 320 [ LOVE THE LORD'S DAY, ... ....... 324 LETTER ON THE SABBATH RAILWAYS, .... .... 330 LETTER ON COMMUNION WITH BRETHREN or OTHER DENOMINATION!, .... 334 To THE LAMBS OF THE FLOCK, ......... 339 DAILY BREAD, ......... . . 345 SONGS OF ZION. 1. The Barren Fig Tree, . . . . ... . . . .355 2. Jehovah Tsidkenu, .......... 356 3. They Sing the Song of Moses, . . . . . . . . .357 4. On Mungo Park's finding a Tnft of Moss, . . . . . . .353 5. I am Debtor, ........... 360 6. Children called to Christ, ......... 3(52 7. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, . . . . . . . 362 8. The Fountain of Siloam, ......... 364 9. The Sea of Galilee ... 364 10. To Yonder Side, 366 It. On the Mediterranean Sea, at Acre, ...... 367 12. The Child coming to Jesus, ......... 368 13. Oil in the Lamp, . . . . . . . . . .369 14. On J. T., a Believing Boy, . ... t .... 371 CONCLUDING MEMORIALS, ..... .... 372 LECTURES. LECTURE I. THE TEN VIRGINS, Part 1, . . . . . . .378 ..II 2 382 m. .. .. 3, 386 ..IV 4, 390 V. BETHANY, Part 1, .394 . VI. 2, 399 .. VII. ., 3, 404 .. VIII. .. 4 .409 .. IX. 5, . 414 X. 6, .418 . XI. 7, 4'2-2 XII. CAPERNAUM, . .... 426 . XIII. WISDOM'S HOUSE, ...... . . 4fM .. XIV. FOLLY'S HOUSE, ....... . 430 XV. THE GOOD SHEPHERD, ...... . . 440 .. XVI. CHRIST THE DOOR, . ... . 444 .. XVII I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, . 443 CONTENTS. FAMILIAR LETTERS. LETTER I. To HIS FAMILY, London, 29th March, 1839, . II. To THE SAME, London, 9th April, . III. To THE SAME, Boulogne, 12th April, IV. To HIS MOTHER, Lyons, 20th April, . . V . To HIS SISTER, Genoa, 24th April, .... VI. To HIS FATHER, Malta, 5th May, . . . VII. To THE REV. R. S. CANDLISH, Malta, 6th May, . .. VIII. To HIS MOTHER, Alexandria, 15th May, IX. To HIS FAMILY, Mount Carmel, 26th June, . . . X. To THE REV. R. S. CANDLISH, Mount Cannel, 27th June, XI. To THE SAME, Beyrout, 5th July, .... XII. To HIS SISTER, Beyrout, 8th July, .... .. XIII. To MRS. COUTTS. Beyrout, 22nd July, .. XIV. To HIS SISTER, Beyrout, 22nd July, . XV. To THE REV. A. N. SOMERVILLIC, Beyrout, 23rd July, .. XVI. To HIS FAMILY, Bouja, 22nd August, . .. XVII. To THE REV. A. N. SOMERVILI.E, Bouja, 22nd August, . ..XVIII. To HIS SISTER, Galatz, 1st September, .. XIX. To HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, Bucharest, 10th September, XX To THE REV. R. S. CANDLISH, Bossanze, 26th September, .. XXI. To HIS SISTER, Tarnapol, 1st October, .. XXII. To HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, Breslau, 17th October, . . XXIII To THE SAME, London, 6th November, . XXIV To THE REV. R. S. CANDLISH, London, llth November, . XXV To HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, Dundee, 26th November, . 456 459 460 465 469 474 479 484 492 497 500 504 508 514 519 524 526 527 531 538 543 548 549 555 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." -LuK* i. 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 de- gree, 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 un- broken 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 spiritu- ality and a deeper seriousness began a few years onward to pre- vail 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 bless- ings which were beginning to be dropt down upon Scotland, though none then knew that one was born whom hundreds would look up to as their spiritual father. The place of his birth was Edinburgh, where his parents re- sided. 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 re- marked by all who knew him. His mind was quick in his attain- ments ; 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 school-fellows 6 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. for his melodious voice 'arid- powers of recitation. There were at that time catechetical exercises, held in the Tron Church, in the interval between sermons* ;l ami .so ti^e fvietrds' remember the inter- est often excited in the hearers by his correct and sweet recita- tion of the Psalms and passages of Scripture. But as yet he knew not the Lord, he lived to himself, "having no hope arid without God in the world." Eph. ii. 12. In October 1821, he entered the High School, where he con- tinued 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 reci- tation. 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 cha- racterized 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 peculiar- ities that drew attention : of a light, tall form full of elasticity and vigor ambitious, yet noble in his dispositions, disdaining every thing 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 plea- sures as the song and the dance could yield. He himself re- garded 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 devo- tedness 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, a-nd 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 what- ever scenes were fitted to stir the soul. At all periods of his life, also, he had a love of enterprize. During the summer months he occasionally made excursions with his brother, 01 some inti- mate friend, to visit the lakes and hills of our Highlands, cherish- ing thereby, unawares, a fondness for travel, that was most use- ful to him in after days. In one of these excursions a somewhat romantic occurrence befell the travellers, such as we might rathei have expected to meet with in the records of his Eastern journev MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. 8 He and his friend had set out on foot to explore, at their leisure, Dunkeld and the highlands in its vicinity. They spent a day ai Dunkeld, and about sunset set out again with the view o! cross- ma the hills to Strathardle. A dense mist spread over the hills soon after thev began to climb. They pressed on, hut lost the track that might have guided them safely to the glen., 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 ot the lonely mountains spread a strange fear over them But, drawrng close together, they again lay down to rest, and slept sound y till the crv 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 exer- cises at that time gave him unbounded delight He used his pen- cil with much success, and then it was that his hand was prepared for sketching the scenes of the Holy Land. He had a very con- siderable knowledge of music, and himself sang correctly and beautifully. This, too, was a gift which was used to the glory oi the Lord 'in after days wonderfully enlivening his secret devo- tions and enabling him to lead the song of praise in the congrega- tion wherever occasion required. Poetry also was a never-fail- ing recreation ; and his taste in this department drew the attention of Professor Wilson, who adjudged him the prize m the Moral 1 hi- losophy 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 wisn to preach salvation to his fellow-sinners ? Could he say, like Robei i Bruce, " / was first called to my grace, before I obeyed my catting to the ministry ?" Few questions are more interesting than this ; and our answer to it will open up some of the wonderful ways ot Him " whose path is in the great waters, and whose footsteps are not known ;" Psalm Ixxvii. 19 : for the same event that awakened his soul to a true sense of sin and misery, led him to the ministry. During his attendance at the literary and philosophical classes he felt occasional impressions, none of them perhaps of much depth There can be no doubt that he himself looked upon the death of his eldest brother, David, as the event which awoke him from the sleep of nature, and brought in the first beam oi . Divin lieht 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, att JC MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. the usuai preliminary studies, he had been admitted Writer to th Signet. One distinguishing quality of his character was his sen- sitive 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 ir 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, set- tled 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, 1831, he fell asleep in Jesus. The death of this brother, with all its circumstances, was used by the Holy Spirit to produce a deep impression on Robert's soul. In many respects even in the gifts of a poetic mind there had been a congeniality between him and David. The vivacity oi Robert's ever active and lively mind was the chief point of differ- ence. 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 ; bul when, in the course of the summer, David was removed from them for ever, there were impressions left such as could never be effaced, at least from the mind of Robert. Naturally of an in- tensely 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 interest- ing, 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 nimself. Sometime after his brothers 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. MEMOIR OF THE REV. R M. M'CHEYNE. ON PAINTING THE MINIATURE LIKENESS OF ONE DEPA4TED. 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 Hying 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 light* That glowed conspicuous on the blessed face Of him thou fain would'st imitate to bind Down to the fragile canvass 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 hopeg y And fears, and hidden joys, and griefs, unborn Into the world of sound, but beaming forth In that expression which no words, or work Of cunning artist, can express. In vain, Alas ! in vain ! Come hither, Painter ; come Take up once more thine instruments thy brush And palette if thy haughty art be. as thou say'st, Omnipotent, and if thy hand can dare To wield creative power. Renew thy toil, And let my memory, vivified by love, Which Death's cold separation has but warmed, And rendered sacred, dictate to thy skill, And guide thy pencil. From the jetty hair Take off that gaudy lustre that but mocks The true original ; and let the dry, Soft, gently turning locks, appear instead. What though to fashion's garish eye they seem Untutored and ungainly still to me, Than folly's foppish head-gear, lovelier far Are they, because bespeaking mental toil. 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 eye brows next draw closer down, and throw A softening shade o'er the mild orbs below. Let the full eye-lid, drooping, half conceal The back-retiring eye ; and point to earth MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE 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 craze Alike on all the world. But paint ai; eye In whose half-hidden, steady light I read A truth-enquiring 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, whilst still feeling the sadness oi this bereavement, that he wrote the fragment entitled "THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH, AND NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART." A grave I know Where earthly show Is not a mound Whose gentle round Sustains the load Of a fresh sod. Its shape is rude, And weeds intrude Their yellow flowers In gayer bowers Unknown. The grass, A tufted mass, Is rank and strong Unsmoothed and long. No rosebud there Embalms the air ; No lily chaste Adorns the waste, Nor daisy's head Bedecks the bed. No myrtles wave Above that grave ; Nor heather-bell Is there to tell Of gentle friend Who sought to lend A sweeter sleep To him who deep Beneath the ground Repose has found. No stone of woe Is there to shew The name, or tell How passing well He loved his God, And how he trod The humble road That leads through sorrow To a bright morrow. Unknown in life. And far from strife, He lived ; and though The -magic flow Of genius played Around his head ; And he could weave " The song at eve," And touch the heart, With gentlest art ; Or cares beguile. And draw the smile Of peace from thode Who wept their woes ; Yet when the love Of Christ above To guilty men Was shown him then He left the joys Of worldly noise ; And humbly laid His drooping head Upon the c oss; And thought the loss Of all that earth MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M*CHEYNE. 13 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, 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 wreath his brow With laurel bough. He sought no more To gather store Of earthly lore, Nor vainly strove To share the love Of heaven above, With aught below That earth can show. The smile forsook His cheek his look Was cold and sad ; And even the glad Return of morn, When the ripe corn Waves o'er the plains, And simple swains With joy prepare The toil to share Of harvest, brought No lively thought To him. * * * * And spring adorns The sunny morns With opening flowers : And beauty showers O'er lawn and mead ; Its virgin head The snow-drop steeps In dew, and peeps The crocus forth, Nor dreads the north- But even the spring No smile can bring To him, whose eye Sought in the sky For brighter scenes, Where intervenes No darkening oloud 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 5 And even though, Why should they shed Above the dead Who slumbers here A single tear ? 1 cannot weep, Though in my sleep I sometimes clasp, With love's fond grasp His gentle hand, And see him stand Beside my bed, And lean his head Upon my breast, And bid me rest Nor night nor day Till I can say That I have found The holy ground In which there lies The Pearl of Price- Till all the ties The soul that bind, And all the lies The soul that blind Be * * * Nothing could more fully prove the deep impression which the event made than these verses. But it was not a transient regret, nor was it the " sorrow of the world." He was in his eighteenth year when his brother died : and if this was not the year of his new birth, at least it was the year when the first streaks of dawn appeared in his soul. From thai day forward his friends observed 14 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE, a change. His poetry was pervaded with serious thought, and all his pursuits began to be followed cut 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 latter 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 occasion- ally 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 conven- tional reserve upon these subjects prevailed even among lively believers. It almost seemed as if they were ashamed of the Son of Man. This reserve appeared to him very sinful ; and he felt it to be so great an evil, that, in after days, he was careful to en- courage 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 re- viewing 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 con- sciousness 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 un- MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. 15 godliness, and the poL.ution of his whole nature. And all his life long, he viewed his original sin, not as an excuse for his actual sins, but as an aggravation of them all. In this view he was of the mind of David, taught by the unerring Spirit of Truth. See Psalm, li. 4, 5. At first the light dawned slowly ; so slowly, that, for a consid- erable time, he still riished an occasional plunge into scenes of gaiety. Even after entering the Divinity Hall, he could be per- suaded 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 biogra- phy." Then, "Dec. 9. A thorn in my side much torment." As the unholiness of his pleasures became more apparent, he writes: "March 10th, 1832 I hope never to play cards again." " March 25th Never visit on a Sunday evening again." "April 10th 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 8th, 1838, 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 moun- tains thou comest ovec none was ever more blessed to me." To us who can look at the results, it appears probable that the Lord permitted him thus to try many broken cisterns, and to taste the wormwood of many earthly streams, in order that in after days, by the side of the fountain of living waters, he might point to the world he had for ever left, and testify the surpassing preciousness of what he had now found. Mr. Alexander Somerville (afterwards minister of Anderston Church, Glasgow), was his familiar friend and companion in the gay scenes of his youth. And he, too, about this time, having been brought to taste the powers of the world to come, they united their efforts for each others welfare. They met togethei 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 others steps in the narrow way. He thought himself much profited, at this period, by investi- gating 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 16 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. how well fitted it was to direct an inquiring soul. I find him some years afterwards recording: "March llth, 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, not- withstanding all his convictions and views of sin, until he really went into the Holiest of all on the warrant of the Redeemers 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 de- light in the hope that his younger brother might one day become a minister of Christ. And now, with altered views with an eye that could gaze on heaven and hell, and a heart that felt the love of a reconciled God he sought to become a herald of salvation. He had begun to keep a register of his studies, and the manner in which his time slipt away, some months before his brother's death. For a considerable time this register contains almost no- thing but the bare incidents of the diary, and on Sabbaths the texts of the sermons he had heard. There is one gleam of seri- ous 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 e very-day incidents is varied with such passages as the following : " November 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 !" " December 4. Reading Leigh Richmond's Life. * Pceniten- tia profunda, non sine lacrymis. Nunquam me ipsum, tarn vi- lem, tarn inutilem, tarn pauperim, et prsecipue tarn ingratum, adhuc vidi. Sint iacrymas dedicationis mea3 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 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M^CHEYNE. 17 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 i^ally in earnest. He quoted the striking passage, 4 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." " January 12, 1832. Cor non pacem habet. Quare ? Pecca- tum apud fores manet." [" My heart has not peace. Why ? Sin lieth at my door."J " 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 arras 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 i. 1-6. It constitutes the very gravamen of the charge against the unre- newed man, that he has affection for his earthly parent, and reverence for his earthly master ; but none for God ! Most noble discourse." " Feb. 2. Not a trait worth remembering ! And yet these four-and-twenty hours must be accounted for." Feb. 5. Sabbath. In the afternoon, having heard the late Mr. Martin, of St. George's,* he writes, on returning home "O quam humilem, sed quam diligentissimum ; quam dejectum, sed quam vigilem, quam die noctuque precantem, decet me esse quum tales viros aspicio. Juva, Pater, Fili, et Spiritus !" [" O how humble yet how diligent, how lowly yet how watchful, how prayerful night and day it becorf.es me to be, when I see such men. Help, Father, Son, and Spirit !"] From this date he seems to have sat, along with his friend Mr Somerville, almost entirely under Mr. Bruce' s ministry. He took copious notes of his lectures and sermons, which still remain among his papers. " Feb. 28. Sober conversation. Fain would I turn to the * He says of him on another occasion, June 8, 1834 " A man greatly beloved, of whom the world was not worthy." u An apostolic man." His own calm, deep holi- ness, resembled in many respects Mr. Martin's daily walk. VOL. I. 2 1? MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. Bi'CHEYNE. most interesting of all subjects., Cowardly backwardness : * Foi whosoever is ashamed of me and my words/ &c." 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, The whirlpool opes And its paltry crowd, For the gallant prize ; She has chosen the world, And, with all her hopes, And an endless shroud ! To the deep she hies ! She has chosen the world, But who may tell With its misnamed pleasures : Of the place of woe, She has chosen the world, Where the wicked dwell- Before heaven's own treasures. Where the worldlings go 1 She hath launched hor boat For the human heart On life's giddy sea, Can ne'er conceive And her all is afloat What joys are the part For eternity. Of them who believe ; But Bethlehem's star Nor can justly think Is not in her view ; Of the cup of death And her aim is far Which all must drink From the harbor true. Who despise the faith. When the storm descends Away, then oh, fly From an angry sky, From the joys of earth ! Ah ! where from the winds Her smile is a lie Shall the vessel fly ? There's a sting in her mirth. When stars are concealed, Come, leave the dreams And rudder gone, Of this transient night, And heaven is sealed And bask in the beams To the wandering one ! Of an endless light. "March 6. Wild wind and rain all day long. Hebrew class psalms. New beauty in the original every time I read. Dr. Welsh lecture on Pliny's letter about the Christians of Bithynia. Professor Jameson on quartz. Dr. Chalmers grappling with Hume's arguments. Evening. Notes and little else. Mind and Dody 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 unchris- tian silence. Why should not selfishness be buried beneath the Atlantic in matters so sacred ?" May 6. Saturday evening. This was the evening previous MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M*CHEYNE. 19 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 tne 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 por tion 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 I How often has it broken through all restraints, and come out in the shape of lusts 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 i p in his arms and carried me back ; and yet he took me not for any thing 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 constitu- tional 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 occu- pies the most part of all my thoughts, and even of my long-pollu- ted affections. Not uato 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 surety as thou didst make the mouth with which I pray, so surely dost thou prompt every prayer of faith which I utter. Thou nast 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 ae 20 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M*CHEYNE. 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. Con- versing 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 Ex- odus 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 ? evange- lists ? men set apart to the work, chosen out of the chosen, as it were, the very pick of the .flocks, who are to shine as the stars for ever and ever ? Alas ! alas ! my scul, where shalt thou ap- pear ? 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, " O 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, advance- ment, victories within thy torn bosom ! I cannot express what I think when I think of thee. To-night, more set upon missionary enterprize than ever." "June 2$. O for Brainerd's humility and sin-loathing dispo- sitions !" " June 30. Much carelessness, sin, and sorrow. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death ? Enter thou, my soul, into the rock, and hide thee in the dust for fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty." And then he writes a few verses, of which the following are some stanzas : I "will arise and seek my God, And, bowed doyn beneath my load, Lay all my sins before him ; MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. 2 Then he will wash ray soul from sin. And put a new heart me within, And teach me to adore him. 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. 1 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 says, " Unbind him." "July 3. This last Litter root of worldliness that has so often oetrayed me has this night so grossly, that I cannot but regard it as God's chosen way to make me loathe and forsake it for ever. I would vow ; but it is much more like a weakly worm to pray. Sit in the dust, O my soul !" I believe he was enabled to keep his resolution. Once only, in the end of this year, was he again ied 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 ana 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." "August 15. Little done, and as little suffered. Awfully im- portant question Am I redeeming the time ?" "August 18. Heard of the death of James Somerville* by fever, induced by cholera. O God, thy ways and thoughts are not as ours ! He had preached his first sermon. I saw him last on Friday, 27th of July, at the College gate ; shook hands ; and little thought I was to see him no more on earth. " September 2. Sabbath evening. Reading. Too much en- grossed, and too little devotional. Preparation for a fall. Warn- ing. 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 hat pride." * Son of the minister of Drumelzier very promising and very amiable 22 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. W'CHEYNE. " Sept. 30. Somewhat straitened by loose Sabbath observance, Best way is to be explicit and manly." " November 1. More abundant longings for the work of the ministry. O that Christ would but count rne faithful, that a dis- pensation of the Gospel might be committed to me !" And then he adds, " Much peace. Peaceful, because believing" December 2. Hitherto he used to spend much of the Sab- bath 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 pre- paration 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." January 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 ? Though he sparkled the gem in out 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, Yst a holier tone to his harp is now given, As he si/igs to his unborn Father in heaven." February 3. Writing to a medical friend of his brother Wil- liam'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 be- gun with that view. Such a determination, though formed in youth, is one which I trust riper years will not make you blush tc own." " Feb. 11. Somewhat overcome. Let me see : there is a creep- MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. 23 ing defect here. Humble, purpose-like reading of the Word omitted. What plant can be un watered, 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 1" " March 12. O 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. 8HE 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 hushed 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. IKE LIVES The spirit left the earth ; And He who gave her birth Has called her to his dread abode, To meet her Saviour and God. 24 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. M'CHEYNE. She lives, to tell how blest Is the everlasting rest Of those who. in the Lamb's blool 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. SHS 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. An