1856
On December 4th he is
inducted to start work in Finnieston, Glasgow. In a letter to his brother
James, he writes: "...in the afternoons we have always a considerable
congregation, many or most of them "Zacchæuses", but these may be called
down from their sycamore tree."
A year later he writes: "It has been a day
when God seemed dealing with men in unusual earnestness. Are these beginnings
of revival times?" Revival is something he has been praying for.
1859
In May he completes his notes
on the Psalms, called: Christ and His Church in the
Book of Psalms, and writes: "May the Lord use it to lead many
to see their full provision in Christ!"
There are some encouraging signs
that God's Spirit is working, and his prayers are getting more fervent.
1860
On Sunday 1st of April his little
son Andrew dies in the early morning after an illness of several weeks. It
affects him deeply and he writes: "Come Lord, and wipe away all tears. Come
Lord, cast death and hell into the lake. Come quickly. I was able to preach all
day."
1861 (Death of
Prince Consort - Albert, husband of Queen Victoria)
Tuesday
June 18th: "At nine o'clock a little girl born, and all well...Lord, I have
given this little one to Thee from her very birth. Lord, O that I and the
children Thou hast given me be with Thee in the New Jerusalem, each adding
another note to the heavenly song."
1862
In October he finishes the edition of Rutherford's Letters which has taken him several
months. He notices that in this edition there are exactly 365 letters, "the
number of years lived in the earth by Enoch, that man of God of whom Rutherford
often reminds us."
1863 (Metropolitan Railway
opened in London)
1864
Saturday, September 24th. "This morning, about eight o'clock a daughter
was born to us....Lord, may this little one be another of Thy saved, a precious
stone in Thy breastplate, one in whom Thou shalt be glorified."
Saturday, October 15th.- "O what a wound! Last night most suddenly,
after three hours' sinking, my dear, dear Isabella was taken from me. Lord,
pour in comfort, for I cannot. It needs the Holy Ghost to work at such a time.
Lord, what innumerable kindnesses Thou gavest me through her: a true wife, a
true mother, a true mistress, a true friend. She passed away so gently that,
till I held her and touched her cheek, I could scarcely believe it was death. I
have needed this affliction. It brings to my remembrance sins of many, many
kinds: neglected prayer, neglected thanksgiving, self-indulgence, my life too
much a life for myself and family. Lord, let me not love Thee less, but more,
because of this stroke, and from this day may I work more for the ingathering
of souls."
Several days after her funeral he writes: "This morning I came
upon the two books she was last reading in her bed. The one was Hill's Deep
Things of God, the other, Bridge on The Proverbs..... Our marriage
day was looked forward to with immense desire, but not less shall be (through
His grace) the marriage day of Christ, when we shall meet together for
ever."
In November, the motherless baby, Mary Elizabeth, is
baptized, and he writes: " I saw my children were all deeply moved. I came home
feeling all the way an indescribable sadness, and yet as if a hand were
underneath holding me up."
At the end of the year, he writes that it is the
close of the most memorable year since the death of Robert M'Cheyne. He bemoans
his selfishness, and asks the Lord to fill him with a desire for souls and a
delight in His work and His fellowship.
1865
Instances of revival keep occurring. In
February he mentions a revival "near us in Hillhead; not less than forty
souls, young and old, already brought in, to all appearance. To-night preached
there. Though the night was quite wintry, the ground deep with snow, the
schoolroom was quite crowded. It has gone on very much by one speaking to the
other."
It makes him pray more fervently for revival in his own
congregation, and he seeks the Lord with fasting and prayer.
On May
29th he moves to 20 India Street.
1866
He often struggles with feelings of unworthiness for the task of preaching the
gospel, but he receives encouragements when people are brought to Christ by his
preaching. His reaction: "O blessed Lord, it is thus Thou comfortest the
cast-down".
His sorrow over Isabella's death continues, and he writes: "
Last Sabbath I nearly broke down in the forenoon; but, though I was obliged to
shorten the service, got through."
1867
For many years he has been interested in prophecy and typology, and in
March he writes: "Last week went to Crossford to lecture upon the
Tabernacle to the awakened people there, a most interesting assembly. Afternoon
at three about two hundred women, and in the evening as many men."
1868
Almost every year, several friends and
relatives die. On July 8th he writes: "Heard of the death of William
Burns, one of Christ's great missionaries to earth in our day. How many in one
year! Why are such as myself spared?"
1869
He often reminds himself of the great spiritual giants of the past. In May he
writes: "Three pictures in my study often rebuke me- of Robert M'Cheyne,
William Burns, and John Milne; and at times the photograph of Samuel
Rutherford's tomb suggests to me what coldness of love is in my heart compared
with such a man. And the little I have learned from affliction is a constant
grief to me."
Communion is always a special occasion, when several
ministers help during the service. Things do not always go as they should: On
25th July -"Communion at Ardrishaig. By mistake I did not get the bread
and wine. Felt somewhat strange, but I learned some things. Thus, it may be the
Lord was thus gently chastising me, reminding me to take off my shoes because
the ground was holy. Then, I learned sympathy with those who often, at this
season, are not permitted in the providence of God to go. Then also, I felt a
hunger I had not felt for a long time - a hunger for the bread and wine. I see
that I will need every day, more and more, in the morning, before any business
begins, a cup of the new wine of the kingdom - fellowship with God; and I must
pray oftener, though but for a minute, during the day."
1870 (Papal Infallibility
Proclaimed at the Oecumenical Council of the Vatican)
30th
January: "In the evening, at the very close of our day's work, the Lord
sent a person to tell me of the blessing that had attended the accidental
perusal of my little book, The Cup of
Wrath."
In May the M'Cheyne Memorial Church in Dundee is opened.
Andrew Bonar writes on the 14th: "Having come to Abernyte on my way to
the opening of the M'Cheyne Memorial Church, I was left alone all day, and
spent some hours in prayer; part of the time in the little church, and then
with Mr. Wilson. Felt deep, deep sorrow at the thought of the past. What gales
of the Spirit have blown, and yet my sails have been ill set, and caught little
of the breezes in these great awakening times."
Sabbath, 15th -
"Preached in the M'Cheyne Memorial Church in the morning, and St. Peter's in
the afternoon. In the evening, finding a great crowd who could not get in,
preached in the open air, right opposite the Memorial Church, while Mr.
Macgregor was preaching within. I know that the God of Elijah still lives."
1871
In March he is asked by the
management of the Cunningham Lectureship to take the next course, but he
refuses. He feels that they mistake his learning and ability for such work, and
writes "May the Master use me in my true sphere and give me the grace of prayer
in far higher measure."
He laments the state of the country and in the Free
Church and writes: The state of the land is not good. 'When the Son of Man
cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?' Our Church is not what it was, and
the Spirit seems not among us as in other years." He speaks out in the General
Assembly against the proposed Union, and finds it very "trying to the flesh.
But it seemed to me plain duty."
1872
He
keeps on praying for a revival of the Holy Spirit's work: "To-day, in a retired
spot by the side of a wood near Southlatch, Abernyte, was enabled to cry for
the Holy Ghost with much desire, and to plead for His blessing...."
1873
The division in the Church appears to
worsen and a new split is feared. He spends much time in prayer, and prays that
they will be able to say: "What has God wrought!" (Numbers 23:23). On his
birthday - 29th May - he writes: "Deliverance has come! A most
marvellous turn in the discussion after all seemed very dark. Both sides were
led to an adjustment.....We have had most powerful incitements to pray
henceforth more and more."
In December, he attends the meetings of
Moody and Sankey in Edinburgh, and writes: "What a sight! Our great Assembly
Hall crowded with eager, praying, listening souls from ten o'clock till four.
...This is the answer to the prayers since the Union
strife was closed for revival and blessing."
1874
In February, the revival comes nearer to
Glasgow: "This city has been at last visited; Moody and Sankey, sent by the
Lord, as when 'He sent them two and two to every place whither He Himself would
come.' ....What can our God do? My soul has begun to feel quickened, and the
days of 1839-40 and onwards come up to view. But there is more now than
then."
Again he prays for more personal holiness as the work increases, and
he writes on Sunday 15th March: "The work of God goes on among us in
this city. This morning, at nine o'clock, a gathering of three thousand young
men, and the lecture on Daniel was most memorable. In my own church, Mr. Moody
preached on the Second Advent." A few weeks later he writes, that there are
"fifty-four coming to the Lord's Table for the first time."
In the magazine
'Sunday at Home' of April 25th, there is an
interesting article about this time in Glasgow. It can be read here on a
separate page.
On Wednesday 22nd of April he receives his degree
(D.D.) at the University of Edinburgh.
1875
Again he hears of blessing on his writing:
"Cheered....by one of our men wishing to speak, awakened by my little book,
The Cup of Wrath." In July, he is in
London with Mr. Moody. "Immense crowds, wonderful sight, and more wonderful
impression......There is great talk about 'Higher Life', and much movement in
that direction, and, though there is error mingled, this may be the Lord's way
of answering the prayers which some of us have long sent up, asking more
holiness for the saints, in their life more likeness to Christ."
On
Sunday 11th July, at Camberwell Hall ".....not less than 9000 assembled,
morning, noon, and night. In the morning, before eight o'clock, I was summoned
away to preach to the overflow in the neighbouring church."
The most
memorable event to him is the 'Bible-Reading', with Mr. Moody and about 30
others, talking over the Bible, and ending with 'the Lord's Supper.'
On
14th October, he attends a Convention in the Kibble Palace (Glasgow),
with not less than 7,000 people present, and George Müller speaking on
'the power of the Spirit.'
1876
Days of
prayer and fasting are essential in his busy life: "I got last Saturday set
apart as a day of prayer; and I trace much of my help to that day." Every year
the months of March and October are the most difficult. In March he always
remembers the death of Robert Murray M'Cheyne, and in October the death of his
wife Isabella. On that day this year he writes: "Time for prayer and fasting.
Specially led back to the day of my great bereavement. My heart's desire is
that the sweetness of divine communion may to me be such that it will make all
other wants forgotten. Come near, Lord. Come very near."
1877
Alexander Somerville, a friend and one of
the members of the Exegetical Society (see 1831), gives his farewell lecture in
April in the Kibble Palace before leaving for Australia.
The
controversies in the Church about modern 'broad' theology are taking much of
his time and energy. In June he writes: "Our troubles with broad theology are
not over. I am compelled to read and take part in discussions about these
things, which to me are very wearisome and trying....my heart has been
distracted and worn out by most dangerous error in the Church at large and
within the bounds of our own presbytery."
On 20th June the
memorial-stone for the new church is laid.
In November he hears that
he has been nominated to the Moderatorship of the Free Church, despite his
objections. "...every letter that has come insists upon the call of God through
the Church to me. This is very trying to me : a real cross." In December
: "I have been constrained to let the brethren nominate me to that office after
all. How very strange are the Lord's doings!.....In all this I know my brethren
have respect, not to myself so much as to our family descent, and the work done
by those of our family on present and former occasions."
1878
Despite his apprehension, his
Moderatorship works out well, as he writes on June 4th : "Returned from
the assembly, where my closing address was received with great attention.
Indeed, there has been a singular calmness and solemnity in the meetings that
has made us say, 'The Lord has been among us.' What a load of care is lifted
off my mind to-night! my fear being more that I should not
prove a blessing to the church and people of God.....I think I have sought the
Lord's glory, not my own honour."
On 1st December the new church in Finnieston is used for the first time. Above the door is the inscription from Proverbs 11 in Hebrew.
It is also Andrew Bonar's text for the evening service, "...our
banner, I trust." These words were put there to remind people of the reason for
the existence of the church, and also in the hope that some Jews might see
them, and come in to worship the God of Abraham. In his sermon he reminds
people that 'winning souls' needs careful preparation, just as David carefully
chose 5 smooth stones before he met Goliath.
1879 (In December of this year
the Tay Railway Bridge collapses in heavy storms into the Firth of Tay at
Dundee, killing at least 75 people who were on the train.)
On
the 1st January he completes a revision of the Scots Worthies,"....that for a month has given me
considerable care. It took off my time for prayer, and yet it was for God's
glory, and the examples there often struck me to the heart."
In April he
revises the proofs of The Brook Besor, and
also finishes the editing of the Scots
Worthies. In June he writes: "My little book,The Brook Besor, has already been found
comforting to some of God's saints."
Every month he gives a lecture on
Prophecy, and feels that it is one of the things that seems to be the finishing
of his works.
1880
At the beginning of
this year he writes a leaflet on the terrible disaster at the Tay Bridge.
He is still battling with the problems in the church, and writes inMay
;"The most anxious time since the Disruption. From time to time my prayer
was fro the Church and General Assembly. I felt bitterly the state of things
among us, in regard to our young ministers especially. Prayed for the
outpouring of the Spirit, and the checking of the evil at this Assembly. For
Satan is trying to wile ministers and people away from the great, glorious
Gospel."
In August, he visits Iona, and records his impressions:
"Came here to the Communion : a memorable day. ..As we crossed the Sound on our
way to church, those in the boat sang hymns from time to time, going and
coming. I preached on Exodus 34:29. After the first table we gave place to the
Gaelic congregation, and took their place in the open air, on the spot where
the last of the Druids were buried. There were present a minister from the
English Presbyterian Church, an Episcopalian minister, an Established Church
minister, and a United Presbyterian minister."
There is also encouragement
:"One day alone here I found hid treasure in the words, 'The very hairs of your
head are all numbered.' All my family, all my classes, my texts, my writings,
my sermons, my trials and cares."
1881
A
new venture opens up in April: "Have been troubled by being pressed to
go to America for two months by Mr. Moody. My way is far from plain, however."
In May he writes: "Have decided to go to America, as being an opening
for preaching the Word such as I will never have again ; it is the Northfield
Conference."
A middle-aged man from Musselburgh tells him that he was
converted by Andrew Bonar's tract : The Near Way to
the City, one and a half years ago, and has not had a desire
for strong drink since that day.
On 7 July he sets off for America,
until 10 September. While he is in America he visits Northampton, "where
Jonathan Edwards laboured and was blessed, and where Brainerd also
prayed.....And it is most interesting as well as humbling to me also to find
how many ministers and students and others spoke about Robert M'Cheyne's Life as very useful to them."
On Wednesday 21 December his church has an evening of thanksgiving and
prayer for twenty-five years of work and blessing..."I tried to tell the story
of the past twenty-five years and was followed by several of the
office-bearers. There was much that was fitted to draw forth wonder and praise
; but little did some of them know, when speaking in praise of the minister,
how he saw in himself and in his work a shallowness and meagreness in every
grace that filled him with sorrow before God."
1882
In February Moody is visiting Glasgow,
and he writes: "Beyond question now another wave of blessing has come. Mr.
Moody's meetings are more than ever before full and overflowing. I hear of
several of our people touched and hopefully changed." In April : "The
two last evenings have been remarkable for Mr. Moody's meetings. Church
crowded. The impression is great, more in the form of 'thirst' than of alarm
and deep sense of sin. These are solemn times." In June he writes on the
same subject : "It seems to me plain that the Lord shows His sovereignty by
making that man a vessel through which the converting power of God may be
poured out on various classes of men. The drunkards have had their 'day of
visitation' and many others of the working men especially."
A special day
occurs on July 2nd : "In the evening baptized the Jew, Marcus Buck. I
bless God that I have had this privilege in my ministry before its close."
Although by now he is 72, he still preaches every week, even on holiday at
Craignure, in Mull. He tells this amusing story in a letter to his friend, the
minister James Manson:
'Yesterday, there being no English service here I
undertook to give it, and accordingly reached the spot (Lochdonhead), got into
the pulpit, and essayed to read the first psalm - but, ah me! I had forgot my
spectacles and my eye-glass too! What was to be done? I acted on the old
principle engrained into us in our study of the classics : "Tu
ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito." I therefore repeated the
psalm, and then descended from the pulpit to the seat where my four daughters
were sitting, piteously begging the use of Isabella's eye-glass. But, alas! it
gave me no help, and so after the prayer I repeated a few verses of a chapter
which I contrived to find out correctly, and found out my text by a sort of
instinct. It was all right now, for you know I do not use paper; otherwise,
what a fix! Have you ever had such an adventure in the pulpit?'
The two
things he longs for before his ministry ends, are: fervent zeal for the glory
of God in Christ, and tender compassion for souls. He also says: "I feel almost
alarmed now at my congregation, the number being about 1030."
1883
In April he concludes after a
Communion service: "Our numbers now are too large for one man, being to-day
1040.....Never felt more than now that earth's sources of comfort are 'cisterns
that can hold no water.'"
His brother Horatius is chosen as Moderator for
the Assembly this year.
In June he gives the closing lecture on
Prophecy, the last of forty. Six of them were delivered by others.
On
holiday in July he does not forget his church: "Tried to pray over the
list of all my people. As I did so, I got several discoveries of my negligence,
and of the great want of the power and presence of the Holy Ghost with
me in my visiting."
1884
One of the
entries that reveals his humility is in his diary in March: "Have been
more and more led to be unwilling to speak of work done by myself or my
congregation.....Matthew 18:4 lately made a great impression upon me. It shows
so clearly that our great doings are the little things which not a
creature knows but Christ, which we have done heartily because it was to
Him, in some of His people or such like."
He also, as every year, marks the
anniversary of M'Cheyne's death: "A day of many memories. Friends in glory; and
some of us spared wonderfully. I have been noticing, among my many mercies in
contrast to several of my brethren, that I have been 'kept in secret from the
strife of tongues.'"
He also remembers his other bereavement: "Led back in
my experience to the days when Isabella was taken from me. At that time how
dreary, how truly empty, everything seemed on the side of earth. A constant
want was what I felt at home and in every corner. But yet the Lord has led me
on, and has quietly taken the place of all, by His own blessed presence and
fellowship."
1885
In September he
gets the last proof of his Memoir of James
Scott, and prays that the Lord may use it much.
His
brother-in-law David Dickson, dies suddenly in December: "...it is blessed to
be able to say, I know Him who has the keys of death! "
1886
1 January: "'So much the more as
ye see the day approaching' has increasing significance. Every effort more
earnest; prayer and praise more intensely an outpouring of the heart; love more
really a flame."
He feels at times that he is not now so useful, but then
he is encouraged again: "When I was very much inclined to fear that the Lord
had set me aside, a little girl came with a message. After settling the
message, I asked her if she knew Christ. She said 'Yes,' and then told me it
was one forenoon when I was at Maryhill Industrial School and said a few words
to the young people."
In November he is in Dundee, for the
celebration of the jubilee of St.Peter's: "The church was crowded in every
corner, .....As for myself, the Lord gave me unusual liberty and calmness and
enjoyment; even my voice seemed to have got back its early power."
1887
To his sadness things are changing in the
church in the name of 'progress': "The giving up of Fast-Days is another sign
of the times; and then, also, it necessarily breaks off a good deal of
ministerial fellowship, such as used to be at these seasons. No more preaching
on Fast evenings to children in Edinburgh, no more in Greenock; then, also, no
more going to assist Dr. Laughton in Greenock, he being laid aside; and Horace
no more able to come and assist us here at our Communion. 'The sands of time
are sinking.' Each of these changes is a particle of sand falling out of
sight......Many things have made earth to me more than ever a wilderness or a
land of broken cisterns. But the Lord Jesus is more than ever a full heaven to
me."
On his 77th birthday he writes: "Lord, give me the heart for service,
make me Asaph as well as Epaphras. But I have been taking a
solemn view of the Sabbaths of my life. Leaving out seven years, and beginning
where I might be fully expected to make right use of God's holy day, there have
been in my seventy years no less than 3640 Sabbaths! What use have I made of
these at all adequate to the privilege? It is a most solemnizing, almost an
appalling question. Through that time I have enjoyed about ten years of
Sabbaths!!"
July is his usual holiday, and he has been meditating on
the Lord's sovereignty: "Election seems to me a most blessed truth this day,
for therein I discover how I may cast off every lurking idea of my unfitness
standing in the way of infinite fulness being mine.....So, also, I find it good
to connect this wisdom with all the little events of daily life; out of these
the Lord brings such grand results from time to time. This is the only Sabbath
for many years in which I have been quite silent, not preaching even once!"
Every day on holiday he keeps a special hour of prayer for the outpouring of
the Spirit on the congregation and district, and all the churches in the city.
He writes: "My fasting here has been chiefly giving up all else in order to
pray. One good token is found in this, viz., my dreams of late have been full
of comforting thoughts."
Friday 14th October: " Memorable to me as
the anniversary of my beloved Isabella's sudden departure to be with Christ.
And now my son's son, a child of three days old, has been taken from them.
Broken cisterns, broken cisterns all around; but the fountain remains
full."
1888
In April his brother
Horatius has his Jubilee: "Everyone testified to the hymns which the Master had
given him for the Church." In May, he is "much struck with all Mr.
Spurgeon is passing through, because of his faithful testimony for the
truth."
On Wednesday 22 August he hears "of a Brahmin getting light
and helped into Christ by reading my book, The Gospel
pointing to the Person of Christ, and now that little book is to be
translated into the native language."
His own Jubilee is celebrated on
29 November, and he writes: "May the Lord save me from the danger that
lurks under praise and laudation of friends. I had no idea that I had so many
friends in various parts, and that the Lord had been pleased to use me in so
many ways." At the end of the year, after the church anniversary, he returns
home and feels deep and bitter regret at the thought of the past. "I think I
felt what is meant by 'being ashamed before God,' as Ezra expresses it....I
have been thinking to-night that perhaps my next great undertaking may be this,
'appearing at the Judgment-seat of Christ,' when I give an account of my
trading with my talents. I wish to hide in the shadow of the Plant of Renown,
and be found there when the voice says, 'Where art thou?'"
1889
In May the general assembly of the Church
remembers that the deputation to the Holy Land was fifty years ago. Andrew
Bonar is requested to tell reminiscences, and "Dr. Adolph Saphir spoke most
profitably. I am the only survivor of the deputation, and very few of those
that took much interest in the Jews at that time, are now alive. But how
wonderfully the Lord has blessed this work!"
Horatius Bonar dies in
July. On Wednesday 31st the diary entry reads: "Certainly I have
been expecting it; but, when the reality comes, there is something of awe in
it; the gates of the unseen have opened to take him in."
A few days later:
"When Horace entered heaven, and was led to his place by the Elder Brother,
what a moment! 'Denique Coelum!' (Family motto) And soon he looks round,
and there, father, mother, sisters, brothers! And then beloved companions who
went before, M'Cheyne, John Milne, William Burns, Dr. Chalmers, James Hamilton,
and hundreds of such!"
Monday, 14th October - "Got great joy when
reading Proverbs 23:16, as the word of the greater than Solomon addressed to us
preaching His Gospel: 'My son, my reins shall rejoice when thy lips speak right
things.' Christ listening to our sermons!"
1890
1st January - "More carefully than ever
I hope this year to give two hours before going out every day, to meditate on
the Word, and prayer. And in this way there shall go out of me
heavenward 'rivers of living water' that will bring down refreshing
rain-showers." March 2nd - "My last visit to Crossford. preached funeral
sermons. What memories! How fast the Lord seems to be breaking up our circle of
friends! I preached in the morning upon Aaron's death on Mount Hor, and in the
evening upon 'Abraham's bosom.'"
Friday, 30th May - Yesterday I finished my
eighty years! I have to-day begun my eighty-first. O that like Moses this new
period of my life may be full of the Lord's interviews with me! and perhaps
some more blessing to the Church through me, just because I am 'the worm'.
Wondrous grace thus to spare me! Increasingly solemn to know how near I am
advancing to Eternity."
Although he is now eigthy, he still preaches
full-time, and even preaches and works in London, Mildmay and Greenwich for
eight days. At an annual congregational meeting he says: "Some of you don't
hear me very well now. I think there may be something that may be a sermon to
you even in the sight of an old minister who has for over fifty years
been preaching the Gospel, and has found it perfectly satisfying, and
has no desire to change it. If an angel from heaven were to tell him another
way would be better, he would say, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.'"
1891
On June 11th Mr. David M. M'Intyre is
chosen as his colleague, to help him in his growing congregation (more than
1050).
His brother John dies in July, and he writes: "I am now the only one
left of our family. My father, mother, sisters (4) and brothers (6), all gone
before me. I hope to meet them all in the kingdom, but meanwhile it is very
solemnizing to be left thus alone." He often spoke about the way he wished to
die: "I shall preach on Sabbath, take the Prayer-Meeting on Wednesday, and on
Thursday night people will be going about saying, 'Do you know that Dr. Bonar
is dead?' There is still encouragement: Friday, 21st August - "Was gladdened
to-day by finding that Mr. M'Intyre had been led into fulness of the Gospel by
me preaching. And God is giving me many encouraging tokens. A young woman, who
had not been in church for some weeks, has been awakened by a text. Was not
this in answer to the prayers we have been sending up for the Spirit to work
among the people here?" Sept. 25th - "Last night the Induction services. Mr.
M'Intyre is now among us, all settled happily. It was this week fifty-two years
ago that I was set apart for the ministry in Collace, and now I have arrived at
a new stage of my journey, the last stage of it. O what a comfort to me that,
if I be soon called away, my successor will be a man of God, most earnest to do
faithfully the whole work of the ministry, and holding fast the old truth, the
everlasting Gospel. Many prayers have been answered, and many more prayers are
going up, here and elsewhere, for me and my beloved people. Lord, hear!
Yesterday and to-day I have had some glimpses within the veil, as if to prepare
me more for what may now soon come. It is very solemn to find myself near the
threshold of Eternity, my ministry nearly done, and my long life coming to its
close. Never was Christ to me more precious than He is now."
1892
Thursday 21st January - "Yesterday was
memorable; we had a remarkable meeting with Moody and Sankey at Edinburgh, and
a day of prayer for the Holy Spirit. We were seeking that, like Isaiah 6,
ministers especially, but also all God's people, might be visited by the
outpouring of the Spirit."
March 10th - Considerable movement, under Moody
and M'Neill. we find also in our congregation, in our district, souls saved.
The meeting to-day has been remarkable: especially the evening one, when 4000
persons filled the place, and all seemed so attentive. 'Awake, awake, O arm of
the Lord' is our cry. It was a most fascinating sight, that great multitude of
people so eagerly listening to the Word. This is the third great wave of
revival in my life."
He was always praying for the unsaved, and the
following entry shows his heart:
Wednesday 3rd August: "That verse in
Romans 8.26 may well afford us great joy, for it tells that, apart from our
direct prayers, the yearning we feel toward the unsaved, and the sorrow we
carry about with us even when engaged in other things, are understood by the
Holy Spirit, who stirs up our heart in these 'groanings that cannot be
uttered,' and Christ takes them up to his Father as strong cries and
prayers."
His last diary entry is: Tuesday 6th December: "I find that just
at the hour when I was deeply exercised in prayer on Sabbath night, Mr.
M'Intyre felt a remarkable impression in the Mission Hall, though he was not
speaking anything but the plain truths of salvation." That same evening he
wrote a letter to him: "I am keeping home to-night, but am with you in
spirit.....When at home last sabbath evening I felt for about an hour an
unusual weight on my mind that led me to special prayer for the Spirit's
working. I trust these are tokens of the Lord's presence among us - "a movement
in the top of the mulberry trees...."" On Sabbath, 25th December, he preached,
did his usual afternoon visiting during the next days, and was present at the
Wednesday prayermeeting. The next day he was ill, and on Saturday-evening, the
31st, he called his family together for family worship beside his bed. At the
end of the evening he quietly fell asleep, to be with the Lord whom he loved so
much.
Article from The Scotsman, 31st
December 1892, announcing his death.
HTML transcription files copyright © 2001-2006. Jane Newble
Literature | Sermons & Articles | Letters| Theology | Jewish Interest | Links
Updated 26 January 2006