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Robert Murray M'Cheyne

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This short biography will stir up Christians who read it to make the most of their short time here on earth. M'Cheyne's time was indeed short. Only 30 years. But he did more in that time than most do in three score plus ten. M'Cheyne's take on a scheduled reading of scripture is excellent.

This schedule can be found in D.A. Carson's "For the Love of God". Highly recommended. Also recommended is other books by Andrew Bonar and his brother Horatius.

We're blessed with many good contemporary theologians and authors. They apply the truth to the world we live in today in a way that no other generation of writers can. But there is something different about the writings of yesterday--something special. They take us into sacred places and draw our hearts to Christ in an unusually powerful way.

One of my favorites of the old classics is Andrew Bonar's biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne. M'Cheyne was, like Whitefield and Spurgeon, one of the great Calvinist evangelists. "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."

Whether at home in Scotland or in the deserts of Palestine where he traveled to evangelize the Jews, M'Cheyne's passion was to preach the gospel. He loved sinners and was burdened to see them saved. And he served them tirelessly: "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....When an opportunity of evangelizing occurred, there was none in Scotland more ready to embrace it."

The Holy Spirit blessed M'Cheyne's efforts. Hundreds were brought to Christ under his short ministry (M'Cheyne died when he was 29). He explained and applied the Scriptures clearly and powerfully, but he had something else that many lack: "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."

Andrew Bonar, the author of this biography, was a fellow minister and close friend of M'Cheyne. He published his biography in 1844, just one year after his friend's death. Banner of Truth published their first edition in 1960, and it has been reprinted several times since. Besides the introduction, there are six chapters representing six phases in M'Cheyne's life: "His youth and preparation for the ministry," "His labours in the vineyard before ordination," "First years of labour in Dundee," "His mission to Palestine and the Jews," "Days of revival," and "The latter days of his ministry."

Throughout the chapters, Bonar allows M'Cheyne to speak for himself with journal entries and letters to friends and family. Several of M'Cheyne's poems and hymns are also included. All of M'Cheyne's words are beautifully written, and they show the great desire of his heart: "Lord, wean me from my sins, from my cares, and from this passing world. May Christ be all in all to me." Regarding the larger volume of M'Cheyne's memoirs, Spurgeon said, "This is one of the best and most profitable volumes ever published. Every minister should read it often." The same is true of this book. Pick it up, read it, and walk with one of the giants of our faith. You'll be blessed and encouraged for doing so.

What produces such rugged, faithful, uncompromising men of God? In our frivolous time, that is the question I kept asking myself while reading this extraordinary account of an amazing young man. M'Cheyne did more in his short life than most men would ever dream of doing in a lifetime. Yet he did it struggling through terrible illness and opposition. It ranks right up there with Booker T. Washington's "Up From Slavery" on my all time great inspirational reads. Highly recommended.

I don't read enough biographies, but when I do, I walk away thinking that I should read more of them. Christian biographies are especially important, as they show what a life lived for Christ looks like. Robert Murray M' Cheyne by Andrew Bonar is no exception.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne was a Scottish preacher born in 1813. After pursuing classical and religious studies in the university, he came to Christ following the death of his older brother David. David provided a godly example to his little brother, and God used that loss to lead Robert to Himself. He then became a passionate preacher, evangelist, hymnist, writer, and missionary during his short life. M'Cheyne died in 1843 at the age of twenty-nine. Twenty-nine! I am ashamed to see the dearth of godly pursuits evidenced in the first twenty-nine years of my life.

Robert Murray M' Cheyne was written by his close friend Andrew Bonar a mere six months after Robert died. The book includes many of his journal entries reflecting on his ministry.

The strongest part of this biograpghy is the longer fragment from M'Cheyne's writing titled, "Personal Reformation." Much like Jonathan Edwards's "Resolutions," "Personal Reformation" sheds light on the heart of this man, one who aches to be close to his God. There was much in this book--but especially in these last ten pages--that were of great comfort to me.

"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."

"I ought to study Christ as an Intercessor...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."

"Live so as to be missed."

This biography is a picture of a man who strived to live this way. What legacy do you want to leave in your 29, or 39, or 49, of 89 years on this earth?

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