Robert Murray McCheyne was a minister in the Church of Scotland in the early 1800’s. Born in 1813, and licensed to preach in 1835 his ministry though short had great impact, and his writings are treasured by many of the Christian faith. McCheyne died in 1843 at the young age of twenty-nine.
My library includes a copy of a reprint of an anthology of McCheyne’s writings distilled from a lengthy biography composed by Andrew A. Bonar, a contemporary of McCheyne’s. Moody Bible Institute of Chicago published the anthology in 1947 and reprinted it in 1978. My volume, which I acquired from a discount book listing, has gathered dust on my shelf for years. I am saddened to admit I had never read its pages. Until this year. What a journey through the life and heart of a man who dedicated his life to God’s work!
What follows are some of the memorable quotes I’ve taken from McCheyne to share so that you, too, might catch the flavor and depth of his writing, preaching, and teaching.
Thoughts on God’s purposes for our lives…
How many purposes God has in view of which we know nothing! Perhaps we do not see the hundredth part of his intentions towards us…[1]
Personal motivation in serving…
I need to be made willing to be forgotten. [2]
The sharpening process of adversity…
Ministers are God’s tools for building up the gospel temple. Now you know well that every wise workmen takes his tools away from the work from time to time, that they may be ground and sharpened; so does the only-wise Jehovah take His ministers oftentimes away into darkness and loneliness and trouble, that He may sharpen and prepare them for the harder work in His service. [3]
The necessity of growth…
The only way to be kept from falling is to grow. If you stand still, you will fall. Read Proverbs 11:28, “The righteous shall flourish as a branch.” Remember you are not a tree, that can stand alone; you are only “a branch,” and it is only while you abide in Him, as a branch that you will flourish.[4]
Satan’s activity…
I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan also is busiest. [5]
Protection against evil…
Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the Holy Spirit fill every chamber of your heart; and so there will be no room for folly, or the world, or Satan, or the flesh. [6]
McCheyne’s thoughts on Sunday school teachers…
You cannot tell what a sweet comfort it is to me, when I am so far distant from my flock, to know that you are in the midst of the lambs, speaking to God for them, and speaking to them for God. I think my God without ceasing for your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope.[7]
The opinions of others…
Never mind what man thinks of you… It is not what man thinks of us that will cover us on the judgment day. [8]
Attitude in worship…
Let us, like Mary, “do what we can,” and no doubt God will bless it, and reward as openly.[9]
Finding peace and comfort in Jesus…
You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then He is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation, a rock rising above the storm. The Bible, too, is more full of meaning. [10]
Discernment…
You will be tempted to find peace in the world, in self-repentance, in self-reformation. Remember, choose you a tree that will yield fruit as well a shade. “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.: Pray for a choosing faith. Pray for an eye to discern the apple tree.[11]
Temptation should drive us to Jesus…
Ah! Believers, you are a tempted people. You are always poor and needy. And God intends it should be so, to give you constant errands to go to Jesus.[12]
The meaning of “take up your cross daily”…
As a dying man on the cross grows weaker and weaker every moment, while his heart’s blood trickles from the deep gashes in his hands and feet, so the world, that was once his all, began to lose every moment its attractive power. He tasted so much sweetness in Christ, in pardon, access to God, the smile of God, the indwelling Spirit, that the world became every day a more tasteless world him. [13]
The best appetite to whet…
…when your soul feeds on Jesus, it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things…[14]
Our purpose as believers…
The engrafting of the branch is good, the inflowing of the sap good, but the fruit is the end in view. So faith is good, and peace and joy are good, but holy fruit is the end for which we are saved.[15]
One reason God gave us the written Bible…
Whatever is written down is more durable, and less liable to be corrupted, than that which is only spoken from mouth to mouth.[16]
The meaning of brokenhearted…
The brokenhearted are those who have lost all hope of saving themselves by their own righteousness.[17]
Death…
Death is very certain, but the timing is very uncertain.[18]
Standing firm in the faith…
Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependents upon self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy seat, if we are to stand in the evil day.[19]
[1] Andrew A. Bonar. Memoirs of McCheyne. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute. 1978. 8.
[2] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 9.
[3] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 15.
[4] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 48.
[5] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 85.
[6] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 110.
[7] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 110.
[8] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 121.
[9] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 135.
[10] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 155.
[11] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 182.
[12] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 234.
[13] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 264.
[14] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 266.
[15] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 293.
[16] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 354.
[17] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 375.
[18] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 382.
[19] Bonar, Memoirs of McCheyne, 411.
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