Horatius Bonar (1808 - 1889)

Read freely text sermons and articles by the speaker Horatius Bonar in text and pdf format. Bonar has been called the prince of Scottish hymn writers. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he was ordained in 1838, and became pastor of the North Parish, Kelso. He joined the Free Church of Scotland after the Disruption of 1843, and for a while edited the churchs The Border Watch. Bonar remained in Kelso for 28 years, after which he moved to the Chalmers Memorial church in Edinburgh, where he served the rest of his life. Bonar wrote more than 600 hymns.

He was a voluminous and highly popular author. He also served as the editor for "The Quarterly journal of Prophecy" from 1848 to 1873 and for the "Christian Treasury" from 1859 to 1879. In addition to many books and tracts wrote a number of hymns, many of which, e.g., "I heard the voice of Jesus say" and "Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power," became known all over the English-speaking world. A selection of these was published as Hymns of Faith and Hope (3 series). His last volume of poetry was My Old Letters. Bonar was also author of several biographies of ministers he had known, including "The Life of the Rev. John Milne of Perth" in 1869, - and in 1884 "The Life and Works of the Rev. G. T. Dodds", who had been married to Bonar's daughter and who had died in 1882 while serving as a missionary in France.

showing from 51 to 100 of 208 articles

Looking to the Pierced One.
      "They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. Zech. 12:10 Let us take up this passage under the following heads, which will bring out all its pa ... read more

Love Not The World
      Love Not The World.Why? Because the gain of it is the loss of the soul.Matthew 16:25. Because its friendship is enmity to God.James 4:4. Because it did not know Christ.John 1:10; 17:25. Because it hates Christ.John 7:7; 15:18. Because the Holy ... read more

Man's Dislike And Dread Of Christ
      "And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts." Matthew 8:34. I scarcely know a verse of Scripture where there is such a melancholy contrast between the begi ... read more

Man's Dislike of a Present God.
      "They say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways." Job 21:14 Yet they say to God, "Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways." Job 21:14 The men who speak thus are not atheists. They do not say there is ... read more

Man's Fig-Leaves.
      "They sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons." Genesis 3:7 They are alone, yet they are ashamed. They are in Paradise, yet they are ashamed. It is conscience that is making them blush. It not only makes cowards of them, but it works s ... read more

Man's Misconceptions of the Works of God.
      "By them he judges the people." Job 36:31 "By his mighty acts he governs the people." Job 36:31 This verse suggests Acts 14:17, "He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filli ... read more

MAN'S OWN CHARACTER NO GROUND OF PEACE
      If God testify against us, who can testify for us? If God's opinion of man's sinfulness, his judgment of man's guilt, and his declaration of sin's evil be so very decided, there can be no hope of acquittal for us on the ground of personal character of goo ... read more

Man's Ways And God's Ways
      "And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give y ... read more

Ministerial Confessions
      We have been carnal and unspiritual. The tone of our life has been low and earthly. Associating too much and too intimately with the world, we have in a great measure become accustomed to its ways. Hence our spiritual tastes have been vitiated, our consci ... read more

Modern Hostility to Revivals
      The world has condemned "revivals"-not the name merely, but the thing. It speaks out privately, both in conversation and in letters. It speaks out publicly in its newspapers and literary journals. Though some of its organs have been silent, though others ... read more

Nineveh And Her Testimony
      "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."Matthew 12:41. It is sometimes good to compare the present with the pa ... read more

No Breath No Life.
      "And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them." Ezekiel 37:8 "Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, ... read more

On Bible Study and Book Reading
      On Bible Study Do not skim it or read it, but study it, every word of it; study the whole Bible, Old Testament and New; not your favourite chapters merely, but the complete Word of God from beginning to end. Do not trouble yourself with commentators; t ... read more

Onward to Battle
      It is to battle that we are summoned the moment that we believe. All at once we are translated, not to paradise, but to a battlefield, and there placed face to face with our hellish foes. Fight the good fight of faith, is the war note with which our Cap ... read more

OPEN INTERCOURSE WITH GOD.
      It does not seem a strange thing that the creature and the Creator should meet face to face, and that they should hold intercourse without any obstructing medium. We may not understand the mode of communication between the visible and the invisi ... read more

Quit You Like Men!
      Quit you like men.Be men! In courage; not cowards, turning our back on the foe, or giving way in danger, or reproach, or evil days. In solidity; not shifting or shadowy, but immoveable as the rock. In strength. As the man is, so is his strength. Be stron ... read more

Religion Without The Holy Ghost
      "They took no oil with them."Matthew 25.3 This parable has many sides and aspects. It is prophetical; it is also practical. It suits all ages, but especially the last days. It suits the world, but specially the church of God; "if the righteous scarc ... read more

Rev 12:10. The Heavenly Song of Victory
      "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christfor the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night."Revelation 12:10. This is a song of heavenof that heaven from w ... read more

Rev 12:11. The Blood of the Covenant
      "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb."Revelation 12:11. "Behold, the blood of the covenant."Exodus 24:8. All through Scripture we find traces of the blood. 'You shall bruise His heel' was the first reference to it. The bruised heel of the w ... read more

Rev. 11:8. The Cross of the Lord Jesus
      "Where also our Lord was crucified."Revelation 11:8. "The cross of Christ!"1 Corinthians 1:17. "The preaching of the cross."1 Corinthians 1:18. "Where also our Lord was crucified." The first of these passages strikingly identifies the Master a ... read more

Rev. 12:6. Strangership and Pilgrimage
      "The woman fled into the wilderness!"Revelation 12:6. "Stranger and pilgrims."1 Peter 2:2. "They took their journey from Elim."Exodus 16:1. The woman fled into the wilderness! Well would it have been with her had she continued there. But she c ... read more

Rev. 14:3. The Church Dwelling Alone
      "Redeemed from the earth."Revelation 14:3. "Redeemed from among men."Revelation 14:4. "The people shall dwell alone."Numbers 23:9. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."2 ... read more

Rev. 14:4. The Model of a Holy Life
      "These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes."Revelation 14:4. "Follow me!"John 11:22. "Leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps."2 Peter 2:21. "I Paul myself beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ."2 Cor ... read more

Rev. 14:6. The Everlasting Gospel
      "Having the everlasting gospel to preach unto those who dwell on the earth."Revelation 14:6. This worldwide proclamation of the glad message has been going on for ages. It is to be wider, and louder, and more urgent as the end draws near. The gospel i ... read more

Rev. 16:15. The Swift and Sudden Advent
      "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."Revelation 16:15. These are words specially for the last days. They suite all times, no doubtfor Christ ... read more

Rev. 19:10. The Great Prophetic Theme
      "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."Revelation 19:10. The meaning of this passage may be given in the two following propositions(1) The theme of prophecy is Jesus. (2) The Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets bears testimony in them t ... read more

Rev. 19:10. The One Witness and the One Testimony
      "The testimony of Jesus."Revelation 19:10 "He who testifies these things saysSurely I come quickly."Revelation 22:20. John was overpowered with glory. It was but the glory of an angel, and the words were the words of an angel; but the glory and t ... read more

Rev. 19:12. Messiah's Many Crowns
      "On His head were many crowns."Revelation 19:12. God's great eternal purpose was to rule this world by a mannot directly by Himself, but mediately by a man, such as he whose creation is recorded in Genesis; not by an angel or mere spiritual creature, ... read more

Rev. 1:1-3. The Book of the Last Days
      "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant Johnwho bore record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus C ... read more

Rev. 1:12. The Seven Golden Lamps
      "And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And, being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks." Revelation 1:12. John hears a voicea great voice, a voice like a trumpetbehind him, not above, nor before. Dwelling, if tradition be correct, in ... read more

Rev. 1:13-16. The Glory of the Son Of Man
      "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden belt. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame o ... read more

Rev. 1:17-18. Fear and Its Remedy
      "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am He who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amenand have the keys of hell and of death. ... read more

Rev. 1:19-20. The Symbolic Sevens
      "Write the things which you have SEEN, and the things which ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks is thisthe seven stars are the angels of the seven ... read more

Rev. 1:4-5. The Grace and Peace of the Three-One God
      The Grace And Peace Of The Three-One God "John to the seven churches which are in AsiaGrace be unto you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is t ... read more

Rev. 1:5-6. The Chief Among Ten Thousand
      "Unto Him who loves us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen."Revelation 1:5-6 Suddenly and abruptly does this doxology break in. T ... read more

Rev. 1:8. The Fullness of the God-Man
      "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8. Here the voice of the Son of God breaks in and interrupts the utterance of the apostle. John had been speaking ... read more

Rev. 1:9-11. The Voice from Patmos to the Churches
      I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard ... read more

Rev. 20:11-15. The Great White Throne
      "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is ... read more

Rev. 20:14. Death and the Grave
      "And death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."Revelation 20:14. It is of His two chief enemies that God here speaks'death and the grave,' or 'place of the dead' (Hades)for such, and not hell, ought to be the ren ... read more

Rev. 20:6. The First Resurrection
      "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrectionon such the second death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."Revelation 20:6. Resurrection is our hopenot death. It ha ... read more

Rev. 21:1. The Vision of the Restitution of All Things
      "And I saw a new heaven and a new earthfor the first heaven and the first earth were passed awayand there was no more sea."Revelation 21:1. Of these two last glorious chapters, we could say, 'You have kept the good wine until now!' They take us into ... read more

Rev. 21:10. The Holy City
      "That great citythe holy Jerusalem."Revelation 21:10. This city is not earthly, but heavenly, and is among the heavenly things said by the apostle to be purified by the 'better sacrifices' (Hebrews 4:23). Why did such a city need 'purifying?' Not bec ... read more

Rev. 21:23. The Light of the New Jerusalem
      "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."Revelation 21:23. It is the 'new Jerusalem' that these words are written; the city of glory and blessing; ... read more

Rev. 21:3. God's Tabernacle on Earth
      "And I heard a great voice out of heaven sayingBehold! the tabernacle of God is with menand he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."Revelation 21:3. The voice that uttered these wo ... read more

Rev. 21:4. Coming of the PerfectDeparture of the Imperfect
      "The former things are passed away."Revelation 21:4. 'The things which are seen are temporal,' says the Apostle Paul; and again he says, 'Old things are passed away;' and again, 'The fashion of this world is passing away.' These are words that suit us ... read more

Rev. 21:5. The New Things of God
      And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for these words are true and faithful."Revelation 21:5. There are many 'new things' spoken of in Scripture, some of more, and some of ... read more

Rev. 21:6-8. The Conqueror's Reward, and the Coward's Doom
      "And He said unto meIt is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the endI will give unto him who is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He who overcomes shall inherit all thingsand I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But ... read more

Rev. 21:9. The Glorious Bride
      "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."Revelation 21:9. These are two names for the church of God, th ... read more

Rev. 22:1. The Life River
      "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."Revelation 22:1. In the first Paradise, and in connection with the first creation, we find a river'a river went out of Eden to wat ... read more

Rev. 22:14. Entrance into the City
      "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."Revelation 22:14. The last three chapters of Revelation correspond with the first three of Genesis. Creationan ... read more

< Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Next >

All sermons are offered freely and all contents of the site
where applicable is committed to the public domain for the
free spread of the gospel.