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Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar (1808 - 1889). Scottish Presbyterian minister, poet, and hymn-writer born in Edinburgh to a ministerial family. Educated at Edinburgh University, he was ordained in 1837, serving Kelso’s North Church for 30 years. Joining the Free Church of Scotland during the 1843 Disruption, he later pastored Chalmers Memorial Church in Edinburgh (1866-1889). Bonar wrote over 600 hymns, including “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” and authored books like The Everlasting Righteousness (1873), emphasizing justification by faith. A prolific evangelist, he edited The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy and published tracts reaching millions. Married to Jane Lundie in 1843, they had nine children, five surviving infancy. His devotional works, blending Calvinism and warmth, influenced global Christianity. Bonar’s hymns remain sung in churches worldwide, and his writings, notably God’s Way of Peace, endure in reprints. His poetic style enriched Victorian spirituality, inspiring figures like Charles Spurgeon. Despite personal losses, he preached hope and Christ’s return until his final years.
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Horatius Bonar emphasizes the dangers of loving the world, warning that its gain leads to the loss of the soul and that friendship with the world is enmity against God. He highlights that the world does not recognize or love Christ, and that believers are called to be separate from it, as it is ruled by Satan and filled with wickedness. Bonar urges Christians to focus on eternal treasures rather than the fleeting pleasures of this world, reminding them that their true home lies in the kingdom to come.
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 Spirit has forbidden us.—1 John 2:15. Because Christ did not pray for it.—John 17:9. Because Christ’s people do not belong to it.—John 17:16. Because it will not receive the Spirit.—John 14:27. Because its Prince is Satan.—John 13:31; 16:11. Because Christ’s kingdom is not of it.—John 18:36. Because its wisdom is foolishness.—1 Corinthians 1:20. Because its wisdom is ignorance.—1 Corinthians 1:21. Because Christ does not belong to it.—John 8:23. Because it is condemned.—1 Corinthians 11:32. Because the fashion of it passeth away.—1 Corinthians 7:31 . Because it slew Christ.—James 5:6; Matthew 21:39. Because it is crucified to us.—Galatians 6:14. Because we are crucified to it.—Galatians 6:14. Because it is the seat of wickedness.—2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:19. Because its God is the evil one.—2 Corinthians 4:4. ‘Love not the world! It cannot be your home, Thy fatherland must be the world to come; There lay up treasures for eternity; And where thy treasure is thy heart shall be.’ —H.B.
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Horatius Bonar (1808 - 1889). Scottish Presbyterian minister, poet, and hymn-writer born in Edinburgh to a ministerial family. Educated at Edinburgh University, he was ordained in 1837, serving Kelso’s North Church for 30 years. Joining the Free Church of Scotland during the 1843 Disruption, he later pastored Chalmers Memorial Church in Edinburgh (1866-1889). Bonar wrote over 600 hymns, including “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” and authored books like The Everlasting Righteousness (1873), emphasizing justification by faith. A prolific evangelist, he edited The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy and published tracts reaching millions. Married to Jane Lundie in 1843, they had nine children, five surviving infancy. His devotional works, blending Calvinism and warmth, influenced global Christianity. Bonar’s hymns remain sung in churches worldwide, and his writings, notably God’s Way of Peace, endure in reprints. His poetic style enriched Victorian spirituality, inspiring figures like Charles Spurgeon. Despite personal losses, he preached hope and Christ’s return until his final years.