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Andrew Bonar
Andrew Alexander Bonar (1810–1892). Born on May 29, 1810, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Andrew Bonar was the youngest of seven brothers, including hymn-writer Horatius, in a devout Presbyterian family. Orphaned by his father at seven, he struggled with faith until finding assurance at 20 through William Guthrie’s Saving Interest of Christ. He studied divinity at Edinburgh University, was licensed to preach in 1835, and ordained in 1838 at Collace, Perthshire, serving 18 years. A friend of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, he co-wrote a mission report on Palestine’s Jews in 1839 and authored M’Cheyne’s memoir, a lasting Christian work. Joining the Free Church of Scotland after the 1843 Disruption, he preached in a tent until a church was built, fostering revival during the 1839–1840 Kilsyth movement. In 1856, he became minister at Finnieston Free Church, Glasgow, until his death on December 30, 1892. Married to Isabella Dickson in 1848, he was widowed in 1864 after having six children. Known for expository preaching and fervent prayer, Bonar’s ministry bore a guiding principle from Proverbs 11:30, as he wrote in his diary, “He that winneth souls is wise.”
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Sermon Summary
Andrew Bonar writes a heartfelt letter to Walter, encouraging him to nurture his soul by recognizing God's presence in every aspect of life. He emphasizes the importance of remaining in God's love through obedience and keeping close to the Cross, which serves as a constant reminder of God's grace. Bonar reassures that even in busy times, such as studying or working, one can maintain a joyful heart by fulfilling their duties as acts of love towards God. He concludes with a prayer for peace, reminding Walter that God is always with him.
Scriptures
Letters: A Schoolboy in London (1)
GLASGOW, 20 INDIA STREET, 21st October 1873. MY DEAR WALTER, —I wonder how your soul prospers? You know we can go on busily with work, and all the more busily, when enjoying the sunshine round us—it makes all so cheerful. It is even thus with us in our souls when realising the presence of God in Christ, when we know that He is 'beholding us with a pleasant countenance' (Ps. 11:7, the metre version), whether we are sitting in the house, or walking by the way, or studying a lesson, or writing a letter. 'Continue ye in My love '(John xv. 9); 'Keep yourselves in the love of God' (Jude 21). And if you say 'How am I to keep myself in His love?' the answer is, by keeping near the Cross, never suffering anything to intercept the view of that glorious, gracious, infinitely great manifestation of God's holy love to sinners. And again, it is said in John 15:10, 'If ye keep My commandments ye shall abide in My love.' The Holy Spirit will assuredly keep you in that sunshine if you are in the path of duty, though you may not be directly meditating on divine things. When you are giving diligence to get on in study, and are very busy writing exercises or the like, this is 'keeping His commandments' if done as part of duty, and so you go on from hour to hour of your work with a light and happy heart, 'continuing in His love.' 'May the God of peace give you peace always by all means.' dia pantos en panti tropoi (2 Thess.3: 16). —Yours truly in the Lord, ANDREW A. BONAR.
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Andrew Alexander Bonar (1810–1892). Born on May 29, 1810, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Andrew Bonar was the youngest of seven brothers, including hymn-writer Horatius, in a devout Presbyterian family. Orphaned by his father at seven, he struggled with faith until finding assurance at 20 through William Guthrie’s Saving Interest of Christ. He studied divinity at Edinburgh University, was licensed to preach in 1835, and ordained in 1838 at Collace, Perthshire, serving 18 years. A friend of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, he co-wrote a mission report on Palestine’s Jews in 1839 and authored M’Cheyne’s memoir, a lasting Christian work. Joining the Free Church of Scotland after the 1843 Disruption, he preached in a tent until a church was built, fostering revival during the 1839–1840 Kilsyth movement. In 1856, he became minister at Finnieston Free Church, Glasgow, until his death on December 30, 1892. Married to Isabella Dickson in 1848, he was widowed in 1864 after having six children. Known for expository preaching and fervent prayer, Bonar’s ministry bore a guiding principle from Proverbs 11:30, as he wrote in his diary, “He that winneth souls is wise.”