John Ker
John Ker (1819–1886) was a Scottish preacher and minister whose thoughtful sermons and writings enriched the United Presbyterian Church during the 19th century. Born on April 7, 1819, in the farmhouse of Bield, Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire, to parents who later moved to Fillyside and Abbeyhill near Edinburgh, he was deeply influenced as a child by the preaching of John Brown of Haddington. Educated at Edinburgh High School and the University of Edinburgh, where he excelled in philosophy classes under Sir William Hamilton, Ker entered the divinity hall of the United Secession Church in 1838. Ordained in 1851, he became pastor of East Campbell Street Church in Glasgow, serving there until 1876, when he was appointed professor of practical training at the United Presbyterian Theological Hall, a role he held until his death. He never married, focusing instead on his ministerial and scholarly pursuits. Ker’s preaching ministry was characterized by intellectual depth and pastoral sensitivity, earning him respect among peers and congregants despite chronic health issues that limited his physical stamina. His sermons, often reflective and steeped in Scripture, were complemented by his contributions to the United Presbyterian Magazine, including articles later published as The Psalms in History and Biography (1886). After his death on October 4, 1886, posthumous works like Lectures on the History of Preaching (1888) and a volume of his letters (1890) revealed his broad interests in theology, Scottish identity, and pastoral care. Ker died in Glasgow, leaving a legacy as a preacher and educator whose quiet dedication and erudition strengthened the United Presbyterian tradition, though his influence remained largely within ecclesiastical circles rather than achieving broader public renown.
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John Ker preaches about the journey of faith, comparing it to the flight of a field-lark rising above its nest to see the beauty of God's creation and the return of a dove to its ark after finding no rest elsewhere. He emphasizes that both experiences, whether soaring high or returning to a place of safety, bring blessings and deeper spiritual growth. The message conveyed through these experiences is richer and more profound, akin to the significance of an olive leaf from the flood compared to a simple song of praise.
Blessed From the World
"... from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17). Those Christians are blessed who need to leave their simple views of childhood's faith no more than the field-lark does her nest-rising right over it to look at God's morning sun, and his wide, beautiful world, singing a clear, happy song, and then sinking straight down again to their heart's home. But those are not less blessed who, like the dove, lose their ark for a while, and return to it, having found no rest for the sole of their foot save there. They have a deeper experience within, and carry a higher and wider message to the world. The olive leaf in the mouth, plucked from the passing flood, is more than the song at coming daylight. It is as Paul's "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory," compared with the children's "Hosannah."
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John Ker (1819–1886) was a Scottish preacher and minister whose thoughtful sermons and writings enriched the United Presbyterian Church during the 19th century. Born on April 7, 1819, in the farmhouse of Bield, Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire, to parents who later moved to Fillyside and Abbeyhill near Edinburgh, he was deeply influenced as a child by the preaching of John Brown of Haddington. Educated at Edinburgh High School and the University of Edinburgh, where he excelled in philosophy classes under Sir William Hamilton, Ker entered the divinity hall of the United Secession Church in 1838. Ordained in 1851, he became pastor of East Campbell Street Church in Glasgow, serving there until 1876, when he was appointed professor of practical training at the United Presbyterian Theological Hall, a role he held until his death. He never married, focusing instead on his ministerial and scholarly pursuits. Ker’s preaching ministry was characterized by intellectual depth and pastoral sensitivity, earning him respect among peers and congregants despite chronic health issues that limited his physical stamina. His sermons, often reflective and steeped in Scripture, were complemented by his contributions to the United Presbyterian Magazine, including articles later published as The Psalms in History and Biography (1886). After his death on October 4, 1886, posthumous works like Lectures on the History of Preaching (1888) and a volume of his letters (1890) revealed his broad interests in theology, Scottish identity, and pastoral care. Ker died in Glasgow, leaving a legacy as a preacher and educator whose quiet dedication and erudition strengthened the United Presbyterian tradition, though his influence remained largely within ecclesiastical circles rather than achieving broader public renown.