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- Letters: Mrs. Milne On The Death Of Her Father (1)
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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Andrew Bonar writes to Mrs. Milne, offering comfort in her time of grief over her father's death. He emphasizes the unique bond between a father and child, encouraging her to draw closer to God, whom she can call 'Abba, Father.' Bonar reassures her that Jesus, her Elder Brother, and the Holy Spirit are with her, providing comfort and hope. He reflects on the idea that earthly joys are just a foretaste of the eternal joys to come, and that sorrows will soon end as they are replaced by the glory of God. Bonar concludes with a heartfelt request for prayer, reinforcing the connection of faith and community in times of loss.
Letters: Mrs. Milne on the Death of Her Father (1)
ON THE DEATH OF HER FATHER. COLLACE, F. C. Manse, Dec. 13th, 1855. MY DEAR MRS. MILNE, —I write because it might be some variety to you in your sojourn at Hastings, something like a visit. We felt for you in your bereavement, for a father is altogether peculiar, so peculiar that you know the Lord represents our nearest access to Himself by saying it is our being able to call Him 'Abba, Father;' ay, to 'cry' thus to Him, to speak it loudly, firmly, not faintly, not fearfully—to 'cry' in the ear of angels, 'Jehovah is my Father,' to 'cry' in the ear of the Lord Himself, 'Thou art Abba!' Dear friend, this is left to you, this supplying of an earthly father's place by more frequent 'crying' to the Father above. And as you do so, lo! there is one at His right hand who smiles on you and calls you 'Sister!' It is your Elder Brother, the Lord Jesus; for He says that 'whoever does the will of His Father is to Him "sister."' And then the silent but most mighty Comforter, the Spirit of grace, He breathes on you while the Father smiles, and while Jesus owns you. What life He breathes, what thoughts, what hopes too! One of the hopes He breathes is 'Come, Lord Jesus,' the hope of the day of meeting in the presence of the Lord, all the friends that He has removed from time to time. I was much struck to-day by a simple thought, viz. 'our joys are only beginning.' Yes, the joys we have tasted are mere foretastes. Have you noticed in Eph. 2 'that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us.' All we get here is but an earnest and no more. And then, as truly as our joys are only beginning, so our sorrows are ending. They will soon be over: our last tear shed, our last sigh heaved, the last wrinkle on our brow smoothed away by the hand that places on our head the Crown of Glory! 'Come, Lord Jesus!' . . . . Will you sometimes pray for us?—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.”