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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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Sermon Summary
Horatius Bonar emphasizes that although our strength may seem small in these challenging times filled with error and worldliness, God's grace is sufficient to uphold us. He warns against conforming to societal pressures and encourages faithfulness to Christ and His truth, especially when faced with persecution or disdain. Bonar reassures believers that the rewards for standing firm in faith far outweigh any temporary contempt or enmity they may face. He calls for a steadfast commitment to the old truths of the Gospel, reminding us that the glory at Christ's return will far surpass earthly honors.
Scriptures
Small May Be Our Strength
Small may be our strength in these last days. The tide of error, and sin, and worldliness may be running very strong. It may not be easy to confess Christ, or to hold fast His truth. But His grace is sufficient for us; and woe be to us if we give way to the errors of the age, or conform to its vanities, or seek to please its multitudes, either under the dread of public opinion, or the fear of not being reputed ‘men of progress,’ or the shrinking from more direct persecution and hatred! Faithfulness to Christ, and to His truth, is everything, especially in days when iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold. Fear not! The reward is glorious; the honour is beyond all earthly honours. The contempt and enmity are but for a day; the dignity and the blessedness are forever and ever. Though men call you narrow-minded for cleaving to old truth,—now obsolete, as they say; for ‘worship of a book,’ or biblioatry, as they call it; for the stern refusal to lower our testimony to our glorified Lord and coming King? Let us be content to bear reproach for Him and His word. The glory to be given us at His appearing will more than compensate for all. -Taken from Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts & Themes, Vol. V, 1872.
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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.