- Home
- Speakers
- Andrew Bonar
- Letter: Craignure, Isle Of Mull, 18th August 1882.
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.”
Download
Sermon Summary
Andrew Bonar emphasizes the profound weakness of Christ on the Cross, as expressed in Psalm 22, and encourages believers to find strength in Jehovah during their own moments of weakness. He reminds the congregation of Christ's ability to sympathize with their struggles and urges them to claim God's strength in their times of need. Bonar also reassures that God knows the paths we take and that His loving-kindness never fails, promising that trials will lead to spiritual refinement.
Letter: Craignure, Isle of Mull, 18th August 1882.
GLASGOW, 9th April 1883. MY DEAR MISS MARY, — Amidst our Communion services yesterday, we did not fail to remember 'a former member of the congregation now lingering in the valley of the shadow of death.' Nor did we forget yourself, watching by the sick while we were in the Sanctuary and at the Table. When reading at the beginning of the services Psalm 22., our attention was drawn to verse 15th, as well as 14th, the utter weakness of Christ on the Cross. 'My strength is dried up like a potsherd,' not even the faint appearance of moisture left. But even then see what He has! In verse 19th, He claims Jehovah as His strength! 'O my strength, haste Thee to help Me.' Will you tell your dear sister how well Jesus can sympathise with her in her feeling of absolute and utter weakness; but tell her also, how He at the same time whispers, 'Claim as I did, and cry as I did, Jehovah, My strength!' One word, more especially for yourself, from Job 23:10: 'He knoweth the way that I take.' He who so often tells in Rev. 2. and 3., 'I know thy works,' is saying to you as really, 'I know the way I am leading you. I have made no mistake, nor has my loving-kindness failed. When I have tried thee, thou shalt come forth as gold.' — Your affectionate pastor, ANDREW A. BONAR.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
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.”