Robert Murray M‘Cheyne (1813 – 1843) Minister of St. Peter’s Church, Dundee, Scotland An illustrated talk by David F Haslam for the Lent Course St Mary’s Church, Cheadle March 9

Robert Murray M‘Cheyne Ever yours till glory Rob t Murray M‘Cheyne.

Memoir and Remains…. Written & compiled by Andrew A Bonar –First published in 1843 –Contents: Biographical memoir (6 chapters) M‘Cheyne’s letters (61) M‘Cheyne’s sermons (28) Sermon outlines (7) Lectures (2) Previously published items (11) Songs of Zion (14) –Banner of Truth edition 1973 still available

Resurgent interest in M‘Cheyne Biography: Constrained by His Love(Leen J van Valen) –translation of Gedreven door Zijn Liefde Awakening(David A Robertson) Sermons: From the Preacher’s Heart(CFP) The Passionate Preacher(CFP) Old Testament Sermons(BoT) New Testament Sermons(BoT) Sermons on Hebrews(BoT)

M‘Cheyne timeline (1) 1813 born Edinburgh –Adam M‘Cheyne –Lockhart Murray Dickson 1821 Old High School 1827 University –Classical education 1828 his brother dies –David Thomas M‘Cheyne 1831 Divinity Hall –Thomas Chalmers –Learns Hebrew 1835 July –Licensed to preach Presbytery of Annan 1835 November –Assistant to John Bonar Larbert & Dunipace 1836 November –Ordained as the minister of St. Peter’s Church of Scotland, Dundee 1837 pens the hymn –I am a debtor

St Peter’s Church, Dundee St Peter’s Church M‘Cheyne’s pulpit

M‘Cheyne timeline (2) 1838 December –Becomes seriously ill moves to Edinburgh to recuperate 1839 January –1 st Pastoral Letter 1839 April –Missionary journey Palestine & the Jews Palestine & the Jews –Deputy at St Peter’s William Chalmers Burns Mission of Inquiry 1.Alexander Black 2.Alexander Keith 3.Robert M‘Cheyne 4.Andrew Bonar Route out France Italy Malta Egypt Palestine

Mission of Inquiry to the Jews Places they visit –Jerusalem –Bethlehem –Hebron –Bethany –Gibeon –Sychem –Samaria –Carmel –Beyrout (Beirut) Further places –SyroPhoenecia –Galilee Return journey Bouja (nr. Smyrna) –M‘Cheyne’s fever Constantinople Wallachia Moldavia Austrian Poland Prussia & Hamburg

Revival in Scotland 1839 revival begins –W C Burns preaches KilsythDundee –Wonderful work of God 1840 revival proceeds –M‘Cheyne & Burns Dundee Carse of Gowrie 1840 June 11 –Another Lily Gathered James Lang d aged December 18 –Sermon I love the Lord’s Day 1842 December 30 –Bible reading calendar Daily Bread

Mission of Discovery Republished 1996 (Christian Focus) –The Beginnings of Modern Jewish Evangelism –The Journal of Bonar & McCheyne’s Mission of Inquiry…, (1842). Detailed account of their –Visits to synagogues in Europe & Palestine –Conversations with the Jews they met M‘Cheyne travels extensively in Britain & Ireland –not only as an evangelist, but also to urge the importance of preaching the gospel “To the Jew first” –sermon “Our duty to Israel” (Romans 1:16) First preached 1839 November 17.

M‘Cheyne’s death & after 1843 March 25 –dies in Dundee Typhus epidemic March 30 –Funeral at St. Peter’s Andrew Bonar preaches –Burial in graveyard all Scotland mourns May 18 –“The Disruption” 1843 December –Memoir & Remains1846 –Additional Remains 1848 May –Familiar Letters

M‘Cheyne’s grave & memorial M‘Cheyne’s graveThe inscription

Robert Murray M‘Cheyne WinsomenessSpirituality –Quotations Memorable words Lengthier passages Holy affections –Self-examination Friendships –“Of Common Ilk” Read widely –Great writers of the past Sermons –Many in print Translations –Example Doctrine & ApplicationPoetry Though Baxter’s lips… Experiential Calvinism –Westminster standards –Theory and practice

‘The making of a Man of God’ 1993 EL lecture by John J Murray –What can we learn from M‘Cheyne? Four lessons for preachers: 1.Our first need as ministers is to be men of God 2.We need to know what to preach 3.We need to know the end of preaching 4.We need to recover the right method of preaching  The free offer of the Gospel –M‘Cheyne the Calvinist urges all to enter in: men, women & children

Some final observations Best book to give to a charismatic? –Andrew Bonar’s “Robert Murray M‘Cheyne” Remark by Geoffrey Thomas of Aberystwyth –A worthy role model even for today Contrast between two Scottish preachers –Edward Irving (1792 – 1834) –Robert Murray M‘Cheyne ( )

For further information See my web-pages on M‘Cheyne – Sermons & lectures on-line Books –Some on-line books or on-line extracts from books –Comprehensive bibliography - both in print & out of print titles Articles –On-line at my own web-site –Elsewhere on the world wide web –Published in various journals –Recorded talks and CD-ROMs ‘Songs of Zion’ & ‘Daily Bread’ and lot’s more as well…….