Resist the urge to skim this. Feel the weight of sin that McCheyne feels in this first paragraph and then focus on the great truth that I have put in bold.
“What a mass of corruption have I been! How great a portion of my life have I spent wholly without? God in the world: given up to sense and the perishing things around me. Naturally of a feeling and sentimental disposition, how much of my religion has been, and to this day is, tinged with these colors of earth! Restrained from open ‘vice by educational views and the fear of man, how much ungodliness has reigned within me! How often has it broken through all restraints, and come out in the shape of lusts and anger, mad ambition, and unhallowed words! Though my vice was always refined, yet how subtle and how awfully prevalent it was! How complete a test was the Sabbath—spent in weariness, as much of it as was given to God's service! How I polluted it by my hypocrisies, my self-conceits, my worldly thoughts, and worldly friends! How formally and unheedingly the Bible was read—how little was read —so little that even now I have not read it all! How unboundedly was the wild impulse of the heart obeyed!! How much more was the creature loved than the Creator! 0 great God, that didst suffer me to live whilst I so dishonored thee, thou knowest the whole; and it was thy hand alone that could awaken me from the death in which I was, and was contented to be. Gladly would I have escaped from the Shepherd? that sought me as I strayed; but he took me u in his arms and carried me back: and yet he took me not for any thing that was in me. I was no more fit for his service than the Australian, and no more
worthy to be called and chosen. Yet, why should I doubt? not God's unwillingness, not his ability —or both I am assured. But, perhaps, my old sins are too fearful, and my unbeliever too glaring. Nay: I come to Christ not although I am a sinner, but just because I am a sinner, even the chief.” He then adds, “And though sentiment and constitutional enthusiasm may have a great effect on me, still I believe that my soul is in sincerity desirous and earnest about having all its concerns at rest with God and Christ—that his kingdom occupies the most part of all my thoughts, and even of my long-polluted affections. Not unto me, not unto me, be the shadow of praise or or merit ascribed, but let all glory be given to thy most holy name! As surely as thou didst make the mouth with which I pray, so surely dost thou prompt every prayer or faith which I utter. Thou hast made me all that I am, and given me all that I have.
have.” - Taken from Memoir and remains of the Reverend Robert M. McCheyne - Google Books http://www.google.com/books?id=eb8LAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=mccheyne+bonar&ei=oSjfSrCQFYTWNJzJyf8O#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Comments? What do you think of McCheyne’s view of the importance of the Sabbath? Is he correct in seeing sin its blackest hue so as to see the beauty of Christ more clearly? What do you think McCheyne has against the Australian?
