Andrew Bonar - Days of Revival / Robert Murray M'Cheyne (Biography)

Andrew Bonar - Days of Revival / Robert Murray M'Cheyne (Biography)
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1810
On May 29Andrew Alexander Bonar is born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
He is the seventh son of James and Marjory Bonar. When he is 11 years old, his father dies, but his elder brother James helps his mother to look after the family.
1815(Battle of Waterloo)
1828
He starts writing his diary on 21st August: "About this time I thought of marking occasionally my thoughts and God's dealings." For the next two years his main complaint is that he is not saved. "I am still without Christ and without hope. I have no hatred of sin; I seek Christ with little ardour, rather because not happy in the world than because of anything else."
1831
His first Communion is on 9th January. He writes: "I sought beforehand that at this season I might get more love to the souls of men, more understanding of the Word of God, and more power to keep my thoughts from wandering. I felt little excitement, but much calmness at the Table. I believe I have got increase of power to look at God".
In the same year he also enters the Divinity Hall. He had kept back from this until he was in Christ, and that meant he waited two years.
Addition of Document signed by Andrew Bonar On Saturday 19th November he and several others start the 'Exegetical Society' at 6.30 A.M. "It is to meet for the purpose of Biblical Criticism, begun and concluded with prayer ; in some sort a prayer-meeting over our studies in the Bible. The members of this society included among others Robert Murray M'Cheyne. A document signed by them can be seen on a separate page.
1832 (First Reform Act in Parliament)
1833 (Britain abolishes slavery)
1835
Having finished his studies, he starts pastoral work on trial in Jedburgh in July. His first sermon, prepared with much anxiety and care, is on Isaiah 55:1-3 on 5th of July.
The Thursday of the following week is Fast-Day of the Church of Scotland, and he preaches to the prisoners in Jail in the morning and at Fendyhall in the evening. He writes: "Between sermons meditated on the evils of sin".
1836
He is engaged as a missionary assistant to Dr. Robert Smith Candlish in St.George's, Edinburgh. There is an interesting letter from him to Mr. Maclagan in 1874, about some of his experiences here.
1838
New On 20th September he is ordained at Collace in Perthshire. As soon as he awakes in the morning, he reads the confession of sins for ministers and preachers, drawn up by the Assembly in 1661 and applies it to himself. He writes: "O that Isaiah 11:1-9 may be fulfilled to me, that I may be like Christ, daily His witness, His Spirit of wisdom and understanding teaching me the Scriptures".
He mentions that among those present are Robert M'Cheyne, his closest friend. An old friend and minister says to him: "Remember, it is a remark of old and experienced men, that very few men, and very few ministers, keep up to the end the edge that was on their spirit at the first."
1841
There have been instances of revival, and he writes: "I felt uncommonly overawed in preaching to-day, just in reading the words of my text, Isaiah 6: 'Holy, holy, holy,' and for a few minutes the same feeling seemed to prevail throughout the church. I think it was the Spirit resting on me". At the end of June, another entry in his diary reads: "Several people much impressed, several in tears".
1842.
The book Narrative of a mission of inquiry to the Jews From the Church of Scotland in 1839 is published, which he has written together with Robert Murray M'Cheyne.
1843
On Saturday 25th Marchhe writes: "This afternoon about five o'clock, a message has just come to tell me of Robert M'Cheyne's death. Never, never yet in all my life have I felt anything like this. It is a blow to myself, to his people, to the Church of Christ in Scotland. O Lord, work, for Thine own glory's sake. Arise, O Lord, the godly ceaseth and the faithful fail. My heart is sore. It makes me feel death near myself now....There was no friend whom I loved like him."
After he has been to Dundee, he writes: "During prayer, the cries and lamentations of the people resounded through the church, as if their hearts were bursting.......and when I gazed upon Robert's face, I cannot tell what agony it was to think he was away. His face as he lay, was so calm, so expressive, [with] the very indentation that used to mark it when he spoke. Oh, it is bitter!"
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