A few years ago I read Andrew Bonar’s Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne and in many ways I’ve never been the same.

“This is one of the best and most profitable volumes ever published,” said Spurgeon. “The memoir of such a man ought surely to be in the hands of every Christian and certainly every preacher of the Gospel.”

M’Cheyne’s zeal for Christ and pursuit of holiness bleeds through on every page and the spilling is oh so glorious. Here are a few choice quotes to whet the appetite.

FEASTING WITH M’CHEYNE

• “If I am to go to the heathen to speak of the unsearchable riches of Christ, this one thing must be given me, to be out of the reach of the baneful influence of esteem or contempt.  If worldly motives go with me, I shall never convert a soul, and shall lose my own in the labour. (16)
• Clear conviction of sin is the only true origin of dependence on another’s righteousness, and therefore (strange to say!) of the Christian’s peace of mind and cheerfulness.” (22)
• A M’Cheyne letter to a young student, “Remember you are now forming the character of your future ministry in great measure, if God spare you.  If you acquire slovenly or sleepy habits of study now, you will never get the better of it.  Do everything in its own time.  Do everything in earnest; if it is worth doing, the do it with all your might.  Above all, keep much in the presence of God.” (29)
• “Nothing is more needful for making a sermon memorable and impressive than a logical arrangement.” (31)
• “Enlarge my heart, and I shall preach.” (40)
• “I see a man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches Christ for Christ’s sake – until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ.” (45)
• “Two keys are committed to us by Christ: the one the key of doctrine, by means of which we unlock the treasures of the Bible; the other the key of discipline, by which we open or shut the way to the sealing ordinances of the faith.  Both are Christ’s gift, and neither is to be resigned without sin.” (73)
• “How will we accomplish [deeper affection for Christ]?  To begin with, we need to simply spend more time with Him.  The Christian’s love for the unseen Christ grows by communion with Him.  He is a person, a real person, a living Lord and Savior, who has promised to be with us all of our days.  We must spend time with Him daily, and as we do, we will be overwhelmed with His greatness and glory to the end that we will want to tell others about Him.” (110)

I remember thinking after reading the memoirs of M’Cheyne that only Edwards’ diary, in my opinion, exceeds the Scotsman in a warm-hearted, Christ-centered piety. M’Cheyne would seem to agree for notice what he said one March 20th:

Read part of the Life of Jonathan Edwards.  How feeble does my spark of Christianity appear beside such a sun! But even his was a borrowed light, and the same source is still open to enlighten me.

Awesome. And yes, the same sun shined brightly on the young Scotsman. So grab a copy of Bonar’s work and let Mr. M’Cheyne encourage you unto Christlikeness.