| I am deeply persuaded that there will be no full, | | | | In 1839 he visited Palestine concerning future |
| soul-filling, heart-ravishing, heart-satisfying outpouring | | | | evangelization of the Jewish people. While there, he |
| of the Spirit of God till there be more praise and | | | | prayed fervently for his congregation back home. |
| thanking the Lord. Let me stir up your hearts to | | | | Upon his return he found that a spiritual awakening |
| praise. This was how Robert Murray McCheyne | | | | was in progress. In his absence there was a 'revival'. |
| spoke and wrote. These are profound words which | | | | His preaching consequently made a significant |
| contain deep spiritual truth. | | | | contribution to the spirituality of Dundee and helped |
| When you pick up a book that suddenly becomes so | | | | this move of Almighty God spread across Scotland |
| meaningful and relevant to you again, it can be | | | | to northern England. |
| difficult to put it down. This chunky Memoir of | | | | He used his intellectual ability to prepare sermons that |
| Robert Murray McCheyne has had that type of | | | | had a tremendous persuasion upon the unconverted. |
| influence on me recently. | | | | He was only 29 when he died in 1843. This brief life |
| Robert Murray McChenye was born in Edinburgh, | | | | had had such an amazing influence upon Scotland and |
| Scotland, away back in 1813, and it is said that | | | | continues to influence to many today who read his |
| Robert Murray McCheyne was one of God's blessings | | | | writings. Yes, he writes in a very different style from |
| given to Scotland in the early part of the 19th | | | | that of today but the content is worth the study. |
| century. | | | | Few men have had the impact in a long lifetime that |
| Apparently Robert Murray McCheyne displayed | | | | Robert Murray McCheyne had in his few years of |
| outstanding intellectual skills as a child. At the age of | | | | ministry. Though his ministry lasted only seven years, |
| four, he taught himself to name and to write the | | | | he is recognized as one of the great spiritual leaders |
| Greek alphabet, while recovering from an illness. He | | | | of his day. His was a daily walk with God, and it was |
| later used a remarkable memory to memorize long | | | | perhaps his Christ-like dependence upon God's Spirit |
| passages of Scripture. There were some remarkable | | | | that left such a deep impression on men's lives. |
| men in Scotland at that time with a spiritual depth | | | | In my early years of ministry I used to read his |
| and profundity which alas is missing today. | | | | writings on a Saturday evening as I prepared by |
| Attending the University of Edinburgh, and there he | | | | heart for the ministry of the Word of God in |
| was greatly influenced by Thomas Chalmers. He | | | | Cowdenbeath on the Sunday. |
| graduated in 1830. It was the University of Edinburgh | | | | After hearing him preach, one Scottish evangelist |
| I later attended. | | | | reportedly said, "He preached with eternity stamped |
| Having been licensed to preach when he was 22, | | | | upon his brow. I trembled, and never felt God so |
| McCheyne was ordained a year later and began | | | | near." |
| pastoring in Dundee, Scotland. | | | | McCheyne's life undoubtedly exemplified the words |
| For six years he was pastor of St. Peter's Church, in | | | | he so often repeated: "Live so as to be missed." It is |
| the Church of Scotland, and we are told that the | | | | salutary thought. Imagine being motivated by these |
| congregation grew to over one thousand members. | | | | brief words. "Live so as to be missed. |