29
May 1810 A.D. Alexander Andrew Bonar Born—Scots Churchman
& Brother of Horatius Bonar
Of note, we have a conflict on
the date. Mr. Graves indicates the birth
was 29 August while the previous source indicated 29 May.
Graves, Dan. “Alexander Andrew Bonar
Learned the Value of Prayer.” Christianity.com.
Jul 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/andrew-alexander-bonar-learned-the-value-of-prayer-11630362.html. Accessed 19 May 2014.
I
have learned by experience that it is not much labor but much prayer that is
the only means to success," said Andrew Bonar. A leader of the revival in
Scotland known as the Kilsyth Revival, Andrew knew about success; his secret was
that he lived in prayer. "I have been endeavoring to keep up
prayer...every hour of the day, stopping my occupation, whatever it is, to pray
a little. I seek to keep my soul within the shadow of the throne of grace and
Him that sits thereon."
To a friend he wrote,
"...rather neglect friends than not pray, rather fast, and lose breakfast,
dinner, supper and sleep too -- than not pray."
Andrew was born in Edinburgh on this day, August 29,
1810. His father died
when he was just seven. One of his older brothers helped his mother feed the
many mouths left without a father. As a boy Andrew did well in school, becoming
one of the best Latin students of his day. He was modest about his
accomplishments, however. For example, when he won a gold medal, he said nothing
about it until his mother asked which student had won it. With a high sense of
what it meant to become a minister, he waited two years until he was sure that
he was "in Christ" before he began divinity studies. He had tried to
become pure enough to enter Christ's kingdom, until at last he realized that he
never could but that Christ had met God's expectations in his behalf.
After studying theology at the great university in his home town, Andrew became a minister,
first at Collace and then in Glasgow. Like his older brother, Horatius (the
hymn writer) he joined the Free Church when it formed in 1843.
Among Andrew's close friends
were some of the most notable preachers of the day, including the pure and zealous
Robert Murray McCheyne, with whom he traveled to Palestine to see how the Jews
fared there. When McCheyne died shortly afterward, Andrew said, "There was
no friend whom I loved like him." He penned McCheyne's biography.
Other losses followed: an infant
son and his wife. Two years later he recorded in his diary how he nearly broke
down in the pulpit remembering his beloved Isabella.
Examples of Andrew's preaching
show that it was simple and practical. For example, reminding his listeners
that Christ sang a hymn just before he left for Gethsemane, where he would be
betrayed, Andrew said, "His last note was a cheerful note, though He knew
what was in the future. Much more should ours be so. Let us try unselfishly,
like Jesus, to keep our friends from sorrow as long as we can. In the face of
difficulties, sing to the Lord. If you have a dread of what is coming, sing,
instead of brooding over it."
Andrew wrote several books on
Bible topics. From time to time readers sent him letters telling how they were
converted through his works. Among his interesting titles was Christ and
His Church in the Book of Psalms. He wrote of it, "May the
Lord use it to lead many to see their full provision in Christ!" When
Andrew died in 1892, he was the last of his siblings to go. He had gathered his
children around his bed and read the Bible and prayed with them.
Bibliography:
1. "Andrew A. Bonar."
http://www.newblehome.co.uk/bonar/biography1.html
2. "Bonar, Andrew Alexander." Encyclopedia Americana. Chicago:
Americana Corp., 1956.
3. Boreham, Frank W. "Andrew Bonar's Text" in A Handful of
Stars. New York: Abingdon Press, 1922.
4. "Singing before Suffering." http://www.newblehome.co.uk/bonar/
sermon-sing.html.
5. Smithers, David. "Andrew A. Bonar; prayer makes history."
http://www.watchword.org/smithers/ww44a.html
Last updated July,
2007
