A Remarkable Circle of Friends

Robert Murray M‘Cheyne

His time in Larbert and Dunipace was short, a mere ten months. Excerpts from his diary in Bonar’s memoir give us glimpses both of the inward and the outward history of those months. We find him preaching to small audiences and large, spending whole days in visiting with evening meetings to follow, teaching the young, mentioning particular indi viduals on whom he has called, and recording visits to other places. It is the inward history, however, in which the chief value of these excerpts lies. We get to listen in as he engages in self-examination, confesses sin, prays for help, gives thanks for the Lord’s great mercies, testifies to his delight in preach ing the gospel, and sorrows over his shortcomings in doing so. A few examples by way of illustration: 21 May 1836 — My birthday. I have lived twenty-three years. Blessed be my Rock. Though I am a child in knowledge of my Bible and of thee, yet use me for what a child can do, or a child can suffer. 11 June 1836 — Is the desire of my heart to be made altogether holy? Is there any sin I wish to retain? Is sin a grief to me, the sudden risings and overcomings thereof especially? Lord, thou knowest all things — thou know est that I hate all sin and desire to be made altogether like thee . 15 June 1836 — Day of visiting (rather a happy one) in Carronshore. Large meeting in the evening. Felt very happy after it, though mourning for bitter speaking of the gospel . Surely it is a gentle message, and should be spoken with angelic tenderness, especially by such a needy sinner. 19 June 1836, Sabbath — Preached at Dunipace to a small audience, on Parable of the Tares. … In both discourses I can look back on many hateful thoughts of

[29]