Constrained by his love

Essential for all new ministers

CONSTRAINED BY HIS LOVE
A new biography of Robert Murray McCheyne
By L.J. Van Valen
Christian Focus. 491 pages. £15.99
ISBN 1 85792 793 1

Robert Murray McCheyne is best remembered today for his famous Bible reading plan - and yet it rates only a paragraph's mention in this substantial biography of the Scottish preacher.

During his short life, McCheyne became one of the leaders of the 19th-century Scottish revival, as well as being actively involved in the Zionist, Sabbatarian and church-building causes of the day. His personal, humble conviction by the Holy Spirit, and passion for the gospel and his 'flock' in Dundee, shine out through this book.

His words could be speaking about today: 'How much deadness there is among true Christians. There is an abundance of head knowledge, but ah, where is the simple faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints?' A thorough Calvinist, McCheyne's godly handling of the politics and lukewarm church of the day represent an inspiring example in our own church lives.

Although the biography feels quite long, and has become stilted in places through translation from the author's original Dutch work, it is well illustrated and uses many quotations from McCheyne's correspondence and contemporaries.

The story of McCheyne's spiritual awakening as a young man, and the way that experience shaped his later ministry, will be particularly useful for the reader. His life and work will be a challenge to any reader - but especially to a young man just starting out in ministry himself. The ideal ordination gift.

Richard Bray,
St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London

© Evangelicals Now - July 2003
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• Lost sheep
  Peter Grainger of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, asks a rhetorical question
• Much prayer, much power
• Archbishop Rowan Williams and NEAC 4
• Refocusing your marriage
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• AIDS across the world: a Christian response
• Jonathan Edwards on beauty
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  Sing when you're winning?
• Monthly column on the arts
  Art and agony: and a sunlit cross
• Monthly column for youth leaders
  Role models
• Don't date a corpse
• Letter from America
  Over-kill
• Monthly column on student work
  Growing a Christian Union

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• The beginnings of English Protestantism
• John Owen: the man and his theology
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• Let's study John
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• If I were God, I'd make myself clearer
• Studies in English Dissent
• The how and why of love - An introduction to evangelical ethics
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• A sacred task - A true story from Albania's national awakening
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• An irregular candidate - Jackie Ross of Blythswood
• Travel with William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army
• Constrained by his love - A new biography of Robert Murray McCheyne
• The covenant of grace - Previously published sermons of Matthew Henry
• The tears of my soul