Christ Is All: The Piety of Horatius Bonar (Chapter 12)

HORATIUS BONAR
December 19, 1808 – July 31, 1889

Following are quotes from the Scotish theologian and hymn-writer, Horatius Bonar, as presented in the anthologized biography Christ Is All: The Piety of Horatius Bonar (Haykin & Brooker, Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2007)

Chapter 12: The True Stimulus to Missions

What we need as the true stimulus to missionary action and the true power of missionary endurance and bravery, is not the Arminian dogma of an aimless universal benevolence, but the Calvinistic recognition of an irresistible divine purpose. It is this that must form the basis of our working plans, our missionary directory, our incentive to missionary enterprise, our consolation under failure, and resistance, and reproach. (p. 75)

If indeed the work of missions be merely one of the many schemes of human benevolence, like that of a society for clothing the naked or feeding the hungry, there might be felt to be a necessity for a belief in universal and immediate success. (p. 75)

But if the estrangement of humanity from God be a thing quite beyond man and man’s argument or eloquence; if the resistance of a human will be a thing of almost inconceivable potency, and if the subjugation of that will require the direct forth-putting of Omnipotence, such as that which created heaven and earth, then God’s purpose is the first and last thing to be considered in going forth to deal either with Jew or Gentile. (p. 76)

The Pauline…scheme which connects all work for God with a definite purpose, and not with and indefinite wish, is that which alone can make us either comfortable or successful. Armed with this divine purpose, we feel ourselves invincible; nay, we are assured of being victorious. Having ascertained God’s purpose, and adopted it as the basis of our operations, we feel that we are in sympathy wit God while working for Him. And it is this sympathy, this oneness of mind with God, that cheers us and sustains. (p. 76-77)