An account of Martin Luther’s Conversion By Horatius Bonar

Horatius Bonar lived from 1808 – 1889. He was a contemporary and acquaintance of Robert Murray M'cheyne. He came from a long line of Gospel ministers who had served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. His brothers John and Andrew were also ministers of the Gospel.

Horatius Bonar knew a lot of tragedy in his life. Married to Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843, five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children of her own. She subsequently returned to live with her parents. His son in law, Rev. G. T. Dodds, died in 1882 while serving as a missionary in France. Horatius Bonar later wrote a biography of his son in law, entitled: 'The Life and Works of the Rev. G. T. Dodds'.

Horatius Bonar was first a minister in the Church of Scotland. His first charge was a mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and then settled at Kelso. I the Great Disruption of 1843 Horatius Bonar left the Church of Scotland and joined the Free Church. In 1867 he moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church, named after Dr. Thomas Chalmers. In 1883, Horatius Bonar was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.

Horatius Bonar was a prolific and hugely popular author. This is what he wrote of Luther:

Horatius Bonar on 'Israel' in prophecy

The prophecies concerning Israel are the key to all the rest. True principles of interpretation in regard to them will aid us in disentangling and illustrating all prophecy. False principles as to them…that is Israel…will most thoroughly perplex and overcloud the whole Word of God

I am one of those who believe in Israel’s restoration and conversion, who receive it as a future certainty, that all Israel shall be gathered and that all Israel shall be saved. As I believe in Israel’s present degradation, so do I believe in Israel’s coming glory and preeminence. I believe that God’s purpose regarding our world can only be understood by understanding God’s purpose as to Israel.

I believe that all human calculations as to the earth’s future, whether political or scientific, or philosophical, or religious, must be failures if not taking for their data or basis God’s great purpose regarding the latter day standing of Israel. 

A Poem for our Times

Horatius Bonar wrote the following poem in light of departure that was taking place in his day from orthodox, Biblical Christianity. If it was true then how much more so now!

The creeds have gone, so speaks the Age,

The era of the sects is past,

Forward in spite of saints or sage,

True freedom has begun at last.

The Christ of God is now no more,

The Christ of men now sits supreme;

The Cross is part of mythic lore,

The Resurrection morn a dream.

The ages progress fears no God,

No righteous law, no judge's throne;

Man bounds along his new found road,

And calls this universe his own. 

Not faith in God, but faith in man,

Is Pilate now, and sail and oar;

The creeds are shrivelled, cold and wan,

True Christ has been is no more.