THE LIFE OF JOHN MILNE OF PERTH
By Horatius Bonar
Banner of Truth. 464 words. £14.00
ISBN 978 0 851 519 616
Horatius Bonar’s The Life of John Milne, is a book every ministerial student should have to read and study, and every pastor ought to read at least once. This book was published by the Banner of Truth in 2010 – another gift to the church from that publishing house.
Among Scottish preachers, Robert Murray McCheyne is very well known, along with Andrew and Horatius Bonar and Rabbi Duncan to name a few. John Milne was another of that group of men that was used by God, but it seems he is not as well known.
The life of Milne as recorded by Horatius Bonar is a life of bold, manly, godly, untiring faith and natural winsome evangelism and zeal. From the account of the serious head injury that happened to him on his first day at school to the details of the brilliance of his academic achievements, this biography is a gripping read. The early years of his ministry in Perth in Scotland began with an amazing revival. The energy and workload of this man were staggering.
He was married for six years and lost a wife and two children in his mid-forties. The submissive acceptance of His heavenly Father’s will is evident in Milne’s response to this profound loss. Following that loss, he submitted to be a missionary in India and intended it be the place of his death, however the ill health of his second wife brought them back to Scotland.
Shortly after his return to the church at Perth he had a breakdown that lasted almost a year! He returned to pastoring the church, but this time needed an assistant due to his declining health. What followed was another revival under his ministry. It is recorded that at one time there were 70 continuous nights of preaching to packed churches.
By a careful reading of this biography, the reader can learn from the spiritual disciplines practised by Milne and be inspired by his diary entries. This is a book that will make you want to know the Lord who was Milne’s constant companion. My recommendation: read it and then read it again.
