Horatius Bonar (1809-1899) was ordained minister in the Church of Scotland and after the Disruption in 1843, he joined the Free Church becoming its Moderator in 1883. He is perhaps principally remembered for his 'Hymns of Faith and Hope' such as 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' and 'Fill thou my life, O Lord my God'. Many are still widely used in the church today. He was also a prolific author of tracts (leaflets) such as 'Believe and Live' as well as longer volumes. All showed 'the profound spiritual life which burned in the author'.
In 'The Word of Promise' first published in 1864, Dr Bonar presents a selection of God's promises in the Bible. He shows that, as the value and comfort of a promise depends on it being the Promiser's very word and its worth depends on the truth and grace and power of the Promiser they may be relied upon in every circumstance of life.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and 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 and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.... Show more