Robert Murray McCheyne
1813-1843

Robert Murray McCheyne was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 21, 1813. He taught himself the Greek alphabet at the age of four. He later distinguished himself as a student of Edinburgh University.

McCheyne became pastor of St. Peter's Church of Dundee, Scotland (Presbyterian), in 1836, after being licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Annan on July 1, 1835. At age 24, he became a member of a mission of inquiry to study the best means of evangelizing the Jews, and visited Palestine for this purpose. While there, he became ill and devoted much of his time to praying for his flock.

And, the famous revival in Dundee began in his church under the ministry of William C. Burns. It continued under McCheyne. The whole city was moved. No less than 39 prayer meetings were held weekly in connection with this church, of which five were carried on wholly by children.

McCheyne died of typhus March 25, 1843. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's. His monument contains the words: "...who died in the thirtieth year of his age and the seventh of his ministry, walking closely with God, an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, he ceased not day and night to labor and watch for souls, and was honored by his Lord to draw many wanderers out of darkness and to the path of life."

One of the most notable characteristics of the man was the holy consistency of his daily walk. He has been called "one of the loveliest specimens of the Spirit's workmanship." The secret of this was his habitual dependence upon the Spirit of God.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1813, Robert Murray McCheyne was one of God's blessings given to Scotland in the early part of the 19th century.

Robert displayed outstanding intellectual skills as a child: at the age of four, he taught himself to name and to write the Greek alphabet, while recovering from an illness. He later used a remarkable memory to memorize long passages of Scripture.

Attending the University of Edinburgh, he was greatly influenced by Thomas Chalmers; he graduated in 1830. Having been licensed to preach when he was 22, McCheyne was ordained a year later and began pastoring in Dundee, Scotland.

For six years he was pastor of St. Peter's Church (of the Church of Scotland), which grew to over one thousand members.

In 1839 he visited Palestine concerning future evangelization of the Jewish people. While there, he prayed fervently for his congregation back home. Upon his return he found that a spiritual awakening was in progress. His preaching consequently made a significant contribution to the revival and helped it spread across Scotland to northern England.

He used his intellectual ability to design sermons that had a tremendous persuasion upon the unconverted. He was only 30 when he died in 1843, reportedly of typhoid fever.

Few men have had the impact in a long lifetime that Robert Murray McCheyne had in his 30 years. Though his ministry lasted only seven years, he is recognized as one of the great spiritual leaders of his day. His was a daily walk with God, and it was perhaps his Christ-like dependence upon God's Spirit that left such a deep impression on men's lives.

After hearing him preach, one Scottish evangelist reportedly said, "He preached with eternity stamped upon his brow. I trembled, and never felt God so near."

McCheyne's life undoubtedly exemplified the words he so often repeated: "Live so as to be missed."

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