Awakening

My dad gave me a copy of a new biography of Robert Murray McCheyne called Awakening, which I have begun reading with great interest, not least because it is written by the man who now pastors St. Peter's Free Church in Dundee, where McCheyne served over one hundred fifty years ago (so you can expect to see some highlights).

McCheyne was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 21, 1813. His biographer describes his early life this way:

"Coming from a church-going family with a deeply held, biblically based moral principles, and writing about 'the Lamb of God being the joy and portion of my soul', there are many who would assume that McCheyne that McCheyne belonged to a Christian family where biblical Christianity was practised and believed. Yet that was not the case. The religion of the family was fairly typical of the Edinburgh upper middle class at the time; respectable, church going and involving regular daily family worship . . . . Certainly there was a respect instilled for the church and the Bible, and there were many excellent moral habits taught, but McCheyne himself felt that the 'heart of the matter' was missing" (Robertson, David. "Awakening: The Life and Ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne." Waynseboro, GA: Paternoster Press. 2004. p18)