A Word From McCheynne
by Robert Murray McCheynne ( written in the 1800’s)
Let me speak to the young. - There may be many hearing me in whom these
things meet: They are young in years, far from Christ, and yet full of
mirth. Now, my dear friends, I entreat you to consider whether your mirth
is reasonable. The sword is sharpened for a sore slaughter. Should you
then make mirth?
Objection 1. - Youth is the time for mirth.
Answer. - I know well youth is the time for mirth. The young
lamb is a happy creature as it springs about on the green pasture. The
young kid leaps from rock to rock in liveliest flee. The young horse casts
it’s heels high in the air, full of life and activity. But then they have
no sin, and you have; they have no hell, and you have. If you will come
to Jesus Christ now, and be freed from wrath, ah! then you will find that
youth is the time for mirth, youth is the time for enjoying sweet peace
in the bosom, and liveliest intercourse with God, and brightest hopes of
glory.
Objection 2. - You would have us to be gloomy and sad.
Answer. - God forbid. All that I maintain is, that until you
are come to Christ, your mirth is mad and unreasonable. If you will come
to Christ, then be happy as you will; there are no bounds to your joy there,
for you will joy in God. And when you die, you will come to fullness of
joy in His presence, and pleasures at His right hand forevermore.
Objection 3. - If I be Christless, it will not bring me into
Christ to be sad, and therefore I may as well be merry.
Answer. - True, to be sad will not bring you to Christ; and
yet, if you were really awakened to cry to God, peradventure He would hear
your cry. If you were striving to enter in, you might take it by violence.
Seek meekness, seek righteousness. It may be ye shall be hid in the day
of the Lord’s anger. If you stay where you are, you are sure to be lost.
If you live on in carnal security, in mirth and jollity, while you are
out of Christ, you are sure to perish.
“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes; but know thou that for all these things God will bring
thee into judgement.”
Oh Lord Jesus, take my hand.
Hold me up, ‘cause I can’t stand.
I am sinking deep in mire.
“Keep my soul.”, is my desire.
Greed and selfishness are all I own.
Burn the bitterness, I have sown.
Cleanse my heart. Make me pure.
Thy lovingkindness will endure.
Bury the pride that plagues me so.
I can do nothing; this You know.
I’m totally dependent, selfish and proud.
Only You can cleanse heart’s polluted cloud.
Peace, Joy, and faith, would I know.
In faith and holiness, help me to grow.
I give my everything, my all to Thee.
“Take me; use me.”, is my plea!
- by a Sister in Christ