The following quote is from the pen of Horatius Bonar (1808 - 1889), the great Scottish preacher, poet, author and hymn writer.
In all unbelief there are these two things—a good opinion of one’s self and a bad opinion of God. Man’s good opinion of himself makes him think it quite possible to win God’s favor by his own religious performances; and his bad opinion of God makes him unwilling and afraid to put his case wholly into His hands. The object of the Holy Spirit’s work (in convincing of sin) is to alter the sinner’s opinion of himself, and so to reduce his estimate of his own character that he shall think of himself as God does, and so cease to suppose it possible that he can be justified by an excellency of his own. The Spirit then alters his evil opinion of God, so as to make him see that the God with whom he has to do is really the God of all grace.But the inquirer denies that he has a good opinion of himself and owns himself a sinner. Now a man may SAY this, but really to KNOW it is something more than SAYING. Besides, he may be willing to take the name of sinner to himself, in common with his fellow-men, and yet not at all own himself such a sinner as God says he is—such a sinner as needs the cross, and blood, and righteousness of the Son of God. It takes a great deal to destroy a man’s good opinion of himself; how difficult it is to make a man think of himself as God does! What but the almightiness of the Divine Spirit can accomplish this?
Unbelief, then, is the belief of a lie and the rejection of the truth. Accept, then, the character of God as given in the gospel; the Holy Spirit will not give you peace irrespective of your views of God’s character. It is in connection with THE TRUTH concerning the true God, “the God of all grace,” that the Spirit gives peace. That which He shows us of ourselves is only evil; that which He shows us of God is only good!
Bonar insisted that no biography of his life be written and destroyed many of his personal papers lest they later be used for this purpose. Strangely, he was not always opposed to biographies and wrote three about other men of the faith. Much of what we know about him comes from his voluminous writings and his many hymns. Among the best-known of his hymns are “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” If you want to know more about him and even purchase his life and works on CD-ROM, click here.
Comments (8) »
1. Lane Keister
March 28, 2007
3:34 PM
Great quote. Thanks for sharing.
2. GUNNY HARTMAN
March 28, 2007
7:50 PM
“In all unbelief there are these two things—a good opinion of one’s self and a bad opinion of God.”
Amen.
Hence the necessity of the proclamation of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity if there be revival.
As in the spirit of Whitefield, they must be born again, but they must see the need for such as well. I think America suffers from an “I’m okay; you’re okay” malady.
Of course, like you said, we’re not that bad and God’s not that mad.
Good stuff, brother.
3. Dan Hames
March 29, 2007
8:20 AM
I think “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” is by Jospeh Scriven. Could be wrong though!
4. Martin Downes
March 29, 2007
9:11 AM
Dan,
I think you are right about that one. I understand that it was the favourite hymn of Jesse James.
5. James
March 29, 2007
10:10 AM
The hymn was first made popular by its 1876 publication in Sankey’s Gospel Hymns Number One by Ira David Sankey, who was a musician, traveling with DL Moody. Sankey’s volume originally attributed the lyrics to Bonar.
A friend of Scriven’s, who had previously seen the poem, later corrected this. Scriven claimed to have written the poem in Canada, with the help of God, for his ill mother who was in Ireland. Subsequently, it was published, posthumously in a small collection of his poetry in 1869.
Still, biographical sketches of Bonar everywhere include the authoring of this hymn, likely because of historian Philip Schaff’s attributing it to him. Although Schaff died in 1893, the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge continues to be a widely used reference.
As far as popular attribution goes, even Bonar’s Wikipedia entry includes the authoring of this hymn!
And now I must go repent in tears of ten minutes of my life wasted.
6. Matt Foreman
March 29, 2007
2:37 PM
Tim,
I’m a regular reader of yours, but also a big Horatius Bonar fan. Bonar’s book “God’s Way of Holiness” had a big impact on my life.
My question is: where is this specific quote from? I’d be interested to know.
7. Darrin
March 30, 2007
1:59 PM
Matt,
It’s from God’s Way of Peace, third chapter.
8. dec
March 31, 2007
2:34 AM
It takes a great deal to destroy a man’s good opinion of himself; how difficult it is to make a man think of himself as God does!
No kidding! I’m in the middle of a smackdown right now.