Our Rich Heritage in the Life and Works of Horatius Bonar

One of the joys of working at Logos is helping Christians everywhere become more aware of their rich heritage—from the foundational writings of Augustine to the powerful preaching of Whitefield. After all, we are not the first generation to wrestle with the Scriptures, to battle false teaching, or to seek to live faithfully in an age of apathy. Today, we introduce another important, yet little-known, saint with the Pre-Pub release of The Life and Works of Horatius Bonar (47 vols.).

Horatius Bonar’s Ministry

Ministering during the mid-nineteenth-century revivals in Scotland, Horatius Bonar was known for his biblical preaching and tireless evangelism. Working alongside Robert Murray McCheyne (his close friend) and Thomas Chalmers, he witnessed an incredible work of the Spirit that brought multitudes to Christ. He describes this remarkable season as having “all the marks of a work of God which we see in the account given of the preaching of the gospel by the apostles.”

Like the Puritans before him, Bonar’s writings are saturated with deep reflection on the cross and the importance of applying the gospel to every aspect of the Christian life. In The Everlasting Righteousness, Bonar offers a simple yet profound explanation of justification that Charles Spurgeon calls “suggestive, gracious, full of holy unction.” Tony Reinke describes Bonar as having the “literary talents” of John Bunyan and an “ability to confront doctrinal concerns of the day” reminiscent of Spurgeon.

In addition to his voluminous works, Bonar is most widely known for his extensive hymn-writing, penning over 600 hymns. Realizing that the influence of the Psalter was diminishing amongst young people, he began writing new hymns set to the popular music of his day. Some of these hymns remain cherished classics, such as “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” and “All Power and Glory and Honor and Praise.”

 Get the Life and Works of Horatius Bonar is a monumental collection.