ANDREW GRAY
BIOGRAPHY TWO (SCOT'S
WORTHIES)
Andrew Gray, by the calculation of his age, and the date
of his entry into the ministry, seems to have born about the year 1634; and
being early sent to school, he learned so fast, that in a short time he was
ripe for the university; where, by the vivacity of his parts and ready genius,
he made such proficiency, both in scholastic learning and divinity, that before
he was twenty years of age he was found accomplished for entering into the holy
office of the ministry.
From his very infancy he had studied to be aquainted
with the scriptures, and like another young Samson, the Spirit of God began
very early to move him; there being such a delightful gravity in his
conversation, that what Gregory Nazianzen once said of the great Basil might be
applied to him: "He held forth learning beyond his age, and fixedness of
manners beyond his learning." The earthly vessel, being thus filled with
heavenly treasure, he was quickly 1icensed to preach, and got a call to be
minister of the outer kirk of the High Church of Glasgow, though he was
scarcely twenty years of age, and therefore below the age appointed by the
constitution of the Church, unless in extraordinary cases.
No sooner was
this young servant of Christ entered into his Master's vineyard, than the
people from all quarters flocked to attend his sermons, it being their constant
emulation who should be most under the refreshing drops of his ministry. As he
and his learned colleague Mr Durham were one time walking together, Durham,
observing the multitude thronging into that church where Andrew Gray was to
preach, and only a very few going into the church in which he was to preach,
said to him, "Brother, I perceive you are to have a throng church to-day." To
which he answered, "Truly, brother, they are fools to leave you and come to
me." Durham replied, "Not so, dear brother, for none can receive such honour
and success in his ministry, except it be given him from heaven. I rejoice that
Christ is preached, and that His kingdom and interest is getting ground, for I
am content to be anything, or nothing, that Christ may be all in all.
And
indeed, Andrew Gray had a notable and singular gift in preaching, being one
experienced in the most mysterious points of Christian practice and profession;
In handling of all his subjects he was free of youthful vanity or affectation
of human literature, though he had a most scholastic genius and more than
ordinary abilities, so that he did outstrip many that entered into the Lord's
vineyard before him. His expression was very warm and rapturous, and well
adapted to affect the hearts of his hearers; yea, he had such a faculty, and
was so helped to press home God's threatenings upon the consciences of his
hearers, that his contemporary, the foresaid Mr Durham, observed, "that many
times he caused the very hairs of their heads to stand up."
Among his other
excellences in preaching, which were many, this was none of the least, that he
could so order his subject as to make it be relished by every palate. Hp could
so dress a plain discourse as to delight a learned audience, and at the same
time preach with a learned plainness. He had such a clear notion of high
mysteries, as to make them stoop to the meanest capacity. He had so learned
Christ; and being a man of a most zealous temper, the great bent of his spirit
and that which he did spend himself anent, was to make people know.
All
these singularities seem to have been his peculiar mercy from the Lord, to make
him a burning and a shining light, though for about the space of two years
only; the Spirit of the Lord as it were stirring up a lamp unto a sudden blaze,
that was not to continue long in His Church. On which a late prefacer of some
of his sermons has very pertinently observed, "Yea, how awakening, convincing,
and reproving may the example of this very young minister be to many ministers
of the Gospel, who have been many years in the vineyard, but fall far short of
his labours and progress. God thinks fit now and then to raise up a child to
reprove the sloth and negligence of many thousands of advanced years, and shows
that He can perfect His own praise out of the mouths of babes."
His sermons
are now in print, and well known in the world. His works do praise him in the
gates, and though they are free from the metaphysical speculations of the
schools, yet it must be granted that the excellences of the ancient fathers and
schoolmen do all concentre in them. For his doctrine carries light, his
reproofs are weighty, and his exhortations powerful; and though they are not in
such an accurate or grammatical style as some may expect, yet this may be
easily accounted for, if we consider the great alteration and embellishment in
the style of the English language since his time. There can no ground also, to
doubt but they must be far inferior to what they were when delivered by the
author, who neither corrected them, nor, as it appears, ever intended that they
should be published. Yet all this is sufficiently made up otherwise, for what
is wanting in symmetry of parts or equality of style is made up in the pleasure
of variety, like the grateful odours of various flowers, or the pleasant
harmony of differnt sounds, for so is truth in its own native dress.
It
hath been often been said that Mr.Gray many times longed for the twenty second
year of his age whenin he expected to rest from his labours, and by a perpetual
jubilee to enjoy his blessed Lord and Master. It is certain that in his sermons
we often find him longing for his majority, that he might enter into the
possession of his heavenly Father's inheritance, prepared for him before the
foundations of the world were laid.
He escaped death very narrowly when
going to Dundee, in company with Robert Fleming, (sometime minister at
Cambuslang), which remarkable sea deliverance was a matter of thankfulness to
God all his life after.
There is one thing that may be desiderated by the
inquisitive, namely what Andrew Gray's sentiments were concerning the public
resolutions, seeing that he entered the ministry about the third year after
they were passed. Whatever his contentions in public were, it is credibly
reported that he debated in private against those defections, with his learned
colleague, Mr. Durham, who afterwards on his deathbed, asked him what he
thought of these things. He answered, that he was of the same mind as formerly,
and did much regret that he had been so sparing in public against these woeful
resolutions, speaking so pathetically of their sinfulness and the calamities
they would procure, that Mr Durham, contrary to his former practice, durst
never after speak in defence of them.
But the time now approached that the
Lord was about to accomplish the desire of His servant. He fell sick, and was
in a high fever for several days, being much tossed with sore trouble, without
any intermission; but all the time continuing in a most sedate frame of mind.
It is a loss that his last dying words were neither written nor remembered;
only we may guess what his spiritual exercises were from the short but
excellent letter sent by him, a little before his death, to Lord Warriston,
bearing date February 7, 1656. In this he shows that he not only had a most
clear discovery of the toleration then granted by Cromwell, and the evils that
would come upon the land for all these things, but also was most sensible of
his own case and condition.
Thus, in a short time, according to his desire,
it was granted to him by death to pass unto the Author of life, his soul taking
flight into the arms of his blessed Saviour, whom he had served failthfully in
his day and generation, though only about 22 years old. He shone too
conspicuously to last long, and burned so intensly that he behoved soon to be
extinguished; but he now shines in the kingdom of his father, in a more
conspicuous refulgent manner; even as the brightness of the firmament and the
stars for ever and ever.
He was, in his day, a most singular and pious
youth, and though he died young, yet was old in grace, having lived and done
much for God in a little time. He was one, both in public and in private life,
who possessed in a high degree every domestic and social virtue that could
adorn the character of a MOST POWERFUL AND PATHETIC PREACHER, a loving husband,
an affable friend; ever cheerful and agreeable in conversation; always ready to
exert himself for the relief of all who asked or sttod in need of his
assistance. Those uncommon talents not only endeared him to his brethren the
clergy, but also to many others from the one extremity of the land to the other
that heard or knew anything of him, who considered or esteemed him as one of
the most able advocates for the propogation and advancement of Christ's
kingdom.
His well-known sermons are printed in several small portions. Those
called his "works" are bound in one volume octavo. In addition to the eleven
sermons printed some time ago, a large collection, to the number of fifty-one,
are lately published, entitled his "Select Sermons" whereof only three (and
these for connection's sake along with his letter to Lord Warriston) were
before published in his works. So that by this time most, if not all, of the
sermons are now in print that ever were preached by him.
* Andrew Gray's
brief life and ministry have many peculiarities. He was the youngest minister
in the Church, his period of labour was limited to two years and a half, the
impression he left has been deep and lasting, the notes of his ermons published
after his death, have been handed down from father to son in the households of
the godly, as a rare treasure.
He is remarkable, too, in some less important
circumstances of his life. His father was Sir William Gray of Pittendrum oin
Aberdeen shire - an able man who made a fortune in his day by merchandising -
improving foreign trade enormously. Sir William married Engidia, sister of Sir
John Smith of King's Cramond, Aberdeenshire, Provost of Edinburgh. Their family
consited of six sons and twelve daughters, and were a family of rank and
station. A grandson of Sir William became Lord Gray Kinfauns, while one of his
daughters married the Earl of Roseberry.
Andrew was the fifth son, or the
youngest, and was born in 1634. As a boy he was lively and playful to such a
degree, that one of his nephews told Wodrow, the historian, that in early youth
he was "playrife and minded nothing but frolics and pleasures". But a great
change was wrought on him very quickly by a singular circumstance. He had come
South. and was one day walking between Leith and Edinburgh, when he saw a poor
man, a begger, in a blue gown, leave the road and go into a corn-field. The boy
watched him kneeling down beside a great stone and then heard him pour out a
most serious confession of sin and earnest prayer with great warmth and
affection of spirit. The boy was much moved. "Here is a most miserable creature
in the worst of circumstances, whose life is almost a burden to him, and here
am I who have all things in plenty, and have never felt any want or strait, and
yet I have never made any acknowledgment to God, the free giver of all to me,
as that poor creature who never had the tenth part of the obligations I have to
God". This simple incident was the beginning of the change. It "sat down on
him" says the narrator and "oh, what a change in a little time" was the remark
of an aged minister who used to meet the "playrife" boy.
At St. Andrews he
distinguished himself greatly, though he entered on the university curriculum
when very young. Soon after his laureation he preached once or twice at
Glasgow, and at once attracted notice. He was chosen successor to Patrick
Gillespie, as minister of the Outer High Church in 1653. In the controversy
between the Protesters and the Resolutioners he took the side of the
former.
He died at Glasgow in Feb. 1656 "of a purple fever, of a few days
roving" says Robert Baillie in a letter.
Gray had been a short time married.
His widow became the wife of Mr. George Hutcheson, minister at Irvine.
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