The Scottish preacher, George Matheson (1842-1906) was a remarkable man. I’ll never forget the first time I read his story many years ago–I was blessed beyond measure! Over the years I accumulated several quotes from him that I carry in my Bible case and refer to time and time again. In this article I have put some of these quotes together to acquaint you with this man, with the hopes that you too will be blessed.
HIS DIFFICULTIES
George Matheson is probably best known for writing the hymn,”O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”. It was written on the eve of his sister’s marriage and after the most heartbreaking event of his life.
Before he lost his sight Matheson was engaged to a young lady that he loved dearly. When he discovered that in a short time he would permanently lose his sight, he told his fiancee the bad news. Her reply was–“Why, George, I couldn’t be tied to a blind man the rest of my life”. The engagement was broken off and George went blind while studying for the ministry. But out of that awful experience came the wonderful hymn that has blessed so many.
HIS SONG
In his deep sorrow Matheson wrote these words:
“O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.”
HIS PRAYER
“My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorns. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross: but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Shew me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Shew me that my tears have made my rainbow.
Thou wouldest not have me accept Thy will because I must, but because I may. Thou wouldest have me take it, not with resignation, but with joy; not with the absence of a murmur, but with a song of praise.”
HIS COUNSEL
“There are some songs which can only be learned in the valley. No art can teach them; no rules of voice can make them perfectly sung. Their music is in the heart. They are songs of memory, of personal experience—–
St. John says that even in Heaven there will be songs that can only be fully sung by the sons of earth–the strain of redemption. Doubtless it is a song of triumph, a hymn of victory to the Christ who made us free—-
No angel, no archangel can sing it so sweetly as I can. To sing it as I sing it, they must pass through my exile, and this they cannot do. None can learn it but the children of the cross.
There are chords too minor for the angels. There may be heights in the symphony which are beyond the scale–heights which angels alone can reach; but there are depths which belong to thee, and can only be touched by thee.
In the night He is preparing thy song. In the valley He is tuning thy voice. In the cloud He is deepening thy chords. In the rain He is sweetening thy melody. In the cold He is molding thy expression. In the transition from hope to fear He is perfecting thy lights. Despite not thy school of sorrow, O my soul; it will give thee a unique part in the universal song.”
HIS POEM
“There is an eye that never sleeps,
Beneath the wings of night.
There is an ear that never shuts
When sink the beams of light.
There is an arm that never tires
When human strength gives way.
There is a love that never fails
When earthly loves decay.”
—George Matheson
THINK ABOUT IT !!!!!
