John Colquhoun: "A Treatise On Spiritual Comfort"

John Colquhoun, 1748 - 1782.

John Colquhoun (probably pronounced Ka-hoon or Kal-hoon) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister who pastored at New Church, South Leith, Scotland for 46 years.  He was greatly influenced by the writings of Thomas Boston, one of the "Marrowmen" who died 16 years before Colquhoun was born.

Last week's post focused on James 5:13, and the distress of those who, weak in faith, were on the verge of abandoning their hope in Christ.  In his "Treatise On Spiritual Comfort," Colquhoun strives to give pastoral direction to those like this:  professed believers who suffered under a heavy conviction of sin and who yet were unable to find assurance of forgiveness.  Colquhoun's remedy was to point the sinner to the freeness, completeness, and universality of the work of salvation in Christ.  Here is the first of his points of counsel:

“1)  Endeavour to understand well the covenant of grace.  Study, without delay, to attain just and clear views of the infinite riches, suitableness, and freeness, of the grace of that everlasting covenant.  The better you understand, and the more you think of, that wonderful contract - in which complete salvation is purchased, promised, and sure to you - the more, under the consoling influences of the Spirit of grace, will your souls be sustained and your tempers be sweetened.  Think as often of the righteousness of Jesus Christ as of your own sinfulness; as often of His fulness of grace as of your own emptiness of grace; and as frequently of the boundless love, grace, and mercy of your Covenant-God as of His majesty, holiness, and justice.  

       The way to diminish, and even to overcome those terrors, which arise from partial and false apprehensions of God, is to attain spiritual, clear, and enlarged views of Him, as a God whose glory it is to be merciful and gracious even to the chief of sinners; and who will certainly shew mercy to them who unfeignedly desire to honour Him and to be eternal debtors to His redeeming grace, for ail their salvation.  Let your thoughts also dwell on these cheering truths: That the Lord Jesus hath, according to that well-ordered and sure covenant, given such an infinite satisfaction to Divine justice, for your sins, as secures you from eternal death; That He hath performed such a perfect obedience to the Divine law, as merits for you eternal life; and, That life eternal is, to you, the infinitely free gift of God”

(Excerpt From: Colquhoun, John. “A Treatise on Spiritual Comfort.” Printed for J. Ogle. iBooks.)