An Inch to Preach

"But an inch of time remains, and then eternal ages roll on for ever -- but an inch on which we can stand and preach the way of salvation to a perishing world."


- Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843), a minister in the Church of Scotland, who died two months before the Disruption at the age of 29 due to typhus fever. Upon the occasion of the right of the church to govern itself coming before the House of Commons, M'Cheyne wrote in his diary, "Eventful night this in the British Parliament! Once more King Jesus stands at an earthly tribunal, and they know Him not!"

Preminently a Preacher of the Gospel

"I have followed holiness, I have taught truth, and I have been most in the main things; not that I thought the things concerning our times little, but that I thought none could do anything to purpose in God's great and public matters, till they were right in their conditions."


- Donald Cargill (1619-1681), a preacher during the Killing Times in Scotland, when Charles II was systematically hunting down and killing with his armies presbyterians who would not confess that the king was head of the Church, as Christ is her only head. Though towards the end of his life Cargill was forced to take up civil matters pressing on the times, he considered himself first and primarily a preacher of the gospel of Christ. As he climbed up the scaffold to be beheaded, he said, "The Lord knows I go up this ladder with less fear, confusion or perturbation of mind, than ever I entered a pulpit to preach."

Tears for the Lost

"Should you not weep over such a people, and should not your tears interrupt your words? Should you not cry aloud, and show them their transgressions; and entreat and beseech them as for life and death?"


- Richard Baxter (1615-1691), was a very influential puritan and enemy of the state in London. His book, A Call to the Unconverted to Turn and Live, was instrumental in the conversion of thousands. In it he writes, “We are commanded to beseech and entreat you to accept the offer and turn; to tell you what preparation is made by Christ; what mercy stays for you; what patience waits on you… We must tell you of the wrath that is on you already, and the death that you are born under for the breach of the law of works. But this is only to show you the need of mercy, and to provoke you to esteem the grace of the Redeemer."

Earnestness in Preaching

"You think we are too earnest with you to leave your sins and accept of Christ; but when you come to die you will see the meaning of it. We see death at your backs."


- Matthew Henry (1662-1714), on preaching to his congregation. Being noted for his warm zeal in preaching, he defended himself saying, "I cannot help it; for I believe the things I speak to be true and great, and I would be in my work as one in earnest."

"He that hears you, hears Me"

"He that is sent of God to preach, speaks in His name, and what He says is as if God from heaven spoke it... our saviour Christ therefore said to His disciples going forth to preach, 'he that hears you, hears me, and he that despises you, despises me'... so every preacher of the word speaks only what God puts into his mouth as he preaches according to the Word. And therefore St. Paul commends the Thessalonians, for they received his preaching as God's Word, such as indeed it was (1 Thess. 2:13)."


- John Mayer (1629), English puritan.

Everyone is Happy

"It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us - so everyone was happy."

- Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001), a Romanian Jew converted to Christ, imprisoned in solitary confinement for 14 years under the Communists, author of Tortured for Christ and founder of Voice of the Martyrs.