John
Brown (1722-1787), a Presbyterian minister (Associate Synod), was raised in
extreme poverty. His father was a herdsman, a godly man who lead the family in
worship morning and evening. He died when John was eleven, and his dear mother
followed soon after, leaving the youth to work for his living as a shepherd in
the hills around Abernethy, Scotland. From an early age he gave evidence of
the work of Christ in him. God having bestowed on him the gift of an excellent
mind and retentive memory, John Brown learnt as much as he could from
ministers who would give him studies to work on during his two free hours at
midday. Having begun to learn Latin, which was always taught in those days, he
decided to try learning Greek, a language not then so widely studied. So the
ingenious young lad borrowed a Greek New Testament and taught himself the
language while in the field with the flock, diligently comparing the Greek
letters of biblical names with the names in his own English Bible. Despite
undergoing many hardships and cruel misunderstandings, he grew in the
knowledge of God’s grace, and after seeking righteousness by the works of
the law, he said:
“But
thanks be to God, He passed by me, and looked upon
me, and said unto me, “LIVE.” And, behold, my time was the time of love,
the day of power, the day of espousals indeed! Determined to make an uncommon
stretch of Almighty grace, He hedged me in. Before, behind, and on every side,
I heard, I say, I felt – not cherubim with flaming swords, but calls, but
cords, of everlasting love.”
John
Brown's final letter to his flock
