Memoir of the Life and Brief Ministry of the Rev. David Sandeman

“Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?”

Micah vi. 6.

‘■’Let Israel rejoice in Him that made hira” (Ps. cxlix. 2), is a call of the Holy Spirit addressed to those who have been made new, and made meet for the glory that is to be revealed, by Him who gave them their being. **Whatever a believing man is, he owes it all to the sovereign grace of his God, who made him a vessel of honour; for his “willing and running” (Rom. ix. 1 6) came not from himself, but originated with God, “who sheweth mercy,”

It was entirely so with him of whom these pages speak. David Sandeman, second son of Glas Sandeman, Esq. of Bonskied, was born at Perth, 23d April 1826. The pleasant residence of this prosperous family was Springland, close to the river Tay, within a mile of the town, and not far from a locality renowned in Scottish history, the old palace of Scone, where the kings of Scotland used to be crowned.

EDUCATION.

In his infancy lie was somewhat more sedate than children usually are, and in boyhood shewed no great interest in games that delighted his companions; yet he was always fearless in manly exercises, a bold rider, skater, and swimmer. It was not quickness, but perseverance, that distinguished him from other boys, along with regularity in all his habits and a strong sense of duty. At school, while his companions loved him for his kindliness, his teachers remarked his diligence and conscientious industry,which enabled him to outstrip cleverer scholars, so much so, that the rector of Perth Academy, Dr Miller, testified, in referring to his mathematical studies, that to him belonged the praise of bringing forward the entire dass of which he was a member.

The only incident of his younger years which seems marked by any special interest is his being sent, at the age of fifteen, to the Pestalozzian Institution at Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, conducted by Dr Hildenmaier. There, besides laying the foundation of other acquirements, he began to learn French and German, for in that Institution conversation was carried on in both these languages; and it may be that this circumstance contributed to foster his liking to foreign tongues, and may thus have had some remote influence, in after years, in deciding his mind toward China, At this place, too, his youthful affections were drawn out by the kindness of his instructors, and his mind developed amid pleasant scenery; his common excursions, even in seasons of recreation, being to such spots in the neighbourhood as Chatsworth or Welbect Abbey.

At this period he rose early, was thorough in the preparation of lessons., acted conscientiously, shewed great respect to the teachings of the Word of God, and observed the forms of godliness as others round him did. Many would have thought that he had the fear of God before his eyes. It was not so, however, at that period, though the Lord was keeping abundant mercy for him. The instrumentality employed in bringing about his change was of various kinds, as is perhaps most frequently the case with the Lord’s work in conversion. He himself, in reference to agents employed by the Lord in effecting such changes, made the interesting remark in after years to a friend at Jordanhill — “It is just like a large vessel returning laden with goods; it will be found at last that every individual believer has had a share in the ingathering of souls. As for myself, when letting down the Gospel-net, I always feel that other believers are letting it down along with me,”

We have his own testimony that he lived eighteen years without God. Thus, in 1849, he writes in looking back: —

UNCONVERTED STILL.

“For eighteen years of my life I believe that I was truly without the knowledge of God. During all that time, my conduct was never influenced by the thought of His existence as a person, or of any thing I did being pleasing or displeasing to Him. Assuredly I worshipped as the heathen at Athens, an ’ unknown God;’ or as the Samaritans, I ‘knew not what, Anything like a knowledge of Him was a vague, undefined sense or fear of future retribution for evil done, and that a God, a powerful Being, would inflict it.

“An undefined sense of duty, my parents, masters, emulation among my fellow-pupils, carnal lusts, and above all — 6 self; these, I believe, wrere my gods; at least, they held all the place where God should have been.

“I was dissatisfied or happy, entirely as I managed to please or displease them. Of the worship due to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, I was as ignorant as a stock or stone,”

On 4th April 1852, he takes a similar review of the past: — “This day corresponds to the Sabbath of my new birth. I still bitterly repent the time 1 spent in Satan’s service. It is unmingled bitterness: I went smoothly on in utter disregard of Christ. I never honoured Him as God, as my Creator, my Judge, and my risen Redeemer. I was a decent rebel, outwardly respectable, but in reality a despiser of Christ.”

And yet from infancy he had been taught by his parents the way of salvation, and had been moving among those who not only knew the Lord, but also adorned the Gospel by their holy life. Often doen he refer, at a later period, to his mother’s prayers and anxious yearnings over him in those days; sometimes to books put into his hands; and also to faithful ministers whose preaching of Christ and His salvation he felt to be impressive. Still for eighteen years his soul was dead to God. In the years 1839 and 1840, the ministry of Mr Millar, then minister of St Leonard’s, Perth (now of the Free Church at Clunie), and next that of Mr Milne, his successor, produced a considerable impression on his mind, which was deepened by attending the services conducted by Mr W. C. Burns, now missionary in China, during a season of revival. It was only then that he began to see what the sinner is by nature, and what is the way of escape. A friend remembers meeting him and his two brothers in the lobby of the church, after a sermon by Mr Burns on the words — “Deliver from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom;” and how, with a solemn expression of countenance, he said, “I never knew till to-night what my Saviour did for me.*” Sacramental seasons also,

GLASGOW.

at that period, used to give an impulse to his feelings. For about two years he remained in this half-awakened state.

In December 1842, he came to Glasgow to learn business. Blameless from infancy to the world’s eye, ever ready to shew kindness to others, kept, too, by the hand of a gracious God from all outward vice, and even the appearance of evil, nevertheless he was, and knew that he was, unconverted. He had gone only so far as nature may go; he was not born of God. One step onward he seemed to take in Glasgow — namely, he was taught the lesson of the world’s utter insufficiency to give the soul what it craves. “He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again,” was his experience.

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