ALEXANDER WHYTE
Alexander Whyte was born in 1836 and was raised in Kirriemuir, Scotland. His father deserted him before his birth, leaving a certain scandal about his life. His mother, who never remarried, was devoted to raising her one and only son to the best of her ability on limited resources. At a very early age, two life long characteristics were noticeable.1) His love of books.
Due to the lack of funds, borrowed books from friends fueled his voracious appetite for learning. While working as an apprentice in a shoemaker's shop, he paid a younger lad to read to him while he worked.2) His love of the church.
His Sabbath mornings were spent with his mom at the Free Church. His afternoons with his grandmother at the Relief Church. His evenings by himself at the Auld Licht Church.Of all the interests, places and people of Scotland, nothing excels my love and appreciation for the life and ministry of Alexander Whyte. To be brief in comment on such a great life is almost criminal. Hopefully, I can spark your own interest.
1) His grasp of human nature.
Of all the biographical preaching I've heard and read, nothing compares to Whyte's "Characters". His ability to create settings, moods and expose the human heart in all its intricacies is unparalleled. Some have accused him as being too morbid on the subject of sin. But continuing in the great puritan thought, he saw and exposed the "exceeding sinfulness of sin". Many have been the times I have been cut to the quick by his searching insight.2) His grasp of God's grace.
Thankfully, his preaching did not end with exposure, but carried it through to redemption. Again, I wish I had time and space to list the sermons, which have been like a cool cup of water to me when beaten back by my own sinfulness. It could be safely said of Whyte, he may have went deeper in the exposure of human sin, but this only caused him to go higher in the praise of His glorious grace.3) His grasp of Christian Literature.
There was an axiom given to me as a young preacher, "Trace the stream up to its source". In other words, when you find a wealth in preaching or material, trace it back to its source. With Whyte, you are never in the dark; he is generous to mention the writers, preachers and thinkers that fueled his thought. If I was to remove the books from my shelf that could be traced back to a message of Whyte's - well, let's not even consider it. There are very few works of Whyte still in print. His work, "Lord Teach Us To Pray" is available upon request through our ministry for $5, and his "Bible Characters" can be found in bookstores. Sell your bed if you must, but secure your own copy.
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