John Brown of Wamphray

(1610-1679)

John Brown was one of the great theological writers in the later period of the Second Reformation. Samuel Rutherford said that he “saw Christ in him more than in his brethren”. He was a man of “very great learning, warm zeal, and remarkable piety”.

He was the minister of Wamphray near Dumfries. Together with other faithful ministers he was removed from his congregation after the restoration of Charles II. He was imprisoned in 1662. After a while, he was so ill that he was at the point of death and was exiled to Holland. Here he pastored the Scots Church at Rotterdam and wrote a large number of books. It was said of his sermons that they breathed “nothing but faith in Christ, and communion with Him”.

The Only Test Of Truth

“The only test and touchstone by which we are to try what is truth, what is error, and upon which we are to rest, is the Word of the Lord”

Beware of Corruption

Christ's Hospital

“We must look upon the Church of Christ as an hospital…wherein every person has some defect or other…This Is God’s holy appointment that He may show His love and care in going through His hospital, daily giving physic [medicine], here binding up the broken leg or arm, there bearing His sickly children in His arms, turning the other sick one’s bed unto him, washing away the blood and of another and curing all so that none dieth in His hands, He carrieth all safe to glory”

One Thing Is Needful

“Let then a man have never so much knowledge, and be acquainted with the mysteries of all arts and sciences, and with the depths of nature, and intrigues of states, and all the theory of religion; if he be unacquainted with Jesus, he knoweth nothing as he ought to know. Oh! if we were wise at length, and could think more of this one thing necessary; and could be stirred up to learn more of him, and to make this the subject of all our study and labour”

A Sure Anchor

“…It were good in such a time of erring from the way of truth, to be gripping Christ faster, and cleaving to Him by faith and living by faith in Him. This is to hold the foundation fast: and then let the tempest of error blow as it will, they will ride at a sure anchor and be safe because fixed upon the Rock of Ages, and further, living near Christ in such a dangerous day, would be a noble preservative from the infection of error.”

How Can Prayer Be A Burden?

“What a wonder is this. Will the Lord be content to hear all our heart secrets and admit us to intimate familiarity with Him as one heart friend with another…and shall this be our burden?”

Long Winter Nights - Spiritually

“We wonder that ’tis not always hot summer days, a flourishing and fruitful season, with souls and with churches. But know we the thoughts of the Lord; see we to the bottom of the deep contrivance of infinite wisdom? Know we the usefulness, yea, necessity of long winter nights, stormy blasts, rain, hail, snow, and frost? Consider we, that our state and condition, while here, calleth for those vicissitudes, and requireth the blowing of the north as well as of the south winds? If we considered, how grace had ordered all things for our best, and most for the glory and exaltation of grace, we would sit down and sing under the saddest of dispensations, and living by faith and hope, we would rejoice in the confident expectation of a gracious outgate [release]”