Horatius Bonar: Kindly simplicity and special kindness

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Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

In today’s post, Horatius Bonar speaks about the kindness of a famous Scottish preacher named John Milne of Perth (a city in Scotland on the River Tay). He caught my attention in researching Scottish preachers because Jenni and I are teaching in Perth, Australia, later this month. While this post differs in style from most posts, it beautifully illustrates kindness from a generous dispenser of it.

“He had far more shrewdness and insight into character than many, judging by his kindly simplicity, gave him credit for. He was a most unsuspicious man; and yet with discerning eye. He might not be the best at giving counsel in an emergency; but even then, as well as at other times, his fruitful active mind would suggest thoughts, or bring up a text, out of which you could extract the advice needed…

A peacemaker everywhere, he had his own ways of making peace; sometimes he would take hold of the hands of the parties and put them into each other; and sometimes, as in meetings of session or meetings for consultation, when any heat threatened to arise, he would stop and say, let us sing Psalm 133: ‘Behold how good a thing it is,’ etc. He belonged to that ‘candid school’ which ‘hopeth all things’ (1 Corinthians 13:7), but not to that whose charity consists in palliating evil, or pleading for error, or excusing departures from the faith.

If any one showed him any slight, or injured him, he made it a matter of conscience to show special kindness to the injurer. Not as if he did not feel the unkindness, for he was acutely sensitive, but as if bent on overcoming evil with good, and on refusing to be affronted in any effort for the welfare of a soul.

As he and I were walking together one day, we passed a gentleman, who bowed. Detaching himself from me, Mr. Milne went after him and talked kindly to him. Rejoining me, he said, ‘That man does not like me, and frequently shows this, but I must win him over.’ He frequently bought articles in a shop where the master was surly… He was asked, ‘Why do you go back to a shop when your custom is not desired?’ ‘I do it on purpose,’ he said; ‘I am trying to soften that man by kindness. He would scarcely speak to me at first; but I’m getting round him, and hope to come to close quarters some day.'”

Horatius Bonar in Life of the Rev. John Milne of Perth, Fifth Edition (New York: Robert Carter Brothers) 92-93.

We can learn a lot from watching godly role models. Today, John Milne gives us insight by watching his “kindly simplicity” and “special kindness.”

Milne’s “kindly simplicity” as described by Bonar appears as always prepared to give counsel and fruitful assistance to people. For us to do this, and do it with generosity, means we need to have space or margin in our lives and our calendars for others. So, “kindly simplicity” means we cut out what is unnecessary in live to make room for loving people well. Do you have this space in your heart and this margin your schedule for others?

Bonar tells us that Milne also extended “special kindness” toward detached or difficult folks so that through love they would be softened over time. As we mix generosity and kindness we start to realize, as God’s servants, that this is God’s highest desire for us: to be known by our love. Instead of avoiding such people, how might you move toward them with special kindness?

Father in heaven, help us to live with kindly simplicity and teach us to extend special kindness to even the most distant people, remembering how you drew near to us. Do this by your Holy Spirit we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.