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The Story of Grace: An Exhibition of God's Love
Horatius Bonar - (1808-1889), Scottish churchman and poet
Horatius Bonar had a passionate heart for revival and was a friend and supporter of several revivalists, He was brother to the more well-known Andrew Bonar, and with him defended D. L. Moody's evangelistic ministry in Scotland. He authored a couple of excellent revival works, one including over a hundred biographical sketches and the other an addendum to Rev. John Gillies' Historical Collections bringing it up to date.
He was a powerful soul-winner and is well qualified to pen this brief, but illuminating study of the character of true revivalists.
Horatius was in fact one of eleven children, and of these an older brother, John James, and a younger, Andrew, also became ministers and were all closely involved, together with Thomas Chalmers, William C. Burns and Robert Murray M'Cheyne, in the important spiritual movements which affected many places in Scotland in the 1830s and 1840s.
In the controversy known as the "Great Disruption," Horatius stood firmly with the evangelical ministers and elders who left the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in May 1843 and formed the new Free Church of Scotland. By this time he had started to write hymns, some of which appeared in a collection he published in 1845, but typically, his compositions were not named. His gifts for expressing theological truths in fluent verse form are evident in all his best-known hymns, but in addition he was also blessed with a deep understanding of doctrinal principles.
Examples of the hymns he composed on the fundamental doctrines include, "Glory be to God the Father".....on the Trinity. "0 Love of God, how strong and true".....on Redemption. "Light of the world," - "Rejoice and be glad" - "Done is the work" on the Person and Work of Christ. "Come Lord and tarry not," on His Second Coming, while the hymn "Blessed be God, our God!" conveys a sweeping survey of Justification and Sanctification.
In all this activity, his pastoral work and preaching were never neglected and after almost twenty years laboring in the Scottish Borders at Kelso, Bonar moved back to Edinburgh in 1866 to be minister at the Chalmers Memorial Chapel (now renamed St. Catherine's Argyle Church). He continued his ministry for a further twenty years helping to arrange D.L. Moody's meetings in Edinburgh in 1873 and being appointed moderator of the Free Church ten years later. His health declined by 1887, but he was approaching the age of eighty when he preached in his church for the last time, and he died on 31 May 1889.
Horatius Bonar had a passionate heart for revival and was a friend and supporter of several revivalists, He was brother to the more well-known Andrew Bonar, and with him defended D. L. Moody's evangelistic ministry in Scotland. He authored a couple of excellent revival works, one including over a hundred biographical sketches and the other an addendum to Rev. John Gillies' Historical Collections bringing it up to date.
He was a powerful soul-winner and is well qualified to pen this brief, but illuminating study of the character of true revivalists.
Horatius was in fact one of eleven children, and of these an older brother, John James, and a younger, Andrew, also became ministers and were all closely involved, together with Thomas Chalmers, William C. Burns and Robert Murray M'Cheyne, in the important spiritual movements which affected many places in Scotland in the 1830s and 1840s.
In the controversy known as the "Great Disruption," Horatius stood firmly with the evangelical ministers and elders who left the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in May 1843 and formed the new Free Church of Scotland. By this time he had started to write hymns, some of which appeared in a collection he published in 1845, but typically, his compositions were not named. His gifts for expressing theological truths in fluent verse form are evident in all his best-known hymns, but in addition he was also blessed with a deep understanding of doctrinal principles.
Examples of the hymns he composed on the fundamental doctrines include, "Glory be to God the Father".....on the Trinity. "0 Love of God, how strong and true".....on Redemption. "Light of the world," - "Rejoice and be glad" - "Done is the work" on the Person and Work of Christ. "Come Lord and tarry not," on His Second Coming, while the hymn "Blessed be God, our God!" conveys a sweeping survey of Justification and Sanctification.
In all this activity, his pastoral work and preaching were never neglected and after almost twenty years laboring in the Scottish Borders at Kelso, Bonar moved back to Edinburgh in 1866 to be minister at the Chalmers Memorial Chapel (now renamed St. Catherine's Argyle Church). He continued his ministry for a further twenty years helping to arrange D.L. Moody's meetings in Edinburgh in 1873 and being appointed moderator of the Free Church ten years later. His health declined by 1887, but he was approaching the age of eighty when he preached in his church for the last time, and he died on 31 May 1889.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2010
36 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Horatius Bonar
563 books43 followersHoratius Bonar (19 December, 1808 – 31 May, 1889) was a Scottish churchman and poet.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2025
A good book on the story of God's Grace. I wish there were footnotes with all of the scripture references which would be helpful while reading. This book was most certainly written to the unbeliever. It is still encouraging but the reader should be aware of this going into it. The string of about no less than 50 questions in a row at the very end was a bit much for me. But otherwise it was a good book with some great truths
November 13, 2025
Very rich. One of those books you need to read more than once to get it all.
August 5, 2023
Excellent. Mostly focuses on the early chapters of Genesis for the initiation of God’s redemptive plan and then the work of Christ for the application of redemption. Good theology and solid devotional content.
March 4, 2017
Wonderful
Very good explanation of grace and what it truly entails in the world of the saved and unsaved. Simple, beautiful writing!
Very good explanation of grace and what it truly entails in the world of the saved and unsaved. Simple, beautiful writing!
January 10, 2026
I was challenged by this book. Even though it is written to non-believers, Christians can gain insight into the redemption story God had in place from the start. The author asks a series of thought provoking questions throughout the book and explains theological concepts in a nonthreatening manner. The book was written in 1847 and it made me long for pastors like Horatius Bonar.
The book focuses primarily on Genesis 3 often referred to as “the fall of man”. He introduces, however, that the “fall” was really the introduction of God’s grace. I had never framed the story in the ways that Bonar does and I am grateful for his insight. I also appreciated how he explained the differences between Cain and Abel’s offerings and why God rejected Cain’s. Again, I hadn’t thought of the implications (and I have been a Christian for years).
I recommend the book. Not sure what nonbelievers I would share it with but I am praying over that…I really enjoyed the book. I do agree with other reviewers that Biblical references would have been helpful (although with a simple search, they are easy to find).
The book focuses primarily on Genesis 3 often referred to as “the fall of man”. He introduces, however, that the “fall” was really the introduction of God’s grace. I had never framed the story in the ways that Bonar does and I am grateful for his insight. I also appreciated how he explained the differences between Cain and Abel’s offerings and why God rejected Cain’s. Again, I hadn’t thought of the implications (and I have been a Christian for years).
I recommend the book. Not sure what nonbelievers I would share it with but I am praying over that…I really enjoyed the book. I do agree with other reviewers that Biblical references would have been helpful (although with a simple search, they are easy to find).
December 5, 2025
The story of Grace is a short little treatise by Horatius Bonar. I found the forward to be just as challenging as a chapter in the book. Sinclair Ferguson tells us that if you wanna know what Bonner’s writing is like this is where you should go. Now with a title like the story of Grace I expected a biblical theology of grace reaching from Genesis to revelation. And it goes from Genesis. Genesis 1 to Genesis 4. Uses a story as a model, telling us how God created, and how man in response, exalted himself as God. He offers why God allowed sin to enter and out of grace. God meets us in our sin. He does not wait for us to make right because we simply cannot. He helps us to realize how grace is understood and that we are battling against Satan, but more than that the battles with ourselves. He reminds us that Eden is preserved, and currently the sword from the garden has been removed. We have access thanks to the cross. And he ends with the story of two brothers, we have two responses. Will we be like Cain or Abel?
December 31, 2025
What a wonderful study in God’s Love…Scottish ‘speaking’ was very interesting and Bonar used many scriptures that filled my heart💕
February 1, 2026
This book is different from other Christian books. It paints a picture in words of the Gospel. I can't find a better way to describe it. I enjoyed it.
August 19, 2025
In The Story of Grace, Horatius Bonar shows how the gospel is an exhibition of God’s love. Sharing the gospel story in a compelling and captivating way, Bonar demonstrates that God has always been a God of grace.
Sin and Holiness
This is as much a book about sin and holiness as it is about grace. I was most interested to read Bonar’s insights as to why God would allow sin to enter the world:
(1) He wished to show us what sin is,
(2) He wished to show the wickedness of the creature,
(3) He wished to show the union between sin and sin,
(4) He wished to show the creature’s helplessness,
(5) He wished to open up His whole character as the infinite Jehovah,
(6) He wished to make creation more immovable.
Lavish and Outlandish Grace
I marveled at how God shows us grace at the cross—how God could love sinners in this way was something totally unthinkable. This book drove my heart to wonder at the lavish and outlandish grace of God.
With a foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson and a lightly updated text to reflect modern spellings, this book will bring you face to face with the God of grace.
I received a media copy of The Story of Grace and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep
Sin and Holiness
This is as much a book about sin and holiness as it is about grace. I was most interested to read Bonar’s insights as to why God would allow sin to enter the world:
(1) He wished to show us what sin is,
(2) He wished to show the wickedness of the creature,
(3) He wished to show the union between sin and sin,
(4) He wished to show the creature’s helplessness,
(5) He wished to open up His whole character as the infinite Jehovah,
(6) He wished to make creation more immovable.
Lavish and Outlandish Grace
I marveled at how God shows us grace at the cross—how God could love sinners in this way was something totally unthinkable. This book drove my heart to wonder at the lavish and outlandish grace of God.
With a foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson and a lightly updated text to reflect modern spellings, this book will bring you face to face with the God of grace.
I received a media copy of The Story of Grace and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep
June 16, 2025
Using grace as the central theme, Bonar helpfully and heart-warmingly recounts the story of how God loves, saves, and embraces sinners.
The more we think about the richness of God’s grace, the more it moves us to humble thankfulness and deep joy, and Bonar does an admirable job of laying out God’s grace to us.
As I read this book, I found myself nodding along at many points. More than that, I felt my heart stir many times as I was reminded of God’s gracious heart toward a sinner like me.
The more we think about the richness of God’s grace, the more it moves us to humble thankfulness and deep joy, and Bonar does an admirable job of laying out God’s grace to us.
As I read this book, I found myself nodding along at many points. More than that, I felt my heart stir many times as I was reminded of God’s gracious heart toward a sinner like me.
January 13, 2025
I have been looking forward to reading more Horatius Bonar since I read one of his books for school two years ago. This book was exactly what I was hoping for!
Written to young Christians as an exposition of the gospel and an exhortation toward repentance and faith, this book is insightful and persuasive. My full review will be live on my blog shortly.
4.3 stars.
Written to young Christians as an exposition of the gospel and an exhortation toward repentance and faith, this book is insightful and persuasive. My full review will be live on my blog shortly.
4.3 stars.
July 23, 2025
Bonar is fast becoming one of my favorite authors - deep, yet accessible, theological, practical - the last 4 chapters are worth the price of admission!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews