Behold the Creeping Worm - Thomas Guthrie #shorts #christianpreacher #christianshorts #jesuschristisourlord 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, `he is' a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. (NIV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:* The old has gone, the new is here! Ephesians 2:1-10 Chapter 2 1 And you `did he make alive,' when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:-- 4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly `places', in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: 8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, `it is' the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them. (NIV) 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh* and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Thomas Guthrie FRSE (12 July 1803 – 24 February 1873) was a Scottish divine and philanthropist, born at Brechin in Angus (at that time also called Forfarshire). He was one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, and was associated with many forms of philanthropy—especially temperance and Ragged Schools, of which he was a founder.[1] Life Carte de visite showing Guthrie in the early 1870s. memorial to Dr Thomas Guthrie in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh The statue of Thomas Guthrie on Princes Street, Edinburgh Book illustration of George Harvey's Dr. Guthrie preaching in the Glen He was born on 12 July 1803 the son of David Guthrie, a banker, and later Provost of Brechin.[2] Thomas grew to a height of six foot and three inches.[3] Guthrie studied at Edinburgh University for both surgery and anatomy (under Dr Robert Knox) but then concentrated on Theology.[4] He was licensed to preach in the Church of Scotland from 1825,[5] but having established a reputation as an evangelical he had difficulty securing a parish and instead spent two years studying medicine and science in Paris.[6]: 46  Following his return from Paris and a period of varied employment, including as a bank manager, he was eventually offered the living of Arbirlot in Angus by the Hon William Maule in 1830. Guthrie served as Minister of Arbirlot for eight years, and while there where he adopted a dramatic style of preaching suited to his rural congregation.[5] As well as his training for the Ministry, his medical knowledge and experience was called upon in particular during an outbreak of cholera in the parish.[6]: 46  In 1837 Guthrie was called to the second charge of Old Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, alongside first charge minister Rev John Sym. Edinburgh Town Council discontinued the second charge at Old Greyfriars in October 1840 and instead created a new parish called St John's. A new church was built on Victoria Street to serve this role with Guthrie as its first minister.[7] Guthrie left the Church of Scotland in the Disruption of 1843 and many of his congregation followed him. They worshipped for 2 years in the Methodist Hall in Nicholson Square before moving into the purpose-built Free St John's, Johnston Terrace (now St Columba's Free Church) in 1845. Possessed of a commanding presence and voice, and a remarkably effective and picturesque style of oratory, he became perhaps the most popular preacher of his day in Scotland, and was associated with many forms of philanthropy, especially temperance and ragged schools, of which he was a founder; he first publicizing the idea in his "Plea for Ragged Schools" in 1847.[5] His hard work as a proponent and founder of the Ragged Schools movement led him to be quoted by Samuel Smiles in his Self Help.[8] The first ragged school was soon opened on Castle Hill, Edinburgh.[9] He was one of the leaders of the Free Church of Scotland, and raised over £116,000 for the Manse Fund for its ministers.[5] Guthrie expressed serious concern that the Manse Fund would stretch the generosity of Free Church people to the limit but his fears were unfounded. After Guthrie had toured 13 Synods and 58 Presbyteries in less than a year, he was able to announce to the General Assembly of June 1846 that £116,370 had been raised. It is unlikely that anyone else could have achieved what he did in such a short space of time. His energy and oratory enabled the Manse Fund to smash its original target. Numerous ministers and their families owed a huge debt of gratitude to Guthrie for providing the resources to build manses so that the gospel could continue to prosper not just in the Highlands but across the whole of Scotland. Along with his Ragged Schools the Manse Fund was one of Guthrie's greatest legacies. With the one he showed mercy to helpless children and with the other he fought oppression by raising funds for manses.