Charles Henry Mackintosh
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry MacKintosh was a nineteenth century Christian
preacher
, dispensationalist, writer
of Bible commentaries, magazine editor and member of the Plymouth Brethren
.
's Operations of the Spirit. In 1838 he went to work in a business house in Limerick
, Ireland
. The following year he went to Dublin and identified himself with the Plymouth Brethren
. About 1874, Mackintosh reflecting on his course wrote, "I had not the honour of being among the first of those who planted their feet on the blessed ground occupied by Brethren. I left the Establishment about the year 1839, and took my place at the table in Dublin, where dear Bellett was ministering with great acceptance ... As a young man I, of course, walked in retirement, having no thought of coming forward in public ministry of any kind ... Indeed, I may say that nothing but the most solemn sense of responsibility could ever have induced me to stand up in public."
In 1843 Mackintosh wrote his first tract
entitled Peace with God. When he was twenty-four years of age, he opened a private school at Westport
where he developed a special method of teaching classical languages. The Great Irish Potato Famine (“An Gorta Mor” – The Great Hunger) of 1845-1850 raged around this time and though the British Government had repeatedly attempted to relieve the desperate poverty among the Irish (following the Act of Union 1800
), the intense and increasing suffering of the common people only worsened. During school holiday periods Mackintosh went around Co. Mayo preaching the gospel
to the poor. The endeavour to run a boarding school in such a poor and famine-hit district caused Mackintosh to cease the enterprise in 1853: in February he told John Nelson Darby
that "Nothing could induce him to go on with a boarding school".
For a while he tried farming. He wrote again to Darby on 31 August 1853, "I cannot resist sending you a few lines to tell you of the Lord's peculiar mercy and faithfulness to His unworthy servant since I last wrote amid much conflict of soul from various causes. I was led to preach a little from share of circumstances and gave myself entirely to the work to which, I feel convinced, He has called me. I earnestly desired, at the same time, if possible, to work with my hands and for this purpose, I bought a small farm. However the Lord did not suffer me to take such a thing, but called me into larger service than ever, and blessed be His name, owned the service most manifestly, while at the same time He most graciously passed in upon me far more than enough to meet all my need. I mention this to you, my beloved brother, because I knew how your heart is interested in the work and those engaged in it." It was not long before he concluded he must give himself entirely to preaching, writing and public speaking.
) from 1858 to 1890, and Good News for the Little Ones, later called Good News for Young and Old and some pages for the Little Ones from 1859 to 1876.
Mackintosh took a great interest in, and actively participated in, the great Irish Evangelical revival of 1859 and 1860 (see Revivalism).
Mackintosh's literary fame rests primarily upon his work Notes on the Pentateuch, beginning with a volume of 334 pages on Genesis, and concluding with a two-volume work on Deuteronomy
extending to over 800 pages. These are still in print and have been translated into a dozen or more languages.
Brethren historian Roy Coad notes:
"Another popular writer among the exclusives was an Irish schoolmaster, Charles Henry Mackintosh, who preached extensively in the revival movement. The initials 'C.H.M.' became familiar in many pious evangelical households of the later Victorian and Edwardian years. No critical scholar, Mackintosh nevertheless had a marked gift for simple Biblical exposition, and his works on the Pentateuch had an enormous vogue as simple aids to devotional interpretation for the first five books of the Bible. He was, however, no theologian, and certain isolated sentences in those books referred to 'the heavenly humanity' of Christ (and thus verged on formal heresy), brought him much hostile notice from prejudiced opponents of the Brethren (who took his writings as being far more significant and representative than they deserved). He later withdrew the expressions, on Darby's insistence."
Charles Spurgeon
offers the following comment on C.H. Mackintosh's Notes on Leviticus:
"We do not endorse Plymouthism which pervades these notes, but they are frequently suggestive. Should be read cautiously."
pouring out his heart to God, first for the whole assembly, and then for the little companies gathered everywhere to the Lord's Name. The Lord's interests were the great burden of his heart. Though he had been for a length of time incapacitated for any public service he was still keeping the charge." Mackintosh died on 2 November 1896 shortly after entering his 76th year, following increasing weakness in which he had no energy left to preach, though he had continued to write until even that was impossible. Eventually this also ceased, but his literature continued to be published. The 6th edition of Notes on the Book of Genesis was published before the year ended.
Four days later on 6 November 1896 he was buried in Cheltenham
Cemetery. He was buried by the side of his wife in what is known as "the Plymouth Brethren plot", just in front of the grave of one of his converts, the hymn writer G.W. Frazer who had died in the previous January and where other prominent Plymouth Brethren of the day were buried. Dr. Walter Wolston of Edinburgh
preached from Genesis 25:8-10 and Hebrews
11:8-10 at the funeral and the mourners sang J.N. Darby’s hymn:
O bright and blessèd scenes,
Where sin can never come;
Whose sight our longing spirit weans
From earth, where yet we roam.
The American author of a brief obituary remarked that he would not allow his "thoughts to indulge in fulsome praise (of men) – rather to recognise the grace of God vouchsafed to His servant." An Australian magazine The Message published this in its pages, "Now to tell of our beloved and honoured brother Mr Mackintosh's departure to be with Christ. He had been in failing health for twelve months, but continued the Handfuls of Pasture monthly as before – most sweet, profitable teaching. Mr Mackintosh's breathing greatly distressed him, and for some time he was not equal to going to the Meetings, or even to leaving the house, but did not take to his bed. I went as often as I could to see him. When inquiring how he was, the answer ever was – 'Just as I ought to be.' God’s way was always best to him. Just six months before his own departure to be with Christ – J B Stoney, in declining health at Scarborough, said of CHM, 'He is now where love is satisfied.'"
The Scripture texts on the gravestone of Mackintosh and his wife Emma are "Feed the flock of God" (1 Peter 5:3) and "He being dead yet speaketh" (Hebrews 11:4). Beneath Emma’s inscription is Darby’s verse,
Jesus, we wait for Thee,
With Thee to have our part;
What can full joy and blessing be
But being where Thou art?
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, dispensationalist, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of Bible commentaries, magazine editor and member of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
.
Early life
Mackintosh was the son of Captain Duncan Mackintosh , an officer in a Highland regiment. He is considered to be the older cousin of Charles Herbert Mackintosh." Charles Henry had a spiritual experience at the age of eighteen through the letters of his sister and the reading of John Nelson DarbyJohn Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
's Operations of the Spirit. In 1838 he went to work in a business house in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The following year he went to Dublin and identified himself with the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
. About 1874, Mackintosh reflecting on his course wrote, "I had not the honour of being among the first of those who planted their feet on the blessed ground occupied by Brethren. I left the Establishment about the year 1839, and took my place at the table in Dublin, where dear Bellett was ministering with great acceptance ... As a young man I, of course, walked in retirement, having no thought of coming forward in public ministry of any kind ... Indeed, I may say that nothing but the most solemn sense of responsibility could ever have induced me to stand up in public."
In 1843 Mackintosh wrote his first tract
Tract
Tract may refer to:* Land lot, a section of land* Census tract, a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census* Tract , a short written work, usually of a political or religious nature...
entitled Peace with God. When he was twenty-four years of age, he opened a private school at Westport
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
where he developed a special method of teaching classical languages. The Great Irish Potato Famine (“An Gorta Mor” – The Great Hunger) of 1845-1850 raged around this time and though the British Government had repeatedly attempted to relieve the desperate poverty among the Irish (following the Act of Union 1800
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
), the intense and increasing suffering of the common people only worsened. During school holiday periods Mackintosh went around Co. Mayo preaching the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to the poor. The endeavour to run a boarding school in such a poor and famine-hit district caused Mackintosh to cease the enterprise in 1853: in February he told John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
that "Nothing could induce him to go on with a boarding school".
For a while he tried farming. He wrote again to Darby on 31 August 1853, "I cannot resist sending you a few lines to tell you of the Lord's peculiar mercy and faithfulness to His unworthy servant since I last wrote amid much conflict of soul from various causes. I was led to preach a little from share of circumstances and gave myself entirely to the work to which, I feel convinced, He has called me. I earnestly desired, at the same time, if possible, to work with my hands and for this purpose, I bought a small farm. However the Lord did not suffer me to take such a thing, but called me into larger service than ever, and blessed be His name, owned the service most manifestly, while at the same time He most graciously passed in upon me far more than enough to meet all my need. I mention this to you, my beloved brother, because I knew how your heart is interested in the work and those engaged in it." It was not long before he concluded he must give himself entirely to preaching, writing and public speaking.
Author and Evangelist
Soon after this he established a periodical named Things New and Old, which he continued to edit (with Charles StanleyCharles Stanley
Charles Stanley , is a US preacher, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.Charles Stanley may also refer to:*Charles H...
) from 1858 to 1890, and Good News for the Little Ones, later called Good News for Young and Old and some pages for the Little Ones from 1859 to 1876.
Mackintosh took a great interest in, and actively participated in, the great Irish Evangelical revival of 1859 and 1860 (see Revivalism).
Mackintosh's literary fame rests primarily upon his work Notes on the Pentateuch, beginning with a volume of 334 pages on Genesis, and concluding with a two-volume work on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
extending to over 800 pages. These are still in print and have been translated into a dozen or more languages.
Brethren historian Roy Coad notes:
"Another popular writer among the exclusives was an Irish schoolmaster, Charles Henry Mackintosh, who preached extensively in the revival movement. The initials 'C.H.M.' became familiar in many pious evangelical households of the later Victorian and Edwardian years. No critical scholar, Mackintosh nevertheless had a marked gift for simple Biblical exposition, and his works on the Pentateuch had an enormous vogue as simple aids to devotional interpretation for the first five books of the Bible. He was, however, no theologian, and certain isolated sentences in those books referred to 'the heavenly humanity' of Christ (and thus verged on formal heresy), brought him much hostile notice from prejudiced opponents of the Brethren (who took his writings as being far more significant and representative than they deserved). He later withdrew the expressions, on Darby's insistence."
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
offers the following comment on C.H. Mackintosh's Notes on Leviticus:
"We do not endorse Plymouthism which pervades these notes, but they are frequently suggestive. Should be read cautiously."
Closing Days
Charles Andrew Coates wrote, "I was one of the last persons to hear C.H.M. pray. It was most touching to hear the aged and feeble LeviteLevite
In Jewish tradition, a Levite is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Canaan, the Levites were the only Israelite tribe that received cities but were not allowed to be landowners "because the Lord the God of Israel himself is their inheritance"...
pouring out his heart to God, first for the whole assembly, and then for the little companies gathered everywhere to the Lord's Name. The Lord's interests were the great burden of his heart. Though he had been for a length of time incapacitated for any public service he was still keeping the charge." Mackintosh died on 2 November 1896 shortly after entering his 76th year, following increasing weakness in which he had no energy left to preach, though he had continued to write until even that was impossible. Eventually this also ceased, but his literature continued to be published. The 6th edition of Notes on the Book of Genesis was published before the year ended.
Four days later on 6 November 1896 he was buried in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
Cemetery. He was buried by the side of his wife in what is known as "the Plymouth Brethren plot", just in front of the grave of one of his converts, the hymn writer G.W. Frazer who had died in the previous January and where other prominent Plymouth Brethren of the day were buried. Dr. Walter Wolston of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
preached from Genesis 25:8-10 and Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...
11:8-10 at the funeral and the mourners sang J.N. Darby’s hymn:
O bright and blessèd scenes,
Where sin can never come;
Whose sight our longing spirit weans
From earth, where yet we roam.
The American author of a brief obituary remarked that he would not allow his "thoughts to indulge in fulsome praise (of men) – rather to recognise the grace of God vouchsafed to His servant." An Australian magazine The Message published this in its pages, "Now to tell of our beloved and honoured brother Mr Mackintosh's departure to be with Christ. He had been in failing health for twelve months, but continued the Handfuls of Pasture monthly as before – most sweet, profitable teaching. Mr Mackintosh's breathing greatly distressed him, and for some time he was not equal to going to the Meetings, or even to leaving the house, but did not take to his bed. I went as often as I could to see him. When inquiring how he was, the answer ever was – 'Just as I ought to be.' God’s way was always best to him. Just six months before his own departure to be with Christ – J B Stoney, in declining health at Scarborough, said of CHM, 'He is now where love is satisfied.'"
The Scripture texts on the gravestone of Mackintosh and his wife Emma are "Feed the flock of God" (1 Peter 5:3) and "He being dead yet speaketh" (Hebrews 11:4). Beneath Emma’s inscription is Darby’s verse,
Jesus, we wait for Thee,
With Thee to have our part;
What can full joy and blessing be
But being where Thou art?
Further information
- John Rylands University Library, Manchester, Christian Brethren Archive.
- Private Brethren Archive of Edwin Cross, Woolwich, London SE18.