The Scots Worthies

 The first edition of this book, “The Scots Worthies,” was  published in 1870. That would be 9 years before James Clerk Maxwell passed away. 

In the author’s preface (pg.xx) John Howie notes that if their example is not followed then “the Church of Christ is so far from gaining ground, that it loses what it hath already gained in the world; of which the Church of Scotland is a most glaring example…” He goes on to give a few cautions so that there will be great advantage through the Divine blessing by reading about the lives of people like Knox, Alexander Henderson, Donald Cargill, Richard Cameron, George Wishart and many others.

1. Don’t rely on “the person, principle, or practice of any man, yea, the best saint we have ever read or heard of, but only to seek those gifts and graces that most eminently shone forth in them… For it is the peculiar honor and divinity of Jesus Christ alone, to be worthy of being imitated by all men absolutely.” As it says in Philippians 3:17 “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.”

2. “Neither are we, on the other hand, to dwell too much upon the faults or failings that have sometimes been discovered in som of God’s own dear children; but at the same time to consider with ourselves, that, although they were eminent men of God, yet at the same time they were sons of Adam also… So says the apostle, they are “earthen vessels,” “men of like passions with you” (2 Cor 4:7; Acts 14:15).

So I wonder if Maxwell read this book? Yes, I think it is likely. I know from a biography about Maxwell by Campbell (pg 321-322,371) that he was learned in John Owen (1616-1683) and Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).  “A considerable portion of the evening would often be devoted to Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, or a play of Shakespeare, which he would read aloud to Mrs. Maxwell. On Sundays, after returning from the kirk [church], he would bury himself in the works of the old divines.” But I also know that he read modern books and articles. From a letter James Clerk Maxwell wrote in 1876, three years before his death, he cited articles that were published in 1851,1874 and even cited a commentary that by Lightfoot that was published that year. He wrote, “ I think that each individual man should do all he can to impress his own mind with the extent, the order, and the unity of the universe, and should carry these ideas with him as he reads such passages as the 1st Chap. of the Ep. to Colossians (see Lightfoot on Colossians, p. 182), just as enlarged conceptions of the extent and unity of the world of life may be of service to us in reading Psalm viii.; Heb. ii. 6, etc.”

 

These are pictures taken from my visit to Maxwell’s birthplace. We scheduled a tour (https://clerk Maxwell foundation.org) and had a delightful time. 

Here is a paper I wrote called “James Clerk Maxwell and Why Read Biographies”

150 years ago Maxwell wrote in his preface to his Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism “It is of great advantage to the student of any subject to read the original memoirs on that subject … If by anything I have here written I may assist any student in understanding … I shall regard it as an accomplishment of my principal aims - to communicate to others the same delight which I have found myself…” 

   

   I say amen to that. My prayer is that I may assist students to understand and help them have some of the delight I receive. Psalm 111:2 “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

This is some of Maxwell’s handwriting.

On my last day Saturday in Scotland I visited the local library and read some of Maxwell’s letters and original writings. I could have spent longer there, but the library closed at 5pm.  It was an exciting visit.

 (This picture was taken in Maxwell’s birth place on 14 India Street in Edinburgh.)