Plank of Free Grace

The Rev. James Durham, a notable minister in Glasgow in the seventeenth century, was a very godly man and a powerful gospel preacher. None understood better, or could more admirably unveil to the minds of others, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Yet when death was approaching, he felt himself deprived for a time of the consolation he had so often ministered to others. While in this state he was visited by the Rev. Andrew Gray, another minister in Glasgow, who pointed out to him the words in John 6:37, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Like the drops of honey to the fainting Jonathan, was this promise to that troubled servant of the Lord. “Enough”, he said, “I will cast all my good deeds and all my bad deeds overboard, and swim to glory on the plank of free grace.”