James Morison, the Scottish Finney. V

James Morison had been asking himself 'what is the Gospel?' What, he asked, was he to preach to people? What ought they to believe? Influenced by his own logical mind and his reading of Charles Finney, Morison answered that Christ died for every creature. Logically, he reasoned, if Christ is to be preached as a saviour to all, he must have died for all. From then on James Morison rejected the doctrine of Limited Atonement. He preached instead an unlimited atonement.
James Morison went on preaching. It was a time of great blessing in Scotland, and Morison's preaching was blessed to many. He preached for decisions, and he insisted on evidence of a changed life and a true hatred of sin. He preached in various places and even considered becoming an itinerant evangelist. He published anonymously a tract entitled The Question 'What Must I do to be Saved?' Answered. The answer was substantially Charge Finney's, it was 'believe Christ died for you.' At this time Morison was an Amyraldian.

Morison had no thought of the settled ministry, but in 1840 he received a call from the United Secession congregation meeting at Clerk's Lane, Kilmarnock. They had a meeting-house capable of holding a thousand hearers, and a comfortable manse adjoining the building. The Church was in a divided state, and they needed a pastor to draw them together. Morison's call was signed by the majority of the congregation.
Morison was warned by those who signed the call that the Church was divided, and that, while they would stand by him, he would have a tough job. They thought the the intenselt earnest Morison was the only man who could bring the congregation together.

What was Morison's response? We shall see next time, God willing.