The
beginning of wisdom
by Duncan
M Blair
(first
appeared in 1945, the year after Blair's death)
Foreword
by D Martyn Lloyd-Jones, MD, MHCP.
It is with a high sense of
privilege that I write a brief foreword to this collection of
addresses delivered by my friend, the late Professor Duncan M. Blair.
When the unexpected
and tragic news of his death reached me, I, together with all others
who intimately had known him and his work, felt that something should
be done to provide a permanent memorial to him and of him. And what
better memorial could there be than this book which records his own
words and the quintessence of his teaching?
There are some men
who can be easily divorced from their addresses. Indeed, it can be
said of them that they are in no way essential, as such, to their
addresses. Their view of truth and their presentation of truth are so
objective that in a sense their speeches could have been delivered by
anyone. But there are others and of these the greatest and most
illustrious example is the Apostle Paul who, though never anxious to
obtrude themselves into their message, nevertheless are an integral
part of the message. Their words, even when read, are never lifeless.
As we read their words we see the speaker, we hear the voice, we see
the familiar gestures and we are dominated by the sway of the
powerful personality.
The late Professor
Blair belongs to that group. In this book we not only read his words,
but we are face to face once more with the man himself. For he was
essentially a speaker and a teacher, and whatever he did, he did it
"with all his might." All who ever had the privilege of
listening to him will hear and see him again as they read these
pages. It is indeed the ideal memorial to such a man.
That alone justifies
a book like this. But there is another reason for its publication and
one which would commend itself (and probably the only one which would
commend itself) to Professor Blair himself. It is to propagate the
truth which he believed, and by winch he lived ; and to perpetuate
the work to which he gave himself so generously and untiringly.
The word "work"
is not used in any mere conventional sense. I do not know of any man
who has crowded more into a comparatively short life. It was a
constant source of amazement to all his friends to know how he found
the time for all his activities. His post as Regius Professor of
Anatomy at Glasgow was a heavy task in itself, and especially to a
man who was so conscientious and painstaking, and who so hated
anything slip-shod or unworthy. But in addition to this, his
activities in a purely religious sense were such as, I fear, to shame
many of us who are whole-time ministers of the Gospel. It would be no
exaggeration to say that he was the most outstanding religious layman
in Glasgow. He was an active member of, and elder of, his local
Church; Chairman of numerous Committees; and in constant demand as
preacher and lecturer. He also had proved himself on countless
occasions to be the perfect chairman of either a small devotional
meeting or else a mass assembly of God's people in the largest halls
in the city.
Nevertheless, it is
true to say that his greatest work was done amongst students. I do
not mean by that his work as professor of Anatomy, or the inevitable
effect which his great personality had on all who studied under him.
I refer specifically to his association with, and work for the
Inter-Varsity Fellowship of Evangelical Unions. That association
began in 1928 and continued until he was taken to his eternal reward.
This was the sphere and the activity which appealed to him most of
all, and increasingly he became the dominant personality in the work.
He was made President of the Fellowship three times. But, unlike many
whose association with the work ends when their year of office
expires, his interest never flagged or failed. Regularly year by year
he attended the annual Conference whether invited to speak or not and
did all he could to help individual students by wise counsel and
advice and generally to make the conference a success. At the time of
his death, the tribute paid to him by the IVF was that "He was a
great Christian, a wise counsellor and a loyal friend." His
wisdom and his knowledge, his tact and his sympathy and understanding
made him an ideal chairman of committees. Above all, they singled him
out as the obvious and heaven-sent leader in the international side
of the work.
To all these
activities he gave himself without stinting, happily and gladly;and
he revelled in every moment of it. Being a Christian was no sinecure
so far as he was concerned.
It may not be
inappropriate at this time to attempt to assess the results of this
great work and to discover the nature of his particular contribution
to the common cause. What was the outstanding feature of his witness
and the aspect of the truth concerning the Christian life which he
emphasised and illuminated ? The answers to these questions are to be
found in this book. I would direct attention particularly to the
following matters which Professor Blair himself was always so anxious
to emphasise.
The first is that
the Christian can glorify God by his success and achievements in his
work and profession, and that it is his duty to do so. Believing as
he did in the doctrine of "common grace" this was
inevitable. All powers and abilities are given by God and all
knowledge is ultimately God's truth. An irrational dichotomy between
sacred and secular is therefore something to be avoided. and
Christian students must never place over against each other in
competition their duties as Christians and their studies. Nor must
they regard the latter as being unworthy of their wholehearted
attention. It is the Christian's duty to do everything with all his
might to the glory of God.
The next thing that
stands out is that here was a man who gave the lie direct to the
foolish assertion, made so often, that no true scientist can be a
Christian. Here was an Anatomist, of all things, an expert in a
subject that can so often be dry and mechanical, moreover an
Anatomist profoundly interested in the subjects of Morphology,
Comparative Anatomy and Genetics, and yet one who was not merely
Christian in a formal general sense, but actively and militantly. The
studies which are supposed to account for the scepticism and unbelief
of so many simply went to confirm and increase his faith. He thereby
demonstrated (what the Bible teaches everywhere) that unbelief has
its origin in the heart and not in the mind. The words of John iii.
19 are still true - "This is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil."
In other words his
emphasis was always upon the wholeness of salvation. Salvation is not
something that merely gives one a wonderful experience; it takes up
and affects the whole man - emotions, will and intellect. Professor
Blair was always anxious to stress the importance of the latter, and
to show that nothing is really sane and reasonable save the Christian
view and way of life. The result was that the note of Apologetics was
always prominent in his addresses. This was not the basis of his
faith, as it never should be, but it enabled him "to give a
reason for the hope that was in him." Moreover, it accounted for
his healthy dislike and indeed distrust of a weak and sentimental
pietism that in a spirit of fear distrusts intellect and regards "the
Queen of the Sciences" as being almost of the devil. This in
turn led him to show constantly the importance of a sound knowledge
of the Bible and of theology as a background to one's witness. His
upbringing in the Free Church of Scotland had not been in vain, and
he was never tired of paying tribute to those who had led him as a
boy and young man into the treasures and mysteries of the faith. I do
not know that he ever said so, but he always gave the impression that
the Shorter Catechism played a similar part in his Christian life to
that of the spinal column in one's physical existence. It gave
"backbone" and stability, it guaranteed order and system
and arrangement, and above all it reminded one constantly "that
we are His workmanship" and that our calling and election are
sure and unshakeable.
That
indeed was the secret of his life. He had accepted the revelation of
God given in the scriptures. That led to a personal experience of
Christ as His Saviour and then to an ever-increasing comprehension of
the great plan of salvation. And everything he learned and discovered
in his scientific work seemed to fit in with that plan and to reveal
it still further. Such was the teaching of this beloved professor. As
a man he was big in every sense - physical, moral, intellectual and
spiritual. He was a true nobleman and a born gentleman. To those who
think of men in terms of animals he can be likened to a great St
Bernard dog. He was big and strong and yet gentle. He could be firm
and severe when occasion demanded, but no man was ever more
sympathetic or kindly in disposition. His zest and energy and
keenness were unbounded, and all his friends agree in testifying that
they never knew a happier man. Indeed, the word "gaiety" is
the mot
juste,
in thinking of him. He radiated good cheer and friendliness and
fellowship. His smile was a benediction. But nothing was so
impressive as his humility and the reality and simplicity of his
devotional life.
As so often happens
when one tries to describe one of God's saints, one turns for the
final word to the Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan has given a perfect
portrait of Duncan Blair in Mr. Great-Heart. Countless students face
to face with the dangers and errors and subtleties of life and with
difficulties during their training and studies, have re-echoed the
words of Matthew, the son of Christiana, who, turning to his mother
and Mercy (when they were afraid of the dangers of their journey
along the King's highway) said "Mother, fear nothing, as long as
Mr. Great Heart is to go with us and to be our conductor." "This
was a MAN!"
D M Lloyd-Jones
