Puritan of the Week: James Durham (1622-1658)

James Durham is called “one of Scotland’s brightest lights” by Meet the Puritans.   His biographical information draws focus upon the providence of God and the preciousness of Christ.

The providential hand of God was clearly upon Durham to save him, sustain his life, and call him to preach Christ.  Durham was unconverted at the time of his marriage to wife Anna, but it was through the influence of her family, shortly after their marriage, that he attended the preaching of God’s Word and was drawn to the preciousness of Christ.   From there he was called to serve in the Scottish Army during their Civil War.  It was during that time that God providentially spaired his life:

Durham’s life was remarkably spared, first, when his horse was shot and killed from under him, and second, when an English soldier who was about to kill Durham saw him dressed in black clothes and, thinking he was a minister, spared his life.

Little did that man know that God was calling Durham to the gospel ministry.  As a minister Durham was known for his ablility to dealve into the inner most parts of man and to bring salvation very low for man to cling to.  He was also know for his humility.  There was one occassion where Durham and a pastor friend were walking together to go preach at seperate services.  They both noticed that more of the hearers were heading toward the building where his friend was to preach.  Durham’s response was:

I rejoice that Christ is preached and that His kingdom and interest is getting ground, and that His honor and esteem doth increase though my esteem in people’s hearts should decrease; for I am content to be any thing, or nothing, so that Christ may be all in all.