Dr. Alexander Comrie: Able Theologian and Faithful Shepherd

In the church of God there is diversity of gifts, difference of administrations, and diversity of operations. This is also spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4–6. Hereby the wisdom of God is evident in caring for the diversity of character and circumstances found among His sheep. It pleases God to use different instruments in His hand, also for the labors in His vineyard. This is a reason to acknowledge the Lord for His goodness and wisdom in providing in that way for the manifold needs and cares of His church. These diversities are also seen in the life and ministry of our forefathers. There certainly were differences among them as well, and yet they were led by the same Spirit, and it was the same God who worked in them all, and who also called and sent them into His vineyard.

Alexander Comrie was born in Perth, Scotland, on December 17, 1706. His maternal great-grandfather was the renowned Dr. Andrew Gray, who died at the age of twenty-two. Many of his sermons have been translated into the Dutch language and are highly valued by those who love the truth. Alexander attended grammar school and received instruction in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. It is evident that it was the intention of his father that he would be prepared for the ministry. He had the privilege of receiving catechetical instruction from the brothers, Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, and of the former he said that he was “my faithful old friend, whom God used as the guide of my youth.” It seems that Comrie was still very young when the Lord began working in his heart.

But the time came when his father could no longer afford his education, and sent him out to earn his own living. In God’s providence the young Comrie came to the Netherlands and found employment there. He now was a stranger in a strange land and he would never see the land of his birth again. But the Lord took care of him and protected him. When he once suffered shipwreck in a heavy storm, and more than forty boats were wrecked, the Lord saved his life. He also opened the way for him to continue his interrupted studies. In September, 1729, he was enrolled in the University of Groningen. There he did not waste his time and was known for his zeal and careful walk. Comrie realized that this was not sufficient, for he said that if we could obtain saving knowledge of the way of salvation by merely studying at a university, then we could attach a sign upon the “Heavenly Academy” announcing that enrollment is no longer necessary there, since universities and catechetical instruction can provide us with what is necessary for salvation. But we hope and trust that no minister or member of the Reformed Churches will ever succumb to this idea, for then they would be as the Pelagians, who believe in a helping or assisting grace, and thereby set free will and the power of nature upon the throne. Comrie was very afraid of the rationalistic religion of his days.

Alexander continued his studies in Leiden where he also followed lectures in philosophy, and earned his doctorate in these studies in 1734. In the same year he had his final “praeparatoir” exams for the ministry and in May, 1735, he was ordained by Rev. Nicolaas Holtius of Koudekerke. Comrie’s inaugural sermon was from Zechariah 6:15, “And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Comrie was thirty years old when he married Johanna de Heyde from Middelburg. Their happiness was of a short duration, for on the 29th of October, 1739, a few days after the birth of a daughter, Johanna was taken away from him. On her deathbed she comforted her husband with these words, “God will care for you: seek Him and serve Him, He will be a father to the orphan and a husband to a widow.” Comrie remained a widower for about two years and then married again on April 25, 1741. This marriage lasted for almost twenty-three years, until January 4,1764, when this afflicted servant of God was again bereaved. On December 2, 1766, Comrie married for a third time, and this wife survived him by several years.

Comrie labored for thirty-eight years in his first and only pastorate in Woubrugge. He realized the importance of sound preaching of the Word of God. He could say, as we read in his address to his congregation, at the beginning of his Treatise on Some Characteristics of Saving Faith: “I am aware however that, though I know my many shortcomings, yet I have the answer of a good conscience that, within the limits of my small talent, I have sought to bring before you nothing but the pure and unadulterated doctrine of the Reformed Church, laying no other foundation than that is laid by the prophets and apostles, namely, Jesus Christ, who is the foundation laid in Zion, upon whom, if a man build, he shall never be ashamed.”

Comrie could acknowledge “that our labor was not entirely in vain, but that the Lord, some time back opened the hearts of a number here, and from other places as well. For this we longed in secret; and though now and then somewhat bowed down by unfruitfulness, we never gave up heart or desire. To have Jesus and your never-dying souls united was to us such a heavy matter that we cast out the net, with groanings, first on this side, then on that, that the time of love, that moment determined from everlasting might be at hand.”

Comrie spent much of his time in reading and writing. He also translated a number of books into the Dutch language, such as, Thomas Shepherd’s The Ten Virgins, Walter Marshall’s The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Thomas Boston’s The Covenant of Grace, and Isaac Chauncy’s The Westminster Catechism Illustrated.

He saw clearly the dangerous developments in rational theology and firmly opposed the spirit of his time, along with his friend and colleague, Nicolaas Holtius. In his writings we see that he really may be considered one of the best representatives of Reformed theology in the eighteenth century. Holtius and Comrie together wrote Examen van het ontwerp van tolerantie. (Examination of the Conception of Tolerance.) That tolerance was an attempt to reconcile and unite the doctrine of Reformed theology as it was accepted at the Synod of Dordt in 1619 with the condemned ideas of the Remonstrants. There was a mainstream in the theology of Comrie’s days that tried to create a synthesis between the doctrine of free grace and the Arminian doctrine of free will. Such a synthesis is impossible, and such tolerance is just a method of undermining the foundations of the church.

Comrie is described by many historians as being very intolerant, but when we read his Examination of Conception of Tolerance we see that this is not true. If they had to deal with essential errors and differences in doctrine, if they saw real errors of darkening the truth of God’s free grace, then Holtius and Comrie felt called to attack the heresy with boldness and in words which could not be misinterpreted.

Comrie published several practical and instructive sermons in Verzameling van Leerredenen. There is also an explanation of the catechism written by him. Very well-known in his A.B.C. of Faith, wherein he clearly explains the essence and actions of faith, “that one thing that is needful for the searching and encouragement of the Lord’s heritage.” In his introduction to this precious book, he explains what he means by faith. It is “precious saving faith which is God’s priceless gift; whereby the convinced, burdened, and heavy-laden sinner goes out of himself and all his own righteousness, unto Jesus, embracing Him and clinging to Him. This is the faith by which the just do live and receive a share in all the good things of the covenant whereby we can be saved.”

Comrie was not only an able defender of the truth, a preacher and author, but also a very faithful shepherd. There were about one hundred twenty-five families in his parish whom he visited before the Lord’s Supper was held. At that time he questioned each member of the family regarding the condition of his or her soul, and before departure, he kneeled with all present to supplicate a blessing from the Lord. No wonder that Comrie was highly esteemed and much loved by his flock!

In spite of several calls to “come over and help” from other churches, Comrie felt no liberty to leave Woubrugge.

In 1770 he became seriously ill, and although he recovered, his condition remained weak, so that in November, 1771, Comrie had to request emeritus status. However, it was not before April 4, 1773, that he finally preached his farewell sermon. He spoke a few words on 1 John 2:24, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” These last admonitions of the old pastor made deep impressions on his flock. He then moved to Gouda where on December 10,1774, he was delivered from a body of sin and of death, to receive the gracious reward of all God’s servants. Alexander Comrie had fought the good fight and kept the faith, and that only through Him who is the great Victor of His Church.

His theological conceptions, particularly through the efforts of Rev. G.H. Kersten, are also a guideline for the teaching of doctrine in our denomination today. We believe that in Comrie’s theology the best of Reformed English and Dutch inheritance is preserved for later generations. May that truth be searched, understood, and blessed also in our days where so much emotional religion, without real foundation is found. For if the Lord glorifies His renewing grace and grants that true saving faith, then those descriptions which Comrie gave of faith will also be the experience of both us and our children. No other foundation can be laid, and no other Name is given under heaven whereby men can be saved. God is glorified in His work alone and thereby sinners will be saved. May that powerful, mysterious work also be seen today among us, in our families.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

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