For Christ's Crown & Covenant!

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Recommended Book: Sketches of the Covenanters by JC McFeeters

Sketches of the Covenanters by J.C. McFeeters was originally published in 1913 and is now in the Public Domain. This was one of the first books I read regarding the Scottish Covenanters and the killing times in Scotland. J.C. McFeeters captured my imagination as I could feel the tender love of the Covenanters for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while picturing the mossy moors, hillsides and caves where these brave, noble followers of Christ were forced to hide in order to worship God according to their conscience. This book presents a touching and historical picture of a cruel period in history when King Charles I betrayed Scotland's trust and tried to exert himself as king over both state and church. It covers both the political and religious aspects of freedom the Covenanters lived and died for. I encourage all students of the Bible and Church history to read it. Amazon.com: Sketches of the Covenanters eBook : McFeeters, J. C.: Kindle Store This book can also be found at Sk

A Wee Woman with a Stool!

Listen to the PODCAST HERE . Geddes had been sitting on a three legged stool, and she rushed to the front of the church and flung her stool at the Dean. Soon others joined in, and the riot began. The protest spilled over into the street, general disorder ensued and the whole service was abandoned, as the dignitaries fled to safely. On the 3rd Sunday of July, 1637, a riot occurred in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh, and the roots of the riot lay in a church Service in St Giles Cathedral, that ancient building that stands majestically on the Royal Mile. Charles I was the second of the Stuart kings to straddle the thrones of England and Scotland, having ascended to the throne after his father, James 1st of England and 6th of Scotland. Charles was totally convinced that he was divinely appointed, to rule not just the nation, but to rule the church. He had a problem. In Scotland, although the populace were generally supportive of the monarchy, the influence of John Knox and the Pres

The 1680 Battle of Aird's Moss and the Covenanter's Memorial, East Ayrshire

Direct Link: The 1680 Battle of Aird's Moss and the Covenanter's Memorial, East Ayrshire - YouTube

Original Covenanter Eschatology: Historicist and Postmillennial

Changing Eschatology in the RPCNA (Part 1) By Robert Kelbe - Posted at Gentle Reformation This is the first in a two-part series on the change in eschatology within the RPCNA. The first part will explore the postmillenialism prevalent until the middle of the 20th century. The second part will explore the change to amillenialism under the influence of J. G. Vos and the Blue Banner. Introduction: The 1807 Testimony In 1807, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, now the RPCNA, published its first Testimony called Reformation Principles Exhibited which had been approved by the Presbytery the year before. Roughly following the chapter divisions of the Westminster Confession of Faith, this original testimony of the RPCNA adds a final chapter on “Testimony-Bearing”. The last paragraph of that last chapter states that The church may not recede from a more clear and particular testimony to a more general and evasive one but the witnesses must proceed in finishing their testimony rendering it more p

'For Christ's Crown and Covenant'

By Warren Peel - Posted at Gentle Reformation: Published June 17, 2022 This week the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland held its 211th annual meeting of Synod, when all the ministers and representative ruling elders of each of the congregations in Ireland met together to review the work and finances of the church. This year was special however because on Wednesday afternoon we held a service of covenant renewal. This biblical practice of covenanting is something that the Reformed Presbyterian Church has always engaged in throughout its history, particularly at times of revival or times of crisis (hence the name ‘Covenanter,’ often used interchangeably of our denomination). We see the church in Scripture periodically responding to God’s covenant of grace by renewing her covenant with the Lord, recommitting herself to be loyal to the demands of his Word no matter what the cost (e.g. Deut 29; Josh 24; Neh 10). Covenant renewal is an opportunity to nail our colours to the mast, both

The Battle of Rullion Green

Image by Billy McCrorie - Wikipedia Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History: The Time Was Not Ripe This mysterious phrase is found on a stone memorial on the grounds of the Battle of Rullion Green which is located eight miles south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It tells the tragic story of defeat in the first battle of the Scot Covenanters—Presbyterians all—against the English government of Charles II. This battle was part of the Killing Times era of Scottish Covenanters. In essence, the Anglican government had declared war against the Presbyterians of Scotland, asking for unconditional surrender on their part. Their pastors—some 400 of them—had been ejected from their pulpits, their manses, and their parishes. When some of them began to preach to their people in the fields and moors, that whole scene became a dangerous practice, with fines leveled against the attenders, and imprisonment and death as well. All that was needed was a spark to ignite the smoldering indignation of the Scottis

'Character and Claims of the Scottish Covenanters' by William Symington

Read by Pastor Brian Schwertley - Posted at Sermon Audio : Pastor Schwertley reads from Symington on the covenanted reformation of Scotland. Part One Part Two

Scotland's Forgotten Reformation

Description: 1/4. You've heard of the Scottish Reformation of 1560, but what was the Second Reformation? This video documents a powerful movement that would take the Church in Scotland to a more extensive reformation according to God’s Word. What lessons can we apply from this today? Additional Episodes: 2/4. Scotland's Forgotten Revival This was the period of greatest revival throughout the whole nation that Scotland has ever experienced. It went deeper, further and lasted longer than any other. Let's learn the lessons we can apply today as we see what God did in great power in the past. 3/4 . Scotland's Forgotten Suffering Heavy fines, imprisonment, torture and execution. Frequently, and conveniently ignored, this was the period of Scotland's Greatest Persecution. A time when faithful Christians would inevitably suffer in continuing to follow God's Word. In a time of increasing hostility to Christian values, there are vital lessons for us today f

Covenanter Slaves

Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History : Twenty-eight Presbyterians signed a final covenant on the eve of their departure from Leith, Scotland in early September, 1685. It said in part, “That, now to leave their own native and Covenanted land by an unjust sentence of banishment for owning truth and standing by duty, studying to keep their Covenantal engagements and baptismal vows, whereby they stand obliged to resist and testify against all that is contrary to the Word of God and their Covenants; and that their sentence of banishment ran chiefly because they refused the oath of allegiance which in conscience they could not take, because in so doing they thought utterly declined the Lord Jesus Christ from having any power in His own house, and practically would by taking it, say, ‘He is not King and Head of His Church and over their consciences.’ And, on the contrary, this was to take and put in His room a man whose breadth was in his nostrils; yea, a man who is a sworn enem

Documentary of McLeod's 1802 "Negro Slavery Unjustifiable" by RPTS

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/H5H9Ly8g6dk See also: American Covenanters and Abolitionism (A Woman Who Fears the Lord...)

Understanding the Covenanters

Amazon Kindle Version By Rev. David T. Myers - Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History: The young man needed a service project in order to become an Eagle Scout. What Nathaniel Pockras of Ohio eventually chose and finished became a great service not only to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America ministers and members, but also to historic Presbyterians in general. He printed on-line the 788 pages of the Rev. W. Melancthon Glasgow’s History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church , which was long out of print and extremely rare for any current minister or member to own one. The original book was written with the approval of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod of America and by a resolution passed in its Session at Newburg, New York on June 8, 1887. It was copyrighted by the author in 1888. Its subtitle was “with sketches of all her ministers, congregations, missions, institutions, publications. etc, and embellished with over fifty portraits and engravings.” Who said l

Lady Caldwell Arrested

Ladies of the Covenant - Electric Scotland Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History: A Better Possession, and A Lasting One by Rev. David T. Myers Barbara Cunningham had all of the characteristics of a powerful family by her ancestry. But of far more importance than these temporal goods was that her ancestors were all warm supporters of the Protestant Reformation of Scotland. Continuing in that rich biblical tradition, Barbara Cunningham married William Muir of Caldwell in 1657, thus enabling her to be known as Lady Caldwell. Her husband, like her ancestors, was zealous in his adherence to Presbyterianism, and especially to those who had been ejected from their parishes in 1662. Even though it was considered traitorous to do so, he abstained from attending the churches where Anglican priests now were in charge. Cited to appear before the civil authorities to explain his absence, the date was delayed time and again. Of course, this was of the Lord. When Covenanters began to ta

Scottish Covenanters: 'THE PRINCIPLES FOR WHICH THEY CONTENDED'

Posted at Log College Press: Reformed Presbyterian minister David McAllister’s Poets and Poetry of the Covenant is a worthy homage to the heroic faith of the Scottish Covenanters in verse, which we have highlighted on this blog previously, but its prose introduction should not be overlooked. It is a helpful overview of what the Covenanters stood for, and what inspired so many powerful poetic tributes. Let us briefly sketch the leading principles for which the heroes and martyrs of these songs of the Covenant contended: I. The supreme authority of God's Word in all the relations of human life. In the church, as one of their own number said, "they took their pattern, not from Rome, not even from Geneva, but from the blessed Word of God." They held that the state was bound to regulate all its affairs by the same law of ultimate authority. The Bible was to them a national as well as an ecclesiastical law-book. Kings and noblemen and lowlier citizens were all under its

Getting the Kingdom Right

By Jared Olivetti - Posted at Gentle Reformation: Ever since I came into the Reformed Presbyterian church twenty years ago, I've been hearing about this kingdom . Though I grew up in reformed churches, the idea of Jesus being the Mediatorial King over the world for the sake of the Father wasn't a significant part of my thinking. But these covenanters, they had this grip on Jesus-as-King and they refused to let it go. And so I was taught the beauty, power and hope of Jesus' kingship. And with that kingship came lots of talk about the kingdom--which makes sense, since Jesus came proclaiming a kingdom and the apostles kept right on preaching that same kingdom. But my speaking about the kingdom was always (and remains to a degree) a little sloppy. I began at some point to talk about "building" the kingdom, thinking I was doing Jesus a favor by getting on board with His project. The problem is that the Bible never speaks this way. Continue reading...

5 Minutes in Church History: The Greyfriars Kirkyard

"In the museum at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, there is one of only a few original copies of the National Covenant. The National Covenant was presented there in the kirkyard. It was discussed and signed in front of the pulpit on February 28, 1638..." Listen here...

William Guthrie on the duty of self-denial

Posted at Reformed Covenanter: Lastly, If ye have gotten Christ ye will be much employed about the work of mortification and self-denial. When Jesus comes unto a soul, He works in that soul much self-loathing and self-abhorrence. The soul that hath gotten Christ will say with the apostle, “Those things that I counted gain, I now count loss for Christ.” This leads me to another point of doctrine, which is this: That the soul that is beloved of God, and for whom Christ hath given Himself, is much engaged in the exercise of self-denial. The apostle says not, “That the Lord loved me, and gave Himself for me, on account of anything that was in me;” but, “Christ loved me, and gave Himself for me, even me, who was a persecutor; for me, who was a blasphemer; for me, who was such and such.” How much, then, was this minister, Paul, engaged in the exercise of self-denial? Again, you may observe that the soul that is loved of God, and for whom Christ hath given Himself, will be much in the exe

7 Reasons to Study the Bible with the Covenanters

Posted at Reformation Scotland: The Second Reformation made a unique contribution to bible study. It produced many simple and practical commentaries on the Bible for everyone. They were brief, plain, practical and above all affordable. They get to the heart of what the Bible means but also to the heart of the reader in a richly devotional way. David Dickson encouraged other ministers to produce this unique series. These expositions are of great value. They were highly commended by C H Spurgeon in his classic survey, Commenting and Commentaries. Some of them explain difficult books like Job, Ecclesiastes and Revelation. Men such as Alexander Nisbet, James Fergusson and George Hutcheson worked hard in this area over many years. They contributed commentaries that together covered large areas of Scripture. In total 44 of the 66 books of the Bible. Four of these commentaries were never published. Dickson followed the example of Robert Rollock who expounded the Scriptures from the pul

The Unconquered Mind: The Story Of George Gillespie

Details: Stories Of The Covenant Published on Nov 9, 2018 http://www.storiesofthecovenant.com/ George Gillespie became one of most clever people in the whole of Britain. What was the secret of his ability to use such convincing arguments? How could he use this gift to the glory of God? Find out by watching The Unconquered Mind: The Story of George Gillespie. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/pYwFdWOTYEA

The Testimony of Thomas Stoddart Executed in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on 12 August, 1685

Posted at Jardine's Book of Martyrs : Thomas Stoddart was executed in the Grassmarket on 12 August, 1685. Matthew Bryce , David Law and Gavin Russell were hanged alongside him. ‘Men, Brethren, And Fathers, Hearken,—I being to take my farewell of the world, I leave this my dying testimony, according to the form of the Christians of old; I having like the same ground for it that he had who used that word; that was Stephen; who was condemned, because he spoke blasphemous words against the law and the temple. So, because I will not adhere to, nor approve of their laws, which now have power in their hands, they condemned me to die, though they could not witness so much against me for speaking against them, and they never essayed to prove the sentence upon me, which now I shall study in a word to give you an account of. And first, I received my sentence of banishment, and then notwithstanding of that I was committed to the justices to abide the assize, and they passed upon me th