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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

Cleave unto the Covenant and the Work of Reformation

"There is yet a holy seed, a root whom God will preserve, and bring forth; but how long and dark our night may be, I do not know; The Lord shorten it for the sake of his Chosen. In the meantime be you patient and immoveable, abounding in the work of the Lord, and in love one to another; beware of snares, which are strewed thick. Cleave unto the Covenant, and Work of Reformation; do not decline the Cross of Christ; Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; and account the reproaches of the Lord greater riches than all the Treasures of Egypt" – James Guthrie (1612-1661) Link: https://youtu.be/L_bhi27Gb40

Scottish Churches in America

Source: Ulster Worldly Posted at Ulster Worldly : "Here is a brief overview of the timeline of Scottish Presbyterianism in America. For a more full picture, consult an article called American Presbyterian Churches—A Genealogy, 1706-1982 by Russell E. Hall.  "The first the Reformed Presbytery was started by Scottish Covenanters in 1774. Six years later, the majority of the Covenanters united with the Associate Presbyterian Church (the Seceders) to form the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.  "In 1798, a remnant of the Covenanters re-organized their presbytery and in 1809 formed a Synod." Read more here. 

Lilias Dunbar: Testimony of a Scottish Lass

By Rev. David T. Myers - Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History : Lilias Dunbar was born in 1657 to parents of high society in Scotland. Yet such extraordinary circumstances did not guarantee a long life. Early in her young life, both parents died, leaving her an orphan. Reared by a cousin, she eventually was taken into the family of a pious woman by the name of Lady Duffus, who reared this adopted daughter not just in manners, but also in the things of the Lord. When Lilias was seventeen years of age, a bout with small pox brought her dangerously ill. The sickness led her to promise God that if He healed her, she would strive to be His servant. Made well, she responded to her promise to be the Lord’s servant by seeking to establish her self-righteousness. It was only when her adopted mother passed away in 1677, that she became a genuine believer in the Lord Jesus. Listen to her profession of faith as found in her diary for May 1, 1677. She writes:  “The Lord, who is the

Thomas Boston: 'The Minister, a Book, and a Controversy'

Source: Wikipedia By Stephen Nichols - Posted at 5 Minutes in Church History : Thomas Boston was born in 1676 and died in 1732. He was born in Scotland to a covenanter family. He was educated at Edinburgh, and for a time, was a schoolmaster. In 1699, he became the pastor at a small parish church in Simprin. While he was the minister of this small congregation, he wrote a number of books. Continue reading...

The Eschatology of the Covenanters

By Rev. David Silversides - Posted at Sermon Audio : Postmillennialism and Revelation 20 Description: 1. Why Premillennialism must be rejected. Some fatal objections to this view. 2. Why Amillennialism must be rejected. Satan's little season fatal to five main tenets of Amillennialism. 3. Why Rushdoony's Postmillennialism must be rejected. 4. Why orthodox, Puritan Postmillennialism is the truth. 1) Binding of Satan must be the progress of the gospel. 2) The thousand years must refer to period of great gospel advance. 3) The reigning with Christ refers to the glorious advance of the cause for which the martyrs died. 4) The first resurrection is the glorious reviving of the church on earth. 5) The second resurrection is the resurgence of ungodliness in Satan's little season. 5. Some confirmatory evidence. 1) Parallel Ez 37-48 2) Destruction of antichrist, 2 Thess 2:8; Isa 11:4. 3) Israel's ingathering, Rom 11 4) OT prophecy, Ps 22:27; 67:7;7

Christ’s Mediatorial Dominion and Two Kingdoms

Scottish Divine Rev. John Brown of Haddington - Wikipedia Posted at Purely Presbyterian : John Brown of Haddington Systematic Theology, pp. 309-315. Christ’s Mediatorial Dominion Distinguished from his Natural Supremacy. Besides that natural supremacy and dominion over all things equally with his Father and the Holy Ghost, Christ hath also a mediatorial dominion, or kingdom, which, I. Was given him by his Father as the reward of his offering himself in sacrifice, Ps 2:8; Matt 28:18; Phil 2:6-11; Isa 53:10-12; Isa 52:13-14; 1 Pet 1:21; Luke 22:29; Dan 7:14. II. Belongs to him as God-man, Isa 9:6-7; John 5:22-27. III. Which chiefly respects his church, and is administered for promoting the eternal salvation of her true members, Eph 4:11-14. 1. Multitudes of scriptures ascribe lordship and dominion to him, Gen 49:10; 1 Sam 2:10; 2 Sam 7:16; Ps 2; Ps 21; Ps 45; Ps 72; Ps 89; Ps 96-100; Ps 110; Ps 132; Ps 47; Ps 145-149; Ps 22:27-31; Ps 68:17-35; Ps 24:7-10; Ps 118:22; Is

John Knox and the Scottish Reformation

Description: There are different events that take place in small pockets of the earth that shape the course of human history and revolutionise the planet. John Knox was nicknamed the "thundering Scot", he is little known today, but what legacy did he leave on this earth? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knghfWPv0_c

Illicit Drilling & the Secret Muster of 260 Covenanters at Cairn Table in 1685

Posted at  Jardine's Book of Martyrs : In 1685, the Covenanters may have trained for a rising that they later refused to join. When he was captured by John Graham of Claverhouse , among the things that John Brounen gave intelligence of was a field preaching by James Renwick at the back of Cairn Table hill on the edge of Ayrshire when 260 men mustered for weapons training in early 1685. It is clear that Renwick’s Covenanters were preparing for a confrontation with the Scottish Army, as records of their musters are extremely unusual. The Cairn Table muster was the largest gathering of armed militant Society people between the Battle of Bothwell Bridge and the Revolution. The question is why? The historical evidence does not make it clear when the muster took place. Can a time frame for the muster be pinned down? Was it on Sunday 22 March, 1685? Why did it take place? In his letter of 3 May, 1685, Claverhouse gave an account of his interrogation of John Brounen, whom he

Scottish Covenanters Index

Editor's Note: I am pleasantly surprised to discover this index page for "Scottish Covenanters" at ancestry.com . I hope you will find it helpful. For Christ's Crown & Covenant, Angela Somers-Wittman Posted at ancestry: About Scottish Covenanters Index In the 17th century conflict arose between Church and State in Scotland. Those who remained steadfast in their Presbyterian beliefs and refused to take an oath to the king saying that he was the head of the church became known as Covenanters. They believed that Christ was the head of the church and were punished for this belief. Many were forced to pay the ultimate price for this by laying down their lives. The Royalists and Dragoons, who were seeking their lives, chased the Covenanters from glen to glen, especially in the Lowlands. If anyone was found hiding them, they suffered imprisonment and/or death as well. This punishment was not just reserved for the strong and healthy -- children and the eld

Praying for the Conversion of the Jews

Posted at Reformation Scotland: They were on a Scottish hillside in fear of government troops arresting or killing those at this “illegal” worship service. Why would the young preacher pause his sermon and begin to pray for the restoration of the Jews? It was 11 July 1680, a Lord’s Day. The government was hunting Richard Cameron, just 32 years of age, across the moors and hills of Scotland. His crime was that he would not submit to the government total control of the Church. To worship in secret was considered rebellion and there was a high price on his head. Within eleven days he would suffer a bloody death at the hands of soldiers. Was he aware of that? Yes, to some extent, he was. He had spent the previous day in prayer and meditation and told one lady gloomily “my carcass shall dung the wilderness, and that within a fortnight”. Now he was ready to preach to the gathered people on the border of Lanarkshire and Dumfries-shire. It was a powerful sermon on John 5:40, on