The Covenanted Reformation Defended
Against Contemporary Schismatics:

A Response and Antidote Primarily to the Neopresbyterian Malignancy and Misrepresentations, and the Manufactured "Steelite" Controversy, Found in Richard Bacon's A Defense Departed; With a Refutation of Bacon's Independency, Popery, Arminianism, Anabaptism and Various Other Heresies (Including an Exhibition of His Opposition to Scripture and the Covenanted Reformation, in General; and His Opposition to John Calvin, John Knox, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland [Especially 1638-1649], Samuel Rutherford, George Gillespie, the Testimony of the Covenanter Martyrs, the Reformed Presbytery, the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton and a Host of Other Prominent Reformers from Past Generations, in Particular) _ With Copious Notes on Mr. Bacon's Backsliding and His Blackening of the Blue Banner; as Well as Various Replies to Other Modern Malignants

by Greg Barrow

Copyright © 1998

Publisher's Preface
Reg Barrow
Copyright © 1998

Foreword
Larry Birger, Jr.
Copyright © 1998

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Table of Contents

Publisher's Preface - by Reg Barrow

Foreword - by Larry Birger, Jr.

Dedication

The Covenanted Reformation Defended
Against Contemporary Schismatics

Introductory remarks

A. The Puritan Reformed Church considers Mr. Bacon an erring and disorderly brother in the Lord
B. The Puritan Reformed Church desires Mr. Bacon's correction
C. A description of the format of this response
D. Mr. Bacon has misstated the issues

Misrepresentation #1:
Mr. Bacon represents our dispute as a "tempest in a teapot."

A. Mr. Bacon appeals to the majority
B. Mr. Bacon condemns the Covenanter martyrs as being too rigid and implies that the Covenanters strayed from the doctrines of Second Reformation Presbyterianism
C. A Description of Richard Cameron's martyrdom

Misrepresentation #2:
The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton denounces true churches and maintains that they are the only duly constituted Church upon the face of the earth.

A. Mr. Bacon's charges are scandalously unqualified
B. The disposition of the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton toward those who disagree with us
C. The true state of the question
D. The doctrinal position of the Puritan Reformed Church regarding the "being" and "well being" of the Church as it relates to the term "true church"
a. The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter (25:2) defines an essentially true church as having one mark, viz., the profession of the true religion
b. An examination of the Reformers doctrine regarding the "being" of the church
c. The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton unequivocally states that there are many truly constituted churches (essentially considered) in the world
d. Distinguishing between the "being" and the "well being" of the church
e. The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton agrees with both Samuel Rutherford and the 1560 Scottish Confession, while Mr. Bacon misrepresents all parties involved
f. What is Mr. Bacon really saying about all other churches when he attempts to form a new presbytery instead of joining an already existing one?
g. Mr. Bacon is a promoter of independent denominationalism
h. The worldwide vision of the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton

Misrepresentation #3:
The Puritan Reformed Church maintains that a church cannot be truly and biblically constituted without formally swearing and adopting the Solemn League and Covenant.

A. The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton unequivocally states that it is NOT necessary to swear the Solemn League and Covenant to be a truly constituted church (as to "being" or essence)
B. The true state of the question
C. The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton maintains that, in a land already bound by the covenants, it is necessary to own and renew the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant to be a truly constituted church as to well being, viz., a faithful church
D. Mr. Bacon ignorantly compares us to keepers of Roman Catholic tradition
E. Mr. Bacon unwittingly becomes an Arminian spokesman
F. Mr. Bacon admits his confusion in his "Defense Departed"
G. A description of the Covenants, their binding nature, purpose, and relevance to the modern day church
a. The Original Intent of the Covenanters was to Swear an Everlasting Covenant Never to be Forgotten
b. The National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant are intended to maintain and preserve the truly constituted church (bene esse), and are not intended to create a truly constituted church (esse)
c. The covenanting parties in the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant
d. Who are the posterity referred to in the Covenants?
e. The Essence of Covenants _ Intrinsic Obligation
f. Do the Circumstantial details of the Solemn League and Covenant bind us?
g. Positive Application of the Covenants to modern Times and Circumstances
h. The Negative Sanction of the Covenants _ Withdrawal, Censure and Separation

Misrepresentation #4:
The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton (PRCE) is guilty of imposing the traditions of men upon the conscience by requiring terms of communion that are unscriptural.

A. Mr. Bacon has not done his homework - a direct refutation of his libel regarding the PRCE's view of their own subordinate standards
B. What are terms of communion?
C. An examination of Mr. Bacon's Popish principles
D. A Triple Standard in the Reformation Presbyterian Church?
E. An examination of Mr. Bacon's latitudinarian principles in regard to his terms of communion
F. The danger of latitudinarian schemes of union and fellowship
G. Does Joining the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton require Implicit Faith?
H. How does one become a member of the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton?
I. The Extensive Nature of Terms of Communion
a. Fully Subscribing to Confessions and Catechisms is a term of communion b. That Presbyterial Church Government and manner of worship are alone of divine right and unalterable; and that the most perfect model of these as yet attained, is exhibited in the Form of Government and Directory for Worship, adopted by the Church of Scotland in the Second Reformation
c. Taking and Renewing Covenants are a term of communion
d. Historical Testimony as a term of Communion
e. Mr. Bacon absurdly condemns our last Term of Communion
J. Conclusion

Appendices

Appendix A: Mr. Bacon falsely claims that the Puritan Reformed Church broke lawful vows made to the Reformation Presbyterian Church when they dissociated
 
Appendix B: Letters from Pastor Bruce Robinson (former moderator of the Reformation Presbyterian Church [RPC]) and Dr. Jerry Crick, proving that none of the original members (except the Rowlett session) of the pretended presbytery believed that constitutional vows were taken
 
Appendix C: Mr. Bacon falsely claims that the Puritan Reformed Church has rejected modest means of reconciliation
 
Appendix D: Form of Examination for Communion approved by the Scottish General Assembly of 1592 (96 questions)
 
Appendix E: The Six Terms of Communion of the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton
 
Appendix F: Qualification _ God did not intend the reprobate or secret hypocrites to have the internal right to the Covenant seals
 
Appendix G: A brief examination of Mr. Bacon's principles regarding the visible church and the use of private judgment. Also, some observations regarding his ignoble attack upon Kevin Reed in his book entitled The Visible Church in the Outer Darkness
 

Quotations

 

 

The Covenanted Reformation Defended by Greg Barrow is also offered FREE in etext (with navigational enhancements and in various formats) at:

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PDF Document (913KB) http://www.reformedpresbytery.org/books/covrefdf/covrefdf.pdf

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Split-Up Web Page (Frames w/Index) http://www.reformedpresbytery.org/books/covrefdf/covrefdf2.htm

 

Chapter three from this book, "How the Solemn League & Covenant Binds the USA, Canada, Australia, etc., Today," is now FREE in AUDIO in three parts at:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/swrb or directly at:

 

How the Solemn League & Covenant Binds the USA, Canada, Australia, etc., Today (1/3)

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How the Solemn League & Covenant Binds the USA, Canada, Australia, etc., Today (2/3)

FREE MP3 AUDIO: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=860142156

 

How the Solemn League & Covenant Binds the USA, Canada, Australia, etc., Today (3/3)

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MORE FREE AUDIO FROM THIS BOOK!

 

DEBATE on the Meaning of the Church in Reformation Thought by Greg Barrow

Covers some of the most important (and often forgotten, in our day) aspects of the Reformation doctrine of the church (championed by Calvin, Knox, et al.). Includes many citations from Reformation leaders & confessional statements of the best Reformed churches. This is chapter 2 in Greg Barrow's The Covenanted Reformation Defended (free at: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/misrep2.htm ).

This FREE audio MP3 is at: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=11250123955

 

Eschewing Ecclesiastical Tyranny (Protestant Biblical Separation)

by Greg Barrow (DEBATE with Richard Bacon) 1 Corinthians 2:15

The classic Reformation position on biblical separation, Protestant private judgment, the visible church, etc. -- contra Antichrist (the Papacy) and wayward liberal Protestants. This is appendix G from The Covenanted Reformation Defended: "A brief examination of Mr. Bacon's principles regarding the visible church and the use of private judgment. Also, some observations regarding his ignoble attack upon Mr. Kevin Reed in his book entitled The Visible Church in the Outer Darkness."

This FREE audio MP3 is at: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=7702201426

 

Protestant Antidote to Modern Disunity (1/5)

by Greg Barrow (DEBATE with Richard Bacon)

Defection from Reformation teaching on separation, unity, church membership, church government, terms of communion, creeds, confessions, covenants, etc., exposed (in modern Presbyterian and Reformed churches) and corrected in accordance with Scripture and the best teachers and preachers of the (first and second) Protestant Reformations. This is chapter four from the book The Covenanted Reformation Defended: "Misrepresentation #4: The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton (PRCE) is guilty of imposing the traditions of men upon the conscience by requiring terms of communion that are unscriptural."

 

Free etext: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/append_g.htm. Book: http://www.swrb.com/catalog/b.htm, or on CD: http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/reformation-bookshelf-CDs.htm.

 

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Protestant Antidote to Modern Disunity (1/5)

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Protestant Antidote to Modern Disunity (2/5)

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=8130218525

 

Protestant Antidote to Modern Disunity (3/5)

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=815022132

Tapes four and five in this series can also be accessed through the URLs above (as they are added to our free audio on this site).

 

This book and the FREE MP3 audio tracks noted above are available on various CDs in both the PURITAN BOOKSEHLF CD series (http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/puritan-bookshelf-CDs.htm) and the REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD series (http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/reformation-bookshelf-CDs.htm). See the URLs cited for more details.

 

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