Q. Does not great guilt rest upon the British nation for its treatment of
these covenants, and for the blood of the covenanters?
A. Yes. A fearful weight of guilt. It is a matter of history, that after the
restoration of Charles II., who himself had solemnly sworn these vows, acts
were passed denouncing as treasonable and rebellious all the proceedings of the
second reformation, rescinding all the public securities given during that
period, stigmatizing the covenants as unlawful oaths, absolving men from their
obligation, and declaring all laws passed in their favor to be null and void.
It is also a well known fact, that under royal authority, the covenants were
publicly burned by the hands of the common hangman, at London, in 1661, at
Linlithgow the year following, and afterwards at Edinburgh. It is painful to be
obliged to record, that, at the revolution in 1688, which extinguished the
fires of persecution (consuming the adherents of the covenants), and put an end
to the tyrannous rule of the Stuarts, nothing whatever was done, either by
church or state, to make reparation for these atrocious indignities - and the
blood of the covenanters,
which still stains the throne and nation. Now, when we consider that 'one of
the heaviest charges ever brought against the people of Israel was on this
ground; "they kept not the covenant of the Lord, and refused to walk in
his law. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in
his covenant" - and the solemn declaration of the prophet of old, "I
have been very jealous for the Lord of hosts, because the children of Israel
have broken thy covenant" - and God's own complaint, "The house of
Israel, and the house of Judah, have broken my covenant which I made with their
fathers" - how does it become the inhabitants of that covenant breaking
land to ponder these words of Jehovah, "If ye will not be reformed by me,
but will walk contrary to me; then will I walk contrary to you, and will punish
you yet seven times for your sins; and I will bring a sword upon you that shall
avenge the quarrel of my covenant. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this
land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then shall men say, because
they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers." Lev.
26:23-25; Deut. 29:24,25
Q. May we not indulge the hope, that, in the goodness of our covenant
God, and by the promised outpouring of his Holy Spirit, "the kingdoms of
the world" at large, and the British empire in particular, will dedicate
themselves to God in a covenant not to be forgotten - animated by the example
of our covenant fathers exhibited in these memorable deeds?
A. Yes. We have the most cheering grounds for this blessed hope; for it is
written, that the nations at large in the spirit of devoted loyalty, shall cry
-- "Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant
that shall not be forgotten" : and it cannot be well doubted, that the
death-cry of the martyred Guthrie has been heard on high, and shall be verified
- 'The covenants, the covenants, shall yet be Scotland's reviving.'
Westminster
Confession of Faith Super Sale
http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/westminster-confession.htm
Puritan
Bookshelf CD Series Super Sale
http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/puritan-bookshelf-CDs.htm
Covenanter Sale
http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/covenanter-books.htm
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 (Greg Price, Reg
Barrow, Larry Birger, et al.)
(Though set in the context of a debate with one individual, this book addresses
a number of specific problems which plague the Presbyterian and Reformed
churches of our day in general. "It conclusively and irrefutably demonstrates
that those churches which today call themselves Presbyterian [and even many
which claim a more general Reformed heritage] have grievously departed from the
Scriptural standards and principles of the previous Spirit led Reformations [of
the 16th and 17th centuries]. This will become progressively [and painfully]
clear as the reader witnesses evidence upon evidence of defection from
biblically based Reformation attainments (Phil. 3:16) -- and the burying and/or
removing of the ancient Reformation landmarks. Ultimately, when the testimony
and evidence [presented in this book] is weighed in light of Scriptural
verities, it is entirely safe to say that the original Reformers would not only
have sought negative ecclesiastical sanctions against our modern
pseudo-Reformers, but in many cases negative civil sanctions as well,"
writes Reg Barrow in the "Publisher's Preface." This book, of over
300 [8.5" X 11"] pages, is also offered as a cerlox bound photocopy
[$14.98 US funds] or a Hardcover photocopy [$25.00 US funds]. It is also free on most of the CDs in both the REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD set [30 CDs, http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/reformation-bookshelf-CDs.htm
] and the PURITAN BOOKSHELF CD set
[32 CDs, http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/puritan-bookshelf-CDs.htm
])
More FREE books under "Church Writings" at: http://www.reformedpresbytery.org
All titles below available from Still Waters
Revival Books at: http://www.swrb.com/pcopy/photoc.htm.
The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism (1853)
A manual of instruction, drawing from such notable authors as William Symington
and J.R. Willson, presenting "arguments and facts confirming and
illustrating the 'Distinctive Principles'" of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church. Chapters deal with: "Christ's Mediatorial Dominion in
general;" Christ's exclusive Headship over the Church;" "The
Supreme and Ultimate Authority of the Word of God in the Church;" Civil
Government, the Moral Ordinance of God;" Christ's Headship over the Nations;"
"The Subjection of the Nations to God and to Christ;" The Word, or
Revealed Will of God, the Supreme Law in the State;" "The Duty of
Nations, in their National Capacity, to acknowledge and support the True
Religion:" "The Spiritual Independence of the Church of Christ:"
"The Right and Duty of Dissent from an immoral Constitution of Civil
Government;" "The Duty of Covenanting, and the Permanent Obligations
of Religious Covenants;" "The Application of these Principles to the
Governments, where Reformed Presbyterians reside, in the form of a Practical
Testimony;" and finally "Application of the Testimony to the British
Empire." A most important book, as we approach (possibly) the end of the
great apostasy and will be in need of preparing for the dawning of the glorious
millennial blessings to come; the days prophesied in which the church
"shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of
kings" (Isa. 60:16).
Sketches
of the Covenanters
Stirring accounts of sacrifice and martyrdom for the Reformed Faith that will
bring tears to eyes of all but the backslidden. Follows the chain of events
which gave Scotland two Reformations and a Revolution. Knox, the National
Covenant, the Westminster Assembly, the Field Meetings, and much more is
covered. The history of great battles for Christ and His royal rights are
recounted in this moving history book. Sheds much light upon the warfare with
the dragon for true liberty. One of our best history books, highly recommended!
(Rare bound photocopy) $39.95-75%=9.99 (US funds)