I find it instructive that you are "shocked" by my "Open Letter," but not
"shocked" by the practice of the RPCNA. Your response to my "Open Letter"--"It
would be my request that this remain an issue between Jim Dodson and the Synod
of the RPCNA rather than published for anyone (believer and unbeliever alike) to
see," is shocking to me. If I am wrong, REFUTE IT. I am not the one
encouraging the apostasy, that lies on the shoulders of those who continue to
countenance the backsliding. Incidentally, I have not said that the RPCNA is
APOSTATE or to be "given over to Satan." If I believed that, I would not have
bothered to write an "Open Letter." I view the direction the RPCNA is going to
be downward toward that end, but I do not think it has reached it--I do not
believe we must wait for a church to become APOSTATE before we ought to leave.
However, I do believe that the RPCNA as represented in her present judicatories
is not a true church as set forth in the Reformed creeds. Ministerial power is
given for edification and not for destruction (cf. 2 Cor. 10:8); the Church is
to be the pillar and ground of truth (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15)--the judicatories of the
RPCNA have not answered those qualifications for at least a century and a half.
That false Synod is tolerant of all kinds of moral evils and heresies to the
point of embedding them in the so-called Testimony of the RPCNA. While I do not
believe that the RPCNA is a true church constitutionally (i.e. not lawfully in
possession of ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction), I do believe that its
ordinances are, though not lawful, yet valid. Furthermore, I believe that there
are those within the pale who exercise true faith and so there is a true church
in the RPCNA (one might say despite the RPCNA). Nevertheless, the RPCNA,as a
ministerial body, is devoid of any lawful authority. If you are worried--as you
seem to be--about the effects of my "Letter" on those young in the faith, your
concerns are misplaced. The TRUTH never hurt anyone. There is nothing in my
"Letter" that Covenanters--REAL COVENANTERS--did not teach 150-200 years ago.
Doesn't it bother you (or even "shock" you) that as a member of the RPCNA you
would have such a knee-jerk reaction and rejection of the REAL COVENANTED and
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN testimony? Your concerns ought to be about what you have
been taught and are teaching to those young in the faith. The matters raised in
my "OPEN Letter" are not only between me and the deformed and deforming (re:
false) Synod of the RPCNA; they affect all who have an interest in God's holy
TRUTH as contended for at the time of the Second Reformation--every Protestant
Christian who values the doctrines of Sovereign Grace and ecclesiastical and
civil liberty. Your reaction was not based on the verity or falsity of any
statement made in my "Letter;" it was founded upon a Popish view of ecclesiology
and reared up on that evil doctrine of "implicit faith." No true
Protestant--especially Covenanters (who eschew a clergy/laity
distinction)--would want to lock up theological controversy to the "clergy."
True, office bearers hold special responsibility to refute gainsayers, but I do
not seen how your "request" will refute me--it will only silence me in THAT
forum. In the end you will have lost the opportunity to display my folly to the
world (if indeed that is what it is). You sign your note "Respectfully for
Christ's Crown and Covenant," I submit that you have no idea what that means.
(Maybe it signifies your implicit faith!?) You reject that Covenant referred to
in that statement--if you didn't you would not have had the response you did to
my "Letter." That Covenant referenced was no bulwark of toleration for
errorists or heretics. I am simply recalling you to that grand Scriptural ideal
of Christ's Crown and Covenant over Church and State. The false Synod of the
RPCNA has done all it could to tear itself from the Covenant bonds of former
times. Face it, the 1980 Testimony is a pathetic imitation of
"testimony-bearing"--most of you in the RPCNA no longer have the stomach for
faithful witness bearing. You are not Psalm-singing Covenanters--you are
pseudo-Psalm-singing, "we are embarrassed by our past, we do not know what a
Testimony really is for," backslidden children of real Covenanters. Two or
three years ago, the late James Mitchell told me that he believed "the church is
gone." He went on to refer to you all as a bunch of heathen (a sentiment I
disagreed with). And that judgment flowed only from his comparison of the
present Testimony with the 1871 Covenant (which I disavow as a serious act of
covenanting). Mr. Mitchell's hoar hair went down to the grave in grief because
of the lightness with which the present RPCNA conducts itself. I tried (in
vain) to explain to him that you all had departed before he entered this
pilgrimage. I loved and respected him though he was unable to come to that
acknowledgement. He was led astray from his youth as to the intent of the 1871
Covenant. I will never forget the grief he expressed the last time we spoke
face to face. As a professing RP minister, who refuses to confront these
issues, I hold you (and those like you) responsible for misleading and
abandoning a man of such character as James Mitchell. You are in serious
spiritual trouble, but no concern--"Please do not tell us/do not remind us." I
am not allowed to leave you alone (cf. Lev. 19:17,18). If you really believe my
"Letter" is between me and the false RP Synod, why don't you introduce it and
allow the professing Synod to draft a response? I would love the opportunity to
remind the pretended Synod of what several of those now teaching at the Seminary
had to say about the doctrine of Covenanting when they had a committee on the
question in the late 70s. For example, Ed Robson (cf. pp. 138-143 of Minutes of
Synod 1978; pp. 178-181 of Minutes of Synod 1979). I also have unpublished
statements (I possess many of the original papers from that committee) by Duncan
Lowe (the substance of correspondence with Meredith Kline) and others on that
committee AT WAR with the doctrine of Covenanting! Additionally, I have Clark
Copeland's copy of the report on which he scribbled his pleas for them not to
abandon the Church's position on this doctrine. What are these people doing at
the Seminary? They are not fit to hold office in any truly Reformed
Presbyterian body--in fact, their denial would keep them from being communicant
members in any rightly ordered Reformed Presbyterian body. The heresies held
and propagated by many RP ministers do not stop at the Seminary. I know of one
RP minister who denies exclusive Psalmody; several who believe the WCF is wrong
to forbid pictures of Christ; most celebrate those days "vulgarly called
holy-days," etc. It is vile. But, you are disturbed by the likes of me--YOU
STRAIN OUT THE GNAT AND SWALLOW THE CAMEL!
For Christ's Crown and Covenant (TRULY),
Jim Dodson
Jim Dodson is the editor of:
The Original Covenanter and Contending Witness [magazine]
Act, Declaration, And Testimony, For The Whole Of The Covenanted Reformation, As Attained To, And Established In, Britain and Ireland; Particularly Betwixt The Years 1638 and 1649, Inclusive. As, Also, Against All The Steps Of Defection From Said Reformation, Whether In Former Or Later Times, Since The Overthrow Of That Glorious Work, Down To This Present Day (1876)
Upholds the original work of the Westminster Assembly and testifies to the abiding worth and truth formulated in the Westminster family of documents. Upholds and defends the crown rights of King Jesus in church and state, denouncing those who would remove the crown from Christ's head by denying His right to rule (by His law) in both the civil and ecclesiastical spheres. Testifies to the received doctrine, government, worship, and discipline of the Church of Scotland in her purest (reforming) periods. Applies God's Word to the Church's corporate attainments "with a judicial approbation of the earnest contendings and attainments of the faithful, and a strong and pointed judicial condemnation of error and the promoters thereof" (The Original Covenanter and Contending Witness, Dec. 17/93, p. 558. Write for a sample of this highly recommended publication at: P.O. Box 131, Pottstown, PA, 19464, USA). Shows the church's great historical victories (such as the National and Solemn League and Covenant, leading to the Westminster Assembly) and exposes her enemies actions (e.g. the Prelacy of Laud; the Independency, sectarianism, covenant breaking and ungodly toleration set forth by the likes of Cromwell [and the Independents that conspired with him]; the Erastianism and civil sectarianism of William of Orange, etc.). It is not likely that you will find a more consistent working out of the principles of Calvinism anywhere. Deals with the most important matters relating to the individual, the family, the church and the state. Sets forth a faithful historical testimony of God's dealings with men during some of the most important days of church history. A basic text that should be mastered by all Christians.
(Rare bound photocopy) $19.95-70%=5.99
REFORMED PRESBYTERY
Auchensaugh Renovation of the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant; with the Acknowledgement of Sins and Engagement to Duties as they were Renewed at Auchensaugh in 1712... Also the Renovation of These Public Federal Deeds Ordained at Philadelphia, Oct. 8, 1880, By the Reformed Presbytery, With Accommodation of the Original Covenants, in Both Transactions, to their Times and Positions Respectively (1880 ed.)
"In 1712, at Auchensaugh, the Covenants, National and Solemn League, were renewed... At the renewal the covenant bonds were recognized as binding the descendants of those who first entered into those bonds. The Covenanters, however, sought to display the true intent of those Covenants with marginal notes. These notes explained that the Church of Jesus Christ, in Scotland (and around the world), must not join hands with any political power in rebellion to the crown rights of King Jesus. The Covenanters pledged the Covenanted Reformed Presbyterian Church to the support of lawful magistracy (i.e. magistracy which conformed itself to the precepts of God's Word) and declared themselves and their posterity against support of any power, in Church or State, which lacked biblical authority." (From "About the Covenanted Reformed Presbyterian Church" P.O. Box 131, Pottstown, PA 19464). An excellent introduction (historical and moral) regarding the reasons, motives and manner of fulfilling the duty of covenanting with God. Especially helpful concerning the Biblical view of the blessings (for covenant-keepers) and cursings (for covenant breakers) related to covenanting. As noted on page 37, "the godly usually in times of great defection from the purity and power of religion, and corruption of the ordinances of God's worship, set about renewing their covenant, thereby to prevent covenant curses, and procure covenant blessing; as we find both in scripture record, 2 Chron. 15:12-13; 29:10; 34:30-31; Ezra 10:3, and in our own ecclesiastical history." Times like ours certainly call for a revival of the Scriptural ordinance of covenanting, for "[t]he nations throughout Christendom, continue in league with Antichrist and give their strength to the beast. They still refuse to profess and defend the true religion in doctrine, worship, government and discipline, contrary to the example of the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland in the seventeenth century" (p. 136 in this book).
(Rare bound photocopy) $19.95-70%=5.99
ROBERTS, WILLIAM L.
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).
(Rare bound photocopy) $29.95-70%=8.99 (US funds)
McFEETERS, J.C.
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)