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diff --git a/13570-0.txt b/13570-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e90454 --- /dev/null +++ b/13570-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9493 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13570 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 13570-h.htm or 13570-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/7/13570/13570-h/13570-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/7/13570/13570-h.zip) + + + + + +SKETCHES OF THE COVENANTERS + +by + +J. C. McFEETERS, D.D. + +Minister of the Second Church of the Covenanters, Philadelphia + + + + + + + + "That ye may tell it to the generations following; + For this God is our God for ever and ever; + He will be our guide even unto death." + + +[Illustration: MODERN CHURCH OF THE COVENANTERS, GREENOCK.] + + + + + +THE UNCONQUERABLE COVENANTERS + +"We bind and obligate ourselves to defend ourselves and one another, in +our worshiping of God, and in our natural, civil, and divine rights and +liberties, till we shall overcome, or send them down under debate to +posterity, that they may begin where we end."--_Queensferry Paper_. + + + + +PREFACE + +This book is a spontaneous growth, being without pre-meditation or +original intention. A visit to Scotland was the embryo; out of this seed +sprang a stereopticon lecture on "The Martyrs of Scotland;" the lecture +developed into an illustrated serial which was published in the +CHRISTIAN NATION; and the serial, at the request of many readers, +developed into this volume. The book, therefore, was not originally +contemplated; it is a providential growth, rather than a human +conception; and we sincerely trust that it is one of God's eternal +thoughts, blossoming in the sunlight of its own appointed time. + +May our Lord Jesus Christ add His blessing, and commission these +Sketches to do Him service and glorify His exalted name. + +J.C.M. + +Philadelphia, March 1, 1913. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + SUBJECTS ILLUSTRATIONS + + Chapter I. + The Land of the Covenants + In the Highlands + + Chapter II. + The Battle-field of Presbyterianism + Flag of the Covenanters + + Chapter III. + Some Early Martyrs + George Wishart + + Chapter IV. + Knox in the Field of Conflict + Knox Administering the Lord's Supper + + Chapter V. + Foundation Stones + Mary, Queen of Scots + + Chapter VI. + The National Covenant + King James VI. + + Chapter VII. + Contending with the King + Melville before King James + + Chapter VIII. + Men of Might + Edinburgh Castle + + Chapter IX. + Darkness Brooding Over the Land + Souvenirs of the Covenanters + + Chapter X. + Approaching a Crisis + Alexander Henderson + + Chapter XI. + The Advance Guards + Jean Geddes + + Chapter XII. + Gathering of the Hosts + Greyfriars Church + + Chapter XIII. + Renewing the Covenant + Signing the Covenant + + Chapter XIV. + The Covenanters at Work + Archibald Johnston (Lord Warriston) + + Chapter XV. + The King Wages War + Captain Paton's Grave + + Chapter XVI. + The Solemn League and Covenant + The Martyrs' Monument + + Chapter XVII. + High Ideals by the Covenanted Fathers + Rutherford in Prison + + Chapter XVIII. + The Westminster Assembly + Westminster Assembly + + Chapter XIX. + Division in the Covenanted Ranks + King Charles I. + + Chapter XX. + Crowning the Prince + Archbishop Sharp + + Chapter XXI. + A Sifting Time + King Charles II. + + Chapter XXII. + An Illustrious Martyr + Argyle's Daughter Pleading + + Chapter XXIII. + Resisting Unto Blood + James Guthrie + + Chapter XXIV. + Source of the Covenanters' Power + The Grassmarket + + Chapter XXV. + Expelling the Ministers + John Welch Ejected + + Chapter XXVI. + The Field-meetings + Preaching in the Mountains + + Chapter XXVII. + The Covenanters' Communion + The Covenanters' Communion + + Chapter XXVIII. + The Home Invaded + Home of the Howies + + Chapter XXIX. + The Battle of Rullion Green + Gravestone at Rullion Green + + Chapter XXX. + The Oppressor's Revenge + Rutherford's Monument + + Chapter XXXI. + Indulgence, the Six-fold Snare + A Conventicle Anniversary + + Chapter XXXII. + The Field Meetings Under Fire + Battle of Drumclog + + Chapter XXXIII. + A Massacre + Battle of Bothwell Bridge + + Chapter XXXIV. + The Covenanters' Prison + Dunnottar Castle + + Chapter XXXV. + Declaration of Independence + Claverhouse + + Chapter XXXVI. + Ayrsmoss + Monument at Ayrsmoss + + Chapter XXXVII. + The Cameronians + Young Covenanters Discovered + + Chapter XXXVIII. + The Lone Star + Donald Cargill + + Chapter XXXIX. + An Extraordinary Service + Earlston Castle + + Chapter XL. + The Societies + St. Sebastian Church, Rotterdam, Holland + + Chapter XLI. + The Daughters of the Covenant + Consolation in Prison + + Chapter XLII. + Young Life Under Persecution + Andrew Hislop's Martyrdom + + Chapter XLIII. + The Covenanters' Bible + Covenanters Bibles + + Chapter XLIV. + The Scottish Seer + Peden at Cameron's Grave + + Chapter XLV. + Scotland's Maiden Martyr + Choosing Death Rather Than Life + + Chapter XLVI. + The Eldership--A Wall of Defence + John Brown of Priesthill + + Chapter XLVII. + A Home Desolated + A Widow's Sorrow + + Chapter XLVIII. + Last, But Not Least + James Renwick + + Chapter XLIX. + The Shepherdless Flock + Martyrdom of Renwick + + Chapter L. + The Voice of the Martyrs' Blood + The Burial + + Chapter LI. + The Old Blue Banner Yet + Banner of the Covenant + + + + + +I. + +THE LAND OF THE COVENANTS. + + +All history is interesting and much of it is inspiring. Scotland +furnishes a large measure of that quality of history, that awakens the +soul, and appeals to the faculties by which life is transfigured with +moral grandeur. + +History yields its best results when we use our best powers in pursuing +its paths. Let the creative genius, a healthy imagination, be employed +restoring the scenes of former times, mingling with the people and +participating in their high endeavors; then will the quiet page of +history become a world of thrilling activity. In this manner let us here +endeavor to follow the chain of events which gave Scotland two +Reformations and a Revolution. Let us keep our horizon wide by +resuscitating the former generations and associating with the Covenanted +fathers, who, in their faithfulness to God and loyalty to Jesus Christ, +were like the burning bush, enswirled with fire but not consumed. + +Scotland--the very name awakens fondest memories, revives holiest +scenes, makes dearest associations throb with life. Scotland--charming +in her romances of love, mighty in her struggles for freedom, pathetic +in her sufferings for Christ, and glorious in her oft-renewed covenant +with God--Scotland in many respects is incomparable among the nations. +The Covenanted Church of Scotland, coming up from the wilderness leaning +upon her Beloved in holy dependence and dauntless faith, while heaven +looks down with admiration--how beautiful, how instructive, how +inspiring! + +Extending from the north boundary of England, Scotland thrusts her rocky +shores with rugged irregularity into the deep sea on three sides. Her +granite cliffs, resisting the ceaseless waves, teach her people the +lesson of constant vigilance and unconquerable courage. + +In this country the summer days are long and delightful, the echoes of +good-night linger till the voice of good-morning may be heard. The days +almost touch each other, twilight scarcely leaves the sky. The winter +reverses the order, making the path of the sun short and, bringing it +down close to the hilltops. The storm loves the long night; the winds +rise and sift the treasures of hail and snow over mountain and meadow. + +[Illustration: IN THE HIGHLANDS + +In visiting the places of deepest interest to Covenanters, the journey +in our day may be made with little fatigue and much comfort. This makes +the wanderings of the persecuted Covenanters to appear in pathetic +contrast which touches the heart with sadness. The scene presented here +is Loch Lubnaig nestling in the bosom of the highlands. The view is +charming, especially while the historic events are revived by a guide +like Rev John McDonald, B D, who is here seen in the motor car, +accompanied by Mrs McDonald and Mrs McFeeters.] + +Scotland contains about 30,000 square miles and 4,000,000 souls. The +shores, especially the western and northern, are beautifully fringed +with narrow lochs and steep indentures of the sea, making the coast +picturesque beyond description. The surface is mostly mountainous and +rugged, presenting to the eye natural scenery, which for beauty and +magnificence can scarcely be surpassed. On the mountain side mists +suddenly form, dense as thunder-clouds and bright as snow-drifts. We +were one day pointed to a certain hill where, it is said, Peden was +hunted by dragoons, and found shelter in the heart of a mist-cloud, +which he called "the lap of God's cloak." In answer to prayer he thus +found safety in the secret place of the Most High; heaven seemed to +touch earth where he knelt upon the dripping grass. + +These mountainous grounds furnish luxuriant pasture for numerous flocks +of sheep. Here is the shepherd's paradise, who, with his dog and crook, +keeps careful watch. While the brow of the mountain is white with mist, +its cheeks are often crimsoned with heather, and its breast verdant with +pasture. The associated colors are very grateful to the eye, while the +sublimity ennobles the heart. + +Many picturesque lochs nestle among the hills, in whose placid waters is +mirrored the sky in the brilliant variations of day and night. Poets +and novelists have thrown a charm over these waters, and their shady +isles--and deep coves, relating the stories of love and the tragedies of +war. Castles, some in ruins, some in excellent preservation, dot the +country from sea to sea, crowning prominent hill tops, and grimly +telling of the era of savage strife and imperiled life. Splendid cities, +thrifty towns, and modest country homes are an index of the present +prosperous and peaceful conditions. The industry, intelligence, and +happiness of the people are everywhere apparent. Numerous churches, +schools, and colleges bear testimony to the high tide of Christian +civilization, which, through the labors and fidelity of the fathers, +have carried the present generation into enviable prominence. + +The climate is pleasant and healthful. The asperity of winter is +softened by the ocean streams coming from the south; the heat of summer +is reduced by the high latitude and the mountains. Withal the Lord has +blessed this celebrated country with rare natural advantages for +producing an indomitable and resourceful race. Something in their +environment seems to have given the people more than ordinary qualities +of mind and heart. Through the centuries they listened to the deep music +of the sea, gazed upon the majesty of the mountains, meditated upon the +solitude of the moors, kept vigil over their flocks in the fields, +laboriously tilled the rugged soil; and grew solemn, vigorous, +magnanimous, and unconquerable; they became a distinguished people. + +But above all this, God in the early ages gave them the Scriptures, and +the Truth made them free. From the dawn of the evangelization of +Scotland there has ever been a band, and sometimes a host, whose heart +God touched, whose lives He enswathed with the fire of zeal for Christ +and His royal rights. They grasped the meaning of the Word of God, heard +His voice calling them into the marvelous light, and lived in the +radiance of His dreadful presence. They stood upon the solid foundation +of the infallible Book, and grew solid as the rocks of granite in their +conviction of truth and right. How much of this Scotch granite is +apparent in the faith and firmness of the present generation? + +The matchless inheritance we have received from our Covenanted +ancestors, an inheritance of truth, liberty, and high example, should be +more inspiring to us than nature's grandest scenery. Our eyes should be +open to the moral significance of present conditions. We should be alive +to the weighty obligations transmitted by the fathers to their children. +Filled with the spirit and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and +enthusiastic in our work for God, we should throw our strength into the +service of our Lord Jesus, striving to bring all people into Covenant +with God. The Covenant relation is the normal state of human society. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Locate Scotland on the map. + +2. What is the size? What the population? + +3. Mention the main physical features. + +4. Give some characteristics of the people. + +5. What contributed much to their prominence in history? + +6. What moral inheritance did the Covenanted fathers leave their +children? + +7. What obligation comes with the inheritance? + +8. How should the obligation be met in our day? + + + + +II. + +THE BATTLEFIELD OF PRESBYTERIANISM.--A.D. 200. + + +The beginning of Scotland's evangelization is pre-historic. The records +fail to give any satisfaction concerning the entrance of the Gospel into +that lovely land. The ruins of numerous altars of stone bear grim +testimony to the idolatrous worship practiced by the early inhabitants. +These are known in history as the Druids. They held their religious +meetings in groves, and evidently offered human sacrifices to their +gods. The oak was accounted by them a sacred tree, and the mistletoe, +when growing upon it, was worshiped. Thus the land of our forefathers, +in the far off ages, was without a ray of Gospel light. The people sat +in darkness, in the region and shadow of death. + +In the first three centuries of the Christian era, the successive +persecutions at Rome drove many Christians out from that Gospel center, +to wander in all directions over the world. They suffered banishment for +Christ's sake. In their wanderings they became great missionaries. They +loved Jesus more than their lives, and their religion more than their +homes. By them the Gospel was carried to the ends of the earth. It +seems that some of them drifted into Scotland and brought to that land +the bright morning of a day that carried storms in its bosom, and after +the storms, peace, quietness, prosperity, Christian civilization--an +inheritance of light and liberty unparalleled in history. + +As these witnesses of Jesus told the story of God's love and of Christ's +death, the Holy Spirit came down with power and wrought wondrously upon +the people. They readily believed the faithful saying, "Christ Jesus +came into the world to save sinners." + +In the later centuries the Gospelized communities developed into an +organized Church, with doctrine, worship, and government based upon +God's Word. These primitive Christians were careful to preserve the +apostolic simplicity, purity, manner, and substance, of Divine service. +The Infallibility of the Bible, the Divinity of Christ, the Inspired +Psalmody, and the Presbyterian form of government, were fundamentals in +the faith of the Church of Scotland from her youth. She appears +exceedingly beautiful in her first love, coming up from the wilderness +with her right hand taking firm hold upon the Lord Jesus Christ, her +gracious Redeemer and mighty Protector. + +The Church of Scotland was then known as the Church of the Culdees. They +had a flourishing Theological Seminary on the Isle of Iona. The ruins of +it still remain. + +Papal Rome however quickly scented this noble vine, with its rich, ripe +clusters of grapes. Embassies were sent to win these children of light +over to the Papacy. But they had tasted of the freedom and blessedness +in Christ and refused. A long sanguinary struggle ensued, which resulted +in the apparent suppression of the Protestant faith in the Twelfth +century. The ministers in general, under the severity of prolonged +persecution, surrendered their liberty and became servants of the Roman +pontiff. + +Yet were there always some to resist the cruel conqueror. The excellent +of the earth are always to be found at their unpurchasable value, when +mankind is on the market selling cheap. These had the courage to +challenge popes and kings, who dared to assume the power or the +prerogatives of Jesus Christ. They believed that Christ was the Head of +the Church, and were willing to yield up their lives rather than their +convictions. The doctrine of Christ's supremacy was incarnated in these +worthies, and they became invincible in its defence. As the granite +rocks, beneath whose shelter they worshiped, withstood the blasts of +winter, so these insuppressible men withstood the storms of persecution. +The sovereignty of Christ over Church and nation was dearer to them than +life. They saw the glory of God involved in this fundamental truth, also +the honor of Jesus Christ, and the liberty, purity, and permanence of +the Church. They counted the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ +worthy of every sacrifice. They suffered bonds and imprisonment, exile +and slavery, torture and death, for its sake. Their blood watered the +moss of the moors and the heather of the mountains. Thousands and tens +of thousands of Scotland's noblest sons and purest daughters gave their +lives freely for the contested doctrine of Christ's crown rights and +royal supremacy. As these valiant soldiers of the cross fell, their +children arose, and, grasping the banner of the Covenant crimsoned with +the blood of their fathers, carried it defiantly along the firing line +of the fierce battle. The dreadful conflict continued while century +followed century. + +[Illustration: This old Banner is yet to be seen at the home of Mr. John +Howie of Lochgoin. It has its own unwritten history. As we placed our +hands on the precious folds, the heart was asking about the brave +standard-bearers who carried it in the hard-fought encounters, and the +fearless Covenanters who followed it unto death.] + +Victory finally crowned the martyrs' cause, and peace spread her white +wings over the crimson field, which in our day yields a rich harvest of +happiness and prosperity. Out of that great struggle we have inherited +the civil and religious liberty, which to-day is the crowning glory of +Great Britain and America. + +But the victories of our fathers were not final: they only placed us on +vantage ground to continue the struggle, until the whole world shall be +redeemed from every system of false religion and despotic power. Much +land yet remains to be possessed. Animated by their noble example and +encouraged by their success, we should press forward in the same cause, +for the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls. How can we +hesitate? Great obligations have descended from the fathers to us as +their successors; future generations are dependent on our faithfulness. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe the religion that prevailed in Scotland before the Gospel +was introduced. + +2. What is known concerning the beginning of the Church in this country? + +3. What was the success of the Gospel during the early centuries? + +4. What were the chief doctrines of the Church in those times? + +5. What foe attempted her suppression? + +6. Describe the resistance offered by the martyrs. + +7. What was the great doctrine around which the battle was waged? + + + + +III. + +SOME EARLY MARTYRS.--A.D. 1200. + + +The Roman hierarchy, having gained a foothold on the shores of Scotland, +pushed hard for the ascendancy. At length the Papal religion prevailed. +The black wings of apostasy, as of an ominous bird, were stretched from +sea to sea. Dense darkness fell upon Scotland. The Thirteenth century +was the horrible midnight, during which the people slept helpless in the +grasp of a terrorizing nightmare. Kings combined with priests to crush +all who asserted their right to a free conscience in the worship of God. +The Bible was officially condemned and publicly burned; its perusal by +the people was accounted a crime worthy of death. Poor Scotland! how +ruinously overwhelmed beneath the briny waters of adversity. + +The providences of God are mysterious. We become mystified and +distressed when we ask for reasons. God's circles are vast; we cannot +take in His horizon. We know however that all His works are done in +truth and righteousness. The wheels of Christ's chariot never move +backward. In getting over the rough places, progress may seem to be +reversed, yet this is an illusion. In every such case the mysterious +operation of providence is merely preparation for advancement. The great +work of redemption goes forward through all stages to perfection. The +storms that dash against the face of spring prevent not the coming of +summer with its abundant harvests and songs of joy. + +The light of the Gospel seemed to have been quenched beneath the +seething tide of Papal corruption. Still there were incorruptible men +and women here and there, who devoutly worshiped God according to His +Word. Their hearthstone was their church. There may have been many in +those days deeply rooted in the faith, but for most part they remained +invisible. To be known as true to Christ imperiled life. Not many had +the courage to publish their convictions. Yet there were some who arose +in the majesty of redeemed manhood and confessed Jesus, testifying to +His truth in defiance of the powers of darkness. To them truth was +sweeter than life. + +John Resby is on record as one among the first witnesses, who heralded a +glorious reformation for Scotland. He was a voice crying in the +wilderness, proclaiming the sovereignty of Christ over the Church and +denouncing the pope who claimed to be the representative of the Lord +Jesus. He was quickly silenced by death at the stake. This occurred in +1407 The spirit of religious liberty was thereby crushed and +disappeared for twenty-five years. + +Paul Craw was the next to be lifted into prominence by the power of the +Gospel, and thrust into publicity by the courage of his convictions. The +Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. His love for the truth of the +Gospel filled him with abhorrence of Roman errors; his pity for souls +carried him into the fight for their freedom. He testified boldly +against Papal idolatry, prayer to saints, and the confessional. For this +he was sentenced to suffer in the flames. His martyrdom took place in +1432. + +Patrick Hamilton was another distinguished hero in this age of darkness. +Nearly a century had passed between the last mentioned martyr and this. +Doubtless lesser lights had appeared, for the record cannot possibly be +complete. Winter snows and summer showers often fell on smoking embers, +where the charred bones and precious names of martyrs are now forgotten, +and the annual sward of green conceals the sacred grounds from the +knowledge of man. Hamilton was a young man of education and refinement +having fairest worldly prospects. However, the Lord showed him "the way, +the truth, and the life," and his soul was fired with the love of God. +He counted all things but "loss for the excellency of the knowledge of +Christ." His enthusiasm carried him boldly into controversy with the +enemies of his Lord, and won for him the honors of a noble martyr. As +the flames leaped around him at the stake, his voice rose calm and clear +on the crisp winter air, exclaiming, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness +cover this realm? How long wilt thou suffer this tyranny of man?" This +man was sacrificed in 1528. + +The light was rising; spring-time was coming, the early rain of God's +grace was falling upon Scotland. Godly lives now sprang up thick as +flowers in the meadow. They must be uprooted in bunches, thought the +Romanists, or the people, gaining light, will cast off the Papal +religion and be free to worship God according to His Word. During the +next few years many were condemned and executed for their faith. + +Helen Stark deserves honorable mention. She and her husband were +sentenced to death for their fidelity to Jesus. She begged for the poor +consolation of dying with her husband, pleading that the flames that +would consume his flesh might also consume hers. The privilege was +denied. She stood by him while the fire did its work, and the chariot of +flame bore his soul to heaven. She encouraged him to endure bravely and +glorify God. When life had departed from his quivering body, she was +pushed aside and hastened to a pond of deep water. Withdrawing a babe +from her warm breast where it would never again rest, she gave it to a +woman near by, resigning it to the loving Father of orphans. She was +then plunged into the water where death quickly ended her sorrows. This +martyrdom was in 1543. + +[Illustration: GEORGE WISHART. + +George Wishart was a burning and shining light in darkest times. His +pure and vigorous life was lifted up into the presence of God and +devoted to the glory of Jesus Christ and the emancipation of souls from +the bondage of Satan, through the preaching of the Gospel. He finished +his work, a great work, while he was yet a young man. His enemies burned +him at the stake, in 1546, for his faith in Jesus Christ.] + +George Wishart arose at this time in the spirit and majesty of the Lord +Jesus Christ, and displayed the banner of truth with an invincible +faith. His heart was true, pure, fresh, and fragrant as the heart of a +rosebud, through the indwelling Spirit of God. His life was wonderfully +attractive. His eloquence was seraphic; his lips had been touched with a +live coal from the altar of God; his soul was aflame with the Gospel. He +was animated with transfiguring revelations of Christ and His redeeming +truth. He was a burning and shining light. The light he shed was too +bright to last long in those dangerous times. The cardinal, prelates, +and priests consulted for his overthrow. He fell suddenly into their +hands and his death was decreed. To the stake he was hurried where the +flames once more did their work, and another faithful soul appeared +before the Throne, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and arrayed in a +white robe, rejoicing in the victory won through Jesus Christ. At the +stake his executioner begged forgiveness. Wishart kissed his cheek, +saying, "Go, here is a token that I forgive thee; do thine office." One +standing near said to him, "Be of good courage." He replied, "This fire +torments my body, but in no way abates my spirit." This execution was in +1546. + +The success of life is not measured by the years we live, but by +loyalty to Jesus Christ and service in the Gospel; the might of our +faith, the healthiness of the soul, the greatness of the heart, and the +intensity of the light shining from a character radiant with the +presence and glory of Jesus Christ. + +Are we every day trying to make our lives rich, radiant, successful, and +certain of reward, through earnest effort to bring others into the +possession of the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What was Scotland's condition when over-ridden by the Roman religion? + +2. How was the true Church kept alive? + +3. Describe the sufferings endured by the witnesses of Jesus. + +4. Give the death scene of John Resby, Paul Craw, Patrick Hamilton, +Helen Stark, George Wishart. + +5. How may the study of the martyrs' lives purify, strengthen, and +ennoble our lives? + + + + +IV. + +KNOX IN THE FIELD OF CONFLICT.--A.D. 1547. + + +"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." This crimson adage +is a striking truth. "If ye burn any more," quaintly said one who had +observed the effects of the martyrdom of Wishart on the public mind, +"burn them in your cellar, for the smoke infects all upon whom it is +blown." + +John Knox was then a young man preparing for service in the priesthood +of Rome. He had met Wishart and felt the glow of his warm heart and the +power of his inspiring fellowship. He was a man of eminent natural +abilities to which was added a liberal education. He was recognized as +one who would be a mighty champion on whatever side he took his stand. +God was rich in mercy to Scotland when He caused the Gospel to shine +into the heart of Knox, giving him "the light of the knowledge of the +glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." His towering intellect, +through the study of the Word of God, caught the morning glory of the +Reformation, like a mountain that catches the first rays of the rising +sun. He broke all the bonds that bound him to Papacy, and entered into +the liberty of the children of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. + +When Knox received his first call to become a pastor, he was overwhelmed +with anxiety at the awful responsibility of preaching the Gospel. He +stood in amazement, but dared not refuse. His humility and +self-abasement prepared him, through the grace of the Lord Jesus, for +heights of power and honor seldom reached by ministers. From that +crucial day he devoted all the energies of body and soul to the +preaching of the Word of God. His public services covered a quarter of a +century. + +This mighty man of valor threw himself immediately into the thickest of +the fight against Romanism. He struck at the root of the evil. Instead +of skirmishing along the borders about rituals, ceremonies, and +perversion of doctrines, he boldly challenged the Papal system as +Antichrist, and the Pope as "The man of sin." In his estimation the +Romish Church was a fallen Church and had become "The Synagogue of +Satan." He entered the field of conflict clad in the armor of God and +wielded the sword of the Spirit with precision and terrible effect. In +prayer lay the secret of his power. He knew how to take hold upon God, +and prevail like a prince. The Queen Regent, who in those times mustered +the forces of the government at her pleasure, said, "I am more afraid of +the prayers of John Knox than of any army of ten thousand men." + +The very name of Knox was enough to strike terror into the hearts of his +enemies. On one occasion, having been in Geneva for a time, he returned +unexpectedly. Just then a number of the Reformed ministers, who had been +arrested for preaching against Popery, were approaching their trial. The +court had assembled and were attending to the preliminaries. Suddenly a +messenger rushed into the hall of justice, breathless with haste, +exclaiming, "John Knox! John Knox is come! he slept last night in +Edinburgh!" The court was stunned and immediately adjourned. + +The life of Knox was often in danger. Once as he sat in his room reading +by candle light a shot was fired at him from the street through the +window. It went harmlessly past him and struck his candle. + +He received a request on a certain occasion to preach in a city that was +a stronghold of Romanism. He accepted, glad of the opportunity, knowing +also the peril. The archbishop of the city, having an army at his +bidding, sent Knox a warning, saying, that if he preached, the soldiers +would receive orders to fire upon him. His friends urged him not to go. +He replied, "As for the fear of danger that may come to me let no man be +solicitous, for my life is in the custody of Him whose glory I seek. I +desire the hand and weapon of no man to defend me. I only crave +audience, which, if it be denied here unto me at this time, I must seek +farther where I may have it." He went and preached and returned +unharmed. His great courage infused itself into other hearts, and a +multitude of invincible men stood forth with him in the struggle for +liberty and conscience, which he so fearlessly advocated. Every sublime +life is a mighty power for the uplifting of others into the same region +of healthy action. + +The throne of Scotland, with its machinery of government, was against +Knox all his days. Queen Mary was determined to keep the people in +subjection to her own arbitrary will, and the Church subject to her +authority. Knox had several personal interviews with her, taking +occasion at the risk of his life to speak candidly and solemnly, +applying the Word of God to her life and conscience. At one time, +remonstrating against her persecuting rage, he said to her, "Even so, +Madam, if those who are in authority, being stricken with a frenzy, will +murder the children of God, who are their own subjects, the sword may be +taken from them, and they may be imprisoned till they be brought to a +sober mind." The queen was much amazed and her face changed color, but +she was powerless to do him harm. + +During the lifetime of Knox, the Church of the Reformation grew rapidly +and became mighty in numbers and influence. The first General Assembly +was held in 1560, having 6 ministers and 32 other members, 38 in all. In +1567, just seven years later, the Assembly numbered 252 ministers, 467 +readers, and 154 exhorters. This, too, was in a time of distress the +conditions were unfavorable, the opposition was very strong. How account +for the success? "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith +the Lord." + +[Illustration: KNOX ADMINISTERING THE LORD'S SUPPER. + +John Knox led the Church in the great struggle for pure doctrine and +worship. The vain heart of man is ever inventing additions and +variations in the services of God's house. Many devices had been thrust +upon the early Church of Scotland. Here we see this servant of Christ, +in the administration of the Lord's Supper, giving the people the bread +and the cup as Jesus directed.] + +The Church contended for the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, even +unto death. + +The Church pursued unswervingly the course marked out for her in the +Word of God, in doctrine, worship, and discipline, not troubled at the +cost nor fearing results. + +The Church refused to be guided by human wisdom or temporizing methods, +either to win numbers or gain favor, depending for success upon the +wisdom that cometh from above. + +The Church sought to glorify God with simplicity of faith, holiness of +life, purity of worship, and loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence the +invincible energy, the wonderful achievements, the magnificent +victories, and the amazing increase. Would not the Church of Christ take +on like activities, proportions, and strength, by following the same +course of fidelity in our own times? + +John Knox died in 1572, at the age of 67. His last words were, "Come, +Lord Jesus, sweet Jesus; receive my spirit." His latter end was peace. + +Will we strive to emulate Knox in prayer, courage, self-denial, and +pure-heartedness? Will not his example be to us an inspiration to work +with faith and might, to build up the Church and enlarge the Kingdom of +Christ? He was great because he was humble and trusted in the Lord. The +same way is still open to all who would do great things for God. +Humility, prayer, faith, activity, courage, honor, glory--these are the +successive steps upward. There is yet room in the high places. Knox's +place seems to be vacant. Who will fill it? What an opportunity for +young men to bring their noblest powers into action! + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What great reformer appeared at this stage of the conflict? + +2. What was the attitude of Knox toward Romanism? + +3. How was his power dreaded by his enemies? + +4. What was his demeanor in danger? + +5. Describe his interviews with the rulers. + +6. Tell how the Church prospered during his ministry; explain the cause. + +7. What effect should such a life have on us as we study it? + + + + +V. + +FOUNDATION STONES.--A.D. 1550. + + +During the first half of the Sixteenth century the Church struggled +strenuously for a more complete organization. The Word of God was +quietly circulated and believers in Jesus Christ were growing numerous. +But hitherto they had to worship God at their own fireside or burn at +the stake. In the humble cottage, while the raging storm kept spies +away, the father read from the Book of God to his children as they +huddled around the turf fire, and the mother sang Psalms to the little +ones as she knit their stockings or baked the oaten bread. Thus pious +parents instilled into their sons and daughters the truth of Christ +which stirred their blood, and prepared a generation to emerge from the +bondage of Papacy. + + +THE FIRST COVENANT--1557. + +During these times the Church was found chiefly in groups of Christians +who met secretly for prayer. A company of devout believers came +together to spend the evening hours, or the Sabbath day, in the worship +of God. The meeting was called a Society. In these places prayer was +offered in faith, the Psalms were sung with grave melody, and the Bible +was read with reverence. These hungry souls fed upon the Word. Sometimes +the meetings were held in caves for fear of the enemy. Once a minister, +being pursued, entered one of these caves for safety. As he sat down in +its shelter, he was surprised at hearing soft melody farther back in +that dark retreat. Following the sound of the voices he found a company +of devout worshipers. + +In those troublous times the Holy Spirit, in His own mysterious way, +electrified the hearts of these hidden ones with the thought of +Covenanting with each other and with God, to stand for life, liberty, +and religion. A day was set and a place appointed for entering into the +holy bond. Notwithstanding the danger incurred, a large concourse of +people assembled and solemnly entered into the Covenant. This occurred +in the city of Edinburgh, December 3, 1557. This Covenant embodied their +purpose, thus, "We by His grace, shall, with all diligence, continually +apply our whole power, substance, and our very lives, to maintain, set +forward, and establish the most blessed Word of God and His Church." +This is known as The First Covenant of Scotland. Two years later, +another bond of agreement was subscribed, on behalf of the Church, by +her most prominent leaders, which was called The Second Covenant. + +[Illustration: MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS. + +Mary, Queen of Scots, came to the throne young, beautiful, aspiring, and +unscrupulous. She selected for her counselors, those who were devoted to +the Papal religion. She employed the government, the army, and the +French forces, to suppress the Reformers. The tide of power was against +her. She lost her throne and kingdom, and fled the country. She was +finally beheaded in London.] + + +THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY--1560. + +The First Covenant was a formidable bulwark of defence against Papacy. +The young Protestant Church found in it a strong tower. The battle grew +fiercer. Many of the nobles joined the Covenanted ranks. Two years later +this Covenant was renewed and the cause gained great strength. Among +other leaders Lord James Stuart, the queen's brother, subscribed. He was +a daring defender of the Reformed faith. He stood as a wall of adamant +between the Reformation and his sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, who +employed the government and army to destroy it. After her overthrow he +became regent, ruling the nation with kingly power and extraordinary +ability, having the fear of God and the welfare of the people at heart. +His home was like a sanctuary; the fire burned on the family altar, the +Bible was read at the table, the beauty of holiness graced the +household. In history he is known as Lord Murray, the "Good Regent." He +was assassinated by an ingrate, whom he had pardoned and saved from +execution. Much credit for the First Reformation must be given to Murray +in the State and Knox in the Church, each peerless in his place. In +their day the Church became an organized power and assumed the +appearance of "an army with banners." The First General Assembly met in +Edinburgh, December 20, 1560. The purpose was, "To consult upon those +things which are to forward God's glory and the well-being of His Kirk." +The glory of God! the honor of Christ! the exaltation of the supreme +Name! that is the purpose that sends fire through the veins and sweeps +the soul with holy flames. Give this its true place, and the best work +of life will be done. Then did the Church arise and shine in the glory +of the Lord. Then did she develop in size, strength, and courage, as in +the days of the apostles. Seven years later when the General Assembly +met, the members numbered 773, with a prosperous Church of proportionate +size. The Reformers entered into the work of the Lord with heartiness +and reaped a plentiful harvest. + + +THE FIRST BOOK OF DISCIPLINE--1561. + +The high principles governing the First General Assembly are seen in the +effort to preserve the purity of the young Church, springing up under +the care of these "valiant men of Israel." One of the first steps taken +was the appointment of a committee to prepare a Book of Discipline. +These devout men copied from no existing form of Church government. They +did not draw even upon Holland or Geneva for resources. They went +directly to the Word of God, as the fountain of all knowledge for the +task on hand. They took counsel and instruction from God in prayer, +placed mind and heart under the guiding power of the Holy Spirit. The +book that came forth was such as we would expect at the hands of such +men, working with such spirit and purpose. Its statements were truth; +its rules were wisdom; its censures were a sword; its authority was +Christ. The General Assembly adopted it. However, it was not in favor +with all. Its standard of doctrine and discipline was too high to please +some. Knox gives the reason: "Everything that impugned their corrupt +affections was mockingly termed 'devout imaginations.' The cause was, +some were licentious, some had greedily gripped the possessions of the +Church, and others thought they would not lack their part of Christ's +coat." Discipline was applied to the Church according to the book. The +unworthy were suspended, and those who failed to measure up to the +standard of knowledge, character, and spiritual life, were refused. +Could there be a clearer demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit +and the presence of Jesus Christ, than the discipline that removed the +unworthy and refused the unfit, when the Church was so weak in number +and assailed by hordes of enemies? Yet during the first seven years of +this Book of Discipline, the General Assembly grew from 6 to 252 +ministers, and the Church in the same marvelous proportion. Behold +God's seal placed on strict discipline. There is power in purity; +vitality depends much on sanitation. + + +THE FIRST SCHOOLS--1561. + +The Public School system is the offspring of Protestantism. The human +mind, when liberated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, aspires after +education, as the eagle soars into the upper air when set free from its +cage. Freedom in Christ Jesus awakens consciousness of rights, powers, +privileges, obligations, and the immeasurable boundaries of mind and +spirit. With such breathings and aspirations these Presbyterian fathers +planted free schools over their country and set the example for the +world. The General Assembly authorized a school for every "parish", and +made attendance imperative. The children of the poor were instructed +free, the rich contributed support. The studies covered "religion, +grammar, and Latin." Also in every "notable town, a college was to be +erected for instruction in logic, rhetoric, and the learned languages." +Such was the work of the General Assembly in the year of our Lord 1561. +Our system of Public Schools is but the extension of the orchard these +fathers planted, in their far-reaching plans and great-hearted purposes. + +Such were some of the steps taken by the fathers, in the Church of +Scotland, at the dawn of the First Reformation. They were master +builders in laying foundation stones. They were preparing for the +onward movement, which gave to the world the most brilliant example of +Church and State in Covenant with God. The like has not been witnessed +since the days of Jesus of Nazareth. These beginnings were the stately +steppings of God within His sanctuary. The Lord raised up men after His +own heart, and empowered them by the Holy Spirit to perform this +stupendous task. They were men of like passions with others, yet +possessing the rare quality of an inviolate conscience. They were +governed by principle, not expediency; were guided by truthfulness, not +diplomacy; consulted God's law, not convenience; accepted duty at God's +command, not at man's dictate. Not all who were enrolled in the Church +stood the test; some grew faint and fell back from the firing line. But +enough were ever there to glorify God and do His service at any cost. +Scotland's First Reformation reached its climax in 1567. + +The diligence and success of the fathers in the Lord's work should +inspire us to do the best within our power for the enlargement of the +Church. Are we building, as they built, upon the true foundation, which +is Jesus Christ? Is our building material like theirs--gold, silver, and +precious stones? Are we zealous in making the Church of Christ appear +the glorious Temple of truth, the Sanctuary of the living God, the +Habitation of the Holy Spirit? Are we so consumed with the holy passion +of love, that we cannot rest till we bring others into the house of God? +Are we worthy of our relation to the Covenanted fathers? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Give an account of the First Covenant. + +2. Describe the First General Assembly. + +3. What was the value of the First Book of Discipline? + +4. Describe the founding of Public Schools in Scotland. + +5. When was the First Reformation at its climax? + +6. How should the success of the fathers inspire us? + + + + +VI. + +SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL COVENANT.--A.D. 1581. + + +During the sixties of the Sixteenth century, the Presbyterian Church had +her beautiful summer. The winter seemed to be past and the storms over +and gone; the time of the singing of birds had come. + +Hitherto the Church had been as a lily among thorns: now instead of +thorns were fir trees, and instead of briers, myrtle trees, to the glory +of the Lord, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. + +Among the matchless sayings of Jesus, one specific word resounds through +all the ages and falls upon listening ears like thunder from heaven: +"WATCH". Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, the price of purity, +the price of honor, the price of every thing worth having. The young +Church, vigorous, victorious, and enthusiastic, seems to have been off +her guard at a critical moment and while she slept the enemy sowed tares +among the wheat. + +The regent, the person who was acting as king while the coming king was +a child, called a convention of ministers and others who favored the +king's supremacy over the Church. The convention at his dictation +introduced Prelacy. This occurred on January 12, 1572, a dark day for +Scotland. + +Prelacy is little else than Popery modified; Popery in another dress, +trained and taught to speak a softer dialect. The power of Popery had +been broken, but the residuum still remained, and now there appeared +"the strange heterogeneous compound of Popery, Prelacy, and +Presbyterianism" in the Church. + +The Church awoke to find herself in the grasp of a horrible octopus, +from which she did not escape for three generations, and only then at +the loss of much precious blood. + +The first effort of the Church, when awakened to her real condition, was +to control the bishops that had come into her ministry, and whom she was +powerless to remove. The next step was to attempt their removal, on the +ground that the office of the bishop was unscriptural. Difficulties +rapidly increased; opposing forces were daily growing stronger; the +Civil government was against the Church; the regent, Scotland's chief +ruler, bent all his energies in the defence of the bishops. From whence +shall light and deliverance now come? Listen to the words that seem to +be on ten thousand lips: "The Covenants; the Covenants shall be +Scotland's reviving!" "The Covenants" now became the watchword of the +faithful. A wave of hopefulness and enthusiasm spread over the Church; +gladness wreathed the faces that had gathered blackness, and strength +throbbed in hearts that were faint. + +The General Assembly, given strength from the Lord for the occasion, +adopted a form of Covenant for the nation. The Covenant, as written by +Rev. John Craig, was the product of a cultured brain and pious heart. It +is unsurpassed in clear diction, high purpose, majestic spirit, heroic +decision, and solemn appeal to God. It became the ground-work of all +Scotland's subsequent Covenants. + +But Craig had to meet the test of faith required by his own Covenant. +King James VI., who was now on the throne, after subscribing the bond, +repudiated it, and commanded its author to do the same. Craig replied +that he would never repudiate anything approved by the Word of God. The +Court, in which he was on trial, ordered his head to be shaved, and +other indignities to be done to his person. + +Again when on trial he was treated with utmost contempt by his judge, to +whom he said, "There have been as great men set up higher than thou, +that have been brought low." The judge, mockingly, sat down at his feet, +saying, "Now I am humbled." "Nay," said Craig, "mock God's servants as +thou wilt, God will not be mocked, but shall make thee find it in +earnest, when thou shalt be cast down from the high horse of thy +pride." A few years later he was thrown from his horse and killed. + +The fervor aroused by the Covenant swept the Church like a Pentecostal +fire, and spread over all the kingdom as a storm of holy excitement. The +Covenant bond, being signed by the king, the nobles, and a great +multitude of people, was called, The First National Covenant of +Scotland. + +No greater event had ever stirred the kingdom, no deeper joy had lighted +up her coasts, no higher honor had exalted her people, no brighter glory +had overspread her mountains and moors. That holy Covenant had lifted +her into relationship with God; the kingdom had become Hephzibah, and +the land, Beulah; the nation was married to the Lord. + +The Covenant bound the Covenanter, the Church, the nation, and +posterity, under a solemn oath,-- + +To adhere to the Reformed religion with all the heart through all time +to come; + +To labor with all lawful means to recover the purity and liberty of the +Gospel, by removing all human innovations from the Church; + +To abhor and detest the corrupt doctrines and practices of Romanism; + +To resist under the oath of God all the evils and corruptions contrary +to the Reformed religion; + +To defend the country and support the government, while country and +government defend and preserve true religion; + +To stand in mutual defence of one another in maintaining the Gospel and +the Reformed Church; + +To permit nothing to divide the Covenanted ranks, or diminish their +power, or swerve them from their high purpose; + +To become good examples of Godliness, soberness, and righteousness in +the performance of every duty due to God and man; + +To fear none of the foul aspersions that may be cast upon this Covenant, +seeing it is warranted by the Word of God, and is for the maintenance of +His Church; + +To recognize the LIVING GOD as the Searcher of hearts, and Jesus Christ +as the Judge, before whom all shall stand in judgment. + +Such was the high range of thought, motive, purpose, and action reached +by this Covenant of the fathers, who called upon God in the day of +trouble, and were heard in that they feared. The men who led in this +solemn transaction were distinguished for learning, piety, high-souled +purpose, devotion to their country, and zeal for the glory of Christ. +They were among the excellent of the earth. But the mighty current of +religious enthusiasm that had set in drew to itself, and carried on its +bosom, multitudes who were superficial and vacillating. These quickly +fell away when the counter current set forward; some of them even +became violent persecutors of the Covenanters. + +[Illustration: KING JAMES VI. + +King James VI. came to the throne of Scotland in 1578, and reigned till +1625. He was crowned when a boy of 12 years. He subscribed the National +Covenant, saying, "I praise the Lord that I am king in such a Kirk, the +sincerest Kirk in the world." He soon forsook the "Kirk"--the Covenanted +Church--and became a violent persecutor.] + +The king was among the first to vitiate his oath, and break the +Covenant. His weakness was pitiful; he seemed to turn with every gale +that struck him. The next year he mustered the strength of his +government to overthrow the Presbyterian Church, and reverse the +workings of the Covenant. The Church was aroused and resolute, Andrew +Melville being her recognized leader. A delegation was sent to the king +to remonstrate; Melville was the spokesman. The king was confronted like +a lion in his den. He listened to the following message: "Your majesty, +by device of some counselors, is caused to take upon you a spiritual +power and authority, which properly belongs unto Christ, as the only +King and Head of the Church. Through your highness, some men are trying +to erect a new Popedom, as though your majesty could not be king and +head of this commonwealth, unless the spiritual sword, as well as the +temporal, be put into your hands; unless Christ be bereft of His +authority, and the two jurisdictions which God separated be confounded. +All this tends to the wreck of true religion." + +Melville sent the truth, like a lancet, into the inflated ambition of +the young king. He winced in the agony of the keen surgery. But Melville +had to meet the consequences of his faithfulness. He was taken to the +tower of London, where he lay in a dismal cell four years. He was +afterward banished and died in a strange land. + +This Covenant of 1851 placed posterity, equally with the Covenanters of +that day, in oath-bound relation to God. A Public Covenant with God +continues in its moral obligation until its terms are fulfilled. Are we +lifting up our lives into relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ +through our inherited Covenant? Are we fulfilling our sworn duties to +our country, our Church, and our Lord? Are we using all lawful means to +cause true religion to prevail? Are we employing our strength against +all opposing evils? Are we keeping step in the Covenanted ranks that are +marching on, assured that the principles of the Reformation will yet +prevail in every land? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What was the condition of the Presbyterian Church during 1560-1570? + +2. How did the Church thereafter decline? + +3. To what did the Church resort for her reviving? + +4. What effect had the Covenant on the Church? + +5. Mention some of the main points in the Covenant. + +6. How did the king regard the Covenant? + +7. How was his opposition resisted by the Covenanters? + +8. In what way do the former Covenants bind the present generation? + + + + +VII. + +CONTENDING WITH THE KING--A.D. 1582. + + +The Covenanted Church flourished under the care of the General Assembly +like a well-watered garden. The small band of ministers and elders, who +had organized the Assembly, were richly blest in their labors. They had +assembled at the risk of their lives to give the supremacy of Jesus +Christ its loudest utterance, and the unity of the Church its grandest +expression; and the signal favor of God was their reward. The first ten +years of the General Assembly were the halcyon days of the Presbyterian +Church of Scotland. Under the showers of the Holy Spirit, pious people +sprang up "as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses." The +power of the Papacy was broken and its horrors checked. + +The clear sky, however, soon gathered blackness. The first cloud was, in +size, and in cunning, too, as a man's hand. The national government had +condemned Popery as a religion, and had confiscated the vast wealth +which the priesthood had amassed and had long enjoyed. This immense +property, including rich revenues, large buildings, broad fields, and +annual harvests, was held for distribution. How shall it be distributed? +That was the burning question of the day, and it started a conflagration +in the Church, that kindled many a fire at the stake. The Civil court +decided that one-sixth should be given to the Church. The Church +accepted the allowance. It was a sweet morsel in her mouth; but bitter, +oh, how bitter in her bowels! + +Regent Morton held the reins of government at that time. That cunning +ruler in bestowing this gift expected large returns. If the Church get +gold at his hand, she must make concessions on his demand. From that day +the Covenanted Church was in trouble. She was compelled to keep up a +constant warfare for her heaven-given independence, a bitter fight at +the cost of much blood for the right of self-government under her Lord. +The Bride of the Son of God had linked arms with an earthly suitor, and +leaned on him for support, to her shame and sorrow. The Church of +Christ, free-born and independent, endued with divine power, enriched +with the indwelling Spirit, and sufficiently resourceful for all +conditions and obligations, now depended on the State for financial +help. The mistake grew more evident, and its correction more difficult, +as time rolled on. + +The sovereignty of Jesus Christ is one of the cardinal doctrines of +Presbyterianism. Christ in this form of Church government is glorified +as Lord over all, and blessed forever. Enthroned on the right hand of +the Majesty on high, He rules over a dominion whose limits include the +utmost bounds of creation. On earth He has organized the Church, of +which He is the only Head and King. He has also established the State, +of which He is both King and Judge. The Church and State under Jesus +Christ are mutually independent; each should be cordial and co-operative +with the other; both are directly accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ. + +Morton saw his opportunity when the Church took the money. In those days +the ruler of Scotland insisted on being recognized as the head of the +Church. Morton put forth his claim of control; the faithful ministers of +Christ resisted. Since the reign of Henry VIII., the Episcopal Church +has acknowledged the reigning sovereign as supreme in her government. In +this position the ruler can use the Church as an arm of his government, +a handmaid in his administration, an instrument in carrying out his +designs, an ally in supporting whatsoever may originate in his heart. + +Morton attempted to introduce Episcopacy into the General Assembly. Even +there he found some ready to do his bidding; and thus began the long +controversy between Presbyterianism and Episcopacy. The struggle of +Protestantism with Romanism had well-nigh disappeared; the fight was now +between the Presbyterian and the Episcopalian. + +Morton's leaven quickly did its work; the Assembly became deeply +infected. For more than an hundred years the terrible struggle +continued. In the early years of this fierce conflict, Andrew Melville, +mighty in the power of Jesus, stood in the forefront of the battle. +Melville was scholarly, intrepid, adventurous, highly emotional, and +vehement in the cause of the Church's independence. He had some sharp +encounters with Morton. Morton in a rage said to him one day, "The +country will never be in quietness till half a dozen of you be hanged or +banished." Melville, looking him in the face with his piercing eyes, +replied, "Tush, man, threaten your courtiers after that manner. It is +the same to me whether I rot in the air or in the ground. The earth is +the Lord's. My country is wherever goodness is. Let God be glorified, it +will not be in your power to hang or exile His truth." Morton felt +himself outdared and outdone by the courage and calmness of this humble +servant of Christ. + +Morton resigned the regency in 1578, to make way for James VI. to ascend +the throne, who continued the war against the Presbyterians. He asserted +that his crown depended on the office of the bishop. "No bishop, no +king," was his motto. He aspired to become dictator to the Church. The +General Assembly resisted his claim. A delegation was sent to the king +with a strong remonstrance against his tyrannic course. Melville was a +member of the delegation, and his energetic spirit constituted him +speaker. The delegation appeared in the royal court where the king sat +among his advisers. The remonstrance was read; it filled the king with +rage. "Who dare subscribe this treasonable paper?" was asked. "We dare," +replied Melville, taking hold of the pen and calmly writing his name. +The others followed the bold example. The king and his company were +overawed by their holy bravery. + +[Illustration: MELVILLE BEFORE KING JAMES. + +Andrew Melville was able to stand before the king because he habitually +stood before God. He was wise and strong to give advice and warning in +the name of Christ to the sovereign of the nation, because he took his +orders from Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. He was +banished for his faithfulness, and died in France, in 1622, being 77 +years old.] + +At another time Melville became so animated in his remonstrance against +the despotic monarch, that he took hold of his arm, and gave him an +admonition such as few kings have ever heard. His passionate eloquence +flowed in a torrent: "I must tell you, Sir, there are two kings, and two +kingdoms in Scotland. There is King James VI., head of the commonwealth; +and there is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject King +James is, and of whose kingdom he is not a king, nor a lord, nor a head, +but a member. Sir, when you were in your swaddling clothes, Christ Jesus +reigned freely in this land, in spite of all his enemies." The words +penetrated the guilty soul like flashes from the eye of God. For the +time the men had exchanged places; Melville was king. + +Melville suffered for his faithfulness; he was banished. Yet he was +rewarded with a green old age and a triumphant death. At the age of +sixty-eight he wrote from the land of his exile, "I thank God, I eat, I +drink, I sleep, as well as I did thirty years bygone, and better than +when I was young. My heart is yet a Scotch heart, and as good, or better +than ever, both toward God and man. The Lord only be praised for this, +to whom belongs all glory." He died in France in 1622. + +The supremacy of Christ is the glory of the Church. Jesus is the +Fountain-Head of life, love, law, government, and authority. Are we +maintaining this exalted truth with the courage of our ancestors? The +zeal of our fathers, if revived in these days, would electrify the +world. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What financial question in those days ensnared the Church? + +2. How was her independence affected by state patronage? + +3. What was the great question in controversy? + +4. How did the state make use of Episcopacy in the battle with +Presbyterianism? + +5. How did Melville resist the king's attempt to rule the Church? + +6. What did Melville's faithfulness cost him? + +7. What need now to advocate the supremacy of Jesus, and the +independence of the Church? + + + + +VIII. + +MEN OF MIGHT.--A.D. 1596. + + +Jesus Christ is "the King of glory; the Lord strong and mighty; the Lord +mighty in battle." His servants, filled with the Holy Spirit and devoted +to His cause, grow like Him in moral courage and irresistible action. +Every age supplies the opportunity for heroic service. + +The Church has always had mighty men willing to venture their lives, +when religion and liberty were attacked; but at no time has there gone +forth a more illustrious band whose heart God touched, than in the last +years of the Sixteenth century. The tide of defection was then rolling +in upon the Church with desolating violence. The truth of Christ's +supremacy was being submerged beneath the waves of Episcopacy. The right +of Christ to rule His Church was disputed by King James, and claimed as +his own prerogative. The true servants of God writhed in shame and +sorrow, as they saw the diadem of Christ snatched from His brow and +clutched by a presumptuous man. The times demanded men who would not +quail in the presence of the sceptered monarch; or at his threats of +imprisonment, banishment and death. The soldiers of the cross stepped +forth. The "threescore valiant men of the valiant of Israel" were there, +standing about the KING OF KINGS; "every man with his sword on his +thigh, because of fear in the night." + +Andrew Melville was chief among the captains in those days. His face +was luminous with an inner light; his eye pierced through the +countenance of his adversaries; his bearing overwhelmed his enemies with +the innate majesty of truth and holiness. What a torrent his electrified +soul poured forth when he opened his mouth and protested against the +wrongs done to Jesus Christ and the Church! His eloquence was like a +rushing river, an irresistible Niagara. Like Knox, it was said, "He +never feared the face of man." In private and in public, in the pulpit +and through the press, he reproved kings, princes, judges, and nobles +for their sins. He did his best work when he met them face to face. The +dishonor done to Christ by denying His royal rights made his blood boil, +and fired his soul with vehement love in defence of his Lord and Master. +But he suffered for his faithfulness. He was imprisoned; yet four years +spent in jail, eating bad bread, breathing foul air, sleeping on a hard +bed, groping in the darkness, lonesome in the pest-room, brought him no +regret for preaching Christ. From prison he went into banishment, and +from banishment, home to heaven. In his last illness he was asked if he +desired the return of health. "No, not for twenty worlds," was his +spirited reply. + +[Illustration: EDINBURGH CASTLE. + +The Castle is built on a rock that rises with rugged abruptness 300 feet +high. It is inaccessible except on one side, which opens upon the +esplanade, on the foreground of the picture. In this Castle, many +notable martyrs were imprisoned, and there awaited their execution.] + +John Davidson also shines in history as a minister of dauntless courage. +He breasted the destructive flood of declension, and endured the +buffeting of the waves. His humility prepared him for great service in +the kingdom of God. He was deeply grieved by reason of the loose +doctrines and practices prevailing within the ministry. The Church was +infected and corrupted with the inventions of man. Through his effort +the General Assembly held a special meeting in 1596, to observe a fast +and renew the Covenant of 1581. The meeting was held on the 30th of +March of that year. The showers of spring were falling, the mountain +streams were flowing, the fields were putting on their soft verdure, the +flowers were appearing in their beauty--all nature seemed to be breaking +forth into holy laughter through her tears. How impressive this emblem +of the memorable meeting, where earnest men prayed and wept and sobbed +and sat in sadness and silence, in the presence of God confessing their +sins! Then, with uplifted hands, they "made promise before the Majesty +of heaven to amend their ways." A great reviving followed, and many +hearts were made glad. Two years later Mr. Davidson met the king, and, +refusing to submit conscience to his tyrannic will, was cast into +prison. + +John Welch, too, is found in the front ranks of the Church's noblest +defenders. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Knox, was his equal in +courage and steadfastness. His life caught high inspiration from her +faith, and her heart gloried in his heroic spirit; the two mountains +were alike high. + +King James had determined to crush the General Assembly of the +Presbyterian Church. That Assembly stood in his way as he strode toward +despotic power. He must remove the hindrance, or fail in his ambition. +He commanded the Assembly to hold no more meetings, except by his +permission. Against his royal decree, a few bold-hearted men met on the +first Tuesday of July, 1605. This was the last free General Assembly for +a whole generation. In 1618 this court of God's house disappeared +altogether under the king's despotic rule, till 1638, when Scotland +arose once more in the power of the Lord, and renewed her Covenant. + +John Welch was one of the few ministers who braved the king's wrath, and +approved of the forbidden meeting. Within a month he was in jail. The +place of his detention was called "Blackness." In his little cell, damp, +dark, foul, and lonely, he had time to reflect. He remembered his happy +home, faithful wife, loving children, garden walks, sweet sunshine, soft +breezes, pleasant Sabbaths, inspiring pulpit, glowing audience--he could +now think of all, and see the cost of fidelity to Jesus. Did it pay? He +could lay his aching head on its hard pillow, and dream of the happiness +that was gone, and awaken to ask if it had been worth while. Did it pay +to be true to Christ? Listen; he speaks from his prison: "We have ever +been waiting with joyfulness to give the last testimony of our blood to +Christ's crown, scepter, and kingdom." + +Welch found his great strength in prayer. Prayer to him was conversation +with God. His soul was familiar with Jesus. He often arose from his bed +to talk with God. He kept a shawl at hand, when at home, to cast over +his shoulders during these rapturous hours. In the summer nights he +spent much time under the trees in communing with the Lord of heaven. To +him the stars lost their brilliancy in the presence of the Bright and +Morning Star. His soul took many a bath in the ocean of eternal light. +On one occasion his wife listened to his mysterious talk with God. He +was in the agony of earnestness. "Lord, wilt not Thou give me Scotland?" +he cried. Then followed the outpouring of contentment: "Enough, Lord, +enough." At another time, the awful glory of the Lord was let in upon +his soul, till he called out, "O Lord, hold Thy hand; it is enough; Thy +servant is a clay vessel and can hold no more." + +Mrs. Welch was as heroic as her husband. When she pleaded with the king +for his release, he consented, on condition that Welch would recede from +his position. Mrs. Welch, lifting up her apron in the presence of the +king, replied, "Please, your majesty, I would rather kep his head here!" +referring to the axeman's block, and the head rolling from it into her +apron. + +The sovereignty of Jesus calls for heroic lives. This royal truth, +defended by the fathers, at the cost of much blood, must yet be lifted +up in the sight of the world. Brave men and women are needed now as much +as ever, even those who count the honor of Jesus worth more than life, +yea, more precious than all that the heart holds dear on earth. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What great principle in the Church was here at stake? + +2. How did Christ's servants contend for His supremacy? + +3. What notable men did God raise up for the occasion? + +4. By what means was the Church again revived? + +5. What violence did the Presbyterian Assembly suffer by the king? + +6. How long was the Assembly suppressed? + +7. What was the secret of power in these defenders of the truth? + +8. State the present need of moral heroes. + + + + +IX. + +DARKNESS BROODING OVER THE LAND.--A.D. 1600. + + +The Seventeenth century dawned upon Scotland amidst ominous clouds. +Storms were gathering that swept the land for more than eighty +years--storms of "fire, and blood, and vapors of smoke." The intervals +of sunshine were few. The flock of God, the beautiful flock, suffered +grievously by reason of wolves that entered into the fold in sheep's +clothing. + +"No bishop, no king," cried King James. He evidently meant, "No Prelacy, +no despotism." He made the Prelatic form of Church government, of which +he was the recognized head, the bulwark of his assumed supremacy over +the Church and his tyranny over conscience, and took every occasion to +assert his power. + +The General Assembly had appointed the date and place for a meeting in +1604. The king arbitrarily postponed the meeting one year, and at the +expiration of the year postponed it again. But there were +high-principled men who resisted the domineering monarch. Nineteen +faithful ministers had met with a number of elders, just as fearless +and faithful as the ministers, and constituted the Assembly against the +king's specific orders. Their defiance of the king's authority was at +the risk of their lives. This was their last free Assembly for thirty +years. These men were haled before the judges, and, being found guilty +of disobeying the king, were sentenced. During the next twelve years the +king dominated the Assembly, after which he dissolved it, permitting no +more meetings while he lived. The Prelatic party henceforth held the +power and ruled the Church with a high hand. + +[Illustration: SOUVENIRS OF THE COVENANTERS. + +Battle-flag, carried at Drumclog; drum, seen at Lochgoin, said to have +been in use at the battle of Bothwell Bridge; Captain Paton's Bible, +which he gave his wife from the scaffold; his sword, which he wielded +with terrible effect; and a powder horn used in those times.] + +The form of worship was changed; human devices, in place of God's +appointments flooded the Church. Departure from the old ways was +especially marked by a measure known as the "Five Articles of Perth." +These were sanctioned by the king, and rigorously enforced in his effort +to subdue all who resisted or protested. Henceforth Presbyterians had to +conform to the new mode of worship, or feel the weight of the law in +confiscation, imprisonment, banishment, or death. + +These Articles of Perth were sanctioned by the Parliament. This act of +ratification was accompanied by a remarkable demonstration of +Providence. Parliament was then evidently carrying out the will of the +king, for the subversion of the Presbyterian Church, the Reformed +religion, the liberty of conscience, and the rights of the people. +Parliament met for this purpose in Edinburgh, August 4, 1621. The +morning was gloomy. With the advancing hours the clouds grew denser and +darker; the whole sky became covered with blackness; a storm of divine +wrath seemed to bend the very heavens with its weight. Just at the +moment when the Marquis of Hamilton, performing the final act of +ratification in the name of the king, touched the official paper with +the scepter, a streak of lightning blazed through the gloom, and +another, and a third, blinding the guilty men in the presence of their +awful deed. Three peals of thunder followed in quick succession, making +every heart tremble. A momentary pang of conscience must have been felt, +while the KING of heaven spoke in thunder that made their ears tingle, +and in flames that dazzled their eyes. This dismal day, July 25, 1621, +is remembered in Scotland as "Black Saturday." Oh, how black with storm +clouds, with man's guilt, with heaven's rebukes, and with apprehensions +of sorrow and suffering! + +These were the days of Melville, Welch, and Boyd, who, with other men, +mighty in the Lord, withstood the king to his face, and the government +with its threats and penalties. When the Church was in jeopardy, the +Lord Jesus Christ had His chosen servants, able and willing to defend +the faith. Like the prophets of old, they lifted up their voices in the +high places, wrestled with principalities and powers, uttered their +testimony as with the voice of thunder, and cheerfully sealed their +testimony with their blood. + +Among the champions of that day, Robert Bruce, an eminent minister of +the Gospel, took his place in the thickest of the fight. He was a large +man, dignified and commanding in appearance; the countenance, physique, +intellect, and spirit denoting true kingliness and strength. He may have +been a descendant of his famous namesake, Robert Bruce, one of +Scotland's great kings; his heart was just as heroic and patriotic. This +soldier of the cross was strong because he lived in the bosom of God's +love; his life was fragrant with heaven's atmosphere. He had a keen +conscience. When urged to accept the ministry he at first refused, but +that refusal caused such remorse that he said, he would rather walk +through half a mile of burning brimstone than have the mental agony +repeated. + +Bruce, during his early ministry, was greatly beloved by the king. Such +was his delight in him that he was chosen to anoint the king's bride and +place the crown on her head. Three years after this pleasant event he +incurred the king's wrath by discountenancing his majesty's authority +over the Church. Being commanded to perform a certain service in the +pulpit he resolutely refused. To forfeit thus the royal good will, and +take the risk of consequences, required courage of the highest type. +But Bruce was a man of public spirit and heroic mind, equal to the +occasion, through the abiding Spirit of God, that wrought mightily in +him. + +When matters were going from bad to worse, in his relation to the king, +he attended a meeting with a few other ministers, contrary to the king's +proclamation, to take counsel concerning the Church. A delegation was +appointed at this meeting to wait on the king, and urge their plea for +relief. Bruce was the spokesman. The king received the delegates, but +listened with impatience. He was in bad humor; anger flushed his face. +"How durst you convene against my proclamation?" he said. "We dare more +than that, and will not suffer religion to be overthrown," was the swift +reply. Bruce, after this interview, quickly felt the power of the law. +His property was seized; he was driven from home; and, on permission to +return, was required to cease preaching. This he refused to do, finally +consenting to quit for ten days. That night he fell into a fever, and +suffered such terrors of conscience, that he resolved that he would die +ere he would make a promise like that again. + +Bruce's strength lay in his familiarity with Jesus Christ. His preaching +was with power, because Christ was with him. On one occasion, being late +for the service, a certain person reported, saying, "I think he will +not come to-day, for I overheard him in his room say to another, 'I +protest I will not go unless thou goest with me.'" He was talking with +Jesus about going to preach. In his prayers he was brief, but "every +word was as a bolt shot to heaven;" and in preaching he was slow and +solemn, but "every sentence was as a bolt shot from heaven." He, having +finished his work, entered into glory, saying pleasantly to his +children, as the dying hour drew near, "I have breakfasted with you this +morning, and I shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night." That +night he entered the heavenly city. + +They who are truly alive to the holiness, justice, and goodness of God, +and dwell in the radiance of His blessed face, will get views of the +Church and her mission, that will inspire to greatest service and +noblest sacrifices for Christ and His cause. They will arise far above +ordinary life, in effort, enthusiasm, power, and stability in the Lord's +work. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Why did the king insist on having bishops in the Church? + +2. How did the Presbyterian ministers oppose them? + +3. In what way did the king authorize that which corrupted Church +services? + +4. What device for public worship was ratified by parliament? + +5. What significant providence accompanied this daring act? + +6. What champion of freedom arose at this time? + +7. Wherein lay Bruce's great strength? + +8. How may we, too, become inspired for service? + + + + +X. + +APPROACHING A CRISIS--A.D. 1622. + + +The Church confronts greatest temptations and dangers when at peace with +the world. A period of outward prosperity is almost certain to result in +moral deterioration and produce membership of inferior mould. The +appointments of God in divine worship being few, simple, and spiritual, +are likely to be displaced by the showy, deceptive, sensuous inventions +of man when the Church is honored with success. The Holy Spirit then +withdraws in measure; frigid formality quickly follows; the services, +however beautiful, become artificial and spiritless. + +God has good reason for sending upon His Church periodical trials, +hardships, persecutions--storms that winnow the wheat, fires that melt +the gold. Such tests of faith purify the Church, run off the dross, +throw out the counterfeits, break off the dead branches. The people of +God are then distinguished; their heroic qualities are called into +action; they become burning and shining lights in the surrounding +darkness. This severe process may reduce the enrollment, yet it +mightily strengthens the ranks. The Lord Jesus would rather have one of +ten if true, than all the ten yea, ten times ten if untrue. Christ Jesus +prefers 300 who can wield the sword of the Lord and of Gideon, to 30,000 +who are indifferent or faint-hearted. + +The Presbyterian Church made great progress under the Covenant of 1581 +and overspread the kingdom. After ten years of prosperity came another +declension. Again she was reclaimed and revived by the renewing of the +Covenant of 1596. Once more she became exceedingly prosperous and +popular; but her popularity resulted in weakness. Multitudes "joined the +Church" merely for place, privilege, and power. These soon made +themselves felt on the wrong side: they controlled the courts of God's +House. Faithful ministers contended for the truth, resisted the +innovations, protested in the name of Jesus, and suffered because they +would not consent to do evil. They were overpowered and sometimes were +displaced, sometimes imprisoned, sometimes banished. Their farewell +sermons were heart-rending. Amid the sobs and wails of the affectionate +people, the farewell exhortations came from these devoted men of God as +words from heaven. Great excitement and sorrow prevailed in the +churches, as the stricken congregations took leave of the pastors who +loved the truth more than their own lives. Who can wonder at the +indignation that arose like a storm, as the congregation witnessed their +beloved pastor and his wife and children leave their home, and go forth +to wander under the skies of summer or through the storms of winter, not +knowing whither they were going! Should the people be censured for +nailing the church doors against intruding ministers, and refusing to +hear the hirelings sent to fill the pulpit against their will? + +The Five Articles of Perth, adopted by those who were in power in the +Church and enforced by Civil law, became the pastor's test. The +Presbyterian minister who would not approve of the Five Articles was +deposed. But how could a Covenanter give his approval without perjury? +The Five Articles of Perth were these: + +Kneeling at the Communion; + +Observance of Holidays; + +Episcopal Confirmation; + +Private Baptism; + +Private Communion. + +The first implied the worship of the bread; the second, the homage of +saints; the third, the approval of Prelacy; the fourth, that baptism was +necessary to salvation; and the fifth, that the communion opened heaven +to the dying; all savored of Popery. + +What minister having any regard for conscience could sign this list of +errors, after swearing the Covenant? Would he not immediately feel his +spiritual life sink below zero? Would not his heart chide him bitterly +for the degradation of his office and manhood? And God is greater than +the heart. + +David Dickson was one of the ministers who had strength to endure, +rather than bend. He was a young man full of fire and holy power. He had +charge of a flourishing congregation at Irvine. His preaching swayed the +people. They crowded the church to hear him. His appeals melted the +heart and watered the cheeks. He was bold to denounce the Articles of +Perth. The authorities called him up and commanded him to retract; he +refused. A sad farewell to his flock followed. Rather than support +error, however popular and profitable, he would sacrifice the dearest +ties on earth and journey to parts unknown. And this he did. + +Alexander Henderson, another minister, encountered the displeasure of +the men in power and suffered much at their hands. In his early life he +accepted the Prelatic creed and entered the ministry in favor with the +party. He was sent to a church which, a short time previous, had +experienced the violent removal of their beloved pastor. The people were +indignant at Henderson's coming. They barricaded the door of the church. +The delegates that had come to ordain him, not being able to effect an +entrance through the door, entered by a window. Henderson was that day +settled as the pastor of an absent congregation. In the lapse of time he +won the people. He was faithful and powerful as a preacher of the Word, +and the Lord Jesus honored him in the eyes of large audiences. + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER HENDERSON. + +Alexander Henderson was born in 1583, and died in the 63rd year of his +age. He began his ministry in the Prelatic Church. Under a sermon by +Robert Bruce, he was convinced of the error of that system--and became a +powerful defender of the Presbyterian faith. He became a distinguished +leader of the Covenanters, taking a prominent part in the Covenant of +1638, in the Solemn League and Covenant, and in other notable events. +His grave is in Greyfriars' churchyard.] + +One day Henderson went to hear a Covenanted minister, Robert Bruce, at a +communion. He was shy and concealed himself in a dark corner of the +church. Mr. Bruce took for his text, "He that entereth not by the door +into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief +and a robber." The minister having read his text paused, and in +dignified posture, with head erect, scanned his congregation with eyes +that gleamed with holy fire. Such was his custom before beginning his +sermon. Henderson felt the blaze of those eyes. He seemed to be the very +man for whom they were searching. The recollection of having entered +upon his ministry by climbing through a window horrified him. He went +from that meeting determined to investigate Prelacy in the light of the +Scriptures. The result was conviction of the truth and conversion to the +Covenanted cause. Deportation from his devoted flock quickly followed. +He was thereafter found in the forefront of the fight against the +supremacy of the king over the Church, and against Prelacy that upheld +the king in his arrogant assumption of the royal prerogative of the Lord +Jesus Christ. + +The minister of Christ is the watchman of the Church. He is placed upon +Zion's walls to sound an alarm at the approach of danger. He is charged +with responsibility for the people. If they perish through his neglect +to give warning of dangers, his life for theirs. Faithful preaching may +not be pleasant or profitable to the minister. Declaring the whole +counsel of God may involve the pastor in trouble, demand sacrifices, +result in hardships, controversies, separations; yet the Lord requires +it, the people need it, no safety without it for either the flock or the +shepherd. Without fidelity no power with God, no comfort of the Spirit, +no approval from Christ. Are they who serve as ministers of Christ +willing to sacrifice ministerial support, relationship, popularity, +applause--everything temporal, rather than one jot or one tittle of the +truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Why does God send trials upon His Church? + +2. Mention some of the fluctuations in the Church's condition. + +3. What class of ministers then had the ascendancy? + +4. How did the faithful ministers suffer? + +5. What became the test for the pastorate? + +6. What faithful young minister declined the test? + +7. What was Alexander Henderson's experience? + +8. Explain the responsibility of ministers. + + + + +XI. + +THE ADVANCE GUARDS.--A.D. 1630. + + +King James VI. continued his warfare against Presbyterianism until his +death. This occurred March 27, 1625. With advancing years he grew more +bitter, using every means to coerce the Covenanters and bring them into +submission. They stood as a wall of fire between him and his cherished +ambition to rule supreme over Church and State. He resolved to break +down that wall and quench that fire. + +Covenanted Presbyterianism has always stood for liberty, conscience, +enlightenment, progress, and exalted manhood, resisting all tyrants and +oppressors. Presbyterianism recognizes as the crowning glory of man, his +relation to God, all men alike being subjects of His government and +accountable at His throne; all being under law to God and under law to +no man, except in the Lord. Presbyterianism honors every honest man as a +real king, clothed with innate majesty, crowned with native dignity, and +exalted far above the conventional office of earth's highest monarch. +Yet does Presbyterianism sustain all rightful rulers as ministers of +God, and enjoin upon all people submission in the Lord. + +In the beginning of 1625, while the snow was yet mantling the mountains +in white, the symbol of moral purity and goodness, the king was grimly +planning to debase and corrupt the best people in his realms. He gave +orders to celebrate Easter with a Communion according to the Articles of +Perth, announcing a severe penalty against all who would not comply. The +decree was not enforced, for the Lord came suddenly to the unhappy +monarch, saying, "Thy soul is required of thee." Easter came with its +soft winds and opening buds, its singing brooks and flowery nooks, but +King James was not there; the Judge had called him, death had conquered +him, the grave had swallowed him; his miserable life was broken off +under sixty years of age; and after death, eternity; the long, long +eternity. + +His Son, Charles I., inherited the father's troubled kingdom, despotic +principles, and wilful doggedness. The young ruler began his reign by +breathing out threatenings against the Covenanters. Yet the Lord in many +ways strengthened His people. He gave them at this time some remarkable +Communions and memorable seasons of refreshing. He pitied them for they +were nearing the fiery trials that would try their faith to the utmost. +To prepare them for the testing times. He led them up into the mountain +of His loving favor and gave them another memorable privilege of +renewing their Covenant. + +John Livingston, an honored minister of Jesus Christ, was of great +service to the Church at this time. He preached Christ and his contested +truths with power and striking effect. He stood in the strength and +majesty of the Chief Shepherd and fed the flock given into his care. +This flock was very large. Multitudes gathered about him waiting for the +Word at his lips; the church could not hold them. God gave the people +spiritual hunger that brought them from afar; they came over the hills +and along the vales, converging upon the place of worship as doves fly +to their windows. They journeyed solemnly from their homes to the House +of God, both in the calm of summer and in the storms of winter. They +came in the dew of the morning and tarried till protected by the +gloaming. Men and women, old and young, gathered around this man of God +who ministered comfort, strength, and eternal life, through Jesus +Christ, with wonderful power and grace unto their troubled souls. + +Our Monday service of the Communion originated under Mr. Livingston. The +Sacrament of the Lord's Supper had been administered to a large +congregation. The preaching and serving of tables filled the long summer +Sabbath. It was June 20, 1630. The great congregation had come with +souls lifted up to God in prayer; the church was not large enough to +hold the people, and the churchyard was filled with devout worshipers. +They sat upon the grass like the thousands that were fed by Christ in +the days of old. The soft wind blew upon them as it listed, and the Holy +Spirit, too, came with mysterious power; the vast assembly was deeply +moved. The long Sabbath was followed by a short night. Monday came, and +the people, having been profoundly affected by the services of the +preceding day, were again early on the grounds. They felt that they +could not separate without another day of worship--a day of thanksgiving +to the Lord for the wondrous revelations of His love at His holy table. +Mr. Livingston was constrained to preach, and that day proved to be the +great day of the feast. An unusual awe fell upon the preacher and his +hearers; the Holy Spirit wrought marvelously, melting the hearts of the +vast congregation and filling them with comfort, strength, and +thankfulness. + +Mr. Livingston and his people declined to conform to the "Articles of +Perth." A goodly number of other ministers and their churches likewise +refused. The king determined to force them into submission by +authorizing a "Book of Public Worship", called the Liturgy. July 23, +1637, was the day appointed for its introduction. An attempt to force a +mode of worship upon Scotch Presbyterians! No experiment could be more +perilous to the king; it was indiscretion bordering on insanity. The +very announcement produced an underground swell such as precedes a moral +earthquake. Murmurings, groanings, threatenings, dark forebodings swayed +the nation. These were gusts fore-running the storm. + +The day for testing the Liturgy arrived. Attention was chiefly +concentrated upon the Church of St. Giles at Edinburgh. The large +auditorium was filled with Presbyterians who were accustomed to worship +God in the plain, solemn manner of the apostles. The suspense preceding +the service was painful. Each heart was beating fast, repressed emotion +was at white heat, the atmosphere was full of electricity, no one could +tell where the fiery point would first appear. At length the dean stood +in the pulpit before the gaze of his insulted audience. He opened the +new book and began. That was enough, the spark struck the powder, the +explosion was sudden. Jean Geddes, a woman whose name is enshrined in +history, and whose stool is a souvenir in the museum,--Jean, impelled by +a burst of indignation, bounced from her seat and flung her stool at the +dean's head, crying with a loud voice, "Villain, dost thou say mass at +my lug?" The unpremeditated deed acted as a signal; the whole +congregation was immediately in an uproar; the dean fled and the service +came to an undignified conclusion. + +The indignation manifested itself in many other places that Sabbath. In +the Greyfriars' Church, there were deep sobs, bitter crying, and wails +of lamentation. Over the entire kingdom the excitement was intense. The +Scotch blood was stirred; the king had outraged the most sacred feelings +of the people. They held meetings, prayed to God, and petitioned the +king. The king replied to their petition, like Rehoboam, with blustering +insolence. The Covenanters were not intimidated, their determined +resistance was contagious and stirred vast communities, national +sympathy was aroused; the Holy Spirit wrought mightily upon multitudes. +Three days after the king's haughty reply had been received, a +procession, including twenty-four noblemen, one hundred ministers, and +bands of commissioners from sixty-six churches, marched boldly into +Edinburgh and enforced their petition by a demonstration of strength, +with which not even the king could afford to trifle. + +[Illustration: JEAN GEDDES THROWING HER STOOL. + +Jean Geddes sat convenient to the pulpit on the eventful Sabbath, when +the dean attempted to introduce the new "Prayer Book" in St Giles' +Church. The innovation had by anticipation filled the people with +intense indignation. A storm was brewing. This heroine, unable to +restrain herself, sprang to her feet and hurled her stool at the dean's +head, exclaiming. "Villain, dost thou say mass at my lug?" The dean +dodged the stool and escaped. Confusion followed, and the service for +that day was abandoned.] + +Do the children of these Covenanters appreciate the value and power of +the truth? Have the fundamental principles of the kingdom of Jesus +Christ become incarnated in our lives? Do the doctrines of the Word +circulate in the blood, throb in the heart, flash in the eye, echo in +the voice, and clothe the whole person with strength and dignity? Is the +Covenant of these ancestors a living bond that binds the present +generation to God, through which His energy, sympathy, purity, life, +love, and glory descend upon us in continual streams of refreshing? +Then will our mission on earth be fulfilled, our work in the Church will +be blessed, our testimony for the Lord will be powerful, and our efforts +to win others for Christ will be fruitful. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. When did King James VI. die? + +2. What was he planning when death claimed him? + +3. Who was his successor? + +4. What course did his son Charles pursue? + +5. How did God prepare His Church for the approaching trials? + +6. How did Communion Monday service originate? + +7. How did the king try to enforce uniformity on the Church? + +8. How was the Liturgy received by the Presbyterians? + +9. What demonstration of strength by the Presbyterians? + +10. What practical lesson here for us? + + + + +XII. + +GATHERING OF THE HOSTS.--A.D. 1637. + + +"Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear +as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" What a beautiful and +striking portrait of the Church in her militant character and service! + +Terrible as an army with banners! The Church is mighty to subdue the +strongholds of Satan; powerful in the use of spiritual weapons; +invincible in the presence of her enemies. She fights the battles of her +Lord, and though often defeated, moves steadily forward assured of final +victory. How terrible her warfare in the sight of enemies! how admirable +in the eyes of heaven! + +The first impressive demonstration of numbers, power, and resolution, +given by the Church of Scotland, was in 1637. The king and his advisers +had attempted to force upon the Presbyterians the "New Prayer Book" +against their will. The attempt was as insane as it was despotic. As +well might the king have tried to change the song of the sea or the +course of the stars. The Scotch conscience, enlightened by the Word of +God, strengthened by the Covenant, and guided by the Holy Spirit, was +like Scotland's granite, upon which the storms spend their force to no +effect. + +To resist the king's purpose, the Presbyterians poured into the Capital +from all directions. Home and flocks were left in the care of the mother +and children, and the crops lay ripening in the warm September sun. The +freedom of the Church was the supreme interest that stirred the blood of +these men. They filled the streets of Edinburgh, thousands moved +determinately and irresistibly through the chief thoroughfares of that +awakened city. There was no confusion, this was not a mob. These were +men of mind, purpose, prayer, and peace; they knew their rights and +commanded respect. They carried their Bibles to show their authority. +Resolution gleamed in the face of the grey-headed and flashed from the +eyes of the young men as they stood side by side. Their adversaries were +overawed and made conciliatory promises. The Covenanters therefore +withdrew. + +The promises were quickly broken. One month later, a fresh attempt by +the king and his counselors to trample the heaven-given right to worship +God with a free conscience stirred the country. The Covenanters were +alert, they were not caught napping. They concentrated their strength +upon the Capital once more, and this time with a speed that surprised +the government. Their number was greater than before; hundreds of +ministers, and hundreds of noblemen, with strong delegations of elders +from many congregations assembled for the occasion. The vast concourse +of people was too unwieldy to meet in one place; they therefore divided +into four sections, each going in its own direction. They held meetings +for prayer and consultation, realizing deeply the dangers that were +converging upon their Church, their homes, and their persons. They +prepared petitions to be presented to the king. Once more they received +assurance of relief, and quietly returned to their homes. + +The months rolled past heavily. Mild September had seen the country +greatly agitated; bountiful October had witnessed the recurrence and +increase of violent measures; November now came, chilled with sleety +storms, and vexed with man's perfidy and cruel attempt to crush +conscience. More desperate efforts were again in progress by the king +and those who supported him in his claim of supremacy over the Church +and power to regulate her worship. The Covenanters were apprised, and +for the third time the roads converging upon Edinburgh were filled with +their dauntless ranks. They came on foot, on horses, and in wagons; old +men with white locks and young men with iron nerve; ministers and +elders, noblemen and commoners. These were men who were exalted into +Covenant with the Almighty; they had tasted the sweetness of the liberty +of the sons of God; they had felt the energy of the Holy Spirit throb in +their hearts; they had visions of the KING OF KINGS in His transcendent +glory. They came with one resolve--that Jesus Christ must not be +superseded by the king of Scotland in the government of the Church. They +poured into the Capital in strong, living streams, till the city was +almost deluged with their number. The king's officials were alarmed. +Feigning a bold spirit they commanded the Covenanters to depart on pain +of rebellion. The Covenanters, knowing their rights and power, refused. +After preparing a respectful petition to the king, and a strong +remonstrance against the wrongs they suffered, they elected a permanent +commission of sixteen men to remain in the Capital, to protect their +interests and give notice when danger appeared. + +[Illustration: GREYFRIARS' CHURCH. + +Here the Covenanters gathered to renew their Covenant in 1638. The house +was crowded to its utmost capacity with renowned minister, elders, and +nobles. The oath was taken and the Covenant signed in the most +impressive manner. The churchyard contains many graves of celebrated +martyrs.] + +The new year followed the old carrying trouble in its bosom. The +mid-winter storms drove the flocks to the fold and the shepherd to the +cot; all nature rested from labor, awaiting the coming of summer; but +hostilities against the Presbyterian Church took no rest. The king's +Council was removed from Edinburgh to Stirling; from thence they thought +to spring a crushing surprise upon the Covenanters. The news of this +intention spread as if on the wings of lightning. One day was enough to +give the alarm. The Covenanters were minute-men, with the heart of a +lion, the eye of an eagle, and feet swift to meet the battle call. +Before the sun was hot, the morning after the news, the Covenanters had +crowded Stirling. The city authorities seeing their strength meekly +besought them to disband and return home. These Covenanters were +patient, long-suffering, full of charity, believing all things, hoping +all things. Receiving the promise of better treatment, they drew off as +quickly as they had come. They refused to leave Edinburgh when +threatened; they consented to leave Stirling when requested. Behold the +spirit of these Covenanted Presbyterians! + +But no confidence could be placed in the king or his representatives. +The land was greatly troubled by the wickedness of its rulers. One wave +of commotion followed another; there was no peace, no safety, no +security. Many weary hearts were crying out, "How long, O Lord?" + +The Covenanters saw that the king was determined to crush their Church. +The General Assembly had not met for twenty years; that court of God's +House had been stamped out beneath the iron heel of despotism; the +lesser courts had been corrupted; the king had resolved on the +subversion of all. Will not ministers and elders soon be worn out by the +incessant and desperate attacks? The sea is roaring, the waves are +raging, will Presbyterianism be engulfed? will the supremacy of Jesus +Christ go to the bottom? Strong hearts are trembling; much prayer is +arising to heaven; from faithful pulpits fervent appeals are ascending +to God. What shall be the end of these things? Is there no remedy to be +found? "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" Must +these spirited men bow to the will of the tyrant and see their Church +brought into bondage? There were great searchings of heart. + +"The Covenants! the Covenants!" This has been repeatedly the watch-cry +of Scotland in the throes of distress. The Covenants have been the glory +and strength of the Church in the past; will they not be safety and +stability to the Church in the present? Such was the thought that +throbbed in many hearts at this critical moment. The Holy Spirit was now +clothing Himself with Henderson, Warriston, Argyle, and other princes of +God, preparing them to lead the Church into the renewal of her Covenant +with God. + +The right to worship God according to conscience, when conscience is set +free by the Spirit and enlightened in the Word, must be jealously +guarded. Every attempt to introduce the devices of man into the service +of the Church should be strenuously resisted. Each innovation in the +worship of God does violence to the most delicate and sacred feelings of +the human heart, and is a reflection on the wisdom of the Lord Jesus +Christ, who has ordained all the services of His House with utmost care +and precision. If the Covenanted fathers protested unflinchingly against +a man-made Prayer Book, what would they have done at the appearance of a +modern pulpit programme of music and hymns? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe the militant character of the Church. + +2. What three successive demonstrations of strength did the Covenanted +Church give against the new Prayer Book? + +3. What was the great issue? + +4. How should the Church guard divine worship against corruption? + + + + +XIII. + +RENEWING THE COVENANT.--A.D. 1638. + + +King Charles believed in the divine right of kings, and the +Presbyterians believed in the eternal right of Christ to rule kings. The +two beliefs could not be reconciled; hence the great struggle. The +attacks on Presbyterianism came in rapid succession and with increasing +violence. The Covenanters sternly resisted these attacks. The nation +seemed to be on the verge of civil war. + +The leading Covenanters saw in the war-cloud, that which blinded eyes +could not see--the hand of the Lord lifted up against the nation. +Henderson, Rutherford, Dickson, and others of penetrating mind +discovered the moral cause of the troubles and trembled for their +country. The Lord was meting out judgment against sin. Divine wrath was +falling upon the people. Judgment had already begun at the House of God. +The King of Righteousness was girding His sword on His thigh for action. +Who will be able to stand when He arises in wrath to vindicate His own +royal rights? These men feared God and trembled at His word. + +A day of humiliation and fasting was appointed, many came together for +prayer. There were deep searchings of heart followed by pangs of +conscience and cries for mercy. God gave an alarming view of sin. The +defection of the Church and perfidy of the nation seemed to fill the sky +with lurid flames of divine vengeance. The former Covenants had been +broken; the oath was profaned, the obligations denied, the penalty +defied; the Lord had been provoked to pour out His wrath upon the Land. +The day of reckoning seemed to have come. The sense of guilt and the +weight of wrath bowed many souls to the earth. One supreme desire seemed +to prevail--that they arise and return to Him, from whom they had so +deeply and shamefully revolted. + +"The Covenants! The Covenants!" This was now the national cry. The +Covenants have ever been Scotland's hope, strength, and glory. The cry +went from house to house, from church to church, from earth to heaven. +It was on the lips and in the prayers of men, women, and children. Hope +revived, enthusiasm spread like flames, the nation was rapidly prepared +for the high honors that were awaiting her. The people in large numbers +were fired with a passion to renew their Covenant with God! + +The Holy Spirit fell mightily upon many, causing a floodtide of +spiritual life to sweep the country. The leading Covenanters were +endowed with wisdom and courage to direct the holy enthusiasm into the +right channel. It had to be turned by prompt action, to present use, and +conserved for the generations to come, or its strength and volume would +soon be lost. On Sabbath February 25, 1638, the ministers preached on +Covenanting. Next day the people met in their churches and received +notice that, on Wednesday following, their Covenant with God would be +renewed in Edinburgh. The announcement struck a responsive chord. The +country was astir early on the morning of the appointed day. Doubtless +many had spent the preceding night with the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer. +While the stars were still shining, many households, we may be assured, +were called around the family altar, that the father might bless his +house and hasten to Edinburgh. The commissioners who had been appointed +to lead the people in Covenanting were on the ground at break of day. + +The Covenant of 1581 was chosen for the present occasion. Two +generations had passed since that solemn bond had lifted the kingdom +into holiest relation with God. Nearly all the Covenanted fathers of +that event had finished their testimony and were gone; only here and +there a patriarchal voice was heard telling of that solemn day and deed. +The grand-children had lost much of the fervor, power, purpose, holy +enthusiasm, dread of God's majesty, fellowship with Jesus Christ, and +raptures in the Holy Spirit--had lost many of the countless and +unspeakable blessings descending from the sure Covenant made with God +and kept by their fathers. Fifty-seven years had elapsed and many +changes had occurred. Henderson, by appointment, added to the Covenant +what was necessary to make it applicable to their times. + +The Holy Spirit came in great power upon thousands and tens of thousands +on that eventful morning; the day was bringing heaven's best blessings +to the Church and the nation. It was still winter; but not frozen roads, +nor drifting snows, nor lowering clouds, nor biting winds, could stay +the people. Many men and women, old and young, were far on their way +before the sun had softened the rasping air. They came on foot and on +horses, in carriages and in wagons, through the valleys, over the +mountains, along the highways and the lanes, pouring into the jubilant +city from all directions as rivers of enthusiastic life. It has been +estimated that sixty thousand came that day to take part in the renewing +of the Covenant, or to give countenance and influence to the solemn +deed. To these spirited people the winter was over and gone, though +February still lingered; the time of the singing of birds had come, +though the earth was clad in her mantle of snow. The season had lost its +rigor upon these Covenanters; their cheeks were red, but not so much +with wintry blasts as with holy animation. It was a summer day to them. + +[Illustration: SIGNING THE COVENANT. + +The Covenant of 1638 was signed first by those who filled the +Greyfriars' Church. The parchment was then brought outside and laid on a +flat tombstone, where those who had assembled in the churchyard eagerly +embraced the opportunity to add their signatures. The people were deeply +moved, as they thus joined themselves and their children to the Lord, in +an everlasting Covenant never to be forgotten.] + +At the appointed hour, Greyfriars' Church and churchyard were crowded +"with Scotland's gravest, wisest, and best sons and daughters." +Alexander Henderson constituted the meeting with prayer. His earnest +words were deeply felt, they seemed to bring the Lord of glory out of +heaven. The Earl of Loudon made a solemn address, appealing to the +Searcher of motives. Archibald Johnston unrolled the vast parchment and +read the Covenant in a clear voice. Silence followed--a dreadful pause +during which the Holy Spirit was doing great work on all present. The +Earl of Rothes broke the silence with a few well-chosen words. Another +solemn pause ensued, while all eyes watched for the next act in the +sublime programme. The Covenant was ready for signatures. What name will +have the honor of heading the list on that white parchment? At length +the Earl of Sutherland, an aged elder, with much reverence and emotion, +stepped forward and taking the pen with trembling hand subscribed his +name. Others rapidly followed. The heart went with the name, the blood +was pledged with the ink, the Covenant was for life even unto death. +When all in the church had subscribed, the parchment was carried to the +churchyard and placed on a flat tombstone, where the people outside +added name after name till there was no room, no, not for an initial +letter. The scene was impressive beyond description; the people gave +themselves willingly unto the Lord. Many wrote through blinding tears +and with throbbing hearts; some added the words, "Till death"; some drew +blood from their own veins for ink. Then as the sun was westering in the +cold sky, they lifted up the right hand to Almighty God, the Searcher of +hearts, avowing allegiance to Him with the solemnity of a most sacred +oath. Surely this was Scotland's greatest day. The Church may now be +called Hephzibah, and her land, Beulah. Immanuel is the name of her +Covenant Lord. "Glory, glory, in Immanuel's land!" + +The evening drew on; the spirited demonstrations of that eventful day, +like a glorious sunset, melted away; but the Covenant, in all its +sacredness, substance, obligations, and strength, remained for the next +day, and the next generation, and all generations to come. Thus was +Scotland's National Covenant renewed in 1638. + +Let the children of these Covenanters not forget, nor lightly esteem +their Covenant inheritance and obligations. How great the honor! +Remember the accountability, withdraw not from the bond. Relation to the +Lord Jesus Christ by means of the Covenants of the fathers loads +descendants with heavy duties, endows them with bountiful blessings, +entrusts them with the welfare of coming generations, crowns them with +high honors, and brings them into judgment to account for all these +advantages and obligations. Let the children of the Covenants take heed +lest they forget the duties, forfeit the blessings, prove themselves +untrustworthy, and trample their heavenly crown in the dust. Let them +fear lest being exalted to heaven they be cast down to hell. The +Covenants of the fathers bind the children. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What new danger was now threatening Scotland? + +2. In what way did the Covenanted ministers explain the trouble? + +3. To what did they resort for deliverance? + +4. How were the people prepared for Covenanting? + +5. How was the nation stirred at the prospect of renewing the Covenant? + +6. Describe the great gathering of people in Edinburgh on the appointed +day. + +7. Describe the solemn act of Covenanting. + +8. What obligations descend from that Covenant upon the present +generation of Covenanters? + + + + +XIV. + +THE COVENANTERS AT WORK.--A.D. 1638. + + +Wednesday, February 28, 1638, was one of Scotland's greatest days. No +victory on any battlefield is more worthy of anniversary honors. No +birthday of statesman or warrior, no discovery in science or geography, +no achievement in ancient or modern civilization, is more entitled to a +yearly celebration. The notable event of that day is the high water mark +of true greatness and moral grandeur in national life; nothing exceeds +it in the world's history. + +As the evening drew on, the vast multitude that had congregated in +Edinburgh melted away. The sublime transactions in which they had been +engaged had filled them with awe; the shadow of the Almighty had +overspread them, the glory of heaven had descended upon them, and, being +filled with the peace of God and joy unspeakable in the Holy Spirit, +they departed from the city as quietly as they had come and returned to +their homes. The stars were again out while many were yet traveling, but +the great light that fell upon them was the glory of the Lord, as they +carried the brilliant scenes of the day in their hearts. Every +heart-beat had the solemnity of a vow, a prayer, a song of praise, a +psalm of thanksgiving. What devout worship in those homes that night +when the fathers told the touching story of the Greyfriars' Church and +of Covenant. + +Within a short time the delegates had reached their respective churches, +in which they rehearsed the renewing of their Covenant with God. The +people were deeply moved, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The interest +became intense; the fires arose into flames; a Covenanting passion swept +the kingdom; the enthusiasm knew no bounds. The Covenant was studied, +accepted, and subscribed by ministers and magistrates, men and women, +old and young, throughout the four quarters of the kingdom. There was a +voice heard throughout the land, as the "voice of a great multitude, and +as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, +saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." The Lord Jesus +Christ was glorified in His people, honored by His Church, and exalted +supremely above the nation's haughty monarch. + +Yet the Covenant had its enemies; but they were apparently few and for a +while very quiet. These anti-Covenanters stood with the king in his +effort to foist Prelacy upon the people. These he repaid with political +preferments. Hitherto they had claimed to be in the majority and +therefore assumed the right to rule over the Presbyterians. But the year +of Jubilee had come; the Covenant proclaimed "liberty throughout all the +land unto all the inhabitants thereof." This Covenant with God revealed +to the people their dignity, privileges, rights, power, and freedom in +Christ Jesus, KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. In that light which fell +like the glory of heaven upon Scotland, Episcopacy appeared in its real +strength, or rather in its weakness; in comparison with Presbyterianism +it was a mere faction. + +King Charles ruled Scotland from his throne in London. The Covenanters +were his most loyal subjects, devoted to him on every principle of truth +and righteousness; yet by no means would they permit him to assume the +rights of Jesus Christ without their earnest protest. They hastened to +report the Covenant to the king at London; their adversaries sent +delegates with equal haste. Both sides tried to win the king. As might +have been expected, the Covenanters failed. He was exceedingly wroth. He +branded the Covenant as treason and the Covenanters as traitors. "I will +die," said he, "before I grant their impertinent demands; they must be +crushed; put them down with fire and sword." + +The king appointed the Marquis of Hamilton to represent his majesty in +Scotland and to subdue the Covenanters. Hamilton accepted the +commission and entered upon his stupendous task. He was authorized to +deceive and betray, to arrest and execute, to feign friendship and wage +war--to use discretionary power; the manner would not be questioned if +the Covenanters were subdued. + +Hamilton announced his intention to enter Edinburgh, as the king's High +Commissioner, on the 19th of June. Less than four months previous, the +Covenant had been renewed in that city amid transports of joy; must it +now be trampled in the dust? The effects of the Covenant had fallen upon +the kingdom like spring showers that fill the land with songs and +flowers; must the glory be blighted ere the fruitage be matured? The day +set for the commissioner's coming was perfect. The bright sun, clear +sky, blue sea, green fields, purple hills, soft winds, fragrant +blossoms, tuneful birds--all united to make the coming of his majesty's +commissioner a delight. Nature was in her gayest attire. + +The road chosen for his journey to the city lay along the strand. He +came in a stately carriage. His official dress was brilliant and +imposing. His associates followed, while a strong military guard added +dignity and a tinge of terribleness to the procession. It was Hamilton's +day of high honor. The proud sea rippled its welcome; the mellow winds +floated the national emblem from many a window; the city was gaily +decorated. The king's sympathizers had done their best for the occasion, +but the Covenanters had excelled them all. + +The Covenanters were by no means ignorant of Hamilton's power and +purpose; yet they recognized him as the king's representative, and +therefore they would do him honor. They were truly loyal. No taint of +treason had ever mingled in their blood. They resolved to give the +commissioner every opportunity to do his duty as ruler, yet stood ready +to resist if he did wrong. They came to the city in force; their number +was estimated at sixty thousand. They thronged the road over which +Hamilton passed, banked the hillsides with earnest faces, raised their +caps in sincere respect for the commissioner, and lifted up their voices +in prayer for their king and their country. When Hamilton saw the +great-heartedness of the people, whom he came to crush, he wept. + +The Covenanters had requested two things: a free General Assembly and a +Parliament. The Church must have the first; the nation must have the +second. The commissioner, in the name of the king, refused both. King +James had abolished the General Assembly in 1618; there had been none +for twenty years. The Covenanters, braving the king's wrath and the +commissioner's power, appointed a meeting of ministers and elders to be +held in Glasgow, November 21, 1638, five months hence, to re-organize +the General Assembly. A cloud of war immediately darkened the heavens. +Had the king's wrath been lightning, the meeting-place would have been +struck; but his rage was impotent. + +[Illustration: ARCHIBALD JOHNSTON. + +Known also as Lord Warriston. He took a prominent part in the renewing +of the Covenant in 1638; was chosen Clerk of the General Assembly, that +same year, and continued in this office several years. He was an able +defender of the Covenanted Church. He attained also to high earthly +honors, yet held fast his integrity, and, when far advanced in years, +suffered martyrdom for adherence to the cause of Christ and His +Covenant.] + +When the day for the re-organization of the General Assembly arrived, +the delegates from the Covenanted churches were on the ground. The house +was filled with able, earnest, resolute men, true servants of the Lord +Jesus Christ. They had come in His name at His call to do His work. Each +breathed deeply the spirit of reverence; they felt the presence of God; +holy dignity rested on every brow. They had come in the strength of the +Lord and were ready for duty and its consequences. + +Hamilton with his friends also appeared. He immediately began the work +of obstruction. Alexander Henderson was chosen moderator, and Archibald +Johnston, known also as Lord Warriston, clerk, both of whom had taken an +active part in the renewing of the Covenant. Hamilton made certain +demands all of which were refused. He then attempted to dissolve the +meeting but failed. In a storm of passion and with vigorous threats he +withdrew, leaving the Assembly to pursue its own course. Can we conceive +of sublimer courage than these Covenanters exhibited in standing by +duty, conviction, and principle, owning their Covenant and honoring +Christ Jesus, in the face of the king's wrath? The Assembly continued +its sessions one month. The work was stupendous, and it was thoroughly +done. The Church was cleansed, the ministry purified, true worship +restored, and enactments adopted for the protection of the Reformed +religion. After pronouncing the final benediction, the moderator said, +"We have now cast down the walls of Jericho; let him that rebuildeth +them beware of the curse of Hiel the Bethelite." + +Behold how these fathers stood at the risk of their lives for the +sovereignty of Jesus Christ! What devotion, what courage, what +self-immolation! How great the moral grandeur of those lives, lifted up +in the service of Christ far above the fear of man! They felt deeply the +presence and power of the Holy Spirit, giving them wisdom, peace, joy, +and success, in their tasks! Had we the same enduement of the Spirit of +God, surely the Lord's work would prosper in our hands! May God grant +it. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. In what spirit did the people retire from the Covenant Convention in +Edinburgh? + +2. How was the Covenant received by the nation? + +3. How did King Charles regard it? + +4. How did he attempt to counteract its power? + +5. In what manner did the Covenanters receive his commissioner? + +6. When and where was the General Assembly reorganized? + +7. With what interference did it meet? + +8. What good work did it accomplish? + +9. What trust did it commit to future generations? + + + + +XV. + +THE KING WAGES WAR.--A.D. 1639. + + +The year of our Lord, 1638, exalted the Covenanted Church into +prominence and power. The Covenant in the beginning of the year, and the +General Assembly at the end, were achievements that arose in sublimity +and moral grandeur like mountains, and all the months between, being +filled with spiritual refreshing, were like table lands covered with the +glory of the Lord, and shaking like Lebanon with prosperous fruit. "The +light of the moon was as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun +sevenfold, as the light of seven days." + +During the next ten years the Church experienced rapid growth. The +Covenant always seemed to give the Church about ten years of +extraordinary prosperity. The Holy Spirit descended in power, +multiplying the ministry and membership exceedingly. New congregations +sprang up in the towns and in the country, and were shepherded by +faithful ministers. True religion, bringing peace, comfort, and +gladness, entered the homes of the people and lodged with them. The +melody of joy and health was heard in their dwellings. The family altar +made the humblest house the Holy of Holies where God was enthroned on +His Mercy Seat, and the lowliest family was a royal priesthood +ministering unto God in the name of the Lord Jesus. + +Yet all this time the Church suffered violence. She had become a bright +target upon which Satan concentrated the fire of his heaviest artillery. +One onslaught followed another with vengeful malice. The gates of hell +opened wide and the floods dashed fiercely against her; but she was +built upon a Rock, and that Rock was Christ. She was in alliance with +the Lord. Her people were steadfast in their Covenant; they were united, +full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; therefore the distresses resulted +only in her growth. + +When the king heard that the General Assembly was in session contrary to +his will and acting directly in violation of his decree, he was filled +with wrath. Having sent Hamilton to use policy and craftiness, and +thereby gain time, he mustered an army of nearly 50,000 men, with which +to punish the Covenanters. He also sent a fleet to co-operate with the +land forces. Absolute subjugation was determined. These people must be +despoiled of conscience, liberty, divine worship, religious rights--all +that is most sacred to the human heart. The army is coming. Men, women, +and children must feel the weight of the horses' hoofs and the +warriors' boots, just because they have joined themselves to the Lord in +a Covenant, and are living the life of faith on the Son of God. + +The Covenanters were not dismayed, yet they hesitated to accept war. +Would it be right to take up arms against the government? Ought they to +go forth against their king in battle? Should they use the weapons that +are carnal, and engage in the shedding of blood? Such questions lay +heavy upon their hearts. They pondered, prayed, and fasted, that they +might reach a decision in the fear of God. Finally they resolved to make +their defence by force of arms. Their cause was just. Momentous issues +were involved; their Covenant with God, the supremacy of Jesus Christ, +the independence of the Church, the liberty of conscience, the purity of +Divine worship, the rights of citizenship, the heritage of future +generations, the progress of Christian civilization--all this appealed +to the Covenanters for defence. The trumpet of war sounded, and the +sturdy sons of the Covenant quickly responded. + +General Alexander Leslie was at the head of the Covenanted army. He led +his forces with rapid marches to meet the king. Friendly troops +converged upon him on the way from all parts of Scotland till his +command numbered 24,000 men. They presented a formidable array. These +soldiers of the Covenant were marching to victory or to death. Courage +in the countenance and firmness in the step told of an unconquerable +purpose. Onward moved the resolute columns. Every day brought them +nearer the royal hosts that would test their strength. The sight was +thrilling; solid ranks of infantry, sword-girded cavalry, stalwart +cannoneers, and floating banners. The Psalms reverberated among the +hills in worship morning and evening. Well might King Charles pause ere +he strike against this host of God. + +[Illustration: MEMORIAL STONE OF CAPTAIN PATON. + +Captain Paton was a brave defender of the Covenanters. His exploits in +different battles are noted as extraordinary. Finally he was captured +and, on May 9, 1684, executed in Edinburgh. In his last words he +exhorted the people, saying, "Let your way be the good old path, the +Word of God." His joy on the scaffold was triumphant. This memorial +stone is at Fenwick.] + +One day the Covenanters from an eminence beheld their enemy at a +distance of six miles. General Leslie halted, arranging his troops on +sloping grounds, facing the foe. There he prepared for action. Forty +pieces of cannon bristled along the oval summit; the musketry and +swordmen were placed on the hillside and outstretching plain. The +encampment presented an appearance unusual in warfare. At the tent-door +of each captain the ensign of the Covenant was unfurled. On the banner +was inscribed in letters of gold the soul-stirring motto: + + FOR CHRIST'S CROWN AND COVENANT. + +As the flag rose and fell on the soft summer winds, the men were +reminded of the sacred cause which they loved more than their lives. A +chaplain of highest character was assigned to each regiment. Every +morning and evening the men were summoned by the beat of drum for the +worship of their God. Such were the Covenanters as they waited in the +presence of their foes for a sanguinary struggle. How often they sang +the 3rd Psalm, the 27th, and the 72nd, we know not. The Psalms were the +lion's marrow upon which these lion-hearted heroes fed. + +The Covenanters did not want to give battle; they were merely on the +defensive. They loved peace and longed for it. They shuddered at the +horror of civil war and would avoid it if at all within their power. +They sent an embassy asking for a conference. The king, knowing the +spirit and power of the men with whom he had to deal, consented. During +the negotiations for peace, the king hesitated to grant the Covenanters +their demand. They would have nothing less than a free General Assembly +and a Parliament. The king would not consent. Gen. Leslie replied by +announcing his intention to advance his army within gunshot of the +king's camp. This persuaded the king to come to terms, and a treaty of +peace was ratified, by which the Covenanters received, on paper, all +they asked. The Covenanters returned to their homes rejoicing in their +Covenant Lord, who had given them the victory without the cost of blood, +and in their homes profound gratitude arose to God in their morning and +evening service of worship. + +The people continued steadfast in their Covenant, enjoying the rights +and privileges of the children of God for a time. The Lord showered His +blessings upon them. Their increase in power and numbers was marvelous. +The king again became alarmed. He resolved on war once more, and within +a year was at the head of another army, determined to reduce the +Covenanters and bring them into subjection to his arbitrary will. + +The Covenanted fathers would surrender nothing in which the honor of the +Church and the glory of Christ were involved. They were very jealous +concerning all moral obligations and religious truth. They had +convictions, conscience, intelligence, and the fear of God, and dared to +fight for the right. They distinguished pillars of granite from columns +of brick, and were not confused. They knew that gold dust was gold, and +saved the dust as well as the ingots; they would sacrifice nothing. Can +not we get a lesson here that will make the heart throb and the cheeks +burn, as we view the faithfulness and heroism of these Covenanted +ancestors? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What two great events in the Church transpired in 1638? + +2. What growth did the Church experience in the next ten years? + +3. What new danger loomed up? + +4. How did the Covenanters meet the king's army? + +5. Describe the army of the Covenanters. + +6. How was this struggle ended? + +7. How did the king keep his promise? + +8. What lessons may we derive from the fathers? + + + + +XVI. + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.--A.D. 1643. + + +The Solemn League and Covenant touches a tender chord in the heart of +every true Covenanter. It is a solitaire of statesmanship; a precious +jewel of international law, unique and alone; there is nothing like it +in the world. The historical setting of this lustrous stone is intensely +interesting. Out of what mine did the priceless diamond come? By whose +skill was it so admirably cut and polished? By whose hand was it set in +its own historic foil? Such questions are worthy of serious and earnest +thought. + +King Charles' war flurry against the Covenanters, in 1639, brought him +no honor. Out-matched on the field, outdone in diplomacy, and utterly +defeated in his purpose, he returned to London greatly humiliated. The +journey was long and dreary, even though he rode in his stately carriage +and behind swiftest horses, for he was chafing over his failure to +reduce the Covenanters. In his palace also he found no comfort, his +magnificent apartments brought him no restfulness. He brooded over his +ill-fortune till his blood was tinctured with acid and his heart +soured; a malignant spirit spread its dark wings over him. He had failed +in his military operations; the Covenanters were stronger and more +independent than hitherto; his Prelatic friends were aggrieved with his +treaty of peace; his power to tyrannize over the public conscience was +waning. Such thoughts racked his brain and wrecked his peace of mind. He +grew sullen, miserable, desperate. It was this passionate and despotic +temperament that carried him into the second war with these Covenanters +whom he so thoroughly hated. + +The Covenanters were yet truly loyal to their king. Their loyalty was +high-principled and self-sacrificing, yet at the same time +discriminating. They bound themselves by their Covenant to be true to +their king and their country. The Covenant recognized the king and the +people to be equally under the law of God, subjects of the moral +government of Jesus Christ. While he occupied his rightful place and +exercised legitimate power, they would stand by him till their blood and +treasures were alike exhausted. Such was their oath of loyalty, and it +was kept with sacred care. But they resisted his authority at the point +where he attempted to crush conscience, rule the Church, and usurp the +royal prerogatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is KING OF KINGS. There +they drew the line, and drew it so clear, that all the world might see +it, and the blindest king might pause, consider, and not pass beyond. +There they uttered their solemn protest with the Bible in one hand and +the sword in the other. Such encroachments on their rights and +liberties, and upon the honor and supremacy of Jesus Christ, they met on +the battlefield, when peaceful measures had failed. While these +interests were at stake they counted not their lives dear. + +[Illustration: THE MARTYRS' MONUMENT, EDINBURGH. + +This monument honors the memory of the martyrs who were executed at the +Grass Market. It stands in Greyfriars' churchyard at the head of a small +plot of ground, where about 100 bodies were at sundry times heaped +together. Here lies the dust of Argyle, Guthrie, Warriston, Cargill, +Renwick, and others of equal fame and faithfulness in the Covenant.] + +The king on this second occasion collected an army of 21,000 men--all he +could then muster--and hastened to punish the Covenanters. He was not +able at this time to rally the hosts of England; that kingdom was not in +sympathy with his enterprise. His haughty will and arbitrary measures +had alienated the strength of England from his support. The English +Parliament was like a trembling volcano, ready to break out and involve +his throne in ruins. A revolution from monarchy to democracy was sending +its advance swell over the land like a tidal wave. + +The Covenanters, ever loving peace and hating war, had exhausted all +honorable measures to avoid a conflict with their king on the +battlefield. Their efforts however having failed, again the call to arms +resounded through their peaceful glens and over their granite hills. The +shepherd again left his flock, the workman closed his shop, the plowman +released his team, and the minister took leave of his people to follow +the fiery war-cloud. Again the banner was unfurled for CHRIST'S CROWN +AND COVENANT; the silken folds rose and fell on the breeze; the golden +letters and sacred motto flashed upon the eyes of the men who were +willing to follow where it led. Gen. Leslie was again in command. He +boldly crossed the Tweed and hastened to give the king battle on English +soil. The armies having come within range of each other, the usual lull +before the battle ensued. The Covenanted columns, standing under their +colors and gleaming with arms and armor in the bright August sun, struck +terror once more to the king's heart. He dreaded to meet this sea of +living, fiery valor, rolling its waves into his very camp. He saw, as on +the first occasion, that a treaty was the better part of valor and +offered peace. The terms being concluded, the Covenanters returned to +their homes, not knowing how long the peace would last. + +England, too, was at this time greatly agitated. She was making a +desperate effort to throw off the galling despotism of King Charles. The +spirit of progress, enlightenment, and liberty was deeply stirring the +people; they were eagerly reaching after a higher and nobler life. The +grand possibilities of improvement and happiness filled them with +visions of better things, and they grew desperate in their purpose to +obtain freedom. Continued subjection to the heartless autocrat became +intolerable. + +There was public indignation likewise against Prelacy, for by it the +king was inspired and upheld. In the State the revolt was from monarchy +to democracy: in the Church, from Episcopacy to Presbyterianism. The +king, as the head of the Episcopal Church, not only exercised +jurisdiction over her, but used her as an instrument to enforce his +arbitrary will over the people. The king mounted his war horse once +more. This time it was English against English. Strong armies were +mustered on each side. For four long years a civil war swept the unhappy +kingdom, victory perching alternately on the opposing banners. This was +a war of the Parliament against the king, British rule against brutish +rule, humanity against despotism. Scotland watched the struggle of her +sister kingdom with deepest interest. On the one side she was attached +to her king, notwithstanding his incorrigibleness; on the other, she was +devoted to the principles involved, including the independence of the +Church. + +While the war-cloud was thickening, the English Parliament sent a +delegation to Scotland to consult with the Covenanters in expectation of +receiving aid. The question was entrusted to a Joint Commission. The +deliberations were deep and far-reaching; the men in council were among +the wisest and best in the two kingdoms. They weighed the momentous +interests involved in the pending war, that eventually convulsed England +and watered her soil with fraternal blood. The liberty of both +kingdoms, the progress of the Gospel, the purity of religion, the +independence of the Church, the inheritance of the Covenants, the onward +movement of Christianity--yea, their own homes, possessions, liberties, +and lives--all were at stake in the crisis that darkened the land. These +men turned to God in prayer to meet the task that burdened their hearts +and taxed their wisdom. + +Dangers, too, were thickening around Scotland as well as England, like +storm-clouds concentrating for a destructive outburst. The king was +planning to restore the Scottish Prelacy to power; he still hoped to +fight his way victoriously into Edinburgh; he had hired an army of +10,000 men to invade Scotland; he had watched with apparent complacency, +we will not say his sanction, the slaughter of 200,000 Protestants in +Ireland by the Papists. Such were the conditions in both kingdoms, which +these counselors had to face. Dark were the days when this Joint +Commission was in session. Scotland was harassed by internal foes, +England was convulsed in a dreadful strife, and poor Ireland lay +bleeding from a thousand wounds. But here was a band of men whose hearts +reached up to God for counsel, and they were made equal to the occasion. +They knew how to take hold upon Omnipotence and secure the help of +heaven. They had access to the Eternal Throne, and were able to call +into service God's chariots and angels, and fill the mountains with +armies which, though invisible to mortal eyes, were invincible in the +presence of all the hosts of the king, and all the legions of Satan. +Listen to the cry that goes up from that Council Chamber--"The +Covenants! The Covenants!" + +Scotland had a beaten path up the mountain of God, leading to the +ever-available Covenant. Again she climbs the heights, and this time +leads her two trembling sisters, England and Ireland, by the hand. And +there, on the top of the mountain where the glory of the Lord shines +like the sun in his strength, the three kingdoms, Scotland, England, and +Ireland, enter into THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +We would appreciate our Covenanted privileges more highly, if we +considered more carefully the difficulties our ancestors overcame in +reaching the Covenant heights. Let us take heed lest, like a foolish +heir squandering his father's wealth, we waste our inheritance, which is +more precious than gold, more priceless than life. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did the Covenanters meet the king's second appeal to arms? + +2. How was England disturbed at this time? + +3. What Joint Commission was then created? + +4. What was its purpose? + +5. What did it accomplish? + +6. What was the intention of the Solemn League and Covenant? + +7. Why should we appreciate our Covenanted inheritance? + + + + +XVII. + +HIGH IDEALS BY THE COVENANTED FATHERS.--A.D. 1643. + + +The Solemn League and Covenant of Scotland, England, and Ireland is the +high-water mark in the moral progress of nations. But the flood of +Divine glory, which then covered these three kingdoms, quickly subsided +and has remained ever since far below that conspicuous mark. God honored +these nations with the greatest privilege accorded to Civil society, and +brought them into the most blessed relation to himself. But they lightly +esteemed the favor and revolted from the Covenant. He therefore hid His +countenance, withdrawing the assistance and protection which they so +gratefully accepted in distress, but deceitfully rejected when +prosperity returned. The relapse threw them suddenly into direful +conditions of misrule, oppression, and profuse bloodshed, which +continued nearly half a century. + +The Covenant of the three kingdoms, though short-lived in its beneficent +effect, was of immense value to the world. Like the morning star, it +heralded the coming of a bright day to all nations. The star may be +hidden by thickening clouds, but the sun will not fail to rise. This +Covenant stands as a pledge of the ultimate condition of all nations, +points the way into the shining heights of God's favor, and warns +against the aggravated sin of breaking relation with the Lord. It was +the first blast of the trumpet that will one day announce the submission +of the kingdoms of the world to the Lord Jesus Christ. + +The Scottish fathers evidently regarded Covenanted union as the normal +relation existing between God and man, God and the Church, God and all +the nations. Any thing less than this was, in their estimation, +sub-normal, imperfect, unworthy, dangerous, disastrous to man, and +offensive to God. They loved their Covenant, flew to it in times of +danger as doves to the clefts of the rock, and reproached themselves for +lightly esteeming the inestimable privilege. + +These Covenanters took their position at the throne of the Lord Jesus, +and contemplated with rapturous delight His many crowns and the +magnificence of His kingdom. Their vast horizon took in heaven and +earth, time and eternity, God and man. In their eyes the affairs of the +world fell into subordinate relations, while the interests of the Church +loomed up in over-awing proportions. + +The high ideal for nations entertained by the Covenanters of Scotland +will hardly be excelled while the world lasts. The Lord gave them a +vision of what their country should be: enlightened with the Gospel, +governed in righteousness, protected by Omnipotence, adorned with +churches, a school in every parish, and a college in every city. The +land in that vision was married to the Lord--Beulah was her name. All +destroying vices had fled, all public evils were rooted out. The heavens +were beneficent, the soil yielded its increase, business was prosperous, +the armies were victorious, the rulers were God's ministers, the homes +were filled with peace and plenty, and resounded with the melody of +praise. Such was their conception of the blessed nation whose God is the +Lord. + +[Illustration: RUTHERFORD IN PRISON. + +Samuel Rutherford was a devoted minister and faithful Covenanter. He had +charge of a congregation at Anwoth, from whence he was driven by +persecution. For a time he was compelled to abide in Aberdeen. Here he +wrote the famous "Letters" that sparkle like rubies, with precious +thoughts. Out of his heart flowed "rivers of living water." Such +spirituality is seldom seen in mortals. His enemies sought his life, yet +God permitted him to die on a peaceful deathbed. A vision of heaven +seemed to break upon his soul in his last moments, and he died, +exclaiming, "Glory, Glory in Immanuel's land."] + +All this was embodied in the Solemn League and Covenant. By analyzing +that international bond we find that it expresses or implies the +following: + +Nations originate with God, are dependent on His will, subject to His +authority, and accountable at His throne. + +They are placed under Jesus Christ to be employed by Him to the glory of +God the Father. + +The chief end of Civil Government is to suppress wickedness and promote +righteousness, and thus prepare the way for the coming of the kingdom of +our Lord. + +Civil rulers are God's ministers, and as such, should serve the Lord +Jesus Christ by conserving true religion. + +Civil rulers should be interested in the union of the Churches, in +Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, according to the +Scriptures. + +Civil Government should suppress in Church and State all features of +society that are openly criminal or publicly injurious. + +The people should enter into a solemn Covenant with their rulers and +with God, to place themselves and their possessions in readiness to +sustain the government in its legitimate work. + +The nation that keeps Covenant with God shall dwell in safety, grow in +power, and enjoy enduring prosperity. + +Such was the Solemn League and Covenant. + +Have the principles of Civil government ever had an enunciation so +candid and heroic, so sublime and comprehensive, so ennobling to man and +honoring to God? These principles were not flashes of a high-wrought +imagination; they were practical. The Covenanted fathers reduced them to +practice. These nations embodied them. The time was short, yet long +enough for a demonstration. + +What dignity rests on the State that is federally and loyally connected +with the empire of the Lord Jesus Christ! How great the security and +excellence of the government that abides under the banner of Christ! How +powerful and happy the people who are exalted into favor with heaven by +a Covenant that binds God and man! Such was the ideal entertained by +the Scottish fathers; and by heroic self-sacrificing effort, they +exalted the three kingdoms into the untrodden heights. These nations +caught glimpses of the glory, basked for a season in the brilliancy, +tasted the sweetness of the banquet, breathed the exhilarating air, then +fell back. By the perfidy of man the vision was shattered and the +idealization wrecked. + +We shudder at the loss incurred by these kingdoms in their decline from +their Covenant. What would have been their eminence among nations had +the terms of the Covenant been fulfilled? What would have been their +power and prestige had they, by keeping their Covenant, been sheltered +for the last two and a half centuries from the ravages of rum and Rome, +misrule and tyranny, the violence of unscrupulous men and the wrath of +the offended Lord? What numerous posterity! what fruitful fields! what +prodigious wealth! what industrial prosperity! what educational +institutions! what unparalleled progress! what inexhaustible resources +for development at home and achievements abroad! Enjoying the glorious +millennium two hundred and fifty years ahead of the rest of the +world--what such a start would have done for the British Isles is past +finding out. + +Priest-ridden Ireland failed because at that time her best blood was +soaking the roots of her green meadows; the massacre of her Protestants +by the Romanists had left her low. Half-hearted England failed because +treachery was lurking in her ranks from the beginning. But Scotland! Oh, +Scotland, wherefore didst thou doubt? Wherefore turned ye back, ye sons +of the mighty, lacking neither bows nor other arms? Heroes of the +Covenant, why fainted ye in the day of battle? Shame on Scotland. The +high places of the field, where once the banner for Christ's Crown and +Covenant triumphantly waved, testify against thy treason. + +But the Standard unfurled by the Covenanters of Scotland has not been +altogether forsaken. A devoted band of Christ's soldiers still remain +underneath its waving folds. Few, yet fearless, they hold the ground. +There they sustain, day and night, the attacks of the world, the flesh, +and the devil. Their position is ridiculed as impractical; they are +galled by the fire of deserters; they are assailed by the arguments of +statesmen; they are reproached by their own brethren; they are shelled +by Satan's heaviest guns. A thousand voices are shouting, "Abandon your +impracticable position. Come down; ye men of the Covenant, come down." +But the reply is returned in unfaltering tones, "We will not; we cannot. +These heights of righteousness have once been reached by three kingdoms; +they will yet return to the Lord and renew their Covenant, leading other +nations in triumphal procession. They are coming; they are coming. 'All +the kings of the earth shall praise thee O Lord, when they hear the +words of thy mouth; yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for +great is the glory of the Lord.'" + +Alexander Henderson, who wrote the Solemn League and Covenant, displayed +therein statesmanship of the highest order. Great men are scarce who can +be compared with Henderson to advantage. Wellington, Nelson, Howard, +Gladstone, and Livingstone; these form a brilliant constellation; but +Henderson is bright as a morning star. He set the pace for the future +statesmen, who will yet lead the nations to God in Covenant and place +the crown of national homage on the head of Jesus Christ. + +The Covenanter who abides by his Covenant is the truest patriot. The +greatest service that can be rendered to the country is the presentation +of God's ideal for nations. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How long did the Solemn League and Covenant remain in force? + +2. What is its permanent use to the nations? + +3. What was the Covenanters' ideal for nations? + +4. Give the substance of the Solemn League and Covenant. + +5. What caused these nations to abandon the Covenant? + +6. Is the Covenant position still held by any? + +7. How is truest patriotism best displayed? + + + + +XVIII. + +THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.--A.D. 1643. + + +The Covenanted Church is much indebted to the Westminster Assembly, for +its magnificent contributions to the Reformed religion. Presbyterian +Churches of every name have reaped rich harvests from the seed sown by +this Assembly. + +Nothing has done more, if the Covenants be excepted, to give the +Covenanted Church decision, stability, permanence, spiritedness, and +undecaying strength, than the superlative formulas of truth produced by +this illustrious Assembly. Our inheritance received from their hands +should awaken our admiration for the men and our interest in their work. + + +ORIGIN. + +This Assembly came into existence in peculiar times and for a remarkable +purpose. England was goaded to desperation by the despotism of King +Charles. As king of that nation and head of the Episcopal Church, he +attempted to stifle liberty and conquer conscience. He clashed with his +parliament in London. A great awakening had suddenly spread over all +England. New ideas of life electrified the people, and they arose in the +majesty of their inalienable rights to realize their ideals. The action +and reaction became terrible. The king and the parliament called out +their armies each against the other. England was plunged into a horrible +civil war. The parliament, perceiving that Episcopacy was the bulwark of +the king's tyranny and hostile to the interests of the people, attempted +to abolish that system of Church government. But this destructive act +necessitated a constructive work. Accordingly parliament, by an +ordinance, created an Assembly for "settling the Government and Liturgy +of the Church of England." + + +CHARACTER OF THE MEMBERS. + +The ordinance provided for an Assembly of "learned, Godly, and judicious +divines." Milton, while not in sympathy with their work, called this +"The Select Assembly." Baxter, another disapproving contemporary, said, +"that in his judgment the world, since the days of the apostles, had +never a Synod of more excellent divines than this and the Synod of +Dort." Abundant evidence certifies that in Westminster Hall, in those +days was seen a rare combination of native talent, classic learning, +sanctified conscience, spiritual illumination, and devotion to the truth +as revealed in the Word of God. + + +ENROLLMENT. + +The complete number of members was 174, of which 142 were ministers, and +32, elders. Of this number, four ministers and two elders were +commissioners from Scotland. The Scottish delegation of divines were men +mighty in the Scriptures and powerful in debate. Their influence in +making Scripture truths lucid, and thereby directing the Assembly to +right conclusions, was deeply felt and cordially acknowledged. They +declined to sit as regular members of the Assembly, content with the +humbler position of consultative members. They would not by +incorporation become responsible, personally or representatively, for +the deliverances of an Assembly selected and erected by parliament. +These Scotch ministers form a brilliant constellation; let their names +be written in capitals: + + ALEXANDER HENDERSON ROBERT BAILLIE + SAMUEL RUTHERFORD GEORGE GILLESPIE + +"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, +and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and +ever." The Scottish elders were John Maitland and Archibald Johnston. +Maitland in after years renounced the Covenant and became a powerful foe +of the Covenanters. + +[Illustration: WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY. + +The Westminster Assembly met in London in 1643. The roll of members +contained 174 names, of which 142 were divines and 32 selected from +parliament. The Covenanters of Scotland were represented by 6 +commissioners, of whom 4 were ministers. This Assembly produced the +Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Directory +for Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government. These excellent +formulas of Divine truth are carefully compiled and finely polished, +and, being true to the Bible, they will scarcely ever be surpassed.] + + +ORGANIZATION. + +The Assembly met according to the call, July 1, 1643, in the Church of +Westminster. Dr. William Twisse, President, preached the opening sermon +from Christ's precious promise, "I will not leave you comfortless." +These word's were as apples of gold in pictures of silver, in those +days of woeful distraction. One week later they met again, when the oath +was administered to every member present, in the following words: + +"I,--------, do seriously and solemnly protest, in the presence of +Almighty God, that in this Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will not +maintain anything in matters of doctrine, but what I think in my +conscience to be truth; or in point of discipline, but what I shall +conceive to conduce most to the glory of God, and the good and peace of +His Church." + +This oath was read every Monday morning to refresh memory and revive +conscience. These men were working for the Kingdom of Christ, in the +presence of the great white Throne; its brightness was flashing +constantly upon their eyes. + + +THE WORK. + +The work, to which the Assembly gave its attention, as specified by +parliament, was "(1) A Confession of Faith, (2) A Catechism, (3) A +Platform of Government, (4) A Directory for all Parts of Public +Worship." + +The Confession of Faith: The first attempt was to revise the old creed +of the Church of England. This was abandoned at the Fifteenth Article. A +New Confession was then prepared having Thirty-three Articles, all of +which are pillars of truth, every one ponderous, polished, and precious, +revealing the quarry out of which they were hewn, and the skill of the +workmen by whom they were chiselled. Henderson has been credited with +the honor of preparing the first draft. + +The Catechisms: The Shorter Catechism was prepared as a summary of +Biblical instruction, appealing even by its literary construction and +elegance to the heart and memory for lodgment. This golden chain is an +ornament of grace that should be worn by every son and daughter of the +Covenant. Rutherford seems to have been the original writer. The Larger +Catechism is an expansion of the Shorter. + +The Form of Church Government: The Divine right of Presbyterianism +occasioned much discussion. The adoption of this principle was a deadly +blow struck at the theory of Episcopacy--official ranks, tier above +tier, in pyramidal form with the people beneath the pyramid. Equal +authority of ministers in the administration of the Gospel of Christ, +and equal authority of ministers and elders in administering government +in the House of God--these were the great truths announced by the +Assembly with clearness and solemnity, as the voice of God speaking in +the holy Scriptures. + +The Directory for Public Worship: This Directory superseded the Liturgy. +The Liturgy had been condemned for "giving encouragement to an idle and +unedifying ministry, who had chosen rather to confine themselves to +forms, made to their hands, than to exert themselves in the gift of +prayer, which our Saviour furnishes all those He calls to that office." +A warm discussion arose concerning the mode of receiving the Lord's +Supper. "The communicants orderly and gravely sitting round the table," +was the expression adopted. Successive tables received sanction from +this expression. + + +PSALMODY. + +Sir Francis Rouse, a member of the English Parliament, had recently +produced his Metrical Version of the Psalms. It was fresh and fragrant +and greatly admired. The Assembly after a careful revision adopted it. +Five years later, having passed through the purifying furnace of +revision at the hands of the General Assembly of Scotland, it was +authorized as "The only paraphrase of the Psalms of David to be sung in +the Kirk of Scotland." The New Version superseded the Old and took its +place in Divine worship on May 1, 1650, the day appointed for its +introduction by the Assembly. + +The Westminster Assembly convened July 1, 1643, and adjourned February +22, 1649, covering 5 years, 6 months, and 22 days, having held 1,163 +sessions. They met at nine o'clock in the morning and sat till three in +the afternoon. Each member received four shillings a day, and were fined +one shilling for absence. They kept a solemn fast monthly, at which +occasionally a single prayer lasted two hours. These men knew how to +pray. They became absorbed in prayer and talked with God while He +strengthened them to stand in His presence and receive His answer. + +Such was the famous Assembly of Westminster divines. The magnitude of +their work can never be measured. Their building is imperishable. +Familiarity with these manuals of doctrine will deepen, broaden, +strengthen, and exalt the human mind. Herein the truth of Christ appears +in the symmetry, significance, magnitude, and omnipotence of a complete +system. One truth may take us to heaven, but the system of truth +treasured up in the heart, will bring heaven to us. Let us study the +system. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What event called the Westminster Assembly into being? + +2. What was the character of the members? + +3. How many were enrolled? + +4. Who were the Scottish commissioners? + +5. What was the oath of membership? + +6. What was the work assigned to the Assembly? + +7. How long did the Assembly sit? + +8. What benefit derived from the study of these manuals? + + + + +XIX. + +DIVISION IN THE COVENANTED RANKS.--A.D. 1648. + + +The 1638 Covenant produced gratifying results in the Presbyterian Church +of Scotland. She was revived, enlarged, strengthened, consolidated, and +fortified beyond precedent. Ten years of marvelous prosperity followed, +and yet she had no easy road to travel. She was still beset by dangers; +enemies were plotting her overthrow; wars were convulsing the country; +the external conditions were extremely adverse; yet she grew, waxed +mighty, and became irresistible in the work of the Gospel. The Church +honored the Lord in His holy Covenant, and He honored her with growth, +success, and victory in the presence of her foes. He was a wall of fire +round about her, and the glory in the midst thereof. These were years of +phenomenal power and splendor unto the Covenanted Church. + +Then followed the gloaming. The evening of that prosperous day grew very +dark; the darkness increased for forty years; ten thousand midnights +seemed to have condensed their horrid blackness upon Scotland and her +prostrated Church. At length the storm of fire and blood exhausted +itself, but not till a whole generation had wasted away in the anguish +of that protracted persecution. The steps that led to the Church's +prostration and decimation, we may trace with profit; but as it is +crimsoned with the blood of the brave, and marked with many a martyr's +grave, the eye will oft be moist and the heart sick. + +While the Church stood to her Covenant, she was like an impregnable +fortress, or an invincible army. While she held the truth tenaciously in +her General Assembly, presbyteries, and sessions, and applied it +effectively, she spread forth her roots like Lebanon. But when doubt and +fear, plans and policy, compromise and temporizing entered into her +councils, her gold became dim and her sword pewter. The Lord went not +with her armies into the battle, and they fainted and fell on the field. +A brief review is necessary to understand the situation. + +The Solemn League and Covenant, in 1643, gave the Covenanted Church of +Scotland a mighty impetus in the right direction, but its effect for +good was brief. The League united the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and +Ireland; and the Covenant placed them under obligations to one another +and to God. These kingdoms were thereby exalted beyond measure in +privilege. The sacred bond had been prepared by the Joint Commission +that represented England and Scotland, the initial step having been +taken by the English Parliament. The king and the parliament were then +at strife. The dominating spirit of Charles, which harassed Scotland had +provoked hostility in England; the strength of that kingdom was nearly +equally divided between the two parties. The people of England, who +aspired after liberty and felt the throb of nobler manhood in their +pulse, had asked Scotland to combine forces against the oppressor. The +outcome was the Solemn League and Covenant which united their armies for +the conflict. + +This sacred bond was adopted by the General Assembly of Scotland, the +English Parliament, and the Westminster Assembly of divines. Afterward +it received a prodigious number of signatures by the people in public +and private life, and became quite popular. These kingdoms were thereby +placed under solemn obligation conjointly to conserve the Reformed +religion in Scotland, to reform the religion of England and Ireland, and +to root out all systems of evil in Church and State. + +Scotland was far in advance of the other two kingdoms in enlightenment +and liberty. The Covenanted Church had exalted the Lord Jesus as her +Head, and He had exalted her as the light, life, and glory of Scotland. +The vine had spread its branches from sea to sea. The two sisters were +far behind. She undertook to lift them up; the burden was too heavy; +they dragged her down. She was unequally yoked, and the yoke pushed her +astray. Doubtless there were reasons that justified the course she had +taken, but that course led her into a "waste and howling wilderness." + +Scotland sent her army to help the English Reformers in their fight for +liberty. The soldiers coming from Covenanted homes, marched, as was +their custom, under the banner emblazoned with the inspiring-words: + + +FOR CHRIST'S CROWN AND COVENANT. + +They were led by General Leslie. Victory followed victory until King +Charles, overwhelmed with defeat, rode into Leslie's camp in disguise +and surrendered as his prisoner. + +What now shall be done with the royal captive? This was the question +which called for the wisdom of both nations. The Covenanters urged him +to subscribe the Covenant and return to his throne. He refused. They +pleaded, promising that their flag would lead the forces of Scotland in +his support. He yet refused. They prayed and entreated him with tears to +accept the Covenant and continue his reign. He would not. What could +they then do, but deliver him up to the English army, whose battles they +were fighting? + +General Leslie led his command back to Scotland. It was disbanded, for +the land again had rest. The suspense, however, concerning the king was +painful. The Scottish heart yet loved Charles. Though he was false, +cruel, treacherous, and tyrannical, the Covenanters were still devoted +to him as their own king. They prayed, took counsel, sent delegates, did +everything in their power to have him restored. All they asked was his +adherence to the Covenant, their national Constitution of government. +Let him subscribe to this, and Scotland's bravest sons will rally around +him; the Blue Banner will wave over him in bold defiance of every foe. +But he would not yield. + +[Illustration: KING CHARLES I. + +King Charles I. came to the throne in 1625, and reigned over Scotland, +England, and Ireland, 24 years. His despotic will carried him into great +excesses of cruelty, and brought upon him mountains of trouble. In +Scotland the Covenanters firmly resisted his encroachment upon their +rights and liberties. He was beheaded by the English Parliament in +1649.] + +The king was now a prisoner in England. While he lay at Carisbrooke +Castle, the Earl of Lauderdale, a Covenanter of some eminence, +accompanied by the Earl of Lanark, was stealthily admitted into his +presence. These men succeeded in making a compromise. Lauderdale and +Lanark agreed to raise an army to bring the king back. The king in turn +agreed to confirm Presbyterianism for three years; the permanent form of +Church Government to be then determined by an assembly of divines, +assisted by twenty commissioners to be appointed by the king. This +private treaty is known in history as "The Engagement." It contained the +elements of a base and disastrous surrender of principle. +Presbyterianism on probation! Built upon the rock of truth, it lasts +while the rock endures. Presbyterianism to be succeeded by an +uncertainty? How could the Church entrust the government of God's house +to the king's commissioners? + +When "The Engagement" became public, the Covenanted Church was plunged +into a debate that wrought havoc. The peaceful sea was struck with a +storm; the angry waves lashed every shore. The compromise failed, but +the Church was infected, weakened, rent, in twain, and for forty years +was unable to stand in the presence of her enemies. Henceforward there +were two parties: those who held to the Covenant, in its clearness, +fulness, pungent energy, and logical deductions; and those who trimmed, +modified, and compromised divine truth, for the sake of numerical +strength and temporal advantage. One party was governed by principle; +the other by expediency. The entering wedge was followed by other +wedges, until the glorious Church of Scotland was chopped and split, and +thrown about into endless disorder, + + "As wood which men do cut and cleave + Lies scattered on the ground." + +The Church of Jesus Christ may never traffic in the truth. The least +compromise of Gospel principle is treason against the King of heaven. +The terms offered to the world, while in rebellion against Christ, +should be those embodied in General Grant's famous demand--"Unconditional +Surrender." Anything less than this is treachery. The truth of the Lord +Jesus, which cost His blood in its purchase and the blood of martyrs +in its defence, should be maintained to the very last shred, with the +tenacity of unconquerable faith. Unfaithfulness in the least degree +may result in greatest disaster. Once a ship was cast upon the rocks, +and the lives of the passengers were jeopardized simply because the +compass varied, it was said, a millionth part of an inch. It requires +"hair-splitting" to measure a millionth part of an inch, and in certain +cases it is worth while. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What reaction followed the ten prosperous years after the Covenant of +1638? + +2. Trace the cause of the great distress that befell the Church + +3. Why did Scotland aid England with her army? + +4. What were the results of the war? + +5. How did the Covenanters treat their captive king? + +6. What was the agreement known as "The Engagement?" + +7. How did it divide the Covenanted Church? + +8. What dangers arise from the surrender of truth? + + + + +XX. + +CROWNING THE PRINCE.--A.D. 1651. + + +The reign of Charles I. came to an unkingly end. The war between him and +the English Parliament resulted in his utter defeat. He delivered +himself up as a prisoner, and "because he mercy minded not but +persecuted still," mercy refused to spread her white wings over his +guilty soul. He was tried for treason by the British Parliament and +sentenced to death. The trial continued one week, during which the +recital of his misrule and cruel deeds must have intensely harrowed his +soul. He yielded up his life by laying his head upon the block to +receive the executioner's axe. One stroke did the fatal work. + +The death of the king was not with the consent of the Covenanters; to +them it was a poignant grief. With all his faults they loved him still +as their king. Had he accepted the Solemn League and Covenant when a +prisoner in their hands, they would have been at his service to restore +his power and kingdom. They still hoped for his reformation, entreated +him to take the Covenant, and pointed him to a triumphal entry into +Edinburgh. They pleaded with the English Parliament to spare his life, +and sent commissioners to prevent his execution. Through his obstinacy +they failed. But that obstinacy he accounted kingly dignity and +inviolable honor. The Covenanters upon hearing of his tragic death +hastened to proclaim his eldest son king in his stead, granting him +the throne on condition of accepting the Solemn League and Covenant, +and ruling the kingdom according to its terms. He was a young man of +nineteen years; "a prince of a comely presence; of a sweet, but +melancholy aspect. His face was regular, handsome, and well-complexioned; +his body strong, healthy, and justly proportioned; and, being of a middle +stature, he was capable of enduring the greatest fatigue." + +Charles II. while emerging from his teens faced a golden future. The +providence of God spread before him prospects of greatness, honor, and +success, which the most exalted on earth might have envied. His heart in +its highest aspirations had not yet dreamed of the moral grandeur and +kingly possibilities, that were granted him when the Covenanters called +him to rule their kingdom. Even Solomon, accepting a crown at the same +age, was not more highly favored. Scotland at this time was exalted into +close relation with heaven; the National Covenant had lifted the kingdom +into alliance with God; the people had been emancipated from darkness, +Papacy, and Prelacy; the Gospel of Jesus Christ had overspread the land +with light. The Covenanted Church had flourished marvelously during the +last decade, notwithstanding the storms that swept her borders; her +branches veiled the mountains, and her fruit overhung the valleys; every +parish was adorned with a schoolhouse, and the cities with colleges. +What sublime possibilities for a king at the head of such a nation! Oh, +that the young prince might have a dream in the slumbers of the night +and see God! Oh, for a vision, a prayer, and a gift, that will fit him +for the glory-crested heights of privilege and power to which he has +been advanced! Charles II. failed, and fell from these heavens like +Lucifer. + +The young king was crowned by the Covenanters January 1, 1651. The Crown +of Scotland, sparkling with precious stones deeply set in purest gold, +was his splendid New Year's gift. But the gift was more than a crown of +gold and precious stones; it was a symbol of the nation's power, wealth, +people, Covenant, honor, and high relation to God, entrusted to his +keeping. + +The coronation took place in the dead of winter. The country was gowned +like a bride in white. But the white on this occasion was not the emblem +of purity; rather was it the pallor of icy death. The rigorous storms +seemed to prophesy of trouble; the very winds were rehearsing a dirge to +be plaintively sung over mountains and moors in the coming years. + +A large assembly of Covenanters met at Scone for the crowning of the new +king. There was much enthusiasm, yet beneath it all there flowed a deep +undercurrent of doubt and fear. Rev. Robert Douglas preached the +coronation sermon. The king listened to deep, penetrating, practical +words from the Book of God. The Solemn League and Covenant was read. He +gave his assent to it with an overflow of vehemence. Archibald Campbell, +the Marquis of Argyle, a prominent Covenanter and statesman, then took +the crown in both hands, and, lifting it above the prince with great +solemnity, placed it upon his head, accompanying the act with an +appropriate exhortation. While the oath of office was being +administered, the prince kneeled in apparent humility, and lifted up his +right hand in a solemn appeal to God. At this point he uttered the awful +vow in the presence of the people: "By the Eternal and Almighty God, who +liveth and reigneth forever, I shall observe and keep all that is +contained in this oath." He also said: "I will have no enemies, but the +enemies of the Covenant--no friends, but the friends of the Covenant." +Thus King Charles II. became a radical Covenanter by profession and +protestation in the most solemn manner. Time proved his guilty +duplicity. + +The English Parliament, after the execution of Charles I., had passed an +act making it treason to proclaim this prince king. The Covenanters, +having thus elevated Charles to the throne, must now settle accounts +with England on the battlefield. + +[Illustration: ARCHBISHOP SHARP + +James Sharp was a young Covenanted minister in 1661, but withdrew from +the Covenanters and became a persecutor of the most virulent type. The +land could not bear his cruelties. He lost his life at the hands of a +few men, who had been goaded into desperation by his atrocities. He was +slain while driving across Magus moor in 1679.] + +Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland with a strong force, determined to +unseat Charles. The Covenanters rallied in defence of their king. +Alexander Leslie was once more in command. The two armies were soon +facing each other, but hesitated to strike Both armies were made up of +soldiers of the cross; both had fought for the Solemn League and +Covenant; prayer ascended habitually from both camps; the singing of +Psalms aroused the heroic spirit in each. What wonder if they feared the +shock of battle! At length Leslie moved down from his advantageous +position, and Cromwell ordered an attack. The Covenanters were put to +flight with terrible slaughter. + +Had the sweet singer of Israel been on the field after the clash of +arms, doubtless he would have repeated his wail: "How are the mighty +fallen, and the weapons of war perished!" The Covenanters defeated! How! +Why! Ah, there was an Achan in the camp. The king was already perfidious +in the Covenant. His perfidy had blighted the nation, and smitten the +army. Hitherto God had led the armies of the Covenanters; they had won +easy victories, and sometimes bloodless triumphs. But now the Lord turns +His back upon the banner unfurled for His Crown and Covenant. + +The dread disaster-sent a wail through all Scotland. The grief was great +and the penitential searchings deep. The pious and prayerful inquired of +the Lord to know the cause of His wrath and the way of deliverance. The +eyes of many were opened to see the shadow of greater calamities +approaching. Argyle, Johnston, Rutherford, Gillespie, and others of +kindred spirit, saw in the last battle the stroke of the Lord for the +sins of the nation. The wrath of God, like a bolt of lightning, had +struck that field and thousands lay dead. Greater retributions were +coming; repentance alone could save the country. + +The king attempted to rally his shattered forces. He raised his standard +at Stirling. His army was small; he wanted more men. Hitherto the army +had been recruited from the homes of Covenanters; the rank and file were +the resolute sons of the Covenant. The Scottish Parliament in bygone +years had made a law called the "Act of Classes", by which only those +who had taken the Covenant were eligible to office in the government, or +position in the army. The statesmanship of the Scottish fathers was +profound; their military wisdom was from above. Civil government is +God's gift to man. Why entrust it to other than His people? The military +power is to guard this trust. Why commit the guardianship to any but the +loyal servants of the Lord Jesus Christ? + +The king had the Act of Classes repealed that he might increase his +army. He multiplied his regiments, but forgot "The sword of the Lord, +and of Gideon." Three hundred may be better than thirty thousand. He +accepted battle once more with Cromwell, suffered a terrible defeat, +escaped from the country and remained an exile nine years. All honor to +Gen. Leslie, and other faithful officers, who refused to serve after the +ranks had been filled with men who feared not God nor regarded His +Covenant! + +Can we here find a lesson to lay upon our hearts? Covenanting with God +is, possibly, the highest privilege on earth; Covenant-breaking is, +possibly, the most dangerous sin. What can be worse? The +Covenant-breaker destroys much good; brings wrath upon himself, and +defeat, sorrow, and distress upon those whom he represents. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How was the reign of King Charles I. ended? + +2. What effort on the part of the Covenanters to secure a successor? + +3. What were the prospects of the young prince? + +4. What brought ruin upon him? + +5. Why were the Covenanters now compelled to meet the English in battle? + +6. With what result? + +7. What was the "Act of Classes." + +8. Why was it repealed? + +9. What was the effect? + +10. What heinousness lies in Covenant-breaking? + + + + +XXI. + +A SIFTING TIME--A.D. 1653. + + +We now enter the most serious period in the history of the Covenanters. +Hitherto we have been on the skirmish line. All we have yet reviewed has +been leading up to the desperate and sanguinary struggle, which lasted +twenty-eight years, costing treasures of blood and indescribable +suffering, yet finally resulting in the wealthy heritage of liberty, +enlightenment, and religion, which we now enjoy. + +Oliver Cromwell, having defeated King Charles, ruled Scotland five +years. He was titled "Lord Protector", but in reality was a Dictator. +The government was centered more than ever in one man. Many strange +qualities blended in this austere autocrat, some of which command our +admiration. He was stern and painfully severe, yet much sagacity and +justice characterized his administration. During his sway of power the +Reformed Churches in his own realms and on the Continent were by him +heroically defended. He became, in the hand of the Lord, "the shadow of +a great rock in a weary land." The persecuted found shelter under his +shadow, in the providence of the Lord. He avenged the massacre of the +Protestants in Ireland, halted the persecution of Christians on the +Continent, and gave Rome the alternative, to cease the work of +slaughter, or listen to the thunder of his legions at her gates. + +The Church of the Covenanters however had strange experience at the +hands of Cromwell. In a ruthless and despotic manner he dissolved the +General Assembly, put the Supreme Court of God's house out of existence +to appear no more for thirty-five years. The meeting previous to this +act of violence had been held in the mid-summer of 1653. The ministers +and elders had come from all parts of Scotland, to sit in counsel, or +rather in debate, concerning the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. The +salubrious air and genial sky of Edinburgh united with, the sacred and +exhilarating interests of the Gospel to arouse all that was noble, and +divine in every heart. The Moderator reverently led the Assembly in +prayer and constituted the court most solemnly in the name of Jesus +Christ. Such a prayer should overwhelm the soul with God's presence, +burden the conscience with responsibilities, make the spiritual world +dreadfully visible, and bring God's servants close to His throne of +judgment. + +The Assembly had met last year in this prayerful and solemn mariner, but +the business of the Lord Jesus soon degenerated into an acrid, harmful +discussion, that lasted two weeks and ended in confusion. The debate +evidently was now to be renewed with the additional bitterness and +vehemence that had accumulated during the ensuing year. The ministers +and elders having convened, the regular business was under way, when +suddenly the Assembly witnessed what was unexpected--a regiment of +soldiers in the churchyard. Cromwell had sent them. The soldiers, in +bright uniform and bristling with swords and guns, struck amazement into +the hearts of the delegates. The colonel ordered them to leave the +house. They walked out in front of the soldiers and, being escorted +beyond the city limits, were sent home, not to return, under pain of +punishment. + +The General Assembly had fallen into a state of bitter strife--the snare +of Satan. There were two parties and these were quite well balanced. +Their power for good was greatly neutralized by one another; their +influence for harm was incalculable; the baneful effect spread like a +withering shadow over the land. The two parties, at the beginning, +chiefly differed in the methods employed to accomplish the same end. The +one was governed by expediency; the other by principle. Expediency drew +the majority; principle held the remainder. The majority discounted the +obligations of the Covenant; the minority held to the spirit and letter +of the sacred bond. The party in power precipitated the direful +conditions. This they did by repeated breaches of the Covenant. The +responsibility for the disgraceful proceedings, and the shameful +termination of the Assembly, must be attached to these who made the +discussion a moral necessity. + +The first shadow that darkened the General Assembly was the discussion +of "The Engagement." Two unscrupulous men--one of them a Covenanter--had +made a secret engagement with Charles I. in his captivity. They had +promised to seat him, if possible, again on his throne; he in turn had +engaged to favor Presbyterianism three years. The Engagement aroused +earnest and violent discussion in the Assembly. The element of strife +had now entered the Supreme Court of God's House, and the downward trend +was deplorably rapid. + +The next vexation was the abolition of "The Act of Classes." The Act of +Classes guarded all places of trust in the government and army. None but +those who expressed sympathy with the National Covenant were eligible to +places of trust. Here was an unparalleled state of civil affairs; the +world had never seen the like. This was a marvelous stride toward the +Millennium. The fathers are worthy of all praise for this unprecedented +effort to build the national government upon the true foundation of +God's will, and administer it by men in Covenant with Jesus Christ, the +KING OF KINGS. This was the first attempt to erect a Christian +government, in which the fear of God should pervade every department and +characterize every official. The abolition of the Act of Classes +involved a great moral issue which the General Assembly had to meet. +Strangely, the Assembly was divided in the discussion; the debate waxed +vehement and bitterly passionate. The majority favored abolition, thus +opening the flood-gates of moral laxity in official stations. These were +called "Resolutioners", because they offered the resolution to this +effect, and supported it: the minority were called "Protesters", because +they protested against it. + +[Illustration: KING CHARLES II. + +King Charles II. ascended the throne in 1651, but was soon defeated and +driven from the country by Oliver Cromwell. In 1660 his kingdom and +power were restored and he reigned till 1685. His death was sudden and +mysterious, poisoning by his brother, the Duke of York, having been +suspected. He died at the age of fifty-five. He was called the "Merry +Monarch," though his reign was characterized by atrocious cruelty. Under +him the persecution waxed so violent that some of these years were +called "The Killing Times."] + +The discussion continued year after year till all other interests in the +General Assembly were overshadowed. The voice of the Church, once +powerful in guiding public issues, was now despised; the tones were +guttural, sepulchral, alarming, making the blood run in chills. Then +came Cromwell and snuffed the Assembly out like a candle. It was sending +forth ill--odored smoke and but little light. Are we surprised that God +permitted him to quench the noisome spark? + +The Protesters stood for all that the Covenant embodied. The Covenant +lay heavy upon their conscience; they trembled at its violation. They +saw in the breach of the Covenant the wrath of God against themselves, +against the Church, and against the nation. They believed that nothing +could compensate for the loss incurred by forsaking the Covenant. They +trusted in God with absolute faith; would not resort to expediency for +any purpose; temporized with no principle, no, not for greatest +advantages. They knew that God could send peace, victory, and prosperity +to their country through the Covenant; and that He would send defeat, +distress, and desolation through the breach of it. + +The Resolutioners grew more and more lax. They may have dreaded to be +termed narrow-minded; they may have sought to be reputed broad and +charitable. They weakened in morals and influence, and lost power and +position when tried by the fires of persecution. They finally melted +away and disappeared among the enemies of the Covenant, as snowflakes +falling on the mire. + +The Protesters were the Covenanters who continued with the Lord Jesus +Christ in His temptation. When the Covenant called for martyrs, they +were the martyrs. When the cause of Christ demanded witnesses, they were +the witnesses. They gave their testimony with a clear voice, and sealed +it with their blood. These are they whose crimson path we will now +follow, our Lord Jesus permitting, till we come to the last of +Scotland's honored roll--the pleasant, youthful, innocent James Renwick. + +God requires His Church to receive, proclaim, and defend the truth, the +whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as it is in the Lord Jesus +Christ. This obligation is weighty, and the duty is difficult, yet no +release is granted. The Church that holds most truth should draw most +people; the Church that abandons any truth for any reason must be +unsatisfying to honest souls. The organization that embodies the largest +measure of God's Word is the largest Church; that which contains the +smallest is the least. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these +least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least +in the kingdom of heaven." These are the words of Jesus. In His sight a +Church is measured, not by the number enrolled, but by the truth +professed, incarnated, and proclaimed. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How long did Oliver Cromwell rule Scotland? + +2. How did he deal with the Covenanted Church? + +3. How had the General Assembly previously deteriorated? + +4. Give the downward steps. + +5. What two parties henceforth in the Church? + +6. By whom was the truth preserved? + +7. What principle governs the true followers of Christ? + +8. What distinguishes the largest Church? + + + + +XXII. + +AN ILLUSTRIOUS MARTYR.--A.D. 1660. + + +Archibald Campbell, the Marquis of Argyle, was the first martyr to +suffer at the hand of King Charles II. Twenty-two years had this +illustrious nobleman been in special training for the honors of a +martyr. He became identified with the Covenanters at the General +Assembly of 1638. From that time he brought his influence, wealth, +power, and office into the service of his Covenant Lord, and grew mighty +in the cause of God. He ripened early in convictions and hallowed +experiences, which won for him the highest distinction conferred upon +mortals--martyrdom. He was in the prime of his years, at the summit of +his earthly career, when he gave his life for the cause of Christ. He +was a true warrior; every drop of his blood was electrified with +heroism. In meeting death he felt the military spirit throb, but +suppressing it he calmly said, "I could die as a Roman, but choose to +die as a Christian." + +This was a cedar of Lebanon, a choice tree of God, distinguished for its +grace, strength, and height, towering above the trees of the forest. +Therefore the first blast struck it with such deadly force. Then +descended the terrific storm upon the lesser trees, and the mountain of +God's house was strewn with them. The next twenty-eight years were +filled with lamentation, and mourning, and woe. Let us look at the +condition of the Covenanted Church, as this age of horror settles down +upon Scotland. + +When Cromwell had reduced Scotland, he attempted to convert the +Covenanted Church to Congregationalism. Though he possessed some amiable +qualities, yet this ignoble work was attempted in the spirit of a +Turk--with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other. A +resolution in favor of Congregationalism was introduced in the General +Assembly of 1652. This was voted down. The military suppression of the +Assembly at its next meeting was Cromwell's bitter revenge. Yet we must +not fail to see the hand of God in the overthrow of the Supreme Court of +His House. As with the Temple at Jerusalem before its destruction, this +Temple was already desolate; the glory had departed ere the storm of +Divine wrath smote it. The resolution of the "Resolutioners," some years +previous, favoring the repeal of the "Act of Classes," was a gross +violation of the Covenant, and the proceedings in the Assembly had +thereby degenerated into bitter debate. The Assembly had lost its power +for good and, therefore, its right to exist; this part of the golden +candlestick had exhausted its oil and God removed the useless part. + +The Church did not seem to be seriously affected by the abolition of the +Assembly. The process was more like the removal of a tumor than of a +vital organ. God can do without the most excellent parts of the Church's +organization, when they become diseased and endanger the system with +blood poisoning. During the rule of Cromwell, the subordinate courts +were mostly unmolested. The synods flourished; the presbyteries were +uninterrupted in their work; the congregations enjoyed quietness and +refreshing. The strife that existed in the Church was chiefly among the +shepherds, not among the sheep. There were 14 synods, 68 presbyteries, +and 900 congregations, when the persecution began under King Charles II. + +During Cromwell's administration the land had rest; unusual quietness +prevailed among the clans; there was a great calm. The four angels were +holding the four winds of the earth, till the servants of God were +sealed in their foreheads. The people were diligent in waiting upon the +Lord; the Holy Spirit fell upon them with power, they became intensely +interested in the ordinances of grace. They clustered around the family +altar, through the House of God, hallowed the Sabbath, observed the +Sacraments, and tarried much in secret prayer. Thus they were +unwittingly preparing to enter the dreadful cloud. The vine was taking +deep root, anticipating the storm that was in the air. + +When Cromwell died the public mind experienced a strange reaction. The +politicians of the two kingdoms, Scotland and England, reverting from +the severe discipline of the "Protector," launched into every excess of +luxuriousness and dissipation. A cry for the return of the profligate +king swept the country from London to Edinburgh. Even the Covenanters +were loud in calling for the banished monarch. They determined not to be +last in bringing back the king. They would, however, renew their +allegiance to him only on condition that he would renew the Covenant +with them. From France, where he had found an asylum, came his +captivating reply, "I am a Covenanted king." He was received with +enthusiastic demonstrations. + +King Charles organized his government in Scotland by immediately placing +in power the most virulent enemies of the Covenanters. Within one month +they were ready to execute whomsoever they would. The Earl of Middleton +was the head official. When off his guard by indulging in drink, he +divulged the king's secret instructions, confessing that he had been +commissioned to do three things: (1) Rescind the Covenant; (2) Behead +Argyle; (3) Sheath every man's sword in his brother's breast. + +Argyle in those days was one of the great men of Scotland, if not the +greatest. He was recognized in the Council as overshadowing his +associates, in personal excellence, public-spiritedness, +trustworthiness, and executive ability. He was a fine scholar, masterly +statesman, wealthy landlord, brave soldier, and faithful Covenanter. His +magnificent estate lay in Argyleshire, where the mountains are fringed +with lochs in the most picturesque manner. The scenery is charming. One +summer evening as our ship passed along the broken coast, a sunset of +surpassing beauty scattered its blending colors in rich profusion over +clouds, hills, vales, and lochs. The scenery was panoramic and +enchanting. But greater gorgeousness than a thousand sunsets fell upon +the outlook, at the remembrance of the famous Argyle, himself and his +wife and children; his home, hearth, altar, Covenant, and martyrdom What +incomparable grandeur where such hallowed associations throw their +colors! + +When Charles had first been placed on the throne, ten years previous, +Argyle had the honor of setting the crown upon his head. The king at +that time feigned great friendship and respect for him. He sought, and +received, counsel from Argyle in apparent meekness and with evident +appreciation. On one occasion he remained nearly all night with him in +prayer, for preparation and fitness to rule the kingdom. He even sought +Argyle's daughter in marriage. Such was the former intimacy of the king +with Argyle. But once again on the throne, he determined to crush the +Covenanters, and Argyle was his first victim. + +When Cromwell was conquering Scotland, Argyle fought him till further +resistance was useless. He even then refused to sign the declaration of +submission, but agreed to keep the peace. This agreement with Cromwell +was the main charge preferred against Argyle. He was tried and +convicted. The sentence was passed upon him on Saturday; he was executed +on the following Monday. He eloquently defended himself. It was a scene +highly tragical--this calm, innocent, dignified man, looking into the +face of his accusers and over-awing them with his bold vindication, and +pathetic appeal for justice. Kneeling down he received his sentence, +which was death by decapitation, his head to be placed above one of the +city gates, as a gruesome warning to all Covenanters. Argyle arose from +his knees and, looking upon his judicial murderers, calmly said, "I had +the honor to set the crown on the king's head, and now he hastens me to +a better crown than he owns." The real cause of his death was his +devotion to the Covenant, and the solemn admonitions he had tendered the +king. + +His wife, hearing of the decree of death, hastened to his prison. "They +have given me till Monday to be with you," said he. The stricken woman +was overcome. "The Lord will require it; the Lord will require it;" said +she in tumultuous grief. "Forbear, forbear!" replied Argyle, "for I +truly pity them: they know not what they do." He was filled with +inexpressible joy at the thought of honoring Christ with his blood The +fear of death was gone Heaven was so near; glory was ready to break upon +him; the Lord was soon to be seen face to face. He went to his execution +like a prince to his coronation This was the Stephen of that age, and +this the persecution that scattered the Covenanters. + +[Illustration: ARGYLE'S DAUGHTER PLEADING + +Argyle had two daughters, Anne and Mary. The young king, after having +engaged to marry Anne, forsook her. She became despondent and lapsed +into insanity. Mary, after her father's martyrdom, went to Middleton, +the king's commissioner, and on her knees begged the privilege of taking +her father's head down from the Netherbow Port, a gate of the city, to +bury it with the body. She was refused. Middleton, pointing her to the +door, rudely asked her to leave his presence in haste.] + +We are soft and puny for lack of hardships. The difficult places and +dreaded conditions, through which Christians pass, make life strong, +sublime, triumphant, fruitful in good work, resourceful in the Holy +Spirit, and glorifying to God. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS + +1 Who was Marquis Argyle? + +2 What service had he formerly rendered the king? + +3 Describe the return of the king from banishment. + +4 How did the Covenanters receive him? + +5 What was the nature of the government he established? + +6 What was his attitude toward the Covenanters? + +7 Who was his first victim? + +8 Describe Argyle's trial and execution. + + + + +XXIII. + +RESISTING UNTO BLOOD.--A.D. 1661. + + +King Charles had put Argyle to death. The head of the martyred nobleman +had been placed above the prominent gate, called the Netherbow Port of +Edinburgh. There it remained four years, meeting the public gaze in the +glare of day and in the gloom of night. And yet the sight had its +charms. The broad brow and beneficent countenance still retained the +expression of goodness and greatness. The sun-browned features and the +wind-shaken locks, the motionless face and silent lips, made a touching +appeal to the passers-by as they filed through the gateway. Many hearts +were softened, many eyes were moistened, many serious thoughts were +awakened. + +The death of Argyle only fired the ferocious spirit of the king. The +tiger had tasted blood; now he must drink deeply of the crimson flood +and satiate his cruel heart. With vengeful hatred he reached for Samuel +Rutherford, the venerable minister of Anwoth. Neither feeble health nor +grey hairs could elicit, the king's compassion. A rock never pulsates +with kindness. But ere the officer could lay his hand upon this man of +God, his Lord and Master took him home to heaven. + +James Guthrie of Stirling, a distinguished minister of Christ, was the +next upon whom the king set his cruel eyes. He was seized and thrust +into prison to await trial for "high treason." High treason! What was +high treason in those days? What had Guthrie done to merit the king's +mortal displeasure? Here is the sum of his crimes: + +James Guthrie had preached, spoken, written, voted, and protested +against the "Resolution" and the "Resolutioners," because they had +approved of the suspension of the Moral Test for office. + +He had written and published a message to the nation, entitled "The +Causes of God's Wrath", pointing out the many breaches of the Covenant, +and pleading for repentance. + +He had declined the king's authority, when cited to be tried for +ministerial services which his enemies accounted treasonable. + +He had advocated Christ's supremacy over the Church and over the nation, +and had disputed the king's authority in ecclesiastical matters. + +For pursuing this course of action, James Guthrie was charged with "high +treason." But the rudest terms of the world and the basest charges made +by men are often turned into heaven's fairest badges. The iron chains +that manacled Rutherford he called "gold"; he called his prison "The +King's Palace." + +How could Guthrie have done otherwise, as a faithful minister of Christ +Jesus, in the high calling of the Gospel? Was he not responsible for the +honor of the Church? Was he not entrusted with the truth and claims and +glory of Christ? Was he not accountable for the souls that waited on his +ministry? + +Guthrie had an exalted view of the Gospel ministry. He had the eagle's +eye to take in a wide horizon, and the lion's heart to meet dangers and +difficulties. He took his instructions from the Lord, and stood above +the fear of man. He lived with the open Bible in his hand; his soul +delighted in the deep, broad sublime truths of salvation. The ministers +of the Covenant in those days dwelt in the bosom of Jesus Christ, +breathed His spirit, saw His glory, pulsated with His love, and were +irresistibly carried forward in the discharge of the duties of their +high office. They served as the ambassadors of the King of heaven. Only +by dishonoring their office, vitiating their conscience, shrivelling +their manhood, disowning their Lord, and imperiling their souls, could +Christ's ministers do less than James Guthrie had done. Yet he was +charged with "high treason." + +The trial was set for April 11, 1661. Guthrie came before the tribunal, +full of peace and comfort. He answered for himself in a masterly +speech. His pleading was deeply felt; some members of the court arose +and walked out, saying, "We will have nothing to do with the blood of +this righteous man." + +He was urged to retract. He was offered a high office in the Episcopal +Church if he would accede to their terms. Such inducements he held in +contempt. Neither threat nor reward could weaken his loyalty to the Lord +Jesus Christ and the Covenant. The closing sentence of his defence was +tender, fearless, and sublime: + +"My lords, my conscience I cannot submit; but this old crazy body and +mortal flesh I do submit, to do with it whatever ye will, whether by +death, or banishment, or imprisonment, or anything else; only I beseech +you to ponder well what profit there is in my blood. It is not the +extinguishing of me, or many others, that will extinguish the Covenant +and the work of Reformation. My blood, bondage, or banishment will +contribute more for the propagation of these things, than my life or +liberty could do, though I should live many years." + +The death sentence was passed upon him. He was condemned to be hanged, +his head to be placed above the city gate beside Argyle's. He received +the sentence with great composure. The execution was fixed for the first +day of June. To those who sat in judgement on his case, he replied: + +"My lords, let this sentence never affect you more than it does me; and +let my blood never be required of the king's family." + +In such cases doubtless the wife through sympathy is the greater +sufferer. But Mrs. Guthrie was strong in the Lord, and had courage equal +to her trials. She was her husband's faithful helper in the difficult +places. Once when duty imperiled his life, and he was in danger of +halting, she urged him on, saying, "My heart, what the Lord gives you +light and clearness to do, that do." Noble words! nothing wiser or +greater could come from consecrated lips. + +Just before his death Guthrie was permitted to see his son, Willie, at +that time five years old. The father tenderly fondled his child, so soon +to become an orphan, and spoke words adapted to the innocent heart. So +little did the child comprehend the terrible tragedy, that he could +scarcely be restrained from playing on the street while his father was +dying. But the meaning soon dawned upon him with melancholy effect. It +is said that he never played again. + +The execution was public and the streets were thronged. Guthrie mounted +the scaffold with a cheerful spirit. He spoke with great deliberation +and earnestness for one hour to the immense throng that crowded close to +hear his last words. He then yielded himself to the executioner, who +placed the death cap over his face. But, as the light of that bright +June day was shut out from his eyes, a vision of entrancing joy seemed +to break upon his soul. In that flash of inspiration he saw Scotland: +The land was covered with the glory of Christ; peace filled all her +borders, and prosperity crowned her industries; churches and schools +adorned her hills and valleys; the mountains and moors were filled with +devout worshipers; the Sabbath poured forth its weekly blessings; the +Psalms arose with solemn music in praise to the Lord Jesus. The +Covenanted Reformation, in that vision, was triumphant. Lifting the cap +from his eyes, he exclaimed with the rapture of a prophet, and with the +shout of a conqueror: + +"The Covenants, the Covenants shall yet be Scotland's reviving." + +[Illustration: JAMES GUTHRIE. + +Guthrie was an eminent minister of Christ, and valiant defender of the +Covenant, in the reign of King Charles II. He was the second victim +sacrificed to the king's rage against the Covenanters. On the day of his +execution he wrote a very touching letter to his wife. One quotation: +"My heart, I commend you to the eternal love of Jesus Christ. Pray for +me while I am here, and praise with me hereafter. God be with you!" He +died on the scaffold June 1, 1661.] + +Thus he died in the full assurance of victory. His head was affixed over +the gate, where it remained many years. The sun bronzed the face, the +storms smote it, the rains drenched it, the snows dashed against it, the +winds swirled the white locks, the stars looked down in silence, the +people looked up in sadness, but James Guthrie was heedless of all. The +soul was mingling with the redeemed in heaven and rejoicing in the +presence of God. Guthrie had gone home to be forever with the Lord. + +Little Willie often came and sat near the gate, gazing up at the silent +motionless head. He would stay there till night veiled the sombre +features of his father. He seemed to be communing with the spirit that +now lived above the stars. + +"Where have you been, Willie?" his mother would say, on his return. "I +have been looking at father's head," he would sadly reply. The intense +strain sapped his vitality and he died in early manhood. + +Have we a conscience like that of the Covenanted fathers? a conscience +that cannot submit to a man? a conscience that can take instructions +only from God? The surrender of conscience to man imperils the soul. + + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did Argyle's death seem to affect the king? + +2. Whom did he seize next? + +3. What charge was preferred against Guthrie? + +4. What was the nature of that "high treason?" + +5. How did he defend himself in court? + +6. What sentence did he receive? + +7. How did he reply? + +8. Relate an incident about his wife; his child. + +9. What was his death cry? + +10. What lesson here regarding a pure conscience? + + + + +XXIV. + +SOURCE OF THE COVENANTERS' POWER.--A.D. 1661. + + +The death of Marquis Argyle was the signal for the utter overthrow of +the Covenanted Church in Scotland. He was chief among the nobles who in +those days stood by the Covenant, and James Guthrie was chief among the +ministers. These mighty men quickly followed each other in watering +God's vineyard with their own blood. + +The issue now between the king and the Covenanters was clear, direct, +unmistakable, beyond the possibility of evasion. Both parties set +themselves for the desperate struggle; henceforth compromise was out of +the question. + +The king was determined to abolish the Covenant, obliterate +Presbyterianism, establish Episcopacy, and assume to himself the place, +power, and prerogatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, as head of the Church. + +The Covenanters disputed his right to these pretentious claims at every +point. Especially did they challenge his authority over the Church, and +testify against his blasphemous presumption. They looked with horror +upon his attempt to grasp the crown of Christ, that he himself might +wear it. This they resented and resisted as treason against the KING OF +KINGS. They could not submit to the man who clothed himself with +Christ's supremacy; that robe of royal priesthood must not be worn by +mortal man. + +The Covenanters grew very spirited and fearless in defence of the +independence of the Church. When these two leaders, Argyle and Guthrie, +had been sacrificed, their enemies doubtless thought the people would be +as sheep scattered upon the mountains without a shepherd. But the Good +Shepherd was ever with them and gave them faithful ministers, who fed +the flock amidst their wintry desolations. The Covenanted Church had +noble sons to lift up the head of their fainting mother even when +persecution was at its worst. + +The Church of Christ was very dear to these Covenanters. They gazed with +rapturous eyes upon her high origin, her mysterious character, her +indescribable glory. She dwelt in the very heart of God; she was the +Bride of the Son of God; she was clothed with the righteousness of God; +she was adorned with all the excellencies of character God could lavish +upon her. The Church was the habitation of the Holy Spirit. The Covenant +was the marriage bond joining her to her Lord and Husband. The love of +the Covenanters for the Church of the Lord Jesus arose in flames of +jealousy when they saw a mere man, a dissolute and sinful man, attempt +to woo her heart and alienate her affections from her Lord and King. +They could not endure it. Her honor and purity were worth more to them +than life itself. + +The testimony of the Covenanters against the wrongs done the Church was +both pathetic and vehement, ranging all the way from tender tearful +supplication, to pointed fearless denunciation. At times they spoke with +meekness and hope, as if standing on the Mount of Beatitudes; again with +severity and sadness, as if the voice came from the fiery summit of +Sinai. Their eloquence in the sacred office matched the tenderness of +the dove and the terribleness of thunder; distilled like the dewdrop and +smote like pointed lightning. The sword of burnished steel they wielded +to good purpose in self-defence, and the sword of the Word they used +with telling effect in the spiritual warfare for their Lord and His +Church. + +The strength which the Covenanters possessed and employed in battling +for the rights of the Church, and the prerogatives of their Lord, amazes +the contemplative mind. Their power was always sufficient, new every +morning, fresh every hour, inexhaustible under most excessive strains, +and mighty to win moral victories everywhere. Whence the power? What was +its source? + +Explain as we may the fortitude, inspiration, enthusiasm, exalted +purpose, indestructible hope, and unconquerable faith of the +Covenanters under the cruel treatment and prolonged persecution they +endured, we must reach the conclusion that their strength lay in their +Covenanted union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Being thus united, the +God's strength was theirs. + +Their Covenant they cherished with holy awe; its sacredness lay heavy +upon their hearts. It lifted the conscience up into the presence of God. +His throne of judgment was continually flashing its brightness upon +their eyes. A deep consciousness of God's presence, power, and approval, +grew upon them. The dreadful majesty of God overawed them. The +sacrificial love of Jesus Christ set their hearts on flames. The Bible +to them was teeming with promises, shining with doctrines, and terrible +with fiery warnings. They walked on the border line, being often times +even more in the other world than in this. The glory of the Lord fell +upon them, till some of them were compelled to cry out, "Withhold, Lord; +it is enough." Their trials drove them into the arms of their Father; +and, oh, how sweet it was to lie on His bosom when cold and hungry, +weary and sobbing, amidst the sorrows of this world! + +But was this the happy condition of many, or merely of a few, in those +days of sad adversity? How with the 100,000 Covenanters while suffering +in their homes, or roaming through the mountains, or hiding in the +caves? We have a record of a few only, but we are persuaded that many +others enjoyed an equal portion of the abounding love of Christ. The +promise of God is ever sure: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." +Terrible days insure extraordinary strength. The Lord had a great +harvest in those times, ministers and people, men and women, parents and +children--a generation of honored worthies. + +[Illustration: THE GRASSMARKET. + +The Grassmarket was the place where many martyrs were executed. The spot +where the gallows stood is now marked by a circular pavement on the +street. Here Cargill ascended the ladder, saying that he had less +disturbance of mind than when he was ascending the pulpit. From this +grim elevation the martyrs made many a touching address, as they uttered +their last words, and bade farewell to earth and welcome to heaven.] + +Samuel Rutherford was one of that mighty host. His life reveals the +secret and source of the Covenanter's strength. He was a small man, not +built to endure hardships. He was of a fair complexion, denoting +gentleness and a tender heart. He was roughly tossed from his earliest +years upon the billows of trouble. An invalid wife claimed his kindliest +attention and received it with utmost care. The children were laid in +short graves, one after another till only a little daughter remained. +The persecutor drove him from home, and Church, and people, to live an +exile in an unfriendly city. At the age of sixty-one, the wrath of King +Charles fell upon him and his life was demanded, but God sheltered him +from the gallows. + +Through all these trials the heart of this little fair man, with shrill +voice, rapid step, and quick eye, was ever an overflowing well of joy +and praise. He seemed to live in the very heart of God, walked +hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ, and was continually wrapped in the +flames of holiest love. It is said that he rose at three in the morning +to have five hours of prayer and study of the Word in preparation for +the day's work. He seemed to be always among his flock, yet was he ever +ready for the pulpit. + +This minister, like his blessed Master, could be seen, early and late, +"leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills," in his +eagerness to visit his people who were scattered widely over the +country. + +As he walked, his head was erect and his face heavenward; his eyes were +feasting on the glory above the sky. His musings cast him into +transports of joy in Christ. His Covenant with God exalted his soul into +sweetest familiarity with the Lord. The Holy Spirit came upon him in +great power and with superabundance of gifts. + +Rutherford, having a high-keyed voice, was a poor speaker; but that did +not prevent him from holding multitudes spell-bound. They came from afar +to hear him tell of the love of Christ. He gazed upon visions of +Christ's loveliness, arose in raptures of joy as he discoursed on +Christ's glory, and seemed at times as if he would fly out of the pulpit +in his animation. He was so full of life, of power, of heaven, of glory, +and of God, that his words and thoughts and teachings were pictures, +revelations, inspirations, apocalypses, scenes in the eternal world, +glimpses of the glory of Immanuel and Immanuel's land. + +Here are some of his spiritual chromos as they took color and language +from his soul: + +"My one joy, next to the flower of my joys, Christ, was to preach my +sweetest, sweetest Master, and the glory of His kingdom. + +"I would beg lodging, for God's sake, in hell's hottest furnace, that I +might rub souls with Christ. + +"Were my blackness and Christ's beauty carded through other, His beauty +and holiness would eat up my filthiness. + +"Christ's honeycombs drop honey and floods of consolation upon my soul; +my chains are gold." + +When Rutherford was on his deathbed, his enemies sent for him to stand +trial for treasonable conduct. His treasonable conduct was his fearless +preaching of the Gospel and heralding the royal glory of Christ, which +included severest denunciation of the king's arrogant claim of authority +over the Church. He replied, "Tell them I have got a summons already +before a Superior Judge, and I behoove to answer my first summons; and +ere your day come, I will be where few kings and great folks come." As +he lay dying, he opened his eyes, and his familiar vision of Christ and +the world of glory breaking upon him with unclouded luster, he +exclaimed: "Glory, glory in Immanuel's land." With this outburst of joy +on his lips, he joined the white-robed throng to take up the heavenly +song. + +The same source of strength is yet available. Power comes through holy +familiarity with God, personal relation to Christ, and the indwelling of +the Holy Spirit. Are we full of power in the Lord's service? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What event intensified the issue between the king and the +Covenanters? + +2. Wherein lay the moral strength of the Covenanters? + +3. How did they show their love for the Church of Christ? + +4. What aroused their jealousy for the Church? + +5. How numerous were the Covenanters at this time? + +6. Give the character of Rutherford as a typical Covenanter. + +7. Quote some of his sayings. + +8. Relate his triumphant death. + +9. On what condition may we expect to be strong in the Lord? + + + + +XXV. + +EXPELLING THE MINISTERS.--A.D. 1662. + + +"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." In the martyrdom +of Argyle and Guthrie blood of the best quality had been shed, and the +most precious seed had been sown. Therefore the harvest will surely be +great, the field will yield an hundredfold. + +The fidelity of Argyle and of Guthrie, their devotion to Christ and the +Covenant, reappeared in hundreds of noblemen and in hundreds of +ministers all over Scotland. Overawe and subdue the Covenanters by +sacrificing their prominent leaders? Their foes mistook their spirit and +underestimated their strength, knowing little of the deathless +principles of the Covenant that carried them into the service of the +Lord, not counting their lives dear for Christ's sake. The Covenanters +overawed! Will the sun faint and fail beneath the gale? Will the oak +wither at the loss of a few boughs? Will veterans recoil at the first +fire? Rather, will not the fighting spirit be roused? + +At this time the Covenanters numbered about 1,000 ministers, and +100,000 communicants. They had 900 congregations. The ministers were not +all staunch; the leaven of compromise had been working; half the number +had become more or less infected. They had weakened in the Covenant and +yielded to King Charles under his vicious administration. The political +whirlpool in its outside circles was drawing them slowly yet surely +toward its horrible vortex. + +The sifting time had come for the Covenanters. God knows how to shake +His sieve to clean the wheat. He seeks not bulk, but value. Numbers are +nothing to Him; character is everything. He would rather have Gideon +with 300 men up to the standard, than thirty regiments below it. He +preferred one-tenth of Israel to the whole number, and sifted the nation +in Nebuchadnezzar's sieve to get the good wheat separated from the +inferior. + +The Covenanted Church became loaded down with chaff, weevil, shrunken +grains, and broken kernels--low grades of religious life--and the Lord +shook the bad out of the Church by making it exceedingly painful and +difficult to stay in. The way of faithfulness was filled with hardships. +God made Covenant-keeping dangerous and expensive. The followers of +Christ were compelled to take up the cross and carry it. If true to +their Lord, they must go outside the camp, bearing His reproach. If they +keep conscience pure, they must accept cruel mockings, scourging, +imprisonment, banishment, and death. In this way would God separate unto +himself a "peculiar people, zealous of good works." The others may be of +use in degree, yet to prevent general defection and universal +declension, God winnows the wheat. + +But who were thrown out of the Presbyterian Church in the reign of +Charles II.? Were they not the strong, unyielding, uncompromising +Covenanters? Who are these separated from their brethren, and driven +like chaff before the wind over mountains and moors? Are they not the +zealous defenders of the Reformed faith? the true soldiers of Jesus +Christ? To the casual eye the scrupulous, strong-headed, hard-fighting +Covenanters were tossed out, and the rest remained at home to distribute +the prey; the lax party had the organization and held the Church; the +strict party suffered disintegration and were banished. But such a view +is only superficial; yea, it is a visual illusion. + +The Church of Christ depends not on external organization. She can live +without assemblies, presbyteries, or sessions. She can enjoy the fullest +measure of the love of Christ without chapels, masses, or glebes. She +can have power and render service in any community, without ministers, +elders, or deacons. + +When the Covenanters were driven out by the persecutor, the Covenanted +Church went forth into the wilderness, leaning upon the Lord Jesus +Christ her Beloved. She brought with her all the essentials. She had the +Bible, the Covenant, the faith, the sacraments, the Holy Spirit, the +love of God, and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The valleys were +her places of worship; her meeting houses were fitted up with stone +seats, rock pulpits, granite walls, green carpets, and azure ceilings. A +row of stones was her sacramental table, and the purling stream her +baptismal bowl. The mountains round about were filled with angelic +hosts, and the plains were covered with the manna of heaven; the banner +of Christ's love waved over the worshipers, and the glory of God filled +the place. Such was the Church of the Covenanters in the times of +persecution. + +The king and his advisers in 1662 required of the Covenanted Church what +no faithful self-respecting Covenanter could render. The demands in +substance were: + +That the oath of allegiance, embodying the king's supremacy over Church +and State, shall be taken. + +That the ministers in preaching and praying shall not refer to public +sins, whether committed by the king or his parliament. + +That the administration of the Church shall be, to some extent, +according to the Prelatic form. + +That the edicts of the king and the enactments of parliament shall not +be questioned, even in the light of God's Word. + +That the ministers shall comply with these demands, or be banished from +their respective homes, parishes, and presbyteries. + +Such was the sieve that did the work. What loyal heart could brook these +terms? What minister of Christ, bent on preserving honor and conscience, +could remain in charge of his church? In comparison with the Covenant, +all earthly inducements were as rotten straw, in the judgment of those +whose eyes took in the world of glory and rested on the Lord. + +Two hundred Covenanted ministers quietly accepted the penalty. On the +last Sabbath of October, 1662, they preached their farewell sermons. The +churches were crowded; the grief of the people was indescribable, +heart-groans broke into loud lamentations. "There was never such a sad +day in Scotland as when the poor persecuted ministers took their leave +of their people." Two hundred more stood their ground and fought the +battle a little longer. These were forcibly ejected. Thus that +desolating blast smote four hundred congregations of Covenanters. + +The minister with his wife and children departed in deep sorrow from the +pleasant manse and the loving people. Tender ties were sundered and holy +endearments sacrificed; the comforts of life were abandoned, and safety, +shelter, and supplies left behind. The minister could have retained all +had not his conscience been so tender. But the servant of the Lord may +not be bribed. Offer the true minister of Jesus Christ money, comfort, +pleasure, honor, houses, lands--all that the world can give to corrupt +his conscience in his calling, and you will get a laugh of scorn that +will freeze the blood. + +[Illustration: JOHN WELCH, EJECTED FROM HIS CHURCH + +John Welch, of Irongrey, was a grandson of the famous John Welch, of the +First Reformation. He was one of the 400 Covenanted ministers who were +driven from their pulpits by the kings edict in 1662. His congregation, +overwhelmed with sorrow, followed him till they came to a brook where +they kneeled down and prayed. Mounting his horse he rode away while they +rent the air with their bitter wails.] + +The winter storms were descending upon the man of God and his +unprotected family, as they walked across the glebe to return no more. +They went out, not knowing where they were going. Night may fall upon +them in a dreary place; to-morrow may come to them without a roof, or a +table, or a fire. Winter may drive them into a cold cave, where possibly +some good-hearted shepherdess may find them, and share with them her +pail of milk and oaten cakes. Withal no complaints. They have taken +joyfully the spoiling of their goods for the sake of Christ. By them the +reproach of Christ was accounted better than the riches of Egypt. + +Alexander Peden was one of the fighting ministers. He preached till +forced to leave his pulpit. On the day of his farewell service the +congregation was convulsed with grief. Peden had to restrain the wails +of the people again and again. Coming down from the pulpit after +service, he shut the pulpit door and struck it three times with his +Bible, saying with great emphasis, "I charge thee, in my Master's name, +that no man ever enter thee, but such as come in by the door as I have +done." The pulpit kept the solemn charge; no one entered there till +after the persecution; it remained empty twenty-six years. + +Prelatic ministers were sent to fill the 400 vacant pulpits, but the +people refused to hear them. The time of field-preaching had now come; +the Conventicles in the mountains and moors became the order of the day. + +The ministration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--that river of God which +makes glad the city of the Lord--had now reached the precipitous places +where it was broken upon the rocks; yet it continued to flow, and even +increase in volume and strength. The preaching by these ministers in the +desolate places was powerful, impetuous, majestic, thunder-like amid the +mountains, making the kingdom tremble. Great trials make great men. + +We live in an easy age. Ministers may now have pulpit and salary on easy +terms. They can preserve a good conscience without special self-denial. +No providential issue now to separate the false from the true. But the +ease of conscience in the Church's ministry, and the easy terms of +communion in her membership, may change God's gold and make it dim with +dross, and thus necessitate a furnace. The Lord may suddenly spring an +event upon His Church, that will compel the true to be very true, and +the false to be very false. Where will we stand in case the trial come? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What effect had the death of Argyle and Guthrie on the Covenanters? + +2. How does God keep His Church pure? + +3. Why is the sifting process needed? + +4. Can the Church survive the loss of her external organization? + +5. Describe the Covenanted Church in the mountains and moors of +Scotland. + +6. What did the king require of the ministers? + +7. How did the Covenanters receive his restrictions? + +8. How many pastors were driven from their churches? + +9. What may again occasion a sifting time? + + + + +XXVI. + +THE FIELD-MEETINGS.--A.D. 1663. + + +Middleton, the king's commissioner, had dictated to the Covenanted +ministers how they should conduct their ministry. They boldly declined +his authority over their work in the Gospel. He then laid down +conditions upon which their pastoral relation must depend. These +conditions have been stated in the foregoing chapter. They may be summed +up in three brief sentences: Acknowledgement of the king's supremacy +over the Church; Agreement to refrain from all public criticism of the +king; Willingness to conduct public worship as the king directed. + +Such were the terms on which the Covenanted ministers might continue +their work. They were given one month to reach a decision. The conflict +of interests that tried the famous 400 ministers none knew but God. +Home, wife, children, salary, comfort, tender ties, future supplies, and +the welfare of the congregation--oh, how much was involved in that +decision! Can the husband, the father, the shepherd, the watchman arise +and forsake all? Can he suspend the high calling, sunder the holy ties, +abandon the field and flock, and go forth, not knowing whither he goeth? +can flesh and blood endure the ordeal? + +But look at the other side. Will the servant of the Lord take orders +from man? Will the ambassador of God submit to be muzzled? Will a pastor +of Christ's flock hold his position for what he finds in the flesh-pot? +Will the preacher of righteousness connive at wickedness? Will the +herald of Gospel liberty become a slave to vilest men? Such was the +other outlook. Which way will the man of God take? + +The Lord made the way of faithfulness hard to travel. Only they, who, +like Caleb, followed the Lord wholly, could walk therein. To make this +choice, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ had to arise in the heart and +surge through all the veins, above love for wife, or children, or house, +or lands, or brethren, or sisters, or self; and it must consume all +these in the flames of its vehemence. + +And the Lord made the wrong way, also, hard to travel; yea, impassable, +except for those whose sin against light made them exceeding sinful. +What more vile, degraded, contemptible, and criminal, than a minister of +Christ, that is leased to an earthly power, purchased with things that +perish, and controlled by designing men? In this manner would God +separate the precious from the vile and put them far apart. + +[Illustration: PREACHING IN THE MOUNTAINS. + +The Conventicle preachers were men of dauntless courage. Their souls had +firmly grasped the tremendous verities of the Gospel and Kingdom of +Christ, and the Word of God was as fire in their bones. They chose texts +that resounded like artillery. Just before Cargill was offered up, he +preached from the words: "Gird Thy sword on Thy thigh, O Most Mighty, +with Thy glory and Thy majesty!" How that seraphic preacher swayed the +people with that discourse has not been told.] + +On November 1, 1662, three-fourths of the Covenanted ministers were +brought to this valley of decision. The king's edict took effect upon +those who had been settled within the past thirteen years; the others, +for the time, were exempted. About 700, therefore, stood at the parting +of the ways. Of this number about sixty per centum chose to suffer with +Christ, that they might reign with him; the rest, being faint-hearted, +abode by the stuff. All honor to the Church that could muster such a +proportion of self-sacrificing, ministers! These men accepted the +challenge and went forth, like soldiers, into the field of action, +saying, "We will continue the conflict till we overcome, or hand it down +in debate to posterity." + +Four hundred ministers expelled from their congregations! four hundred +churches left vacant! four hundred families rendered desolate! forty +thousand of God's sheep, and as many lambs, left to wander in the +wilderness without a shepherd! who can estimate the extent of such a +calamity? who can reckon the sorrows, sufferings, and stupendous losses, +public and private, caused by this iniquitous act of the king? + +But the four hundred ministers were not silenced. Who can silence +tongues of fire? They were scattered, but not conquered. They took +shelter where it could be found--under friendly roofs, within dismal +caves, under dripping moss-hags, in the open fields, and on mountain +tops. They wandered over desolate moors and on lonely ridges. They +suffered hunger, weariness, sickness, exposure. The rains of summer +drenched them and the snows of winter stiffened them. They were clothed +with plaids, shawls, and threadbare garments. They hastened from place +to place to elude pursuers, and wherever they went they carried their +Bibles. The Bible to them in their desolation was meat, drink, light, +shelter, fellowship,--everything the soul could wish. + +These men of God were devoted preachers, they loved to preach, had a +passion for preaching. The Word of God that carried them into such +excess of suffering was in their bones as fire, an unquenchable flame; +and in their hearts as rising waters, an overflowing river. As Christ +their Lord and Master preached in summer and in winter, in the house and +in the field, to as many as came, so preached they to one soul, or to +ten thousand. + +The king sent detachments of his army over the country to compel the +people, who had lost their pastors, to attend services under the +ministers of the Episcopal Church. They refused. The new clergymen +preached to empty pews in many of the Covenanted parishes. The +Covenanters instinctively discovered the haunting places of their own +ministers, and thither they repaired for their preaching. They traveled +far that they might hear the precious Gospel, in its richness and +fulness from consecrated lips. They were hungry for the Word of God and +willingly incurred hardships and dangers to get a feast. These meetings +at first were small; in time they developed into the great Conventicles +at which thousands assembled to worship God. + +A Conventicle Sabbath was a solemn day. The time and place having been +fixed beforehand, the people were notified in a very private manner. A +kind of wireless telegraphy seemed to have been operated by the +Covenanters. The news spread and thousands came at the call. The place +selected was usually in the depression of a lonely moor, or under the +shelter of a desolate mountain; yet any spot was dangerous. The king had +issued successive proclamations against the Conventicles, and his troops +were constantly scouring the country in search of them. + +The services were of necessity sensational. At the appointed time the +people were on the ground. Many came a great distance, some of them +traveling under the shades of night. From every direction they +converged. Fathers and mothers with their sons and daughters were there. +The young and the old were equally full of zeal, and the women were +courageous as the men. On the way they would cannily scan the country +from the hilltop, to see if the dreaded dragoons were in sight. + +The hour for the service having arrived, the audience sat down upon the +grass or on the rocks. The minister took his stand on a prominent spot. +Sentinels occupied elevated points, from whence they could detect and +report the approach of troops. The mountain extended its friendly +shelter over the congregation. The sun shed its light upon them like the +smile of their heavenly Father. The sky spread over them as the canopy +of God's high throne. The winds swept through the bushes and over the +heather with regaling freshness. This was God's sanctuary built without +hands; here His people worshiped in spirit and in truth. + +The minister from his granite pulpit would catch the inspiration. The +waiting people, the earnest faces, the gleaming eyes, the solemn hour, +the charming scenery, the occasion, the danger, the privilege, the +responsibility, the presence of God, the nearness of heaven--how much +here to awaken all that was noble, courageous, and overpowering in God's +messenger! The fiery, pathetic, powerful eloquence, that echoed among +those rocks and swept through the coves, was beyond the reporter's +skill. Here heaven touched earth; eternity overlapped time; glory +overspread the worshipers. These were days when that which is most +sacred, awful, and sublime burdened men's souls. Here holy oratory +distilled like dew, breathed like zephyrs, crashed like storms, leaped +like devouring flames. The recorded sermons of these ministers are yet +regarded as the very marrow of Christian literature. + +Have we the zeal of these fathers for the house of our God? Are we +carried to the place of worship at the appointed hour by our love for +Jesus Christ? One glance at the enthusiasm of the Conventicle +Covenanters would surely make the present generation blush. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. State the demands Commissioner Middleton made upon the Covenanted +ministers. + +2. How would such a demand agitate the mind? + +3. How long had they to decide? + +4. What proportion remained faithful under the trial? + +5. In what way did these continue their ministry? + +6. Describe a Conventicle service. + +7. How will present zeal for Divine services compare with their zeal? + + + + +XXVII. + +THE COVENANTERS' COMMUNION.--A.D. 1664. + + +The Lord Jesus Christ loves His Church with love that arises into +flames. "I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy." +The Church is His Bride, His well-beloved, His only one; He has bestowed +His heart upon her. + +The love of Jesus for His Church has ever been excessive in intensity. +His blood was shed for her redemption. Love laid Him on the altar, where +His life was consumed for her sake. It laid all Covenant blessings at +her feet, placed the angelic hosts at her service, made the universe +tributary to her welfare, opened heaven for her admission, prepared her +throne at the right hand of God, and gave the eternal ages to her for +service and enjoyment, in Jesus Christ her Lord. And this love has never +abated; His voice resounds across the centuries, falling upon her ears +in sweetest accents, saying, "I have loved thee with an everlasting +love." + +The Lord Jesus asks the Church for reciprocal love. It is His due; +Christ is worthy; nothing less than vehement love will satisfy the +Divine heart. The apostle, in dread of its subsidence, cries out, "Keep +yourselves in the love of God." How readily the Church, in interest and +zeal, becomes cold. Her spiritual pulse sinks till it is scarcely +perceptible; the flames disappear, and the coals lie hidden in their own +grey ashes. + +With such conditions the Lord is vexed. He gently chides His inconstant +Bride, saying, "Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from +whence thou art fallen; repent, and do the first works." Then in +unwaning faithfulness He tenderly soliloquizes: "Behold, I will allure +her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her; +and she shall sing as in the days of her youth." The Covenanted Church +was now in the wilderness; the Lord had brought her hither, that He +might woo her back to Himself, and revive her first love. Here He spake +to her heart the words that rekindled the fires of her earliest and +strongest devotion to the Covenant, that holy contract of her marriage +to the Lord. + +The loving fidelity of the 40,000 Covenanters, or more, who had been +deprived of their ministers by King Charles, was severely tested. The +Lord Jesus, in His crucial providence, was to them as a refiner's fire; +their love was sorely tried in the terrible heat. + +The first question that appealed to the heart was concerning comfort and +convenience. Their churches were occupied by other ministers. There the +people could have preaching, hear the Word, listen to prayers, sing +Psalms, and receive baptism and the Lord's Supper. True, the services +were spiced and ornamented with details, which the Covenanters disliked, +because they were unscriptural. But could they not find hidden manna on +the sand, and kernels of wheat in the chaff? Could they not get +sufficient food in the new ministrations to sustain their souls? Could +they not reach heaven by the new road as certainly as by the old? Such +were the inquiries that appealed to their love of ease. These sturdy +sons of the Covenant said, "NO." They said it, too, with emphasis like +the lightning that strikes the oak. They said, "Public worship, not in +all parts according to the Book of God, is corrupt; we will not +participate in such services, for the Lord has said, 'Cursed be the +deceiver, that sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing.'" + +The second question was concerning the imminent dangers that attended +their own services. Their meetings were held in distant places; in the +lonely mountain, on the homeless moor, in the swampy moss, in the dark +glen, among the rugged rocks, and in the dreary cave--just wherever they +could find a place to worship God in peace. They had no roof for +shelter, no walls to break the storm, no fires for heat. Attending these +meetings involved travel, weariness, hunger, exposure, loss of sleep, +shivering in the cold, every physical strain, besides the risk of life, +liberty, and property, at the hands of the enemy. These heroic sons and +daughters of the Covenant said, "We will go; if we perish, we perish; +though He slay us, yet will we trust in Him." These Covenanters would +not habituate themselves to sinful conditions, nor permit their +conscience to be drugged with the love of ease. They had much of the +spirit of Paul; they counted all things loss for the excellency of the +knowledge of Christ. They consulted not with flesh and blood; not even +with their own flesh, which was often wasted with hunger, fatigue, and +pain; nor with their own blood, which was frequently sprinkled on the +heather and mingled with the mountain rill. + +The Conventicles, held in these desolate resorts, were awe inspiring, +especially the Communions. Many of the people journeyed at night toward +the selected spot, for troops were overrunning the country to shoot them +down, and day travel was extremely dangerous. They therefore followed +their path in the light of the stars, or under the pale moon. They came +from all directions, converged like streams at the place appointed, and +spread out like an overflowing tide. Sometimes they numbered 5,000, and +more. Men and women, young and old, came and sat down on the broad +green, in quietness and with unwonted gravity. The men in their kilts, +plaids, and caps; the women in shawls and plain clothes; the boys and +girls beaming and bright, and dressed in their best--all gathered +together, sitting down on the grass or on the rocks. What an inspiration +to the minister, when opening his Bible he gazed upon the earnest faces +and caught the gleam of those expectant eyes! + +[Illustration: THE COVENANTERS' COMMUNION. + +These communions were very spiritual and solemn. The people came in +great numbers into the solitudes of the mountain and moorlands, and +there renewed their Covenant at the Lord's Table. The danger added much +to the awe and reverence of these meetings.] + +Saturday was Preparation day for the Communion. Preparation services +sometimes lasted till sunset Several ministers were usually in +attendance. At night the grave old elders would meet in clusters, under +the shadow of a rock, or in a cave, or beside the murmuring brook, and +spend hours in prayer. With the dawn of Sabbath the people were astir, +and soon appeared again on the grounds. Then began the solemn services +that lifted their souls into the heavens of joy, and brought them into +the glorious presence of Jesus Christ. + +We may receive an impression of the greatness of these occasions, from +memorials yet to be seen on some of the sacred places where the +Communions were held. Certain stones near the town of Irongrey remain as +witnesses of these inspiring solemnities. The stones were evidently on +the ground, as witnesses of the wonderful doings of God and His people, +in the days of the Conventicles. Oh, that they could speak! This place +is in the bosom of a mount. Here we find an open space, like unto an +amphitheater, large enough to seat thousands. On this ground are two +rows of stones each row high enough for a seat, and long enough to +accommodate fifty persons. Between them, other stones stand upright, +which evidently supported planks, on which the bread and wine were +passed in front of the communicants. At a little distance are two other +rows of similar construction. Here were accommodations for 200 at one +table service. On one occasion, it is said, sixteen tables were served, +the number of communicants on that day being no less than 3,000. + +At one end of these four rows stands a small table of stone, from which, +no doubt, the minister gave the bread and wine to the people. Here he +made the table addresses, that were so sweet and refreshing to these +weary souls. What solemn days these must have been. Hungry hearts found +a feast in the desert. The wells of salvation overflowed; the palm trees +of sacred ordinances shed their sweet fragrance, spread forth their +shade, yielded their fruit, for these followers of the Lamb. The +presence of the Lord was deeply felt. These Covenanters worshiped here +in spirit and in truth. Their prayers ascended on the wings of the +winds; the sound of the Psalms mingled with the song of the birds and +the chant of the brooks. The eloquence of the preacher--now rising like +the storm, now falling like a spring shower--now consoling the sad, now +arousing the strong--now exhibiting the loveliness of Jesus, now +depicting the woes of the lost--in its ever-varying notes of tenderness +and power, echoed along the hillside, and died away in the distance. +Some of these sermons are yet in print. + +These have been regarded, by certain writers, as the greatest days of +the Church since the times of the apostles. How bright and refreshing +the sunshine that poured down from the spiritual heavens upon these +Covenanters! The desert rejoiced and blossomed as the rose. Heaven was +very near. One who survived the persecution said, that if he had any +part of his life to live over again, he would choose these years. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How should the Church respond to the love of Christ? + +2. In what way does her love often fail? + +3. How does Jesus reprove His people for growing feeble in love? + +4. How has He sometimes undertaken to revive His Church's fidelity? + +5. What two questions did the Covenanters face in attending Conventicle +services? + +6. Describe a Conventicle Communion. + +7. What memorials are found at Irongrey? + +8. How may we have the same rapturous joy at communions now? + + + + +XXVIII. + +THE HOME INVADED.--A.D. 1665. + + +Home, by Divine appointment, is a haven of rest for the weary father, a +palace of honor for the virtuous mother, a citadel of defence for the +helpless children. How sacred, pleasant, and ennobling is the Christian +home, when modeled after the Divine pattern! It is a little paradise, a +miniature heaven, a vestibule of the everlasting habitation; it fronts +on the borders of the glory-world. + +The home of the Covenanters in those days was mostly the abode of virtue +and intelligence, of comfort in the Holy Spirit and abundant grace in +the Lord Jesus Christ. The knowledge of God was the light in which the +household dwelt. The language of the Shorter Catechism was the mother +tongue; the children were dieted on Psalms and porridge; the family +altar was indispensable; the Holy Bible was appreciated more than bread, +and King David's poetry more than roast lamb. The father's prayer at the +hearthstone was vital to the household as the breath of their nostrils; +morning and evening the voice of parents and children mingled together +in the worship of God. + +To the family that kept Covenant with God the Sabbath came with peculiar +loveliness and inspiration. On Saturday evening special preparation was +made for the coming of the Lord's Day; even the turf was piled beside +the fire, the potatoes were washed and in the pot, and the water carried +from the spring; "the works of necessity and mercy" were reduced to a +minimum. A solemn hush fell upon the fields, and a heavenly light +gleamed upon the house, as the sun ascended the sky. The noise of labor +had ceased, and the human voice was suppressed. The notes of a plover, +or the bleating of a lamb, or the lowing of a cow, might be heard making +the quietness all the more impressive. The morning came pouring out +blessings upon the people, like Christ Jesus on the Mount of Beatitudes, +filling every open heart with sweetness, holiness, and inspiration. The +blessed morning came to lead the father and mother, with their sons and +daughters, up into the mountain of God's House, to stand in the presence +of the Lord of glory, and absorb the brightness that would shine in +their faces for many days to come. The Sabbath was the great day of the +week in the Covenanter's home. + +Let us get a glimpse of these homes of the Covenanters, as they suffered +when the storms of persecution swept the land. But will not the +dwelling-place of the righteous be protected from harm? Will not the +Lord, in His glorious presence, hover over them as a cloud by day and as +a flaming fire by night? Hath He not said, "Upon all the glory shall be +a defence?" Shall the cruel persecutor then have power to tread on that +sacred threshold? May the ruthless slayer enter this little sanctuary, +where God and His children dwell together in mutual and unquenchable +love? Will the wicked be permitted to draw the sword, and quench the +coals on the hearth, and the fire on the altar, with the blood of the +worshipers? The answer is found in the story of the sufferings of the +Covenanters. + +God had now begun judgment at His own House. He was testing the fidelity +of His people. The test must touch every point, cover every relation, +and reach the degree of suffering that satisfies His mysterious will. +God cares much, even for houses, fields, harvests, garners, comforts, +conveniences, earthly ties--He cares much for all these as they affect +His people. He cares infinitely more, however, for their moral +cleanness, spiritual growth, untarnished fidelity, unconquerable faith, +and everlasting honor. Therefore He permits the furnace to be heated, +and sometimes heated sevenfold; yet He brings them out of the flames +without the smell of fire on their garments. + +The persecutors, heartless as the rocks and frigid as the iceberg, had +equal disregard for the rights of men, the delicacy of women, and the +innocency of children. A few incidents will show the general conditions. +Nor are these exceptional cases; thousands, yea, tens of thousands +suffered in like manner. + +[Illustration: THE HOWIE HOME, LOCHGOIN. + +The house is located in one of Scotland's solitudes. Here the Howies +have lived for 28 successive generations, keeping the altar fire burning +since 1178. The present house is modern, bearing the date 1858; John +Howie, the present occupant, (1912), is the 28th lineal descendant of +one of the first settlers. We had the pleasure of meeting this genial +Scotchman in his meadow, as he was making hay one fine August day. He +immediately laid his fork aside, and brought us to his house, where we +were deeply interested in a fine collection of souvenirs of the martyrs +and their times.] + +A Home at Lochgoin. This is a very ancient residence of the Covenanters. +The Howies have lived here since 1178, the twenty-eighth generation now +occupying the house. The building is stone, one story high, with a loft. +While the persecution raged, this was a chief resort of the Covenanters. +Occupying a solitary place, with a vast out-stretch of waste moorland on +every side, this house was like the shadow of a great rock in a weary +land: the pursued often found shelter under its roof. Hither Peden, +Cameron, Renwick, Paton, and many others repaired, and found a cordial +welcome. On one occasion a group had come to spend the night in prayer. +They felt comparatively secure, because a storm was raging over the +moor. The clouds were pouring down torrents, and the fitful gusts were +playing wildly across the broad expanse of moss and heather. These men +of God knew how to wrestle with the Angel of the Covenant, and betimes +continued their prayers till the break of day. The pursuers had scented +their game; in the morning a detachment of cavalry rode up to the house. +The Covenanters escaped through the back door. To give them more time, +Mrs. Howie stood in front of the soldiers, and disputed their entrance +into the house. A burly dragoon attempted to push in. She grappled him +by the shoulder, whirled him about, and shoved him out with such force +that he fell to the ground. Her Covenanted guests all escaped, and the +soldiers, after a fruitless pursuit, withdrew. For this heroic service +Mrs. Howie suffered much and her life was sought. Often she had to leave +her home, and spend whole nights in the cold, damp moor, with a tender +babe on her breast. + +A Home near Muirkirk. James Glendinning was a shepherd whose humble +cottage escaped not the notice of the persecutor. Knowing the danger +that enshrouded his home, he arose one evening from his knees after +family worship, and, walking softly across the floor, uncovered the +cradle and gently lifted the babe, which he tenderly placed on the +mother's knee, saying, "I commit you, my dear wife, and this sweet babe +to the fatherly care of the Great Shepherd of Israel. If my days be cut +short, God, the God under whose shadow we have taken refuge, will be to +you a Husband, and to this child a Father." Not long after this, the +home was beset by a company of soldiers. That very night his wife had +constrained him to retire to his hiding-place near by. The soldiers +rudely rushed into the house, expecting to pounce upon him as their +prey. Not finding him they were enraged. Seizing the infant, they held +the struggling form up in the face of the frantic mother, and, flashing +a glittering sword, threatened to cut it into pieces, if she did not +reveal the hiding-place of her husband. At that moment the father, who +had been attracted to the door, seeing the manoeuvres, rushed in. His +soul was on fire; he was just then strong as ten men; he feared not +consequences. "Hold, ye murderers! Back! back!" cried he, waving his +sword in their faces. He sprang toward his babe and rescued it, while he +used his sword with telling effect upon the intruders. The soldiers +retreated, leaving the floor sprinkled with their blood. The family soon +afterward removed to Holland. + +A Home near Closeburn. James Nivison was a farmer whose hospitable home +afforded comfort and shelter to many who were houseless. He was an +unbending Covenanter. Nothing could daunt his noble soul. Being +threatened with trouble and loss, he once replied, that if the turning +of a straw, in obedience to unprincipled and arbitrary rulers, would +save him from harm, he would not comply. His wife was of equal heroism. +His home was so often beset by soldiers in search of him, that he had to +retire to the solitudes. He one day said to his wife, "My dear wife, +stern necessity demands our temporary separation. God will be with us +both--you at the home, and me in the wilderness." "I will accompany +you," she firmly replied; "I will accompany you. If the archers hit +you, I will be there to staunch your wounds and to bind up your bleeding +head. In whatever danger you may be, I will be at your side, your +affectionate wife, in life or in death." They went out together. Sadly +they closed the door of their pleasant home, to wander, not knowing +where. The mother carried a tender little babe in her bosom. Their first +retreat was found in the woods, then in different caves. They made a +basket of twigs for the infant. The mother, sitting in the mouth of the +cold cavern, would rock her little darling, and sing the soft lullabies +that mingled with the sighing of the winds. They survived the +persecution. + +Sweet home! The Covenanted home is but an annex of heaven. Home is God's +institution, endowed by Him with the wealth of infinite grace, furnished +with holy ordinances, and consecrated with the blood of Christ. Do we +appreciate the value, the dignity, and the advantage of a Covenanted +home? Do we keep the home bright, cheerful, and inspiring, by worshiping +our Covenant God, and honoring the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe a Covenanted home of the olden time. + +2. What distresses fell upon these homes? + +3. Can we account for these afflictive providences? + +4. What is the explanation? + +5. Give an incident at Lochgoin; Muirkirk; Closeburn. + +6. How should a Covenanted home be appreciated? + + + + +XXIX. + +THE BATTLE OF RULLION GREEN.--A.D. 1666. + + +A young Covenanter once stood on the battlefield of Rullion Green, +pensively pondering over the battle and the heroes whose blood had +watered this soil. Two centuries and more had fled since the engagement, +yet the field appealed to the responsive heart with powerful eloquence. +The beautiful slope, the verdant pasture, the grazing flocks, the broad +valley, the distant hills, the expansive sky, the summer charms--all +blended into a strange enchantment around the young man's soul. The +quiet meditation quickened the heart; the heart aroused the imagination; +the imagination revived the scenes of November 28, 1666, by which this +field was made memorable in the struggle of the Covenanters for civil +and religious liberty. He was deeply impressed with the value of the +Covenant, which was sealed with the blood of the noble warriors who +sleep on this hillside. There he vowed, that if God would ever give him +a home of his own, the home would be called RULLION GREEN. God gave him +a home; a beautiful residence, adorned with this name, graces the city +of Airdrie to-day. + +The battle of Rullion Green had its cause many days previous to the +actual engagement. We will get the better view by following the chain of +events. + +Four years before this, to the very month, four hundred ministers had +been expelled from their churches, because they would not forsake their +Covenant, renounce Presbyterianism, and follow the instructions of King +Charles and his Council, in the administration of God's House. + +The Covenanted people, deeply in sympathy with their ministers, refused +to wait on the preaching of the curates--the ministers of the Episcopal +Church sent by the authority of the king to supply the vacant pulpits. + +A series of proclamations was then issued to bring the Covenanters into +subjection, each proclamation being severer than the one preceding. + +The people were enjoined to attend their own parish church, warned +against going to the Conventicles, and threatened with fines, +imprisonment, and exile for frequenting what the king termed +"unwarrantable preaching." + +To enforce the royal will and overawe the Covenanters, troops were +stationed among the people and commissioned to plunder and kill the +disobedient at will. + +The sufferings of the Covenanters, at the hands of the soldiers, were +indescribable. Their homes were invaded; their property was confiscated; +their flocks and herds were driven off; their families were broken up; +the aged and delicate, the women and children--all who would not yield +to their demands endured personal violence. The country groaned and +staggered under the cruelty authorized by King Charles, and practiced by +his agents. + +Conditions became desperate; the wise were driven mad; patience ceased +to be a virtue; endurance was at the point of conflagration. Thousands +had to flee and keep in hiding, to escape personal harm and even the +shedding of their blood. + +At this juncture of events, four young Covenanters, fleeing from place +to place for safety, came to a dwelling, where they found four dragoons +preparing to roast an old man on a gridiron, to extract information +concerning his money. The sight shocked every noble feeling; their +manhood was aroused, and their courage was greater than their prudence. +They challenged the conduct of the soldiers, and were answered with +drawn swords. The Covenanters came off best. They rescued the aged +victim, disarmed the soldiers, and marched them off at the point of +their own sabers. In the fight one of the Covenanters fired a pistol, +wounding a dragoon. That was "the shot that echoed around the world," +and re-echoed, till it resounded over the green valley of the Boyne, +among the rocks of Bunker Hill, and along the banks of the Appomattox. + +The Covenanters knew that they had now precipitated a conflict, that +would call armies into the field. The king's measures have hitherto been +severe, but now the furnace will be heated seven fold. The Covenanters +must now meet force with force, or be utterly crushed. They attempted to +raise an army. Next morning, the four men were increased to ten, and a +second encounter resulted in the capture of a detachment of the king's +regulars, with one dead. The second day volunteers swelled the number to +250; the prospects were growing bright. Another engagement resulted in +the surrender of Sir James Turner, the local commander of the royal +forces. Thus far the operations greatly encouraged the Covenanters; they +now hoped to be able to redress their grievances, and compel the king to +withdraw his army, thus bringing the horrors of those times to an end. + +King Charles hastily prepared to meet the new conditions. He termed the +uprising, "A formidable insurrection." He massed his troops to crush +"the rebels." The Covenanters spent their time moving from one town to +another to increase their forces. Colonel James Wallace, a brave officer +of considerable military experience, was chosen commander. The recruits +were not numerous. They were also without discipline, and inefficiently +armed, carrying muskets, pistols, swords, pikes, scythes, pitchforks, +and flails. + +[Illustration: GRAVESTONE AT RULLION GREEN. + +The stone, three feet by two, stands at the head of this battlefield. +Beautiful firs pensively wave their soft branches over the grave. Here +lies the dust of the 50 Covenanters who fell on the sloping field in +front of the stone. On that day it was covered with sleet. The fallen +lay all night, some stiffened in death, and others benumbed with the +Sharp November winds. The next morning, the good women of Edinburgh +came, with shrouds for the dead, and blankets for the living, all having +been stripped by the foe.] + +At Lanark they remained a day, renewing their Covenant and issuing a +Public Declaration, stating that the object of their appeal to arms was +the redress of their grievances. The next day they manoeuvred, coming in +contact with detachments of the enemy. The weather was unfavorable; +rain, snow, sleet, and wind united in drenching, chilling, and +depressing the unsheltered and underfed men, and turning the roads, over +which they marched, into deep mire. When the morning of the 28th +arrived, the day of the battle, Colonel Wallace had only 900 men at his +command. + +The Covenanters were moving around the foot of the Pentland hills, a few +miles from Edinburgh, when General Dalziel, with 3000 of the king's +troops, emerged from a pass behind them, and offered battle. Wallace +accepted the challenge. He formed his men for action on the hillside, +having the advantage of the higher ground. The gentle slope extended +down to the spot where Dalziel's war-horse was pawing the ground. The +sun was sinking behind the hills. The day was cold and the country was +covered with sleet. + +Dalziel ordered an attack by his cavalry. The horsemen formed, each with +blade in hand, and moved rapidly up the rising ground. Colonel Wallace +immediately placed his mounted men in readiness to receive them. The +space between the armies was about half a mile. The Covenanters grimly +watched their approach. The waiting moments were burdened with awe, but +the Covenanters knew how to turn awful moments into power. They carried +the Psalms in their hearts. Some one began to sing. The Psalm was +pensive and the tune solemn. All hearts were responsive; from 900 voices +a wave of sacred music rolled up the mountain-side against the heavens. +The very sentiment seemed to be the stirring of hearts, that were +consciously entering into a forlorn battle: + + "O God, why hast Thou cast us off? + Is it for evermore? + Against Thy pasture-sheep why doth + Thine anger smoke so sore?" + +They sang three stanzas. While the echoes were dying away, the brave +Colonel ordered a charge. Adown the field his horsemen dashed. They +struck the enemy with terrific force, broke their ranks, and hurled them +back upon their own base. + +Dalziel ordered another charge. The troops plunge forward to retrieve +their lost honor. Over the blood-stained snow they gallop; nearer and +nearer they approach the stern line awaiting them on the hillside. +Wallace gives the word, and the Covenanters again strike the gleaming +column with clash of swords, once more rolling it back upon itself in +confusion. + +A third time the cavalry charged up the hill, and a third time the +Covenanters hurled them back. Dalziel at last moved his entire force +forward, which, like a tidal wave, carried all before it. The +Covenanters were swept from the field leaving 50 dead. The battle was +lost, but not the cause. These heroes fought well. The defeat was +certain, in their own minds, even before a shot was fired; but believing +that the cause of liberty now demanded a sacrifice, they freely offered +up themselves on the altar. + +Rullion Green! How euphonic the name! What music in the words! What +clustering memories to awaken all that is heroic and ennobling in our +hearts! De we appreciate the fruits of the fields, fertilized with the +blood of the fathers? Are we loyal as they were to the Covenants? Do our +lives arise into the heroic spirit, and take on the moral grandeur +exhibited by them? + + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What led to the battle of Rullion Green? + +2. Who commanded on each side? + +3. What was the respective strength of the forces? + +4. Where was the engagement fought? + +5. Describe the battle. How did it issue? + +6. For what were the Covenanters contending? + +7. What fruits of their sufferings do we now enjoy? + + + + +XXX. + +THE OPPRESSOR'S REVENGE.--A.D. 1667. + + +The sun was sinking behind the Pentland hills, when the last assault was +made upon the Covenanters at the battle of Rullion Green. They, being +driven from the field, were pursued without mercy till night kindly +threw its shadow over the scene of carnage. About 30 were slaughtered in +the flight, and 50 taken prisoners; many of these were speedily +executed. + +The stars timidly arose and shed their pale light over the crimsoned +field. The night was bitterly cold. The dead lay scattered over the +frosted ground, and the air was burdened with the groans of the dying. +All had been barbarously stripped of their clothing by the ruthless +conquerors. The blood of the dying was chilled in their veins, ere it +oozed from their wounds and froze upon the ground. The tender-hearted +women of Edinburgh came the next day, with clothes for the living and +winding sheets for the dead. An upright stone, two feet by three, marks +the place where these soldiers of Christ, in number about 50, calmly +sleep, awaiting the resurrection of the just. Beautiful fir trees +swaying their soft branches over the grave seem to be singing the dirge +of the fallen heroes. + +Heroes! This was a forlorn battle. The battle that must be lost, that +other battles may be won, demands heroes of the noblest type; and here +were the men. They were willing to fight in the presence of defeat. +Listen to their resolution just before the battle: "We will follow on, +till God shall do His service by us; and though we should all die at the +end of it, we think the giving of a testimony enough for all." + +The little army of the Covenanters, broken and bleeding, was now +scattered upon the mountains and completely disorganized. One of these +men, wandering alone, came to a cottage at midnight. He was bleeding, +hungry, weary, utterly exhausted, ready to die. He asked for food and +shelter. The pitiful request was denied, for such kindness, if the +authorities were informed, would endanger the family; and the penalty +might be expulsion, imprisonment, or death. No cup of cold water for +this thirsty soul; no spark of charity to warm this shivering child of +the Covenant. Feeling the chill of death already creeping through his +veins, he touchingly said, "If you find me dead in the morning, bury me +on the hillside, looking toward my home beyond the valley." In the +morning he was found dead, under an oak beside the house. He was buried +as he had requested. A stone, with an interesting inscription, marks the +grave. + +After this battle the Covenanters were subjected to a period of horrors +that exhaust description. This brief warlike demonstration was by the +government called "The Pentland Rising." The men who had placed +themselves under Colonel Wallace, for the redress of their wrongs, had +come from the adjacent counties. General Dalziel was immediately sent +with an army to punish the people of these districts. Here we must draw +a veil and cover the more shocking barbarities and hideous indignities; +the unmentionable crimes practiced upon these Covenanters, who already +had suffered beyond the limit of patience; upon the men, women, and +children who were as inoffensive, as they were helpless, beneath the +monstrous tyranny of King Charles and his brutal soldiers. + +The story of pillage may be painted in flames; the story of revenge may +be recorded in vitriol; the story of carnage may be written in blood; +but the story of the horrors that befell the Covenanted families, +especially the delicate and helpless members of the household, must not +be told. The manner in which fathers, husbands, and brothers stood and +died on the door-step in defence of mothers, wives, sisters, and +daughters may be related; but the inhumanity that followed must not be +mentioned. Purity shudders at the horror; the heart sickens at the +thought; the eyes instinctively turn away. + +General Dalziel quartered his army upon the Covenanters, sent troops in +all directions to raid the country, disinherited those who were engaged +in the "Uprising", subjected to arrest all who were suspected, and +reduced the people to extremest poverty. The soldiers lived in the homes +of the Covenanters, compelled the family to provide boarding, and +proudly tyrannized over the household. They devoured, or destroyed the +crops; slaughtered, or drove off the flocks and herds; tortured, +imprisoned, and shot the people according to their pleasure. The prisons +were overcrowded with old and young, men and women, the sickly and the +dying. + +Three men under the king were chiefly responsible for these atrocities, +and all three were reprobate Covenanters. Their names can be mentioned +only with abhorrence and detestation; the Earl of Lauderdale, the Earl +of Rothes, and Archbishop Sharp. Lauderdale, formerly known as John +Maitland, one of the Scotch Commissioners at the Westminster Assembly, +shined in that bright galaxy as a morning star; but like Lucifer, son of +the morning, he fell from the glory-crested height. Rothes was the son +of the Earl of Rothes, celebrated for his active part in the Covenant of +1638. Archbishop Sharp was a Covenanted minister, previous to the +restoration of King Charles. Such were the chief actors in these scenes +of infernal cruelty practiced upon the Covenanters. Surely they could +not have been so atrociously wicked, had they not been previously +exalted to heaven in privilege and by profession. Satan could not have +been the devil, had he not first been an angel. + +[Illustration: RUTHERFORD'S MONUMENT AT ANWOTH. + +Rutherford's pastorate at Anwoth was pleasant and prosperous. His church +was filled with people, and his home was the abode of peace. Yet that +blessed home was disturbed by the persecutor. Rutherford was condemned, +and compelled to abide at Aberdeen as a prisoner, "six quarters of ane +yeir." The glory of the Lord was there upon him, and he called his +prison, "Christ's Palace."] + +Some prisoners taken at Rullion Green were, after their execution, +utilized by the government, for the intimidation of the Covenanters. +Their heads were set up in public places in various cities, as a +gruesome warning to all others. These men, when on the way to Rullion +Green, had paused at Lanark to renew their Covenant. There they lifted +up the right hand to heaven, making their appeal to God. Now those right +hands are cut off and set up on spikes over the gates of the city--a +grim admonition to the living. + +Some of the prisoners were reserved for the slower process of law, and +the severer operations of cruelty. John Neilson became conspicuous +through the tortures he endured, the noble spirit he displayed, and the +death by which he glorified God. He was a man renowned for his wealth, +as well as for great-heartedness. The preceding year Sir James Turner, +when commanding the king's troops, despoiled him of his property; yet +when that lawless officer had been taken prisoner by the Covenanters, +Neilson pleaded for him and saved his life. Now Neilson is in his hands. +Will the kindness be returned? Ah, kindness returned! Rather feel for a +pulse in the cold granite or look upon the white marble for a loving +smile. + +The Court questioned Neilson, but his answers were not satisfactory. +They tortured him, but could extract nothing further. They thrust one of +his legs into an iron boot, and crushed it with a wedge, driven between +the flesh and the iron; yet nothing but groans were extorted from him. +Filled with wrath, because a confession involving others could not be +elicited, they passed the death sentence on him. He went cheerfully to +the scaffold. + +Hugh M'Kail, a young minister of Jesus Christ, was another victim. He +was a man mighty in the Scriptures and full of the Holy Spirit. His lips +were touched with a live coal from the altar of God, his eloquence was +seraphic. In one of his impassionate outbursts he had said, "The Church +in all ages has been persecuted by a Pharaoh on the throne, a Haman in +the state, and a Judas in the Church." Archbishop Sharp heard of the +terse statement. The lightning had struck the mark. Sharp appropriated +the caricature, and saw Judas personified in his own character. He never +forgave the young minister. + +M'Kail was put on trial for his connection with the Pentland Rising. He +candidly confessed his part in the insurrection. The Court then demanded +information concerning the leaders; he had none to impart. They then +tortured him with the iron boot; the only response was groans. He +swooned in the dreadful agony. + +This noble young minister was sentenced to die. He received the sentence +with serene happiness. When on the scaffold, he was filled with +unutterable joy; his victory over fear and death was complete; his soul +was clothed with immortal bliss. His highest hopes were now turning into +realizations that were ten thousand times brighter and more glorious +than his most sanguine expectations. The Lord Jesus was at his side; the +heavens were opening to receive him; in a few moments his face would +shine in the light that dazzled angels, and his voice would mingle in +the chorus of the redeemed round about the throne. What wonder that he +poured forth the ecstasy of a transfigured soul in these his last words: +"Welcome, God and Father; welcome, sweet Jesus, the Mediator of the new +Covenant; welcome, blessed Spirit of grace, and God of all consolation; +welcome, glory; welcome, eternal life; welcome, death. O Lord, into Thy +hands I commit my spirit; for Thou hast redeemed my soul, Lord God of +truth." + +These were the winter days of the Church. But the winter was like +summer in fruitfulness. How nobly did she endure the inclement season +and produce fruit of excellent quality! We are enjoying the summer time +of peace and comfort, of privileges and advantages. How much more +abundant should be our labors of love than even theirs, in the Lord +Jesus Christ! A comparison, we fear, would put us to great disadvantage, +perhaps to shame. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What cruelties practiced on the Covenanters on Rullion Green field? + +2. Describe the wounded Covenanter seeking shelter. + +3. What horrors followed the battle? + +4. What atrocities committed by Gen. Dalziel's troops? + +5. What three men were in great part responsible for the cruelties? + +6. Describe the sufferings of John Neilson. + +7. Relate the sufferings of Hugh McKail. + +8. How did he meet his death? + +9. What special advantages have we for serving God? + + + + +XXXI. + +INDULGENCE, THE SIX-FOLD SNARE.--A.D. 1665. + + +The Covenanters, after the Pentland Rising, were placed under martial +law. Every district was garrisoned and overrun with troops. The +military, having been empowered to plunder, pillage, and punish at their +caprice, did not hesitate to shoot down innocent people without trial, +leaving them weltering in their own blood. King Charles accounted the +Covenanters rebels to be subdued with fire and sword. He was determined +upon their subjection, or destruction. "Better," said one in his +service, "that the land bear whins than whigs." The Covenanters were +called whigs; the whins were worthless bushes. + +The Covenanters rebels! Be it remembered that Scotland was under a +Constitutional government, and the Constitution was embodied in the +Covenant. Also, the king and the people had accepted the Covenant on +oath. Yet in the face of all this, King Charles attempted to rescind the +Covenant, destroy the Constitution, and assume absolute power. Ah, was +not Charles the rebel? Was not he the traitor, the revolutionist, the +autocrat who attempted to turn things upside down? The Covenanters were +the Old Guard, who stood for law, justice, government, and +constitutional rights, on the accepted basis--God's law and Covenant. +Nor did the Old Guard ever yield the field; they occupy it yet. + +True, the Covenanters did decline the king's authority in certain +particulars! But were they not justifiable? A glance at the situation +will solve the question. + +The king, having expelled the Covenanted ministers, substituted others +of his own choice. The Covenanters refused to hear them. + +The king restricted the Covenanters to their own parishes in public +worship. They went where they pleased. + +The king forbade marriages or baptisms, except by Episcopal ministers. +The Covenanters went to their own ministers for these services. + +The king ordered them to observe the Episcopal form of worship. They +believed this to be unscriptural, and refused. + +The king commanded the people to deliver up their ministers to the +authorities for punishment. This they would in no wise do. + +The Covenanters rebels, because they declined the king's authority in +matters like these? How could they have done otherwise? Two courses lay +before them; resist the tyrant's will, or submit as his slaves. Blessed +be the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave them light, strength, courage, and +victory. These fathers of the Covenant chose to suffer and be free; to +endure the king's wrath and keep a pure conscience; to disdain every +suggestion of compromise and continue the conflict. The invitation to +come down, and consult on the plains of Ono, was answered by its own +echo--O, no. + +The Covenanters, like the Israelites, flourished while in this great +tribulation. They were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and +multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with +them. The more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew. +Their ministers were numbered by hundreds; the people, who assembled in +Conventicles, by tens of thousands. Oppression could not crush them; the +furnace, though heated seven times more than it was wont, could not +singe their garments. Their adversaries became alarmed and began to +devise other measures. Their device was diabolical wisdom. Satan, having +had more than three thousand years since he failed on Israel in Egypt, +was now better up to his work. The king proposed to indulge the +ministers. The royal indulgence was surely a product of the bottomless +pit. The snare was laid six times and caught many unwary souls. + +[Illustration: ANNIVERSARY OF A CONVENTICLE. + +The people of Scotland delight to do honor to the memory of the martyrs. +In many places they hold anniversary meetings on the grounds made +memorable by some signal event in the times of persecution. Here is the +picture of one of these thrilling meetings, held on the scene of a +Conventicle near Loudon-hill.] + +The First Indulgence was granted in 1669. The expelled ministers were +offered pardon, and permission to return to their churches on certain +conditions stipulated by the king. Forty-two accepted the Indulgence, +and by that very act conceded the king's right to expel, and to recall, +the ministers of Christ, at his own pleasure. The great principles for +which they had suffered were thereby sacrificed--the supremacy of the +Lord Jesus Christ over His Church, and the Church's independence under +Christ. + +What were the conditions upon which these ministers returned? We give +them in substance: + +1. They must attend the meetings of the Prelatic ministers. + +2. They must permit none of the people from other parishes to attend +their services. + +3. They must refrain from speaking or preaching against the king's +supremacy. + +4. They must not criticize the king or his government. + +The Indulgence, with such conditions, was accepted by forty-two +ministers. Are we surprised? Do we wonder that so many relaxed under the +strain of persecution, and returned to their own vine and fig tree? Let +not censure, from her bowers of ease, be too severe. The hardships of +these men were great, the sufferings excessive, the outlook dark. They +were worn and sickly; they were filled with pain by exposure to storms, +living in caves, and sleeping on the ground. Their lives were in +jeopardy every hour. Yet it must be said that these ministers sacrificed +much for which they had long and nobly battled; they capitulated on +terms dictated by the enemy, surrendered their rights as the ambassadors +of Christ, and accepted conditions that made them bond servants of King +Charles. They were caught in the snare. + +The Second Indulgence was issued in 1672. Eighty ministers were selected +by the king for this bait, and most of them swallowed it. Yet among the +eighty some inflexible men were found on whom the deceitful offer had no +effect. They knew how to endure hardness as good soldiers. One of them +on receiving the legal notice at the hand of an official said, "I cannot +be so uncivil as to refuse this paper offered me by your lordship." Then +letting it fall to the ground, he added, "But I can receive no +instructions from you, regulating my ministry; for then I would be your +ambassador, not Christ's." He was immediately thrust into prison, and +continued there till death. The Third Indulgence was another snare, +equally deceitful and injurious. + +The other three were offered by King James VII., and all were of the +same nature, only each being more lenient, seductive, and Satanic, than +the one preceding. The Indulgence was a dragnet, drawing large hauls of +hungry fish, and leaving them to squirm on the shores of sinful +compromises. + +The Covenanters who remained faithful were greatly diminished. The +ministers were decimated until few were left. Yet as the banner of the +Covenant fell from the hand of one, it was snatched up by another, and +defiantly given to the breeze. At no moment did the battle cease for +lack of heroes. + +The Indulgence did what sword, pillage, prison, torture, exile, +gibbet--all could not do; it shattered the Covenanted forces and wasted +their power. The fiercest fires of persecution only fused the elements, +and consolidated the mass of metal. But the fruit of Indulgence was +debate, dissension, distraction, division, and decimation. The tree is +known by its fruit; the fruit was bad, very bad. The non-Indulged +charged their brethren with betrayal of Christ and His cause. The +Indulged retorted, that the king's offer opened the way back to the +churches, and refusal to accept protracted the evil times. Thus the host +of God was divided against itself; Judah against Israel, and Israel +against Judah. Archbishop Sharp had boasted, that by the Indulgence he +would throw a "bone of contention" among the Presbyterians. He judged +rightly. + +The cause of Christ still demands self-sacrifice. Fidelity to Jesus +Christ is hard on the flesh; it always has been and always will be. The +friendship of this world is enmity against God, and against all who +sincerely love God. To make terms with the world is to forfeit God's +love. The Church has lost much of the heroic heart, the militant power, +the iron nerve, and the fire of the Holy Spirit, by reason of ease, +indulgence, compromise, and inordinate desire for the friendship of the +world. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He +also will deny us." + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Why were the Covenanters styled rebels? + +2. How did the king try to suppress them? + +3. On what points did they refuse to obey the king? + +4. Were they justifiable? On what grounds? + +5. How did the persecuted people increase? + +6. What new attempt to divide and destroy them? + +7. How many Indulgences were offered? + +8. On what terms were ministers permitted to return home? + +9. What effect had the Indulgences on the Covenanters? + +10. What present danger along the line of Indulgence? + + + + +XXXII. + +THE FIELD MEETINGS UNDER FIRE.--A.D. 1679. + + +The king's Indulgence did double work on the persecuted ministers. The +Indulgence was a surgical knife that removed the spinal nerve of the +Indulged; and it was a sharp sword launched at the heart of those who +refused the Indulgence. The proclamation that offered pardon announced +desperate measures against all who declined the offer. The persecution +thereby grew fiercer and the sufferings more insufferable. + +The Indulgence thinned the Covenanted ranks; many ministers withdrew +from the Old Blue Banner with its golden motto: "FOR CHRIST'S CROWN AND +COVENANT." Home! sweet, sweet home had charmed the heart. The Indulged +were no more worthy of being called Covenanters. They had lost zeal, +courage, place, and name among the worthies. Some however repented and +returned to the solitudes. Their home, as they had crossed the +threshold, was to them no more like home, but a gloomy prison, a dreary +waste, an intolerable place, because the heart condemned them, and God +was greater than the heart. These went back to their brethren, to endure +hardness as good soldiers for Christ's sake. Persecution with all its +hardships, in comparison with the Indulgence, was a paradise while the +love of Jesus Christ enamored the soul. + +The ministers who remained loyal to the Lord and the Covenant were +pursued by men who drove like Jehu. The Conventicles, however, +continued. The Covenanters swarmed on the grounds where the preaching +was appointed. They refused to hear the curates of the Episcopal Church, +and likewise the ministers who had returned through the king's +Indulgence. The latter had forfeited their confidence and respect. The +people, forsaking the parish churches, traveled to the moors and +mountains for their preaching. There they found their own ministers, the +unconquerable ambassadors of Christ, the uncompromising messengers of +God. + +A price was placed upon the heads of these ministers, by the government +of King Charles. They were hunted like partridges upon the mountains. +Let them be brought in, dead or alive, and the prize will range in value +from $500 to $2,000. The people were commanded to refuse them bread, +lodging, fellowship, all kindness and support, that they might perish +without a helping hand or a consoling word. To attend their preaching +was accounted a crime to be punished by the judges, an act of rebellion +worthy of imprisonment or death. + +The ministers were not overawed, nor were the people intimidated. +Field-preaching characterized the times. Conventicles were more numerous +and the attendance larger than hitherto. It was estimated that, on a +certain Sabbath, an aggregate of 16,000 attended three meetings held in +one county. Men, women, and children traveled miles and miles to these +sequestered spots among the hills and on the moors, in defiance of all +threats and in face of all clangers. There they stayed through the long +Sabbath hours, listening to the rich, sweet Gospel of Christ, while the +ministers spoke with earnestness as from the very portals of eternity. + +The Conventicles flourished in spite of every effort to suppress them. +The king and his counselors became alarmed and sent the "Highland host," +a vicious army of 10,000 strong, to extinguish these hated +Field-meetings. The Covenanters suffered at their hands, as by a foreign +invasion. The military atrocities, horrible before, were now barbarous +in the extreme. "Fire, and blood, and vapors of smoke" marked the path +of these brutal men as they raided the country. Yet the Conventicles +were not extinguished. + +To meet the conditions of increasing terror, the Covenanters came to the +Field-meetings armed and ready for self-defence. Sentries were +stationed on the hills that towered above the worshipers, and the +discharge of a gun was the signal of danger. At the approach of +soldiers, the people quietly dispersed, if escape were possible; if not, +then the armed men drew out and lined up for battle. Many a time the +worship of God was suddenly turned into the clash of arms. + +The Lomond-hills formed good places for these meetings. On one occasion, +a large concourse of people had assembled amidst these sheltering +heights. Rev. John Wellwood, a young minister whom the soldiers could +not catch, was feasting these hungry souls with the Word of life. Some +of his sermons are still extant. They are rich in nourishment, nervous +with earnestness, and flashing with fiery eloquence, he lived in the +dark days, but died exclaiming, "Now, eternal light! no more night, nor +darkness to me." While the people this day were feasting on his words, +the signal announced the approach of the dragoons. The people quietly +moved up the "brae." The soldiers rode up and delivered five volleys +into the crowd. The balls whizzed among the men, women, and children, +but none were hurt. A ledge of rock prevented an attack. The captain +commanded them to dismiss. "We will," they replied, "when the service is +over, if you promise us no harm." The promise was given, yet the +treacherous troops dashed upon the hindmost and captured eighteen. + +An attack was made also on a Conventicle held at Lillies-leaf moor. A +large number of people had assembled. The famous John Blackader was +preaching. The alarm shot was fired when the minister was in the middle +of the afternoon sermon. He at once closed the service with a few words +to allay fear. The people stood in their places, showing no excitement. +The troopers came up at full gallop and formed in battle line in front +of the Covenanters. The soldiers were astonished at the calmness of the +people. A sullen pause followed; not a word, not a movement. The officer +broke the silence, shouting, "In the name of the king, I charge you to +dismiss." The reply was immediate: "We are here in the name of the King +of heaven, to hear the Gospel, and to harm no man." Such unexpected +calmness and fortitude wilted the officer. Another painful pause. What +next? No one knew. The suspense was suddenly broken by a woman who +stepped forth from the midst of the Covenanters. She was alone; her +movements showed decision; her eyes were flashing; her face was flushed +with indignation. She went straight for the officer, seized the bridle +close to the horse's mouth, and wheeled him about, vociferating, "Fye on +ye, man; rye on ye; the vengeance of God will overtake you for marring +so good a work." The officer was dazed as by an exploding shell. The +woman was his own sister. He was crest-fallen, and withdrew the +dragoons, while the people went home unharmed. + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF DRUMCLOG. + +The battle of Drumclog was fought on Sabbath, June 1, 1679 Claverhouse +with 240 dragoons attempted to break up a Conventicle near Loudon-hill +He was met by 250 Covenanters under Hamilton, and put to rout, leaving +20 dead on the field. The Covenanters had 1 killed and 5 wounded.] + +One of these armed Field-meetings was held at Drumclog. It was a sweet +summer Sabbath, June 1, 1679. The Covenanters had come in large numbers +They covered the green sward, sitting among clumps of moss and heather. +They were far from the abode of man; nothing there to break the solemn +stillness of the Lord's day, except the notes of the heather-cock and +the plover. Loudon-hill stood near like a mighty champion. The air +breathed softly across the field, and the sky bent silently over the +worshipers; the hearts of the people were lifted up in sweet Psalms that +echoed over the hills, and a serene joy filled all The Holy Spirit came +mightily upon the people; the Lord was among them. Thomas Douglas was +the minister. He was one of the three mighties, who afterward issued the +Sanquhar Declaration disowning King Charles II. as a tyrant. The sermon +was half finished when a signal shot was heard. Mr. Douglas immediately +closed the Bible, saying, "You have the theory; now for the practice." +250 resolute men hastily sprang to their feet, lined up, and marched off +to meet Claverhouse who was coming with 240 dragoons. The Covenanters +halted on an elevation to await the attack. While waiting they sang the +76th Psalm to the tune of "Martyrs." The Psalm was very appropriate; +well fitted to arouse the military spirit: + + "In Judah's land God is well known, + His name's in Israel great; + In Salem is His tabernacle, + In Zion is His seat." + +The troops galloped forward and fired. Their fire drew a vigorous +response. The Covenanters aimed with deadly precision; the fighting was +desperate; hand-to-hand encounters were frequent. The troops broke and +fled, leaving 20 dead on the field. The Covenanters had 1 killed and 5 +mortally wounded. Hamilton, Hackston, Paton, Balfour, Cleeland, and Hall +were the noble captains that won the day in the name of the Lord of +hosts. + +These fighting Covenanters, who could fight as well as pray, have won +for their posterity the privilege of worshiping God in peace. There is +nothing now to hurt or annoy in God's mountain. How punctual, diligent, +and appreciative ought we to be in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ! + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What was the double effect of the Indulgence? + +2. What new effort to suppress the Conventicles? + +3. Give the character of the Highland host. + +4. How did the Covenanters prepare for self-defense? + +5. Describe the Conventicle at the Lomond-hills; Lillies-leaf moor; +Drumclog. + +6. Who were the Covenanted captains at Drumclog? + +7. How should we appreciate peaceful worship? + + + + +XXXIII. + +A MASSACRE.--A.D. 1679. + + +The victory at Drumclog was followed up by the Covenanters with vigor. +Claverhouse, with his broken ranks, was hotly pursued. He fled from the +field on a wounded horse; nor did he halt till he reached Glasgow, 25 +miles away. The pursuers followed him half the distance. He began that +Sabbath with the beat of drums, and ended it with defeat and shame. + +Next morning these Covenanters had doubled their number; 500 men stood +harnessed for war, determined to overtake the foe, renew the fight, and +win other victories. That forenoon, with Hamilton in command, they +boldly dashed into Glasgow to strike the broken forces of Claverhouse; +but they were repulsed. They retired to an encampment much dispirited. +As was usual with the Covenanters, they began to enquire into the moral +cause of this reverse. They felt that God for some reason was +displeased. The investigation revealed the fact, that Thomas Weir, who +had joined them with 140 horsemen, had been a dragoon in Dalziel's +ranks at Rullion Green, where the Covenanters were defeated. + +A committee was appointed to wait on Weir and investigate his case. They +were roughly received. He gave no satisfaction for having been on the +enemy's side on the former occasion. The Covenanters were quick to reach +Bible conclusions and at once classed him with Achan who in the days of +Joshua brought defeat upon Israel. Weir with his detachment was +summarily dismissed. A resolution was then adopted that none, who had +forsaken the Covenant or were guilty of the sins of the times, be +admitted into the army. This was a heroic step, a return to the solid +basis, the old Covenant grounds that had been abandoned in 1650, when +the "Act of Classes" was rescinded, and the doors opened to admit +unfaithful men into places of public trust. Sir Robert Hamilton, at the +head of half a regiment of Covenanters, thus nobly attempted to rebuild +the walls of Zion and set up the gates, even in troublous times. These +were men of God who knew the Lord of hosts, in whose eyes fidelity is +everything and numbers are nothing. They were afraid of nothing but sin. + +The martial spirit of the Covenanters rapidly spread during the week; +they flocked to the standard that was again lifted up for CHRIST'S CROWN +AND COVENANT. + +Beneath the waving folds of the Blue Banner 5,000 men had rallied when +Saturday's sun was sinking in the west. They had unbounded confidence in +the cause for which they adventured their lives; a holy enthusiasm knit +them together. They were ready for battle "with hand strokes," as they +said to Hackston, one of their noble captains. They had accepted the +responsibility of war and were determined to win or die. The Sabbath was +approaching. They planned to enter into its sweet rest and offer the +appointed worship; then on Monday morning, march upon the enemy and +strike for freedom. But, alas, how quickly fairest prospects may be +covered with darkness! The sun set that evening behind an ugly cloud. + +Hamilton had held a council of war on Thursday. He had the benefit of +the wisdom and advice of Donald Cargill, Thomas Douglas, John King, and +John Kidd, ministers eminent among the Covenanters. That Council adopted +a public Declaration, stating their reasons for taking up arms. This +statement embodied: + +1. Their purpose to defend the true Reformed religion; + +2. Their adherence to the Solemn League and Covenant; + +3. An acknowledgment of public sins and duties; + +4. A denunciation of Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism. + +The Declaration was proclaimed to the army and published to the world. +On these impregnable grounds the little army was consolidated; they felt +themselves strong in the Lord, and able in His name to fight His +battles. + +On Saturday night, when quietness had fallen upon the camp, John Welch +arrived with an additional force of 440 men. This should have been an +inspiration, but it was the very opposite. Welch was a prominent +Conventicle minister; "a diligent, fervent, successful, unwearied +preacher." He was a fearless man; a price equal to $2,000 had been set +upon his head by the government. Such a man should not be disparaged. +Yet, he it was who introduced the confusion of tongues that resulted in +the utter dissipation of the army, and the consequent defeat of the +Covenanters at Bothwell Bridge. + +Welch was dissatisfied with the Declaration. It was too forceful for +him. He would tone it down, that it might soothe the king, placate the +Duke of Monmouth, condone the Indulged ministers, and restore Weir to +the ranks. He presented a new Declaration as a substitute for the one +already in force. For two weeks, even till the enemy was lining up for +battle, he agitated the question. The majority was always against him. +At last Hamilton, the commander, contrary to his convictions, yielded +for the sake of peace. He hoped by this means to save his distracted +army, that with solid ranks he might meet the foe and win the fight. +But he sadly mistook policy for wisdom. The battle of Bothwell Bridge +was lost that moment. The battle was lost before a shot was fired. +Hamilton surrendered before he met Monmouth. He had displaced the truth +for the sake of harmony. His flag is already furled, there will be no +fighting now except by the heroes of the van-guard. The Divine favor +that gives victories has been withdrawn. The martial spirit has fled +from the leader and his men are weak as women. + +On Sabbath morning, June 22, 1679, the king's army, 15,000 strong, was +massed on the north bank of the Clyde; on the south side, the +Covenanters numbering 5,000 confronted them. The narrow bridge lay +between them. Hackston, Paton, and Balfour, with 300 Covenanters stood +at its south end. The rest of the army was behind them on the moor with +gunshot, standing in eleven solid squares; six banners waved proudly +over them. They had one cannon, two detachments of cavalry, and a body +of skirmishers. + +Monmouth orders his troops across the bridge. A solid column pushes +forward broad as the bridge is wide; step follows step in that dread +procession, when lo, a spreading puff of smoke rises on the bank in +front, and a cannon ball is hurled among them, while muskets pour forth +volleys of death. The bridge is strewn with bleeding men and the broken +ranks fall back. The Duke orders another charge. A second column moves +hurriedly over the gory path of their fallen comrades to meet the same +fate. Again and again, the attack and the repulse. They attempt to ford +the river, but Balfour with his sharpshooters hurls them back, while +many a brave man lies down in the cool stream to rise no more. The +bridge drips with blood; the Clyde is crimsoned. After three hours the +Covenanters' ammunition fails, and Monmouth rushes the bridge. The +Covenanters meet them with swords, but are overpowered; they fall back +upon the main body and find it unfit for action. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL BRIDGE. + +The Battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought on Sabbath, June 22, 1679 The +king's forces numbering 15,000, under the Duke of Monmouth, assailed +5,000 Covenanters under Robert Hamilton. For three hours Captain +Hackston, with 300 Covenanters, held the bridge. At length their +ammunition was exhausted, and the royal army forced their way across. +The Covenanters took flight and were savagely slaughtered in the +stampede 400 were slain, 1,200 captured, and the rest scattered. A +granite monument has been erected at the bridge in honor of the +Covenanters.] + +The royal army was soon across. They line up for the general engagement, +but hesitate to give battle; they have tested the courage of the +Covenanters, and have a dread of results. Hamilton is awaiting his +opportunity. His intention is to rush the enemy into the river. He +orders a forward movement, but the order fails. Wherefore does his army +hesitate? Ah, many of the officers have disappeared. Terror is creeping +over the masses like a death chill. Welch and his friends have left; +Weir with his 140 horsemen takes fright and flees; Hamilton loses his +head and his cavalry stampedes; the army is thrown into confusion; all +is lost. In the fight only 15 were killed; in the flight 400 were +slaughtered. + +Monmouth, seeing the panic, ordered a pursuit which resulted in a +running butchery, a horrid massacre. A body of 1,200 surrendered; these +were compelled to lie flat on the ground all night. If in their wounds +or achings they moved head or hand, an admonition was delivered from a +musket. A change of posture, then a sharp crack, a whizzing bullet, a +bleeding victim, a death struggle, a pallid corpse. + +That was a sad Sabbath for the Covenanters. Defeat, dishonor, and +distress turned the day into a painful memory. The calamity, doubtless, +arose out of the compromise of Covenanted principles. Welch's wisdom +proved to be foolishness; Weir's strength, weakness; Hamilton's +compliance, defeat. + +The sacrifice of truth can never be productive of good. Loss, sorrow, +defeat, and death are in the train of any policy that buries principle. + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did the Covenanters follow up their victory at Drumclog? + +2 What reverse did they suffer? + +3 How did they account for it? + +4. What was the growth of their army? + +6. Who introduced confusion into their ranks? + +7. What was the subject of debate? + +8. How did it terminate? + +9. Describe the forces at the battle of Bothwell Bridge. + +10. Describe the battle and its issue. + +11. What lesson may we learn from this defeat? + + + + +XXXIV. + +THE COVENANTERS' PRISONS.--A.D. 1680. + + +"They who profess Christ in this generation must suffer much or sin +much," exclaimed one of the Scottish martyrs. The enemy was in power and +every means was employed to compel the Covenanters to abandon their +Covenant with God, break relation with Jesus Christ, and thus destroy +their testimony. To accomplish this, the king and his courtiers +subjected these inoffensive people to cruelties most shocking. While +they remained steadfast in their Covenant, the violence increased; when +any of them relaxed, one step of defection necessitated another, till +they stood in the enemy's camp. The same process is ever true. + +The massacre at Bothwell Bridge brought upon the Covenanters extreme +distress. Their sufferings hitherto had been as a continual dropping on +a very rainy day, with fitful gusts striking here and there; now a +hurricane sweeps the country, bringing ruin and desolation in its broad +path. Every available force was put in operation for the utter +annihilation of the Covenanters. Their ardor for Christ and His royal +rights must be quenched in their blood, and their testimony to the truth +must be silenced. The king, the courts, the army, the bishops--all were +combined for the overthrow of the Presbyterian system of faith and the +Covenant of God. Upon the ruins of the temple of liberty, erected by the +Reformers, King Charles had determined to build his castle of absolute +despotism. He knew that the glory of Christ's supremacy would never fade +out of the skies of Scotland, while Covenanters preached, prayed, and +sang Psalms; nor would his despotism flourish while there were +Covenanters to challenge his impious claim of authority over the Church, +and iniquitous attempt to rule man's conscience. Hence the desperate +attempt to overawe and suppress them. + +After the battle of Bothwell Bridge, the first stroke of excessive +cruelty fell upon the 1,200 prisoners who had surrendered on the field. +They lay all night upon the cold ground huddled together like sheep, +surrounded by a strong guard. It was a night of horror. The sentinels +watched every motion, and shot at any hand or head that dared to stir. +In the morning they were marched from their mossy bivouac, leaving the +green field dotted with crimson pools, and strewn with the dead who had +received fatal shots; there they lay in garments rolled in blood. + +The prisoners were tied together, two and two, and driven to Edinburgh, +as cattle to the slaughter. The journey was dreary, during which they +suffered from hunger, weariness, cruel mockings, and barbarous +treatment. In the Greyfriars' churchyard, there yet remains the small +enclosure, into which these prisoners were driven like so many dumb +animals. Here they were kept to await their sentence. Twelve hundred +men, with scarcely comfortable standing room, without decent clothing, +without sanitary accommodations, without proper food, without shelter, +detained for months within these stone walls under a merciless +guard--who can conceive of their sufferings? They had been stripped, all +but naked; the hard ground was their bed; the sky was their roof; they +were exposed to the heat of day, and the chill of night; the rains of +July drenched them; the snows of November blanketed them. + +During these wearisome months the number of prisoners constantly grew +less, and mostly by melancholy means. Some of them subscribed a bond +confessing themselves to be rebels and promising unconditional obedience +to the king. The hardships of their condition, the threats against their +lives, and the entreaties of relatives overpowered conscience. They were +released only to be reproached, distressed, tormented, and pillaged at +home, by the soldiers who overran the country. Their unholy bond +sacrificed their peace with God, and brought no protection from man. +Such is the effect of every compromise of God's people with the world. + +Disease also reduced the number. Sickness arising from exposure, +neglect, and ill fare, wrought havoc with their lives. The living +watched carefully over their dying companions, as they lay on the cold +hard ground, destitute of every earthly cordial and comfort. But the +Balm of Gilead they had in plenty; the consolations of God were +abundant; the promises distilled sweetness upon their lips; prayers +filled the place with incense; the Psalms were as the music of heaven in +their ears; the gates of glory opened wide for the dying; pain, sorrow, +and darkness vanished from the soul, as it went forth from the earthly +tabernacle to enter into the Eternal City. + +Quite a few were condemned to death and executed on the scaffold. +Prominent among these, were John Kid and John King, two ministers of +Christ. They received their sentence with serenity and went hand in +hand, to the place of execution. Their conversation was cheerful. Their +outlook was far beyond the scaffold, and the city towers, and the high +hills outlined on the sky, and even beyond the glowing sun that was then +smiling in the west. What magnificent scenery their eyes must have +rested upon, as they now had come to Mount Zion, the city of the living +God, the innumerable company of angels, the spirits of just men made +perfect! Already in triumphant faith they were walking the golden +streets, with palms in their hands crowns on their heads, and songs in +their hearts. Kid was a witty man, usually overflowing with innocent +mirth; even in sight of the gallows his humor was insuppressible. +Looking into King's face he made a pun on their own names, saying, "I +have often heard and read of a kid sacrificed, but I seldom or never +heard of a king made a sacrifice." + +Four hundred of these Covenanters remained unmoved by threats, promises, +sufferings, or protracted hardships. The painful weeks and months might +wear them out, but they continued firm in the faith and testimony, +resolved to honor their Lord and His Covenant while they had breath. +They remembered the promise, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will +give thee a crown of life." They were of the unbending type. + +The king's council, hopeless in attempting to bring them to terms, +resolved to finish the irksome task by shipping all to distant lands. +They placed 243 on a small sail-ship, which was tossed on the Atlantic +ocean until engulfed amidst the waves. The remainder were never +transported. + +Many Covenanters were confined in places even more intolerable than +this. Dunnottar Castle became one of these notable spots. The castle +stands on a rock that projects into the sea. Here still exists a deep +dark room, called the "Whigs' Vault," where 167 Covenanters were crowded +together. Forty-five of these were women. The room is 56 feet long, 16 +wide, and 12 high, having two small windows. This outrageous disregard +for sex, decency, health, and every natural right, aroused even the +indignation of the governor's wife, at whose request the women, after +some days, were removed to another vault. The prisoners suffered the +horrors of these dark foul pits three months. But the Lord Jesus Christ +did not forsake them; they were sustained by His abundant grace. He +heard their mournful cries and upheld their faith. Some breathed out +their lives on the hard stone floor, with no pillow on which to rest +their aching heads. Blessed termination of the horrid cruelty! Even +there the "pearl gate" opened wide, and the ransomed soul arose in +power, and walked forth into the marvelous light of the world above. +They who survived death were offered liberty on condition of taking the +king's oath, and acknowledging his supremacy over Church and conscience. +They persistently refused to do this. How great the loyalty of these men +and women to the Lord Jesus Christ! Imprisonment with all its bitterness +was sweeter to them than liberty with a defiled conscience. + +[Illustration: DUNNOTTAR CASTLE. + +The castle rock projects into the sea, on the east coast of Scotland, +and rises with rugged sides out of the water to the height of 160 feet. +It is connected with the mainland by a narrow neck. Here is the "Whigs' +Vault," a dismal underground room, hewn out of the rock, where many +Covenanters suffered imprisonment.] + +The Bass Rock, too, was a penitentiary for the Covenanters. This is a +lofty green rock arising boldly out of the sea near Edinburgh, having +steep rugged sides, being accessible only at one point. Thither they +brought, in the latter years of the persecution, the overflow of +prisoners after the inland jails had been crowded. The rock is very +desolate. This was the Covenanters' Patmos. Here Alexander Peden, John +Blackader, and many others spent months and years, walking round and +round over the storm-battered cliffs, or sitting on the ledges looking +landward thinking of the desolated home, the broken family, the wasted +Church, and the guilty land. When the waves dashed against the rock, and +the breakers leaped high; when storms darkened the land, and billows +whitened the sea; when nothing was heard but the noise of the waters, +the roar of the tempest, and the scream of the sea-fowl, even then was +the Holy Spirit there to illuminate these prisoners of hope. They held +communion with God; visions of glory lighted up their dreary home; they +moved amidst the scenery of heaven; the Bass rock was peopled with +angels. Blackader has left on record some rich experiences he there +enjoyed. + +We are free to worship God according to conscience and the Word. But let +us not forget that our liberty is the blossom, and our privileges the +fruit, of the rough black root of persecution suffered by our +forefathers. Had they not been faithful, we would have had to fight the +battles they fought, and suffer as they suffered, or have perished in +darkness. Will not we, for the sake of coming generations, be likewise +faithful? The Lord Jesus grant us strength and success. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What was done with, the prisoners taken at Bothwell Bridge? + +2. How did they suffer in Edinburgh? + +3. Describe their prison, and their hardships. + +4. What two of their ministers were executed? + +5. Describe Dunnottar Castle. + +7. Describe the Bass Rock. + +8. For what was it used in those times? + +9. How may we meet the obligations descending from the fathers? + + + + +XXXV. + +DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.--A.D. 1680. + + +The persecution of the Covenanters under King Charles II. had now +continued twenty years. These were years of slaughter, and the horrors +were still deepening. + +The battle of Bothwell Bridge was followed by a climax of suffering and +sacrifice. The wrath of the king, vented through the dragoons, fell upon +every district where the Covenanters were located and followed them into +their hiding-places. They were required to take the oath of loyalty, or +suffer the direful consequence. Some were haled to the judges to be +sentenced, others were shot like game where they were found. Like a fire +that breaks out in a city and mercilessly devours while the flames find +fuel, so this fire seemed destined to spread and devour till the last +drop of Covenanted blood would sizzle on the coals. + +The persecutors were in degree successful. Four hundred ministers, in +1662, had refused to receive orders from the king for the exercise of +their ministry; they gave up home and all its comforts, rather than +admit the king's claim of supremacy over the Church of Christ. These +were now reduced to less than one hundred. Some were martyred, some were +banished, some had died of old age and some of exposure; but many, if +not most, had been constrained to accept the Indulgence and were gone +back home. Their first love had been chilled by the wintry blasts. Their +zeal for the Lord Jesus and His testimony abated as the hardships +increased. Worn with suffering, emaciated with hunger, exposed to +danger, grey with sorrows, and the darkness deepening with no relief in +prospect, they weakened and accepted the terms of a false peace. But let +them not be judged with harshness. Our Lord has said of such, "The +spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." The struggle lasted eight +more years, during which time there were sixty ministers standing by +their Covenant instead of four hundred, and even these sixty, almost to +a man, counted it expedient to suspend their testimony and keep silence. + +The real Covenanters however were not conquered. Death had slain +thousands, and defection tens of thousands, yet the faithful had not +lost heart. There was still a vigorous force of loyal men and women, +earnest quiet people, who stood fearlessly by the Covenant and Testimony +of Jesus Christ. They were called, "The remnant." With these the Holy +Spirit was pleased to clothe Himself, for the good fight of faith which +they continued with unabated ardor. They stepped into the firing line +where the shock of war was heaviest, and became the aggressive party, +demanding from the king their Covenanted rights. The Lord was ever with +them; they heard Him saying, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the +world." Their zeal and energy were but the crested waves of Omnipotence, +the Lord's own strength surging along the strand of time, and dashing +against the rocks of wickedness and misrule--waves of Divine energy that +must yet overflow every land, overcome the whole world, and cover the +earth with glory, as the waters cover the sea. + +[Illustration: CLAVERHOUSE. + +Claverhouse was a captain of dragoons, who pursued the Covenanters and +slaughtered them with savage atrocity. He outlived the persecution, but +was killed the next year, 1689, at the battle of Killiecrankie, fighting +against the accession of the Prince of Orange. "A shot in the left eye" +sent the reeking soul into the presence of God, whom he, in aweful +blasphemy, had promised to take into his own hands. He died at the age +of forty-six.] + +These strong-spirited, unbending Covenanters believed that the time had +now come for a forward movement, and they accepted the task as from the +Lord. They were not merely unconquerable; they were determined to +conquer. At the beginning of the persecution they were passive, meekly +submitting to reproach, spoilation, imprisonment, and death, for +Christ's sake. This continued till patience was exhausted. + +Their second attitude was that of self-defence. Oppression maketh a wise +man mad. The people came armed to the Conventicles, and with swords and +muskets met the troops that attacked the meetings. These acts of +self-defence developed into two distinct efforts to raise an army for +the redress of grievances. All this time the Covenanters recognized +Charles II. as their king. + +The third attitude was that of revolution. They now had reached this +point. They challenge the king's right to reign. They resolve to take +the crown from his head, and place it upon the brow of a man worthy of +the honor, one who "feared God, and hated covetousness." What a daring +task! what courage exhibited by these men! what unbounded confidence in +the righteousness of their cause as they against all odds, all earthly +advantages, and all human wisdom, proclaim the king's forfeiture of the +throne, and face the consequences of that proclamation! + +This was a forlorn battle. The distant outlook was hopeful and the final +success was assured; but the present struggle must be sanguinary and the +sacrifice of life dreadful. Every man that enlists in the army at this +stage must expect to die on the field. This bold position of the +Covenanters will surely be met by all the powers of darkness that can be +massed against them. They now unfurl the Banner for Christ's Crown and +Covenant on the very highest grounds; the persecution will therefore be +waged, if possible, with tenfold greater fierceness. The king with all +his engines of destruction will fight them most desperately; Satan with +all his hosts will assail them ferociously. How can the noble band +escape annihilation? + +But who will lead the Covenanters in such a struggle? Who will command +these "little flocks of kids," when the hosts of Syria fill all the +country round about? Where are the ministers now, when the trumpet blast +proclaims a revolutionary war against the king? While the dread notes +echo from mountain to mountain, the most of them are in caves, +hidden--like Obadiah's prophets. Three, only three, step forward. These +lions of the Covenant are Cameron, Cargill, and Douglass. They grasp the +old battle-banner, and carrying it to the new position call upon the +Covenanted sons of freedom to rally under its floating folds. The +"remnant" gave a noble response. + +This self-sacrificing band was merely the advance guard of a great army +that was now mustering in the providence of God for the restoration of +civil and religious liberty. Little did they expect to win under +existing conditions, but they could hold the hordes of darkness back, +till the Lord Jesus would bring up His mighty forces for the decisive +battle. They could throw themselves upon the enemy, and with the impact +stay their progress. They laid down principles and began action that +eight years later resulted in the Revolution under the Prince of Orange. +Cameron, Cargill, and Douglass began the Revolution, and William, Prince +of Orange, finished it. + +The Covenanters engaged in this forward movement were henceforth called +Cameronians. Richard Cameron was the leader. On the first anniversary of +the battle of Bothwell Bridge, June 22, 1680, he with 21 mounted men +rode into the quiet town of Sanquhar. They came in a martial spirit; +each horse carried a Christian swordsman; they were armed for war. +Reaching the heart of the town, they dismounted and reverently offered +prayer. They then read aloud a Declaration of War against King Charles. +This they nailed to the post at the crossroads. What a heroic +celebration of the first anniversary of their greatest defeat! The paper +carried this declaration: + +"We do disown Charles Stuart as having any right, title to, or interest +in, the crown of Scotland for government. + +"We, being under the Standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, do declare a war +with such a tyrant and usurper, and all the men of his practices as +enemies to our Lord Jesus Christ and His cause and Covenants." + +The men then quietly rode away, while the people read the Declaration +with mingled joy and terror. The lions roared on the hills of Sanquhar, +and the king's throne trembled; within a few years the monarch and his +dynasty had disappeared from the earth. + +These Covenanters prepared also another declaration which was called +the Queensferry Paper. It contained the following statement of the +principles, for which they contended: + +"The avowal of the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and action; + +"The promotion of the Kingdom of God by every possible and lawful +method; + +"Adherence to the Covenanted Reformation of the Presbyterian Church; + +"The disowning of all authority which opposes the Word of God!" + +With deathless bravery, they added the following: + +"We bind and oblige ourselves to defend ourselves and one another, in +the worship of God and in our natural, civil, and divine rights, till we +shall overcome, or send them down under debate to prosperity, that they +may begin where we end." + +The fathers have finished their work. They nobly sustained the cause in +their day; they gave their blood freely for its success; but they were +not permitted to see the ultimate victory. The Covenant principles for +which they contended are the hope of the world. The Covenant holds forth +the highest standard for the Church and the nation. This standard must +be reached, or prophecy must fail. The struggle has descended upon us in +"debate." Will we be true to the task laid on us by the fathers, who +unfalteringly carried the Banner of the Covenant amid fiercest battles? +Will we be a strong link, or will we be a broken link, connecting the +worthy past with the golden future? Which? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did the true Covenanters become diminished? + +2. With what spirit did the "remnant" sustain their trials? + +3. What successive attitudes toward the king did they assume? + +4. When did they proclaim a revolutionary war against the king? + +5. Who were their leaders? + +6. Where was the declaration of war issued? + +7. What was the nature of the Queensferry declaration? + +8. Under what obligations were future generations placed? + +10. What task here has fallen to us? + + + + +XXXVI. + +AYRSMOSS.--A.D. 1680. + + +Ayrsmoss is a household word among Covenanters. Here is one of the +numerous spots where temporary defeat has been transformed into +permanent glory. A granite monument with suitable inscription marks the +place and honors the fallen heroes. This is the field where Richard +Cameron with a hardy group of Covenanters met the foe, and fought the +first fight of Scotland's Revolutionary war against King Charles II. + +Ayrsmoss lies in the heart of a wide solitude. The eye takes in a wild, +broken surface in all directions. Loneliness broods in the very air. The +heart grows heavy and the eyes dreamy, while we sit on a tuft of rushes +and gaze at the monument that bears the names of the worthy dead. +Reverie readily rehabilitates the landscape, and, in vision, the field +is covered again with the horrors of the engagement. The horsemen are +dashing upon each other, the air is shattered with the discharge of +guns, swords are flashing in the evening sunlight, men are falling, +blood is flowing, the Covenanters are fleeing, and--Cameron lies on the +field dead. + +Richard Cameron had sounded the keynote of freedom, that reverberated +all over Scotland, and down into England, and over into Holland, and at +length struck the ears of William, Prince of Orange. Cameron and his +Covenanted associates, having disowned the authority of King Charles, +disputed by force of arms his right to reign. They had preferred three +charges against him. These were: + +(1) Perjury; (2) Usurpation; (3) Tyranny. + +The king had grossly violated the Covenant to which he had given his +oath. The Covenant was the Scottish Constitution of government, and the +wilful subversion of it was treason. + +He had usurped authority over the Church, posing in the prerogatives of +the Lord Jesus Christ and trampling on the people's rights in the +worship of God. + +He had impoverished, imprisoned, exiled, and even slaughtered his +subjects in great numbers, without other fault than their refusal to +submit conscience to his tyrannic will. + +Therefore, as perjurer, usurper, and tyrant, he must face the +arbitrament of war. The proclamation has been published; the dauntless +sons of the Covenant have forced the issue. In the name of the Lord of +hosts they have unfurled the Banner for Christ's Crown and Covenant. It +may often be torn with bullets and stained with blood, but it will never +be folded till the cause of Christ and freedom prevail. These +Covenanters have resolved "to continue the struggle till they overcome, +or hand it down to posterity, that each generation may begin where the +last ended." Such was the solemn bond that bound these Covenanters by +their own voluntary action one to another, and all to God and freedom in +the worship of God through Jesus Christ. It also joined all coming +generations into an indivisible and invincible solidarity for the +defence of liberty, the triumph of righteousness, and the glory of +Christ in His Church. + +The Declaration of war had been proclaimed in Sanquhar. There Cameron +with his band of twenty-one men appealed to the God of battles and +grasped the sword. They stood a few moments gazing solemnly at their +Declaration, now nailed to a post and speaking to the nation. Holding +their horses by the bridle, they tarried long enough to sing a Psalm to +the God of nations, then mounted. Ere the tramp of their steeds had died +away on the streets of Sanquhar, the news of the daring deed was +spreading over the hills. The royal army, more than 10,000 strong, was +quickly on the track of these daring revolutionists. + +Cameron quailed not at the consequences of that day's work. His soul +was on fire for the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. He had expressed a +desire to die fighting against the avowed enemies of his Lord. He never +doubted the final issue; victory was sure in the end, whatever might be +the reverses at the beginning and the losses by the way. "LET CHRIST +REIGN," he exclaimed with prophetic fire; "LET CHRIST REIGN, is a +standard that shall yet overthrow all the thrones of Europe;" and he +spoke as if his flashing eyes saw the thrones reel, and his quick ears +heard the crash of their fall. + +One brief month lay between Sanquhar and Ayrsmoss. Cameron and his +little company moved cautiously over the desolate places. They roamed +across the dreary moorlands, slept amidst the flowering heather, and +pillowed their weary heads on the moss. The cold ground was their +mattress; the chilling mist was their covering; the arching sky was +their roof; the silent stars were their sentinels; the Lord God Almighty +was their keeper. Thus they awaited the day of battle. Cameron betimes +enjoyed the hospitality of friends who risked their lives in receiving +him under their roof. + +July 22, 1680, was the eventful day. The little band had strolled into +the heart of this waste moor. Here were threescore valiant men, of the +valiant of Israel. "They all held swords, being expert in war: every man +had his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night." The actual +number was sixty-three, twenty-three men were mounted. They hung about +Cameron who never wearied in preaching Christ to their hungry souls. +This day his voice was unusually solemn. He had an inward assurance that +the sun, which was now flooding the landscape with glory and taking the +chill of the night out of his veins, would glance its setting rays upon +his blood and theirs, poured out upon that field. It was now 4 o'clock; +the men were resting on the little knolls that studded the moor; their +horses were grazing by their side; all eyes were often scanning the +horizon; any minute danger might loom up. + +"They come!" cried one who saw a troop verging on the moor. In a moment +the sixty-three were on their feet; the horses were mounted and every +man drew his weapon. Captain Hackston, a veteran in the Covenanted +cause, took command. Cameron offered a prayer; his recorded prayer was +not a plea for safety nor for victory, but that God would "spare the +green and take the ripe." They chose their ground, and waited the coming +of Captain Bruce with 120 troopers. With grim determination they watched +the dragoons cover the ground. Every man was ready, every nerve was +steady. The Covenanters had the courage of conscience; they knew they +were in the right; their hearts sustained them; their Covenant +reinforced them; they were assured of ultimate success. They will +certainly achieve all that is best for this time, and for this occasion. +Even a crushing defeat will be a moral victory. The outcome will be +according to the will of God, and a necessary event in the progress of +Christ's kingdom. + +[Illustration: MONUMENT AT AYRSMOSS. + +This monument marks the grave of Richard Cameron and eight other +Covenanters, who fell on this moorland fighting for religious liberty. +The place is reached by passing from the road over a wide mossy field. +The solitude is oppressive with solemn tragic memories. These heroes +were martyrs who faithfully sealed their testimony with their blood. +This battle was fought on July 22, 1680.] + +These men were sent forward, to stand on the firing line, and show the +spirit, the courage, and the faith of the soldiers of Christ; behind +them the spiritual world was filled with the armies of God. His +twenty-thousand chariots and thousands of angels, were coming up for the +successive engagements, that will yet fill the world with righteousness +and the heavens with praise. + +Bruce and his troop were received with a deadly volley; many of their +saddles were emptied. Hackston led his horsemen in a desperate charge; +he almost split the enemy's force in two; but his men being few, the +dragoons enveloped him. His horse bogged; he dismounted, and used his +sword with fearful effect. At last he fell, bleeding from many wounds. +The Covenanters were overwhelmed and driven from the field. Nine lay +dead, among whom was Richard Cameron. Twenty-six were killed on the +other side, so steady the nerve and deliberate the aim of the +Covenanters in the face of crushing odds. The war for freedom was now +on; the first blood was shed and had consecrated Ayrsmoss. But the prize +of liberty was of high value; other fields must yet be crimsoned with +streams flowing from many a heart. + +Our enjoyment of civil and religious liberty is so constant and ordinary +that we scarcely wait a moment to think of the original cost. What pangs +of sorrow, what years of hardships, what streams of blood our fathers +paid for the inheritance of truth and freedom they have left their +children! Let us be careful to appreciate the blood-bought blessings +lest they flee away. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What monument has been erected at Ayrsmoss? + +2. What previous proclamation occasioned this battle? + +3. What charges did the Covenanters prefer against the king? + +4. How long after the declaration till this fight occurred? + +5. How did Cameron and his associates employ their time? + +6. Who appeared in search of them? + +7. How many men were on each side? + +8. Who won the battle? + +9. How account for God's people suffering defeat? + +10. What was the cost of the liberty we enjoy? + +11. How should we guard it for other generations? + + + + +XXXVII. + +THE CAMERONIANS.--A.D. 1681. + + +Richard Cameron had fallen in the battle at Ayrsmoss; but the cause had +not failed, nor would he be forgotten. "The righteous shall be in +everlasting remembrance." His years were brief, but his work was great. +He was fresh and hearty, in the very prime of his life when he met +death. The sun had only reached the meridian of his sky. While his +powers were glowing with divine energy, and his ministry was making the +deepest impression, the Lord called him home to glory. The translation +from earth to heaven was sudden and sublime. One of the poets has +painted his own conception of the event in a brilliant poem, entitled, +"The Cameronian's Dream." That noble life, so full of zeal, action, and +power, left a lasting imprint on the Church of the Covenanters. So +mighty was his influence that the people who stood strictly to the +Covenant were henceforth called Cameronians. + +The field of Ayrsmoss presented a sad sight that evening. The departing +day may have flung over it a glowing sunset, but nothing could relieve +the gloom. The light was fading as the dragoons left, taking with them +Captain Hackston and a few other bleeding prisoners. Night settled +softly upon the moorland; the shout of the captains had given place to +the stillness of death. Nine noble defenders of the Covenant lay +pulseless in the dewy grass. The friends, soon as safety permitted, came +and, gathering the bodies together, solemnly and sadly buried them in +one broad grave. The present monument marks the spot where the precious +dust awaits the resurrection. + +The head and hands of Cameron were cut off and carried in ignoble +triumph through the streets of Edinburgh. The head was elevated on the +point of a spear and borne in front of the prisoners to the city jail. +Cameron's father was a prisoner there at that time. The head and hands +were presented to him, with the sneering question, "Do you know them?" +The aweful shock quickly gave place to a gush of fatherly affection. The +blood, the pallor, even the stare of the lifeless face, seemed to +disappear in the heart-kindlings of the aged parent; to him the +countenance was sweet as ever, the eyes were beaming, the lips were +vocal, the brow was wreathed with holy dignity. A thousand tender scenes +of the past must have rushed in upon the soul of the agitated father. He +took up the cold pieces, dearer to him than his own flesh and, while +tears flowed plentifully, kissed them, saying, "I know them; they are my +son's; my own dear son's: the Lord can harm neither me nor mine; good is +the will of the Lord." + +Cameron lived in the most critical period of the Covenanted cause. His +life of service and sacrifice arose into gigantic strength just when the +Covenanted Reformation seemed to be ready for burial. The floodtide of +Indulgence had almost submerged the testimony of the Covenanters. Many +of the ministers had been caught in that Satanic snare. The remainder +were overawed, or disabled with disease and old age. Yet there was a +host of brave men and honorable women, thousands in number, who without +a leader faced the increasing' fierceness of the persecution, and +continued their testimony for Christ in defiance of the king's wrath. +These were called the Society People, and Cameron during his public +ministry was their standard-bearer. + +Cameron and the Society People, afterward known as the Cameronians, have +been severely criticised for their exclusiveness. They refused to hold +fellowship with the Indulged ministers who had assented to the king's +supremacy over the Church, and likewise with the Field-ministers, who +had become mute on the Covenanted testimony. They are often represented +as having been stern, censorious, and uncharitable in the extreme. A +glance at Cameron's commission will show how baseless is the charge. + +Richard Cameron received ordination in Holland, four months after the +battle of Bothwell Bridge. The ordination service was very solemn and +touching. The presbytery felt that they were commissioning a servant of +God to do a work that would cost his life. While the ministers rented +their hands on Cameron's head in the act of ordination, he was told by +one of them, that the head whereon their hands were laid would one day +be severed from his body and set up before the sun and moon for public +view. Such was the vision of blood that moved before his eyes during the +eight months of his ministry. At that same time he received also the +exhortation: "Go, Richard; the public Standard of the Gospel is fallen +in Scotland; go home and lift the fallen Standard, and display it +publicly before the world. But before you put your hand to it, go to as +many of the Field-ministers as you can find, and give them your hearty +invitation to go with you." + +True to his commission Cameron went. He sought out the Field-ministers. +They now numbered about sixty. These were keeping close to their +hiding-places; their voices scarcely went beyond the mouth of their +caves; they counted their blood more valuable than their testimony for +Christ and His Covenant. Twenty years of unabating hardships had +unnerved them; the late avalanche of the king's wrath had overwhelmed +them; they were mostly mute in witnessing for Christ, as the rocks +behind which they were hiding. + +Of the sixty ministers Cameron found only two who were willing to stand +with him and hold up the Banner of the Covenant before the eyes of the +nation. One of these, Thomas Douglas, quickly disappeared leaving +Cameron and Cargill alone to lead the Covenanted people of God in the +fight that was growing harder every day. These two dauntless ministers +of Christ accepted the responsibility, knowing too well the price to be +paid was their own blood. And they have been censured for their +exclusiveness. + +Twenty years previous, the Covenanted ministers numbered one thousand. +More than half of these had violated the Covenant by a resolution in +1650, to open the offices of public trust to men without moral +qualification. Will the minority be censured for not following them? In +1662, the ministerial brotherhood was again rent in twain by the king's +decree requiring them to submit, or quit the manse. Four hundred refused +to comply. Will they be censured for withdrawing from their brethren who +remained? In later years the Indulgences followed, one after another, +capturing all except sixty. Will the sixty be censured for not following +the others in submitting to the king's supremacy over the Church? And +now all but two suspend the public testimony for Christ's crown. Will +the two be censured for separating from the sixty, and holding forth the +Banner of Christ? + +[Illustration: FOUR YOUNG COVENANTERS DISCOVERED + +These young men had left their homes to save their lives. They lived +among the hills, hid in the caves, slept on the ground, had little to +eat, and were always in danger. They evidently had come here to sun +themselves after a chilly night, and to comfort one another in Jesus +Christ. They were found and sentenced to be shot. They said to their +accusers, "If we had a hundred lives, we would willingly quit them all, +for the truth of Christ".] + +Cameron and Cargill, with the Society people, stood on a basis separated +from their brethren who had stepped off the basis, and had left them to +struggle alone against mighty odds and fierce enemies, for the +Covenanted Reformation to which all were bound by a solemn oath. These +men, with the Society people at their back, stood by their Covenant and +the oath of God, the others had departed. Censure the Cameronians for +exclusiveness? Rather, be sincere and censure them for not slipping, and +stumbling, and falling away, like their brethren from Covenant +attainments. These worthies stood on the heights from which the others +had departed, and waving the old battle-worn colors of the Covenant +appealed unto them to come up and occupy the ground where they had +formerly stood. + +The Cameronians maintained a high position; but it was not chimerical or +theoretical; it was practical and Scriptural; here was solid ground, a +rock-foundation. On it were no sidings, no off-sets, no bogs. The truths +they held were clear, clean-cut, adamantine, foundational, and +unchangeable. Their oath bound them to defend the sovereignty of Christ, +the kingdom of God, and the Reformed religion. + +The banner still floats up there in the care of a few successors. Under +the Lord of hosts, the Captain of the Covenant, they continue to this +day without a thought of retreating, and trailing their colors in the +dust. They are confident that Churches and nations will yet reach the +heights of Covenant doctrine and fidelity under Jesus Christ. The bane +of the Churches to-day is the slanting ground, adown which an evil +influence is steadily drawing the people lower and lower. But in the +last days the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh; then shall +the world have a spiritual resurrection, and a glorious ascension to +Covenant grounds, through the Lord Jesus Christ, "to whom be dominion +and majesty for ever and ever." "The mountain of the Lord's house shall +be established in the top of the mountains; and shall be exalted above +the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe Ayrsmoss on the night after the battle? + +2. What did the enemy do with Cameron's body? + +3. How did Cameron's life and death impress the Covenanters? + +4. Why were the Cameronians called extremists? + +5. Were they justifiable in separating from others? + +6. Who joined Cameron in carrying out his commission? + +7. What is the true position of Covenanters? + +8. What is their mission in the world? + + + + +XXXVIII. + +THE LONE STAR.--A.D. 1681. + + +Donald Cargill was at this time the only minister of the Society people. +He was the Lone Star appearing in the firmament of the Covenanted +Church. The night was very cloudy. The storm of persecution had darkened +the land; the defection of the Church had deepened the darkness; the +wrath of the Lord, against the persecuting nation and the +Covenant-breaking Church, had covered Scotland with a woeful night. The +stars had disappeared till one alone, a solitary orb, had power +sufficient to pierce the deadly gloom with its lustrous rays. + +Donald Cargill was the Elijah of his day, the solitary standard-bearer +of the Covenant after the death of Cameron. Doubtless there were seven +thousand, yea, seven thousand twice told, who had not bowed the knee to +Baal; but they were hidden in caves and in holes of the rocks, waiting +for some terrible display of the power and glory of the Lord. There were +many stars, but the night was too dark for them to shine; also they had +become almost nebulous. Even Alexander Peden, Scotland's fiery prophet, +who never weakened in the Covenant nor waned in his brilliant +career--even he did not identify with the Cameronians in the declaration +of war against King Charles and the demand for his abdication. Cargill +was the lone leader of the dreadless Covenanters in their new and +aggressive movement. + +The last years of Cargill were his best, and his last services were his +greatest. He grew like the cedar, increasing in strength, usefulness, +and dignity till cut down by death. His zeal leaped into flames with the +adverse winds: he did his noblest works when he was most sorely pressed. +He conducted divine services even when wounded and bleeding; he carried +the gashes of the sword into the pulpit and the scars of battle down to +the grave. A glance at his wonderful career should be inspiring. + +Even in childhood Cargill was noted for prayer. He grew up on a +beautiful farm where the fields dip into the shady valley and ascend the +lofty hills. Rugged nature taught the opening child-life to take on much +beauty, grandeur, and dignity. He loitered often on the confines of the +higher world in his meditations and in prayer. But especially the altar +of worship, the family Bible, the fireside catechising, the stern +discipline, and the solemn Sabbaths moulded the boy and awakened the +powers that distinguished the man. Family religion, which was strict, +solemn, and awe-inspiring made heroes of the men of the Covenant. +Without family religion the children may be expected to become moral +imbeciles and spiritual ciphers. + +When Cargill was yet a youth, he was known to spend whole nights in +prayer. What those nights must have been to that young heart! What +unfoldings of the Gospel and of the love of God! What revelations of the +beauties of Christ, the preciousness of His blood, and the treasures of +His Covenant! What insight into the value of the soul and its commission +from God! What views of stewardship, accountability, rewards, +punishments, destiny, eternity! What visions of the kingdom of the Lord +Jesus Christ, His royal rights, His glory and majesty, His jealousy over +the Church, His indignation against evil, His vindication of right! What +those nights of prayer must have been to that boyish heart! The Holy +Spirit came down upon the tender suppliant; the glory of the Lord shone +round about him; the heavens bent and burst with blessings above his +head; he made many an incursion into the upper world. What a wonderful +life we may expect to arise out of a beginning like this! Look out for +the boy that spends whole nights in prayer, or even whole hours talking +with God! Assuredly the outcome will be amazing. + +Courage was prominent among the qualities that brought Cargill to the +front and made him one of Scotland's many mighties. He was afraid of +nothing except God's displeasure. His towering intellect, polished with +education, instructed in the Bible, and irradiant with the Holy Spirit, +gave him a wide horizon. He made the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ his +viewpoint, and therefore saw things in their true relation. He had a +strong, spiritual grasp of the truths of Christ and His universal +dominion. He saw Jesus crowned with many crowns; the Church united to +Christ in marriage; and all the universe subject to Christ for the +Church's sake. Cargill's clear and comprehensive view of Christ and His +universal dominion enabled him to take the right side in the great +struggle that was then shaking Scotland's foundations. He wisely chose +the strong side. He cast his lot in with the poor "remnant," who were +hunted, captured, and executed as fast as the bloodhounds of King +Charles could do their cruel work. Most men called this the weak side, +but Cargill's eyes took in the spiritual world. He gazed upon the +infinite power of God, the omnipotence of truth, the armies of heaven. +He knew that all the forces of righteousness were moving forward in +matchless harmony in support of the "remnant" who kept faith with the +Lord Jesus Christ. In the consciousness of this almighty strength, which +was at his back, how could he be afraid? + +Cargill accepted the office of the Gospel ministry with a deep sense of +unworthiness. When urged to enter the ministry he hesitated and spent a +day in fasting and prayer to discover the mind of the Lord. God spoke to +him by sending into his heart the irresistible command: "Son of man, eat +this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel." He took this to be +the answer, as these words rang in his ears day and night. He hesitated +no longer; from that time he was consecrated to the work of the Gospel, +and his zeal made him a bright target for the foe. + +His regular service on one occasion fell on the anniversary of the +king's restoration to the throne. The house was crowded; the country was +rejoicing with the king, though he had already launched upon the crimson +tide of persecution. Casting a glance over the audience and judging that +many had come to do the king honor, his soul flamed into indignation, +and his eyes flashed with scorn for the crowned murderer. "We are not +here," said he, "to keep this day as others keep it. We thought once to +bless the day when the king came home again, but now we have reason to +curse it. If any of you have come to solemnize this day, we desire you +to remove." Then arising into passionate vehemence, he cried, "Woe, woe, +woe unto the king! His name shall be a stench while the world stands, +for treachery, tyranny, and lechery." From that day they sought his +life to take it away; yet he lived and preached twenty more years. + +[Illustration: DONALD CARGILL. + +Donald Cargill received the martyr's crown in 1681, after passing +through 20 years of persecution. He died on the scaffold at the age of +71. Standing beneath the rope he exclaimed, "This is the sweetest and +most glorious day that ever mine eyes did see." He sang Psalm 118, from +the 16th verse. Then crying out in a rapture of joy, "Welcome, Father, +Son, and Holy Ghost, into Thy hands I commit my spirit," he entered +within the veil.] + +Cargill's life was tossed about on roughest waves. He made many narrow +escapes. Near his early home lies a deep valley, adown which a mountain +stream rushes within a rock-rimmed channel, churning itself into milky +whiteness. On one occasion he was pursued by soldiers all the way from +Dundee, nine miles distant. He fled down the steep cliff and leaped the +chasm. The soldiers following him came to the spot but dared not to +jump. Cargill walked up the opposite embankment and escaped. Being +reminded one day that he had made a good leap he humorously replied, +"Yes, but I had a good run before the leap." + +At another time he saw a group of soldiers approaching in search of him. +He coolly walked forward and, taking a square look at them, went on. +They not knowing him personally never once thought that a man of such an +airy countenance could be the one for whom they were searching. At +Queensferry the house still stands where he and Captain Hall were +arrested. The brave Captain threw himself between Cargill and the +officer. The struggle was a tough one; Hall was mortally wounded; +Cargill, too, was much hurt but escaped. But this did not prevent him +from keeping his engagement at a Conventicle; he preached in his wounds. +Nothing but death seemed able to check this man of God in the work of +the Gospel. His greatest service however is yet to be related. + +Have we incorporated the element of Divine strength into our lives? Do +we make the throne of Jesus our viewpoint, from whence we see all things +related to Him, and through Him to each other? Do we stand for the +right, however weak that side may seem, knowing that all the powers that +be of God are on that side? The times call for heroic lives, men who +will not flinch under reproach, nor apologize for their convictions; men +who will support the truth at any cost, and denounce sin at every +hazard. Can the Church now furnish such men? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Who succeeded Cameron as leader of the Society people? + +2. Tell something about Cargill's early life. + +3. How was he influenced to become a minister? + +4. What objection had he to the king's anniversary? + +5. What dangers did he meet? + +6. How did he persist in the work of the Gospel? + +7. Describe the strong side of every good cause. + + + + +XXXIX. + +AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE.--A.D. 1681. + + +The severity of the persecution had now driven the Conventicles into the +most solitary places. Very few ministers at this period ventured, under +any circumstances, to preach at the Field-meetings. Cargill survived +Cameron a little more than one year. They had been accustomed to attend +these meetings together; their fellowship in the ministry of Christ was +a mutual joy. They were equally yoked and made a strong team. Where the +two preached the people had a great feast. But death had separated them; +Cargill keenly felt the bereavement. He was thereafter like a dove +mourning the loss of its mate. He preached a touching sermon on the +Sabbath after Cameron's death, taking his text from King David's elegy +over the death of Abner: "There is a prince and a great man fallen this +day in Israel." + +Cargill was now seventy years old; grey, worn, and weakened with the +terrible experiences that had crowded into his persecuted life. His last +year was a fitting climax, the best of all his years in the Lord's +service. The notes of his trumpet were always vigorous and decisive; +one blast, however, was especially loud, long, and clear, the like of +which the world had never heard. + +This preacher of righteousness denounced sin with unsparing keenness. He +was no respecter of persons; the king got his share of reproof and +admonition, equally with the lowliest in the land. He was very jealous +for the Lord God of hosts, and could brook no indignity to Christ. + +King Charles had done dishonor of the darkest kind to the Lord Jesus. He +had grasped at the Crown of Christ, had broken the holy Covenant, had +crushed the Church, and had shed the blood of the saints. The sight of +such horrible wickedness made Cargill's blood boil, and his sermons +arose betimes in passionate eloquence against the guilty king. On one +occasion he poured out upon the royal head a triple woe. This could +never be pardoned by the crowned murderer of God's people. The king +pursued him with vengeful wrath. A price equal to $1,200 was offered for +his head, alive or dead. Twenty years and more the bloodhounds of +persecution were on his track. Twenty years, with the sword hanging over +the head, makes a solemn life. Twenty years, amidst the hardships and +horrors of persecution, gives a rich experience. Twenty years, in the +furnace heated seven times more than it is wont, makes a pure soul. +Twenty years, hiding under the shadow of the Most High, makes a powerful +preacher. It was said of him, as of his Master, though in a lesser +sense, "Never man spake like this man." His voice reached wide circles, +resounded across broad glades, and echoed from rugged mountain sides. +Thousands were melted by his tender words, and many were swung into line +with the Covenant by his forceful logic. He spoke out of deep +experience, pleading as a man who stood in the glare of Christ's +judgment seat. While he preached, the eternal world seemed irradiant +about him. Some of his discourses have been preserved by the press. + +Cargill's sermons and prayers were usually short. He once received a +gentle reproof for his brevity. He was holding a Conventicle; the people +had come a long distance for the preaching; they hungered and thirsted +for God and His Word. The great congregation was feasting on the rich +abundance of the Gospel, and hanging on the lips of the minister, when +he suddenly stopped. He had finished. One of the hearers, who felt that +only a slice of bread was given, when a loaf was needed, approached him +and said, "Oh, sir, 'tis long betwixt meals, and we are in a starving +condition, and it is sweet and good and wholesome which ye deliver; but +why do ye straiten us so much for shortness?" Cargill replied, "Ever +since I bowed the knee in good earnest to pray, I never durst pray or +preach with my gifts; and when my heart is not affected, and comes not +up with my mouth, I always thought it time for me to quit. What comes +not from my heart, I have little hope that it will go to the heart of +others." He was able to distinguish between the product of his own gifts +and that of the Holy Spirit. The one is like bubbles on the water for +hungry souls; the other like the grapes of Eschol. + +[Illustration: EARLSTON CASTLE + +This castle is very ancient. The Earlstons were zealous reformers for +many generations. They suffered much in the persecution, and furnished +at least one martyr, William Gordon, a young man who was apprehended on +his way to the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and shot on the road.] + +The most notable event in the career of Cargill was the excommunication +of the king, and six of his accomplices, from the Covenanted Church. +These seven men were the chief persecutors at that time. Formerly they +had been Covenanters, but had abandoned the Covenant, and had fallen +into excessive wickedness. The Church had never dealt with their cases; +she had lost the power. The Church courts were controlled by the king. +But shall discipline, therefore, fail? Can the Church no more sustain +her laws, and administer her censures? Is she incapacitated? +Extraordinary conditions justify extraordinary methods. Cargill +conceived the bold purpose of issuing these cases, and inflicting the +censures, solitary and alone, as a minister of Christ Jesus. Not in the +spirit of revenge, nor as a vain anathema, but by the authority of God, +in the name of Christ, and with profound sense of responsibility did he +mete out the spiritual penalty unto these blood-stained and impenitent +transgressors. The indestructible vitality of the Church thus reappeared +in that dread act. + +This action was taken at a Conventicle held at Torwood early in the +autumn of 1680. The attendance was large. The people knew not what was +coming. Cargill was much animated. After a powerful sermon, he proceeded +with the act of excommunication. The form was this: + +"I, being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority from Him, do, +in His name, and by His Spirit, excommunicate, cast out of the true +Church, and deliver up to Satan, Charles II., upon these grounds: (1) +His mocking of God; (2) His great perjury; (3) His rescinding all laws +for establishing the Reformation; (4) His commanding armies to destroy +the Lord's people; (5) His being an enemy to true Protestants; (6) His +granting remission and pardon to murderers; (7) His adulteries." + +Cargill knew that he would be adversely judged, by future generations, +for what he had done; many would regard the excommunication as +unreasonable and unwarrantable. He, therefore, adventured his reputation +and authority on a prophecy, which he uttered in his sermon on the next +Sabbath: "If these men die the ordinary death of men, then God hath not +spoken by me." King Charles was poisoned; the Duke of York died raving +under the sentence; McKenzie died with blood flowing from many parts of +his body; the Duke of Monmouth was executed; Dalziel died while +drinking, without a moment of warning; Lauderdale sank into dotage +through excessive indulgence; the Duke of Rothes passed into eternity in +despair. The prophecy had its terrible fulfilment, to the last man. "It +is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." + +Not much now remained for Cargill to do. A few more Conventicles, the +acknowledgment of Christ's supremacy before the judges, a public +testimony on the scaffold; then the blood can flow, and seal the truth, +which he loved so well to preach. His pursuers at length discovered him. +Great was the rejoicing of his enemies when he was found, and bound, and +hastened to prison. His trial was swift, issuing in the death sentence. +His execution quickly followed. When he came to the gibbet, he placed +his back against the ladder, and addressed the throng that had gathered +to witness his last struggle. The venerable face beamed with happiness. +That morning he had written some of his flowing thoughts. Here is one of +them: "This is the most joyful day I ever saw; my joy is now begun never +to be interrupted." His soul was stirring with divine raptures; the +glory of heaven was breaking around him. The thrill of youthful life +again quickened his pulse; he wheeled about and mounted the scaffold, +saying, "The Lord knows I go up this ladder with less fear and +perturbation of mind than ever I entered the pulpit to preach." Having +reached the platform, where the rope was waiting for his neck, he bade +adieu to earth, and welcome to heaven. "Farewell," he exclaimed; +"Farewell, all relations and friends in Christ; farewell acquaintances +and all earthly enjoyments; farewell reading and preaching, praying and +believing, wanderings and reproaches and sufferings. Welcome joy +unspeakable and full of glory. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! into +Thy hands I commit my spirit." What was death to a man like that but the +beginning of glory! The black scaffold was lighted up with the radiance +that streamed through the pearl gates. + +How much does the spirit of zeal, courage, witness-bearing, and +discipline, stir the descendants of the martyred Covenanters in the +present day? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What may be said of Cargill's last years of service? + +2. How many years of persecution did he suffer? + +3. What aroused him against the king? + +4. What official act did he perform on the king and six others? + +5. What was the nature of this excommunication? + +6. How did he protect himself against wrong criticism? + +7. Was his prophecy fulfilled? + +8. How did Cargill die? + +9. What service is much neglected in the Church in our day? + + + + +XL. + +THE SOCIETIES.--A.D. 1682. + + +After the death of Cameron, the Covenanters of the Cameronian type +formed themselves into societies for the worship of God, for their own +spiritual edification, and for the defence of the Covenant. Half a dozen +families or more, having the same faith, spirit, and purpose, met +together on the Sabbath day, to engage in social worship. This was +called a society. + +Those were days of woeful declension. Defection had swept the great body +of Covenanters from their basis. Under the strain of persecution and the +snare of the royal Indulgence, many ministers and people had abandoned +wholly, or in degree, Reformation grounds. The Society People alone +refused to make concessions by which truth would be suppressed, +conscience defiled, or any divine principle surrendered. They stood by +the Covenant, and accepted the consequences, including hardest service +and greatest sufferings. + +The Society People have been censured for exclusiveness; they refused to +associate with others in the worship of God, and would hear no ministers +except their own. But why? Consider their reason, then let them be +judged. These people stood alone simply because they had been left +alone; these soldiers of Christ had been deserted while holding the +ground won by their fathers at the cost of much blood. They stood where +the Lord Jesus Christ had placed them, giving them a solemn charge to +keep the oath, and defend His royal rights. Should they then be +reprimanded, for not joining in the general stampede? What saith the +Lord? "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." + +From the fortress of the Covenant these veterans of Christ heroically +waved the Blue Banner, declaring to their brethren, and to the world, +that by the grace of God they would never surrender. They were the real +Covenanters, the true blue, the old stock. They were not a faction; they +were the remnant. They stood on the original ground; the others had +broken the Covenant and had departed. These were the core, the center, +the substance, the personnel, the integral force, the organized body, +the visible form, of the Covenanted Church in those days. The Societies +were the continuity of the Church that had flourished in the days of +Knox, and took on later and greater glory in the times of Henderson. +They were the same Church, holding the same faith, the same Covenant, +and the same services. + +The Society People were not the branch; they were, the trunk from which +the branches had fallen. The branches were strewn around; but the trunk, +though broken and disfigured, was still deeply rooted in Covenant soil, +and full of life. + +The persecutors more than ever concentrated their fire upon these +people. They were pursued and shot like game. Liberal rewards were +offered for their leaders. Yet they stood by their Covenant; they would +not yield an hairbreadth. Fidelity to Christ swallowed up every other +consideration; it was the burning passion of their lives. + +These societies were numerous, extending over a wide area. They were +held together by delegations which met quarterly. By this means harmony +of spirit, purpose, and action was preserved. They stood like a square +of veterans, facing the enemy on every side. They even took aggressive +steps, delivering in the most public manner their testimony against the +tyranny of the king and the defection of the Church. The minutes of +these General Meetings have been preserved; they furnish interesting +reading. + +After the death of Cargill these people had no minister. A few +ministers, like Alexander Peden, were still untainted, but they would +not join these strong-headed Covenanters in their war against the king. +They regarded the Society People as extremists and fanatics. The +societies suffered more seriously from reproach and misrepresentation by +the brethren than from persecution, though that was growing fiercer +every day. But these were men who reckoned with conscience and with God; +not with consequences nor with man. Fidelity to Christ was their first +and only choice. + +These immovable Covenanters were now undergoing the severest trial of +faith. They were hunted, seized, tortured, shot, hanged, destroyed, in +the most infernal manner. They were shown neither mercy nor justice. But +the most crushing distress was the reproach heaped upon them by +retrograde Covenanters. By these they were defamed as dangerous men, +disloyal to their country and a disgrace to religion. All the ministers, +through fear or with scorn, had forsaken them. This was harder to endure +than fire, gibbet, and sword combined. They issued a pathetic call to +the pastors to come back and tend this flock of God. The call was like +the wail of lost children crying for a father's care and pity. It +contained these assuring words: + +"We will hear all ministers, whether in houses or fields, who will +preach according to the Word of God, our Covenants, Confession of Faith, +and Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, that will embrace this, our call." + +The call was presented to as many as could be found, and was declined by +every one. These that declined their call were the ministers who, twenty +years previous, had been expelled from their churches, because they +would not abandon their Covenant and submit to the king. And these were +the people who had followed them into the wilderness, gathered about +them in great Conventicles, enjoyed wonderful Communions under their +ministry, and adventured their lives in their defence. Now the flock was +forsaken; the shepherds had fled. + +These people, however, were not to be despised. They were numerous; a +few years later, upon an emergency, they mustered a regiment for their +country's defence without the beat of a drum, and announced that another +regiment or two would follow if needed. They were courageous; they gave +a most aggressive testimony at Lanark against the king and the +defections of the times. They were intelligent; they ably defended their +principles and position both in speech and in print. They were +consecrated; they made their appeal always to God, to the Covenant, to +conscience, and to the enlightened judgment of Christendom. + +The General Meeting resolved, in 1682, to educate four young men for the +ministry, among whom was James Renwick. These were sent to college. +Renwick was ordained in 1684. + +Each society endeavored to hold a meeting every Sabbath for Divine +worship. This went far to supply the spiritual nourishment which the +ministers had failed to give. The "Society" is a sweet memory, +lingering still in the hearts of some of our aged people. There are +Covenanters who can yet recall the old-fashioned prayer meeting, then +known as the Society which descended from the times of persecution They +can remember how half a dozen families, sometimes more, sometimes less, +came quietly together on Sabbath morning to one of their homes. The +atmosphere, within and without, was pervaded with holy awe. A quiet joy, +subdued with gravity, beamed in all faces. The largest room in the house +was crowded with men, women, and children; the chairs were supplemented +with boards, cushioned with quilts, for seats. At 11 a.m. the worship of +God began. + +[Illustration: ST. SEBASTIAN CHURCH, ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND. + +In the times of persecution many Covenanters fled to Holland for safety. +Here they found a city of refuge. The city council gave them the use of +this church for worship. The building is very ancient, and yet it is in +a good state of preservation.] + +Order of exercises: + +A Psalm announced, a blessing invoked singing the Psalm, reading a +chapter, and prayer by the leader. + +Bible verse announced, statement of doctrine and remarks. + +A second Psalm, chapter, and prayer. + +Reading in the Confession of Faith or in a sermon. + +A third Psalm, chapter, and prayer. + +The children reciting Psalms and Questions. + +The Shorter Catechism recited by the whole house. + +A fourth Psalm, followed with a short prayer. + +Adjournment at 3 p.m. + +These societies were the deep roots of the Covenanted Church. By means +of them, she became thoroughly indoctrinated in the Word of God and His +holy Covenant. In these meetings the elders became like ministers in the +knowledge of Christ, and the people like elders. The feeble in Israel +waxed strong as the house of David, and the house of David as the angel +of the Lord. There were giants in those days. + +The Covenanted Church must revive the society spirit and exercises, if +she would recover her vitality; she must resume these spiritual +athletics if she would feel the glow of healthy vigor. These roots have +suffered decay; therefore the trees are easily upturned. When Social +worship of God characterizes the Church, the people will take on +strength and be able to stand amidst the spiritual landslides and +general defection that characterizes the times in which we live. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did the Covenanted Societies survive the general defection? + +2. How did they succeed when they had no ministers? + +3. What separated them from others in worship? + +4. What caused them the greatest grief? + +5. How did they entreat the ministers to come to them? + +6. On what terms would they have received the minister? + +7. How were the societies unified? + +8. How did the General Meeting provide a ministry? + +9. Give a description of an old-time prayer-meeting. + +10. Why should these exercises be revived? + + + + +XLI. + +THE DAUGHTERS OF THE COVENANT. + + +The persecution of the Covenanters brought into display the rarest +virtues and highest qualities of womanhood. Many women chose to give up +their happy homes, and wander in solitudes, dwell in caves, suffer in +prisons, hear the death sentence, and go to the gallows, rather than +violate their Covenant with God. They cheerfully accepted their full +share of service and sacrifice in Scotland's struggle for civil and +religious liberty. They faced the terrors of that conflict with a noble +spirit; they were man's worthy helpers in those trying times. Thousands +of incidents of feminine heroism might be cited; we have room for merely +a few. + +The Covenanter's marriage, in those days, was both serious and romantic. +The bride always loves to open her eyes upon rosy prospects, but +persecution in that generation shattered the beautiful dream. Her future +was then like a landscape, over which storm followed storm, with only +alternate blinks of sunlight. Husband and wife were in jeopardy every +hour; to-morrow the wedding gown might be the winding sheet. When John +Knox found the woman of his choice, he said, "My bird, are you willing +to marry me?" She replied, "Yes, Sir." Then tenderly and firmly he +added, "My bird, if you marry me, you must take your venture of God's +providence, as I do. I go through the country on foot, with a wallet on +my arm, and in it a Bible, a shirt, and a clean band; you also may put +some things in for yourself; and you must go where I go, and lodge where +I lodge." "I'll do all this," she blithely answered. They lived long, +and were happy in the bonds of that blessed wedlock. Once as they +journeyed across the county she took the hand-baggage, and hastening +ahead sat on the hilltop awaiting his coming. As he came up she +humorously said, "Am not I as good as my word?" + +The women often showed fidelity to Jesus Christ and His Covenant that +amazed the persecutors. They scorned the suggestion of relief for +themselves or their families that would compromise the truth of Christ. +John Welch, of Ayr, lay in prison fifteen months because his preaching +did not please the king. The dungeon in which he was confined is yet +pointed out in Blackness Castle, a dark, dismal, pestilential vault. A +recent traveler said that he had gotten enough of its horrors in five +minutes to do him. But poor Welch had to abide there "five quarters of +ane yier." Mrs. Welch visited the king in person to plead for his +release. "Yes," said the king, "if he will submit to the bishops." +"Please Your Majesty," said Mrs. Welch, holding up the corners of her +apron, "I'd rather kep his head here." The faithful wife was willing to +witness her husband's execution, rather than have him betray the cause +of Christ or break his Covenant with God. + +Many a martyr got his inspiration for duty from God, through his noble +wife. When James Guthrie came to a difficult task, he seemed to +hesitate. Great interests were involved. May he not modify a certain +ministerial action so as to save his life, provide for his family, and +continue to shepherd his flock? Who would not pause in presence of such +a serious consideration? His wife, observing his perplexity, came into +his presence with a cheery countenance and an assuring voice, saying, +"My heart, what the Lord gives you light and clearness to do, that do." +The light carried him into the service; the conscience was set free from +the temporary disturbance; yet the decision brought him to the scaffold; +it placed upon his brow the martyr's crown. The worthy wife sadly went +into widowhood, and the children into orphanage, through that strong, +womanly spirit which could brook no deviation from duty. + +The women frequently were placed in embarrassing positions. In marriage +they were not always equally yoked. When the husband was a persecutor, +faithfulness in the house and fidelity to Jesus required the highest +wisdom on the part of the wife. Lady Anne Rothes occupied such a home. +Both she and her husband were born Covenanters. The Covenant principles +were bred in the bone, instilled into the thoughts, and impressed on the +conscience, at the parental fireside, at the family altar, in the house +of God, and at the Table of the Lord, while they were under the care of +their parents; but the young man forsook his father's God, dishonored +the Covenant, and cast off religion. He became a profligate and +persecutor. The woman, through the abundant grace of God, remained true +to the Covenant. Her position, however, involved her in many a dilemma. +The wedlock that promised to be a blessed union proved to be a galling +yoke. The husband was placed in power by the king, and granted the title +of duke. On one occasion, when entertaining Archbishop Sharp, the two +grew merry over their plan to put certain Covenanters to death. The +tender-hearted woman, sitting with them at the table, was greatly +distressed, yet she wisely concealed her feelings. Having the +information, however, she was able to send out timely warning to the +Covenanters. In this way she saved their lives, not once, nor twice. +Rothes, too, in his better moments, assisted her in protecting the +persecuted. When about to send his soldiers to apprehend the +Covenanters, at times he would say to her with a twinkle in his eye, "My +lady, the hawks will be out to-night, so you had better take care of +your chickens." + +The women of the Covenant were compelled to pass through many painful +scenes. Often their hearts were heavily burdened, yet they were mightily +sustained by the Holy Spirit. Captain John Paton, after a wonderful +record on the battlefield in defence of the Covenant, won his last fight +on the scaffold. He went joyfully to his death, glorying in victory +through his Lord Jesus Christ. As he stood on the platform from which he +would soon step into eternity, he held forth his well-worn Bible, from +which he addressed the crowd that stood around the gallows. Then bidding +farewell to earth, and welcome to heaven, he commended his wife and +their six children to the care of his Covenant God. At that moment, the +sorrow-stricken woman, reaching up her trembling hand, received from him +his Bible with a blessing--a double token of her husband's deathless +love. Then in the twinkling of an eye, she saw his body twirling in the +death struggle, while his soul entered into glory. That Bible is still +preserved at Lochgoin. + +The horrors which women deliberately faced, in their devotion to Christ +and His servants, seem almost incredible. How great the love of woman +whose heart God's love has filled! How deep, how tranquil, how +inexhaustible, how majestic, how like the love of Jesus is the love of +that woman whose heart rests in her Covenant God! It is measured in part +by the stupendous tasks she accepts and the crucial emergencies she +endures for the sake of others. When Robert Baillie, burdened with years +and weakened with disease, lay in prison waiting for his sentence, his +wife was ill and unable to visit him. But the angelic heart of her +sister, Lady Graden, then found its opportunity. The authorities would +permit her to visit the dying man, only on her consent to become a +prisoner with him. She agreed to the conditions, and entered the dark +sickly cell. His pale face was quickly lighted up with her presence, and +the Word of God, which she read to him in the dim candle-light. Night +and day she watched over him with sympathetic interest. At length he was +brought out for trial, and sentenced to die. She accompanied him to the +gallows, stood by him when swung off; saw him cut down, watched while +his body was quartered and prepared for shipment, to be placed on +exhibition in four cities. And when the service of love was fully +finished, and neither hand, nor tongue, nor eye could do anything +further, she went home to console her sick sister. + +[Illustration: CONSOLATION IN PRISON. + +Helen Johnston, afterward Lady Graden, was the daughter of the +celebrated Archibald Johnston, who sealed the Covenant with his blood. +Through much tribulation she learned to sympathize deeply with those who +were condemned to die for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here she +is seen visiting an aged prisoner of Christ, Robert Baillie. She is +leading the Bible, and conversing upon the consolation of God's grace. +She attended him on the scaffold, where he gave up his life for the +truth.] + +And what shall we say more of Isabel Alison, Marion Harvie, Margaret +Dun, Barbara Cunningham, Janet Livingston, Anne Hamilton, Margaret +Colville, Marion Veitch, and the long list of worthy women, which the +pen of man will never complete? + +The Covenanted Church is largely dependent on the women for spirit, +courage, fidelity, and activity in the service of Christ. The grace of +God, abounding in the women, will cause the Church to arise and do +valiant work. When mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters beam with +devotion to Christ and His Covenant; when their voice is resonant with +holy courage in the Lord's cause; when their lives are sublime with +deeds of heroic faith; then will the Church become "beautiful as the +morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army +with banners." Jesus said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith; be it +unto thee even as thou wilt." + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. In what spirit did the women endure the persecution? + +2. Give an incident in courtship. + +3. Describe the loyalty of Mrs. Welch, both to her husband and to the +Covenant. + +4. Relate Mrs. Guthrie's spirited advice to her husband. + +5. Tell about Mrs. Paton. + +6. What were some of the difficulties faced by Lady Rothes? + +7. Describe the service of devotion by Lady Graden to Robert Baillie. + +8. How is the Church dependent on woman, for spirited and successful +work? + + + + +XLII. + +YOUNG LIFE UNDER PERSECUTION. + + +When the shepherd is smitten, the sheep will be scattered. When the +father is persecuted, the family will suffer, the mother and children +cannot escape. The fire that enfolds the oak with a sheet of flame will +not pause at the more beautiful maple or the flowering shrubs. + +God's Covenant with the fathers included mothers, sons, and daughters. +It also embraced future generations. "The promise is unto you, and to +your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord +our God shall call." The Covenant of our fathers was their acceptance of +God's promise on His own terms. The terms were these: unswerving +fidelity to His truth, and steadfastness in His service. They who were +true in spirit, honest at heart, firm in purpose, and consistent in +life, were able to enter into the deep, broad, marvelous meaning of the +Covenant. The secret of the Lord was with them. The Holy Spirit came +upon them with power, shed light, gave strength, ministered comfort, +inspired hope, produced courage, wrought wonders. In their presence the +wilderness blossomed as the rose; gardens sprang up in the solitary +places; the apple tree bore fruit in the woods. The Lord Jesus Christ +was with them in the rich abundance and wonderful variety of His grace; +they dwelt in the heavenly places; glory covered the ground whereon they +trod. + +The children of the Covenanters, being included in the Covenant, +suffered with their parents in the persecution, and received also the +recompense of reward. A few of these lovely lives may be mentioned, but +the fascinating story of thousands will never be told. The few, however, +will suggest the many. We look at a bunch of violets, then think of the +acres of delicate beauty bathing in the warm sunbeams and fluttering in +the soft winds. + +The young Covenanters in those days confronted severest conditions and +learned hardest lessons in discipleship. Sometimes they had to forsake +father and mother to prove themselves worthy of Christ. Andrew Forsyth, +verging on manhood, was required to drink this bitter cup. The family +had not yet espoused the Covenanted cause. One day Andrew was entrusted +with a flock of sheep for the market. He was over night on the way. As +he lay that night guarding his sheep in the field, he heard solemn +music. Following the sound, he came to a moss-hag, where a group of +Covenanters were worshiping God. A moss-hag is a cut on the hillside, +formed by frost and rain; and overhung with moss, heather, and other +growths. In such places the pursued Covenanters often hid themselves. +The cold grotto was their house; the damp earth their bed; the hole cut +out of the hill without hands their sanctuary. Andrew listened with +breathless interest. They were singing a Psalm of David. Then followed +an earnest prayer. Tie could not endure the suspense, but revealed +himself to the little company. They received him gladly, and spent hours +talking of Christ, His precious blood, His amazing love, His royal +glory, and His unrivalled supremacy. Andrew was a Covenanter when he +went home. His father was angry, his mother was sorry, and he had to +leave. In a distant moor he made himself a bed under a booth of heather +and moss, and supported himself by working for the neighboring +shepherds. The dragoons heard of his affiliation with the Covenanters, +and were quickly on his path; his life was ever in danger. One day they +fired on him, but he escaped and reached his mossy den, carrying a +bullet wound received from their fire. There he lay several days, +suffering, bleeding, hungry, lonely, and helpless, yet full of peace and +joy in the Lord. Often did he think of his father's house, and his +mother's love; of the gentle hands that had in other days smoothed his +bed and made his bread; yet his heart bloomed with thoughts of the love +of Jesus Christ and His sweet promises. His religion had cost much, but +he never regretted the bargain by which he had lost the world and gained +his soul. At length a shepherd found him, and kindly ministered to his +wants. This good boy lived to be an old man, whose grey hair was a crown +of glory. + +The young people often manifested presence of mind equal to those of +riper years. Bessie Willison was one of those brilliant characters. Once +she heard of a Field-meeting to be held under trying circumstances and +resolved to attend it. It was winter; the ground was covered with snow; +the place was distant and difficult to reach; the weather was rough; the +journey was perilous; dragoons might be met at any turn of the road. +What girl would brave such hardships for a day's preaching? Bessie +arrayed herself in her winter wraps, and started early in the morning. +She was willing to endure hardness for the Lord's sake. She could face +the driven snow, or sit on an icy stone, or laugh at the blasts that +reddened her cheeks, in order to hear the Word preached by a true +servant of God. She walked alone; yet not alone, for her heart burned +within her while the Lord talked with her by the way. As the road led +around a hill, she suddenly came upon a troop of dragoons. They drew up +their horses, soldier-like, and spoke rudely to her; she replied with +much dignity. They persisted in their vile language, taunting her and +railing on the Covenanters. But even with their horses, guns, swords, +and rough speeches, they were unable to daunt the lonely girl. Conscious +of purity, and flaming with indignation, her eyes flashing into their +faces, she administered a reproof that cut like a lancet. They shrank +and made room for her to pass on without further molestation. What +inspiration would come to the Field-meeting from the presence of a +Covenanter like that! The Lord was with her, and therefore she brought +joy and strength to others. + +The little children, too, had their difficult places in Scotland's hard +fight for liberty. The persecution still increased in violence. At +length when for any reason a town had fallen under the king's +displeasure, all the inhabitants were subject to punishment. On one +occasion, the people had been warned of the coming of dragoons. The +parents, not being able to take their children with them, and hoping the +"bairns" would find pity, left them and fled to a hiding-place. The +children were sharply interrogated by the soldiers concerning their +parents, but gave no satisfaction. They were then led to a field and +placed in front of the soldiers. This greatly terrified them, but they +would reveal nothing. The officer commanded his men to take aim. Up went +the guns; the sight was dreadful for children; yet they would give no +information. "Lead us to the hiding-place, or you will be shot," cried +the officer. There were sobs, tears, and trembling, but no response. + +[Illustration: ANDREW HISLOP'S MARTYRDOM. + +Andrew Hislop was but a youth when he suffered death for Christ's Crown +and Covenant. He was taken while crossing a field, and sentenced to die +on the spot. He bravely faced the guns that were levelled at his brow. +Many, other boys of that period were equally heroic. Four of them, who +were captured in a group, replied thus to their captors, when told that +they must be shot: "We are to die, you say? Glorious news! Christ is no +worse than He promised."] + +"Will it hurt much, Janet?" said a little boy, as he clasped the hand +of his sister. + +"I dinna ken, Willie," replied the sister tenderly, "but I'm sure it +will na last lang." + +"Fire!" shouted the officer. The terrible volley flashed from every gun. +Some of the children dropped, thinking they had been shot. The soldiers +had been told to shoot over their heads to frighten and not kill. The +officer, outmatched by the brave children, and we hope heartily ashamed +of himself, led his men away. As they rode off, the children sang: + + "The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want; + He makes me down to lie + In pastures green; He leadeth me + The quiet waters by." + +Their sweet voices mingled with the dying clatter of the horses' hoofs. + +The young bridegroom and his bride were also involved in hardships that +tried their souls. The soldiers that raided the country had equal +disregard for old age, youth, and infancy. The mother, whether +surrounded by a houseful of children, or clasping her first infant on +her bosom, found no pity. One morning the dragoons surrounded the house +of a happy couple, John and Sarah Gibson. They had come to seize both, +whether to kill or imprison was not yet determined. John was absent; +Sarah, seeing the troopers gallop toward the house, poured a prayer over +her babe, as it lay asleep in the crib, and fled in terror, hoping that +sweet infancy would appeal to their hearts. A ruffian rushed in, and +grasping the babe, shouted, "The nurse is not far away." He made it +scream, to bring the mother back. She heard its pitiful cry; her heart +was breaking, yet she was utterly powerless. She might expose herself, +but she could not help the infant. They carried it away. She was almost +insane with grief. The soldiers, going back from the house, met the +father, but he was not identified. They, being bewildered on the moor, +compelled him to be their guide. He saw the child, but did not recognize +it as his own. The officer, ashamed of the cruel deed, ordered the man +who had carried off the babe to take it back to the house. He galloped +off and laid it again in the crib. The mother quickly clasped it to her +bosom. That night the father returned. Telling of his adventures, he +mentioned the babe he had seen with the soldiers. The mother, bursting +into tears, arose and laying the infant in his arms said, "This is the +babe you saw." + +The young people are the hope of the Church. The congregation whose +young people are loyal to Christ and true to the Covenant is greatly +blessed of God. The Covenant embraces children, claims their allegiance, +calls for their service, honors them with responsibilities, and lays at +their feet the privileges and beatitudes of the kingdom of heaven. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Does the Covenant of the fathers include posterity? + +2. How did the children suffer in the persecution? + +3. Describe the case of Andrew Forsyth. + +4. How did Bessie Willison meet her trials? + +5. Tell about the little children of a persecuted town. + +6. Describe the cruelty done to the babe of Mr. and Mrs. Gibson. + +7. What may the Church expect, when her young people are true? + + + + +XLIII. + +THE COVENANTERS' BIBLE. + + +The Covenanters dearly loved the Bible. They esteemed it very highly for +the sake of God, its Author. They believed in its inspiration, +genuineness, infallibility, majesty, and power. The Bible inspired? Yes, +the Covenanters had no troublesome thoughts on that question. The Holy +Spirit, in their estimation, was the source of that Book; the contents +were all His own. He produced every sentence, formed every clause, chose +every word found in the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, and filled +all brimful and overflowing with God's own meaning. He did all this +through the men who were employed as the inspired writers. The +Covenanters believed in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible. + +They discovered also a second inspiration. The Holy Spirit inspires the +devout reader. He opens the heart to receive the Scriptures, and He +opens the Scriptures to yield their meaning. Then, and only then, the +Bible appears in its true greatness. Then is it the effective voice of +God, tender as the sob of a babe, and majestic as thunder; it then is +the temple of living truth, filled with the glory of the Lord's +presence; it then is the revelation of the eternal world, showing the +beauty of holiness, the mystery of the cross, the conquest of death, the +horrors of sin, the doom of the lost, the joy of the saved. Oh, what a +Book the Bible is to the inspired reader! It becomes transparent. The +light of the face of Jesus flashes from the lines and between the lines, +through the words and amidst the letters, turning the page into heaven's +bright scenery, and the chapters into the unveiling of the wonders of +redemption. Such was the Book of God to the Covenanters, as they passed +through the fires of persecution. + +The homeless Covenanters, wandering from place to place, carried the +Bible with them. It was their faithful guide and constant companion. +When they were hungry, it was their food; when thirsty, it was their +drink; when forsaken, it was their friend; when wounded, it was their +balm; when pursued, it was their refuge; when condemned, it was their +advocate; when executed, it was their welcome into heaven. When they +retired to the darksome caves, its promises made the dripping stones +shine; when they sought shelter in the mountains, the music of the +Psalms cheered their hearts; when their blood bedewed the moss, the loud +cry on Calvary sanctified their pain; when they sat on the Bass Rock +begirt with waves and swept by storms, the visions, creations, and +tumultuous grandeurs of Patmos were reproduced in the spiritual +experience of these illuminated sufferers, by means of the Word of God. +To these devout Covenanters, the blessed Book yielded up its wealth, +breathed its deepest love, revealed its hidden glory. In their spiritual +visions, the desert blossomed at their feet, gardens flourished around +them, harvests ripened for their sickle; summer drove back the dreary +winter; they verily dwelt in Immanuel's land. + +The Covenanters loved the Bible more than their lives. In it they found +eternal life, and counted all things but loss for the excellency of the +knowledge of Christ. Many instances are on record, showing their +willingness to die, rather than abandon, or conceal, the Book of God. +One man, M'Roy by name, was shot on the spot, because he was found +reading his Bible. It was Sabbath, a sweet summer day. That morning he +drove his cows to pasture, carrying the sacred Book with him. The field +is a beautiful place for personal devotions. Here the soul can luxuriate +in prayer and meditation, holding fellowship with heaven. A solemn +stillness had fallen upon the broad landscape; nothing was heard but the +notes of the plover, the bleating of the lambs, and the grazing of the +cows. M'Roy sat down on the soft grass, and opened the Book of God. He +was then in his element; he delighted in the law of the Lord. The sun +poured down its blessings upon the fields, and a light much brighter +spread around his soul; the fragrant air fanned his brow, and sweeter +aroma from the "mountain or myrrh" refreshed his spirit. His heart was +beating fast with the joys that were crowding into his inner life. He +was preparing, though he knew it not, for a crisis. Suddenly and rudely +the spiritual reverie was interrupted. Captain Lagg, with a company of +horsemen, was dashing across that field, when their eyes fell upon the +lonely herdsman. They galloped to the spot where he sat in solemn +composure. + +"What book is that you are reading?" Lagg gruffly asked. + +"It is the Bible, Sir," meekly replied M'Roy, looking up into the face +of the rough soldier, who held his weapon ready for action. The +confession sealed his death. + +"Your cows must find another herdsman," sternly returned Lagg, who +immediately delivered the fatal shot. The bleeding body struggled a +moment on the heath, then the ransomed spirit took its flight to +brighter realms. + +The Bible won the young, as well as the more matured. It warmed, +strengthened, purified, and ennobled the hearts of sons and daughters, +affording comfort and arousing heroism equal to that of fathers and +mothers. Andrew Hislop, while yet a youth, was overtaken as he hastened +to a hiding-place, and was put on trial for his life, while he stood +before the soldiers in the field across which he was running. His Bible +was found on his person. His mother's home had been demolished by +Claverhouse some time previous; she and her children had been compelled +to face the future without food or shelter. She had been charged with +harboring Covenanters; therefore her residence had been destroyed, her +provisions seized, and her children scattered; all were now being hunted +for their lives. Claverhouse had found Andrew. He was allowed a short +time for prayer. His prayer brought the needed blessing with more than +lightning-speed; sufficient grace and strength were immediately given. +His face shined with courage; his eyes gleamed with contempt for danger +and death; a halo of victory seemed to wreathe him; the Holy Spirit +filled his soul with joy; his lips took up the Psalmist's inspired +challenge, and the solemn music smote the ears of his foes, as he sang-- + + "The mighty Lord is on my side, + I will not be afraid; + For any thing that man can do + I shall not be dismayed." + +The dragoons were unable to endure the glory of that face, or the +sweetness of that voice. He was ordered to draw down his "bonnet" over +his eyes, and receive the volley. He sternly refused, lifting it higher +on his dauntless brow, and affirming that he could look the musketeers +in the face, while they delivered the murderous fire. Then holding out +his Bible, he haled them to the Judgment-seat, where they would be +judged by that Book. + +[Illustration: COVENANTERS BIBLES + +In this group of Bibles, Peden's is the largest; Cargill's is underneath +it, and Captain Paton's to the left. We had the privilege of using +Cargill's Bible in 1896, at a Conventicle service held on the Cargill +farm. We felt deeply impressed, while reading from the pages upon which +the piercing eyes of the martyr had often flashed. The book still bears +the marks of rain-drops, received, doubtless, while being used in the +outdoor meetings held by the Covenanters.] + +"Shoot," cried Claverhouse. Not a gun was discharged. The men were +overawed by the sweet innocency and intrepid spirit of the youthful +Covenanter. + +"Shoot that bonnie young man!" exclaimed the officer, who had charge of +the men appointed to do the bloody work. "I'll fight Clavers and a' his +men first." Three others were found sufficiently hardened to do the +cruel deed. The young hero fell, and expired. As the horsemen rode away, +the stricken mother hastened to the spot. The young heart had ceased to +beat; the eyes opened no more upon her kindly face. Sadly she gathered +up the oozing brains, for which she had brought a clean napkin, knowing +too well what had occurred; she then prepared the body for burial. + +The Covenanters endeavored to keep the Bible ever close at hand. It was +the open book in the house the desk-book in the shop, the pocket-book in +the field, the guide-book on the road. When they had a breathing spell +at their work, they inhaled its fragrance, fed upon its manna, drank +from its wells of salvation, plucked the ripe fruit of its orchards. A +glance at its sacred pages, now and then through the day, supplied +strength, wisdom, comfort, and courage so much needed. But this pious +habit imperiled life. Arthur Inglis one day, while resting his team at +the plow, sat down on the furrow, with his open Bible. He was suddenly +sighted by the wary dragoons, who were scouting the country. They +spurred their steeds, and were quickly drawn up around their victim. The +fact that he was reading the Bible was sufficient to convince them that +he was worthy to die. Neither judge nor jury was necessary for +conviction. He received the deadly volley and fell, expiring in the +furrow where he sat. + +The Bible, how we should prize it! Our fathers, when they opened the +Book of God, knew not but ere they closed it their blood would stain the +page upon which the eyes were feasting; yet they relished it more than +their necessary food. How will our delight in the Word of God compare +with theirs? + + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How did the Covenanters esteem the Bible? + +2. What kind of inspiration did they ascribe to the Bible? + +3. What second inspiration needed to understand it? + +4. What was the Bible to these sufferers? + +5. Describe their devotion to the Word of God; the experience of McRoy; +Andrew Hislop; Arthur Inglis. + +6. How ought we to esteem the Bible? + + + + +XLIV. + +THE SCOTTISH SEER.--A.D. 1685. + + +Alexander Peden was a burning and a shining light in the dark night of +Scotland's persecution. His career in the ministry of the Gospel glowed +with mysterious splendor. His natural powers flashed with supernatural +glints, or rather, with excessive spiritual light, by the indwelling +Holy Spirit. God, through persecution, made many mighty men. + +Peden was born in 1626, when King Charles was trying hard to stamp out +Presbyterianism. He was twelve years old, when the Covenant renewed at +Greyfriars' Church thrilled the kingdom. He was twenty-four when Charles +II. took the throne, and wrought havoc with the Reformation. When +thirty-six, he was driven from his church at Glenluce by the wrath of +the king. When forty-eight, he was banished to the Bass Rock, where he +rested, like an eagle on its aerie, his soul betimes soaring above all +clouds, and calmly viewing the ransomed in presence of the eternal +Throne. At sixty, he gave death a royal welcome, uttering predictions, +bestowing blessings, and giving signs, like one of the prophets of old. +Thus his singular life fell into periods of twelves, each arising above +the other, like mountain upon mountain, in ruggedness and majesty, until +his noble spirit took its flight from the scenes of earth. + +A great distress befell him on the day appointed for his licensure. A +serious charge was preferred against him, affecting his moral character. +His licensure, therefore, was deferred. Greatly humiliated, he withdrew +to a solitary place, and spent twenty-four hours in prayer. He was all +night alone with the Angel of the Covenant, and wrestled till he got the +blessing. A prayer lasting twenty-four hours, poured forth from the +heart, will work wonders. He has not told us how he sat by the murmuring +waters, pouring out his complaint; nor how that day was to him like +night, and the night like outer darkness; nor how he mingled his sighs +with the moaning of the winds, and his tears with the drops of the +night; but he has told how that the Lord answered him. Returning to the +house he said, "Give me meat and drink, for I have gotten what I was +seeking; I will be vindicated." His innocency was soon made clear by the +criminal making a public confession of guilt. + +Peden was called to the church of Glenluce, where he remained as pastor +three years. His preaching was earnest, pointed, and powerful. He was +greatly beloved by his flock, and the work of the Lord prospered in his +hand. But his ministry in that field was violently interrupted by the +vengeance of King Charles, which fell upon the Church in 1662, driving +400 ministers from their parishes. Peden possessed a militant spirit, +and ignored the day set by royal authority for the arbitrary vacation. +He boldly continued overtime. At length the strain was so great that he +had to go. His farewell sermon was preached from Acts 20:31: "Therefore +watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to +warn every one night and day with tears." The text was peculiarly +appropriate to the occasion. The house was crowded; tumultuous emotions +surged through the audience; the anguish found vent in weeping, wailing, +and loud lamentations. The sermon was frequently interrupted with the +grief. The service continued until night. He never again preached in +that pulpit. + +The gift of prophecy distinguished Peden in a striking manner, giving +him a unique place in history. He spoke with accuracy of many events, +without information other than that received directly from God. But this +will astonish no one who is acquainted with man's power in prayer. +Prayer was the secret of Peden's prescience. God proceeds on established +principles, in His dealings with His people. "The secret of the Lord is +with them that fear Him." "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham +that thing which I do?" Peden's prayers on certain occasions lasted all +night. Communion with God was his delight; he lived in the presence of +the Almighty; his hiding-place was in the brightness of the light +shining from the face of Jesus Christ. His heart was burdened with the +interests of Christ's kingdom. Therefore God gave him eyes to see much +that was hidden from others. + +He was sixty miles away when the Covenanters fell on the field of +Rullion Green. News then traveled no faster than a horse. That evening +he was sad. A friend inquired the cause. He replied, "To-morrow I shall +tell you." That night he retired to his room, but went not to bed; he +spent the hours in prayer. Next morning he said, "Our friends, that were +in arms for Christ's interest, are now broken, killed, taken, and fled, +every man." + +He was forty miles away on the dismal Sabbath, when the Covenanters were +slaughtered at Bothwell Bridge. He had an engagement to preach. The +people assembled in a solitary place for the service. They were hungry +for the Word of God, but Peden did not appear. At noon they sent to know +the cause. He replied, "Let the people go to their prayers; I neither +can, nor will preach this day, for our friends are fallen and fleed +before the enemy; they are hagging and hacking them down, and their +blood is running like water." + +[Illustration: PEDEN AT CAMERON'S GRAVE. + +When Peden was old, he wandered one day to the grave of Cameron. There +he sat down in deep meditation. Desolation brooded over the scene. The +solitude of his life, too, was crushing. His dearest companions in +persecution had fallen in the hard-fought battle. They had received +their crown, and were with the Lord in glory, while he was yet pursued +like a partridge on the mountains. His heart heaved a heavy sigh, and +from his lips came the memorable words, "O, to be wi Richie."] + +One day while preaching, he arose in a flight of inspiration, +exclaiming, "I must tell you, in the name of the Lord, who sent me unto +you this day, to tell you these things, that ere it be very long, the +living shall not be able to bury the dead in thee, O Scotland; and many +a mile shall ye walk, or ride, and shall not see a farm-house, but +ruinous wastes, for the quarrel of a broken Covenant and wrongs done to +the Son of God." + +This servant of God had profound knowledge of Bible doctrines. He had a +masterly conception of the crown rights of Jesus Christ, and the +fundamental principles of His kingdom. He had vivid views of the +excellence of holiness, and the atrocity of sin. This filled him, like +the Psalmist, with horror at the doom of transgressors. His inner life +was fiercely swept with the contrary passions of love for righteousness, +and hatred for iniquity. His soul was the scene of terrific conflicts. +His preaching and praying against the powers of darkness often revealed +an internal tragedy. One night while preaching to the Covenanters who +had assembled in a sheep-house, he cried out, "Black, black, black will +be the day, that shall come upon Ireland; they shall travel forty miles, +and not see a reeking house, or hear a crowing cock." Then, clapping his +hands with dramatic effect, he exclaimed: "Glory, glory to the Lord, +that He has accepted a bloody sacrifice of a sealed testimony off +Scotland's hand." + +Peden could not brook any departure from Christ and His Covenant. +Covenant-breaking was, in his eyes, a most aggravated sin. He was quick +to see the Lord coming to avenge the quarrel of His Covenant, and his +soul was filled with dread. + +Here are some of his utterances: + +"Oh, my heart trembles within me, to think what is coming on the +backsliding, soul-murdering ministers of Scotland! + +"He is not worth his room, that prays not half his time, to see if he +can prevent the dreadful wrath, that is coming on our poor motherland. + +"Thirty-six years ago our Lord had a numerous train of ministers in +Scotland, but one blast blew six hundred of them away, and they never +returned. + +"I shall tell you the right way of covenanting with God; it is when +Christ and believers meet; and our Lord gives them His laws, statutes, +and commandments; and charges them not to quit a hoof of them; no, +though they should be torn into a thousand pieces. And the right +Covenanter says, Amen." + +Peden never married. During twenty-four years of wanderings, his life +was pathetically lonely. When death was approaching, he returned to the +old home, to spend his last days amid the scenes of his childhood. His +brother still dwelt there. He received a cordial welcome, though his +presence imperiled the family; for the dragoons were still pursuing him. +To that true and tender soul, how beautiful must have been the green +fields, the rippling brooks, and the familiar hills, where he had roamed +when a child! They made him a cave on the hillside; a bush covered its +entrance. There he was hidden from the enemy, and there he lay in his +last illness, and ripened for heaven. + +When near his end he predicted, that, bury him where they would, the +enemy would lift his body. Forty days after his burial, the spiteful foe +raised his body, and buried it among the graves of criminals. Thus they +attempted to disgrace this servant of Jesus Christ. But in later years +his memory was so dearly cherished, that many good people requested to +be interred beside him, and the grounds around that grave in time became +a beautiful cemetery. + +Communion with God is the secret of power, and of spiritual vision; and +faithfulness in God's Covenant is the secret of Divine communion. The +possibility of living in holy familiarity with God the Father, and with +our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, learning the thoughts +of God, feeling the thrill of His power, viewing His far-reaching plans, +and co-operating in His glorious work--is this only a fascinating dream? +Nay, the Covenanters of the martyr-spirit found it to be a realization. +Do their children strive after the same attainment? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. What gift specially distinguished Peden? + +2. What distress did he meet at his licensure? + +3. How did he overcome it? + +4. Where was his first pastorate? + +5. Why did he leave Glenluce? + +6. What remarkable prophecies did he utter? + +7. Repeat some of his sayings. + +8. What occurred to his body after burial? + +9. How may we attain to a similar familiarity with God? + + + + +XLV. + +SCOTLAND'S MAIDEN MARTYR.--A.D. 1685. + + +King Charles II. died February 6, 1685. Few tears were shed, many hearts +were glad, at his departure. He was called the "Merry Monarch," in +allusion to his frivolous spirit and gross dissipation. "Wherever you +see his portrait, you may fancy him in his court at Whitehall, +surrounded by some of the worst vagabonds in the kingdom, drinking, +gambling, indulging in vicious conversation, and committing every kind +of profligate excess." + +Charles left behind him a gory path. Pools of blood, precious blood, the +blood of the saints, marked it all the way through the twenty-five years +of his reign. Where did that horrible path lead? We shudder at the +answer; we draw a veil over the scene; we are careful not to speak our +thoughts. But the strong-hearted martyrs followed the vision to the end. +"Would you know what the devil is doing in hell?" exclaimed John Semple, +one of the Covenanted ministers. "He is going with a long rod in his +hand, crying, Make way, make room, for the king is coming; and the +other persecutors are posting hither." How like the scathing irony of +Isaiah, in describing the death of the king of Babylon! "Hell from +beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming." An ovation in +the lower world! What horrid mockery there awaits the chieftains of +crime! + +A curious coincidence occurred at this time. Alexander Peden, on a +certain night, was conducting family worship. He was hundreds of miles +distant from the king. While reading from the Bible, he suddenly +stopped, and exclaimed, "What's this I hear?" He uttered the strange +words three times. Then after a brief pause, he clapped his hands and +said, "I hear a dead shot at the throne of Britain. Let him go; he has +been a black sight to these lands, especially to poor Scotland. We're +well quit of him." That same night the king fell in a fit of apoplexy, +or as some say, by a dose of poison, and died within five days. His +brother, the Duke of York, succeeded him on the throne. + +James VII, the new king, inherited Charles' work of slaughter, and +continued it with revolting savagery. He, too, was infatuated with the +thought of being supreme over the Church, and became infuriated with the +purpose of overthrowing Presbyterianism, and suppressing the +Covenanters, now called "The Cameronians." Had he paused to consider, +surely he would have hesitated to follow the man, who had gone to meet +his Judge, to answer for the blood that was crying against him for +vengeance. We tremble at the thought of the naked soul facing the +accusations of the slain, and receiving righteous retribution for its +cruel deeds. How great the infatuation of the successor, who determined +to follow the same path! + +Among those who suffered under king James, the family of Gilbert Wilson +is worthy of special notice. Neither Gilbert, nor his wife, had espoused +the Covenanters' cause; but they had three children who claimed the +enviable distinction; Margaret, aged eighteen years, Thomas, sixteen, +and Agnes, thirteen. These children had been deeply moved by the stories +of bloodshed, that were then recited, night by night at many a fireside. +Their sympathy with the persecuted was aroused unwittingly, and they +absorbed the principles of the Covenant; somehow, and it could not be +explained, they became Covenanters, and that of the noblest type. Their +parents were shocked, for their property, and freedom, and even their +lives were involved. The children were required to abandon the Covenant, +or quit their home. They chose the latter, sad and terrible as it was. +These young hearts had grasped one of the highest and hardest truths in +the religion of Jesus Christ--"He that loveth father or mother more than +me is not worthy of me." + +[Illustration: CHOOSING DEATH RATHER THAN LIFE + +Margaret McLaughlin was a widow, 63 years of age; Margaret Wilson a girl +of 18. False accusations were preferred against them, but the real +ground of their death was their faith in Jesus Christ and piety before +God. They were offered life, if they would renounce the Covenant. They +chose death rather than forfeit God's favor, by breaking Covenant. +Several costly and beautiful monuments have been erected in Scotland to +their honor. The strand where they died is still marked by stakes, which +are replaced from time to time. The place is near Wigtown, in the south +of Scotland.] + +One day they walked slowly and sadly away from their beloved parents, +and their pleasant home. From a distance they cast a farewell glance +upon the scenes of their childhood, then quickened their pace to reach +the solitudes and escape the soldiers. The dragoons came to the house, +but missed their prey. They were very angry, and enjoined the parents, +under a heavy penalty, to refuse their children food and shelter; yea, +all human kindness. The children pursued their way, not knowing whither +they were going. The desolate moors, the dreary mountains, the damp +caves, the chilly moss-hags were before them, but their resting-place +this night must be determined by the setting of the sun. We have not +been told where they wrapped themselves in their plaids for sleep, but +it was likely on the ground. They sadly missed the cozy bed their mother +used to make. Where they had to stop was so shelterless, silent, chilly, +and lonely. They were weary, hungry, defenceless, trembling like +nestlings cast violently out of the nest. Margaret the oldest was a +mother to the others. She loved her Bible. It contained God's many +promises, one especially precious on a night like this: "Fear thou not; +for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen +thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand +of my righteousness." With such assuring words, they fell asleep in each +other's arms, their heads resting on the bosom of Christ's everlasting +love. The sun arose, and they, wandering on, found the Covenanters, with +whom they shared the privations, yea, also the consolations, of +persecuted life. + +Having heard that King Charles was dead, the two sisters supposed that +the persecution had abated, and ventured to the house of Margaret +McLaughlan, an old faithful friend. Here they were discovered and +arrested; and, with this aged widow, were cast into prison. Agnes was +ransomed by her father, at a price equal to $500. The two Margarets were +sentenced to die. The manner of their death was peculiar and very +shocking. + +On May 11, 1685, they were taken to the sea-shore to be drowned. While +the tide was low two stakes were driven deep into the oozy sand, one +close to the water, the other nearer the shore. To the first Margaret +McLaughlin was bound; to the second, Margaret Wilson. The shore was +crowded with people. Major Windram, with his troop, had charge of the +execution. This man himself like Gilbert Wilson had two daughters and a +son. They, too, like the Wilson children, had become aroused at the +deeds of blood, and remonstrated with their father against his atrocious +cruelty, in persecuting the Covenanters. One after another they had +sickened and died, each charging their death on him, as God's vengeance +upon his deeds. This man, after all his bitter experience, was hard +enough to watch these women die beneath the briny waves, and show them +no pity. The tide slowly recovered its strength; higher and higher it +arose around the more distant woman--up to her face--over her head--then +a death-struggle. "What think you now of your companion?" said a soldier +to the young maiden, as the head of the aged martyr rose and fell on the +waves. "What do I see but Christ, in one of His members, wrestling +there," she calmly replied. "Think you that we are the sufferers? No, it +is Christ in us; for He sends none a warfaring on their own charges." +The tide crept up upon this second martyr like the death-chill, but her +heart was strong and fearless in the Lord. Her voice arose sweetly above +the swash of the waves, reciting Scripture, pouring forth prayer, and +singing Psalms. The tide swelled around her bosom, ascended her naked +neck, touched her warm lips, yet the heavenly music continued. But now a +breaker dashes over the uplifted face; the voice is silenced; the head +droops upon the water. At this moment a soldier rushed forward, and +dragged her to the shore, hoping that she had received enough of the sea +to frighten her into a confession, and thereby securing her release. The +gasping girl was asked to renounce her Covenant. She refused. "Dear +Margaret," said a friend in melting tones, "Say, 'God save the king!' +say, 'God save the king!'" With sweet composure, she answered, "God +save him if He will, for it is his salvation I desire." Her friends, +rushing up to the officers, exclaimed, "O, Sir, she has said it; she has +said it." "Then let her take the oath, and renounce her Covenant," he +replied with cruel harshness. She answered with emphasis, "I will not; I +am one of Christ's children; let me go." They plunged her back into the +heaving waters; the struggle was brief. The lifeless form was cast upon +the strand, and soon borne off by loving hands. The limp body was now +free from all sorrow and suffering. The beautiful casket was empty; the +shining jewel had been taken to adorn the crown of the KING OF KINGS, +and to flash forever in the glory of heaven. + + "The tide flowed in, and rising over her lips, + She sang no more, but lifted up her face, + And there was glory all over the sky, + And there was glory all over the sky, + A flood of glory--and the lifted face + Swam in it, till it bowed beneath the flood, + And Scotland's Maiden Martyr went to God." + +The young people who are governed by the Word of God, and strengthened +by a Covenant with God, and steadfastly aim at the glory of God, will +have the Holy Spirit in rich abundance. When love to Jesus arises into a +holy passion, subordinating all earthly interests and relations, be +assured that extraordinary services, sacrifices, achievements, +victories, and honors are awaiting. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. When did King Charles die? + +2. What terrors must such a man have to meet at death? + +3. Who was his successor on the throne? + +4. What was his character? + +5. What notable family suffered under him? + +6. Relate the sad circumstances of the Wilson children. + +7. What happened to the sisters and their elderly friend? + +8. What was the manner of the death of the two Margarets? + +9. Describe the martyrdom of Margaret Wilson. + +10. How may the young people arise in strength for church service? + + + + +XLVI. + +THE ELDERSHIP--A WALL OF DEFENCE.--A.D. 1685. + + +The eldership has ever been a tower of strength in the Covenanted +Church. The elders have been pilots at the helm, when the ship was +driven by fiercest storms, and the ministers had altogether disappeared. +They have been the homeguards, when the most desperate assaults were +made upon their beloved Zion. They have been leaders, moving forward +with wise, fearless, and persistent step, when Christ's cause demanded +aggressive testimony for down-trodden truth, and against uprising error. + +The Presbyterian Church has derived her distinctive name from the office +of the elder. Elder, Presbytery, Presbyterianism, Scriptural Church +Government, Christ's supremacy unlimited and unrivaled--these thoughts +are links in a chain, all made of the same gold. Presbyterianism is the +doctrine of Christ's sovereignty, crystalized into form, and reduced to +practice; the Headship of Jesus over His Church finds therein its +grandest expression. + +The Covenanted Presbyterians recognized only one form of Church +government as Scriptural--that invested in the elders. They rejected all +other forms, as human inventions, without Divine warrant, an injury to +the Church, an infringement upon Christian liberty, a seizure of +Christ's crown rights and a blot upon His royal glory. + +The elders are Christ's delegates, appointed to administer His +government in the Church. They are empowered by His will, accredited by +His Spirit, directed by His Word, entrusted with His authority, and +accountable at His throne. To the elders are committed, directly or +indirectly, all the interests of Christ's Church. What awful +responsibility! Surely the elder may pause at the threshold of the +sacred office, and, with trembling lips exclaim, "How dreadful is this +place!" + +The Presbyterian Church of Scotland, in her palmy days, numbered about +1,000 congregations, each under the care of a session. The elders may +therefore be estimated at 6,000 effective men, when the twenty-eight +years' persecution struck the Covenanters. The value of this force can +never be known, in advising, comforting, defending, and leading the +broken congregations of God's people, amidst the storms that desolated +their beloved Zion. + +The minister, being assisted and encouraged by a faithful band of +elders, was able to do great work in his parish, and the Church +flourished exceedingly between the Covenant of 1638 and the persecution +which began in 1660. During the persecution, the order of the Church +being broken up, the election and ordination of elders had almost +ceased. Yet, as the regular eldership melted away by death and +defection, there were other sons of the Covenant, who, in spirit, +service, suffering, and leadership, became elders in fact, and were duly +recognized and honored. + +The service of the elders in those days appeared in many forms. Captain +Henry Hall, of Haughhead, did splendid work in a variety of ways. He +often placed himself between the enemy and the field-meetings, in +defense of the Covenanters. He was a large man, formidable and fearless. +Many a time, with sword in hand, he rode his dashing charger upon the +king's troops, occasionally breaking their ranks. He was chiefly +distinguished, however, for his willingness to sacrifice all he +possessed, in the interest of the Church. He opened up his house for the +licensure of Richard Cameron, when such a meeting jeopardized his life, +family, and property. He also opened up his farm for field-meetings, +despite the wrath of the king, and the danger of being raided by the +troops. A Communion, held on his grounds, was long remembered for the +gracious work of the Holy Spirit. George Barcley was the minister on +that occasion. The people had come from their rocky retreats and +distant homes in great numbers. The preaching was refreshing, and the +Lord's Table furnished a great feast for hungry souls. The people, not +fully satisfied with the bountiful provisions of the Sabbath, came again +on Monday, and swarmed over the green field, waiting for another +service. During the sermon a shower descended, but the audience did not +seem to mind it. The minister himself was quite pleased, remarking while +the rain was falling, "I am as sensible of the drizzle of the dew of +heaven upon our souls, as of the rain upon our bodies." Elder Hall died +of wounds received while defending Donald Cargill, June 3, 1680. + +The elders of those times were profoundly intelligent in the principles +of the Covenant for which they suffered. They were Bible men, who +delighted in the law of God, and drank deeply at the fountain-head of +knowledge. They were experts in the Confession of Faith, the Larger and +Shorter Catechisms, and the Church Covenants. John Nisbet, of Hardhill, +was a hero on many a field, defending minister and people from the +merciless troopers; but his greatest service was in the use of the sword +of the Spirit. His last testimony abounds with lovely passages of +Scripture, beautiful and fragrant as a bush abloom with roses. His +witness for the truth came from a rich heart; his protest against error +was solemn as an affidavit. His testimony shows deep experience in the +Lord, and gives faithful warning to Covenant-breakers. Here are some of +his words: "I close with Christ in that way of redemption, which He hath +purchased. I give my testimony to the Holy Scriptures, for they are the +rule men are to walk by. I leave my testimony against all wrongers of my +Lord's crown." This man died on the scaffold; he ascended the ladder, +rejoicing and praising God, saying, "My soul doth magnify the Lord; my +soul doth magnify the Lord. I have longed, these sixteen years, to seal +the precious cause and interest of my precious Christ with my blood" He +suffered December 4, 1685. + +[Illustration: JOHN BROWN OF PRIESTHILL + +John Brown was notable for meekness, intelligence, and fervent love, in +the Lord Jesus Christ He studied for the ministry, but an impediment in +his speech turned him from that path He became known as the "Christian +carrier"--an expressman, in modern language. His devotion to the +Covenant secured for him the martyr's crown. He was shot in his own +dooryard, May 1, 1685.] + +Many of the elders were filled with spiritual enthusiasm. They had such +vivid views of the Lord Jesus and of the glory of the world to come, +that their souls were poured out in exclamations of wonder. Robert +Garnock, of Stirling, seemed at times to be caught up to the third +heaven, where he saw and enjoyed what he was unable to utter. He could +express the inexpressible only by the repetition of Oh! Oh! Oh! +Referring to a season when no one was permitted to see him in prison, he +said, "Oh, but I had a sweet time! The Lord's countenance was better +unto me, than all the company in the world." In his dying testimony, he +pleaded in the following manner: "Oh, will ye love Him? Oh, He is well +worth the loving, and quitting all for! Oh! for many lives to seal the +sweet cause with! If I had as many lives, as there are hairs on my +head, I would think them all too few to be martyrs for the truth. Oh, if +I could get my royal King Jesus cried up and down the world! Oh, but I +think it very weighty business, to be within twelve hours of eternity! I +will get my fill of love this night, for I will be with Jesus in +paradise. Welcome, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; into thy hands I commit +my spirit." + +Those elders were men of hope. They were enlisted in a winning cause, +and knew it. In the thickest of the fight, the cloud was dark, and the +thunder deafening; yet they knew that victory would ultimately perch on +their banner. Their triumph was assured in Christ, who had said, "Be of +good cheer; I have overcome the world." Robert Miller, of Rutherglen, +was, by his courageous hopefulness, an inspiration to the afflicted +Church. Pointing to the future, he exhorted his fellow-sufferers to hold +out, for glorious days were coming. "And now I dare not doubt," said he, +"but Christ is upon His way to return again. Oh, be earnest with Him! +Employ your strength holding up the fallen-down standard of our Lord. If +ye be found real in this duty, ye shall either be a member of the Church +Militant, and see the glory of the Second Temple, which shall be a +glorious sight; or else ye shall be transported, and be a member of the +Church Triumphant; so ye shall be no loser, but a noble gainer, either +of the ways." He was martyred one winter morning, in the early dawn; +the shadows of night still lingered, for the murderers may have dreaded +the light. Before the sun had risen, his spirit took its flight to the +realms of eternal brightness. + +Are the elders of the Covenanted Church worthy of their predecessors? Do +they measure up to the standard of fortitude in the faith, +self-immolation for the truth, intelligence in the Scriptures, +enthusiasm in Christ, and hopefulness that has no sunset? Are they +leaders of the people in every good enterprise? Are they defenders of +the flock against all defection? Are they carrying the banner of Christ +forward, even beyond the ministers, where the testimony for King Jesus +requires it? For all faithful elders, seats in glory are prepared round +about the throne of God. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Whence did the Presbyterian Church get its name? + +2. What is the only Scriptural form of church government? + +3. What dread responsibility attached to this office? + +4. How did the persecuted Church keep up her force of elders? + +5. Describe the service some of them rendered; Hall, Nisbet, Garnock, +Miller. + +6. What questions should our elders apply to their own conscience? + + + + +XLVII. + +A HOME DESOLATED. + + +"See the top of yon hill?" said the shepherd's wife, pointing to the +highest crag of Cairn Table. "Keep that in yir e'en, and ye'll come to +John Brown's grave." Our way lay through a pathless moor, covered deep +with grass, rushes, and moss; and we had asked direction to the spot +where the martyr's body sleeps. + +The day was wet, the pasture was beaded with drops, and the rushing +streamlets disputed our crossing yet a passionate longing to see the +place where John Brown, known as the "Christian Carrier" had lived, and +was buried, overcame every difficulty. The walk covered three miles. At +length we ascended a knoll, and, lo, the monument stood before our eyes, +and almost at our feet. Now we were on ground, where one of the most +tragic scenes of Scotland was transacted. Cargill very beautifully said, +"The moors are flowered with martyrs' graves." Here is one of these +flowers; a century plant it is, watered with precious blood, and abloom +in sweet solitude. + +The buildings are gone; not a trace of them is left. The grave was made, +it is said, where the martyr fell, in front of his cottage. It is +enclosed with a stone wall breast high. A flat stone lies over the +remains, bearing a copious inscription. The solitariness is oppressive; +death and desolation here bear undisputed sway. The blood ran in chills, +as the cold grey stones gave their testimony, amid the gusts that played +with the heather, and the drizzle that sprinkled our bare heads. The +thoughts of the heart played wildly; imagination refused to be bridled; +in a moment former conditions were, in vision, revived. The monument had +given place to the dwelling, and the dreariness was astir with the +scenes of busy life. + +The country around, was then, as it is now, somber as a desert. The +silence is solemn; we bated our breath; the lips shrank from speaking; +aught except a prayer, or the melody of a Psalm, seemed out of place. +The outlook on every side is without an inhabitant; yet, even here, the +persecutor sought his prey, and did his cruel work. + +Many years had this home been a sanctuary in the wilderness, and a +refuge for the hunted Covenanters. John Brown and Isabel, his wife, were +like Zacharias and Elizabeth, "both righteous before God, walking in all +the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." They had two +children, a babe in the mother's arms, and Janet, five years old, a +child by a former wife. Morning and evening God's worship perfumed +their humble dwelling. These hearts, filled with the love of Jesus, +poured forth His praise every day, but especially on the Sabbath, which +they kept with great care. Their hospitality was munificent: they +entertained angelic strangers. The latch-string was on the outside, and +many a Covenanter, driven by storms, or hunted by dragoons, found a +welcome here. They came wearied with journeying, wasted with hunger, +weakened with sickness, and worried with trouble, and found rest, +comfort, and inspiration in this habitation, where God was pleased to +dwell. + +A society of Covenanters held its meetings in this home. Several +families came across the broad moor on Sabbath morning, and remained +till evening. Sometimes they traveled both ways under star-light, for +fear of the enemy. The day was devoutly spent in prayer, reading the +Word, singing Psalms, and conversing on the heart-stirring doctrines of +redemption. They spoke much concerning the duties and dangers of the +times. This society continued to meet, till broken up by the martyrdom +of its men; one after another was pursued and shot down like game on the +mountains. + +John Brown's home became a rendezvous for the Delegated meetings of the +United Societies. This thickened the dangers that were gathering around +his life. He had a presentiment that his blood would be shed for the +cause of Christ, yet he accepted duty at every hazard, and rejoiced in +privileges however perilous. + +After the death of Donald Cargill, the Cameronians for a while had no +ministers. They stood, however, unfalteringly by their Covenant. They +even grew aggressive in their testimony; hurled new challenges at the +king; took forward steps in the battle for conscience, liberty, and the +royal rights of Christ. The societies, numbering several hundred, were +able to unify and utilize their strength, by means of the Delegated +meetings. The second meeting of these delegates was held in this +consecrated home. Sixteen men, representative Cameronians, competent and +fearless elders, gathered around this hearth, where the turf-fire +glowed, while the March storms swept the moorland. Here they deliberated +how the Covenanters might continue the struggle, and intensify it by +striking harder blows against error, and giving stronger testimony to +the rights of their kingly Saviour. They were at no time planning for +ease, safety, or deliverance. "We only fear," said one, "that our +sufferings will end before the reformation begins." The glory of Jesus +Christ was their objective point. + +Alexander Peden in his wanderings, drifted into this home, on the night +previous to the awful tragedy that occurred in the front yard. How +surpassingly kind is God's providence! Surely Peden was sent of God to +fill these hearts with comfort, courage, and triumph in Jesus Christ, +for the trial, which was now at their door. Peden held John Brown in +highest esteem. Of him he said, "He was a clear, shining light, the +greatest Christian I ever conversed with." What a night of prayer and +inspired fellowship those men must have had together. Their souls were +then in a state of highest tension; both were fired with zeal for the +Covenant of the Lord, and melted with sorrow for the desolated Church. + +[Illustration: A WIDOW'S SORROW + +Claverhouse and his troopers found John Brown on his farm digging turf. +It was in the morning. His fields were still dripping with dew, and his +soul moist with distillings of the 27th Psalm, which he had sung at +family worship. He was brought home, and shot at his door, in presence +of his wife and child. Mrs Brown suffered "neither fainting nor +confusion, but her eyes dazzled when the shots went off," according to +her own story.] + +Next morning, May 1, 1685, they were up at dawn for family worship. The +first verses of the 27th Psalm were sung. How wonderfully appropriate +for such a morning! The Psalm is the shout of faith: + + "The Lord's my light and saving health, + Who shall make me dismayed? + My life's strength is the Lord; of whom + Then shall I be afraid?" + +John Brown then went to the field, spade in hand to dig turf. Peden +lingered; he was sad; the shadow of the great distress had fallen on his +tender spirit. Taking his farewell of Mrs. Brown, he paused and said, as +if to himself, "Poor woman; a fearful morning; a dark, misty morning!" +He then went his way. + +"Oh, mother, a great many horsemen are coming down the hill with +father," cried little Janet, rushing into the house. + +"The thing that I feared is come upon me," cried the mother, "O, give me +grace for this hour," she prayed, lifting her eyes to heaven. Then +taking her babe in her bosom, and Janet by the hand, she went out to +meet the soldiers, praying as she went. Claverhouse was in command. She +pleaded that her husband's life might be spared; but not words nor tears +could move the hardened man. + +"Will you pray for King James and his supremacy?" said Claverhouse to +his prisoner. + +"Jesus Christ is the Supreme Head of His Church," was the fearless +reply. + +"Will you attend the curate's service?" continued Claverhouse. + +"I cannot attend where God's law is not honored," responded Brown. + +"Go to your prayers, for you shall immediately die," cried Claverhouse. +Even the soldiers were horrified at the awful threat. + +"Isabel, this is the day I told you of, before we were married," said he +tenderly to his wife. "You see me now summoned to appear before the +Court of heaven, as a witness in our Redeemer's cause. Are you willing?" + +"Heartily willing," she answered, her voice tremulous with affection for +him and submission to God. Her heart was breaking, yet she would cheer +up the martyr spirit of her husband. + +"That is all I wait for," he said, then added in a rapture of joy, "O, +death, where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory?" He prayed +for Covenant blessing upon mother and children, soon to be left so +lonely; adding, "Blessed be thou, O Holy Spirit, that speaketh more +comfort to my heart, than my oppressors can speak terror to my ears." + +"Shoot" said Claverhouse to the soldiers, drawn up for the bloody work. +Not a gun was discharged. The brutal leader then fired the deadly shot. +The martyr fell at the feet of his wife, and after a brief struggle the +noble spirit departed. "What think you of your husband now?" said +Claverhouse to Mrs. Brown. "I always thought well of him, but more now +than ever," she quietly replied. "You deserve the same fate," said the +brutal man. "And if you had the power, I would receive it," she +defiantly responded. "But O, how will you answer for this day's work?" +she continued. "I'll take God in my own hand," he replied. The soldiers +silently and sullenly rode away, ashamed of the horrible deed. Mrs. +Brown, with her children, sat down beside the outstretched martyr, and +poured out her great sorrow. + +John Brown might have saved his life, and his family, by relaxing in his +Covenant, and joining another Church. The family that keeps Covenant +with God will surely be tried; difficulties and hardships must be met. +But the victory is always to them who cling close to the Lord, in +personal holiness, in family worship, and in Covenant-keeping. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe the location of John Brown's home. + +2. What meetings were held in this cottage? + +3. What interests were here under deliberation? + +4. Who visited the home the evening before the sad event? + +5. How was John Brown captured? + +6. Describe the death of this martyr. + +7. How could John Brown have saved his life? + + + + +XLVIII + +LAST, BUT NOT LEAST.--A.D. 1688. + + +James Renwick was the last martyr publicly executed for adhering to +Scotland's Covenant. He was a child of maternal vows. His mother +dedicated him to the Lord, praying that he might live, and do worthy +service for Christ. She saw her prayer answered; yea, more than +answered; it became, also, a sword that pierced through her own soul. +She had not asked too much; but great prayers always imply +self-immolation. + +The Renwick home was beautiful for situation. It was located near the +quiet town of Moniaive. The building is gone, but the place is kept in +remembrance by an attractive monument. The cottage stood on a hillside, +overlooking a charming valley, and beyond the valley, a range of +mountains reaching to the clouds, glistening with snow in the winter, +and purple with heather in the summer. Young Renwick was a passionate +lover of nature. Oft did he sit on this grassy slope, where stands the +monument, and gaze, and ponder, and dream, till filled with amazement. +Well did he know, that all the magnificence of earth and sky was but the +shadow of the glory beyond, the frills of the Creator's robe, the +evidence of a personal God. This boy, like young Samuel, did not yet +know the Lord. He knew his Bible, his prayers, his Catechism, his +Psalm-book, and his church; but he had no personal acquaintance with +God. This he eagerly sought. One day, as he gazed upon valley and +mountain, a wave of melancholy dashed upon his soul, and he exclaimed, +"If these were devouring furnaces of burning brimstone, I would be +content to go through them all, if so I could be assured that there is a +God." Such agonizing for an experimental acquaintance with God is sure +of reward. God revealed Himself. No great light breaking through the sky +fell upon him; but there came an inner illumination by the Holy Spirit, +which increased till his penetrating eyes saw God in everything; every +bush was burning with His glory; every mountain was clothed with His +majesty; all the heavens were speaking His praise; and yet he saw a +thousand-fold more of the beauty of the Lord in the holy Covenant, and +in the poor despised Covenanters who kept the faith, than in all the +grandeur of nature. Renwick in this deep experience had his introduction +to God. Oh, what a life we may expect of such a man! An introduction to +God must result in a wonderful character. Look out for the boy, who +says that he must find God; his life will yet be transfigured with real +greatness and moral grandeur. + +At the age of nineteen Renwick finished his university education. That +year he witnessed the affecting sight of Donald Cargill's martyrdom. The +execution was public; curiosity and sympathy had collected an immense +throng around the scaffold, to see the old minister die. Renwick was in +the crowd. He was not yet a Covenanter. He pressed forward to hear and +see all he could. The sight was deeply affecting. The venerable man of +God walked triumphantly to the place of execution. His hair was white +with years and cares, his face serene as an angel, and his voice clear +and strong in his last testimony. He ascended the ladder with firm step, +and joyfully sealed the Covenant with his blood. Renwick gazed and +trembled; his heart beat fast, and his eyes grew moist. From that day he +was a Covenanter. He there, and then, resolved to give his life for the +same noble cause. + +The first notable service Renwick rendered to the Covenanters was his +part in the public testimony given by the Society People, at Lanark, +January 12, 1682. The death of Donald Cargill had bereaved the societies +of their only pastor. They had no minister now, who would grasp the +fallen Banner of the Covenant, and hold it forth, in defiance of the +persecutor's rage. These people were the real Covenanters; they counted +the Covenant of their Lord more precious than all the blood that could +be poured out for its sake. Nor were they to be despised. They numbered +at least 12,000. These were men and women noted for high principle, +public spirit, intelligence, and courage. They seized the Banner of the +Covenant, and kept it unfurled with utmost fidelity, while waiting for +God to send them a standard-bearer. The persecution waxed hotter and +hotter. The murderous guns were ever echoing over moors and mountains, +in the desperate effort to exterminate the unconquerable societies. Yet +they grew bolder, and more aggressive, in their testimony against the +king, the Episcopacy, the Indulged ministers, and the silent shepherds. +It was in mid-winter, when storms were a shelter from the foe, that +forty armed Covenanters, including James Renwick, entered the town of +Lanark, and there delivered a new Declaration of rights and wrongs, that +made their enemies gnaw their tongues for pain. + +[Illustration: JAMES RENWICK. + +James Renwick was the last martyr of the Covenant, who suffered by +public execution. His short life was a miracle of devotion to the +Societies, whose fidelity to Christ and their Covenant had inflamed the +enemy with rage, and thereby greatly increased the violence of the +persecution. He had a marvelous victory over death, being in a transport +of joy on the way from the prison to the scaffold. His soul was +overflowing with happiness, in anticipation of the marriage supper of +the Lamb, of which he was about to partake.] + +We find Renwick, soon after this, studying theology in Holland. After +twenty months he appeared before Presbytery for ordination. This is the +man who has had his introduction to God. Now we will see what his +acquaintance with God will do for him. Acquainted with God! Oh, how +singular that will make any man! Acquainted personally with God, with +His sovereignty, His holiness, His love of righteousness, and His +hatred of sin! The man who is thus honored will be peculiar indeed. He +will have deep insight, unswerving purpose, strong character, +unhesitating courage. He will not deviate an hairbreadth from the law of +God, as he sees it. He will not yield his convictions for any +consideration. He will stand alone against the forces of all worlds +combined, rather than compromise one jot of revealed truth. The pleading +of friends and the threats of enemies will alike fall heedlessly upon +his ears. He will consider every word of Christ, and every gem in His +crown, worthy of all the blood that may flow for its sake. Such was +James Renwick at this time. + +There were no ministers of his own denomination to ordain him. The +Church in Holland was not a Covenanted Church, but a branch of the +Presbyterian Church, and at that time it was burdened with corruptions. +But it was not guilty of Covenant-breaking, like the Church of Scotland. +Therefore he sought ordination in Holland. Now, this is the man who is +acquainted with God. Observe what he does. In his trial sermons, he laid +bare the errors and faultiness of the Holland Church. What a daring step +for a student of theology! What a breach of ordinary courtesy! He placed +conventional etiquette on the altar of truth, and consumed it in the +flames of zeal for God's House, and the purity of Divine worship. He +would, then and there, give faithful testimony; for the opportunity +might no more return. Presbytery listened with amazement; yet his +arguments were so Scriptural, and his manner so gracious, they cordially +sustained him. Next came the act of subscribing the creed before +ordination could be granted. This he positively refused to do, for it +had not the approval of his conscience. They yielded here also, +permitting him to sign the Standards of the Church of the Covenant. He +won his way. Decorum was nothing to him, in comparison with conscience +and God. He then came back to Scotland, and visited the ministers, +pleading with the Indulged to return to the Covenant, and entreating the +silent ones to come out of their caves, and make the land ring again +with their voices. He was small in person, slender and delicate, and +scarcely yet out of his boyhood. He everywhere met with repulse. Vexed +and disappointed, he went alone, in the strength of the Lord, to the +little flocks scattered over the wilderness. The societies gathered +about him; the Field-meetings were revived; the Lord poured out His Holy +Spirit in great power; the shout of a king was again heard in the camp +of the Covenanters. + +Renwick's ministry lasted about four years. During this time he seemed +to be the most hated man in the world; reproach, revenge, and hatred +rolled over his head like breaking waves. He was called a deceiver, a +fanatic, a schismatic, a traitor. He was pursued by malicious rumors to +blacken his name, and by armed men to shed his blood. Yet he continued +steadfastly on his way. Winter storms and summer rains could not abate +his ardor. Neither the advice of friends, nor the wrath of foes, could +swerve him, no, not one moment, nor one hairbreath. His spirit was on +fire while his body was emaciated. A thousand arrows were flying around +this dove, some of them drinking its blood, yet was it singing. + +One night he appeared at the door of John Brown. He was graciously +received. A storm was sweeping the moor. As he sat by the glowing fire, +drying his dripping garments and warming his shivering body, he +remarked, "Reproach has not broken my heart; but the excessive +traveling, and many exposures, have weakened my body." + +His mother and sisters visited him when in jail, awaiting his execution. +Looking into their sad faces, he cheered them up, by exclaiming, "Oh, +how can I contain this, to be within two hours of the crown of glory! +Let us be glad, and rejoice. This death is to me, as if I were to lie +down on a bed of roses." When the drum sounded the signal for the +execution, he cried out, "Yonder, the welcome warning; the Bridegroom is +coming; I am ready, I am ready." He died with the words of assurance on +his lips: "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." + +Are present Covenanters acquainted thus with God? Have they the +all-inclusive view of His glorious Trinity, His personal presence, His +revealed will, His exacting requirements, His omnipotent grace, His +redeeming love, His mediatorial kingdom, His everlasting Covenant? Have +they the view that will keep them steadfast, progressive, and +enthusiastic in His service? They, who have an abiding acquaintance with +God, will eventually develop a life, that will be clear as the sun, deep +as the sea, firm as the rock, and strong as the cedar. + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Where was James Renwick born? + +2. How was he troubled with doubts regarding God? + +3. How did the death of Cargill affect him? + +4. What was his first notable service in the Covenant? + +5. Where did he study theology? + +6. How did he testify against the errors of the Church of Holland? + +7. What success did he have in his ministry? + +8. What was his great sorrow? + +9. Wherein lay his unwavering strength? + + + + +XLIX. + +THE SHEPHERDLESS FLOCK. + + +Renwick received the martyr's crown at the age of twenty-six. His limp +body was borne from the scaffold to Greyfriar's churchyard. A spot of +ground, a few yards square, had been allotted there for criminals. The +Covenanters in these days were accounted criminals by the civil +authorities. Here the ground was stirred again and again, till the +bodies of 100 martyrs were heaped together, and Renwick's was the last. +A suitable stone bearing his name, and referring to the others, now +graces this hundredfold grave. What a cluster of gems the Lord will find +here, in the day when He makes up His jewels! + +When the Blue Banner fell from Renwick's lifeless hand, Alexander +Shields grasped it. He was scarcely worthy. Though he had served well +and suffered much in former years, yet once he had lapsed. This +temporary defection, while pardonable, proved to be a symptom of +inherent weakness that unfitted him for leadership. For his fault he +shed tears, but they could not remove the stain, nor restore +confidence. The fearless Covenanters continued the struggle, their own +spiritual momentum being sufficient to carry them forward with or +without leaders. The persecution had now reached its eventide; the +sunset was showing some rosy tints; a bright day would soon be dawning. +This year, 1688, William, Prince of Orange, with an army of 15,000, +disputed the right of King James to the throne. The persecutor was able +to give the Covenanters no more attention. The coward fled without a +battle. He lost his kingdom, and, with his fall, the house of the +Stuarts sank into oblivion, as had been predicted by the Covenanters. + +The Revolution filled the Covenanted Societies with high hope. They +became enthusiastic supporters of the new king, expecting him to +inaugurate a reign of righteousness. A Convention of statesmen met in +Edinburgh, to readjust public affairs and restore peace. Claverhouse, +too, was there, still dripping with the blood of the martyrs. He had +dashed suddenly upon the scene with his troops to break up the +Convention, and give battle to King William's supporters. The +Convention was without a sufficient guard. The delegates were in danger. +To whom could they look for protection? Listen! The call is to the +Cameronians; to the men who have borne the brunt of persecution for +twenty-eight years, and are now quietly returning from the moors and +caverns to their desolate homes. To these who have been hated and hunted +and tortured and hacked to pieces--to these the government now appeals +for help. These, after all they have suffered, are the Reliables. They +are the recognized patriots, who stand ready for any sacrifice, and are +worthy of any trust, in the name of liberty and righteousness. "We are +coming," was their quick reply. A regiment was mustered in one day +without the beat of a drum; two others were offered. The poor +Covenanters were not now despised. + +[Illustration: THE MARTYRDOM OF RENWICK. + +James Renwick went to the scaffold in triumphant joy. There he read the +19th chapter of Revelation--the prophecy of Christ's great battle and +victory--and sang part of the 103rd Psalm. He then lifted his eyes +heavenward, and said, "And now, Lord, I am ready. The bride, the Lamb's +wife, hath made herself ready." He suffered February 17, 1688, aged +twenty-six years. It was said by his enemies that he was the "stiffest +maintainer of Covenanted principles."] + +The persecution being over, the Church endeavored to resume her +operations. The General Assembly convened October 16, 1690, after a +violent suspension lasting forty years. This Assembly was most +remarkable for its membership. There sat together three active +Cameronian ministers, threescore other ministers pale from their hiding +places, a large group of the Indulged ministers who had gone home years +ago, a number of curates who had slipped into the vacancies, and a list +of bishops who had been in the service of the persecuting government. +Such being the blend, the aroma was anything but sweet. Alexander Peden +had prophesied of this Assembly years before. He said, "The Indulged, +and the lukewarm ministers, with some young things that know nothing, +will hive together in a General Assembly; the hands red with blood, and +the hands black with defection, will be clasped by our ministers; and +ye will not ken who has been the persecutor, and who the sufferer; and +your testimony will be cut off at the web's end." How true the +prediction! + +Rev. Hugh Kennedy was chosen Moderator. The choice indicated the spirit +of the Assembly. This man had accepted the Indulgence, had given thanks +for the Toleration, and had debarred from Communion the Covenanters who +had fought at Bothwell Bridge. The liberals had the meeting. Moderation, +compromise, unionism, a nauseating agreeableness pervaded the Court, +like the miasma that broods over a stagnant pond. + +The three Cameronians, Alexander Shields, Thomas Linning, and William +Boyd, had courage to represent the Covenanted Societies, by presenting +their petition for the restoration of the General Assembly on +Reformation grounds, according to the Covenant of 1638. The petition was +treated with contempt; it was not even read in the Assembly. The three +ministers winced, faltered, yielded. They fell beneath the popular wave, +to rise no more. These men, who had bravely faced persecution, were at +last overcome by blandishment. The Covenanted cause was at stake in that +Assembly, as truly as it ever had been in the presence of Claverhouse +and his dragoons; and here the leaders surrendered. + +The Covenanted Societies refused to follow their faithless guides into +the General Assembly, to disappear there in the strange blending of +religious forces. These were men of conviction; they did not vary with +the weather; they thought for themselves. Some of them were aged and had +seen the Covenant Temple of 1638, with its strong foundation and +imposing structure. They had seen the Reformation in its glory--the +Covenanted Church of Christ, purified, strengthened, and exalted, under +the care of Henderson, Johnston, Guthrie, Argyle, and others whose +hearts God had touched; and now they saw this reconstruction. Ah, how +inferior! it was far removed from the true foundation; it was +conspicuous only for its hay, wood, and stubble; they saw and wept. The +Covenanted cause was practically abandoned. What Satan could not win by +fire and sword, he had won by the enchantments of peace. + +The Assembly submitted to the king's supremacy over the Church. King +William, like the former rulers, had seized the gem of Christ's +authority and set it in his own crown. For this royal truth the martyrs +had died. Now their blood was reckoned an unnecessary expenditure. The +Covenant was ignored, and its principles set aside; the Church was +placed on a new basis. Thus the glory of Scotland's Reformation sank +behind a fog-bank that has never yet cleared away. + +The Covenanted Societies resolved to maintain their organization, as +the true representatives of Scotland's Reformation Church; the +legitimate successors of Knox, Melville, Guthrie, Cameron, Cargill, and +Renwick; the rightful heirs of the Covenant, its obligations and +blessings; the devoted witnesses of Jesus Christ, going forth unto Him +without the camp, bearing His reproach. They had much for which to +contend. The supremacy of Christ, the independence of the Church the +Covenant of the fathers, the testimony of the martyrs, the purity of +Divine worship, the dignity of Church discipline--all had suffered at +the hands of this Assembly. Against the great defection they resolved to +lift up a testimony. They would not deny their Covenant Lord, by +entering into relation with Church or State, as at that time constituted +and administered. These Covenanters were ridiculed as a fanatical, +narrow-minded faction. James Renwick had been taunted with the question, +"Do you believe that none, but those of your principles, can enter +heaven?" "I never said so," he replied; "but I do say, These are +principles worth suffering for." A noble reply to the sarcastic question +which often reappears. + +Narrow-minded! Breadth may be viewed from various positions. He, who +attempts to broaden himself by accepting error, becomes the narrow man. +Every error adopted means a truth rejected. This process may continue +till the heart is so contracted that there is no room for either God or +man. Ah, the irony of such broadness! How different with him who will +not surrender a hairbreadth of truth! He is the broad man; broad as the +law of God, broad as the Gospel of Christ, broad as the principles of +the everlasting Covenant, broad as the kingdom of heaven. Those +Covenanters were the broadest men of their day. + +The Covenanters would not receive Gospel services from ministers who had +broken Covenant with them and with God. Sixteen years this flock was in +the wilderness without a shepherd. They came together in societies for +spiritual fellowship and the worship of God. The Lord sustained them, +and maintained their cause. At length He sent them a minister, John +McMillan; and thirty years later another, Thomas Nairn. By these the +Reformed Presbytery was organized, August 1, 1743. + +Sir Robert Hamilton was the peerless champion of the pastorless people. +He exhorted them, saying, "Labor to keep the good old way, seeking to be +found in His way when He cometh, keeping the Word of Christ's patience, +standing fast to your post, and close to your Master, in readiness to +follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth; for the winds are now let loose; +and it is to be feared, many shall be blown away." + +And the pastorless people spake often one to another, saying, +"Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have +grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly +fear: for our God is a consuming fire. Let us go forth therefore unto +Him without the camp bearing His reproach." + +And Jesus encouraged them, saying, "He that endureth to the end shall be +saved. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of +life. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, +even as I also overcame, and am set down with, my Father in His throne." + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Who succeeded Renwick as leader of the Covenanters? + +2. What was his character? + +3. When did the Revolution take place? + +4. How did the Cameronians regard it? + +5. When was the General Assembly reorganized? + +6. What was its general character? + +7. How many in it represented the Covenanted Societies? + +8. What course did they take? + +9. What line of action did the Societies follow? + +10. Who were the men of broad principles in those times? + +11. By whom was the Reformed Presbytery organized? + + + + +L. + +THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS' BLOOD. + + +The mountains and moors of Scotland are decorated with the tombstones of +the martyrs. The descendants of the Covenanted fathers have erected many +memorials in the places made sacred with the blood of the martyrs. The +memorials range from the humble stone to the costly monument. The +fathers have not been forgotten; yea, they are still highly esteemed for +the heroic struggle, by which every son and daughter has a birthright to +the richest inheritance of Christian liberty on earth. + +The persecution lasted twenty-eight years, with few "blinks" to take the +chill of horror out of the air. During this time, 18,000 persons, it is +said, suffered death, or utmost hardships, for their faith in Jesus +Christ. Of this number, 7,000 went into voluntary banishment; 2,500 were +shipped to distant lands; 800 were outlawed; 680 were killed in battle, +or died of their wounds; 500 were murdered in cold blood; 362 were, by +form of law, executed. We have no account of the number that perished in +shipwrecks, or succumbed to the horrors of transportation; nor of +hundreds that were shot at sight by the soldiers who ravaged the country +for years; nor of the thousands who wasted away through cold, hunger, +and exposure in the mountains and moors. Gloomy caves, dripping +moss-hags, and unmarked graves, were asylums of mercy to multitudes, who +are without any earthly record; but their names are written in heaven. +Truly Scotland has been consecrated to the Lord. The blood of the +martyrs has watered her heather, crimsoned her streams, stained her +streets, and bedewed her fields. Scotland is the Lord's. The blood means +much. + + +THE BLOOD EMPHASIZES THE TRUTH OF CHRIST. + +The blood of the martyrs testifies to the value of the truth--the +superlative importance of all revealed truth. Their blood placed +emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the supremacy of Christ, the +inspiration of the Bible, the preciousness of the Gospel, the +independence of the Church, the liberty of conscience and the thousand +and one co-related doctrines of salvation. These Covenanters took their +position at Christ's throne, where the rainbow of the Covenant arches +the heavens; and from that point of view the plan of salvation lay +before them, in matchless detail and glorious perspective. These men +received enlightenment from the Holy Spirit, and thereby had a broad, +clear, rapturous vision of God and His redeeming grace. They saw the +truth in the harmonious teachings of the Bible, and esteemed it as God's +sanctuary, filled with the presence of Jesus Christ. These Covenanters +found Christ in every particle of revealed truth, in every "jot," and in +every "tittle" of the Word of God. Christ's life was throbbing in it, +His glory was streaming through it, His energy was radiating from it. +They were willing to lose the right eye, the right hand, the right foot, +yea, life itself, rather than lose the least fragment of the Scriptures. +Rather would they be jostled out of their homes, and wander in deserts, +than depart from Bible doctrines. James Renwick was offered his life, if +he would let a drop of ink fall on a sheet of paper. He chose death in +preference to that compromising act. Is the truth, the entire system of +truth, every stone in the temple of truth, thus dear to us? + + +A WITNESSING CHURCH IS NEEDED. + +The blood testifies to the need of a witnessing Church. While Satan +remains above the pit, and iniquity abounds in present proportions, a +faithful and fearless testimony for Jesus Christ, and His glorious +Gospel and royal rights, will be a moral necessity. God has His own way +of calling out His witnesses, and assigning service to them. The Church, +as a whole, has invalidated and incapacitated herself for this +responsibility, by weakness, declension, and compromise. God does not +commit His testimony to the Church, while in such condition; nor to the +faithful in the Church, whose voice and actions are weakened or +neutralized by majorities. This important and hazardous task throughout +the ages has not been committed to a Church, that is recreant at any +point; nor to individuals, that are true at every point; but to a +distinctive body of earnest, faithful, and fearless believers. For this +purpose the Lord has divided, and sub-divided, His people time and +again. He will have a testimony by a Church that is distinct from every +retrograde organization. While the Covenanted Church was faithful under +Henderson, Johnston, Guthrie, Gillespie, and other worthy leaders, she +was united, happy, and prosperous; "she was beautiful as the morning, +fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with +banners." But when she suppressed, by resolution, one principle of the +Covenant, God drew the dividing line. He sent the persecution that +brought out His witnesses, four hundred ministers, and people in +proportion. And when these ministers weakened under the royal +Indulgences, He intensified the persecution and called out the +"Cameronians." These witnesses He qualified to see the truth in its vast +proportions and feel it in its divine dreadfulness. They became the +embodiment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; they were the incarnation of +the doctrines of His kingdom on earth. They dwelt in the presence of +God, lived on the hidden manna, and pulsated with the power of the +endless life. Such were the martyrs who defied death and all the +instruments of torture. Have the Covenanters of to-day spirit, power, +and character like this? + +[Illustration: THE BURIAL. + +The burial service was peculiarly sad and solemn, in the times of +persecution. The deceased Covenanters were, in many cases, buried at +night, for fear of the enemy. The friends, with breaking hearts, +gathered around the new grave, and waited under the dim star-light, +while the minister, with the use of a flickering candle, offered +consolation from the Word of God. Great was the grief when one of the +leaders had fallen in death.] + + +A CRY FOR VENGEANCE. + +The blood of the martyrs cries unto God for vengeance. "How long, O +Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them +that dwell on the earth?" Such was the cry of them that were "slain for +the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held." Vengeance in +the Gospel! Vengeance in Jesus Christ! Vengeance in the heart of God! +How we are shocked! We try to veil our eyes and shut out the dreadful +fact. We attempt to explain away the terrible doctrine. Yet there it is. +A sharp sword is sheathed in this scabbard, and it will yet be drawn for +dreadful work. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." "And +shall not God avenge His own elect? I tell you that He will avenge them +speedily." God is just as well as merciful; yea, necessarily just, but +conditionally merciful. Justice is an essential attribute of His life; +mercy is volitional. The blood of the martyrs, their groans, tears, +wanderings, the desolation of home, the cries of mothers and children, +the horrors worse than death--all are ever before His face; nothing is +forgotten. Without repentance, no remission; sin does not grow feeble +with, years, nor die of old age. Judgment must be meted out, or +rectitude would forsake the universe; the whole structure of God's +kingdom would fall into ruins. The guilty must suffer. The individual +perpetrators of these horrid crimes have suffered already; they have +appeared personally before Christ's tribunal. But the State! Oh, the +guilty State! The State was the chief party in the slaughter of these +innocents. True, she has ceased to shed the blood of saints; but has she +repented of the blood she has shed? Her eyes are dry; her brow is brass. +Her children build monuments, but her hand's are still red; the blood +that once dripped is now dried, but it is still on her hands. Genuine +repentance means reformation. The Reformation is under Scotland's feet. +The twenty-eight years' struggle is to her a splendid drama; the +principles are amusing. When He inquireth after blood, what shall +Scotland do? The angel answers in the Revelation: "They have shed the +blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink." + + +WEIGHTY MORAL OBLIGATIONS. + +The blood of the martyrs imposes obligations upon posterity from +generation to generation. The martyrs deeply felt their responsibility +for the Church, her purity, doctrines, discipline, membership; for her +loyalty to Christ, her separation from the world, and her administration +in the Holy Spirit. Their zeal for the House of God brought them to the +front; their passionate love for Jesus Christ placed them on the firing +line. There they met every attack made upon Christ and His House; there +they stood for the royal rights of Jesus and the honor of His kingdom; +there they fell under the murderous fire, giving place to their +successors. These soldiers of Jesus knew how to die, 'but not how to +retreat. They did their work well, yet necessarily left it unfinished. +The victory was assured, though not in sight. The death-stricken hand +reached the blood-stained banner out to another to be carried forward. +This war still rages. The supremacy of Jesus Christ is yet disputed; His +royal rights are yet usurped by mortals; His Bride, the Church, still +halts amid many opinions; the ordinances of grace are unblushingly +corrupted; the teachings of the Gospel are adroitly doctored. The +attacking forces are active, determined, and numerous, as in the days of +the martyrs. The tactics differ, but the fight goes on. Heavy, heavy are +the moral obligations, that fall to the successors of those who gave +their lives for the truth. To recede would be cowardice, desertion from +the ranks, perjury within the Covenant, treason against Jesus Christ. Is +this too strong? Listen: "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no +pleasure in him." Surely the times call for Christian soldiers; yea, +heroes; possibly, martyrs. Do Covenanters feel their obligations to the +Lord? + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. How long did the persecution last? + +2. What is the estimated number of those who suffered? + +3. What significance is attached to the martyrs' blood? + +4. How does it show the value of Gospel truth? + +5. In what manner does the blood cry for vengeance? + +6. How does it lay obligations on posterity? + + + + +LI. + +THE OLD BLUE BANNER YET. + + +The Covenanters in Scotland's struggle for liberty carried a significant +banner. Letters of gold, on a field of blue, displayed the soul-stirring +motto: "FOR CHRIST'S CROWN AND COVENANT." + +The men of the Covenant unfurled their colors with dauntless spirit, and +went forth in the name of the Lord, conquering and to conquer. And this +is the victory by which they overcame the world, even their faith. + +The Covenanters carried their banner as an emblem of the truth in Jesus +Christ. The Bible focussed its light in the burning words that flashed +on their ensign. These fathers accepted the Bible without reservation or +apology, as God's Book, inspired, inerrable, authoritative, the rock +foundation of faith, and the supreme law of life. They grasped the +wondrous system of redeeming truth, as bearing on their own lives, on +the Church, on the world, and on all generations to come. They embodied +it in their Covenant, and wove it into their flag. They saw all Bible +truth converge in Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Mediator +of the Covenant of grace, the crucified and risen Redeemer, the exalted +Prince and Saviour; and on their banner they emblazoned their faith. But +while their profession was embroidered on their colors, their creed was +pulsating in their veins. This standard they carried boldly into the +battle in defence of Christ and His Church. The deadly missiles that +tattered its folds, and plowed through their flesh, could not subdue +their spirit. Their blood often stained it, but it was never +surrendered. One standard-bearer fell, and the flag-staff was grasped by +another. Thus the Old Blue Banner, in all its significance, has come +down through the ages; it is the Covenanter's banner yet. + + +THE COVENANTERS' STANDARD OF RELIGION. + +The standard of truth is the real banner of the Covenant. The standard +of religion in the Covenanted Church exalts the truth of Christ, and +makes it most conspicuous. Nothing in a nation so public as her colors. +Where the flag flies, the power, honor, and greatness of the country are +represented by the folds that flap on the winds. The Covenant commits +the Covenanted Church to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the +truth of God's Word. This obligation, when honored, carries the +Covenanter into all truth, and all truth into the Covenanter. The +doctrines of grace will throb in his heart, flow in his veins, illumine +his mind, dominate his thoughts, deepen his life, enlarge his +capacities, control his actions, and purify all the fountains of his +being. To all such the truth is concrete, not abstract; it has form, +color, action, energy, atmosphere, horizon, immensity: To the true +Covenanter, knowledge is experience; he deals with God, worships in +spirit, battles with sin, glories in Jesus, and listens to the Eternal +Spirit. His faith is power; his love is life; his hope is realization. +The invisible world looms up with awful visibility before him. Such is +the life that is distinguished by Covenant fidelity; in it the truth of +God has grandest publicity. It shines like the sun. The voice of that +life has the majesty of thunder, testifying for Christ. They who are +thus animated with the truth cannot hide the great principles of the +Church. They will glory in her Covenant and publish the truth. Behold +the martyrs, how they witnessed for Jesus Christ, while fire and sword +had no more power over their faith than over the stars. The truth +demands publicity. Our poor, deceived, demon-ridden world needs the +truth, Gospel truth shining like the sun, convicting truth pointed like +lightning; the sweet truth of love and the fiery truth of wrath; truth +that reveals life, death, immortality, judgment, heaven, hell, and +eternity. The world needs the truth that will rend the heavens with +prayer, and make the earth quake with fear. + +[Illustration: THE BANNER OF THE COVENANT.] + + +THE HIGHEST TYPE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE. + +The standard of religion adopted by the Covenanted Church demands that +Covenanters possess the noblest spirit. They, who rally in earnest under +this banner, will be men after God's own heart. Such were the martyrs: +kind, patient, self-sacrificing, passionately in love with Christ, and +laboring diligently to bring others into the same sphere of blessedness. +They were strong, heroic, and unconquerable; affectionate, intelligent, +filled with veneration for God, and aflame with zeal for His House. +Those Covenanters knew that they were redeemed, and gloried in their +relation and obligation to the Lord Jesus Christ, their Almighty +Redeemer. They flew into every service at His command. Their obedience +was accompanied with much assurance of salvation. They had heaven on +earth. The heaven of glory was merely an extension of their vista, an +enlargement of their horizon, higher up the mountain that they were +climbing, more spiritual ozone in the air they were breathing. They +dwelt with God, lived in Jesus Christ, felt the raptures of the Holy +Spirit; they knew the mystery of the cross, the value of the Blood, and +the power of the spiritual resurrection. Therefore were they swallowed +up in love to God and man. Are we amazed at the divine beauty of the +martyr's life? Let us have the same heartiness, the same vision of God, +the same joy in the Holy Spirit, and we will have the key to the +nobleness of the martyr. The Covenant with God, when kept, produces +holiness, tenderness, charitableness, and divinest sympathy; turns life +into an overflowing fountain of goodness. They, who follow the Banner of +the Covenant in spirit and in truth, will aim at the very climax of +Christian character, moral culture, and heroic service through Jesus +Christ. + + +THE EMBLEM OF WAR. + +The standard of religion in the Covenanted Church recognizes an +uncompromising conflict in the world. Where hostile forces are encamped, +the banner means battle. The martyrs were carried into this conflict, by +their zeal for God's House and love to Jesus Christ. Their fight was +against the tyranny of Civil government and the corruption of the +Church. They fought well, resisting the aggressor at every point of +attack. + +We must open our eyes wide, to see the forces on either side. The +persecution was merely the crimson line, along which the kingdom of +Christ and the kingdom of Satan came into collision. These kingdoms +stretch beyond our vision, far away into the spiritual world, each +having immense resources and innumerable battalions for the war. The +firing lines are merely the visible places that project themselves upon +our horizon. The human struggle, the din of battle, the blood, the +groans, the graves, are merely the evidence of the momentum of these +tremendous powers, grinding each other at the points of contact. It is +Satan against Christ, in his effort to waste the Church, suppress the +truth, crush mankind, and despoil Jesus of His crown, people, and +kingdom. It is Christ against Satan, determined to resist, defeat, +enchain, and imprison that old dragon. + +This war still rages. The powers are the same as in the days of old, +though the methods of warfare be changed. Christ still calls for +soldiers of the Covenant, men of spirit, courage, and unshaken faith. He +needs consecrated men, to hurl them against the organized powers, and +inbreaking hordes, that are desecrating the Sabbath, corrupting the +Church, maiming the truth, debauching morality, bribing conscience, +licensing drunkenness, desolating the home, adulterating religion, +worshiping wealth, crushing the poor, chaining manhood to secrecy, +denying God in government, and the Lord Jesus Christ on His throne. Men +are needed, men of the martyr type, men who count not heads, but +principles. Men are in demand, men who find victory in defeat, men who +see the mountains filled with horses and chariots, the mighty host of +God. + + +THE GREAT INHERITANCE. + +The Church of the Covenanters has a precious inheritance. The +achievements of the past, the privileges of the present, and the +victories of the future--all, all are hers, if she be faithful. The Old +Blue Banner leads to the world-wide triumph of the principles it +represents. This is no presumption; it is a foregone conclusion, the +very language of logic. The certainty is based on God's revealed +purpose, and glows in the richest hues of prophecy. Humility forbids +boasting; we have not said that the Covenanted Church shall have this +honor. But the Banner of the Covenant, by whomsoever borne, will surely +be glorified with victory, as Jesus Christ, the great Captain, leads His +conquerors to universal conquest. + +The Covenant contains all Bible principles that apply to Church and +State; it is neither sectarian nor sectional. The Covenant abhors +sectarianism. It contains the universal principles which must become +universal in practice ere the world bask in Millennial glory. The true +Covenanter is no sectarian. He occupies the center of a circle that +contains all revealed truth, and he is pledged to all known duty. + +The martyrs died in the assurance of the triumph of the cause for which +they suffered. "Do not weary to maintain the present testimony," said +dying Renwick. "When Christ goeth forth to defeat anti-Christ, with that +name written on His vesture and on His thigh, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF +LORDS, He will make it glorious in the earth." + +Marriage with the Son of God awaits the Church. Covenanting with the +King of glory awaits the nations. + +"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice +of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, +Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. + +"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of +the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. + +"Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the +Lamb." + + * * * * * + +POINTS FOR THE CLASS. + +1. Describe the Banner of the Covenant. + +2. What motto on the Covenanters' Banner? + +3. What large meaning in the motto? + +4. Why ought the truth of Christ have wide publicity? + +5. What should be the spirit and character of Covenanters? + +6. What hope is there of the world-wide success of Covenanted +principles? + +7. What is the duty of the present generation in the great conflict? + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13570 *** |