The Covenants And The Covenanters

The Covenants And The
Covenanters, by Various

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Title: The Covenants And The Covenanters Covenants, Sermons, and
Documents of the Covenanted Reformation
Author: Various
Editor: James Kerr
Release Date: August 22, 2006 [EBook #19100]
Language: English
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[Transcriber's Note: All items in the Errata have been corrected in the

text, however the Errata has still been included for completeness.]
[Illustration: THE GRASSMARKET, EDINBURGH.]
THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS
COVENANTS, SERMONS, AND DOCUMENTS OF THE
COVENANTED REFORMATION. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
INTRODUCTION ON THE NATIONAL COVENANTS BY REV.
JAMES KERR, D.D., GLASGOW
EDINBURGH: R.W. HUNTER, GEORGE IV. BRIDGE.

THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS.
[Illustration]

PREFATORY NOTE.
The Covenants, Sermons, and Papers in this volume carry the readers
back to some of the brightest periods of Scottish history. They mark
important events in that great struggle by which these three kingdoms
were emancipated from the despotisms of Pope, Prince, and Prelate,
and an inheritance of liberty secured for these Islands of the Sea. The
whole achievements of the heroes of the battlefields are comprehended
under that phrase of Reformers and Martyrs, "The Covenanted Work of
Reformation." The attainments of those stirring times were bound
together by the Covenants, as by rings of gold.
The Sermons here were the product of the ripe thought of the main
actors in the various scenes--men of piety, learning, and renown. Hence,
the nature, objects, and benefits of personal and national Covenanting
are exhibited in a manner fitted to attract to that ordinance the minds
and hearts of men. The readers can well believe the statement of
Livingstone, who was present at several ceremonies of

covenant-renovation: "I never saw such motions from the Spirit of God.
I have seen more than a thousand persons all at once lifting up their
hands, and the tears falling down from their eyes." In the presence of
the defences of the Covenants as deeds, by these preachers, the baseless
aspersions of novelists and theologues fade out into oblivion.
True Christians must, as they ponder these productions, be convinced
that the Covenanters were men of intense faith and seraphic fervour,
and their own hearts will burn as they catch the heavenly flame.
Members of the Church of Christ will be stirred to nobler efforts for the
Kingdom of their Lord as they meditate on the heroism of those who
were the "chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof;" and they will
behold with wonder that "to the woman were given two wings of a
great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where
she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of
the serpent." And Statesmen will discover how Princes, Parliaments,
and Peoples united in the hearty surrender of themselves to the Prince
of the kings and kingdoms of the earth; and will be aroused to promote
that policy of Christian Statesmanship which, illustrating the purpose
and will of God, the Father, shall liberate Parliaments and nations from
the bonds of false religions, and assert for them those liberties and
honours which spring from the enthronement of the Son of Man, as
King of kings and Lord of lords.
This volume of documents of olden times is sent out on a mission of
Revival of Religion, personal and national, in the present times. It
would do a noble work if it helped to humble classes and masses, and
led them to return as one man to that God in covenant from Whom all
have gone so far away. A national movement, in penitence and faith,
for the repeal of the Acts Rescissory and the recognition of the National
Covenants would be as life from the dead throughout the British
Empire. The people and rulers of these dominions shall yet behold the
brilliancy of the Redeemer's crowns; and shall, by universal consent,
exalt Him who rules in imperial majesty over the entire universe of
God. For, "The seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms
of our Lord and of His Christ."

GLASGOW, December, 1895.

ERRATA.
Page 29, line 8, instead of "1745," read 1712.
Page 29, line 10, instead of "Crawfordjohn," read Auchensaugh, near
Douglas.

CONTENTS.
PAGE PREFATORY NOTE, 5
THE NATIONAL COVENANTS--Introduction, 11