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.