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.