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.