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.