Alexander Henderson, who wrote the Solemn League and Covenant, displayed therein statesmanship of the highest order.  Great men are scarce who can be compared with Henderson to advantage.  Wellington, Nelson, Howard, Gladstone, and Livingstone; these form a brilliant constellation; but Henderson is bright as a morning star.  He set the pace for the future statesmen, who will yet lead the nations to God in Covenant and place the crown of national homage on the head of Jesus Christ.

The Covenanter who abides by his Covenant is the truest patriot.  The greatest service that can be rendered to the country is the presentation of God’s ideal for nations.

* * * * *

Points for the class.

1.  How long did the Solemn League and Covenant remain in force?

2.  What is its permanent use to the nations?

3.  What was the Covenanters’ ideal for nations?

4.  Give the substance of the Solemn League and Covenant.

5.  What caused these nations to abandon the Covenant?

6.  Is the Covenant position still held by any?

7.  How is truest patriotism best displayed?

XVIII.

The Westminster assembly.—­A.D. 1643.

The Covenanted Church is much indebted to the Westminster Assembly, for its magnificent contributions to the Reformed religion.  Presbyterian Churches of every name have reaped rich harvests from the seed sown by this Assembly.

Nothing has done more, if the Covenants be excepted, to give the Covenanted Church decision, stability, permanence, spiritedness, and undecaying strength, than the superlative formulas of truth produced by this illustrious Assembly.  Our inheritance received from their hands should awaken our admiration for the men and our interest in their work.

ORIGIN.

This Assembly came into existence in peculiar times and for a remarkable purpose.  England was goaded to desperation by the despotism of King Charles.  As king of that nation and head of the Episcopal Church, he attempted to stifle liberty and conquer conscience.  He clashed with his parliament in London.  A great awakening had suddenly spread over all England.  New ideas of life electrified the people, and they arose in the majesty of their inalienable rights to realize their ideals.  The action and reaction became terrible.  The king and the parliament called out their armies each against the other.  England was plunged into a horrible civil war.  The parliament, perceiving that Episcopacy was the bulwark of the king’s tyranny and hostile to the interests of the people, attempted to abolish that system of Church government.  But this destructive act necessitated a constructive work.  Accordingly parliament, by an ordinance, created an Assembly for “settling the Government and Liturgy of the Church of England.”