Sir Francis Rouse, a member of the English Parliament, had recently produced his Metrical Version of the Psalms.  It was fresh and fragrant and greatly admired.  The Assembly after a careful revision adopted it.  Five years later, having passed through the purifying furnace of revision at the hands of the General Assembly of Scotland, it was authorized as “The only paraphrase of the Psalms of David to be sung in the Kirk of Scotland.”  The New Version superseded the Old and took its place in Divine worship on May 1, 1650, the day appointed for its introduction by the Assembly.

The Westminster Assembly convened July 1, 1643, and adjourned February 22, 1649, covering 5 years, 6 months, and 22 days, having held 1,163 sessions.  They met at nine o’clock in the morning and sat till three in the afternoon.  Each member received four shillings a day, and were fined one shilling for absence.  They kept a solemn fast monthly, at which occasionally a single prayer lasted two hours.  These men knew how to pray.  They became absorbed in prayer and talked with God while He strengthened them to stand in His presence and receive His answer.

Such was the famous Assembly of Westminster divines.  The magnitude of their work can never be measured.  Their building is imperishable.  Familiarity with these manuals of doctrine will deepen, broaden, strengthen, and exalt the human mind.  Herein the truth of Christ appears in the symmetry, significance, magnitude, and omnipotence of a complete system.  One truth may take us to heaven, but the system of truth treasured up in the heart, will bring heaven to us.  Let us study the system.

* * * * *

Points for the class.

1.  What event called the Westminster Assembly into being?

2.  What was the character of the members?

3.  How many were enrolled?

4.  Who were the Scottish commissioners?

5.  What was the oath of membership?

6.  What was the work assigned to the Assembly?

7.  How long did the Assembly sit?

8.  What benefit derived from the study of these manuals?

XIX.

Division in the covenanted ranks.—­A.D. 1648.

The 1638 Covenant produced gratifying results in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.  She was revived, enlarged, strengthened, consolidated, and fortified beyond precedent.  Ten years of marvelous prosperity followed, and yet she had no easy road to travel.  She was still beset by dangers; enemies were plotting her overthrow; wars were convulsing the country; the external conditions were extremely adverse; yet she grew, waxed mighty, and became irresistible in the work of the Gospel.  The Church honored the Lord in His holy Covenant, and He honored her with growth, success, and victory in the presence of her foes.  He was a wall of fire round about her, and the glory in the midst thereof.  These were years of phenomenal power and splendor unto the Covenanted Church.