But who were thrown out of the Presbyterian Church in the reign of Charles II.?  Were they not the strong, unyielding, uncompromising Covenanters?  Who are these separated from their brethren, and driven like chaff before the wind over mountains and moors?  Are they not the zealous defenders of the Reformed faith? the true soldiers of Jesus Christ?  To the casual eye the scrupulous, strong-headed, hard-fighting Covenanters were tossed out, and the rest remained at home to distribute the prey; the lax party had the organization and held the Church; the strict party suffered disintegration and were banished.  But such a view is only superficial; yea, it is a visual illusion.

The Church of Christ depends not on external organization.  She can live without assemblies, presbyteries, or sessions.  She can enjoy the fullest measure of the love of Christ without chapels, masses, or glebes.  She can have power and render service in any community, without ministers, elders, or deacons.

When the Covenanters were driven out by the persecutor, the Covenanted Church went forth into the wilderness, leaning upon the Lord Jesus Christ her Beloved.  She brought with her all the essentials.  She had the Bible, the Covenant, the faith, the sacraments, the Holy Spirit, the love of God, and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The valleys were her places of worship; her meeting houses were fitted up with stone seats, rock pulpits, granite walls, green carpets, and azure ceilings.  A row of stones was her sacramental table, and the purling stream her baptismal bowl.  The mountains round about were filled with angelic hosts, and the plains were covered with the manna of heaven; the banner of Christ’s love waved over the worshipers, and the glory of God filled the place.  Such was the Church of the Covenanters in the times of persecution.

The king and his advisers in 1662 required of the Covenanted Church what no faithful self-respecting Covenanter could render.  The demands in substance were: 

That the oath of allegiance, embodying the king’s supremacy over Church and State, shall be taken.

That the ministers in preaching and praying shall not refer to public sins, whether committed by the king or his parliament.

That the administration of the Church shall be, to some extent, according to the Prelatic form.

That the edicts of the king and the enactments of parliament shall not be questioned, even in the light of God’s Word.

That the ministers shall comply with these demands, or be banished from their respective homes, parishes, and presbyteries.

Such was the sieve that did the work.  What loyal heart could brook these terms?  What minister of Christ, bent on preserving honor and conscience, could remain in charge of his church?  In comparison with the Covenant, all earthly inducements were as rotten straw, in the judgment of those whose eyes took in the world of glory and rested on the Lord.