| Some Foundation Truths of the Reformed Faith – by Rev Donald Beaton The Reformed theologians made it quite clear that while man was utterly unable to do what was required of him, yet he was not relieved from his responsibility. |
| The “Marrow of Modern Divinity” and the Marrow Controversy – by Rev. Donald Beaton Thomas Boston, taking it up out of curiosity during one of his pastoral visits, carrying it home with him, and finding in it a solution to some difficulties that had hitherto stood in his way of proclaiming a full and free offer of the Gospel |
| The Extent of the Atonement and the Gospel Offer – by Principle W. Cunningham This topic of the consistency of a limited atonement with the unlimited offers and invitations of, gospel mercy, or of the alleged necessity of a universal atonement as the only ground or basis on which such offers and invitations can rest, has been very fully discussed. We can only suggest a few hints in regard to it |
| Duty Faith and Duty Repentance – by Rev. J.P. Maqueen If left, in the least degree, to themselves, even people professing interest in evangelical Christianity will go either to one extreme in their theological outlook, or the pendulum will swing to what is diametrically opposite |
| The Eighteenth Century Evangelical Revival – by Rev. J.P. MacQueen ONE of the strangest, and most persistent, inaccuracies in British secular and religious history is that which describes John Wesley as the true author of the Eighteenth-Century Evangelical Revival, whereas anything of permanent value in that Evangelical Movement must be attributed, as God’s honoured instrument, to the Rev. George Whitefield, outstandingly. |
| Gillespie’s Aarons Rod Blossoming – by Rev. Donald Beaton Doctrinally the Assembly of Divines were remarkably united, but on the question of Church government long and wordy debates kept the divines for many a long day ere the matter was finally settled in favour of the Presbyterian polity |
| The Absence of the Sense of Sin in Present Day Religion – by Rev. J.S. Sinclair Some modem interpreters who stand high in Presbyterian Churches, hold that the Apostle is here describing his first convictions of sin only prior to conversion—a great mistake and delusion. |
| How Shall Sin be Mortified – by Dr. John Owen Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.”- (Col. iii. 2.) Fix your affections upon heavenly things; this will enable you to mortify sin |
| Declaring All the Counsel of God – by Rev. James Sinclair The Apostle Paul is one of the most distinguished examples of a faithful minister of Christ given us in the Scriptures, and the record of his labors and instructions has been handed down by the Holy Ghost for the direction of others in subsequent times, who may go forth to speak in the name of Christ. |
| The Bondage of the Will – by Rev. Donald Beaton When Calvin writes the impetuous rush of Luther’s argument is absent but this is made up for by the sanity of judgement that characterised the writings of the great Reformed theologian |
| Ingrafting a Soul into the True Vine – by Thomas Boston True believers will be saved, namely, all who do by faith take hold of God’s covenant. But this kind of covenant is men’s own covenant, devised of their own heart, not God’s covenant, revealed in the Gospel of His grace. The making of it is nothing else but the making of a covenant of works with Christ, confounding the law and the Gospel; a covenant he will never subscribe to, though we should sign it with our heart’s blood (Rom 4.14, 16) |
| Regeneration – An Illustration by J.A. Alexander D.D. “I now believed, assuredly, that I was reconciled to God through Jesus. Christ, but being naturally inclined to be suspicious of myself, I resolved to make the Holy Scriptures the test of the genuineness of my exercises, and to leave the final determination to the fruits produced, as our Lord says: ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ |
| Three Decisive Marks By Grace – by Rev. Thomas Bell I proceed to give the marks or characters of those who are under the covenant of grace. These marks are such that all who have them, are in that covenant; and all who have them not, are under the covenant of works. |
| God’s Covenants – by Rev. K.D. Macleod But that “abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” presupposes another covenant. The Westminster Confession summarizes Scripture teaching on the subject: “Man, by his fall, having made himself uncapable of life by that covenant of works, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace |
| The Confessional Doctrine of Assurance of Salvation – by Rev. Donald Beaton They find no place, however, in the symbolical books of the Reformed or Calvinistic Churches |
| The Doctrine of Inspiration in the Confession – by John Kennedy D.D He employed men in writing. But these men were so controlled by Him, that He is the author of the writing, and so the author, that any charge of inaccuracy against the record or Scripture, as originally given, must be preferred against Him |
| Extract from The Christians Great Interest – by William Guthrie Question 1: What is the great business a man hath to do in this world? Answer: To make sure a saving interest in Christ Jesus, and to walk suitably thereto |
| The Christian Race – by Rev. James Sinclair The Apostle Paul here compares the life of the Christian in this present world to a race. He was well acquainted with the famous games of ancient Greece, and he employs in this part of the Epistle to the Hebrews the figure of the footrace, which was the most highly esteemed of these games, to portray in a vivid manner the character of living Christianity. |
| The Establishment Principle – by Rev John Macleod Not surprisingly, our founding fathers in the Deed of Separation adopted and signed on 14 August 1893 did not fail to mention the relevance of the Establishment Principle to the position in which they found themselves. After referring to the documents making up our constitution, which is that of the Disruption Free Church, they specify their first reason for acting as they did: “And, further considering that the Establishment Principle – that is, the national recognition and encouragement of religion and the Church of Christ by the state as such – is part of the Constitution of the Free Church of Scotland as settled in 1843 |
| Puritans on Prayer – by Rev. Roderick Macleod The Puritans sought to purge the Church of excesses, and the nation of errors. By preaching and writing, they taught the doctrine, experience and practice of Christianity as it is found in the Bible. |
| The Westminster Confession of Faith – by Rev. Hugh Cartwright Before enquiring into the usefulness of the Westminster Confession of Faith, we must note that Confessions of Faith are legitimate for those who avow the supreme authority of the Bible, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith is exceptionally suitable for all the public and ecclesiastical functions of a Confession. |
| Calvinism: Why Unpopular? – by Rev. W. Parks IT requires no ingenious or elaborate proof to convince anyone that Calvinism is everywhere spoken against. Our everyday observation assures us of the fact. The pulpit, the press, and the platform unite in denouncing Calvinism. All denominations of professing Christians (though in other respects as wide as the poles asunder) unite in this–namely, denunciation of Calvinism |
| Evangelical or Reformed – by Rev. Hugh Cartwright Another term which we would be glad to take to ourselves in its original significance is Reformed. What does it mean to be Reformed? We cannot assume that the term as used today is a guarantee of Biblical orthodoxy. The author of an article entitled “Reformed Tradition”, in the Dictionary of Scottish Church History & Theology, acknowledges that: defining the boundaries of the Reformed tradition has become increasingly difficult because of changes in Churches which were once strongly Reformed. |
| Arminianism another Gospel – by Rev. William Maclean “It is amazing that any true evangelical Calvinist would ever quote John Wesley with approval, either in speech or in writing,” wrote the late Rev. J.P. MacQueen, London. “He bitterly hated and rejected Calvinism, while he taught a theory of justification practically identical with sanctification |
| Arminianism – by Rev. Donald Beaton Careful observers of the theological literature which is pouring from the press in our time must be saddened by the extraordinary extent to which it is permeated by the leaven of Arminianism. What Arminianism failed to do in the arena of debate, it has accomplished by peaceful penetration. It has saturated the theological thinking of Scotland to an extraordinary degree. The revival literature of to-day is full of it, as is also the religious press generally. Warnings from the pulpit and denunciation of the errors of Arminianism are not now heard, as they once were, in our country. |
| Modern Evangelism – by John Kennedy D.D. They assume, before the eyes of hundreds, the attitude of prayer, to do, in the public assembly, what Christ directed to be done in the closet. If they intend this as a public confession of their sin, in neglecting prayer in their closet, such confession would not be at all uncalled for, if duly made. They who forget to do it where Christ required it to be done, are the persons most likely to do it where it can only be a bit of will-worship and formality. |
| Modern Dispensationalism – by Rev. Donald Maclean The movement which bears the name of the title of this article is one which has obtained a much firmer hold in America than it has done in this country. At the same time, much that goes under the name of Evangelical religion is tinctured with the outlook and approach of Dispensationalism |
| Voluntaryism – by Rev. William Maclean ”Voluntaryism”, in the words of Principal Cunningham, ”amounts in substance to this – that the only relation that ought to subsist between State and the Church – between civil government and religion – is that of entire separation, or in other words, its advocates maintain that nations, as such, and civil rulers in their official capacity, not only are not bound but are not at liberty to interfere in any religious matters, or to seek to promote the welfare of the Church of Christ as such |
| Falling Away – by Robert Traill The Holy Ghost’s sanctifying abode in their hearts they want, which is the great preservative of the people of God. (See 1 John ii. 27). |
| The Latter Day Glory – by Jonathan Edwards I NOW come to show how the success of Christ’s redemption will be carried on from the present time till Antichrist is fallen, Satan’s visible kingdom on earth is destroyed, and the kingdom of Christ set up throughout the world |
| The Millennium – by John Brown of Haddington The glory and happiness of this thousand years’ reign of the saints is to be understood, not literally, but spiritually and figuratively, according to the common style of the book. |