Articles on Reformed Practice

Read articles below on several subjects relating to Reformed Practice. Included are the biblical requirement for strict Sabbath or Lord’s Day observance. Also, the requirement for the professing church to be separate from the World. Distinctions in dress between Male and Female. The dangers of celebrating the popish feasts of Christmas and Easter. Christians should not follow Professional Sport, practise Dancing, read Novels, watch Movies and Television. Prayers for the dead or the appearance of them, and Cremation have no part in a Reformed Church. The Call to the Ministry, and the dangers of an Unconverted Ministry. Finally, the necessity of Church Discipline.

The Christian in the World – by Rev D. Beaton It was failure to understand the background that lay behind the two classes between the “natural” man and the “spiritual” man that caused all the trouble in the Corinthian Church and it is the same reason which is at work in our day causing so much trouble in the professing Church

The Church and the World – by Rev. D. Beaton THE Church of God, according to the Bible, is the Body of Christ, “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all,” and is also represented as the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. It is of Divine institution and has Christ as its only Head, and is partly invisible and partly visible. The invisible part of it is the elect of God in heaven and on earth, the number of which is known only to God Himself, while the visible part are all who are in the Church on earth by a profession of religion.

Separation from the World – by J.C. Ryle In every age of the Church, separation from the world has always been one of the grand evidences of a work of grace in the heart. Those who have really been born of the Spirit, and made new creatures in Christ Jesus, have always tried to come out from the world and live a separate life. Those who have only had the name of Christian, without the reality, have always refused to come out and be separate from the world.

The Church Walking with the World (Poem) The Church and the World walked far apart On the changing shores of time;

Lecture on the Sabbath – by Rev N. Cameron “There remaineth therefore a rest (Sabbath keeping) to the people of God. For He that entered into His rest hath ceased from His own works, as God did from His.” Who is said to cease from His works in this scripture? Who but Christ, and the Sabbath keeping that remains

An Address on Sabbath Keeping – by John Kennedy D.D. If you had a heart to know the Lord, and had once tasted the joy of His communion and the peace of His service, you would not be driven from Sabbath keeping by the fear of its being dull.

Observing the Sabbath – by Rev D. Maclean THE widespread neglect of Sabbath observance and the increasing efforts being made by ungodly men for the complete abolishment of this blessed day should cause us concern lest we imbibe the spirit of the age.

Synod’s Statement in Reference to Church-going by Public Conveniences on the Sabbath The Synod have passed a motion which in effect excludes from Church privileges those who thus use public conveyances on the Lord’s Day.

Male and Female Distinctions in Appearance (Synod Resolution) In 1970, the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland issued a Resolution setting out the Biblical teaching on male/female distinctions particularly in relation to appearance

If a Woman have Long Hair it is a Glory to Her – by Rev. D. Beaton If we could accustom ourselves to say, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” before taking any steps in life, we should never make mistakes. But how frequently do we forget that we are persons under authority, and then we act as from ourselves, or follow the habits of those around us.

On Dress – by Rev. D. Maclean Observe, there are three points as to the adorning of the body. Let it be modest; let it be inexpensive; let it be unobtrusive.

Dr Thomas Manton on Dress Consider, curiosity in clothes argues deformity of mind; a godly, serious, humble Christian is above these things

Marriage – by Rev. James Macleod And as such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry infidels, Papists and other idolaters; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life or maintain damnable heresies

Marrying Unbelievers – by Rev. D. Maclean THE Rev. S. Kilpin, of Exeter, had witnessed the awful consequences produced in the Church of Christ, and in families from those who professed to be the disciples of Jesus forming marriages contrary to the command, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers,”

Differences in the Two Sacraments as Sealing Ordinances – by John Kennedy D.D. The result of carrying these views into practice is well known; the number of members in full communion is comparatively small, and parents who have never communicated receive baptism for their children.

The Sacrament of Baptism – by W.K. Tweedie On what foundation are Christian fathers and mothers to rest the right of their little ones to be admitted into Christ’s visible Church? We reply, you are to rest it on the nature of the ordinance itself, taken in connection with the gospel as a system of free grace

Proof of Infant Baptism – Dwight’s Theology Justin Martyr, born at the close of the first century, observes, when speaking of those who were members of the church, that ”a part of these were sixty or seventy years old, who were made disciples of Christ from their infancy.” But there never was any other mode of making disciples from infancy, except baptism.

Infant Baptism – by Rev. N. MacIntyre Nothing should be done ignorantly, and Paedobaptists should have some intelligent ground for the practice of baptising their infants

The Duty of Giving Away a Stated Proportion of our Income – by William Arthur That when we search the Scriptures for a principle, the very lowest proportion of our income for which we can find any show of justification, is a tenth of the whole; That, therefore, it is our duty to give away statedly, for the service and honour of our God, at the very least, one-tenth of all which He commits to our stewardship.

Calvin on Fasting. A holy and lawful fast has three ends in view. We use it either to mortify and subdue the flesh, that it may not wanton or to prepare the better for prayer and holy meditation; or to give evidence of humbling ourselves before God, when we would confess our guilt before Him.

The Presbyterian Church and Church Festivals – by Prof. Samuel Miller D.D One of the earliest practical errors which gained ground in the Christian community was the adoption of the principle that the ministers of religion might lawfully add at their pleasure to the rites and ceremonies of the Church

Church Socials – by John Kennedy D.D. Take these things hence – John 2: 16 Quasi-Religious social evenings are becoming an unmitigated nuisance. This sort of thing began in treats for children as inducements to attend.

The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder – by Rev W. Maclean CHRISTMAS was originally a heathen festival celebrated on the 25th of December in honour of the birth of Tammuz (Ezek. 8:14)

Should Christians Observe Christmas and Easter – by Rev. W.A. Aitken The Scriptures make it plain that the Word of God is to be the guide of the Church in instituting her ordinances of worship. “What is not commanded in the word of God is forbidden.” This is the Scriptural Jaw of worship. Israel was severely chastened when she added to or diminished from the ordinances of worship which God had appointed. Speaking in his day, John Owen, the great British theologian declared that a disregard for the Scriptural law of worship “lies at the bottom or all the confusion, blood, persecution, and wars that have for so long a season spread themselves over the face of the Christian world.”

The Religious Observance of Easter – by Rev D. Beaton Again, the hot cross buns of Good Friday and the coloured Easter eggs all indicate a heathen origin. The buns are relics of the worship of the Chaldean goddess Astarte, “the queen of heaven.” It is to this custom that Jeremiah refers when he says, “The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven”, (vii. 18).

The Craze for Sport – by Rev. J.S. Sinclair We now go on to observe that the love of pleasure and sport in the present day has risen to a passion.  Thousands of young men in our large cities think and speak of hardly anything else from one week’s end to another but some particular game in which they are interested. Every spare moment during their lawful business is taken up with the discussion of this game. Football, for example, has become a terrible craze. Thousands are seen flocking away on a Saturday to some particular match, as if it were a thing of the highest moment

Truth versus Fiction – by J. Forbes Moncrieff Fiction is a presumptuous forgery of the handwriting of God in providence. Having studied the course of God’s government in the world, the author is now creating a little world of his own, stored with things ordinary and things extraordinary, inhabited by men and women begotten at the bidding of his lively fancy.

Prayers for the Dead – by Rev. D. Beaton There can be no doubt that the practice of praying for the dead is increasing with great rapidity. A spurious sentimentalism of a religious hue, ignorance of God’s Word, and the innate proneness of men to wander from the paths of truth lie behind the movement

Burial of the Dead – by Rev. James Macleod As far as we know the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is the only Christian body which in this land adheres to the Reformed practice – “no prayers at the grave,”

Cremation – by Rev. D. Beaton Behind cremation there is the idea of the destruction of the body in such a way that it will be impossible for it to have a resurrection.

Cremation – by Rev J.S. Sinclair ONE of the latest developments of present-day heathenism is the burning, or as it is called, cremating of dead bodies instead of burying them.

Freemasonry It has a distinctive religion, not pure Christianity, but a mixture of Christianity and old pagan religions derived from Egypt, Greece, India, etc. Its members can recognise one another by means of secret passwords and by a peculiar grip of the hand

Oaths of Secret Societies THE oaths and obligations binding to the unknown, which Secret Societies require of entrants are unscriptural

The Religion of Freemasonry and the Christian Faith – By Rev. Donald Beaton The religion of the Lodge is dishonouring to (a) God and (b) to Jesus Christ. The God of the Christian is the living and true God, besides whom there is no other. It is daring impiety and reveals a mind steeped in darkness when anyone attempts to place alongside of Him any other God, and especially one that is a god only in the imagination of the deluded worshipper.

Why the Movies are Unsafe This exceedingly solemn statement is issued by the American Motion Picture Research Council, consisting of leading educational authorities in the United States, with no religious bias or connection

Promiscuous Dancing The Word of God does not give a single instance in which the two sexes were united (promiscuous dancing) together in this exercise

The Christian and Television It is now my opinion that no true believer in Christ can make regular use of television without harming his own soul and encouraging others to take up with the same harmful influence.

The Lord of the Harvest and the Labourers – by Rev. J.P. MacQueen As the late Rev. Neil Cameron, with characteristic gracious judiciousness, said, concerning such a candidate, who was objected to by some, because he was practically illiterate? What you are concerned with is the young man’s call to the ministry, and when that solemn matter is settled in his favour, it becomes the church’s clear duty to educate him as much as he is capable of benefiting by. That ought to be always so in such a connection. The educational qualification, though very important, is secondary to the spiritual in this connection.

The Evil of an Unconverted Ministry How deplorable that a youth inexperienced in the Christian warfare should be appointed to lead the hosts of the Lord!  What but defeat can be expected from such an arrangement.  How deplorable, that a person should be ordained to rouse and watch over the souls of others, who never felt any concern for his own, that one should be appointed to deal with persons laboring under the convictions of an awakened conscience, who is altogether ignorant of the matter, and to point out the way of salvation to others when he knows it only by hearsay himself!

Calling a Minister

Calling a Minister – by Rev D. Beaton In a Presbyterian Church the main steps in the calling and induction of a minister are of a very solemn nature.

Signing a Call to a Minister – by Rev. D. Beaton (a) Open Call or Call at large. Where there has not been complete unanimity among the communicants at the election the Presbytery must moderate in a call at large, i.e., when the form of call is produced no person’s name is inserted.  (b) Closed Call.  If there has been unanimity in the election, the minister’s name who is the choice of the communicants is inserted in the form of call.

Motives and Advice for Ruling Elders – by Thomas Boston Consider it is a sacred office in the house of God to which God has called you; therefore let us together take that exhortation: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)

Discipline in the Church of Christ – by Rev. D. Beaton “Church discipline and censures, for judging and removing offences, are of great necessity in the Church, that the name of God, by reason of ungodly and wicked persons living in the Church, be not blasphemed, nor His wrath provoked against His people; that the godly be not leavened with, but preserved from, the contagion, and stricken with fear; and that sinners who are to be censured may be ashamed, to the destruction of the flesh and saving of the spirit in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Discipline of the Church – by John Calvin The first foundation of discipline is to provide for private admonition; that is, – if anyone does not do his duty, spontaneously, or behaves insolently, or lives not quite honestly, or commits something worthy of blame, he must allow himself to be admonished

Read here about the church’s historic witness in Ontario, including its stand for Sabbath Day observance in not permitting its members to travel to church using public transport on the Sabbath.