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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / August 2003 / The Head Stone of the Corner

The Head Stone of the Corner

This is one of a group of Psalms (113-118) known as the Hallel. The word comes from the Hebrew hallelujah meaning “praise ye Jehovah”. These Psalms were sung especially at the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. Alfred Edersheim points out that the Talmud (2) records that, in these Psalms, God’s goodness is expressed to Israel, especially their deliverance from Egypt. Jewish families before the Passover meal would sing Psalms 113 and 114, and Psalms 115-118 after the meal. There is a reference to this practice in the Gospel of Matthew, following the institution of the Lord’s Supper: “When they had sung an hymn [that is, a portion of these Psalms], they went out unto the Mount of Olives” (26:30).

A famous Jewish commentator, Rabbi Akiva, observed some people waving palm and willow branches as they were singing the words from verse 25: “Save now [hosanna], I beseech Thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity” (Mishna, Succah 3:9). The Saviour rode into Jerusalem on an ass, in fulfilment of the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass . . . . And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Matt 21:5,8,9). This was that great and glorious Prophet, the Messenger of the everlasting covenant, riding into Jerusalem shortly before His death, when the people cried out, “Hosanna”, which means, “Save now, I beseech Thee”.

As the Lord may be pleased to help us, we may consider:

1. The Stone.
2. The Stone Refused.
3. The Stone Made Head of the Corner.
4. The Psalmist’s praise of God, when he says, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes”.

1. The Stone. Verses 1 and 29 of this Psalm are quoted in Ezra 3:10,11. There we read of the building of the second temple: “When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, King of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” The temple was the place of worship where the souls of men might see, through types and shadows, God’s way for the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of blood, by the death of the Messiah, God’s dear Son (see John 2:19-21).

In Exodus we read of Moses being told to smite the rock and of water springing out of the rock. On another occasion he was told to speak to the rock (although he smote it) and water came out again, so that they were sustained in the wilderness. In 1 Corinthians we read that Israel “did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (10: 3-5). Many perished because of their unbelief. They refused to believe that God was able and willing to preserve them and to bring them into the land of Canaan. God is manifesting His willingness now to save souls on their way to eternity by bringing them, through His Word, to believe that the stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).

In Deuteronomy we find the rock being spoken of as a person: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deut 32:4). The Messiah is here called the Rock whose work is perfect. His work of creation is wonderful, but above all, and especially, His saving work. All His ways are judgement and truth. In Psalm 40, we were singing:

“I waited for the Lord my God, and patiently did bear;
At length to me He did incline my voice and cry to hear.
He took me from a fearful pit, and from the miry clay,
And on a rock He set my feet establishing my way” (Ps 40:1-2).

The Psalmist’s feet were set on a rock. David had a good foundation and was brought to a wealthy place in his experience when he came to rest by faith upon that Rock. This is the work of the Father, the work of His grace. It is the chief part of His divine purpose to cause men to see this stone. “Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Is 28:16). He who believes cannot be lost, or swept away, but he shall be brought at last into heaven, his salvation ensured. These are the sure mercies of David; God will bring His people by a way that they know not.

It is no wonder the Psalmist was singing in the days of old: “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever” (Ps 136:1). These words are repeated often: “His mercy endureth for ever”. Why the repetition? Is it not because we are slow to learn? We are to gaze with wonder upon the glory of God whose mercy never ends. We are directed to that mercy in this Rock – the eternal Son of God. In Him we find a hiding place from the wind. He is also man, who took a true body and a reasonable soul. In that nature, as a divine person, He paid the price of sin and died, so that we find in Him everlasting stability and durability, protection and shelter, virtue and merit. He is able to bear with the infirmities of men and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, being tempted in all points like as we are, and yet without sin. As God He could not suffer, but He must suffer and therefore He took our nature. He must die and pay the price of sin. He kept the commandments perfectly and provided righteousness for men. In this way He is the great foundation that the Father laid in Zion.

Those enabled by the work of His Spirit draw near and are brought to rest upon Him as their only hope of salvation. They are united to Christ by faith and built up in Him. As a building fitly joined together they become the habitation of the mighty God of Jacob. Through Christ He says; “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at My word” (Is 66:2). Will you not receive this salvation? How solemn for sinners if this Stone is refused and rejected! Peter, being filled with the Holy Ghost, said to the rulers and elders of Israel: “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:11,12).

2. The Stone Refused. The religious leaders of Christ’s day refused this Stone like many who now profess to be builders of the Church. Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16: “Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Pet 2:6). He shall not be confounded, disappointed, lost or swept away. He shall not be led captive by the devil at his will nor overcome by the world; he shall not go down into hell to everlasting destruction but he shall be saved, because God laid in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious.

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious” (1 Pet 2:7). What could be more precious than this stone? Yet He is despised and rejected of men (Is 53:3). Multitudes are disobeying the call of God to leave the world, rejecting the gospel command to believe. He is the stone which the builders disallowed – they found no place for Him in this building. Men and women who profess to be building the Church of God are denying the Saviour in all sorts of ways, denying His person and His atonement.

Christ is a stone of stumbling. How many are stumbling! Poor people blinded by the traditions of men, unable to see the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness. Man can never obtain righteousness by the works of the law, for God, who is just, will by no means clear the guilty. But here is One who has been sent to be “our righteousness”. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Woe to those who reject this stone! They “stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed (1 Pet 2:8). “But ye”, He says to His people, “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:9).

Jews and Gentiles, persons of all kinds, may come to rest upon this stone. What a great building will be seen when it is finished, when He has brought in the last soul to be part of this building! Rough stones are made comely, believing souls, shaped and fashioned by God’s grace and Spirit, to harmonise together. Jew and Gentile, bond and free, black and white will all be part of this one building. It is for sinners that Christ Himself, the Messiah, the sent messenger, the eternal Son of God, the stone which the builders refused, was made the head of the corner (1 Tim 1:16).

3. The Stone Made Head of the Corner. This means that He was to be the chief stone, the stone which would anchor the whole building. Zechariah prophesied of Him: “Then he answered and spake unto me, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” (Zech 4:6,7). We are to look to the Lord and not to man. “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils” (Is 2:22). Here is the great provision for the advancement of the cause of Christ in the world and the salvation of individual souls. Without Him we can do nothing. He is the stone refused by the builders but made head of the corner by the Lord. This is the Lord’s doing and marvellous in our eyes.

There can be no Church, no real building, no habitation of God and no revealing of His glory if this chief corner stone is not manifested and preached, as He ought to be, as to His person and work. Some will come with the name of Jesus to preach another Christ and another gospel. They will come with a mere man, with a prophet, but they will not come with the divine, eternal Son of God, the God-Man Redeemer of God’s elect, the Lord Jesus Christ. How then can there be a building? How then can souls be saved? He is made the head of the corner. Who made Him the head of the corner? It was God Himself; it was part of His purpose. He said to Zerubbabel, “Who art thou, O great mountain?” He is speaking of the enemy, of the world and the flesh, the devil and his kingdom, the powers of darkness. And He is speaking of all the obstacles which may meet a poor soul on his way to eternity, who desires to be found in Christ, to embrace the Messiah, seeking the forgiveness of God through the blood of the everlasting covenant. “Who art thou, O great mountain?” What right hast thou to stand between this desire and God’s objective, between this soul and heaven, between this Church and God’s glory?

“Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain”. Christ will prevail. He has overcome and cast down the powers of darkness. Therefore we are called to seek the grace of faith, to have that faith in exercise, to trust in the Lord and to praise Him, “for His mercy endureth for ever”. “Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof”. The Headstone is the One who is made the head of the corner, the chief stone in the building, without whom we can do nothing. Embrace Him while you have time, on your way to eternity. Is it not now time to believe in His name, to come to Christ while He may be found and to call upon Him while He is near?

“He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” This headstone is being brought forth in the preaching of the gospel, the reading of the Scriptures, the ordinances of God’s house – in the work of His Church bringing the Word of life to men. This is the matter we are to concentrate on. How many are now building, yet passing by the very heart of the whole matter, this great and glorious Saviour, by whom the souls of men shall have life everlasting? He died and paid the price of the sins of all who believe in His name, and He was raised up, by the power of an endless life, on the third day. What was the Father saying when He was raised from the grave? Was He not saying this: “I have made Him the head of the corner”?

We read of His resurrection in prophecy; “Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption” (Ps 16:10). He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour. He has ascended into heaven and is set down on the right hand of His Father in glory. And He shall come again, in the clouds, to judge the world with power and great glory. He is made the head of the corner – King and Head of His church. He is the One to whom we owe obedience; men are to be subject to Him. He is to reign, and reigns now as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The kings of the earth are to be subject to Him. The doctrine of Christ’s kingship is very precious; it is bound up with His office as a priest and a prophet. He has spoken from His throne in heaven; He has sent His word to our souls. Because He is made the head of the corner, there will be a building; of that there can be no doubt whatever. God’s Word cannot be broken and His purposes can never fail. Though the powers of darkness gather together, they shall not prevail against the love of the Son of God riding in the chariot of the everlasting gospel – because He is made the head of the corner and has all the authority of heaven. But woe to the man who seeks to depose the King of kings from His throne; he shall not prevail, because Christ is made the head of the corner.

He revealed Himself spiritually to many in Israel down through the centuries. The Jewish people had great privileges bestowed upon them, and many were saved. We read in the Scriptures of a great cloud of witnesses. Jews and Gentiles were brought together, all one in Christ Jesus. Glorious times are yet to come through the declaration of His name and through the work which He is to accomplish in the fullness of time. He has truly been made the head of the corner.

Therefore the prophet said to the Jewish Church, and to the Church of God in all ages: “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord” (Is 54:1). Poor small Israel! How shall Jacob arise, for he is small? The agonising, the praying, the thirsting and the longing of the souls of God’s people in ancient times was addressed by these words of comfort: “More are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord”. Embrace these great doctrines, these great prophecies: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited” (Is 54:2,3).

What great prophecies the Jews were given in those far-off times by the prophets! Wonderful days were to come: “Arise, shine,” the prophet said, “for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Is 60:1-3). Word upon word, line upon line, precept upon precept, comfort upon comfort, promise upon promise, blessing on every hand – the riches, the unsearchable riches, of Christ were flowing from the One made the head of the corner. Many Jews, “a remnant”, have been saved since the time of the Apostle. But glorious times are yet to come when all Israel shall be saved and the obstructions and obstacles to their ingathering shall be removed (Rom 11:26). The Church looked down the centuries through the eyeglass of God’s prophecies to the fall of the Turkish Empire, and the downfall of the man of sin and the system of Romanism so deceptive to the souls of men. They saw the day when the walls of Sion would be built. The God of providence is working; He is working to build His Church because Christ is made the head of the corner. The Messiah has been revealed and He has finished the work the Father gave Him to do.

The Jews are returning to their own land and have been doing so for many a long year, and Christ is becoming, to some of them at least, the head of the corner. “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God” (Amos 9:15). Why would they be planted upon their land and no more be pulled up despite all the hatred of the nations? Well, it was for this reason: that Christ Himself shall effectually be made among them the head of the corner and they shall come to embrace Him as the Hope of Israel.

Many people all over the world have, we may say, a hope of a kind. What sort of hope is it? Well, it’s a false hope, a hope which shall never bring a soul into heaven. There are others in the world, some Jews and some Gentiles, who have a good hope of everlasting life. That hope is set before us here in these words of the Psalmist: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” God in providence began to bring the Jewish people back to Israel through the wicked persecutions that took place in various parts of the world. In Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe many suffered and died. (3) These pogroms moved large numbers of Jewish people to return to their depopulated ancient homeland in Palestine. Later, in the Second World War, that great movement they call aliyah (ascent) was hastened by the terrible slaying of six million of God’s ancient people in the Holocaust. They stood in such great need of hope and yet their eyes were blinded from the true Hope of Israel. They made a national anthem for the State of Israel (re-founded in 1948) and they called it Hatikva, which means The Hope. But the hope of many was in the land rather than in Christ.

The Apostle Paul, that Pharisee of the Pharisees, who came to believe in Christ by His grace, spoke of this true hope: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb 6:19,20). Here is the good hope of everlasting life.

In 1878, when the Jews first began to resettle in the land of Israel, they founded new villages on the empty land. One of the first they named Rosh Pinah. When we read about that, we were quite moved because Rosh Pinah means The head of the corner! The day is coming when all Israel shall embrace the true Head of the corner, and Jew and Gentile shall come to trust in the finished work of Christ from the rising to the setting sun.

4. The Psalmist’s praise of God. His praise in verse 23 is very clear and God-honouring: “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes”. Marvellous are the doings of the glorious God, the One who is longsuffering and slow to wrath, whose mercy endureth for ever. We ought to be receiving these great matters for the salvation of our souls and the souls of others. We as a Church should be asking for grace to be up and doing, to be advancing, lengthening the cords and strengthening the stakes on the right hand and on the left. We should be looking to the One who is the mighty God of Jacob to do great things for us by this wonderful Stone. Daniel prophesied that it shall prevail over all the empires and kingdoms of the world and over all the powers of darkness. “The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner.” We may therefore assert with confidence and with assurance that this is the Lord’s doing and marvellous in our eyes.

Endnotes:
1. The sermon preached by the retiring moderator at this year’s Synod meeting.
2. The Talmud, which means study or learning, is a compilation of Jewish law, tradition and comment.
3. The Cossacks murdered 100 000 Jews in southern Russia and the Ukraine in the seventeenth century and 85 000 were murdered in the same region between 1917 and 1920.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – August 2003

Publications

  • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Historic Sermons
    • 1896 to 1904
    • 1904 to 1910
    • 1910 to 1919
    • 1920 to 1929
    • 1930 to 1939
    • 1940 to 1949
    • 1950 to 1956
    • 1998 to 2003
      • October 2003
        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 2
        • Sanctification – Part 2
        • The Ten Virgins
        • John Wesley 1703-1791
        • A Pastor’s Concern
        • Seeking Great Things
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2003
        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
        • Church Information
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 1
        • Sanctification – part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – 2. 1815 to 1843
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – part 4
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2003
        • Church Information
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – Part 3 – After the Disruption
        • Meditation – Its Blessedness
        • Obituary – John Beaton, Raasay
        • African Missions Update
        • Growing Vatican Sovereignty
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Christ as Prophet
      • March 2003
        • What We Make It?
        • King Solomon’s Chariot
        • Samuel Rutherford – St Andrews and Westminster
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 4
        • The Parable of the Talents
        • The Kinsman
        • Scottish Church Initiative for Union
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2003
        • A Powerful Voice
        • Notes and Comments
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 2
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
        • The Prodigal Son
        • The Study of Providence
        • Poor and Needy
        • John Piper and His Doctrine
        • African Missions
        • Protestant View
      • June 2003
        • No Sense of Need
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Call of Matthew
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Christian Doctrine of God
        • The Sower
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 1
        • Meditation Sanctifies
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting – 2003
        • Zimbabwe Ordinations and Inductions
        • Book Reviews
      • July 2003
        • Acceptable Worship
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Grace Glorified in Election
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – Some Further Doctrines
        • The Pharisee and the Publican
        • Rabbi Duncan
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 2
        • A Plea for Prayer
        • Continuing Repentance
        • Book Review: Christmas Evans, The Life and Times of the One-Eyed Preacher of Wales
      • January 2003
        • Thankfulness
        • The Lord God of Elijah
        • Samuel Rutherford – Fair Anwoth by the Solway – 1627 – 1636
        • Manna
        • All of Grace
        • Obituary – Mr Edward Arthur Christensen, Auckland
        • Obituary – Miss Isabel Murray, North Tolsta
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2003
        • Christ’s Infinite Riches
        • Protestant View
        • Church Information
        • The Lord God of Elijah – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen
        • The Privilege of Prayer
        • In Possession of the Promises
        • The Rich Man and Lazarus
        • Humiliation and Prayer
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
        • Book Review – Sidelights on Bible Characters
        • Book Review – Authentic Christianity: Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles
      • December 2003
        • Nineteenth-Century Drift
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 2
        • The Achreny Mission – 4. After the Disruption – Part 2
        • Meditation – Its Consequences
        • Visit to the Ukraine
        • Book Review – Letters from the South Seas, Margaret Paton
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • April 2003
        • The Promised Land
        • Church Information
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 1
        • Samuel Rutherford – The Last Years
        • The Pearl of Great Price
        • Repentance
        • A Private Among the Padres
        • Damaging Doubts
        • The Prince – Defender of all Faiths
        • Protestant View
      • August 2003
        • What Kind of Faith?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Head Stone of the Corner
        • The Vineyard
        • Mary and the Spiritual Mind
        • The Achreny Mission – 1. 1760 to 1815
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 3
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
      • September 2002
        • The Shepherd’s Reward
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Jubilee
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conflict
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Update
        • The New Archbishop of Canterbury
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
      • October 2002
        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
        • Church Information
        • The Way to the City
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Consolidation
        • “Your Mercy”and the Jews’ Future
        • Springing Up After Many Days
        • Book Reviews
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2002
        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
        • Church Information
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2 (1) A Sermon by William Nixon Revelation 22:17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
        • The Right Way (1) Rev J S Sinclair
        • Obituary Mr Murdo Macleod, Elder, Stornoway
        • Book Reviews
        • Foreign Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2002
        • Divine Compassion
        • Book Review – The Antichrist
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Coming to Christ – Part 2
        • A Master in Israel
        • The Cleansing of the Leper
        • The Christian’s Life
        • The Puritans on Prayer
        • Advice on Preaching
        • The Great Draught of Fishes
        • Book Review – Church and State
      • March 2002
        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
        • The Blessing of Asher
        • Thomas Cranmer – That God Might Be Truly Worshipped
        • Psalms or Hymns in Public Worship
        • Obituary – Reverend Donald Nicolson
        • Is Britain Being Protected?
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • June 2002
        • “Another King, One Jesus”
        • Church Information
        • Pray Without Ceasing
        • The Puritans on Prayer – Part 2
        • Inventing Religion
        • Princeton and Pelagianism
        • Among the Children
        • Hopes of Future Usefulness – A Letter of John Love
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2002
        • “Religion in its Purity”
        • Notes and Comments
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
        • The Extent of the Atonement
        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
        • Book Review – God and Cosmos
        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
      • July 2002
        • The Need for Opened Eyes
        • God’s Wrath Against Sin
        • The Puritans on Prayer – A Wondrous Mysterious Grace
        • Revival in Arran
        • Man’s Righteousness and God’s
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • February 2002
        • Offering up Our Desires to God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Look unto Me and Be Ye Saved
        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
        • The Goodness of God in Redemption
        • Obituary – Mrs Isabella Turner
        • Book Review – Galatians
        • Book Notices
        • Protestant View
      • December 2002
        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – From Birth to New Birth
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – part 3
        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • April 2002
        • “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
        • Coming to Christ – Part 1
        • Thomas Cranmer – On to the Fire
        • The Plague of Leprosy
        • Divided Allegiance
        • Obituary – Miss Margaret Sutherland
        • Book Review – The Hidden Pathway
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2002
        • Everything Devoted to God’s Service
        • Unity Among the Brethren
        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conquest
        • Symptoms of Spiritual Death
        • Book Review – The King’s Daughters
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 2001
        • Knowing God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Lexie MacLeod
        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
        • Protestant View
      • October 2001
        • Tragedy
        • “God Gave the Increase”
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness for the Church
        • Desires for Glory
        • Calling a Minister
        • The Vatican Archives
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2001
        • Scotland’s Preachers
        • Recent Inductions
        • The Rose of Sharon
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness on the Personal Level – Intellectually
        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
        • God’s Wonderful Goodness
        • “Withhold not Correction”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
      • May 2001
        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 2
        • The Garden of Nuts
        • The Son of Man Lifted up
        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
        • Book Review – Faith and Justification
      • March 2001
        • “Just with God”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
        • W S Plumer- Part 2
        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
        • Joseph MacKay
        • Book Review – Forerunner of the Great Awakening
      • June 2001
        • Blessedness
        • Church Information
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 3
        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • July 2001
        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Spring Visit to Ukraine
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • January 2001
        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Faith, Its Nature, Origin and Effects
        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
        • God’s True Family
        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
      • February 2001
        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
      • December 2001
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • Church Information
        • Notes and Comments
        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
        • Book Review – The Westminster Confession of Faith, Milestone, Millstone or Manifesto?
      • April 2001
        • Sowing the Seed
        • The Duty of Nations to the Church
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 1
        • “The Finger of God”
        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2000
        • The Resurrection of Christ
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably
        • The believer is to put those sins… into the hands of Christ
        • The Puritans and the Ministry
        • Christ Glorifying God
        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • October 2000
        • The Fear of God
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably (2)
        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
        • The Puritans and the Ministry (2)
        • James Stewart
        • Christ Healing a Leper
        • Visits To Eastern Europe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2000
        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Desired Haven
        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • James Stewart (2)
        • The Temptation of Christ
        • Book Review
      • May 2000
        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
        • “So let him give”
        • The Solemn League and Covenant
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • June 2000
        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
        • Church Information
        • The Nature of the New Birth
        • This is Indeed the Christ
        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
      • March 2000
        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Regeneration Regulating the Affections
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • July 2000
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Church Information
        • Lift up a Standard for the People
        • At the Westminster Assembly
        • The Earth Corrupt before God
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Obituary – The late Mr Kenneth Gillies, Elder, Raasay
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2000
        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • “Come unto me”
        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
        • Obituary
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Scottish Day Conference
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2000
        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
        • The Latter Day Glory
        • Building up the Church of God
        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • December 2000
        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
        • The Aberdeen Church
        • Book Reviews
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2000
        • Where Are We Now?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Given in His Fulness
        • Alexander Henderson
        • I cannot always come to Christ
        • Obedience to Christ
        • The Nature of Vital Piety
        • The Puritans for Today
        • Protestant View
      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • The King in Scotland
        • Comments on Psalm 51
        • Unsettling the Settlement
        • The pope’s visit to the Holy Land
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • October 1999
        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
        • Church Information
        • God so Loved the World
        • The Rev. James S. Sinclair
        • The Glasgow Assembly
        • Calvin’s View of the Millennium
        • Book Review
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Annual General Meeting
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 1999
        • Old Testament Types
        • Church Information
        • Christ Seeing of the Travail of His Soul
        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
        • The Intercession of Christ
        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
        • “And the sun was darkened”
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 1999
        • Morality and Politics
        • Church Information
        • Sermon
        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 1999
        • “Upon this rock I will build my church”
        • The Blessed Poor
        • Rev Angus Mackay
        • Is Christ our High Priest?
        • Signs of Religious Declension
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
        • Church Information
        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
        • Protestant View
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
        • Address to Mbuma Zending Meeting
        • Spiritual Pride in Man
        • Church Information
        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • Church Information
        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
        • A Man Who Wished to Live Obscurely
        • The Nature of Saving Faith
        • The Light of the World
        • God is: therefore God is to be Worshipped
        • Book Review
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
      • February 1999
        • The Purposes of the Lord’s Supper
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society – Appointments
        • The Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God
        • Holy Importunity in Prayer
        • A Heavenly Eternal Crown of Glory
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • December 1999
        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Until the Day Break
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • The Rev. Donald Macfarlane of Dingwall
        • The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder
        • Ministers Prepared by Temptation
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 1999
        • The Advance of Rome under Hume
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • The Marks of a Time of Revival, and the Means of Bringing it About
        • The Free Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Thy Kingdom Come
        • The National Covenant
        • Work of the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1998
        • Unsettled and Discouraged?
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
      • April 1999
        • The Observance of Easter
        • The Smitten Shepherd and His Flock
        • The Prince of Highland Preachers
        • The Inter-Faith Movement
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 1998
        • The Golden Key of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Our African Mission
        • Patrick Mzamo – A sketch of an African elder and lay-preacher
      • October 1998
        • The Westminster Assembly and Romanism
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
        • Faithfulness or Vilification
        • Church Information
        • The Best Security in Evil Times
        • Pentecostal Dialogue with Rome
        • The Prayers of the Aged
        • The Religion of the Highlands – The Persecution of a Highland Laird
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission Work
      • May 1998
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • A Vessel Meet for the Master’s Use
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Serving the Lord with Humility
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland on the Internet
        • Booklet Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
        • A Minister of God
        • “I will yet for this be inquired of”
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Godliness With Contentment
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Private Prayer and Public Profession
        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
        • Family Worship
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
        • Church Information
        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Church of Scotland and the Bible
        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
      • July 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Church Information
        • The Scriptural Warrant for Creedal Subscription
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
        • Booklet Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
      • January 1998
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Fruits of the Declaratory Act In the Free Church of Scotland
        • Redeeming the Time
        • African Mission News
      • February 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • A Mission Day of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Leaning Upon her Beloved
        • Brought Home to Heaven
        • Observing the Sabbath
        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
        • African Mission News
        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
        • Sudden Conversions
        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
        • “Give ye them to eat”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • August 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Sermon – The House of Many Mansions
        • Lessons From the Doctrine of Divine Justice
        • Book Notice
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Paul Magaya – Lay Preacher in Shangani
        • Church Information
      • April 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
        • The Manner of Coming to Christ
        • Book Notice
        • A Lily from the Ukraine
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
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