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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / February 2003 / Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen

Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen

His Aberdeen exile. Rutherford’s reaction on being sentenced to banishment in Aberdeen was actually one of joy. He wrote to Lady Kenmure, “That honour that I have prayed for these 16 years, with submission to my Lord’s will, my kind Lord hath now bestowed upon me, even to suffer for my royal and princely King Jesus and the freedom of the kingdom that His Father hath given Him”. To another he wrote, “I soon go to my King’s palace in Aberdeen. Tongue and pen and wit cannot express my joy.” To yet another he said, “I know Christ shall make Aberdeen my garden of delights”.

Sorrow, however, was mingled with his gladness. It grieved him much that his mouth was stopped indefinitely from preaching Christ, and that he would be separated from his beloved people in Anwoth. “Sweet, sweet and easy is the cross of my Lord,” he wrote to Gordon of Earlston. “Only the remembrance of my fair days with Christ in Anwoth, and of my dear flock (whose case is my heart’s sorrow) is vinegar to my sugared wine. Yet both sweet and sour feed my soul.”

A small company of Anwoth friends accompanied him all the way to Aberdeen, and it was with heavy hearts they bade him farewell and turned their faces towards home. They left him in Aberdeen, it is said, “with great regret at the want of such a pastor, so holy, learned and modest”.

“I am by God’s mercy come now to Aberdeen,” he wrote to Robert Gordon in September 1636, “and settled in an honest man’s house. . . . I find the townsmen cold and dry in their kindness, yet I find a lodging in the heart of many strangers. . . . Now, my dear brother, forget not me, the prisoner of Christ, for I see very few here who kindly fear God.” “Northern love is cold,” he wrote to another, “but Christ and I will bear it.” “I find folks here kind to me,” he told Lady Kenmure, “but in the night and under their breath.” Faith Cook expresses his new situation well in her verses in Grace in Winter:

A borrowed house, a borrowed bed,
A fire, though not my own;
My sorrows these, but greater far
This grief my heart has known:
A scattered flock beyond my reach
And silent lips that long to preach.
My heaviness is mixed with joy,
For love has cast my chain;
His consolations swallow up
My tale of short-lived pain.
Then let my sufferings preach His name,
A silenced tongue His love proclaim!

The ecclesiastical and university authorities gave “the banished minister”, as he was known in the town, the coldest reception of all – and little wonder, for Aberdeen was a centre of support for Archbishop Laud. “They regarded Rutherford with much suspicion,” says Robert Gilmour in his biography, Samuel Rutherford – A Study, “and their aversion increased as he grew in favour with the people.” It was not long before controversy arose. Dr Robert Barron, Professor of Divinity in Marischal College, and a rank Arminian in doctrine, was a determined opponent of such men as Samuel Rutherford and David Dickson, and he relished the opportunity to engage Rutherford in debate. Rutherford wrote to George Gillespie, “I am here troubled with the disputes of the great doctors (especially with Dr B) in ceremonial and Arminian controversies, for all are corrupt here; but, I thank God, with no detriment to the truth, or discredit to my profession. So, then, I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I; and who can be more weak? But His grace is sufficient for me.” If Barron – “the Goliath of his party”, as Andrew Thompson described him – and his learned colleagues counted on an easy victory they were soon disillusioned. “Dr Barron hath often disputed with me,” wrote Rutherford to William Dalgleish, his predecessor at Anwoth, “especially about Arminian controversies, and for the ceremonies. Three yokings laid him by, and I have not been troubled with him since.”

However, the greatest trial endured by Rutherford was his “dumb Sabbaths”. “My closed mouth, my dumb Sabbaths,” he wrote to the Provost of Ayr, “the memory of my communion with Christ, in many, many fair days in Anwoth, hath almost broken my faith in two halves.” To another he wrote, “My dumb Sabbaths burden my heart, and make it bleed”. To yet another, “My dumb Sabbaths are like a stone tied to a bird’s foot.”

Samuel Rutherford’s letters. Although his silenced tongue could not preach the gospel, his pen was exceedingly active on behalf of his “kingly King”, whom he highly extolled in those wonderful letters he wrote during his banishment. How precious to their recipients were the epistles he sent from his “King’s palace” in Aberdeen. But more than the actual recipients – Marion M’Naught, Robert Gordon, Lady Kenmure, Colonel Gilbert Ker, the cousins William and James Guthrie, and many others – derived benefit from them. Just as the writings of Bunyan, which came from his prison in Bedford in the 1660s, have helped many Christians heavenward since then, so the letters of Samuel Rutherford, which issued from his confinement in the north from September 1636 to June 1638, have consoled and fortified multitudes of the Lord’s people in the succeeding three and a half centuries. Indeed, some people were so helped by them that they began to gather them together, and had “whole books full of them”, says John Row the historian (writing at least 18 years before the letters were first published). Of the 365 letters in Bonar’s edition, 220 were written from Aberdeen. “Paradoxical as it may seem,” Gilmour says, “Rutherford lives by a book which he never wrote as a book at all – by a collection of letters written with no further intention than to edify or comfort his correspondents. It is by these that he, being dead, yet speaks so forcibly to so many hearts.”

Some critics have focused on what they see as faults in his letters, but, says Marcus Loane in his Makers of Religious Freedom, “The faults in his letters are of minor account when we bear in mind the surpassing excellence of their merits; their grandeur outweighs their mistakes, and they have brought strength and comfort in verbal music to a thousand souls”. “His Letters, with all their faults, which are those of the age,” says Thomas M’Crie in The Story of the Scottish Church, “have excellences which must be felt to the end of time. ‘Hold off the Bible’ [that is, apart from the Bible], said Richard Baxter, ‘such a book the world never saw the like.'” “So far as I know,” says James Walker, in his The Theology and Theologians of Scotland, written 130 years ago, “they are the only letters two centuries old which are still a practical reality in the religious life of Scotland, England and America.” Spurgeon exclaimed, “What a wealth of spiritual ravishment we have here! Rutherford is beyond all praise of men. Like a strong-winged eagle he soars into the highest heaven and with unblenched [unflinching] eye he looks into the mystery of love divine.”

Some readers have found it profitable to trace a particular topic through his letters – for example, his concern for the spiritual welfare of young people. With some young friends he communicated directly. “I exhort you in the Lord”, he wrote to young Grizzel Fullerton, “to seek your one good thing, Mary’s good part that shall not be taken away from you. Learn the way, as your dear mother hath done before you, to knock at Christ’s door. Many an alms of mercy hath Christ given to her, and He hath abundance behind [remaining] for you.” To others he sent faithful and affectionate advices through their parents. “I desire your children to seek the Lord”, he wrote to John Gordon of Cardoness. “Desire them from me, to be requested, for Christ’s sake, to be blessed and happy, and to come and take Christ, and all things with Him.” Andrew Bonar said of Rutherford, “He had a heart for the young of all classes, so that he could say of two children of one of his correspondents, ‘I pray for them by name'”.

To most readers, three topics stand out in his letters: (1) his love to, and desire for, Christ; (2) his devoted concern for the cause of Christ, especially in Scotland; and (3) his profound sympathy with those burdened by trouble and sorrow. To a Mrs Craig who had lost her young son by drowning, he wrote, “There is no way of quieting the mind, and of silencing the heart of a mother, but godly submission. The readiest way for peace and consolation to clay vessels is, that it is a stroke of the Potter and Former of all things. And since the holy Lord hath loosed the grip, when it was fastened sure on your part, I know that your light, and I hope that your heart also, will yield. It is not safe to be pulling and drawing with the omnipotent Lord. Let the pull go with Him, for He is strong; and say, ‘Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven’.”

“It was his own frequent journey at the side of wife or mother, son or daughter, to the dark and troubled waters of death, that gave him such superb skill in words of consolation,” says Marcus Loane. “He never wrote in finer vein than when he wrote for the comfort of the bereaved. It was as though all the springs of pity in his own heart found a spontaneous outlet in true fellow-feeling with those who mourned. . . . It was out of the depth of his own heart that a noble sentence in one of his sermons was wrung: ‘I know’, he said, ‘there is a true sorrow that is without tears; and I know there is a real sorrow that is beyond tears’.”

Although no stranger to such sorrow, he also knew, even in the very midst of his griefs, the joy and peace that comes to the soul in having communion with the blessed Beloved of the Church. “I cannot but write to my friends that Christ hath trysted me in Aberdeen”, he wrote to Lady Kenmure, “and my adversaries have sent me here to be feasted with love banquets with my royal, high, high and princely Lord Jesus.” “None is so kind as my only royal King and Master, whose cross is my garland,” he wrote to Alexander Colville. “The king dineth with His prisoner, and his spikenard casteth a smell. He hath led me up to such a pitch and nick of joyful communion with Himself, as I never knew before. When I look back to by-gones, I judge myself to have been a child at ABC with Christ. Worthy sir, pardon me, I dare not conceal it from you.” But even when he did not have such times of spiritual elevation and delight, he could bless God for even the yearning for Christ which filled his heart. “I have little of Christ in this prison but groanings, and longings, and desires,” he wrote on one occasion. “All my stock of Christ is some hunger for Him, and yet I cannot but say that I am rich in that.”

The last of his known Aberdeen letters was written on 11 June 1638. Evidently it was soon after this date that he was able to return to his “fair Anwoth by the Solway”.

Endnotes:
1. The previous instalment dealt with Rutherford’s Anwoth ministry (1627-36), the action of the Court of High Commission in 1636 forbidding him to exercise his ministry, and his banishment to Aberdeen.

This article is part 3 of a series
Other articles in this series: [part 1] [part 2] [part 4] [part 5]

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

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        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
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        • Church Information
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
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        • 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
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        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
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        • 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.
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        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
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        • 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
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        • Offering up Our Desires to God
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        • 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
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      • 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
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        • 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
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        • Knowing God
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        • 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
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        • 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
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      • 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
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        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
        • Protestant View
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        • 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
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        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
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        • 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
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        • African Mission News
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        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
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        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
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        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
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        • “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
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        • The Resurrection of Christ
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        • 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)
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        • The Fear of God
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        • 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
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        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
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        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
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        • James Stewart (2)
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        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
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        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
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        • 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
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      • March 2000
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        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
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        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • At the Westminster Assembly
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      • February 2000
        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
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        • “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
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      • 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
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      • December 2000
        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
        • The Aberdeen Church
        • Book Reviews
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      • 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
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      • October 1999
        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
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        • 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
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      • September 1999
        • Old Testament Types
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        • 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
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        • 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
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      • 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
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        • Church Information
      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
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        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
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        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Notes and Comments
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        • 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
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        • African Mission News
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      • December 1999
        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
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        • 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
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      • August 1999
        • The Advance of Rome under Hume
        • Notes and Comments
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        • 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
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        • Church Information
      • September 1998
        • The Golden Key of Prayer
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        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
        • Book Reviews
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        • 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
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        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
        • Book Review
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        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
        • Faithfulness or Vilification
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • Serving the Lord with Humility
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland on the Internet
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        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
        • A Minister of God
        • “I will yet for this be inquired of”
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        • Godliness With Contentment
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        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Private Prayer and Public Profession
        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
        • Family Worship
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        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
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        • 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
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        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
      • July 1998
        • The General Assemblies
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        • The Scriptural Warrant for Creedal Subscription
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        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
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        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
      • January 1998
        • Book Review
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        • 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
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        • 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
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      • 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
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        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
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