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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / June 2001 / Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1

Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1

If the enjoyments of the children of God were as firm and abiding as sometimes they are great, they would readily, with the mistaken disciples, talk of making tabernacles and of dwelling upon this earth; they would not long after heaven. But the many, great, sad, sudden and unexpected interruptions, to which their sweetest enjoyments are exposed in their pilgrimage, are sufficient to cure them of this mistake, and teach them the difference between heaven and earth.The spouse, by whom is meant the believer, is, in the words immediately preceding our text, in as happy a state as a soul on this side heaven could be. What a ravishing description she gives of it: “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” And as her enjoyments were thus great, so her care to retain them was proportionally so, as appears by the charge she gives to the daughters of Jerusalem in the verse immediately preceding our text: “I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please”. This was indeed a happy state; and happy had she been, had it continued. But it did not, for we see a sad and sudden turn in her affairs in the words of our text. She, who just before was fast in the embraces of her beloved, is now removed from Him by interposing hills and mountains, which Christ must come over before she can enjoy Him as she had formerly.

Now, to understanding the words, you must know,

Firstly, that they are the words of the bride: that is, the believing soul who is espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ and has, by faith, accepted of Him for its Lord, head and husband.

Secondly, Jesus Christ the beloved, who in the verse before had His left hand under her head and His right hand embracing her, is now at a distance from her; that is, He has withdrawn these soul-refreshing comforts which are the effects of His manifesting Himself and His love to the soul of a believer.

Thirdly, the spouse is sensible of this distance and knows that there are hills and mountains: that is, some things which have a tendency, or at least seem to have a tendency, to obstruct the gracious manifestations of His favourable presence.

Fourthly, though it is not stated what her frame and exercise were during the time of her beloved’s absence, yet it would seem, by what she says here, that she was waiting for His return – like a wife that is fond of her husband is ever looking for his return when he is away, and listening to every word she hears to know whether it be her husband’s voice, and ever and anon looking out to see if she can get a sight of him.

Fifthly, while she is in this posture, she hears His voice, which makes her, as it were, start up to see Him whom she hears. In a surprise she abruptly breaks forth in this exclamation, “The voice of My Beloved!” I hear my absent Lord speaking to me, sending me some instructions. The promises, the precepts and all the other parts of the Word of God are Christ’s voice to His Church, to His people; and when He by His Spirit awakens them to hear and know His voice in His Word, this prepares them for further manifestations of Christ.

Sixthly, she being quickened by His voice, turns about, as it were, and intently looks to see Him whose voice she heard. The believer, once hearing Christ’s word, is thereby engaged to desire a clearer manifestation of Him.

Seventhly, the spouse obtains her desire and, by the eye of faith, sees Him coming over all the difficulties and discouragements that stand in the way, here compared to hills and mountains, according to the strain of the Song.

These few remarks we conceive sufficient for clearing the meaning of the words, and therefore I shall not spend any more time upon them. According to the account we have given of their meaning, we might notice several very useful and important truths; but, that we may encroach as little as may be upon your time, we shall reduce all to one comprehensive doctrine:

Doctrine: A sight of Jesus Christ coming for the relief, support and comfort of His people, over all discouragements and difficulties, which are like hills and mountains in His way, is a very affecting sight to a believing soul that is sensible of its need of Him and languishing because of His absence.

In speaking upon this subject, we shall inquire,

1. What are these discouragements – these hills and mountains – which stand in the way of Christ coming to His own people?
2. What is so affecting to them in His coming over these mountains?
3. What are those affections which arise from this discovery?
4. Why is this sight so affecting to them?
5. We shall conclude the whole with some application.

1. The mountains and hills of discouragements that stand in Christ’s way, over which He must come if He means to give them any relief, comfort, or support.

Firstly, Here there occurs a great difficulty from the infinite excellency of the divine nature. This is a mighty mountain: He cannot save from any one evil, He cannot drop in one drop of strengthening or comforting grace into the soul of any of the lost sons of Adam, unless He step over this huge difficulty. It is almost inconceivable condescension in the “high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity” to look upon, in the least, any of His most glorious creatures, for “the Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens . . . who humbleth Himself, to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth” (Ps 113:4,6). If there cannot be a look bestowed upon anything, even in heaven, unless infinite majesty stoop, as it were, how then shall man, that is crushed before the moth, get a look?

This difficulty, one would think, were great enough to nonplus reason, but we have scarce yet got a sight of the foot of that mountain that Christ must climb over. If ever He will help, relieve, or comfort any of Adam’s posterity, He must not only stoop and look to man, but even to sinful, defiled, rebellious and apostate man. O stupendous condescension! Nay, but this is not all; He must become like one of us. What! Must majesty be veiled? Must glory be lodged in the similitude of man? This is wonderful indeed! But it is not all. He must not only take upon Him the form of man, but even of a poor contemned, reproached, and vilified sinner! Here, here, O sinners, is a mountain so high, so steep, that if the reason of men and angels had been employed in taking its height, it would have certainly been pronounced insuperable.

Secondly, a second mountain over which Christ must come before He can help any of His people, is the wrath of God. In the day that man first rebelled against his Creator, enraged justice did hurl massy and prodigious mountains of wrath between him and any that came to his relief. Had angels or men been nearby, and had they heard when the glorious plan for the salvation of sinners was first, as it were, proposed in the council of the glorious Trinity; had they then heard justice assure the glorious One of this difficulty, who was undertaking for the salvation of the Church, they would have despaired altogether. How would the sinner’s heart ache, to hear justice speak to Him thus: “Thou mayest, if Thou wilt, undertake for sinners; but if Thou dost, I shall lay upon Thee such a load of wrath as will make Thee weep and groan, and sweat drops of blood. Nay, more, I will fall upon Thee and bruise Thee, till I bruise out Thy very heart’s blood. Mine eye will not pity, My heart shall not spare Thee; in fine, I shall give Thee such a load, such a burden of wrath, as shall press Thy very soul to that degree as to make Thee cry out, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me’.” Tell me now, if you had heard this dreadful proposal made to the Son of God, would you not have despaired of relief? Would you not have said, with the desponding Church, “Our bones are dried, our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts” (Ezek 37:11)? And is it not a heart-affecting sight to see the Lord Jesus coming skipping over this terrible mountain?

Thirdly, there was another mountain of opposition in the way of the relief of sinners. Man, in his apostasy from God, took upon his neck the devil’s yoke, became Satan’s vassal, and sold himself a slave to hell. Therefore, whoever will attempt his rescue must needs lay his account to have hell upon his top. No doubt when the first news of this blessed design was published, it put hell into a terrible commotion. Satan did think himself secure of his prey and was triumphing over the wisdom of God as if he had spoiled all His contrivance in this lower world by seducing man; and, no doubt, when he came to understand that there was a design to rob him of his prey, he would summon together the united force of hell. This was a vast mountain in the way. Had we seen what threats, what menaces, and what bloody opposition Christ had to come over in the way He was to go for the relief of His people, we would have concluded that He would never have undertaken it. This is one of those hills He, to the astonishment of all who believe, comes skipping over.

Fourthly, another huge mountain in His way was the unkindnesses of those for whom He was to come. Had they been a people looking and waiting for His command, ready to entertain and welcome Him, this had been something encouraging to Him. But quite otherwise was it, for, among all the sons of men, none were more unkind or more mad in their opposition to Him than they. This was a fainting discouragement; and whoever could have dreamed that He should have this mountain thrown in His way or, if He had it, who would think that ever He would come over it? What, reason might say, shall He undergo not only His Father’s wrath, and lay Himself open to the united power, craft and malice of hell, but moreover, do all this for persons who will never once condescend to give Him an acknowledgement for all His kindness, but repay Him with unkindnesses and hostilities? This is a dreadful mountain!

Fifthly, once more, there is yet another mountain in the way that Christ must come over, and that is the unbelief of His people. When they have often seen Him leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills, yet unbelief prevails so far upon them that, at every turn, they question either His faithfulness, willingness, or power; and is not this a great mountain? The other four that we mentioned were great and discouraging, but this we may justly look upon as the greatest. It is said that our Lord wondered at the unbelief of those to whom the gospel came, and that it was such a mountain in His way that He had more difficulty to get over it than any other. We have a remarkable Scripture to this purpose: “He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them: and He marvelled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5,6). Elsewhere it is expressly said that it was because of their unbelief He did not many mighty works (Matt 13:58). These are the mountains that faith sees Him come skipping and leaping over to its astonishment.

2. What is there in this sight that is so very affecting to the believer?

Firstly, there is the glory, the beauty and transcendent comeliness of His person. “Behold He cometh!” she says – He, as if everyone should know Him. There is not a grace lacking in His person, or a comely feature, that the infinite and unsearchable wisdom of God could invent. In Him is to be seen a majesty that raises itself above the clouds, happily joined to a lowliness that stoops to the very ground. In Him the glorious and radiant excellencies of the divine nature shine with a brightness exactly adapted to the eye of faith. In Him all is veiled that might wound, hurt or overwhelm our frail natures if it was seen; and all that is useful, that is comfortable, that our natures can bear a sight of in God, is in a most lively manner made known to the eye of faith. A sight of a naked God, if I may so speak with reverence to His name, would have perfectly struck sinful man blind, nay, dead; for none of Adam’s sons can ever see God, out of Christ, and live. A sight of a mere man, though a perfect man, would have given no comfort.

These who rob Christ of either of His natures, and offer Him for a saviour to sinners in one of them, will oblige all who know their need of a Saviour to groan out their “Ichabod; where is the glory?” or, “There is no glory”. It is the blessed conjunction of the two natures in Christ that has all the ravishing beauty in it which attracts the eye, inflames the heart, and raises the admiration of believers. Sinful man could never have believed that God would have any mercy upon him, if he had not seen the divine compassion melting itself down in human tenderness, and touched with a feeling of our infirmities in our own nature. Though he had been sinking in wrath, he would never have assumed the confidence to stretch forth his hand to lay hold upon the divine power if God had not held it forth to him in a human hand and arm. He would never have dared to approach God for counsel, though he should have wandered eternally, if God had not spoken out of man to him. It is only that strong union between heaven and earth, between God and man, in the person of Christ, that gives man any comfort, any strength, or courage in his approaches to God. And a sight of this beauty and glory, in the person of Christ, who is “fairer than the sons of men” (Ps 45:2), is that which mightily affects the hearts of believers when they see Him coming to them, leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills.

Secondly, it is very affecting to see Him coming, in that He doth not wait till they seek after Him. No, He surprises them with His goodness when it would have well become them to have made the first step towards Him, and to have supplicated Him for relief. Behold, He stands not upon this, but comes leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills. When poor sinful worms were neither deserving nor seeking relief, He comes for their help. And this is very affecting, for herein is the love of Christ wonderful, in that He loved us and gave Himself to be a propitiation for us when we did not love or know anything of Him. As it is said of the Father, “herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10); so it may be applied to the Son, and accordingly is so applied by Himself: “Ye have not chosen Me,” says our Lord to His disciples, “but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you” (John 15:16). This would have been affecting if He had bid us come to Him for relief, but this is infinitely more astonishing, that He Himself comes leaping upon the mountains and skipping over the hills to us.

Thirdly, it is very affecting to see from whence, and where, He comes. He comes from the bosom of the Father, in which, from eternity, He lay in unspeakable bliss as the darling of His soul, and object of His eternal delight, who sent that voice to Him from the excellent glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Pet 1:17). He comes down even into the belly of hell, wherein sinners should have lain. He comes from the throne of glory, laying aside the robe of His declarative glory, and takes “upon Him the form of a servant”, making Himself of no reputation, and taking up His lodging in a manger among beasts – or among sinful men, worse than beasts. He comes from the company of angels to converse among men, who dwell in cottages of clay, defiled by sin. This is wonderfully affecting.

Fourthly, the sight of the road wherein He comes cannot but be mightily affecting to the believing soul. It is not a road like that wherein Adam did walk toward heaven, a road through a paradise beautified with pleasant streams; where the harmonious music of the newly-created birds did affect his ears with unspeakable delight; where no steep ascents, or dangerous bogs or marshes, made his way unsafe or unpleasant, which lay through the garden, beautified with the most fragrant flowers. The road wherein He comes is nothing like to this; but is a most rugged and uneasy way, that lies over huge mountains of enemies, where, on every hand, mountains of wrath threaten Him with death. In fine, the dreadful tempest of the wrath of God blows all the way full in His face, and carries along with it the stream and stench of all the filthiness and stinking sores of His friends and foes. What heart would not be affected to see Him coming in such a road as this?

Fifthly, the design He comes upon is mightily affecting to them who behold Him coming, leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills. He comes not, as we might have expected, to destroy rebellious sinners. “I came not to judge the world,” says He, “but to save the world” (John 12:47). He comes “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Those He came to save had nothing amiable in them. What could attract His eye when they were all lying, like the wretched infant, wallowing in their own blood, ugly, miserable and deformed, full of “wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores”? And all this was misery purely of their own procuring: “they destroyed themselves” (Hos 13:9), and so they were the less to be pitied. He came to save them who were not seeking salvation, who were fond of their chains: “they loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19). In fine, He comes to save them of whom He has no need, “for can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?” (Job 22: 2,3). “If thou sinnest, what dost thou against Him? Or if thy transgressions be multiplied against Him, what doest thou unto Him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man”, says Elihu (Job 35:6-8). Now, to see Him coming to save such is wonderfully affecting to the beholders.

Sixthly, the swiftness of Christ’s coming is very affecting to them; He comes leaping and skipping; He runs so swiftly that He prevents their ruin who are swift in running to mischief. The children of God are running to destruction before the Lord lays hold upon them by His grace, and the wrath of God is, as it were, in a proportionally swift motion toward them for their destruction; but so swiftly doth Christ come to them that never one of them is lost. How soon was He at Adam in Paradise? The sin was scarce committed when He is come for the relief of the poor sinner. Indeed, sometimes His mistaken people, when they do not see Him, are ready to say with the mother of Sisera, “Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot?” But they talk foolishly, for, whenever they see Him, they find their mistake and see Him leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills.

Seventhly, the seasonableness of His coming is very affecting; He comes just in the time when He is needed; and this affects the beholder mightily. This is evident, not only in the first revelation He makes of Himself to believers in their conversion, but in all the after-sights they get of Him during their abode in this vale of tears. When is it that they first see Him coming? It is just when they are ready to sink under the weight of their burden, when they are weary and ready to give over and succumb under the weight of a load of guilt; and will not the seasonableness of this coming extremely affect such a soul? And the case is perfectly the same in all the after-revelations He makes of Himself.

Eighthly, the cheerfulness of His coming is very affecting; He comes skipping and leaping, He is not dragged to their relief, but He comes very cheerfully, and with great delight. When all that man could do was rejected by God, then He cheerfully undertook the work of redemption. “Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire, Mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, Lo I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me; I delight to do Thy will, O My God”. He comes with delight over all these mountains; and when a believer sees Him thus skipping and leaping, it affects Him extremely.

In fine, the strength, the majesty and the triumph of His coming is very affecting; He comes vigorously, easily and triumphantly over all interposing mountains, treading down not only the remoter enemies, but the neighbouring and most dangerous enemies of His people. How is the Church affected with this, in Isaiah 63, when she sees Him coming from Edom, the land of the Edomites, who here are put for all the enemies of the Church – and from Bozrah, the principal city of that land, as an evidence of His having entirely ruined them! She looks upon Him, and she is wonderfully taken with the majesty of His gait, who stepped like a conqueror fearing no after-assaults from entirely-vanquished enemies. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah,” says the wondering Church, “this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength?” He answers, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save”. And then He afterwards triumphantly exults over His enemies, as being fully and entirely vanquished. These are the things which the bride, in the words we have read, is so much affected with in the coming of her beloved.

Endnotes:
1. This sermon has been taken, with some editing, from volume 1 of the new edition of Halyburton’s Works. The other part will appear next month, DV. Halyburton (1674-1712) became Professor of Divinity in St Andrews. Hugh Martin rated him one of Scotland’s greatest theologians. For a review of Halyburton’s Works, vol 1, see the previous issue of this magazine. The book is available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – June 2001

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        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
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        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
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        • What We Make It?
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      • May 2003
        • A Powerful Voice
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        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 2
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
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        • John Piper and His Doctrine
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        • No Sense of Need
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        • The Call of Matthew
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Christian Doctrine of God
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        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 1
        • Meditation Sanctifies
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting – 2003
        • Zimbabwe Ordinations and Inductions
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        • Acceptable Worship
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        • 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
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        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2003
        • Christ’s Infinite Riches
        • Protestant View
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        • The Lord God of Elijah – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen
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        • In Possession of the Promises
        • The Rich Man and Lazarus
        • Humiliation and Prayer
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        • Book Review – Sidelights on Bible Characters
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        • 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
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      • April 2003
        • The Promised Land
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        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 1
        • Samuel Rutherford – The Last Years
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        • Repentance
        • A Private Among the Padres
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        • 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
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        • The Jubilee
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        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
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        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
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        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
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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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        • Divine Compassion
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        • A Master in Israel
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        • The Christian’s Life
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        • Book Review – Church and State
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        • “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?
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      • June 2002
        • “Another King, One Jesus”
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        • 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
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        • “Religion in its Purity”
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        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
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        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
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        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
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        • 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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        • Protestant View
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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
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        • Book Notices
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        • “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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