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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / September 1998 / The Golden Key of Prayer

The Golden Key of Prayer

LUTHER’S maxim, “To pray well is to study well,” is very appropriate for all of us in our duty to understand the Scriptures, whether we are ministers or elders, believers or unbelievers, parents or children.

We cannot overvalue a knowledge of the Scriptures. “But yet the knowledge we especially commend,” said the Westminster divines in their Epistle to the Reader in the Confession of Faith, “is not a brain-knowledge, a mere speculation; this may be in the worst of men, nay, in the worst of creatures, the devils themselves, and that in such an eminency, as the best of saints cannot attain to in this life of imperfection; but an inward, a savoury, an heart knowledge, such as was in that martyr, who, though she could not dispute for Christ, could die for him.” 1

This spiritual knowledge is to be sought by prayer, as well by searching the Scriptures. We must plead: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” Psalm 119:18. In commenting on these words, W. S. Plumer says, “It is vain for us to hope for increase in saving knowledge, except as we get light and wisdom from above.” 2 There is a necessary connection between prayer and understanding the truth. It would be well for us therefore to follow the advice of Thomas Boston, “Beg of and look to Him for His Spirit. For the Spirit, who dictated it, is He by whom we must savingly understand it; For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God,’ 1 Cor. 2:11.” 3

Robert Shaw says that although the Scriptures are clear in themselves, “we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in them. This arises from the blindness and perversity of the human understanding, as now corrupted and depraved (see1 Cor. 2:14). If the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit were unnecessary, then the greatest adept in human literature would be best acquainted with the Scriptures; this, however, is not the case (see Matt. 11:25). In the promises of God, and the prayers of the saints, the special illumination of the Spirit is represented as necessary to enable us savingly to understand the things of God. (see John 14:26, Psl. 119:18, etc.)” 4

Like the saints of old, we are to seek to know the truth and to have it as our daily bread. “You are bidden to pray for your daily bread, and it must cost you sweat besides,” says Thomas Goodwin; “and do you think to have bread of heaven without praying daily for it, and that sweating in prayer also? When the keys are laid aside that should unlock the cupboard, whence the children should have bread, they are like to lose their suppers. Now these keys are prayers.” 5

John Owen says that we are to “labour in our prayers that He would enlighten our minds and lead us into the knowledge of the truth. . . The importance of this grace unto our faith and obedience, the multiplied promises of God concerning it, our necessity of it from our natural weakness, ignorance, and darkness, should render it a principal part of our daily supplications. Especially is this incumbent on them who are called in an especial manner to search the Scriptures’ and to declare the mind of God in them unto others.” 6

Owen adds, “I shall, therefore, fix this assertion as a sacred truth: Whoever, in the diligent and immediate study of the Scripture to know the mind of God therein so as to do it, doth abide in fervent supplications, in and by Jesus Christ, for supplies of the Spirit of grace, to lead him into all truth, to reveal and make known unto him the truth as it is in Jesus, to give him an understanding of the Scriptures and the will of God therein, he shall be preserved from pernicious errors, and attain that degree in knowledge as shall be sufficient unto the guidance and preservation of the life of God in the whole of his faith and obedience.” 7

If the private Christian needs to pray for divine aid in interpreting the Scriptures, much more does the man who has the duty of teaching the truth to others. “Yea, I must say,” declares John Owen, “that for a man to undertake the interpretation of any part or portion of Scripture in a solemn manner, without invocation of God to be taught and instructed by His Spirit, is a high provocation of Him; nor shall I expect the discovery of truth from anyone who so proudly and ignorantly engageth in a work so much above his ability to manage. I speak this of solemn and stated interpretations; for otherwise a scribe ready furnished for the kingdom of God’ may, as he hath occasion, from the spiritual light and understanding wherewith he is endued, and the stores he hath already received, declare the mind of God unto the edification of others. But this is the first means to render our studying of the Scripture useful and effectual unto the end aimed at. This is the sheet-anchor of a faithful expositor of the Scripture, which he betakes himself unto in all difficulties; nor can he without it be led into a comfortable satisfaction that he hath attained the mind of the Holy Ghost in any divine revelation. When all other helps fail, as he shall in most places find them to do, if he be really intent on the disquisition of truth, this will yield him his best relief.” 8 Owen himself was mighty in the Scriptures because he practised what he preached.

Many ministering servants of the Lord have left on record, or have had recorded of them, the great assistance they received when they cast themselves on the Lord and waited on Him. “Luther,” said Thomas Brooks, “professeth that he profited more in the knowledge of the Scriptures by prayer, in a short space, than by study in a longer.” 9 We read of R. M. M’Cheyne: “Anxious to give his people on the Sabbath what had cost him somewhat, he never, without an urgent reason, went before them without much previous meditation and prayer. His principle on this subject was embodied in a remark he made to some of us who were conversing on the matter. Being asked his view of diligent preparation for the pulpit, he reminded us of Exodus 27:20 and said, ‘Beaten oil – beaten oil for the lamps of the sanctuary’.”10 “He endeavoured at all times to preach the mind of the Spirit in a passage; for he feared that to do otherwise would be to grieve the Spirit of God who had written it. Interpretation was thus a solemn matter to him.” 11

The Rev. John Kennedy, Dingwall, was second to none, in the Highlands of Scotland and beyond, in unfolding the Scriptures, a fact that was undoubtedly the result of his being great in prayer. A godly man, Colin Forsyth, Killearnan, said of him, “He became a man of prayer before he became a preacher, and to my mind his prayers were always ahead of his preaching.” 12 At the early age of 21 we find him saying in his diary, “Experienced while engaged in prayer somewhat of soul satisfaction in viewing the sufferings of Christ”; “Engaged in reading and prayer. Felt somewhat of the power of the amazing love of Christ”; “In prayer I was led to a clear view of the security of those who are in Christ.” 13 Another Dingwall minister, the Rev. Donald Macfarlane, “had a special gift in getting at the meaning of the passage he was expounding, especially in its relation to the context,” his biographer tells us. “No preacher we ever listened to excelled him in this gift.” 14 He too was eminent in prayer. This is what he recorded in his diary one Saturday after praying in connection with the words of Isaiah 40:31, which came to his mind “with some degree of light and hope”: “I need the teaching of the Holy Spirit. He leads into the truth, and brings to remembrance the words which Christ had spoken.” 15 In 1904 he renewed a covenant with God, whom he thus addressed, “Make me more faithful in my endeavours to declare Thy whole counsel as that counsel is contained in the Bible, Thine own inspired Word. For this end grant me Thy Holy Spirit that I may grow in grace and that He may open my understanding to understand the Scriptures and enable me to divide the Word of truth aright.” 16

It was therefore good advice which C. H. Spurgeon gave to his students, “Your prayers will be your ablest assistants while your discourses are yet upon the anvil. While other men, like Esau, are hunting for their portion, you, by the aid of prayer, will find the savoury meat near at home, and may say in truth what Jacob said so falsely, ‘The Lord brought it to me.’. . Texts will often refuse to reveal their treasures till you open them with the key of prayer. How wonderfully were the books opened to Daniel when he was in supplication. How much Peter learned upon the housetop. The closet is the best study.” 17

Private prayer, said Thomas Brooks, is a key for the opening of the Scriptures. “There are many choice, secret, hidden, and mysterious truths and doctrines in the gospel, which Christ reveals to His people, that this poor, blind, ignorant world are strangers to. There are many secrets wrapped up in the plainest truths and doctrines of the gospel, which none can effectually open and reveal but the Spirit of the Lord, that searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. . .There are many that know the doctrine of the gospel, the history of the gospel, that are mere strangers to the secrets of the gospel. There is a secret power, a secret authority, a secret efficacy, a secret prevalency, a secret goodness, a secret sweetness in the gospel, that none experience but those to whom the Lord is pleased to impart gospel secrets.” 18

We leave with you this searching but encouraging quotation from Thomas Brooks, “Private prayer is a golden key to unlock the mysteries of the Word unto us. The knowledge of many choice and blessed truths are but the returns of private prayer. The Word dwells most richly in their hearts who are most in pouring out their hearts before God in their closets.” 19 Surely these words say to us, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

1. The Westminster Cinfession of Faith, p. 4.
2. Studies in the Book of Psalms, W. S. Plumer, p. 1030.
3. The Beauties of Boston, edited by Samuel M’Millan, p. 6.
4. The Reformed Faith – An Exposition of the Confession of Faith, Robert Shaw, p.18.
5. The Works of Thomas Goodwin, D.D., Vol. 4, p. 256.
6. The Works of John Owen, Vol. 4, p.202.
7. Ibid. p. 204.
8. Ibid., p. 205
9. The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, Vol.1, p. 292
10. Memoir and Remains of R. M. M’Cheyne, Andrew Bonar, p. 52.
11. Ibid., p. 64
12. Life of John Kennedy, D.D., Alexander Auld, p. 7.
13. Ibid., pp. 12, 13, 25.
14. Memoir and Remains of Rev. Donald Macfarlane, Donald Beaton, p.66.
15. Ibid., p. 114.
16. Ibid., p. 146.
17. Lectures to my Students – First Series, C. H. Spurgeon, p. 41.
18. The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, Vol. 2, p. 186.
19. Smooth Stones Taken from Ancient Brooks, compiled by C. H. Spurgeon, p. 194.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – September 1998

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        • What Kind of Faith?
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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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        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
        • The Goodness of God in Redemption
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        • Book Notices
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        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
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        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
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        • Knowing God
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        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
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        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
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        • 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
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        • 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
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        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
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        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
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        • 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
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        • “Just with God”
        • Protestant View
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        • 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
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        • Blessedness
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        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
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        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
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        • 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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        • 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
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      • 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
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        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
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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
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
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      • 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
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        • 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
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      • July 2000
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • 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
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        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
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        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
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        • Another Millennium
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        • 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.
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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
        • 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
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      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
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        • Unsettling the Settlement
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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
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        • 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”
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      • November 1999
        • Morality and Politics
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        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
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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
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      • 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.
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      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
        • Protestant View
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
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        • 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
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        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
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      • 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
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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
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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
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        • 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
        • Protestant View
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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
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        • 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
        • Eastern Europe Mission
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        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
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