Review by Rev. W. MacLean, M.A., Ness
These papers were read at the Synod which met in Edinburgh in May, 1960, in commemoration of the Scottish Reformation, and have since been published in book form. The book, artistically produced, contains an excellent portrait of John Knox.
The Preface of the Rev. D. A. MacFarlane, M.A., Dingwall, emphasises that two things are particularly necessary as marks of the true visible Church of Christ in the world. She must first cordially hold that in the Scriptures we have the supreme rule of faith,—the inspired objective revelation of God’s Will for perishing men. Secondly there is, in addition, needful for men the Testimony of the Holy Spirit. This Testimony of the Holy Spirit is the efficient cause of saving faith.
Quotations in connection with these two vital matters so precious to the Reformers and to all who follow in their footsteps, are given. One is from Dr. John Owen—”The faith whereby we believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God is on all occasions melted down into that whereby we believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God.” (Owen’s Works, Vol IV p.52).
The first Paper—”The Church from which the Reformation delivered Scotland”
The Rev. Alex Murray, M.A., exposes the awful apostasy of the Church of Rome from the New Testament pattern in matters of doctrine, worship, government and practice. She is proved to be in the language of the Westminster Confession of Faith no Church of Christ, but a synagogue of Satan, the anti-christ, the great Harlot in all the revolting depths of her degradation.
The second Paper—”Causes and Progress of the Scottish Reformation until the year 1560″
By Rev. Fraser Macdonald, M.A. Four causes are mentioned and enlarged upon—firstly, the corruption of the Church of Rome itself, and then following upon that three other causes, namely, the written Word of God, the preaching of the Word, the godly examples and martyrdom of preachers, and others in the common cause. The Reformation is set forth as the work of God whereby the pagan ideas and superstitious practices, unwarrantably introduced into the Church, were swept away to make room for the simple but glorious doctrines and ordinances of the Apostolic Church.
The third Paper—”John Knox: Central Figure of the Reformation”
By Rev. J. P. MacQueen, presents an excellent pen portrait of the Great Reformer. “Under God,” writes Mr MacQueen, “John Knox was the greatest benefactor of his native land, and the most of all that this country has done for Christ’s Kingdom and the world at large is to be found in the work of John Knox, by far her greatest son.”
The fourth Paper—”Pen Portraits of Fellow Reformers”
By Rev. A. F. MacKay, M.A., includes George Wishart, John Willock, John Wynram, John Row, John Craig, John Spottiswood and John Douglas. These pen portraits, multum in parvo, show the devotion of these worthy men to the Cause of Truth.
The fifth Paper—”The First Book of Discipline” (1560)
By Rev. Robert R. Sinclair. “The First Book of Discipline” was drawn up by John Knox and the five Johns associated with him—John Willock, John Wynram, John Spottiswood, John Douglas and John Row, “eminent and weighty Reformers both spiritually and intellectually” as Mr Sinclair observes. In it the constitution of the reformed Church in Scotland is laid down “as purely Presbyterian and remarkably simple” as Dr. McCrie states in “The Story of the Scottish Church.” Doctrine, Administration of the Sacraments, Election of Ministers, Provision for their Sustenance, Ecclesiastical Discipline and Policy of the Kirk are the principle contents, each of which is lucidly handled in this Paper. In the section dealing with the Sacraments, only the two instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Head of the Church, are recognised. The withholding of the cup from the common people by the Papists is called a “damnable error,” and idolatry—”The Mass, Invocation of Saints, Adoration of Images, and the purging and retaining of the same; and finally all honouring of God not contained in His Holy Word.”
The sixth Paper—”Theological Principles of the Reformation” “The Scottish Confession of 1560,”
By Rev. Donald MacLean. Four matters are especially dealt with—The Need for a Confession: History of the Confession: Theological Principles of the Confession and Comparison with the Westminster Confession. The following are quotations from this Paper. “As other papers in this series have shown, the Reformation was a mighty work of the Spirit of God. The gospel came to Scotland as to Thessalonica, “not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance.” The people were delivered out of the bonds of spiritual death and ignorance which made them an easy prey to the sophistries, traditions, blasphemies and superstitions of the Church of Rome. . . . ‘Illuminations by the light of the Gospel.’ These words of George Wishart point to the fact that wherever there is a baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is a revival of pure doctrine. . . . This insistence on purity of doctrine meant that all the Reformers were theologians, for theology is just the setting forth of the doctrines of Divine Truth in their proper relation to one another. . . . The necessity for preserving purity, together with a desire to bear witness on the side of Christ, led the Reformers in Scotland, as elsewhere, to draw up a Confession. . . . A close reading of the Scottish Confession makes it abundantly plain that it is in line with the other Reformed Confessions. In other words, it is Calvinistic in doctrine, as the poisonous weed of Arminianism had not yet raised its head in the Churches. . . . This brief examination of the Confession shows that the theological principles of the Reformation consist mainly in the following: Firstly—The sole authority of the Holy Scripture as the inspired infallible Word of God to decide on all points of doctrine and practice in the Church. Secondly—That man is a fallen creature lying under sentence of eternal death and utterly unable to deliver himself out of his estate of sin and misery. Thirdly—That the salvation of sinners flows from the free and sovereign grace of God both in the election of Christ as Mediator and in the election of those who are to enjoy the benefits of redemption. Fourthly—That Christ, as Immanuel God with us, rendered full satisfaction for the sins of His people by His Divine sacrifice, ‘after the which,’ says the Confession, ‘we confess and avow there remaineth no other sacrifice for sin.’ Fifthly—The absolute need of the Holy Spirit to apply this redemption in regeneration and sanctification. Sixthly—Justification by faith alone. . . . Seventhly—That there will always be a true church in the world which can be known by certain marks which in the light of God’s Word distinguish it from all other churches.
“When the time will come for a work of Reformation to be carried on in our beloved Scotland, there will be a full-hearted return to these fundamental theological principles.”
The seventh Paper—”The Benefits of the Reformation”
By Rev. M. MacSween, M.A. The priceless benefits of the Reformation are divided into two categories—the spiritual and the social. Under the former, The Restoration of the Word of God to its Proper Place is mentioned as the source of all the rest, and as a consequence upon the exalting of the Bible to its proper place the first great blessing was The Overthrow of the Roman Catholic Church, and then the blessing of The Insistence of the Reformers on the Doctrine of the Headship of Christ. Other benefits mentioned are: The Right to Read and Interpret the Word of God for Themselves Under the Illumination and Guidance of the Holy Spirit: The Revival of Preaching: The Church was Declared Free: The Assertion of The Rights and Liberties of the People. The Social benefits: The Benefit of Education: Literature: Social Welfare: The Open Bible—The Great Christian Missionary.
“We see here,” writes Mr MacSween, “that the spirit of the Reformation has travelled to the ends of the earth with the Bible, God’s precious Word, which has withstood and shattered all attacks launched against it by avowed enemies and pretended friends. It has been translated in whole or in part into over twelve hundred languages, and still stands God’s impungable Word with its universal message: ‘Look unto Me and be ye saved, all ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.’ Isaiah 45:22. . . . In range of influence and richness of results the Bible is supreme. It has led to more social reform than any other factor in the history of the world. . . . This is our great benefit, the Word of Truth, which is to all the saved the Gospel of their salvation.
“May the Papers prepared in grateful commemoration of the Scottish Reformation established four hundred years ago, help to give us a better understanding of how cruel, false, soul-destroying and intolerant Romanism is. . . .
“May we be given grace, in this cloudy and dark day, to hold fast the testimony of God’s Word, handed down to us intact from the First and Second Reformations, the Revolution Settlement of 1690, the 1843 Disruption, and by our own fathers in 1893: and to plead God’s promise with respect to His Word: ‘. . . it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:11.”
The eighth Paper—“The Present Position and Prospects of the Reformed Church in Scotland”
By Rev. John Colquhoun, Glendale, Skye. This paper presents a lucid historical survey of the present divisions into which the one noble Reformation Church of Scotland has been broken. These are:—The Church of Scotland, the United Free Church Continuing, the Free Church of Scotland, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The present position and prospects of each of these denominations is candidly and faithfully given. In the light of the evidence advanced, the Free Presbyterian Church can rightly claim to have the heritage of the Church of the Reformation. “In doctrine, worship, government, and discipline, it has adhered strictly to the pattern of Scripture, and all its office-bearers are bound by ordination vows which are equivalent of an oath to adhere strictly to this pattern.” . . . “When this is true of a church,” Mr Colquhoun continues, “and it is true of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in spite of its many imperfections, such a Church, in our backsliding age, may become numerically smaller and weaker, but its existence does not depend on numbers or strength. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.’ . . . Fewness of numbers or lack of human strength or influence does not mean that there are no bright prospects in the future for those who adhere whole-heartedly to God’s Word. . . . These bright prospects are set forth by the Lord Himself when He says: ‘A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I the Lord will hasten it in his time.'”
These Papers now published in book form enshrine in brief compass the noble heritage bequeathed to us. It would be a blessing indeed if every family in Scotland possessed a copy. May this publication commemorating the glorious work of God in Scotland at the time of the blessed Reformation be made a blessing to all who shall read it.
To be had from Mr John Grant, 4 Millburn Road, Inverness.
Price 6/-, postage 7d.