The Glory of Grace, An Introduction to the Puritans in Their Own Words, selected and introduced by Lewis Allen & Tim Chester, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 185 pages, £7.00.
This book is intended, we are told, to help readers discover how the Puritans “sought to follow Jesus Christ”. The Introduction also explains that “the term ‘Puritan’ was used in the late 1500s and 1600s as a label for those who were wholeheartedly committed to the Christian faith as taught in the Bible”. There follows a brief history of the English Reformation and of the Puritans.
The body of the book gives extracts from the works of, mostly, prominent writers of the Puritan period. Although two of the writers are Scottish, none of the distinctive church history of Scotland has been described. And one of these Scottish writers, Thomas Boston, scarcely belongs to the Puritan religion era – as is acknowledged – but he was entirely committed to their way of thinking.
The first chapter contains extracts from Richard Sibbes on assurance, from his book, The Bruised Reed. But first, as in all the chapters, there is some biographical information, followed by some comments on the chosen author’s writing, under the heading, “Things to look out for”. Among the headings, inserted by the editors, in this chapter are: “The calling of Christ to His office”, “The execution of His calling”, “We need bruising before conversion”, “We need bruising after conversion”. Then Sibbes goes on to expound the truth that “a bruised reed shall He not break”, when he speaks of the work of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.
Among the other 10 chapter titles are: “Thomas Goodwin on the Holy Spirit”, “Samuel Rutherford on Covenant Confidence”, “John Owen on Communion with God” and “John Bunyan on Faith”. One name which may be unknown to many readers is Anne Bradstreet; this particular chapter provides extracts from her poetry. A native of England, she emigrated to America in about 1630.
In introducing Anne Bradstreet, it is disappointing to find going to the theatre described as an innocent pleasure; if theatres were “bawdy places” in the seventeenth century, it would seem that many plays today are immoral also – not to speak of the dishonesty involved in acting the part of another person. No doubt, the justification of theatre-going reflects an unhealthy worldliness in some circles that support Reformed doctrine.
The extracts in this book are said to be “gently edited” to make them easier to read and, from a limited comparison with the original, that seems an accurate description. But it would have been appreciated if Bible quotations
were left as in the Authorised Version. At least one sentence, possibly two, (pp 135,163) are incomplete.
A book such as this could be helpful to those who are not used to Puritan writings. It would certainly be desirable to move on from such limited extracts to complete books, though readers ought not to be overly ambitious at first. Some Puritans, such as Thomas Watson and John Flavel, are easier to read than others.
Protestant View
Cardinal Newman a Saint?
On 13 October, the fraudulent process of “canonisation” is due to reach its end for Cardinal John Henry Newman, who will then be regarded as a “saint” by the Roman Catholic Church, having allegedly been responsible for two “miracles”. Newman’s real influence, however, has been powerful and widespread. He wilfully and deceptively sought to undermine the Protestantism of the Church of England through the Tracts for the Times which he and others of the so-called “Oxford Movement” produced when Newman was still an Anglican.
Newman was also influential in articulating a theory of “development” in the field of doctrine whereby the blatant differences between Roman Catholicism and the Christianity of the Bible could be explained away. He held that Roman Catholic teaching has become more detailed over the centuries but that, nevertheless, such grossly unbiblical tenets as transubstantiation, purgatory and the worship of Mary and the “saints” were contained in the Bible and “tradition”, albeit in seed-form waiting to be developed by the Church. The great attraction that Newman’s writings have for the modern Church of Rome is that they subtly enable her to profess to be unchanging while simultaneously developing her doctrinal teaching.
Newman’s personal integrity was questioned during his own lifetime and he admitted to having often been less than straightforward in his dealings with others. In 1851 he was found guilty of criminal libel. It is very solemn to consider that a man who professed Evangelical conversion, who adhered to Calvinistic teaching for a period of his life and who then regarded the pope as antichrist, could be left to apostatise as far as John Henry Newman did. It should serve as a stark reminder to us of our need to be kept from error as individuals and as a Church, and how powerful the attraction of Popery can be to the unenlightened minds of many able men, such as Newman undoubtedly was.
AWM
Notes and CommentsThe Skull of a “Human Ancestor”
The press is reporting the discovery of the skull of a “human ancestor”, supposedly dating from 3.8 million years ago. The skull is reasonably complete, whereas most similar finds, apparently, have been “mere fragments of bone”. After the initial discovery of an upper jawbone in Ethiopia, an area of 25 square metres was sieved by archaeologists who then found “a crucial cheekbone”. The area was then examined by geologists who determined, through potassium-dating, that some rocky volcanic substance below the find was 3.8 million years old, whereas some above was about 3.77 million years. They concluded that the skull was buried in a river delta on a lakeshore, surrounded by shrubland and patches of trees. The discovery of the skull has caused an “evolutionary shake-up”, overturning some of the paleoanthropologists’ previous theories about relationships among supposed human ancestors. To top it all, a “paleo-artist” has reconstructed the face of the ape, which looks out with near-human eyes.
Probably the journalists are more confident in their assertions than the scientists, who are trained to be circumspect; but even so, the rashness of basing so much on so little is obvious. At the scientific level, there are theoretical assumptions underlying potassium-dating – which may not be correct – and there are difficulties in knowing that a rock sample is not contaminated in some way. One cannot really know everything about a new species merely from a skull. What happened during the 30 000 years which supposedly elapsed between the two rock samples? Was the lake serenely quiet all that time, or were there perhaps earthquakes moving soil around (there have been at least nine major earthquakes in Ethiopia in the last 300 years). A theory is hardly secure when a single new piece of evidence leads to a major “shake-up”.
But it is not only scientific theories which are built on this sort of flimsy foundation; many people are doing so with their whole atheistic way of life. Their defence for the Day of Judgement is that because of some skulls and fossils, and newspaper articles about them, they considered it safe to ignore God and to blaspheme and to live immorally and to abort their unborn children. Their consciences told them that their conduct was wrong, but they decided to take the risk anyway. They are building on the sand of erroneous and changing scientific theories, and their house will collapse when the storm comes. Christians are building on the rock of the resurrection of Christ. Whatever the true explanation for this skull – and there are many possibilities – Christ is risen and He will return in judgement. DWBS
Grace Church, Larbert
In 2013 the Church of Scotland General Assembly agreed that congregations should be free to call homosexual ministers who were in a civil partnership. Following this, the minister of Larbert Old Church, Rev Andrew Randall, and 150 members of his congregation left the Church. He said, “It is because the Church of Scotland has effectively rejected the Bible as the authoritative standard of faith that we could not remain within the denomination – leaving the national Church was the only way we could continue to commend the Bible’s message with integrity”. A member of his congregation, who had attended Larbert Old Church for 50 years, said, “We feel that the old church has departed from Scripture, which is the foundation of all we believe in; we leave with very heavy hearts”.
The new congregation, calling themselves Grace Church, Larbert, began worshipping in the dining hall of a local school and has since become affiliated with the International Presbyterian Church.1 They have now submitted a planning application to build a church on derelict ground in the Kinnaird area of Larbert. The proposal has provoked a virulent campaign of opposition from the community, including claims that the church is homophobic and preaches hatred for LGBT members of the community, and encouraging as many as possible to object to the planning application.
A “No Grace Church in Kinnaird” Facebook page has been set up. One comment, among many in a similar vein, states, “The top and bottom of this is that the group is openly discriminatory and preach against the LGBT members of our community; hence this is not a community facility at all. It’s a clubhouse for straight Christians to peddle hate.”
Mr Randall preaches the scriptural truth concerning homosexuality and its sinfulness, that women should not preach or hold office in the church, that marriage is between a man and a woman, that adultery is a sin, that there should be no sex outside of marriage, and much more that is faithful to the Word of God. All of this enrages the LGBT faction and their sympathisers, because it condemns the modern way of life. Mr Randall says that people “have made grossly inaccurate accusations about who we are and what we believe. The message we stand for is one of love for all people, and we welcome everyone without exception.”
To proclaim the truth about sin is not to hate the perpetrators but to show how the Scriptures require us to live our lives and where salvation is to be found. This cannot be compromised when faced with opposition. How fearful it is that Christians are now facing such open and vitriolic abuse when
1Brief comment on the International Presbyterian Church appeared in the Notes and Comment section of this Magazine for August 2012.
seeking to set up a place of worship. At the time of writing there is no information on the progress of the planning application and there may be other, legitimate reasons to reject it, but one prays that it does not fail as the result of ill-informed and wicked opposition.
The Larbert and Kinnaird area is no stranger to evangelical religion: the revered Robert Bruce (1554-1631) ministered there and is buried in Larbert, Robert Murray M’Cheyne was assistant minister to John Bonar in the parish of Larbert and Dunipace from 1835-36 and wrote to Mr Bonar after he had left: “What an interest I feel in Larbert and Dunipace! It is like the land of my birth. Will the Sun of Righteousness ever rise upon it, making its hills and valleys bright with the knowledge of Jesus?” FRD
Church Information
Removed by Death
Rev Angus Smith, a retired minister in Stornoway, passed away on August 27. Mr Dick Vermeulen, an elder in the Tauranga congregation in New Zealand, passed away on August 29. We send our sympathy to both families.
Theological Conference
This year’s Theological Conference will be held, God willing, in Glasgow, on Tuesday, October 29, and Wednesday, October 30, with Rev Roderick Macleod as chairman. It is expected that the following papers will be read, all of them in public:
Saving Faith
Rev K M Watkins Tuesday 2.30 pm
Singing the Psalms of God: a History of Psalmody
Dr R J Dickie Tuesday 7.00 pm
The Synod of Dort
Mr Jan Freeke Wednesday 10.00 am
John Kennedy of Dingwall
Rev K D Macleod Wednesday 2.30 pm
Prophets of the Captivity: Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel
Rev W A Weale Wednesday 7.00 pm
(Rev) J R Tallach, Convener, Training of the Ministry Committee
Home Mission Fund
By appointment of Synod, the second of this year’s special collection for the Home Mission Fund is due to be taken in congregations during October.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
FREE PRESBYTERIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP
Scotland
Aberdeen: 2 Alford Place, AB10 1YD, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Tuesday, 7.15 pm. Rev D W B Somerset BSc DPhil, 18 Carlton Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4BQ; tel: 01224 645250.
Bracadale Duirinish-Strath: Struan: Sabbath 12 noon. Glendale and Vatten: Sabbath 6pm, alternately. Thursday 7 pm, rotating between Struan, Vatten and Glendale. Contact Rev I D MacDonald; tel: 01478 612110.
Dingwall: Church, Hill Street, IV15 9JP; Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Beauily (Balblair): Sabbath 6.30 pm, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev A W MacColl MA PhD, 10 Achany Road, Dingwall, IV15 9JB; tel: 01349 866546.
Dornoch: Sabbath 11.30 am. Manse tel: 01862 810615. Bonar: Sabbath 6 pm. Wednesday 7.30 pm (alternately in Dornoch and Bonar). Laig: Church and Manse; Rogart: Church; no F P services. Contact Mr A Sutherland; tel: 015494 02115.
Edinburgh: 63 Gilmore Place, EH3 9NU, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev D Campbell MA, 35B Barnton Avenue West, Edinburgh EH4 6DF; tel: 0131 312 8227, e-mail: dcampbell1560@gmail.com.
Farr (by Daviot): Sabbath 12 noon. Tomatin: Sabbath 12 noon. Stratherrick: Sabbath 12 noon. (Each of these services is held once in three weeks as intimated). Farr: Thursday 7.30 pm (as intimated). Contact Mr M J Schouten; tel: 01463 221776.
Fort William: Monzie Square, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm as intimated. Manse: 15 Perth Place, PH33 6UL; tel: 01397 708553. Contact Mr D A McKinnon. Tel: 01397 702597.
Gairloch (Ross-shire): Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm. Prayer meeting in Strath, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev A E W MacDonald MA, F P Manse, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BS; tel: 01445 712247.
Glasgow: St Jude’s Church, 137 Woodlands Road, G3 6LE. Sabbath 11 am and 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev R MacLeod BA, 4 Laurel Park Close, Glasgow, G13 1RD; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Greenock: Sabbath 2.30 pm, held in Free Church of Scotland hall, 14 Jamaica Street, PA15 1XX. Sabbath 2.30 pm. Contact Rev R MacLeod; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Halkirk: Sabbath 11.30 am; Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev W A Weale, F P Manse, Bridge Street, KW12 6YG; tel: 01847 831758. Thurso: Duncan Street; Sabbath 5 pm; Strathy: Sabbath: 6 pm (first and third Sabbaths of month).
Harris (North): Tarbett: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Tarbett and Stockinish: Tuesday 7.30 pm alternately. Rev J B Jardine BD, F P Manse, Tarbett, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF; tel: 01859 502253, e-mail: northharris.fpc@btopenworld.com.
Harris (South): Leverburgh: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Sheilleboist: as intimated. Rev K M Watkins BA, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271.
Inverness: Chapel Street, IV1 1NA; Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev K D Macleod BSc, 11 Auldcastle Road, Inverness, IV2 3PZ; tel: 01463 712872.
Kinlochbervie: Sabbath 6 pm; Scourie: Sabbath 11.30 am, Tuesday 7 pm (as intimated). Contact Dr A Ross; tel 01971 502099.
Kyle of Lochalsh: Sabbath 6 pm. Manse tel: 01599 534933. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Laide (Ross-shire): Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev D A Ross. F P Manse, Laide, IV22 2NB; tel: 01445 731340.
Lochcarron: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Manse.
Lochinver: Church. No F P services at present. Manse.
Ness: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Manse tel: 01851 810228. Contact Rev K M Watkins; tel: 01859 520271.
North Tolsta: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7 pm; 1st Monday of month 7 pm. Manse tel: 01851 890325. Contact Rev J R Tallach; tel: 01851 702501.
North Uist: Bayhead: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm (fortnightly). Manse tel: 01876 510233. Contact: Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Oban: Church and Manse. No F P services at present.
Perth: Pomarium, off Leonard Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Rev D Campbell; tel: 0131 312 8227.
Portree: Sabbath 12 noon, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7 pm.. Rev I D MacDonald BA, F P Manse, Achachork, Portree, IV51 9HT; tel: 01478 612110.
Raasay: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Contact Rev I D MacDonald; tel: 01478 612110.
Shieldaig: Sabbath 11 am; Applecross: Sabbath 6pm. Tuesday 7 pm (alternately in Shieldaig and Applecross). Shieldaig manse tel: 01520 755259, Applecross manse tel: 01520 744411. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Staffin: Sabbath 12 noon, 5 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev D Macdonald, F P Manse, Clachan, Staffin, IV51 9HY tel: 01470 562243.
Stornoway: Matheson Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm. Achmore: Sabbath 12 noon; Tuesday 7 pm. Rev J R Tallach MB ChB, 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, HS1 2NH; tel: 01851 702501.
Tain: Church. Fearn: Church. No F P services. See Dornoch and Bonar.
Uig (Lewis): Miavaig: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 12 noon. Manse tel: 01851 672251. Contact Rev K M Watkins; tel: 01859 520271.
Ullapool: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Manse: Quay Street, IV26 2UE; tel: 01854 612449.
England
Barnoldswick: Kelbrook Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Friday 7.30 pm; Wednesday 8 pm, alternately in Sandbach and Gatley. South Manchester: Sabbath 6.00 pm, in Trinity Church, Massie Street, Cheadle (entry at rear of building). Contact Mr R Middleton, 2 Emerald Drive, Sandbach, CW11 4ND; tel: 01270 761673.
Broadstairs: Sabbath 11 am, 5 pm at Portland Centre, Hopeville Ave, St Peter’s; Tuesday 7 pm at Friends’ Meeting House, St Peter’s Park Rd. Contact Dr T Martin; tel: 01843 866369.
London: Zoar Chapel, Varden St, E1. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.15 pm. Rev J MacLeod MA, 6 Church Ave, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BU; tel: 0208 309 1623.
Northern Ireland
Larne: Station Road. Sabbath 11.30 am, 6.30 pm. No F P services. Contact Rev R Macleod; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Canada
Chesley, Ontario: Church and Manse, 40 Fourth Street SW. Sabbath 10.30 am, 7.30 pm; Tuesday 8 pm. Contact: Mr David Kuiper; tel: 519 363 0367; or Mr Gilbert Zekveld; tel: 519 363 5899. Manse tel: 519 363 2502.
Vancouver: Burnaby Community Room, 3605 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X5. Sabbath 9.30 am, 6.30 pm, Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr Douglas Spratt; tel: 604 990 4051, or Mr David Kuiper; tel: 519 363 0367. E-mail: info@fpchurchvancouver.ca.
USA
Santa Fe, Texas: Church and Manse, 4031 Jackson St 77517. Sabbath 10.30 am, 5 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Mr Joseph Smith; tel: 409 927 1564.
Australia
Grafton, NSW: 172 Fitzroy Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G G Hutton BA PhD, 3 Martin Crescent, Junction Hill, NSW 2460; tel: (02) 6644 6174; e-mail: grafton@internode.on.net.
Sydney, NSW: Corner of Oxford and Regent Streets, Riverstone. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G B Macdonald BSc, 60 Hamilton St, Riverstone, NSW 2765; tel: (02) 9627 3408; e-mail: sydneyfpchurch@aapt.net.au.
New Zealand
Auckland: 45 Church Street, Otahuhu. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev J D Smith, 9 Pedlar Place, Conifer Grove, Auckland; tel: 09 282 4195.
Carterton: 124 High Street North, Carterton. Sabbath 11 am, 4 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr Hank Optland, P O Box 150, Carterton, 5743; tel: 02 7432 5625.
Gisborne: 463a Childers Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev C Hembd, 14 Thomson St, Gisborne 4010; tel: 06 863 3140.
Tauranga: 45 Cliff Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Thursday 6.30 pm (but on first Thursday of month place will be as intimated locally). Contact: Rev J D Smith; tel: 09 282 4195.
Singapore
Singapore: Sabbath: 9.30am and 5.30 pm; Beacon International College, 70 Martaban Road, Singapore 328667 (entrance is opposite 37/39 Mandalay Road); Wednesday: 7.45 pm, Lion Building B, #02-11, 12 Arumugam Road, Singapore 409958. Contact: Mr Bernard Yong, 4 Chuan Place, Singapore 554822; tel: (65) 6383 4466, fax: 6383 4477, e-mail: byong1@singnet.com.sg.
Ukraine
Odessa: F P Mission Station, 3 Pestelya Street, 65031. Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 6 pm. Rev D Levitskyi; tel: 00 38 048 785 19 24; e-mail: dlevitskyi@gmail.com; or contact Mr I Zadorozhnyi, P O Box 100, Odessa-91, 65091; e-mail: antipa@eurocom.od.ua.
Zimbabwe
Bulawayo: Lobengula Township, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo. Rev S Khumalo, F P Manse, Stand No 56004, Mazwi Road, Lobengula, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo; tel: 00263 9407131, e-mail: skhumalo.byo@gmail.com.
Ingwenya: Church and Secondary School. Postal Address: Ingwenya Mission, Private Bag T5445, Bulawayo.
Mbuma: Church and Hospital. Rev N Sibanda. Postal Address: Mbuma Mission Hospital, Private Bag T5406, Bulawayo.
New Cannaan: Church.
Zenka: Church. Rev M Mloyi. Postal Address: Private Bag T5398, Bulawayo; cell phone: 00263 712 765 032.