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Saturday, 2 September 2006

Burgh /Anti-burgh


Burgh /Anti-burgh
In 1745 the seceders started to debate whether the burgess oath might be legitimate.
The oath was an acknowledgement of the true religion professed with in its realm. By 1747 they had split into burgh (for the oath) and anti-burgher. The anti burghers took the burghers to the church bar, and when they were never turning up they were in turn deposed and ex-communicated. In 1795 a large problem came to a head over subscription to the Westminster Confession.

Westminster Confession
While most independent churches would avoid confessions, creeds or formal documents as to the basis for constituting a church within the Church of Scotland and future Presbyterian splits leaders over the years struggled with the need of a defending statement that would stand the test of time and accommodate modern change yet not dilute the basis of the church and the truth. An "Athenian Creed" was offered by John Witherspoon to stop the easy-going way of the moderates in the church. This document had a feel of Deism and this may have annoyed the moderates (Deism- God created the earth but does not intervene in the course of nature and human affairs.), especially when Deism does not recognise miracles. The moderates were unable to write a distinct theology because they were bound by the Westminster confession (They could not publicly denounce it).

In 1766 Alexander Ferguson of Kilwinning in a "Scots magazine" article maintained that no church had a right to impose a detailed confession except in so far as it could be justified by scripture. Subscription to the confession therefore, at that time, must be made not that it is absolutely true but only in as far as it is scriptural.

Ferguson was making steps for a more liberal theology but with important grounded Christian doctrine. This was a step more spiritual than parliament had anticipated. It had enacted the confession only for a test of Presbyterian conformity. Twenty years later Dr William Gill took the process further by using fresh language to highlight doctrine in "A practical essay on the death of Christ".

The outcome was a polarisation of Moderates on the one hand teaching tolerance and good conduct as needful more than precise theology- all this as the age of Enlightenment dawned.
The rest supported by David Hume who saw the Moderates theology as weak and dependent on miracles. Hume was from a classical education and relied on those classics as his basis for thought. Although brought up in the same geographical area of Edinburgh as Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine, Hume, was from a different outlook of intellect no miracles and of the world of new thought. In his “Treatise of Human Nature” he set out a philosophy -which ends up at a dead end, in as much as he had no positive conclusion apart from nothing really changes.

Auchterarder creed

At a time when the church was suspicious of the Westminster confession, most likely concerning the thought that this confession might contain heretical thoughts, members of the presbytery of Auchterarder, created a question and answer system for a new student of the ministry. The statement put to him was " It is not sound and orthodox to teach that we must forsake sin, in order to our coming of Christ, and instating us in covenant with God." The probationary young student failed to see that what was meant, in disguise was Christ died to save sinful men. The student appealed to the Assembly who upheld his case condemning the presbytery for its "Auchterarder creed" which evidently caused confusion.

Thursday, 31 August 2006

Fox on the run!


In this photograph there are three fox cubs and a mother. Can you see them?
Double click should enlarge the picture.

Wednesday, 30 August 2006

Engaging an alive Christian community


I am encouraged by the conversions, e mails and telephone calls regarding the need for an "alternative worship" for the Highlands.

Already Hi- land P-raise is having an impact on the people of the Highlands.

"Alternative praise" is a better phrase, actually, as worship you do all the time (or don't) praise is the focal point accompanied or not, corporate or not.


I want to see regular praise in a community no matter the size of that community. I also think I want to start collecting names of those interested in supporting and taking part. One does not need to be a musician for that!


If you have n't spoken to be in the last week and you are interested and you live between ....anywhere North of Inverness be in touch.

Thank you
b

Thursday, 24 August 2006

Be creative !






























I see from the Exodus 35 30 - 36 7 reading we are called to be creative.

The first person mentioned in the bible as filled....with the Spirit of God is Bezalel ....an artist.

God enabled him to make the place of worship a vibrant, attractive celebration of creativity. Bezalel is appointed to teach others so that more creations can be created amongst his people including everyone who is willing to take part.

When new things are happening and many are taking to be personally involved, it creates a surge of enthusiasm and commitment.
look here ! it is expressed in an offering that most churches treasurers could only dream of:

Its so big that the people are asked to stop giving.
The generosity is from freewill. Out of the joy at what God is doing.

Lord Thank you for the skills I have help me to be creative to create things for your glory.
In an area that does not encourage creative things be it art thinking or building help me to work and to help the worship and mission of the church and in the community!


More prayers at Visionbyprayer

Morning rise 6.33 a m Thursday



















Rogart today .... need I say more

Friday, 18 August 2006

A9 Rosskeen















Another Presbyertian church on the A9












Rosskeen the land of the "men" of Easter Ross and East Sutherland. What do you know of these men?

Colours at that the garden gate

How not to take a photograph!















With your shadow in the picture tut! tut!

Dingwall and Strathpeffer Free Church of Scotland















The building of the Free Church of Scotland Dingwall is a fine building sitting proudly at the end of the High Street across from the railway station. I am convinced that Dingwall, geographically, has a strategic importance to the Highland church of the future. Interestingly the Theological College moved to Dingwall from Elgin some years ago.

Thursday, 17 August 2006

Sandeman Letters Theron and Aspasio

Some one looking for the text of Sandeman's letters to Harvey in Northampton 1755 ish.
Can any one help?


PDF from makidon


Some quotes here.
Not available - Amazon

Harvey

Glassite

Wednesday, 16 August 2006

What a relief...

Relief Church

Despite the first secession of 1733 from the Church of Scotland a short time after the passing of the Act of Patronage, the further split created the Presbytery of Relief. The founding members being Thomas Boston(2), Thomas Collier and Thomas Gillespie ministers of charges at Oxnam, Ravenstondale and Carnock. The basis of the split was regarding admitting ministers to charges that they were called.

More specifically;

Boston felt led to Jedburgh so much so in the congregation they also agreed to build a church to accommodate his ministry after the split.
Collier wished to take up the ministry at Colinsburgh from Ravenstondale.
Gillespie unable to settle Andrew Richardson in the church at Inverkeithing contrary to the will of the congregation and against his own vow taken at his induction at Carnock fife.
Thomas Gillespie (1708-1774) was a man of weak constitution in life and also of a shy disposition. He went to Carnock after training at the Protestant Dissenting Academy in Northampton. (Could not find a suitable college in Scotland.)
It doesn't appear that the formation of the relief presbytery had any influence in the progression of the two arms of the secession church. Having no theological college, most going to the established churches' halls of education, may well have had some bearing, so also could the churches stance on a more open table at communion and its alignment with baptists and independents with their view on universal redemption. The church of the Relief soon had over 100 churches. The first Moderator being Thomas Boston in 7/12/1761.
In 1847 the Relief Church joined with the two “New Light” bodies from the burgh and anti-burgh churches to form the United Presbyterian Church. This was a sign that many were prepared to reconsider the nature of the church in light of the New Testament first and college Calvinism second. At this time there was a new awakening regarding foreign mission.

Monday, 14 August 2006

Secede or succeed?

Seceeders

Most historians look at the republication of "The Marrow of Modern Divinity" as a trigger for the splits in the 18th century. The marrow was originally written around 1644 by Edward Fisher. With each republication excitement grew, in particular in the Church of Scotland, Synod of Fife. James Hog of Carnock was "highly pleased" with its contents. Of course there was also opposition. Principal Haddow of St Andrews being but one, who responded with "The record of God, and duty of faith therein required" (1719). By 1720 a committee was set up to report on the Marrow. Extracts from the Marrow were highlighted by the committee:

A believer is not under the law (but delivered from it)
A believer does not commit sin.
The Lord can not see sin in a believer
The lord is not angry with a believer who sins
The lord does not Chasten a believer for his sin.
A believer hath no cause to either confess his sins or to crave pardon at the hand of God for them...
These and others were put beside the scriptures and the articles of the confession of faith and the catechisms, so that matters could be considered. An act was passed "all ministers of the church were strictly prohibited from writing printing or preaching in favour "The Marrow".

The "marrow -men" as they were called were agitated by this stance and steps were taken to have the act repealed.
In Edinburgh William Wardrop met with Ebenezer Erskine and his brother Ralph Erskine, James Wardlaw, William Wilson (Perth), and Thomas Boston(1) to name a few. At the 1721 assembly, a defence was made of the marrow by twelve ministers led by Ebenezer Erskine. This "Evangelical " Minister made a defence of the situation, highlighted a need for the right of a congregation to choose its own minister.
His case which was good went back to the claim of the medieval church for independence in spiritual matters.

After some time and several meetings including Erskine being called to the Bar of the Assembly to receive a rebuke from the Moderator, he refused to accept this rebuke in silence and produced a written protest which he wished to be added to the Minutes.

Erskine and three other supporting ministers were suspended. The next step was a document claiming succeeding, not from the Church as such, "but the establishment within" who were not following reformed and covenanting principles! To this end the Associated Presbytery was born.

The Assembly had not anticipated this split and in the days that followed tried to have the suspended ministers back within its authority - but to no avail.

The Original Secession 1733 saw responsibility for prayer and upkeep of Church and minister, however saw no responsibility for surrounding area. -except to gather adherents. These churches grew out of "praying societies".

Barrier Act 1697
Passed to "Constructively insure against hasty action by extremists... that any innovations should be sent down to presbyteries and only enacted with their assent had been secured."

Clan Gathering 2006 St Andrews

Anybody had feedback from Clan Gathering in St Andrews or New Wine down south?