Convenanters

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 November 1915, Page 2

Convenanters

. W. ,Li. toJLIMVAjLii ' : UOVJ£>i« A.NiJ onUi.STiA.\ uiAiuuim'' (Jn kjuaday evening last, ilev. G. L. iStewaro minister 01 llio 1' roe Hign Uiurcii, delivered anotner oi his popular Covenanting addresses, taking as hu>- subject on this occasion, "Tho Covenanters and Christian Character." Rev. -Sir Stewart said there was a pre-, valont idea that had more than ordinary acceptance that the Covenanters' were a soar, supercilious, ill-tempered, and ill-conditioned race of men j men who had no sympathies outside the circle in which they moved; that they were unlike the brethern ol any other faith. He wished to point out that the very reverse was the truth in every particular; that they were not averse to the ordinary comforts which men cujuv, and- that they did not ban the elements of joy out ot' their lives. Ho confessed they did: not dance and fling. There was a tinu: for everything, and doubtless : jjffi'e was a time for that, but they Had no time to dance. Tlio days in which they lived were far too serious. There was proof on every hanll t!:al those men not only encouraged indulgence in inocent joys but revelled in them. THEIR TRADUCRKS SPOKE, as though these worthy men were destitute of the finer feelings common to their kind. Let them look at this aspect for a. little and take, for example, the tamily scenes in the homes or those worthies when the rigours ot the persecution had relaxed. They would lind Henry Erskme, the lather ot Ralph and Ebenezer, supplementing the -common joys of his tamily by discoursing music irom tne guiitir, wiucn im played with a skilful lumd. Their love tor their children ami their sollaacrilicing efforts on their behall wore a standing rebuke to the selfish spirit of our own age. It was on record that iCichard Cameron's father bouded his dwelling-house in order that his son should complete his coiiege education, iheir virtues as parents did not stop diere, but inspired them with the holy desire of seeing their childiren walk it> wisdom's way. The closing scenes in the fife of James Guthrie revealed tho neart of the Covenanting parent and are loitching in the extreme. His wife ;! iid two children were present in tho prison 011 the eve of his martyrdom. Guthrie took ilia little boy, Willie, on uifc. knee, and caressing him tenderly, said, "Ah, Willie, they will tell you and cast up to you that your rather was hanged, but think not shame 01 a for it was upon a goodl cause." Ho uade his bairns a tender and tearful lareuell, and they novel 1 saw their lather's lace again until they saw it ..angmg 011 the JNetllenbow Port. Ah, yes, they had tender and loving nearts uad theiie men, and never did parental' love burn hotter than in their honeat ureasts. It had often ueen the subject ol remark that the Covenanters stood loyally to one another, and as

mail to uian they were. TItUE TILL DEATH. j'hey wore one in a brotlioriiood that could notj be 'broken. There were .nany temptations peculiar lo the timeß, uut there 'was no case on record to prove that they gave way. The targe tribes oliered might nave lovercomu suuie whose hearts Imd a oais towards avarice, but they held their peace. As .1 sample oi' fraternal faithfulness let liiein look at Hugh M'ivail. Although Lin' cruel '"boot" was htted to his limb and struck eleven times by the stuirdy maigman, yet not a word: did ho speak mat would betray his brother in the laith. They were in solemn covenant lor Christ's cause, and that meant that they were pledged to Christ's people, and though death itself should bo their portion they would 1 never play tiro tiaitor. This was forcibly illustrated m the case of James Kirk, who was shot on the sands of Dumfries. He was lurried from his homo in Sundaywell, where many a secret meting had. been held with liiohard Cameron and other worthies of the cause. He suliered imprisonment and heavy fines "and was at last brought to beggairy. Ho wandered in Ireland arid in various parts of Scotland, but at length was captured by Captain Bruce. He was brought to Dumfries andl put through the usual trial, and (sentenced to death, lip was offered the oath, but he refused it, and then he was offered pardon if ho would disclose the secret hiding place of his fellow fugitives. Turning proudly romidl, lie said he would not redeem Ins life at such a dear rate. He- pled for another day, to make sure of his peace "with God, but Bruce retorted. "The devil a peace .shall you get." The signal was given, and the bullet which was God's messenger summoned him into the piesence of the King.--Lennox Herald.