The Wicket Gate Magazine

A Continuing Witness

Internet Edition 107 issued March 2014 Index

1. 2. .. 4. 5. 4. 7. The Pastor's Letter (Novem er 1!74" # $ Test %or &ur &'n (earts Ta)e heed ho' *e hear # * +i,,iam -a* /o*s and 0ir,s Letter 1rom Mrs. 2eaton # -oan +aste (Part 2" 0,eanin3s in the Psa,ms # Psa,m 44 Matthe' (enr* # The conversion o1 the 6en o1 a read* 'riter The Ta ernac,es o1 Th* 0race # 1rom 7The $nna,s o1 the 8isru6tion7 $ 0ood 9on1ession
$t the +e 2ite o1 the +ic)et 0ate ma3a:ine '''.'ic)et3ate.co.u) *ou 'i,, a,so 1ind the 1o,,o'in3 recordin3s; Throu3h the /i ,e 'ith the 9hi,dren # /i ,e 2tories to,d * Mr 2eaton. 9on3re3ationa, Praise # the sin3in3 o1 our 9hurch durin3 +orshi6 2ervices 2ermons 6reached * 8r Needham and Mr 2eaton (istorica, Lectures 3iven in the 9hurch * 8r Needham

Podcast 2ervice avai,a ,e at '''.'ic)et3ate.co.u)

A Test For Our Own Hearts

(The Pastor's Letter Novem er 1!74"

8ear %riends< &ne o1 the 3reat events in the ,i1e o1 the 9hristian 9hurch 'as< sure,*< enacted on that da* 'hen our Lord -esus 9hrist ,ed that man 2au, o1 Tarsus to (imse,1 a1ter dea,in3 'ith him to the conviction o1 his sou, on the road to the cit* o1 8amascus. (o' soverei3n the 'or)in3s o1 the Lord a66ear in that 'ho,e encounter on the 8amascus road as the &mni6otent 6o'er o1 the ascended 9hrist shines out o1 heaven and around that arch=6ersecutor o1 the Lord's redeemed 6eo6,e in the earth. &h< *es< there is a human instrument rou3ht into the 6icture in the 1orm o1 that man $nanias 'ho is to eventua,,* s6ea) to 2au, and< as 'e mi3ht sa*< 7,ead him7 to the 2aviour. $nd *et< even the Lord's em6,o*ment o1 that human instrument< in itse,1< sim6,* sets e1ore us the 3reat &mni6otence o1 our 0od< and 6resents us 'ith a 6rinci6,e o1 the Lord's 'or)in3s that 'e ,ose si3ht o1 at our 6eri,. The situation is this< *ou remem er; 2au, has een convicted o1 his sin and has een ,ed in his ,inded state into the cit* o1 8amascus 'here he is to e 1or three 'ho,e da*s< neither eatin3 or drin)in3. $t the end o1 that 6eriod< the Lord's set time to 1avour 2au, o1 Tarsus has come< and he chooses out his instrument 1or the tas). +ho is it to e> $nd so< 'e read these 'ords< 7$nd there 'as a certain disci6,e at 8amasus named $nanias.7 $s) 'ho that man 'as< and a6art 1rom this time in his ,i1e 'here he encounters 2au, o1 Tarsus< 'e )no' nothin3 a out him. $nd *et< 'hat a ,ot 'e are tau3ht< or reminded o1< 'ith re3ards to our 0od. %or in this choosin3 out o1 this un)no'n man 1or such a tas) as this 'e see ho' o1ten the Lord is 6,eased to use the 7ordinar*7 to 6er1orm the extra=ordinar*? ho' (e is so o1ten 6,eased to ta)e u6 the a66arent,* 1oo,ish< or des6ised< or insi3ni1icant 'hen it comes to the 6er1ormances o1 some o1 his 3reatest 'or)s.

+hat a hi3h de3ree there is toda* in the churches o1 'hat 'e mi3ht ca,,< 7Na6o,eonism.7 It 'as the 1amous so,dier< *ou remem er< 'ho coined the 6hrase< 70od is 'ith the i3 atta,ions.7 &h< he 3ave a certain amount o1 ,i6 service to a e,ie1 in 0od and ho' 0od 'ou,d underta)e 1or him? ut Na6o,eon's rea, ho6e ,a* in his 3uns and horse and in1antr*? the i3 atta,ions # that 'as the rea, assurance o1 success. $nd ho' that attitude 6revai,s *et # and even amon3 the 6ro1essin3 6eo6,e o1 0od. 7&h *es<7 man* 6eo6,e sa*< 7'e e,ieve that 0od can use the ,itt,e thin3s7 etc. $nd then< the* turn a,, their ener3ies on musterin3 to3ether the 7 i3 atta,ions7 o1 method< and 6resentation and s,ic)ness< and 'ith=it=ness< in order to 1i3ht the Lord's 1i3ht in our da*. There is never an* excuse 1or ,axit*< or ,a:iness< or care,essness in the thin3s o1 our 3os6e, 'or). /ut< there is to e a constant remem rance that 'e are a so,ute,* shut u6 to the Lord's 'a*s and the Lord's thou3hts 'hich ma* on,* e discovered and rea,ised throu3h a re,ent,ess recourse to (is +ord. Put it to the test in *our o'n heart in this case e1ore us. 9hoose out the man to ,ead 2au, o1 Tarsus to 9hrist. +ho mi3ht 'e have chosen> %irst choice mi3ht 'e,, have ,anded on Philip. (ere 'as an outstandin3 evan3e,ist< @ust hot 1rom a success1u, cam6ai3n at 2amaria? and 'hat a 76ersona, 'or)er<7 as 'e,, # see ho' he has @ust dea,t 'ith that Etho6ian Eunuch. No< no< someone 'ou,d sa*< Phi,i6 'as on,* 7one o1 the seven7 # he 'asn't an a6ost,e? this conversion o1 2au, o1 Tarsus is somethin3 1or an a6ost,e? don't use the Aicar i1 *ou can 3et the $rch isho6B Peter is o vious,* the man 1or the @o # 3et Peter. Not Peter< someone mi3ht thunder< Peter is @ust ,ia ,e to 6ut his 1oot in it and 'e',, ,ose this 1ish. John is the man< *oun3 -ohn? No< no< not -ohn # he's etter )e6t 1or the *oun3 1o,). Let's 3et Matthew? this man 2au, o1 Tarsus< *ou see< is an inte,,ectua, # *ou need some od* 'ho can s6ea) his ,an3ua3e # he's 1ar too inte,,i3ent to e a ,e to understand ordinar* s6eech # and< at ,east< Matthe' has had some education # he's a tax co,,ector # a civi, servant # 3et Matthe'. /ut no< sa*s the Lord< ,et's send Ananias of Damascus 1or the @o . Who? $nanias o1 8amascusB $nd 'ith one 1e,, s'oo6< our 2aviour ,a*s in the dust a,, our Na6o,eonic reasonin3.

No' the case o1 $nanias o1 8amascus doesn't stand in iso,ation m* 1riends. It's not @ust a particular incident that has no general a66,ication< 1or the 'ord o1 0od is 1u,, o1 the same )ind o1 'or)in3s on the 6art o1 the Lord. +here 'ou,d one e3in and end 'ith this 6rinci6,e o1 0od's 'or)in3s> +hat a out -ericho< or 0ideon< or 8avid s,a*in3 0o,iath 'ith a s,in3 and stone> The*< and numerous other incidents te,, the same stor* o1 0od's 'a*s and mind ein3 so 1ar di11erent 1rom 'hat man conceives. /ut< the 3reatest mani1estation o1 a,, o1 this 6rinci6,e o1 0od's 'or)in3 is to e seen in the cross itse,1 # and throu3h the ver* 71oo,ishness7 o1 the 6reachin3 o1 that cross in ever* a3e. &n the cross< the Lord o1 a,, the earth< throu3h death< destro*s him 'ho had the 6o'er o1 death< and in so doin3< sho's 1orth the 3reat 1act that 7the 1oo,ishness o1 0od is 'iser than men.7 $nd that cross o1 9hrist< vie'ed in this 1ashion< is one o1 the 3reatest tests o1 our 1aith. +e ma)e much o1 the 6hrase # 7The o11ence o1 the cross.7 /ut there is a undant,* more to the o11ence o1 the cross than sim6,* re,atin3 a 1e' texts or 1acts a out a man ca,,ed -esus o1 Na:areth d*in3 on a cross 1or the sins o1 men. The true o11ence o1 the cross is the hum ,e o'in3 o1 our 6roud and stu orn 'i,,s to the 'a*s o1 0od and the ,a*in3 7in the dust ,i1e's 3,or* dead7 under the crushin3 truth that 0od chooses the 1oo,ish thin3s o1 man's estimatin3 1or the ex6,icit 6ur6ose o1 con1oundin3 his 6ride. $nanias< nor -ericho< nor 0ideon< nor 8avid's s,in3 stand in iso,ation; each and ever* one o1 them 6oints 1or'ard to< or ac) to that 7,itt,e hi,,7 on 'hich the crisis o1 the 'or,d 'as to e enacted. $nd 1or as ,on3 as 0od 6ermits (is church to remain on this earth that church is a so,ute,* ound to the 6rinci6,e dis6,a*ed there. 9ou,d 0od not have saved (is 9hurch throu3h the 7 i3 atta,ions7 o1 heaven,* 6o'er> 2ure,*< *es # 7Cno'est thou not that I cou,d summons ten ,e3ions o1 an3e,s>7 /ut< 0od chooses the cross # 'ith a,, the sti3ma surroundin3 it # and sets (is sea, u6on the 'a*s o1 the Lord in the midst o1 the earth. Let it never e 1or3otten that the

devi, ,oves to see the Lord contradicted? ,et us e care1u,< then< that our ehaviour and 6ractices and methods and ho6es don't sometimes do that ver* thin3. Dours sincere,*< +. -. 2eaton

Take Heed How Ye Hear.

(By Wi ia! "ay# The Lord -esus demands a 6ractica, out'or)in3 o1 his 'ord; 7(e that hath ears to hear< ,et him hear<7 = 7I have de,ivered man* thin3s in *our 6resence< and *e have done 'e,, in hearin3 them. /ut m* 6reachin3 is not to e vie'ed as an entertainment. M* doctrine is not desi3ned to amuse the mind< to 3rati1* curiosit*< to 1urnish a num er o1 ,i1e,ess s6ecu,ations. (earin3 is on,* instrumenta, to somethin3 e,se? there is a dut* o1 3reater im6ortance sti,, remainin3.7 +hat is it< m* rethren> +hat does our 2aviour sa* in other 6arts o1 (is 'ord to ex6,ain (is command> 7Mix 1aith 'ith hearin3< 7 (e sa*s< 7,et not the sense ,eave the mind as soon as the sound ,eaves the ear= remem er it # en,iven it * meditation # reduce it into 1ee,in3s and actions # 1ear these denunciations # em race these 6romises # 'a,) accordin3 to this ru,e.7 It is a ,amenta ,e re1,ection< that a,, the concern man* o1 our hearers have 'ith sermons consists in hearin3 them. The* do not consider hearin3 as the means o1 ecomin3 re,i3ious # it is their re,i3ion. The* conc,ude that their dut* is over 'hen the discourse is ended 'hereas it has @ust e3un. Instead o1 carr*in3 o11 6ortions o1 divine 'isdom to i,,uminate their ,ives< the* ,eave ehind them a,, the instruction the* have received. /ut< the +ord o1 0od is 6ractica,? ever* truth is announced to accom6,ish some 6ur6ose. I1 it revea,s a re1u3e< it is that *ou ma* enter in and e sa1e. I1 it 6roc,aims a remed*< it is that *ou ma* use it. It is not *our hearin3 it< ut *our a66,*in3 it that 'i,, save *ou 1rom death. Dou sa* o1 a 6reacher< he ou3ht to do as 'e,, to preach< and

'e sa* o1 a hearer< he ou3ht to do as 'e,, as to hear. Dou sa* tru,* # that mere 6reachin3 'i,, not save us? and 'e sa* # 'ith eEua, truth # mere hearin3 'i,, not save *ou. $nd can *ou ima3ine that the desi3n o1 this ,essed 0od in 3ivin3 *ou (is 3,orious 3os6e, 1rom 2a ath to 2a ath is ac)no',ed3ed i1< a1ter a,, the sermons *ou have heard and even a66,auded a1ter t'ent* or 1ort* *ears< *ou are 1ound as ma,i3nant< as covetous< as 1u,, o1 the 'or,d as e1ore> &r i1 *our 6ro1itin3 a66ears on,* in some dead notions< ver* 'e,, ,aid out in *our mind< or in a ca6acit* to 'ei3h 6reachers in the nicest sca,es o1 orthodox*< or in the 7use1u,7 em6,o*ment o1 s6,ittin3 hairs< or t*in3 and unt*in3 )nots> +hatB 8oes the 3os6e, o1 *our sa,vation on,* ma)e *ou a tri1,er> To 6ersons concerned 1or the honour o1 the 3os6e, and the sa,vation o1 man)ind< the 9hristian 'or,d 6resents an a11ectin3 6ros6ect. +here is the 6reacher 'ho doesn't c,ose his 2a aths im ittered * the revie' o1 un6ro1ita ,eness> Dou invite us to *our ta ,es # *ou cro'd us in our tem6,es? ut *ou im6e, us to retire 1rom oth com6,ainin3< 7+ho hath e,ieved our re6ort< and to 'hom is the arm o1 the Lord revea,ed>7 +e condemn *our 6racticeB Dou than) us 1or our 3ood sermons< and 6roceed as e1ore. Dour a66rova, does not hinder *our sinnin3< nor *our sinnin3 *our a66rova,. +here are the evidences o1 our success> $re the* to e heard in the enEuir*< 72irs< 'hat must I do to e saved>7 $re the* to e seen in *our deadness to the 'or,d # in *our se,1=den*in3 # in *our ta)in3 u6 the cross # in *our heaven,*= mindedness # in servin3 *our 3eneration accordin3 to the 'i,, o1 0od # in ein3 exam6,es to others> (o' sha,, I im6ress *ou 'ith the im6ortance o1 this or * 'hat motives can I en1orce u6on *ou this 6ractica, attention to the 3os6e, *ou hear> 2ha,, I remind *ou o1 the 6recarious tenure o1 *our 6rivi,e3es< and sa*< 'ith our 2aviour< 7Det a ,itt,e 'hi,e is the ,i3ht 'ith *ou? 'a,) 'hi,e *e have the ,i3ht< ,est dar)ness come u6on *ou>7 There are no ca,,s o1 merc* e*ond the 3rave< and 7+hat is *our ,i1e> It is even a va6our that a66eareth 1or a ,itt,e time< and then vanisheth a'a*.7 The -e's had distin3uished 6rivi,e3es? ut< 7The )in3dom o1 0od 'as ta)en 1rom them< and 3iven to a nation rin3in3 1orth the

1ruits thereo1.7 +here no' are those churches o1 $sia> Your cand,estic) ma* e removed. You ma* e rendered inca6a ,e o1 hearin3. 2ure,* i1 an*thin3 can 6rovo)e 0od to ta)e a'a* the means o1 3race< or to ma)e them use,ess< it is a 6eo6,e's a'1u, a use o1 them. /ut< sha,, I mention the ha66iness o1 those 'ho receive the 3os6e,< 7not in 'ord on,*7> 7$nd it came to 6ass< as (e s6a)e these thin3s< a certain 'oman o1 the com6an* ,i1ted u6 her voice< and said unto (im< /,essed is the 'om that are thee< and the 6a6s 'hich thou hast suc)ed. /ut< (e said< Dea< rather< ,essed are the* that hear the 'ord o1 0od< and keep it.7 7I1 *e )no' these thin3s< ha66* are *e i1 *e do them.7 7+hoso ,oo)eth into the 6er1ect ,a' o1 ,i ert*< and continueth therein< he ein3 not a 1or3et1u, hearer< but a doer of the word< this man sha,, e ,essed in his deed.7 7Ta)e heed ho' *e hearB7 7I1 an* man hath ears to hear< ,et him hear.7

8ear /o*s and 0ir,s< In m* ,ast ,etter I e3an to te,, *ou the stor* o1 -oan +aste< the ,itt,e ,ind 3ir, 1rom 8er * 'ho had saved so hard to u* a /i ,e o1 her ver* o'n. (avin3 no' ou3ht the /i ,e< she 'as 1aced 'ith the 6ro ,em o1 havin3 it read to her. The est man to read to -oan 'as Master -ohn Pemerton< ut he 'as in @ai,B -oan 'as not daunted< ho'ever< and in the ,ast ,etter 'e ,e1t her 'a,)in3 the narro' streets to the @ai,. No'< 'e 3o on 1rom there F F F F $s -oan sat in that co,d< dam6 6rison ,istenin3 to the /i ,e ein3 read< she 'ou,d 6a* ver* 3reat heed to a,, that 'as said. Litt,e * ,itt,e she came to )no' 'ho,e cha6ters o1 the 3os6e, * heart and she 'ou,d sa* them over and over to herse,1 as she sat )nittin3 a'a* at the soc)s. (o' ha66* she 'as to ta,) a out the Lord -esus 9hrist and to

carr* his +ord # the /i ,e # 'herever she 'ent? ut a,, that 'as soon 3oin3 to chan3e. Dou see< o*s and 3ir,s< in the da*s 'hen -oan ou3ht her /i ,e there 'as a ver* 0od,* *oun3 Cin3 ru,in3 on the Throne o1 En3,and? his name 'as Ed'ard. /ut this *oun3 Cin3 died and a ne' ru,er came to the throne 'hose name 'as Mar*. Gueen Mar* re1used to a,,o' ordinar* 6eo6,e ,i)e -oan to have a /i ,e o1 their o'n and one da* -oan 'as arrested and 6ut into the 6rison. 2he 'as to,d that she must 3ive u6 the /i ,e and a,, that she had ,earnt 1rom it< ut she said< 7I e,ieve a,, that I have ,earnt in 0od's o'n /oo)< the (o,* 2cri6tures< and I 'i,, not 3ive u6 m* /i ,e< or m* ,ove 1or 9hrist? I 'ou,d rather 3ive u6 m* ,i1e.7 Gueen Mar* 'as a crue, Gueen< o*s and 3ir,s< 'ho hated the true e,ievers in the Lord -esus 9hrist< and -oan +aste 'as ta)en and had to 3ive u6 her ,i1e 1or 9hrist. 2he 'as urnt to death. 2he 'anted to remain 1aith1u, to -esus< no matter 'hat it cost her< even her ,i1e. I trust that each one o1 *ou o*s and 3ir,s 'i,, thin) as hi3h,* o1 0od's +ord as -oan did< even thou3h *ou ma* never e as)ed to do 'hat -oan did< and su11er in that 'a* 1or it. /ut< I trust that *ou 'i,, ,earn to ,ove a,, the 'onder1u, truths 1ound in the /i ,e< and es6ecia,,*< that *ou 'i,, ,earn to ,ove the Lord -esus 9hrist 'ith a,, *our heart. Love< Mrs 2eaton

Gleanings in the Psalms

(Psalm 66)

$i%ision. Aerses 1<2<.<4 are a )ind o1 introductor* h*mn< ca,,in3 u6on a,, nations to 6raise 0od< and indicatin3 to them the 'ords o1 a suita ,e son3. Aerses 5<4<7< invite the eho,der to 79ome and see7 the 'or)s o1 the Lord< 6ointin3 attention to the Hed 2ea< and 6erha6s the

6assa3e o1 -ordan. This su33ests the simi,ar 6osition o1 the a11,icted 6eo6,e 'hich is descri ed< and its @o*1u, issue 6redicted 1rom verse I to verse 12. The sin3er then ecomes 6ersona,< and con1esses his o'n o ,i3ations to the Lord (verses 1.<14<15"? and< urstin3 1orth 'ith a vehement 79ome and hear<7 dec,ares 'ith than)s3ivin3 the s6ecia, 1avour o1 the Lord to himse,1< verses 14=20. C.H.S. &erse '. ()ay unto the *ord+ How terri, e art thou in thy worksThrough the greatness o. thy /ower sha thine ene!ies su,!it 0( The earthEua)es in Ne' En3,and occasioned a )ind o1 re,i3ious 6anic. $ 'riter< 'ho 'as then one o1 the ministers o1 /oston< in1orms us< that immediate,* a1ter the 3reat earthEua)e< as it 'as ca,,ed< a 3reat num er o1 his 1,oc) came and ex6ressed a 'ish to unite themse,ves 'ith the church. /ut< on conversin3 'ith them< he cou,d 1ind no evidence o1 im6rovement in their re,i3ious vie's or 1ee,in3s< no convictions o1 their o'n sin1u,ness. Nothin3< in short< ut a )ind o1 su6erstitious 1ear< occasioned * the e,ie1 that the end o1 the 'or,d 'as at hand. $,, their re6,ies 6roved that the* had not 1ound 0od< thou3h the* had seen 7the 3reatness o1 his 6o'er7 in the earthEua)e. Edward Payson &erses 1+2. (O , ess our God 0 which ho deth our sou in i.e 0( There are t'o 'a*s o1 renderin3 the 'ord 7ho,deth.7 $s the mar3ina, re1erence o1 the /i ,e indicates< it a,so means 76utteth7 # 7+ho 6utteth our sou,s in ,i1e7 # or< 7+ho 6uts ,i1e into our sou,s.7 This is the Lord's 6ero3ative< to reath into us so that 'e ecome ,ivin3 sou,s. (avin3 rou3ht us to ,i1e< the Lord 7ho,ds7 our sou,s 1irm in that ,i1e. The a6ost,e Peter @oins oth senses to3ether in the Ne' Testament; 7/,essed e the 0od and %ather o1 our Lord -esus 9hrist< 'hich accordin3 to his a undant merc* hath e3otten us a3ain unto a ,ive,* ho6e F 'ho are kept * the 6o'er o1 0od throu3h 1aith unto sa,vation F7 Thomas Goodwin

&erse 34. (Thou hast caused !en to ride o%er our heads 0 ,ut thou ,roughtest us out 0( This verse is ,i)e that sea in Matthe' I verse 24 # so tem6estous at 1irst< that the vesse, 'as covered 'ith 'aves. /ut 9hrist's re u)e Euieted a,,< and there 'as a 3reat ca,m. Thomas Adams &erse 3'. (5 wi go into thy house with ,urnt o..erings 0( %or ourse,ves< e sure that the est sacri1ice 'e can 3ive to 0od is o edience? not a dead east< ut a ,ivin3 sou,. The Lord ta)es no de,i3ht in the ,ood o1 rutish easts. It is the mind< the ,i1e< the sou,< the o edience that he reEuires; 1 2amue, 15 verse 22< 7To o e* is etter than sacri1ice.7 Let this e our urnt o11erin3 # a sancti1ied mind and od* 3iven to the Lord. %irst< the heart; 7M* son< 3ive me thine heart.7 Is not the heart enou3h> No< the hand a,so; 7 +ash the hands 1rom ,ood and 6o,,ution.7 Is not the hand enou3h> No< the 1oot a,so; 7Hemove th* 1oot 1rom evi,.7 Is not the 1oot enou3h> No< the ,i6s a,so; 7He1rain th* ton3ue 1rom evi,.7 Is not the ,i6s enou3h> No< the ear a,so; 7Let him that hath ears to hear< hear.7 Is not the ear enou3h> No< the e*e a,so; 7Let thine e*es e to'ards the Lord.7 Is not all this su11icient> No< 3ive od* and s6irit; 7De are ou3ht 'ith a 6rice; there1ore< 3,ori1* 0od in *our od* and in *our s6irit< 'hich are 0od's.7 +hen *our e*es a hor ,ust1u, o @ects< the ear a hors s,anders< the 1oot errin3 6aths< the hands vio,ence< the ton3ue 1,atter*< the heart 6ride? this is thy whole burn offering! Thomas Adams &erse 31 (5. 5 regard ini6uity in !y heart+ the *ord wi not hear !e.( Thou3h the su @ect=matter o1 a saint's 6ra*er e 1ounded on the +ord< *et i1 the end he aims at e not sEuared ari3ht< this is a door at 'hich his 6ra*er 'i,, e sto66ed; 7De as)< and receive not< ecause *e as) amiss< that *e ma* consume it u6on *our ,usts.7 8o *ou not thin) it 6ossi ,e 1or a saint in distress o1 od* and s6irit< to 6ra* 1or hea,th in the one< and com1ort in the other< 'ith too se,1ish a re3ard to his o'n ease and Euiet> Des< sure,*? and even to 6ra* 1or 3i1ts and assistance in some eminent service< 'ith an e*e to his o'n credit and

a66,ause. There1ore< 9hristian< catechise th*se,1 e1ore thou 6ra*est; & m* sou,< 'hat sends thee on this errand> William Gurnall

Matthew Henry 0 0 0 0...

The con%ersion o. the /en o. a ready writer. &ne o1 the 3reatest @o*s< sure,*< that 9hristian 6arents can e a11orded is to ,earn that the* have een instruments that 0od has chosen to use in the conversion o1 their ver* o'n chi,dren. &n the 7th 8ecem er 147I this @o* 'as rea,ised in the heart o1 Phi,i6 (enr*< Minister o1 the 0os6e,< and one o1 the 2000 Puritan and o1 6reachers that had ear,ier een e@ected 1rom their churches 1or their non=con1ormit* in 1442. It 'as a 2a ath a1ternoon< a time 'hen the hearts o1 the Lord's 6eo6,e shou,d e ver* near to heaven< that *oun3 Mathe' (enr* a66roached his 1aith1u, 1ather to e 7examined7< as he 6uts it< as to 'hether or not he had 7the mar)s o1 true 3race7 'ithin his heart. 7I to,d m* 1ather m* evidences<7 he sa*s< 7he ,i)ed them< and to,d< i1 those evidences 'ere true (as I thin) the* 'ere"< I had true 3race.7 $ 1e' *ears ear,ier< Matthe' (enr*< sti,, on,* a o* o1 thirteen< had e3un to dra' u6 7$ 9ata,o3ue o1 0od's Mercies7 to'ards him. In that 9ata,o3ue o1 Mercies< he ,oo)ed ac) three *ears< to a time 'hen he 'as on,* ten *ears o,d< and traced the da* that he 1irst e3an to 1ee, that 0od 'as stretchin3 out (is hand in 1avour to'ards him. 7I thin) it 'as three *ears a3o<7 he sa*s< 7that I e3an to e convinced< hearin3 a sermon * m* 1ather on Psa,m 51 verse 17< 7The sacri1ices o1 0od are a ro)en s6irit? a ro)en and a contrite heart< & 0od< thou 'i,t not des6ise.7 That text smou,dered and urned 'ithin the *oun3 o*'s heart unti,< that da*< some 1ive or six *ears ,ater< it urst into 1,ames * the 1annin3 o1 0od's (o,* 26irit. Matthe' (enr* 'as< o1 course< 'hat 'as said o1 Murra* Mc9he*ne; 7Nae ordinar* man7. Nor 'as he an 7ordinar*7 chi,d? or did he have

an 7ordinar*7 1ather< or s6rin3 1rom an 7ordinar*7 1ami,*. (e 'as reared u6 in the 'a*s o1 0od,iness< so common 'ithin the homes o1 these is,ands in that memora ,e a3e< and at three *ears o1 a3e< 'e are to,d o1 him< he cou,d read the /i ,e c,ear,* and distinct,*. (e soon set his heart u6on the 'or) o1 the Ministr* o1 0od's +ord< 1or havin3 een ca,,ed out o1 dar)ness into 0od's marve,,ous ,i3ht * the 1aith1u, 6reachin3 o1 his o'n 1ather< he had a desire to 7do 3ood unto others a,so.7 /ut these 'ere unsett,ed and unsett,in3 times 1or an* 'ho 6ossessed the true s6irit o1 /i ,ica, non=con1ormit*< and Matthe' (enr*'s course o1 studies 'as o1ten interru6ted and chan3ed. In 14I7< ho'ever< the severe strictures a3ainst the non=con1ormists 'ere re,axed and Matthe' (enr* rea,ised his heart's desire 'hen he 'as ordained to the ministr* and inducted to the char3e o1 the 1,oc) o1 0od at 9hester. &ver the next t'ent*=1ive *ears he ex6ounded the +ord o1 0od to his e,oved con3re3ation 1rom 'ee) to 'ee). It 'as this 'ee),* ex6osition o1 0od's truth that 'as to ,a* the 1oundation stone 1or Matthe' (enr*'s most 1amed contri ution to the church o1 9hrist that 'ou,d 1o,,o' him; his 9ommentar* on on the &,d and Ne' Testament. 7This ni3ht<7 he records in his diar* 1or the 12th Novem er 1704< 7a1ter man* thou3hts o1 heart< and man* 6ra*ers concernin3 it< I e3an m* Notes on the &,d Testament. It is not ,i)e,* that I sha,, ,ive to 1inish it.7 (e did< in 1act< ,ive to 1inish his &,d Testament 9ommentar*< ut 0od sa' 1it to ta)e him to e 'ith (imse,1 e1ore the com6,etion the Ne' and @ust as the 1i1th vo,ume< endin3 at the $cts o1 the $6ost,es 'as com6,eted. 7&thers too) u6 the 1a,,en 6en<7 sa*s one 'riter< 7the* com6,eted a sixth vo,ume< ut did not continue Matthe' (enr*.7 72e,, *our oots and u* Matthe' (enr*<7 'as the rustic advice that 9har,es (addon 26ur3eon o1ten 3ave to his as6irin3 6reachers at the Pastor's 9o,,e3e; 7It 'i,, su66,* a vast store o1 sermons<7 he to,d them< 7and as 1or thou3ht< the* 'i,, s'arm ,i)e t'itterin3 s'a,,o's around an o,d 3a ,e at the c,ose o1 $utumn.7 Matthe' (enr* had on,* reached his 1i1t*=second *ear 'hen he received a 1ata, in@ur* throu3h a 1a,, 1rom his horse. (e had een trave,,in3 to a 6reachin3 en3a3ement< and a,thou3h he 'ent on to 1u,1i, the en3a3ement< died ear,* the next mornin3. The s6irit that had

een ro)en< throu3h seein3 the sin1u,ness o1 sin< and the heart that had een contrite on that da* 'hen 0od's +ord came to it 'hi,e sti,, in tender *ears< 'ou,d soon re@oice in 0od's eterna, home. 7$ ro)en and a contrite heart<7 'i,, never e 7des6ised7 * the Lord. Matthe' (enr*'s 'as never des6ised in the *ears o1 ,i1e that 0od 3ave to him on his earth to do (is 'i,,? nor 'ou,d it e des6ised 'hen it 'in3ed its 'a* into the rea,ms o1 ever,astin3 da*.

The Ta,ernac es o. thy Grace

Fro! the Anna s o. the $isru/tion o. the Free Church o. )cot and o. 317' ,y 8e%erend Tho!as Brown o. 9din,urgh.

+hen the time 1or 6artin3 came in 1I4.< and the 6arish churches 'ere ,e1t< the 1irst o @ect 'as to o tain tem6orar* accommodation 1or the 'orshi6 o1 0od. 8i11erent methods 'ere ta)en accordin3 to circumstances< and nothin3 in the 'ho,e histor* o1 that 6eriod is more remar)a ,e than the stran3e variet* o1 ex6edients that su33ested themse,ves to the 6eo6,e in di11erent 6arts o1 2cot,and. "arns# 7The 6arish church o1 9ar3i,, 'as vacated on the 4th -une * its venera ,e 6astor< 'ho 6reached to ei3ht hundred o1 his much attached 1,oc) in a arn e,on3in3 to Mr -ames Irvin3 o1 Ne' i33in3s. $1ter so,emn 6ra*er that the %ather o1 a,, 'ou,d 6er1ect (is stren3th in their 'ea)ness< the reverend 3ent,eman de,ivered an im6ressive discourse

'ith a 1ervenc* 'hich caused dee6 emotion< and tears started to man* an e*e not accustomed to 'ee6< on eho,din3 their a3ed 6astor 'ho had ro)e the read o1 ,i1e amon3st them 1or thirt*=1our *ears< 1orsa)in3 a,, earth,* ene1its< that he mi3ht e at ,i ert* to 6reach the +ord o1 0od in its 6urit*. +hen the hour o1 'orshi6 arrived< the 6eo6,e 1rom the suroundin3 cotta3es 'ere seen in cro'ds thou3ht1u,,* 'endin3 their 'a* to the 6,ace o1 meetin3< and in the midst< their a3ed and venerated 6astor earin3 the sacred vo,ume eneath his arm.7 Yards# $t 9am6 e,to'n< the 0ae,ic con3re3ation 1ound accommodation (4th -une< 1I4." at the distillery o1 Messrs. -ohn 0rant J 9o. $ ,ar3e court e,on3in3 to the 'or)s had een 7a,most com6,ete,* covered in 'ith a 'ooden roo1 in a da* and a ha,1 * the (i3h,anders themse,ves. %rom 1500 to 2000 3athered< and 6atient,* endured the co,d rather than desert their ministers o1 their cause.7 Public $ouses# $ sti,, more remar)a ,e trans1ormation too) 6,ace at 2*min3ton< in $*rshire. 7The ver* da* a1ter I ,e1t the o,d church<7 sa*s Mr &rr< 7the e,ders and others set to 'or) to 1ind a tem6orar* 6,ace o1 'orshi6< and the* 1ortunate,* 6rocured 1or that 6ur6ose an old public house< 'hich 'as then em6t*. The* too) do'n a,, its 6artitions< thre' a,, its rooms into one< had it a,, seated * the 1o,,o'in3 2a ath< and it 'as su11icient,* ,ar3e to ho,d a 3ood con3re3ation. I 6reached there 1or nine months 'ith 3reat com1ort and satis1action. M* 6u,6it 'as an o,d door ,aid across t'o sma,, tress,es< and u6on it a ta ,e and a chair? and it 'as the 1inest 6u,6it I ever occu6ied.7 %ish %actories# $mon3 the 1ishin3 6o6u,ation it sometimes ha66ened that the on,* avai,a ,e ui,din3 'as a herrin3=store. Thus at Ceiss< it is said # 71or the 1irst 1our months a1ter the 8isru6tion the* 'orshi66ed in a arn< ut 'hen harvest came and the arn 'as reEuired 1or 1arm 6ur6oses< the* had to retire to a herring store house!7 In a com6artment o1 'hich 6u ,ic 'orshi6 'as carried on< and 'herein< to this da* (1I44" the 6eo6,e assem ,e.7

D!&!Y! "uildings# 2ometimes wooden churches 'ere errected. %or t'o *ears< sa*s Mr. 0rant o1 $*r< 7'e 'orshi66ed in a 'ooden church ehind $,,o'a* P,ace< 'hich 'as o6ened * the Hev. 8r. 0ordon o1 Edin ur3h< in &cto er 1I4.. It 'as in1ested * eet,es< ear'i3s< and mice? anno*ed * dro6s o1 rain in 'et 'eather< and me,tin3 6itch in hot summer da*s. Det these are the months to 'hich I have re1erred as a time o1 s6ecia, ,essin3.7 $t Cir)hi,,< 7$ site 1or the church havin3 een )ind,* 3ranted * -ohn %raser< EsE.< and Mr. -ohn M',ennan< merchant o1 /eau,*< havin3 handsome,* 6resented manu1actured tim er 1or a 6,ace o1 'orshi6< the 6eo6,e assem ,ed and 3ave their 3ratiutous aid in erectin3 the ui,din3. 8urin3 Tuesda* and the 1our 1o,,o'in3 da*s< successive re,a*s o1 'or)men arrived< carr*in3 their too,s 'ith them. &n 2aturda* mornin3 the 6reachin3 ox 'as set u6< and it 'as most interestin3 to 'itness the 6eo6,e comin3 1rom a,, Euarters o1 the 6arish< and man* 1rom the nei3h ourin3 6arishes< carr*in3 1orms on their shou,ders< and anxious,* 6,acin3 them in 1avoura ,e situations near the 6u,6it.7 $aystacks# /ut the ex6ense o1 'ooden ui,din3s 'as sometimes 3reater than cou,d e met in the 1ace o1 other demands< and sim6,er ex6edients had to e tried Perha6s the sim6,est o1 a,, 'as one mentioned in the +itness ne's6a6er; 7+e have ,ate,* heard o1 a 1riend,* 1armer in the 'est 'ho< in 3ratitude to 0od 1or the a undant harvest< has arran3ed the stac)s in his stac)=*ard in a circ,e< so that the she,tered s6ace 'ithin ma* accommodate the %ree 9hurch o1 his 6arish.7 'ents# In various ,oca,ities tents 'ere 6rocured. It 'as a remar)a ,e exam6,e o1 the ,a' o1 demand and su66,*< that e1ore the 1irst $ssem ,* o1 the %ree 9hurch rose< a London manu1acturin3 1irm had a s6ecimen tent 6itched c,ose to Tan1ie,d< read* to ta)e orders. There 'as one c,ass o1 cases 1or 'hich tents 'ere he,d to e 6ecu,ar,* ada6ted # those in 'hich sites had een re1used. The idea 'as that as the tents 'ere mova ,e the 6eo6,e mi3ht carr* their churches 1rom 6,ace to 6,ace< in

search o1 some s6ot 'here standin3=3round cou,d e had. $s Mr. 8un,o6 stated in the 1irst 0enera, $ssem ,*< 7Lar3e tents had een 6rovided 'hich cou,d ho,d a out 500 6eo6,e< and 'hich did not 'ei3h more than 1our hundred 'ei3ht? so that the* mi3ht e carried 1rom 6,ace to 6,ace in a sma,, cart or oat a,on3 the sea=shore or 1rom 1arm to 1arm< so that 'hen driven 1rom one Euarter< the 6eo6,e mi3ht esca6e the t*rann* * trans6ortin3 them to another.7 'he (anopy of $ea)en# The most interestin3 o1 these scenes< ho'ever 'ere the 1ie,ds and hi,,sides and 3,ens< 'here con3re3ations una ,e to 1ind she,ter< met under the o6en cano6* o1 heaven. 7There has een a ni3ht o1 'ei3ht* rain<7 'rites (u3h Mi,,er 1rom 9romart* on the mornin3 o1 2a ath< the 2.rd -u,*< 7the streets have een s'e6t c,ean< and the )enne,s sho' their accumu,ations o1 sand and mud hi3h over their ed3es. I a'o)e severa, times durin3 the ni3ht to hear the 3ush 1rom the eaves and the 1urious 6atter on the 6anes? and I thou3ht o1 the man* 6oor con3re3ations in 2cot,and 'ho 'ou,d have to 'orshi6 toda* in the o6en air.7 2o it 'as amid such stran3e surroundin3s that 1rom 'ee) to 'ee) hundreds o1 thousands o1 the most earnest minds in 2cot,and came to3ether 1or the 'orshi6 o1 0od. I1 one cou,d com ine into a sin3,e 6icture o1 these various scenes< it 'ou,d 1orm a s6ectac,e such as no countr* in modern times has 'itnessed< and one 'hich< in the estimation o1 man*< is not a,to3ether un'orth* to e associated 'ith the memories o1 1ormer da*s o1 tria, and stru33,e. Man* a time under these ,o',* roo1s< or out on those are hi,,sides< men's thou3hts 'ent ac) to the da*s o1 6ersecution 'hen our covenantin3 1ore1athers met 1or the 'orshi6 o1 0od amid the 3,ens and moors o1 our native ,and< or to scenes associated 'ith memories more sacred sti,, # the river= side at Phi,i66i< 'here 6ra*er 'as 'ont to e made # the oat 1,oatin3 on the 2ea o1 0a,i,ee< out o1 'hich &ne s6a)e as man never s6a)e # or the ,one,* desert 'hich the 6resence o1 0od turned into a /ethe,< the ver* 3ate o1 heaven.

A Good (onfession
It's a stran3e thin3 that some o1 histor*'s most stirrin3 con1essions to the Lord's 3race and 3oodness have een made * his 6eo6,e 'hen the* have een under their most severe tria, or 6ersecution. Thus 'e 1ind these rin3in3 a11irmations 1rom the ,i6s o1 the 1aith1u, 9hr*sostom at the ver* hour o1 his anishment; = 7+hat can I 1ear> +i,, it e death> /ut *ou )no' that 9hrist is m* ,i1e< and I sha,, on,* gain * death. +i,, it e exi,e> /ut the earth and a,, its 1u,ness< is the Lord's. +i,, it e the ,oss o1 'ea,th> /ut 'e rou3ht nothin3 into the 'or,d< and carr* nothin3 out. Thus a,, the terrors o1 the 'or,d are contem6ti ,e in m* e*es< and I smi,e at a,, its 3ood thin3s. Povert* I do not 1ear. Hiches I do not si3h 1or. 8eath I do not shir) 1rom< and ,i1e I do not desire< save on,* 1or the 6ro3ress o1 *our sou,s. /ut *ou )no'< m* 1riends< the true cause o1 m* 1a,,. It is that I have not 1,attered the e11eminac* and sensua,it* o1 certain men< nor ,aid 3o,d and si,ver at their 1eet. /ut 'h* need I sa* more> -e:e e, is raisin3 her 6ersecution and E,i@ah must 1,*? (erodias is ta)in3 her 6,easure< and -ohn must e ound in chains? the E3*6tian 'i1e te,,s her ,ie< and -ose6h must e thrust into 6rison. $nd so< i1 the* anish me< I sha,, e ,i)e E,i@ah? i1 the* thro' me into the mire ,i)e -eremiah? i1 into the 6it< ,i)e 8anie,. I1 the* stone me< it is 2te6hen that I sha,, resem ,e? Pau,< i1 the* eat me 'ith stri6es? Isaiah< i1 the* sa' me asunder.7