Debate: Protestant Antidote to Modern Disunity (5/5) Protestant Fundamentals of Separation and Unity — Greg Barrow

This is tape 5 of the protestant antidote to modern schismatical disunity. Being chapter 4 of Greg Barrow's book the covenanted reformation defended against contemporary schismatics narrated by Larry Berger.

Please note that this entire book is free on Stillwaters revival books website www .swrb .com. It's also available in hardcover from Stillwaters along with a treasure trove of the finest protestant Reformed and Puritan literature available anywhere in the world today.

Stillwaters can be reached at 7 8 0 4 5 0 3 7 3 0 or by email at SWRB at swrb .com. Please also note that these tapes are not Copyrighted and we therefore encourage you to copy and distribute them to any and all you believe would be benefited.

Barrow’s Conclusion: A Charge of Reformation Error

We conclude our reading on this tape. Conclusion. I have surveyed mr. Bacon's defense departed and spent as much time upon it as I could afford. I Realized that I have not addressed every issue, but I have attempted to deal with his major objections.

Mr. Bacon clearly desires to champion the cause of the independent denomination. He calls the Reformation Presbyterian Church, and I maintain that in so doing he greatly airs. Does he teach the doctrine of the Reformation?

No, he pours contempt upon its martyrs and libels those who remember and uphold their faithful contendings. He misinterprets the writings of our Reformed forefathers to reflect deformed half-truths and imports his malignant neopresbyterianism upon their tried-and-true orthodoxy.

Disparaging himself his ministry and most importantly the cause of Christ. He dogmatically teaches a confused mix of papistical Prolatical and independent error while scandalously hindering the cause of Reformation in our land.

Behind him lies a wake of sincere children of God who have honestly and sometimes gullibly Received the bread of life from his pulpit only to find upon more careful inspection that the leaven of error had permeated the whole and that was once and and what was once fit for consumption has been transformed into that which is harmful to the whole body.

A Faithful minister of Christ is commissioned to edify not destroy. He is sent to faithfully witness as a humble servant not proudly written misrepresent the humble servants. Mr. Bacon's doctrine and manners are not those of a minister of Reformation truth but rather those of a minister of error and compromise.

As such he is a minister of Deformation and those who would be careful to watch over their own souls would be well advised to steer clear of his unfaithful feeding. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people.

He have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings saith the Lord Jeremiah 23 2. Is mr. Bacon a Presbyterian? While the outside of his cup glistens with Presbyterian platitudes The inside is full of the poison and contradiction of potpourri and independency.

He attempts to pour out his fatal toxin to Presbyterianism by disparaging the covenants and Fundamentally striking at the root of fellowship and Christian unity. Those bodies who have drunk of his cup have been subtly inebriated as the doctrine of schism courses through their members.

Sadly some will ever remain in the stupor of error until such time as this mingled fruit of the vine will find its way to Deliver a fatal blow to both the heart and mind of the body. What mr. Bacon promotes is anything but Presbyterianism.

What he promotes is nothing less than sectarian sin. Associate yourselves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces and give ear all ye of far countries. Gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces.

Gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together and it shall come to naught. Speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us. Isaiah 8 9 and 10. Does mr. Bacon belong to a true church?

The Being and Well-Being of a Visible Church

Yes in essence. Though he feeds his members with the leaven of error and many are stumbled from the cup that he serves. The first Presbyterian Church of Rowlett still retains the title of a true church as to being.

Everything taught in this body is not wrong nor is every ordinance adulterated. Though church discipline is severely compromised and the communion table openly latitude and arian fair judgment is not altogether.

Wanting while retaining the single mark of a true church as to being that is the profession of the truth the first Presbyterian Church of Rowlett lacks the marks of a faithful Church of Jesus Christ and Consequently should be avoided and withdrawn from until such time as they manifest repentance and restitution.

Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us. 2nd Thessalonians 3 6.

What is our response to the lone minister of the so-called Reformation Presbyterian Church? He does not faithfully teach Reformation doctrine nor does he maintain Reformation practice. He is Presbyterian in word.

But not indeed and the church which he champions is Christian though woefully unfaithful. Mr. Bacon is neither honestly read nor properly represented the covenant her position regarding the nature Substance and use of our covenants or terms of communion in the midst of his emotional rhetoric.

He has demeaned himself in the office of a minister of Jesus Christ. It should be abundantly clear to the reader at this point that mr Bacon's doctrine seriously deviates from the truth of God's Word from many acts of General Assembly as Well as the abundantly clear testimonies of the faithful men of the past.

Such serious defections from the standards and practice of faithful Presbyterian churches of the past would place him before their judicial courts to give account of his perjury schism gross misrepresentation and malignancy towards covenanted Presbyterianism.

And If any man obey not our word by this epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2nd Thessalonians 3 14 and 15.

Many times throughout this response I have called for mr Bacon's repentance and I will continue to plead with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that my petition will be granted in due time. Should mr. Bacon fail to respond satisfactorily I can assure the reader that any further attacks will be duly rebutted.

Gillespie on Seeking Christ’s Honor in Controversy

George Gillespie has spoken so wisely and appropriately to the opponents of his day that I wish to apply his godly and judicious words to Our current controversy with mr. Bacon. Quote. I Shall leave every man to his judge and shall judge nothing before the time and I wish every man to consider sadly and seriously.

By what spirit and principles he is led and whether he be seeking the things of Christ or his own things. Whether he be pleasing Christ whether sin be more shamed and holiness more advanced this way or that way.

Which way is the most agreeable to the Word of God to the example of the best reformed churches and so to the solemn League and? Covenant this controversy is now hot. Every faithful servant of Christ will be careful to deliver his own soul by his faithfulness and let the Lord do what seemeth him good.

The cause is not ours, but Christ's. It stands him upon his honor his crown his laws his kingdom. Our eyes are toward the Lord and we will wait for a divine decision of the business. For the Lord is our judge.

The Lord is our lawgiver. The Lord is our King. He will save us and that's from Gillespie's errands rod blossoming page 78. Finally I close this response with the sobering words of John Calvin. These things which I set before you are not those which I have meditated with myself in my shady nook.

But those which the invincible martyrs of God realized amid gibbets and flames and ravenous beasts. Had not their courage been thus wedded. They would in an instant have perfidiously objured the eternal truth, which they intrepidly sealed with their blood.

They did not set us an example of constancy in asserting the truth that we should now deserve it when handed down to us. So signed and sealed but they taught us the art by which Trusting in the divine protection we stand invincible by all powers of death hell the world and Satan farewell.

And that's from Calvin's Tract on shunning the unlawful rights of the ungodly taken from Calvin's selected works volume 3 page 411 and. This concludes. The Protestant antidote to modern schismatical disunity being chapter 4 of Greg Barrow's book the covenanted Reformation defended.

The Covenant of Grace and the Sacraments

However Barrow noted in this chapter Appendix F about a qualification on the rights to the seals of the covenant of grace, and so I'll now read that Appendix F. Qualification. God did not intend the reprobate or secret hypocrites to have the internal right to the covenant seals.

Samuel Rutherford comments quote. Now the Orthodox and Reformed Church holdeth that the covenant and promises are preached to the whole visible church. But for the elects sake and that however Externally the covenant of grace and promises be promulgated to everyone and all within the lists of the visible church.

Yet, they belong in God's intention and gracious purpose only to the elect of God and that's from the do-right of presbyteries page 248. Here we must understand two things. One. The sacraments are an effectual means of grace to the elect only.

We must understand that only the invisible church has an internal right to the covenant of grace. Any reprobate who receives baptism or partakes of the Lord's table will receive judgment and not grace for their acts of hypocrisy.

While it is possible for the external sign of the covenant to be applied to the unregenerate. It is impossible for the internal seal to be applied apart from faith to the frailty of elders will only allow for judgment based upon what is visible and Consequently the external right to these covenant seals is based upon outward profession and practice in Admitting or demitting professors from the sacraments elders are never to attempt to read the hearts and intentions of God's people.

Therefore we must understand that Strictly speaking not every member of the visible church has an internal right to signs and seals of the covenant of grace. These were intended for the elect alone and ordained to be administered to them through the visible Church of Christ.

The only sense in which I may say that the visible church has a right to the signs and seals of the covenant is by making this qualification again, Rutherford explains quote. The invisible church and not the visible church as it is such hath right to the sacraments because these who have right to the covenant have right to the seals of the covenant and This is Peter's argument to prove the baptizing of infants to be lawful acts 2 38 and 39 but only the invisible church hath right to the covenant for God saith only of and to the invisible church and not to the visible church in this gracious purpose.

Jeremiah 32 38 and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31 33 I will put my law in their inward parts and Jeremiah 31 34 They shall all know me all within the covenant. I will forgive their iniquity.

Now the visible church as the visible church is not within the covenant. Therefore the visible church as the visible church and being no more. But the visible church hath not right to the seals of the covenant.

But insofar as God is their God and they his pardoned and sanctified people as it is in Jeremiah 31 33 through 34 and that's from the do-right of presbyteries page 249. Why was it necessary to make this distinction?

Because we must understand that God intended to send his covenant blessings only to his elect. When I say that all who profess faith possess a right to both baptism and the Lord's table I mean that only the elect truly have that right.

But since we as mere men cannot tell the elect from the reprobate we must rely on a visible profession only. This observable profession forms the basis from which we as mere men may judge who may receive the sacraments and who may not.

I've already noted that this entire book is free from Stillwaters Revival books on its website at www .swrv .com and in hardcover from Stillwaters as well. Now since Barrow's work is an unequaled modern remedy for the disunity and impurity rampant in the church today I'll now be reading the forward that he requested me to write.

This forward surveys the book and I believe it gives a concise and powerful Presentation of why the covenanted Reformation defended is so important for the well-being of Christ bruised and battered bride indeed why it is truly the Protestant antidote to modern schismatical disunity and.

Thereafter I'll be reading another important appendix from this book appendix G Which has been released on a separate tape entitled is chewing ecclesiastical tyranny the duty of Christ's sheep. And it deals with the matter of the private judgment of discretion.

Contending for Truth Through Reformation History

That is a privilege and a duty of all believers. I thank you for listening and may God bless you as you consider these precious old paths. Wherein is rest for our souls. Jeremiah 616. It has often been the case that the best writing and the most precise and orthodox theology have arisen from controversy.

Examples are numerous Paul's epistles to the Galatians Colossians Thessalonians Hebrews and the young pastor Timothy the epistles of Peter John Jude and James faithful Athanasius standing against the Arian majority Luther's immortal refutation of Erasmus in the bondage of the will Calvin's Institutes John Knox's appellation to the nobility of Scotland the productions of the Westminster Assembly Samuel Rutherford George Gillespie Thomas Edwards Daniel Cawdry and the Presbyterian London ministers at the time of the Westminster Assembly concerning church government John Brown of Wemphrey what Robert McWard and others regarding the protester resolution or controversy and its fruits.

See especially an outstanding book entitled the protesters vindicated Alexander Shields classic hind let loose James Rennick's informatory vindication Andrew Clarkson's plain reasons for Presbyterians dissenting from the Revolution Church in Scotland the reform Presbyterians Act Declaration and testimony for the whole of our covenant and Reformation.

And indeed the list could easily fill this forward. The reader is strongly encouraged to consult the ever-growing publication list of still water survival books for these and other outstanding works.

Neither should we expect things to be different today. Our beloved Apostle has forewarned us there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved May be made manifest among you 1st Corinthians 11 19.

Thus although we are not to be contentious Contention for the sake of truth cannot and must not be avoided. Paul says we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much Contention 1st Thessalonians 2 2 and in Jude.

We are exhorted that we should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. The book you now hold penned by ruling elder and ministerial student Greg Barrow is a modern example of such faithful contending an Orthodox doctrinal precision.

The Historical Conflict Behind the Book

Since Barrow's work was born of controversy It is necessary to give an historical overview of this conflict that the reader may read most profitably and intelligibly. Richard Bacon published a defense departed his alleged refutation of the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton's PRCE a brief defense of dissociation in the present circumstances in early August of last year 1997 on the web page of the First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett, Texas.

However, we do not begin here in our historical survey. Neither would do we proceed from the point of an earlier and similar slander from the pen of Brian Schwerdt Lee minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America RPC na Schwerdt Lee's open letter to reform pastors elders and all brethren in Christ was circulated via the Internet in April of last year.

That would be 1997. The scandalous lies of these modern malignants who pervert the righteous ways of the covenanted Reformation are certainly germane. Indeed Barrow's book is directed primarily at Richard Bacon.

Nevertheless to understand truly the nature and importance of our current conflict and therefore the paramount importance of Barrow's book. We must first turn our gaze backward three and a half centuries.

Some 350 years ago our faithful reformed forefathers in Scotland took hold of the Covenant of Grace in their national covenant. By this means fulfilling their duty and privilege as Christ's witnessing church in the British Isles.

Thus was born the second or covenanted Reformation of religion in those Isles. Sustained and greatly furthered by the swearing of the solemn legion covenant five years later the latter covenanted uniformity of religion undergirded the work of the famous Westminster Assembly and Bound the covenanting churches and nations to the adoption and implementation of that assemblies work.

That is the confession of faith the larger and shorter catechisms directory for public worship and form of church government. Sadly of these churches and nations Scotland was most faithful to pay her vows and only for a brief time in 1650 a deadly church dividing blow was dealt by the majority of backsliding civil and ecclesiastical Leaders in their support of the public resolutions as they were called.

England and Ireland had already broken their sacred bond. The next four decades were times of bitter and often unrelenting trial for the faithful protesting remnant. Which included such men as Samuel Rutherford Archibald Johnston of Warrington James Guthrie Patrick Gillespie John Brown of Wemphrey Robert McWard William Guthrie Donald Cargill Richard Cameron and James Rennick.

Who themselves by God's grace were unrelenting in their testimony against the covenant breaking resolution errs and the defections in church and state? Though the merciless persecution by the civil and ecclesiastical tyrants ended with the Reformation denying revolution settlement of 1688.

The blessed but short-lived covenanted Reformation has been and continues to be Opposed by many ignored by or unknown to others and embraced and loved by only a faithful few Who like their fathers and unlike the RPC and a today truly wear the name covenant er?

There have been many in the last three centuries centuries who have gloriously praised the work of the Westminster Assembly. Yet there has been at best only an incomplete adherence to the assembly's doctrine and practice.

Many factors have contributed to this of which the foremost must certainly be our wretched failure to receive the love of the truth. Consequently our righteous God has given the people and nations professing his name over to a profound blindness in Keeping with his fearful threatenings in Scripture 2nd Thessalonians 2 10 through 12 Romans 1 28 and so forth.

This judicial blindness has led to an increased preaching publishing and practicing of numerous errors condemned by our forefathers. As popish on the one hand and schismatic and independent on the other in so-called Protestant Reformed and Presbyterian churches Richard Bacon exemplifies this dreadful dynamic in our day.

As we see then our quarrel goes back over 300 years and really back to the dawn of the human race. Our contending is for nothing less than the crown rights the comprehensive crown rights of the blessed promised seed the Lord Jesus Christ Which are denied trampled and usurped on all sides?

The Crown Rights of Jesus Christ and the Need for Reformation

The serpent and his seed throughout the millennia have unceasingly sought and Fought to strip the Lamb of God of his due honor and glory in church and state. The Lamb and his followers have continually met them in battle being made strong through his spirit and word and through his might casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2nd Corinthians 10 5.

By such faithful contendings God has graciously granted two major reformations in days past. We stand desperately in need of a third. There is great cause for rejoicing in Zion. However for an increasing number of God's people are beginning to be awakened and to return to the blessed biblical attainments of the covenanted Reformation we are hopeful that the prayers of the faithful Covenanters of old are being answered that the rediscovery of their precious principles and practices are nothing less than a prologue To the Third Reformation and the worldwide overthrow of Antichrist.

Lamentably the defection and backsliding we've inherited place us at a great disadvantage. We know we must return to the old paths Jeremiah 6 16 and we earnestly desire to walk in the footsteps of the flock song of Solomon 1 8.

Yet a substantial gap separates us in our current condition from our forefathers. Christ's beloved Church today is ignorant of many fundamentals of Protestantism. Unable to derive the benefit we ought from faithful teachers of old.

To make matters worse men like Richard Bacon and Brian Schwartley are further confusing Christ's already confused and scattered sheep with their shoddy scholarship and lying publications a bridge traversing this chasm of ignorance and confusion and an antidote to the popish and independent heresies of blind guides is Desperately needed that we may sit at the feet of our faithful reformed forebears and fully partake of the scripture truths.

Which will make us free and effective in our service to the Lord to each other and to our countries. In light of this need and believing that the old Covenanter truths are indeed a testimony against modern Backsliders and hopefully the prologue to a glorious Third Reformation.

I earnestly come in to you the following volume. Barrow has faithfully and skillfully produced the clearest and best Covenanter primer that has yet appeared in the recent resurgence of the full orb teachings of the Protestant Reformation.

Three Purposes of Barrow’s Work

In the Covenanted Reformation defended against contemporary schismatics Barrow accomplishes at least three important tasks. As the full title indicates Richard Bacon has manufactured a controversy involving faithful Covenanters whom he disparagingly designates steelites.

The first objective then is to vanquish without hope of resurrection the slanderous caricature Bacon has made of the Covenanter position and the PRC e and other modern Covenanters. In the second installment of bacon bits the preliminary response to Bacon's essay I anticipated that that Barrow's refutation of bacon would be nothing less than an annihilation.

My expectations were completely justified. If bacon has any integrity and humility He will with profound shame beg the PRC e the church-at-large and most importantly the living God to forgive him forever emitting his literary refuse.

Second in keeping with the ninth commandment Barrow vindicates the good names of modern and historical brethren. Bacon has in defense departed and elsewhere blackened the names and doctrines of quite a number of godly men and even general assemblies.

See for example number three bacon bits by Greg price. One especially relevant modern instance see appendix G is that of Kevin Reed founder of Presbyterian heritage publications? Reed was the recipient of Bacon's popish clubbing in his atrocious little work the visible church in the outer darkness a reply against those Claiming to be true Presbyterian separating in extraordinary times.

Finally and most importantly Barrow provides the bridge back to the teachings of our reformed forefathers his work serving as a skillful and much-needed Covenanter primer. His explanations of key and ill understood in our day doctrines of the Reformation are the clearest I've ever read.

His numerous citations of non Covenanter writers demonstrate that these doctrines are not at all peculiar to Covenanters and indeed that they are foundational to Protestantism. That these doctrines are not understood by the pastors and people of our day is a heartbreaking Commentary on how far we Protestants have fallen from the Protestant Reformation.

Biblical Warnings About Doctrinal Ignorance

My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch. Jesus answered and said unto Nicodemus art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things.

Jeremiah 50 verse 6 Hosea 4 6 Matthew 15 14 and John 3 10. That Barrow's book has now appeared is an overjoying sign of God's favor and mercy toward his church. But where sin abounded grace did much more abound and he gave some Pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. Unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Romans 5 20 and Ephesians 4 11 through 14. The format of this book has been necessitated by the essay at refutes. Bacon has uttered numerous falsehoods and smears in his scurrilous attack and in the body of his work.

Barrow has responded to four primary misrepresentations in each case. He obliterates these falsehoods and with remarkable restraint given the outrageousness of Bacon's accusations and assertions. Lovingly and firmly calls Bacon to repentance.

The Martyrs’ Obligations and the Supremacy of Christ

In the appendices in-house disputes are dealt with. Additional historical materials presented and discussed and as noted Kevin reads Protestant contendings for private judgment. Concerning church leaders and their teaching and governing are vindicated.

After briefly and graciously stating the disposition of the PRCE toward Bacon and their desire for his reclamation defense departeds to opening sentences are first dealt with these state. I Believe it is fairly certain even as we prepare to place these words in history before the view of the world.

That many will regard this dispute to be little else than a tempest in a teapot in large measure. I find I must agree. Thus the man frequently contributing to the newsletter presumptuously named after the Covenanter emblem the blue banner at once Falsifies it and despises the faithful labors and shed blood of our covenanted ancestors.

Among others Barrow incisively quotes JC McPheeters in reply. The blood of the martyrs imposes obligations upon posterity from generation to generation. The martyrs deeply felt their responsibility for the church her purity doctrines discipline membership.

For her loyalty to Christ her separation from the world and her administration in the Holy Spirit. Their zeal for the house of God brought them to the front. Their passionate love for Jesus Christ placed them on the firing line.

There they met every attack made upon Christ in his house. There They stood for the royal rights of Jesus and the honor of his kingdom. There they fell under the murderous fire giving place to their successors.

These soldiers of Jesus knew how to die, but not how to retreat. They did their work. Well yet necessarily left it unfinished the victory was assured though not in sight. The death-stricken hands reached the blood-stained banner out to another to be carried forward.

This war still rages. The supremacy of Jesus Christ is yet disputed. His royal rights are yet usurped by mortals. His bride the church still halts amid many opinions. The ordinances of grace are unblushingly corrupted.

The teachings of the gospel are adroitly doctored. The attacking forces are active determined and numerous as in the days of the martyrs the tactics differ. But the fight goes on. Heavy heavy are the moral obligations that fall to the successors of those who gave their lives for the truth.

To recede would be cowardice desertion from the ranks perjury within the covenant treason against Jesus Christ. Is this too strong. Listen if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Surely the times call for Christian soldiers.

Yay heroes possibly martyrs the Covenanters feel their obligation to the Lord. That's from sketches of the Covenanters pages 401 to 403. The second misrepresentation of which Barrow skillfully disposes is Bacon's allegation that the PRC e Claims they are the only duly constituted church on the face of the earth.

The True Church: Being Versus Well-Being

Bacon exhorts the error into which you have fallen is serious and until you come out of the little group which claims that they alone Of all the inhabitants of the earth have a true constitutional church.

You will continue attached to the dead body of human tradition. This emotive smokescreen is dispelled quickly and readily. First by noting that bacon has therein made such an unqualified charge as to be useful only in misleading the ignorant or unwary reader.

Barrow thus asks, what does he mean by true constitutional court or true constitutional church? Does he mean constitutionally true as to the being of the church or constitutionally true as to the well-being of the church?

Shouldn't he define what he means before publicly making such a serious accusation? Instead he begins and ends his defense departed without ever qualifying these terms. He leaves it to the imagination and emotion of the reader to wonder whether the PRC e thinks they are the only Christian Church on earth.

Barrow leaves nothing to the imagination of the reader though as he proceeds to lay forth in Unmistakably clear terms the classic reform distinction between the being and the well-being of the visible church.

This chapter alone is worth 100 times the price of the book. He explains there is an important distinction to be made between the being Essay of a church and its well-being. Ben a essay dear reader please always keep this distinction in mind or you will fail to understand both the scriptures and the Reformers and the men of the PRC e on this vital matter.

What is necessary to the being of a true church is something considerably different from what is necessary to its well-being? Since the term true church can be applied to both its being and well-being it is Absolutely imperative to qualify which true church one is referring to especially when making public charges.

Speaking of a true church as being essentially true tells us that a church is Christian as opposed to pagan. While speaking of a true church relative to its well-being tells us whether a particular Christian church is being faithful to God's Word.

While the former distinguishes between the church in the world the latter Distinguishes between the faithful and the unfaithful churches among those bodies which profess Christianity. In light of this distinction he clearly displays the disposition of Covenanters.

I have shown by this first distinction that one mark alone is sufficient to constitute an essentially true visible church. That is the profession of the true religion see the Westminster confession of faith 25 Section 2 and larger catechism question 62.

This single mark is used to designate a Christian church from a pagan church. The PRC e Unequivocally states that the one remaining church calling itself the presbytery of the Reformation Presbyterian Church is a truly constituted visible church as to essence or being as our particular Roman Catholic Arminian or Baptist churches.

This applies equally to any other particular church who essentially retains the profession of the truth. In his skillful and easy-to-follow discussion He treats the reader to a delightful feast of citations from Samuel Rutherford the Scottish confession of faith the Westminster confession of faith Francis Turreton John Calvin the Presbyterian London ministers at the time of the Westminster Assembly John Anderson James Bannerman James Renick Thomas McCree and the Reformed Presbytery all clearly supporting the classical Protestant position of the PRC e and all revealing the Embarrassingly impoverished and confused state of Bacon scholarship on this fundamental point of Protestantism.

Covenants, Church Constitution, and Terms of Communion

The third misrepresentation Barrow takes up is Bacon's malicious and misleading charge that quote essentially the difference between the Reformation Presbyterian Church. That's Bacon's Church and Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton is that the Reformation Presbyterian Church? maintains that a church can be truly and biblically Constituted without swearing the solemn league and covenant and the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton claims that a church is not a properly truly biblically constituted church if it is not formally adopted the solemn league and covenant.

Again from defense departed a lengthy discussion of the true covenant. Your position on the covenants follows expounding many important scriptural and historical features of public social Covenanting in general and of the national covenant and solemn league and covenant in particular.

Again a wealth of historical citations are presented showing that these distinctions were Widely recognized amongst the best reformed teachers and were not covenant or peculiarities. In the process it is seen how Bacon's misapprehension of the crucial being well-being distinction regarding the visible church Leads him to make such a scandalous accusation and how as usual Bacon stands at odds with the plain fundamental reformational teaching on numerous key points.

Here Barrow picks up where he left off in the previous chapter Discussing how covenants like the solemn league and covenant were intended not to define the visible church as to her being But to promote preserve and protect her as to her well-being.

He states. This leads us to consider the next topic which stands in need of clarification. Mr. Bacon either by ignorance or design has directed all the attention to the wrong question. He wishes to make the PRC e say that it is necessary to take the covenants in order to be a Christian Church.

A more informed opponent would understand that the question truly revolves around whether or not it's necessary to the well-being of a Christian Church to Keep the promises representatively made by their forefathers.

Taken the taking the covenants are not an absolute necessity to the essential Constitution of the church and we have never in any of our writing or preaching said they were. Instead we have maintained that in a covenanted land where lawful promises have already been made They are necessary to keep for the well-being of our Constitution and for the integrity of our witness for Christ.

Scriptural Terms of Communion and the Charge of Works Righteousness

Lawful promises must necessarily be kept and covenants once made are necessary to own adopt and renew Lest we open ourselves to the charge of taking the Lord's name in vain. Finally Barrow tackles what has become perhaps the most oft repeated falsehood against the PRC e and covenanters in general.

That we tyrannically impose the traditions of men upon the consciences of Christ's sheep by requiring unscriptural terms of communion. In an amazing display of moral baseness too foul and too obvious to be dismissed as simply scholastic incompetence Bacon constructs the grossest caricature of our terms of communion.

He says. Quote. The Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton has adopted this entire line of thinking by the approach of first accept the doctrine. Then you can understand it later. But this is the very kind of implicit faith required by Rome and condemned by our confession.

But one must remember that the steel lights invest a similar meaning in the term historical Testimony that the Romanist does with his inspired tradition of the fathers from defense departed. Although Barrow's previous refutations of Bacon's errors and libels were impressive and devastating They may seem like a warm-up when compared to this chapter.