Absolute Predestination.
James Dodson
1562-Jerome Zanchius (1516-1590).-A classic statement of the doctrine of predestination from an early Reformer who presents a supralapsarian point of view on the subject.
Read MoreDatabase
John Cowan (1778?-1817)
James Dodson
Nothing seems to be known about John Cowan's birth and early life. It seems most probable that he studied theology under John M'Millan III., who was the instructor for the Reformed Presbytery around the time of his presentation for the ministry. He appears in the records of the Reformed Presbytery first as a candidate for licensure. He was licensed at Douglas on 9th of March, 1803, and was eligible to receive calls. His competence may be seen in the fact that by 1804, he had received two calls--one to the congregation at Chirnside; the other to the congregation at Stranraer. At a meeting, on August 15, 1804, he chose the latter and was duly ordained there, November 21 of that year. From that time, his presence in the presbytery was regular and he was chosen moderator of the Reformed Presbytery in 1805/6....
Read MoreThe Duties of the Gospel Minister.
James Dodson
1809-John Cowan.-An excellent sermon, from the ordination of Andrew Symington, on the duties of Gospel ministers outlining the care they must exercise and the preparations they ought to have to fulfill that office. Included is a very interesting and pointed charge to the congregation instructing them regarding their responsibilities toward their new pastor and charging them to fulfill their duties towards him.
Read MoreCreeds and Confessions Defended,
James Dodson
1810-John Paul (1777-1848).-A muscular defense of creeds and confessions and many other points of Presbyterian and Covenanter doctrine with it. Paul does not spare his opponent on any front. While not for the faint of heart, Mr. Paul explains why creeds should be without error and fully subscribed by all communicants.
Read MoreA Discourse on Women Prophesying and Headcoverings.
James Dodson
1665-Joseph Mede (1586-1639).-An interesting discourse on 1 Cor. 11:5 explaining what Paul meant when he spoke of women prophesying. In the course of the discussion, he throws some light on the function of precentors and the antiphony between the preceptor and the congregation (much like lining of the Psalms). Pointedly, he also discusses what Paul meant to teach respecting headcoverings or veils for women in the worship of the church.
Read MoreA Brief Catechetical Exposition of Christian Doctrine.
James Dodson
1632-William Twisse.-A treatise containing four catechism. The first designed to explain and distinguish the sacraments; the second treats the Lord's prayer; the third expounds the Ten Commandments; and the fourth unfolds the articles of the Apostles' Creed. This is a good example of many early Reformed catechisms written specifically for helping communicants prepare for a right reception of the Lord's supper.
Read MoreWilliam Twisse (1578-1646)
James Dodson
William Twisse was born near Newbury, England, in 1578. Educated at Winchester, at the age of eighteen he moved to New College, Oxford. In 1604, he received his degree in Master of Arts and, that same year, was ordained to the ministry. In 1614, he was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity. From an early age he was noted for his profound erudition and his fame came to the attention of the court of King James who appointed him chaplain to Lady Elizabeth in her travels to the Palatine. Upon return, he became the minister of Newbury. When the Book of Sports was issued in 1617/8, Twisse refused to read and publicly declared himself against it. Though many Puritan ministers were suspended from the ministry or even imprisoned, King James allowed Twisse to remain unmolested because of his reputation in all the Reformed churches. In 1643, he was chosen to be the prolocutor to the Assembly of Divines...
Read MoreA Letter Addressed to T—— B——, of P——, Exhibiting Some Steps of Defection in the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
James Dodson
1840-David Steele.-Mr. Steele’s first salvo in a long war of words over the defections that increasingly plagued the Reformed Presbyterian Synod throughout the nineteenth century. Mr. Steele was a witness to the events that transpired at the various Old Light Synods after the split in 1833 until their defections drove him to form a separate presbytery, in 1840, to uphold the testimony. He shows that it was necessitated by the habitual judicial tyranny some of which he records in this letter.
Read MoreA Reply [to the charges of schism and some reasons for separating from the RP Synod].
James Dodson
1854-David Steele.-A short outline of the reasons for the separate existence of the Reformed Presbytery together with a discussion of the meaning and purpose of historical testimony.
Read MorePastor Steele’s Printed Communications to the Editor of The Covenanter.
James Dodson
1855-1857-David Steele and James M. Willson.-A series of articles debating the so-called “Steelite” position on testimony bearing, history testimony and several other points of dispute. In this, David Steel represents the historic Covenanter position against the departures embodied in the preface of “Reformation Principles Exhibited.”
Read MoreAn Overture entitled "Testimony for Public Covenanting."
James Dodson
1839-Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.-The American Synod presents the doctrine of covenanting together with its history with an eye to renovation of covenants. This document is filled with many helpful and interesting information not easily available elsewhere.
Read MorePSALLO.
James Dodson
1882-William Wishart (1821-1906).-An article from the Evangelical Repository examining the claims of proponents of musical instruments in worship taken from the meaning of the Greek word PSALLO. Dr. Wishart explains why PSALLO does not provide Biblical support for the use of mechanical instruments of worship.
Read MoreThe Two Sons of Oil; or, The Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis.
James Dodson
1803-Samuel Brown Wylie.-This small treatise constitutes one of the most readable and comprehensive expositions of the Reformed Presbyterian position with respect to the application of its principles on civil magistracy in the United States. Written in the early days of the republic, it shows that godless principles were incorporated into the U.S. Constitution.
Read MoreAn Essay Upon the Sacred Use of Organs in Christian Assemblies.
James Dodson
1713-Anonymous.-A very instructive essay which explains the rise of the use of musical instruments and the reason their use was discontinued in the best Reformed churches.
Read MoreSinging of Psalms a Gospel-Ordinance.
James Dodson
1650-John Cotton (1584-1652).-An excellent treatise on Psalm singing by an eminent New England Puritan. Cotton gives a good overview for the arguments for only singing Psalms together with a spirited defense of the use of metrical psalmody.
Read MoreThe Christian Magistrate: A Discourse.
James Dodson
1832-Thomas Houston.-An excellent survey of the qualifications and duties of the civil magistrate. Houston is particularly helpful to explain how a Christian magistrate is responsible to establish the true religion and his power circa sacra. His discussion of punishing heretics and idolaters required a full length defense which he issued the following year. This is a strong indictment of theological liberalism and its tendencies.
Read MoreThomas Houston (1803-1882)
James Dodson
Thomas Houston was born in Donegore, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1803. When still a child, his family moved to Cullybackey to attend the ministry of William Stavely, who was a legendary figure amongst Irish Covenanters. It was under his ministry that he was first affected with the cause of true religion. In 1819, he began his study at the Belfast Academical Institution and, afterward, had a brief stint teaching there and at the Ballymena Academy. In 1825, he commenced his theological studies at the Theological Hall of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, under the renowned Andrew Symington. On December 25, 1826, he was licensed to preach by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Receiving a call to Knockbracken, ...
Read MoreThe Reviewer Reviewed, and The Covenanter and Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church Vindicated,
James Dodson
1833-Thomas Houston.-A vigorous defense of his discourse on the Christian Magistrate from charges of being contrary to the received doctrine of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mr. Houston demonstrates the depth of historical support for this doctrine. This pamphlet also has much to teach about historical testimony and the engagement to walk in the footsteps of the flock.
Read MoreThe Mystery of Magistracy Unvailed
James Dodson
1663-Anonymous.-This piece presents a clear exposition of the doctrine of the civil magistracy. It addresses the duties of both rulers and subjects. Most importantly, it explains how to know when magistrates degenerate into tyrants and what the proper response of Christians should be when magistrates become illegitmate.
Read MoreA Sermon on Covenanting.
James Dodson
1803-Samuel Brown Wylie.-An excellent sermon on the duty of covenanting originally published with “Two Sons of Oil.” This is a reasoned defense which includes discussions of federal headship and descending obligations of social and religious covenants.
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