Ralph Erskine and the Binding National Covenants

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

For those interested in such things Ralph Erskine expresses the belief in the book I am reading ("The River of Life Proceeding Out of the Throne of Grace") that the various Covenants entered into by Scotland are still binding. See Page 94 (Page 109 of the PDF) linked here.

https://archive.org/stream/riverof00ersk#page/n109/mode/2up

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Great; thanks for sharing.

 

[ProtestantBankie]

That's an interesting one. I didn't know the Erskines viewpoint - I now know half of it.

 

[MW]

Erskine reflects the typical reformed evangelical position of the eighteenth century. Hog, Boston, Willison, etc., maintained the same view.

The Secession renewed the covenants in their ecclesiastical capacity but recognised they could not be renewed civilly without lawful civil authority to impose them. In this they differed from the Reformed Presbyterians who renewed them in their entirety but altered the terms. The lawfulness of a bare ecclesiastical renewal is at least questionable. The earlier position simply maintained they were binding without requiring any renewal.

The linked book refers to the 15th and 16th century when it should refer to the 16th and 17th century.

 

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

I will notify Rev. Erskine's publisher.