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Subsection

All of the Bible Commentaries of the Scottish Covenanters

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Order of Contents

Why Read the Scottish Covenanters?

About this Collection

Alphabetical Order

Chronological Order

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Travis Fentiman, MDiv.

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Why read the Scottish Covenanters?

Because it is in fire that gold glows the brightest and most purely, and God, in his infinite wisdom, graced the Scottish covenanters with some of the hottest fires that Church history has ever seen. It is when the fire is stoked seven times hotter than ever that one like unto the Son of God has been known to appear with his beloved people in their midst (Dan. 3:19,24-25). Immanuel has promised to be with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and it is there, in the midst of enemies, that He prepares a table for us and causes our cup to run over (Ps. 23:4-5). As Samuel Rutherford said, it is in the bottom cellar of affliction in God’s House where God keeps his choicest wine. Come, taste and drink these old, fragrant wines at no cost (Isa. 55:1-2):

The covenanters were first and foremost ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) calling, in Christ’s name, dying sinners to eternal life in the Savior. To see Christ and his grace freely opened up to poor, penny-less sinners, see ‘Gospel Presentations are the Strongest Invitations’ and ‘The Best Wares at the Lowest Rates’ in James Durham’s The Unsearchable Riches of Christ Buy pp. 43-79 & 136-160 (excerpts). Hear Christ’s voice in the young, bright burning star of the Scottish Church, Hugh Binning, in his sermon on Mt. 11:28, ‘Come unto Me…’ Buy Durham said of this one who died at 26 years, ‘There is no speaking after Mr. Binning.’

Andrew Gray, another ‘spark from heaven’, preached on Christ calling out to strangers, ‘Behold Me, Behold Me!’ Buy from Isa. 65:1. In two sermons on Heb. 2:3, Gray holds out The Great Salvation Offered and Tendered First by Christ Himself. It is God that speaks to us in Prov. 23:26, ‘My son, give Me thine heart.’ Gray opens this text up in his communion sermon, ‘The Duty of Giving the Heart to Christ’ in Loving Christ and Fleeing Temptation Buy pp. 597-613. Durham said of the young Gray, ‘he could make men’s hair stand on end.’ Gray died in his 23rd year.

After the Great Ejection of 1662, when Christ was kicked out of the churches in Scotland, 400 of the most godly ministers went with Him outside the camp. It is there to the fields we must go to find Him (Song 6:1-2). Gabriel Semple powerfully exhorts us in the fugitive worship meetings to ‘Seek ye the Lord while He may be found.’ (Isa. 55:6) PoD For proof that the Gospel promise is true, that no tribulation, peril or any power on this earth can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39), go with James Fraser of Brea into the dungeons of the Bass Rock and Blackness Castle, and there you will find him Trusting God and Hungering and Thirsting and Spiritually Feasting upon Christ.

As James Renwick (†1688), the last of the field preachers to be executed, testified on the scaffold, the covenanters were the ‘most in the main things.’ (Mt. 23:23) As Christ is ‘all in all’, He was the substance of all that they lived and died for. Writing from exile in Holland, John Brown of Wamphray expounds on how to practically make use of Christ: the Way, the Truth and the Life Buy. Take some time and slowly go through and digest Robert Rollock’s 700 pages of lectures expositing the Scripture-history of Christ’s Suffering, Death, Resurrection and Ascension Buy. Peer into the pastoral heart of the one that authored these pages in the sonnets that James Melville composed upon Rollock’s death.

The Lord our Rock (2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 18:46) has been smitten friends (Zech. 13:7; Num. 20:11; 1 Cor. 10:4) and Refreshing Streams are Flowing from the Fullness of Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:1,17). Drink with William Coleville to your heart’s content, and you will never thirst again.

For a lifetime of sobering meditation and wonder, descend into the valley of the shadow of death with Durham on the Atonement, in his 52 sermons on Isa. 53, entitled, Christ Crucified, vols. 1, 2 Buy. You will see the Face of God marred more than any man (Isa. 52:14). And why? While you will find no depth to his love, you will find your name, Believer, written on his heart (Eph. 1:4). Pour your soul out in a drink offering by Meditating on the Death of Christ with William Guild and you will find riches few know of, even ‘the fellowship of his sufferings.’ (Phil. 3:10) Yea, let us be able to say with the psalmist, ‘I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.’ (Ps. 63:6)

Make sure of your legal right (or ‘interest’ in the old sense of the word) to Christ and Heaven following Him. Examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5) by trying your faith upon Scripture to see if it is saving in William Guthrie’s The Christian’s Great Interest Buy. Fear not: while puritans such as Thomas Hooker in New England thundered against hardened hypocrites (rightly, as the town churches were filled with them), Guthrie handles the reader gently and winsomely in ‘a most homely and plain style’, not crushing the bruised reed but building up even the smallest babe in Christ to know how to attain an assurance of salvation, even ‘Heaven on earth’. Thomas Chalmers, one of the fathers of the later Free Church of Scotland, who wrote an Introductory Essay to the work, said that ‘while it guides, it purifies,’ and that it ‘is the best book I ever read’. Be not fooled, though the book is sweetly simple, John Owen said of Guthrie and his work, ‘That author I take to have been one of the greatest divines that ever wrote… I have written several folios [there are 23 volumes in Owen’s Works], but there is more divinity in it than in them all.’

Discern the testimony of the Holy Spirit crying ‘Abba’ in your heart to your adoptive Father in Heaven with John Forbes’ Letter on assurance from Rom. 8:14-16. Make sure that Jesus Christ is in you by way of Gray’s three sermons. But most of all, finding yourself, genuine Believer, to be a favorite of the King of Heaven and his beloved (Song 6:3), relish in Christ’s love for you in Guthrie’s heart-warming sermon Buy on Gal. 2:20 ‘Who loved me, and gave Himself for me…’.

The Christian’s life is found and kept alive in communion with God: ‘for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’ (Col.3:3) Let the seraphic Letters Buy of Samuel Rutherford inflame your soul. Held ‘to be the nearest thing to inspiration which can be found in all the writings of mere men’ by Charles Spurgeon, Richard Baxter said that ‘such a book of letters the world never saw the like.’

The thing lacking in most sermons today is worship. Make your home in communion with the Living Christ in Rutherford’s Communion Sermons Buy and hear preaching like you have never heard before. Find out why the Bride is irresistibly attracted to, and enraptured with the King’s love (Song 1:2-4) in Gray’s sermon: ‘The Intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and his Church’ Buy. Spiritually seek for Christ with Gray in his three sermons on Job 23:3 ‘Oh! that I knew where I might find Him!’ and God’s immutable promise is that we will find Him (Mt. 7:7) whom our soul loves (Song 3:4).

Next akin to these Christ saturated letters and sermons is Margaret Durham’s ‘Epistle Dedicatory’ to her husband’s Commentary on the Song of Solomon Buy. Her letter (not in the online editions) is much more spiritually full and edifying, savoring of a rich, experiential acquaintance with the deep truths of Christ’s Word, than even the preface to the reader to the same work by the justly renowned scholar, John Owen. These excerpts will take you into the soul-ravishing embraces of your heavenly husband where you will find that his kisses are better than the choicest wine (Song 1:2).

Prayer is the air that the Christian breathes, and thus the apostle tells us, ‘Pray without ceasing.’ (1 Thess. 5:17). Knox teaches us what true prayer is (27 pp.); Gray gives us directions for prayer and how to diligently keep our heart in it Buy (9 sermons). How did the covenanters endure the greatest trials with such long-suffering, patience and hope? Join John Brown of Wamphray on his knees in his prayer closet for 310 pages Buy. Why is prayer so lovely before God? a fragrant perfume to Him? William Guild opens up this sacrifice of sweet smelling incense so that we would love conversing with Him as much as He does with us (143 pp.). Thy Beloved calls Christian! ‘O my Dove!… let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice!’ (Song 2:14)

The true Christian, as Christ (Ps. 40:8), delights to do the will of God (Ps. 119:35). His commandments are a lamp shedding light for our path (Ps. 119:105). The ever-savory Robert Leighton gives us some summary Rules and Instructions for a Holy Life Buy from God’s Word. Durham gives a practical manual of Christian living in expounding the Ten Commandments at length in The Law Unsealed Buy. Here is a digest of how to ‘fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’ (Eccl. 12:13)

It is in the light of God’s holy Law that we come to see, with James Fraser of Brea, the evil of sin and the power thereof. We find ourselves to be ‘a people laden with iniquity’ (Isa. 1:4). The confession of sin is the vomit of the soul; purge yourself with acknowledging the causes of God’s Wrath against us: the most searching and thorough confession of sin ever expunged from a national church over its land. It will break your heart. For ministers: see your mirror and make humble acknowledgement of the sins of your ministry. Let the purification of excoriating your soul-decay produce the deep-seated cleansing that brings life. John Welch’s (†1622) eight convicting and renewing sermons on repentance PoD will help us turn to the Lord again. ‘Thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help.’ (Hosea 13:9)

If our eye is on loving God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourself, we will fulfill the whole Law (Rom. 13:10). The classic treatise throughout the centuries on Christian Love Buy, to help us do that, is by the covenanter Hugh Binning. While this short book will greatly soften our rough edges and endear our fellow brothers and sisters to us (a reward in itself), what is not always known is that this priceless and tender-hearted gem was written by one of the most doctrinally strict and uncompromising Christians ever to walk this earth, even of the Protestor variety in the mid-1600’s Resolutions controversy. May this be an example to us, and may we find, as did Binning, where truth and mercy kiss (Ps. 85:10).

In their doctrine, the covenanters had a back-bone of steel. Imprisoned during ‘the Killing Times’ in the 1680’s, William Wishart later became the Principal of Edinburgh University and published his Discourses of God, vols. 1, 2 PoD, being 120 sermons on the being and attributes of God, something akin by genre to Charnock’s work on the same subject. Binning preached on the first third of a systematic theology’s topics in 25 sermons in his The Common Principals of the Christian Religion, taking the reader up through the Trinity, the Decrees of God, Creation, Providence, the Covenant of Works and Original Sin.

On Predestination, forget Norman Geisler and read John Knox’s God’s Eternal Predestination Buy (460 pp., in old English). The pure scriptural light will chase away all vague, shadowy doubts and wonderings. With all reverence and thankfulness to the ministry of R.C Sproul, contemporary authors do not write on predestination with the practical relevance, experiential fervor and soul-soaring relish that you will find in Rutherford’s Influences of the Life of Grace (only just made available online in 2015). It is not a book of doctrine, though it contains more than most doctrinal books; it is a tactical-guide for thriving in the means of grace upon God’s absolute promises. God calls us to lay our faith upon no other pillow than that of Omnipotence Himself. Rest upon the Lord, oh Christian! and be strengthened.

Continue through the wilderness of this world, from well to well and strength to strength (Ps. 84:5-7), to Rutherford’s Covenant of Life Opened Buy, the best book on the older (and better) Covenant Theology that there is (though the treatise’s organization leaves a bit to be desired). You won’t find in any other systematic theology or modern academic press seraphic strains of devotion leaving you breathless. To delve further into the heart of the covenants, even Christ’s over-redeeming bankrupt sinners and drawing them out of sin and the grave by invincible power, set your mark on Christ Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself Buy. If one has to tread over spans of polemical combat in these works, marvel not: Not only has the truth often been best hammered out upon the anvil of controversy, but these missiles of truth were not launched from easy-chairs, but under religious persecutions from principalities in high places with a price upon one’s head, for the sake of the existence and continuance of the truth of God in the world and for the good of the souls of perishing men.

The theology of the covenants came to a fullness (which hasn’t been superseded since) in the covenanter, Patrick Gillespie’s (brother of George) Ark of the Testament Opened… A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (1661) and his Ark of the Covenant Opened, or a Treatise on the Covenant of Redemption (1677), being condensations of all the major theologians that came before him on nearly every point related to the divine compact binding our everlasting persons to Christ. If you are not sure what the difference is between the Covenant of Redemption that the Father made with the Son in eternity to redeem his lovingly-chosen people to Himself, and the Covenant of Grace between God the Trinity and us by faith through Christ the Mediator in time whereby we receive all the blessings that Christ has purchased, be sure to start with James Durham and David Dickson’s The Sum of Saving Knowledge, Heads 2-4.

One of the inestimable blessings received by those who lay hold of Christ offered in the Covenant of Grace is Justification: sinners receiving the Righteousness of Christ for our own, gratis. The covenanters, though reputed to be the off-scouring of the earth (1 Cor. 4:13) by those who seek honor from men (John 5:44), were reputed by God to be ‘in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.’ (1 Cor. 1:30) While Papists and Arminians were defending the righteousness of their own muddied faith and good-works to save them, John Forbes and John Brown of Wamphray were defending Christ’s spotless and pure (Heb. 7:26) righteousness alone to be sufficient to save sinners with no good works at all, destitute of any legal-righteousness in their faith. In a day of a New Perspective on Paul, read here of the Old Perspective.

When the subtle error reared its ugly head that Christ only provides half-righteousness and half the Law’s requirements to the believer, only the passive righteousness of suffering under the punishment of our curse, then it is time, with Brown, to set forth the whole of Christ’s life and righteousness, even the active righteousness of Christ in obedience to every jot and tittle of the positive commands of the Law, given to Law-ommitting believers in order to fill up the full measure of God’s glory (Lev. 26:14; Rom. 3:23; Jer. 33:6).

With time new errors soon crept in. In response to the Scylla of Antinomianism roaring that God’s precious Law is of no use for the believer (‘anti’, against; ‘nomos’, the Law), the Charybdis of Neonomianism sought to whirl people down into obeying a new, lowered and easier form of the Law in order to contribute a few mites to our salvation (‘neo’, new). Give no heed to such fables! (1 Tim. 4:7) but deeply consider and lay up in your heart what is perhaps the most profound, brief setting forth of the Biblical doctrine of Justification that Church History has bequeathed to us: Robert Trail’s letter to a friend of 24 pages: A Vindication of the Protestant Doctrine of Justification Buy.

While the benefits and liberties of being declared righteous before God as servants is great, yet there is a large difference between the upright servant that stands aside waiting to do the Master’s command, and being adopted into God’s family whereby we are legally secured as sons and daughters into the embraces and intimacy of our Father in Heaven. Climb into your Father’s lap with your older brother Binning’s five sermons on Rom. 8:14-15 and learn from of the Holy Spirit to cry, ‘Abba, Daddy!’

What is God’s will for your life? ‘For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.’ (1 Thess. 4:2-3) Being sanctified, or, growing in holiness in conformity to the image of Jesus, is not a formulaic process. Rather, walk with Binning in the spirit while resisting the flesh through Rom. 8:4-13 in 20 sermons from The Sinner’s Sanctuary. Binning exhorts us from Christ’s words to ‘seek first the Kingdom of God’ (Mt. 6:33) in five sermons. Gray instructs us with tactical training for spiritual warfare in eight sermons, shows us how to resist temptation in four sermons in Loving Christ and Fleeing Temptation Buy pp. 338-421, and directs us how to keep our heart in 3 sermons, for out of it are the springing waters of our life.

Scripture says, ‘All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.’ (1 Pet. 5:5) Cultivate spiritual beauty before the Lord: put on ‘Humility: the Christian’s Best Ornament’ with Gray (Loving Christ Buy pp. 253-265) and be humbled by this touching sermon of William Guthrie’s on sympathy for others.

Everyone who is made alive by the Spirit of God loves God’s Word (Ps. 119:140); it is the textbook of sanctification: ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.’ (Jn. 17:17) Meditate on God’s Word day and night (Ps. 1:2) with All of the Bible Commentaries of the Scottish Covenanters. Charles Surgeon gave many of these commentaries his highest rating, and a number of them have earned a spot in Banner of Truth’s justly prized Geneva Commentary Series. Wet your taste by reading 7 Reasons to Study the Bible with the Covenanters.

What would it have been like to walk on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-27) and have had Christ opened up to you from Moses and all of the prophets? William Guild shows us the Types of Christ in the Old Testament and gives us a Harmony of the Prophecies of the Messiah for all those who have ‘waited for the consolation of Israel’ (Lk. 2:25-32), even ‘God manifested in the flesh’ (1 Tim. 3:16).

How will one ever find time to read all of these books? God has given us a simple solution to that: one day in every seven is to be devoted to Him. ‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.’ (Ex. 20:4) Thomas Young, the Scot-born Westminster divine who lived and ministered in England, demonstrates that the moral (Ex. 20:4), creation ordinance (Gen. 2:3) of the Sabbath was changed to the first day of the week, The Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), not by the Roman Church, but by Jesus Christ and the apostles. (Ps. 118:22-24; Mt. 12:8; 28:1-6; Jn. 20:19; Acts 20:7) The second half of the book shows us how to sanctify the Lord’s Day unto God with spiritual worship so that we would ‘call the sabbath a delight’ and receive all that which God promises to those who do so. (Isa. 58:13-14)

Putting the Lord’s things first (Mt. 6:33), the Covenanters devoted the chief portion of their strength to building and beautifying with purity the House of God on earth: the Church. Sometimes it is wondered how the Scottish Covenanters compare to the English puritans. The answer is that while they both had a passion for God-infused living, feasting on and preaching of the deep spiritual things of the Lord, the Scots were even better on the doctrine of the Church, the Church of Scotland during the mid-1600’s being a model of classical Presbyterianism according to the Word of God.

James Wood, an esteemed colleague of Samuel Rutherford, was, according to the later Free Church of Scotland professor, James Walker, ‘among our ablest men’, and wrote perhaps the best Scottish discussion of Church authority in his treatise against Independency, A Little Stone Pretended to be Out of the Mountain [Dan. 2:35], Tried (412 pp.).

The Scriptural model of the outward form of the visible Church is that she has a universal fellowship and is ruled ministerially by elders (in the Greek, presbyters). The root court of authority, having the full power of the spiritual Keys that Christ has given to her, is the regional presbytery. This is argued at length from Scripture by Rutherford in his section, Independent Churches do not have the Authority for Greater Excommunication (57 pp.), from his Due Right of Presbyteries (470 pp.), which also argues at length every other Church question that one could think of as well, plus a few more.

For a much more concise outlining of classical presbyterianism, in its major characteristics, see George Gillespie’s 111 Propositions Concerning the Ministry and Government of the Church, the leading heads of which were adopted by the Church of Scotland. For an even briefer, historical description of what the Church of Scotland was like in her simple, Biblical ordinances during the days of this high-water mark of Biblical presbyterianism, see the section of Rutherford, A Defense of the Government of the Church of Scotland (1642, 21 pp.), and Alexander Henderson’s, The Government and Order of the Church of Scotland (1641, 92 pp.).

The Scottish Church did more than any other in practically instituting, defining and theologically defending the office of the Ruling Elder from Scripture. James Guthrie, martyred on the gallows in 1661, summarized Scripture’s teaching in his treatise, Ruling Elders and Deacons PoD (89 pp.). The young Gillespie, with the whole field of scholarship at his command, takes up perhaps the most detailed defense of the office that has ever been written: An Assertion of… the Points of Ruling Elders and of the Authority of Presbyteries and Synods Buy (1641, 282 pp.).

The Scots, along with virtually the whole of the Reformation and Puritan Churches (excepting the Church of England), held to a 4 office view of Church government, that of: (1) ministers, (2) teachers, (3) ruling elders and (4) deacons. This view is usually looked upon as an idiosyncratic, historical oddity. To see that the Reformation, Puritan and Covenanter viewpoint is what the Bible teaches, and is right, first read Sherman Isbell’s short article demonstrating that ministers hold a separate office from ruling elders: Order in the Offices: a Review. Then, to see that the office of Teacher is distinct from the office of minister, see Travis Fentiman’s Introduction to the Biblical Office of Teacher.

If the Messiah and the true Church can be historically discerned by the marks given in Scripture, then so can the Anti-Christ and the apostate Church by the same principles, and it is very necessary that we do so. While there is much doubt about this today, there was none in the Reformed theology of yesteryear. To see the doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith, ch. 25.6 proven to the settling of your conscience, read the covenanter, William Guild’s Antichrist:… The Popes of Rome proven to be that Man of Sin… fore-prophesied in Scripture. Though there are many such treatises in the writings of the covenanters, for a further work on that Great Whore of Revelation, see Guild’s The Novelty of Popery… Proven by Romanists Out of Themselves.

While people today are making up their own ways to worship God, the Covenanters were being killed for seeking to preserve the purity and simplicity of worship that Christ has instituted, and that alone. Thus, David Calderwood, in loving and sanctifying the Lord’s Day, argues from Scripture against adding man-made holy-days, such as the Christ-Mass, Easter, etc. to God’s divinely prescribed worship, in ‘Reasons Against Festival Days’ Buy (1619, 25 pp.).

Regarding singing divine praise, Robert MacWard, the protege of Rutherford, argues that (1) singing is a distinct element from prayer with different Biblical regulations, and (2) that inspiration is a requirement for sung praise (contra man-made hymns and praise songs), in The True Non-Conformist, Dialogue 5, pp. 272-280, reflecting John Calvin’s quoting of Augustine: ‘No one is able to sing things worthy of God unless he has received them from Him.’

Since historical revisionism is rife today with people claiming that the Reformation Scottish Church sang hymns in its public worship and allowed them therein, see the renowned Scottish historian, David Hay Fleming’s ‘Hymnology of the Scottish Reformation’ part 1, part 2, part 3,part 4 Buy (1886) which overwhelmingly and exhaustively demonstrates that the Church of Scotland was exclusive psalm-singing in its public worship and constitution from the Reformation through the end of the 1600’s. Needless to say, this piece has never been refuted, nor likely ever will be. For the fullest exposition and defense of the Biblical teaching of Exclusive Psalmody, see Michael Bushell’s The Songs of Zion Buy.

(More is forthcoming, Lord willing)

About this Collection

This is intended to be a reasonably comprehensive collection of all of the writings of the Scottish covenanters (in all languages, both online and not online), including 290+ persons with 225+ of them having writings in English online. The symbol: * designates a major writer; there are 30 of them.

A covenanter is one who believes and practices social covenanting: banding with our fellow countrymen under the oath and assistance of God in order to better seek first God’s Kingdom (Mt. 6:33), this morally required duty under appropriate circumstances being exampled and blessed of God in Scripture (Josh. 24:25; 2 Kings 11:17; Isa. 44:5; Jer. 50:5; 2 Chron. 15:15). The Scottish Christians exampled this practice since shortly before their Reformation in 1560 and through the puritan era more than any other group in history.

If you have not yet fallen in love with the Scottish Church of better days, read the best short book on Scottish Church history there is: G.N.M. Collins, The Heritage of our Fathers Buy It reads like an adventure story and you probably won’t be able to sleep until you finish it. The best longer and more detailed account of Scottish Church history, including all of its fascinating anecdotal stories, is Thomas M’Crie’s, The Story of the Scottish Church Buy James Walker gives an overview of the principal writers and theology of the Scottish covenanters during the puritan era in The Theology and Theologians of Scotland Buy

For the one more advanced in the good old paths of our Scottish fathers, try the densely packed, but rewarding lectures filled with gems, of the master of Scottish history and theology: John MacLeod, Scottish Theology in Relation to Church History Buy For a (very) detailed account of the many covenants of the Scottish covenanters, peruse David H. Fleming’s, The Story of the Scottish Covenants in Outline Buy (1904, 84 pp.).

The collection on this page encompasses a broader definition of ‘covenanter’ than what the term more normally, historically designates, namely: every good and godly Scot of the ‘hotter sort’ since the 1500’s through A.D. 1700. Included are: some of the early protestant proto-reformers before the Reformation (including a few court jesters), some of the good bishops and moderates (not all of them were bad), a number of the godly ‘ladies of the covenant’, and many martyrs, along with every covenanter you can think of, plus quite a few more. As you become enthralled in the works above, check back to this page for all of the writings they reference, and many others.

The bulk of this collection stems from every relevant person (and their works) listed in the Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology Buy. But to make sure we didn’t miss anyone, we also combed through:

The Cloud of Witnesses Buy

Sermons in the Time of Persecution Buy

John Howie, Scots Worthies Buy

Robert Lippe, Selections from Wodrow’s Biographical Collections

ed. Michael Shields, Faithful Contendings Displayed PoD

ed. W. Tweedie, Scottish Puritans, vols. 1, 2 Buy

Robert Wodrow, Lives of the Reformers… of the Church of Scotland, vol. 1, 2

plus many other works.

To make the cut, the covenanter had to hand down more than a paragraph of their own writing to us; anything less is not included, nor is purely historical information where there is no attendant testimony in their own words. Sometimes duplicate editions of a given work can be found elsewhere on the internet if you are so desirous; we have striven for readability (which usually means preferring the newer edition).

Background info on many of the covenanters on this page can be found online at the Dictionary of National Biography (1900) or in the works above. But you should really save your pennies, buy the Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology Buy and flip around in it like a little kid in a candy store.

Please enjoy all of the writings of the Scottish covenanters!

The Scottish Covenanters

Alphabetical order

Alesius, Alexander 1500-65 Latin Reformer, theologian

Alison, Archibald †1680 Both. Bridge, Airsmoss, martyr w/Malcom

Alison, Isabel †1681 IA A lady, hearer of Cargill

Anne, Lady 1630-1716 Duchess of Hamilton

Arbuthnot, Alexander 1538-83 Minister, principal, 2nd BofD, friend: Melville

Balcanquhal, Walter 1548-1617 Presbyterian minister

. Joint Attestation, Avowing that the Discipline…

. The Honor of Christian Churches

. The Collegiat Suffrage of the Divines of…

Balknaves, Henry 1502-70 IA Early reformer, 1st BofD, Justification

Baillie, Robert * 1599-1662 TC Westminster, wrote Letters, Resolutioner

Balfour, John, Klinloch n.d. Murderer of Archbish. James Sharp, army officer

Bannantyne, Adam fl. 1595-1630 Minister Falkirk, Bishop Aberdeen

Binning, Hugh * 1627-53 Preacher, Protestor, Christian Love

Black, David 1550-1603 Presbyterian minister, Bass Rock

Blackadder, Adam 1659-96 Son of John, Blackness Castle, Darian Colony

Blackadder, John 1615-86 Covenanting Field Preacher

. Diary and Letters

. Vision of the Last Judgment: a Poem

Blackburn, Peter fl. 1580-97 Bishop of Aberdeen

Blair, Robert 1593-1666 TC Minister, St. Andrews, moderator 1646

Boig, James †1681 Student of theology, martyr with W. Smith

Borthwick, John †1569 Early protestant reformer

Boyd, James †1581 Protestant, tulchan Archbishop, 2nd BoD

Boyd, Lady †1646 Married to cousin of Robert

Boyd, Robert * 1578-1627 Latin Son of James, principal, professor, minister

. Remains

Boyd, William Informatory Vindication, joined CofS 1690

Boyd, Zachary 1585-1653 EEBO Minister, poet, took National Covenant

Brodie, Alexander 1617-80 Covenanting statesman, Lord of Session, Diary

Brown, John, Wamphray * 1610-79 EEBO Exiled minister, theologian, apologist

Brown, John, Priesthill 1627-81 Ministry to children, murdered by Claverhouse

Bruce, Michael fl. 1680’s Field preacher

Bruce, Robert * 1554-1631 Minister, leading churchman, Lord’s Supper

Brysson, George b. 1649, fl. 1666-78 Merchant in Edinburgh

Buchanan, George * 1506-82 EEBO Humanist writer, political theorist

Calderwood, David * 1575-1650 EEBO Church historian and apologist for Presbyt.

Cameron, John 1579-1625 IA Innovative reformed theologian

Cameron, Michael fl. 1680’s Brother of Richard

Cameron, Richard 1648-80 TC Leader of the Cameronians

Campbell, Archibald 1530-73 Chancellor of Scotland, moderate

Campbell, Archibald 1607-61 Covenanter leader, Marquis of Argyle

Campbell, George 1635-1701 Professor of Divinity, Univ. of Edinburgh

Campbell, John †1652 Earl of Loudon, covenanter

Cant, Andrew 1590-1663 Covenanter minister in Aberdeen

Cargill, Donald 1627-81 TC IA Cameronian field preacher

Carmichael, James 1543-1628 Minister and presbyterian reformer

Carstairs, John †1686 Minister

. Letters

Carstairs, Mrs. fl. 1680’s Wife of John

Carstares, William 1649-1715 CofS minister, advisor to William of Orange

. Letters

Carswell, John †1572 Translator: Book of Common Order to Gaelic

Carswell, John fl. 1560-1580 Superintendent of Argyle

Clark, Andrew †1684 A smith, 19 years old, martyr

Cochran, John †1683 Shoemaker, martyr

Cochran, William †1682 Martyr, suffered with Robertson

Colville, William †1675 Principal of Edinburgh Univ.

Craig, John 1512-1600 EEBO IA Scottish reformer

Crawford, Matthew 1640-1700 CofS minister prominent in the 1690’s

Cunningham, Alexander †1547 Earl, prominent early Scottish reformer

Cunningham, David †1600 Bishop, contributor to 2nd Book of Discipline

Robert Cunningham †1637 Minister, friend of Blair and Livingstone

Cuthill, William †1681 Martyr

Davidson, John 1520-c.1574? Principal Glasgow

Davidson, John 1549-1604 IA IA IA IA Of Prestonpans, presbyterian minister

Dick, John †1684 IA Student of divinity, Bothwell, martyr

Dickson, David * 1583-1663 TS TC Eminent preacher, educator, federal theologian

Dickson, John †1700 SW Field preacher, Bass Rock, joined CofS 1690

Douglas, John 1494-1574 Contributor to 1st Book of Discipline

Douglas, Robert 1594-1674 Leader in CofS in 1640’s-50’s, Resolutioner

Dunbar, Lillias Wife of Alexander Cambell

Duncan, Andrew 1560-1626 Schoolmaster and committed presbyterian

. Rudimenta Pietatis, Torrance, School of Faith Buy

Duncan, Mark 1570-1640 French Professor at French Academy at Saumur

Dunlop, William 1649-1700 Presbyterian principal of Glasgow Univ.

Durham, James * 1622-1658 Covenanter minister and author

. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ Buy excerpts

Durham, Margaret Wife of James Durham

. ‘Epistle Dedicatory’, Durham, Song of Sol. Buy

. excerpts

Durie, John 1537-1600 IA Presb. minister, contributor to 2nd Book of Disc.

Erskine, Henry 1624-1696 Minister, father of Ralph & Ebeneezer

Erskine, John, of Dun 1509-1590 IA Protestant Reformer

Farrie, David †1681 Heard Blackadder & Welsh, martyr w/Forman

Ferguson, James * 1621-67 Minister and biblical commentator

Fergusson, David 1525-98 IA Reformation minister

Ferme, Charles 1566-1617 Presbyterian, influenced Calderwood

Fleming, Robert 1630-94 EEBO Minister and theologian

Finlay, John †1682 Drumclog, Friend of Robertson, martyr

Forbes, John 1568-1634 EEBO Presbyterian writer

Forbes, Patrick †1635 Minister Keith, Bishop Aberdeen

Forman, Patrick †1681 Heard Cargill, martyr with Garnock

Forrester, Thomas 1635-1706 EEBO Presbyterian minister and controversialist

Fraser, James, of Brea 1638-98 Persecuted covenanter, origin of New Light

Galloway, Patrick 1551-1626 Presbyterian minister and royal chaplain

Garnock, Robert †1681 A smith, martyr

Gau, John †1553 Early Scottish Lutheran, The Right Way

Gillespie, George * 1613-48 Eminent divine, Commissioner to Westminster

Gillespie, Patrick * 1617-75 TC Leading Protester, Principal, bro of George

. Western Remonstrance, 1650

Gladstanes, George fl. 1596-1612 First protestant bishop of St. Andrews

Goodall, Mrs. fl. 1677-90 Memoir

Goodman, Christopher 1519-1603 Major Reformation figure, friend of Knox

Gordon, Alexander 1516-75 Reforming bishop, helped John Wycliff

Gordon, Alexander 1587-1654 Earlstoun, Pioneer of Protestantism: Galloway

Gordon, Alexander 1650-1726 Son of William, Bass & Blackness Castle

Gordon, John 1599-1634 Viscount Kenmure, friend of Rutherford

Gordon, William 1614-79 Of Earlstoun, son of Alex. 1654, Drumclog

Gouger, William †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Miller & Sangster

Graham, James †1684 Martyr w/G. Jackson

Gray, Robert †1682 Englishman, martyr

Grey, Andrew * 1633-56 EEBO TC Popular preacher, Protestor

Guild, William * 1586-1657 EEBO Principal, prolific writer

Guilline, Andrew †1683 Weaver, witness to Sharp’s death

Guthrie, James 1612-61 EEBO TC Covenanting minister, Protester, cousin: William

. Discovery of the Dangers that Threaten Religion

Guthrie, John †1688 Minister, Breach of Covenant

Guthrie, William * 1620-65 IA EEBO TC Minister, Protester

Hackston, David †1680 Drumclog, Bothwell Bridge, martyr

Haliburton, George 1616-65 Chaplain to Covenanting army

Hall, Henry †1680 Queensferry Paper, martyr

Hamilton, Janet c. 1687-95 Wife of Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun

Hamilton, Patrick 1504-28 TC First martyr of Scottish Reformation

Hamilton, Robert Of Preston

Harkness, Thomas †1684 30 years old, martyr

Harvie, Marion †1681 IA A lady, hearer of Cameronians

Hay, Andrew †1593 Contributed to 2nd Book of Discipline

Hay, Laurence †1681 Fife, martyr w/Pittilloch & Philip

Hay, George 1530-88 Minister at Reformation

Henderson, Alexander * 1583-1646 TC Minister & commissioner to Westminster

Hepburn, John 1649-1723 Leader of the sect of Hebronites

Hog, James fl. 1660-89 Of Carnock, minister in Edinburgh, Letters

Hog, Thomas 1628-92 Influential Highland covenanter

Howie, James †1691 Of Fenwick

Howie, Robert 1568-1646 Latin Reformed theologian at Aberdeen

. J.K. Cameron, Letters of.. Robert Howie

Hume, Alexander 1560-1609 IA Minister at Logie, Admonition, poet

Hume, Grisell 1665 Lady Baillie of Jerviswood, poem

Hutcheson, George * 1615-74 EEBO Divine, biblical commentator, Resolutioner

Jackson, George †1684 Bothwell, indicted w/Graham, T. Wood, etc.

Jameson, William fl. 1689-1720 EEBO Presbyterian historian, controversialist, blind

Johnsone, John fl.c. 1530 Protestant writer

Johnston, Archibald 1611-63 Politician, Westminster, Protester

Johnston, John 1565-1611 Latin Latin poet, letters w/Beza, friend: Melville

. J.K. Cameron, Letters of John Johnston Buy

Keith, George 15553-1623 Rich politician, student of Beza

Ker, Robert †1680 At Lanark, Dumbarton Castle

Kid, John †1679 EEBO Field preacher, martyr w/King

King, John †1679 IA EEBO Chaplain, rescued at Drumclog w/Kid

Kirk, Robert 1644-92 Gaelic scholar, eiscopalian

Kirkton, James 1628-99 Minister, scholar, History

Kirkwood, James 1650-1709 Advocate of Gaelic literacy, episcopalian

Knox, Andrew 1559-1633 Bishop, son of John, student of Melville

Knox, John * 1514-72 Scottish reformer

Lauchlane, Margaret Martyr by drowning with M. Wilson

Lauder, Alexander 1668-1719 Presbyterian apologist

Lawson, James 1538-84 Presbyterian minister, successor to Knox

Lawson, James †1684 Martyr with A. Wood

Leighton, Alexander 1568-1649 EEBO Persecuted presbyterian

Leighton, Robert * 1611-84 Archbishop, pious episcopalian conformist

Lindsay, David 1490-1555 Court poet, dramatist, reformist in religion

Lindsay, David 1531-1613 Reformation minister

Lindsay, David 1565-1627 Son, minister at Leith

Lindsay, Henrietta 1657- Lady Campbell of Auchinbreck

Lindsay, Robert 1532-1580 Scotland’s first vernacular prose historian

Lining, Thomas Last 3 Cameronian ministers, joined CoS 1690

. Various Letters

Little, Clement 1527-80 Reformed advocate, elder, lawyer, scholar

Livingstone, John 1603-72 IA Popular preacher, revival, Protester

Lockhart, Robert fl. 1545-60 Supporter of reform, religious middleman

Lockhart, William 1621-76 Soldier and diplomat

Logie, Gavin †1539 Reforming principal of St. Andrews

MacAlpine, John †1557 Early protestant

Macbean, Angus 1656-89 Presbyterian minister of Inverness

Macdowell, John f. 1530-55 Early protestant

MacWard, Robert * †1681 TC Dutch Minister, protege of Rutherford, Protester

. Letter, Letters

Main, John †1684 Martyr w/Johnston, Richmond, Stewart, etc.

Maitland, John 1545-95 Protestant judge and chancellor

Maitland, John 1616-82 Secretary of State, Helped draft S.L.&C.

Maitland, William 1528-73 Protestant Secretary of State

Makemie, Francis 1658-1708 EEBO Scotch-Irish, founder: American Presbyter.

Malcom, John †1634 Latin Minister, defender of Presbyterianism

Malcom, John †1680 Bothwell Bridge, martyr w/Alison

Marshall, Edward †1685 Husband with 7 children, martyr

Martin, George †1684 Notary, schoolmaster, martyr

M’Clelland, John †1650 Minister, bro-in-law: Livingstone

McKail, Hugh 1640-66 Covenanting preacher, author of Naphtali

McKillican, John 1630-89 Minister, Protester, field preacher

. Diary: Beaton, Some Noted Ministers Buy p. 20-22

Meldrum, George 1634-1709 Prominent minister in post-1690 CofS

Melville, Andrew 1545-1622 Academic, presbyterian leader, uncle of James

Melville, Elizabeth Lady Culross, poetry

. Cook, Rutherford’s Friends Buy p. 115

Melville, James fl. 1525-35 Franciscan, became a Lutheran sympathizer

Melville, James 1556-1614 EEBO Minister, nephew of Andrew, wrote Diary

Menzies, John 1624-84 Vacillating professor of Divinity

Methven, Paul †1606 Protestant preacher at Reformation

M’Ewen, Samuel †1684 17 years old, martyr

Miller, Christopher †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Gouger & Sangster

Miller, Robert †1685 Stoneworker, martyr with R. Pollock

Milne, Walter 1476-1558 Last pre-Reformation martyr in Scotland

Mitchell, James 1621-43 Minister, taught by Dickson, Baillie

Mitchell, James †1678 With J. Fraser in Bass Rock, martyr

Moncrieff, Alexander †1688 Minister, Protestor

. Western Remonstrance, 1650

Napier, John 1550-1617 EEBO Mathematician, invented logarithms, Revelation

Nevay, John 1606-72 Minister, banished

. 32 Sermons on Christ’s Temptation

. Paraphrase on Song of Solomon, Latin

Nicol, James †1684 Merchant, Bothwell, martyr

Nisbet, Alexander * 1623-69 Minister and Bible commentator

Nisbet, James †1684 Ayrshire, related to J. Richmond

Nisbet, James 1667-1728 Survivor, diary: Our Covenant Heritage Buy

Nisbet, John, younger †1683 Bothwell, martyr

Nisbet, John, Hardhill 1627-85 Soldier, martyr, Our Covenant Heritage Buy

Nisbet, Murdoch †1545 Reformed Lollard, translated: N.T.

Paton, John †1684 Captain, Bothwell

Peden, Alexander 1626-86 TC IA Legendary covenanting field preacher

Petrie, Alexander 1594-1662 EEBO Covenanting divine

Pittilloch, Andrew †1681 Fife, martyr w/Laurence & Philip

Pollock, Robert †1685 Shoemaker, martyr

Pont, Robert 1524-1606 IA Latin Reformer and minister

Potter, John †1680 Hearer of Cargill, martyr w/Stewart & Skene

Pringle, Walter c. 1685 Of Greenknow

Ramsey, Andrew 1574-1659 Divine, preached at National Cov., 1638

Renwick, James 1662-88 EEBO TC Last field preacher killed

Richardson, Robert 1491-1572 Early protestant

. Commentary on the Rule of St. Augustine Buy

Richmond, John †1684 Martyr w/ Main, Johnston, Stewart, Winning

Riddell, Archibald Cameronian field preacher

Robertson, James †1682 Heard Cargill & Cameron, martyr

Robertson, Thomas †1684 Martyr

Rollock, Robert * 1555-99 Principal, Covenant theologian, commentator

Rough, John †1557 Dominican friar, protestant martyr

Row, John (I) 1525-80 Reformer and minister, 1st & 2nd Books of Disc.

Row, John (II) 1568-1646 Covenanting minister, historian

Row, John (III) 1598-1672 Latin Principal, Hebraicist

Row, William n.d. Minister c. 1600, son of John (1)

Russel, James c. 1679 Murderer of Archbishop Sharp

Rule, Gilbert * 1629-1701 EEBO Minister, principal, leader in post-1690 Church

Rutherford, John 1520-77 Protestant minister, philosopher, humanist

. Commentariorum de Arte Disserendi

Rutherford, Samuel * 1600-61 Theologian, polemicist, Westminster, Protester

Sangster, Robert †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Gouger & Miller

Scot, John 1585-1670 Lawyer, statesman and covenanter

Scot, William 1558-1642 EEBO Presbyterian writer, against innovations

Scougal, Henry 1650-78 Bishop, professor of divinity, infl. Whitefield

Scrimgeour, John fl. 1590-1620 Minister, resisted Articles of Perth

Semple, Gabriel Minister at Kilpatrick, field preacher

Semple, John †1684 IA Of Craigthorn, martyr with J. Watt

Sharp, John 1572-1647 Professor of divinity, Edinburgh, theologian

. Tractatus de Justificatione, 1609

. Tractatus de Misero Hominis, 1610

. Cursus Theologicua, 1618

. Symphonia Prophetarum et Apostolorum, 1625

Sharp, Patrick †1615 Principal and professor of divinity, Glasgow

. Doctrinae Christianae Brevis Explictio, 1599

Shields, Alexander * 1660-1700 IA EEBO TC Cameronian apologist, joined CofS 1690

Shields, Michael fl. 1680’s Clerk of United Societies, bro of Alexander

Simson, Alexander 1570-1639 Minister

Simson, Archibald * 1564-1628 IA EEBO Minister, poet, brother of Patrick

Simson, Patrick 1556-1618 TC Presbyterian minister, grandpa of Patrick

Simson, Patrick 1628-1715 Minister, reared by Gillespie, leader post-1690

. Spiritual Songs, or Holy Poems. A Garden of…

Simson, William 1580-1625 Early presbyterian Hebraicist, bro to Archibald

. Accentibus Hebraicis Breves et Perspicuae, 1617

Skene, James †1680 Hearer of Cargill, Cameron, martyr w/Potter

Smeaton, Thomas 1536-83 Latin Principal of Glasgow Univ.

Smith, James †1683 Martyr

Smith, Walter †1681 IA Follower of Cargill, martyr

Spalding, John 1631-1699 Minister, leader post-1690

Spang, William 1607-64 Latin Scots minister in Holland, letters: Baillie

Spottiswoode, John 1510-85 Superintendent, 1st Book of Discipline

Spottiswoode, John 1565-1639 Initially presb., Archbishop Glasgow, historian

Stevenson, John †1728 Of Carrick, land-laborer, Comforting Cordial

Stewart, Archibald †1680 Airsmoss, martyr w/Potter & Skene

Stewart, Archibald †1684 20 yrs old, martyr w/Main, Johnston, etc.

Stewart, James 1531-70 Protestant civil leader, advisor to Queen

Stewart, James 1635-1713 Covenanter lawyer, apologist, Naphtali

Stewart, Mrs. †1675 Lady of Coltness

Stewart, Robert 1521-86 Bishop, conformed to Reformation

Stewart, Robert 1550-1633 Reader and pious epsicopalian minister

Stodart, Thomas †1685 A common country man, martyr

Straiton, David †1534 Protestant martyr

Strang, John 1584-1654 Latin Principal Glasgow, moderate

. De Voluntate et Actionibus Dei circa Peccatum

. De Interpretatione et Perfectione Scripturae

Stuart, James †1570 Leading reformer, Earl of Moray

Stuart, James †1681 Young man, martyr

Symson, Andrew 1638-1712 Minister, printer, editor

Tacket, Arthur †1684 Tailor, Bothwell, martyr

Thomson, William †1681 Servant, tried with Cargill, martyr

Ure, James fl. 1679 Captain, Narrative of Bothwell Bridge

Veitch, Mrs. 1638-1712 IA Wife of minister William Veitch

Veitch, William 1640-1720 Minister, remarkable deliverances

Walker, Patrick 1666-1745 Covenanter historian, joined post-1690 CofS

Wallace, Adam †1550 Protestant martyr

Wallace, James fl. 1666 Colonel, Narrative of Pentland

Watt, John †1684 Kilbride, martyr w/Semple

Webster, James * 1659-1720 Covenanter, joined CofS 1690, Marrow

. Sacramental Sermons and Discourses Buy

. Discourse, Government of the Church Buy

. An Essay on [against] Toleration Buy

. Lawful Prejudice Against the [1707] Union Buy

. Vindication of the National Covenant Buy

. Covenants of Redemption and Grace Displayed

. Two Great Promises… Covenant of Grace Buy

Wedderburn, James 1495-1553 Protestant sympathizer, dramatist

Wedderburn, John 1508-56 Protestant sympathizer, poet, Ballads

Weems, David fl. 1587-1609 Minister

Welch, Josias †1634 Son of J. Welch, grandson of Knox, minister

Welsh, John 1570-1622 EEBO Reformed minister Ayr, son-in-law of Knox

. Letters

Welsh, John 1624-81 IA Grandson, Covenanting field preacher

. Sermons on 2 Cor. 5:10 & 2 Cor. 5:11

Welwood, Andrew Son of James, Glimpse of Glory

Welwood, James fl. 1665 Father of John and Andrew

Welwood, John 1649-79 IA Minister, son of James

Weemes, John * 1579-1636 Minister, Hebrew scholar

. Works, 4 vols., 1636

Wharry, John †1683 Bothwell, martyr

Willock, John fl. 1555- Minister Edinburgh, superintendent

Wilson, John †1683 Captain at Bothwell

Wilson, Margaret †1685 Covenanter martyr by drowning

Winram, John 1492-1582 Turned protestant, 1st BoD, superintendent

Wishart, George 1513-1546 Protestant reformer, martyr

Wishart, William 1660-1729 Covenanter, CofS minister, Discourses of God

. Sermons

Wodrow, James 1637-1707 Professor of Divinity, father of Robert

Wodrow, Robert * 1679-1734 Church historian, minister, antiquary

Wood, Alexander †1684 Martyr with J. Lawson

Wood, James * 1609-64 EEBO Professor, principal, Resolutioner

Wood, Thomas fl. 1560-92 1st Scot. metrical psalter: St. Andrew’s Psalter

. See also U. of Edin.’s Wode Psalter

Young, Thomas 1587-1655 In England, Westminster divine, Smectymnuus

Various, Poems of Fighting Faith Buy Poems of the Covenanters from the 1600’s



The Scottish Covenanters

Chronological by death

Hamilton, Patrick 1504-28 TC First martyr of Scottish Reformation

Johnsone, John fl.c. 1530 Protestant writer

Straiton, David †1534 Protestant martyr

Melville, James fl. 1525-35 Franciscan, became a Lutheran sympathizer

Logie, Gavin †1539 Reforming principal of St. Andrews

Nisbet, Murdoch †1545 Reformed Lollard, translated: N.T.

Wishart, George 1513-1546 Protestant reformer, martyr

Cunningham, Alexander †1547 Earl, prominent early Scottish reformer

Wallace, Adam †1550 Protestant martyr

Gau, John †1553 Early Scottish Lutheran

Wedderburn, James 1495-1553 Protestant sympathizer, dramatist

Lindsay, David 1490-1555 Court poet, dramatist, reformist in religion

Macdowell, John fl. 1530-55 Early protestant

Willock, John fl. 1555- Minister Edinburgh, superintendent

Wedderburn, John 1508-56 Protestant sympathizer, poet, Ballads

MacAlpine, John †1557 Early protestant

Rough, John †1557 Dominican friar, protestant martyr

Milne, Walter 1476-1558 Last pre-Reformation martyr in Scotland

Lockhart, Robert fl. 1545-60 Supporter of reform, religious middleman

Alesius, Alexander 1500-65 Latin Reformer, theologian

Borthwick, John †1569 Early protestant reformer

Balknaves, Henry 1502-70 IA Early reformer, 1st BofD, Justification

Stewart, James 1531-70 Protestant civil leader, advisor to Queen

Stuart, James †1570 Leading reformer, Earl of Moray

Richardson, Robert 1491-1572 Early protestant

. Commentary on the Rule of St. Augustine Buy

Knox, John * 1514-72 Scottish reformer

Carswell, John †1572 Translator: Book of Common Order to Gaelic

Maitland, William 1528-73 Protestant Secretary of State

Campbell, Archibald 1530-73 Chancellor of Scotland, moderate

Douglas, John 1494-1574 Contributor to 1st Book of Discipline

Gordon, Alexander 1516-75 Reforming bishop, helped John Wycliff

Rutherford, John 1520-77 Protestant minister, philosopher, humanist

. Commentariorum de Arte Disserendi

Row, John (I) 1525-80 Reformer and minister, 1st & 2nd Books of Disc.

Little, Clement 1527-80 Reformed advocate, elder, lawyer, scholar

Lindsay, Robert 1532-1580 Scotland’s first vernacular prose historian

Carswell, John fl. 1560-1580 Superintendent of Argyle

Davidson, John 1520-? IA Principal Glasgow

Boyd, James †1581 Protestant, tulchan Archbishop, 2nd BoD

Winram, John 1492-1582 Turned protestant, 1st BoD, superintendent

Buchanan, George * 1506-82 EEBO Humanist writer, political theorist

Smeaton, Thomas 1536-83 Latin Principal of Glasgow Univ.

Arbuthnot, Alexander 1538-83 Minister, principal, 2nd BofD, friend: Melville

Lawson, James 1538-84 Presbyterian minister, successor to Knox

Spottiswoode, John 1510-85 Superintendent, 1st Book of Discipline

Stewart, Robert 1521-86 Bishop, conformed to Reformation

Hay, George 1530-88 Minister at Reformation

Erskine, John, of Dun 1509-1590 IA Protestant Reformer

Wood, Thomas fl. 1560-92 1st Scot. metrical psalter: St. Andrew’s Psalter

. See also U. of Edin.’s Wode Psalter

Hay, Andrew †1593 Contributed to 2nd Book of Discipline

Maitland, John 1545-95 Protestant judge and chancellor

Blackburn, Peter fl. 1580-97 Bishop of Aberdeen

Fergusson, David 1525-98 IA Reformation minister

Rollock, Robert * 1555-99 Principal, Covenant theologian, commentator

Craig, John 1512-1600 EEBO IA Scottish reformer

Cunningham, David †1600 Bishop, contributor to 2nd Book of Discipline

Durie, John 1537-1600 IA Presb. minister, contributor to 2nd Book of Disc.

Row, William c. 1600 Minister, son of John (1)

Goodman, Christopher 1519-1603 Major Reformation figure, friend of Knox

Black, David 1550-1603 Presbyterian minister, Bass Rock

Davidson, John 1549-1604 IA Of Prestonpans, presbyterian minister

Methven, Paul †1606 Protestant preacher at Reformation

Pont, Robert 1524-1606 IA Latin Reformer and minister

Hume, Alexander 1560-1609 IA Minister at Logie, Admonition, poet

Weems, David fl. 1587-1609 Minister

Johnston, John 1565-1611 Latin Latin poet, letters w/Beza, friend: Melville

. J.K. Cameron, Letters of John Johnston Buy

Gladstanes, George fl. 1596-1612 First protestant bishop of St. Andrews

Lindsay, David 1531-1613 Reformation minister

Melville, James 1556-1614 EEBO Minister, nephew of Andrew, wrote Diary

Sharp, Patrick †1615 Principal and professor of divinity, Glasgow

. Doctrinae Christianae Brevis Explictio, 1599

Balcanquhal, Walter 1548-1617 Presbyterian minister

. Joint Attestation, Avowing that the Discipline…

. The Honor of Christian Churches

. The Collegiat Suffrage of the Divines of…

Napier, John 1550-1617 EEBO Mathematician, invented logarithms, Revelation

Ferme, Charles 1566-1617 Presbyterian, influenced Calderwood

Simson, Patrick 1556-1618 TC Presbyterian minister, grandpa of Patrick

Scrimgeour, John fl. 1590-1620 Minister, resisted Articles of Perth

Melville, Andrew 1545-1622 Academic, presbyterian leader, uncle of James

Welsh, John 1570-1622 EEBO Reformed minister Ayr, son-in-law of Knox

. Letters

Keith, George 1553-1623 Rich politician, student of Beza

Cameron, John 1579-1625 IA Innovative reformed theologian

Simson, William 1580-1625 Early presbyterian Hebraicist, bro to Archibald

. Accentibus Hebraicis Breves et Perspicuae, 1617

Galloway, Patrick 1551-1626 Presbyterian minister and royal chaplain

Duncan, Andrew 1560-1626 Schoolmaster and committed presbyterian

. Rudimenta Pietatis, Torrance, School of Faith Buy

Lindsay, David 1565-1627 Son, minister at Leith

Boyd, Robert * 1578-1627 Latin Son of James, principal, professor, minister

. Remains

Carmichael, James 1543-1628 Minister and presbyterian reformer

Simson, Archibald * 1564-1628 IA EEBO Minister, poet, brother of Patrick

Bannantyne, Adam fl. 1595-1630 Minister Falkirk, Bishop Aberdeen

Bruce, Robert * 1554-1631 Minister, leading churchman, Lord’s Supper

Stewart, Robert 1550-1633 Reader and pious epsicopalian minister

Knox, Andrew 1559-1633 Bishop, son of John, student of Melville

Forbes, John 1568-1634 EEBO Presbyterian writer

Gordon, John 1599-1634 Viscount Kenmure, friend of Rutherford

Malcom, John †1634 Latin Minister, defender of Presbyterianism

Welch, Josias †1634 Son of J. Welch, grandson of Knox, minister

Forbes, Patrick †1635 Minister Keith, Bishop Aberdeen

Weemes, John * 1579-1636 Minister, Hebrew scholar

. Works, 4 vols., 1636

Cunningham, Robert †1637 Minister, friend of Blair and Livingstone

Melville, Elizabeth fl. 1603-37 Lady Culross, poetry, friend of Rutherford

. Cook, Rutherford’s Friends Buy p. 115

Spottiswoode, John 1565-1639 Initially presb., Archbishop Glasgow, historian

Simson, Alexander 1570-1639 Minister

Duncan, Mark 1570-1640 French Professor at French Academy at Saumur

Scot, William 1558-1642 EEBO Presbyterian writer, against innovations

Mitchell, James 1621-43 Minister, taught by Dickson, Baillie

Boyd, Lady †1646 Married to cousin of Robert

Howie, Robert 1568-1646 Latin Reformed theologian at Aberdeen

. J.K. Cameron, Letters of.. Robert Howie Buy

Row, John (II) 1568-1646 Covenanting minister, historian

Henderson, Alexander * 1583-1646 TC Minister & commissioner to Westminster

Sharp, John 1572-1647 Professor of divinity, Edinburgh, theologian

. Tractatus de Justificatione, 1609

. Tractatus de Misero Hominis, 1610

. Cursus Theologicua, 1618

. Symphonia Prophetarum et Apostolorum, 1625

Gillespie, George * 1613-48 Eminent divine, Commissioner to Westminster

Leighton, Alexander 1568-1649 EEBO Persecuted presbyterian

Calderwood, David * 1575-1650 EEBO Church historian and apologist for Presbyt.

M’Clelland, John †1650 Minister, bro-in-law: Livingstone

Campbell, John †1652 Earl of Loudon, covenanter

Boyd, Zachary 1585-1653 EEBO Minister, poet, took National Covenant

Binning, Hugh * 1627-53 Preacher, Protestor, Christian Love

Strang, John 1584-1654 Latin Principal Glasgow, moderate

. De Voluntate et Actionibus Dei circa Peccatum

. De Interpretatione et Perfectione Scripturae

Gordon, Alexander 1587-1654 Earlstoun, Pioneer of Protestantism: Galloway

Young, Thomas 1587-1655 In England, Westminster divine, Smectymnuus

Grey, Andrew * 1633-56 EEBO TC Popular preacher, Protestor

Guild, William * 1586-1657 EEBO Principal, prolific writer

Durham, James * 1622-1658 Covenanter minister and author

. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ Buy excerpts

Durham, Margaret fl. 1650’s Wife of James Durham

. ‘Epistle Dedicatory’, Durham, Song of Sol. Buy

. excerpts

Ramsey, Andrew 1574-1659 Divine, preached at National Cov., 1638

Rutherford, Samuel * 1600-61 Theologian, polemicist, Westminster, Protester

Campbell, Archibald 1607-61 Covenanter leader, Marquis of Argyle

Guthrie, James 1612-61 EEBO TC Covenanting minister, Protester, cousin: William

. Discovery of the Dangers that Threaten Religion

Petrie, Alexander 1594-1662 EEBO Covenanting divine

Baillie, Robert * 1599-1662 TC Westminster, wrote Letters, Resolutioner

Dickson, David * 1583-1663 TS TC Eminent preacher, educator, federal theologian

Cant, Andrew 1590-1663 Covenanter minister in Aberdeen

Johnston, Archibald 1611-63 Politician, Westminster, Protester

Spang, William 1607-64 Latin Scots minister in Holland, letters: Baillie

Wood, James * 1609-64 EEBO Professor, principal, Resolutioner

Haliburton, George 1616-65 Chaplain to Covenanting army

Guthrie, William * 1620-65 IA EEBO TC Minister, Protester

Hume, Grisell fl. 1665 Lady Baillie of Jerviswood, poem

Welwood, James fl. 1665 Father of John and Andrew

Blair, Robert 1593-1666 TC Minister, St. Andrews, moderator 1646

McKail, Hugh 1640-66 Covenanting preacher, author of Naphtali

Wallace, James fl. 1666 Colonel, Narrative of Pentland

Scot, John 1585-1670 Lawyer, statesman and covenanter

Row, John (III) 1598-1672 Latin Principal, Hebraicist

Livingstone, John 1603-72 IA Popular preacher, revival, Protester

Nevay, John 1606-72 Minister, banished

. 32 Sermons on Christ’s Temptation

. Paraphrase on Song of Solomon, Latin

Douglas, Robert 1594-1674 Leader in CofS in 1640’s-50’s, Resolutioner

Colville, William †1675 Principal of Edinburgh Univ.

Ferguson, James * 1621-67 Minister and biblical commentator

Nisbet, Alexander * 1623-69 Minister and Bible commentator

Hutcheson, George * 1615-74 EEBO Divine, biblical commentator, Resolutioner

Gillespie, Patrick * 1617-75 TC Leading Protester, Principal, bro of George

. Western Remonstrance, 1650

Stewart, Mrs. †1675 Lady of Coltness

Lockhart, William 1621-76 Soldier and diplomat

Scougal, Henry 1650-78 Bishop, professor of divinity, infl. Whitefield

Mitchell, James †1678 With J. Fraser in Bass Rock, martyr

Brysson, George b. 1649, fl. 1666-78 Merchant in Edinburgh

Brown, John, Wamphray * 1610-79 EEBO Exiled minister, theologian, apologist

Gordon, William 1614-79 Of Earlstoun, son of Alex. 1654, Drumclog

Welwood, John 1649-79 IA Minister, son of James

Kid, John †1679 Field preacher, martyr w/King

King, John †1679 Chaplain, rescued at Drumclog w/Kid

Ure, James fl. 1679 Captain, Narrative of Bothwell Bridge

Russel, James c. 1679 Murderer of Archbishop Sharp

Balfour, John, Klinloch fl. 1679 Murderer of Archbish. James Sharp, army officer

Brodie, Alexander 1617-80 Covenanting statesman, Lord of Session, Diary

Cameron, Richard 1648-80 TC Leader of the Cameronians

Alison, Archibald †1680 Both. Bridge, Airsmoss, martyr w/Malcom

Hackston, David †1680 Drumclog, Bothwell Bridge, martyr

Hall, Henry †1680 Queensferry Paper, martyr

Ker, Robert †1680 At Lanark, Dumbarton Castle

Malcom, John †1680 Bothwell Bridge, martyr w/Alison

Potter, John †1680 Hearer of Cargill, martyr w/Stewart & Skene

Skene, James †1680 Hearer of Cargill, Cameron, martyr w/Potter

Stewart, Archibald †1680 Airsmoss, martyr w/Potter & Skene

Cameron, Michael fl. 1680’s Brother of Richard

Semple, Gabriel fl. 1680’s Minister at Kilpatrick, field preacher

Hamilton, Robert fl. 1680’s Of Preston

Welsh, John 1624-81 IA Grandson, Covenanting field preacher

. Sermons on 2 Cor. 5:10 & 2 Cor. 5:11

Brown, John, Priesthill 1627-81 Ministry to children, murdered by Claverhouse

Cargill, Donald 1627-81 TC IA Cameronian field preacher

Alison, Isabel †1681 IA A lady, hearer of Cargill

Boig, James †1681 Student of theology, martyr with W. Smith

Cuthill, William †1681 Martyr

Farrie, David †1681 Heard Blackadder & Welsh, martyr w/Forman

Forman, Patrick †1681 Heard Cargill, martyr with Garnock

Garnock, Robert †1681 A smith, martyr

Gouger, William †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Miller & Sangster

Harvie, Marion †1681 IA A lady, hearer of Cameronians

Hay, Laurence †1681 Fife, martyr w/Pittilloch & Philip

MacWard, Robert * †1681 TC Dutch Minister, protege of Rutherford, Protester

. Letter, Letters

Miller, Christopher †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Gouger & Sangster

Pittilloch, Andrew †1681 Fife, martyr w/Laurence & Philip

Sangster, Robert †1681 Bothwell, martyr w/Gouger & Miller

Smith, Walter †1681 IA Follower of Cargill, martyr

Stuart, James †1681 Young man, martyr

Thomson, William †1681 Servant, tried with Cargill, martyr

Maitland, John 1616-82 Secretary of State, Helped draft S.L.&C.

Cochran, William †1682 Martyr, suffered with Robertson

Finlay, John †1682 Drumclog, Friend of Robertson, martyr

Gray, Robert †1682 Englishman, martyr

Robertson, James †1682 Heard Cargill & Cameron, martyr

Cochran, John †1683 Shoemaker, martyr

Guilline, Andrew †1683 Weaver, witness to Sharp’s death

Nisbet, John, younger †1683 Bothwell, martyr

Smith, James †1683 Martyr

Wharry, John †1683 Bothwell, martyr

Wilson, John †1683 Captain at Bothwell

Leighton, Robert * 1611-84 Archbishop, pious episcopalian conformist

Menzies, John 1624-84 Vacillating professor of Divinity

Clark, Andrew †1684 A smith, 19 years old, martyr

Dick, John †1684 IA Student of divinity, Bothwell, martyr

Graham, James †1684 Martyr w/G. Jackson

Harkness, Thomas †1684 30 years old, martyr

Jackson, George †1684 Bothwell, indicted w/Graham, T. Wood, etc.

Lawson, James †1684 Martyr with A. Wood

Main, John †1684 Martyr w/Johnston, Richmond, Stewart, etc.

Martin, George †1684 Notary, schoolmaster, martyr

M’Ewen, Samuel †1684 17 years old, martyr

Nicol, James †1684 Merchant, Bothwell, martyr

Nisbet, James †1684 Ayrshire, related to J. Richmond

Paton, John †1684 Captain, Bothwell

Richmond, John †1684 Martyr w/ Main, Johnston, Stewart, Winning

Robertson, Thomas †1684 Martyr

Wood, Alexander †1684 Martyr with J. Lawson

Nisbet, John, Hardhill 1627-85 Soldier, martyr, Our Covenant Heritage Buy

Lauchlane, Margaret †1685 Martyr by drowning with M. Wilson

Marshall, Edward †1685 Husband with 7 children, martyr

Miller, Robert †1685 Stoneworker, martyr with R. Pollock

Pringle, Walter c. 1685 Of Greenknow

Pollock, Robert †1685 Shoemaker, martyr

Stodart, Thomas †1685 A common country man, martyr

Wilson, Margaret †1685 Covenanter martyr by drowning

Blackadder, John 1615-86 Covenanting Field Preacher

. Diary and Letters

. Vision of the Last Judgment: a Poem

Peden, Alexander 1626-86 TC IA Legendary covenanting field preacher

Carstairs, John †1686 Minister

. Letters

Renwick, James 1662-88 EEBO TC Last field preacher killed

Guthrie, John †1688 Minister, Breach of Covenant

Moncrieff, Alexander †1688 Minister, Protestor

. Western Remonstrance, 1650

McKillican, John 1630-89 Minister, Protester, field preacher

. Diary: Beaton, Some Noted Ministers Buy p. 20-22

Macbean, Angus 1656-89 Presbyterian minister of Inverness

Hog, James fl. 1660-89 Of Carnock, minister in Edinburgh, Letters

Lindsay, Henrietta 1657- Lady Campbell of Auchinbreck

Bruce, Michael fl. 1680’s Field preacher

Carstairs, Mrs. fl. 1680’s Wife of John

Dunbar, Lillias fl. 1680’s Wife of Alexander Campbell

Riddell, Archibald fl. 1680’s Cameronian field preacher

Shields, Michael fl. 1680’s Clerk of United Societies, bro of Alexander

Welwood, Andrew fl. 1680’s Son of James, Glimpse of Glory

Goodall, Mrs. fl. 1677-90 Memoir

Howie, James †1691 Of Fenwick

Hog, Thomas 1628-92 Influential Highland covenanter

Kirk, Robert 1644-92 Gaelic scholar, eiscopalian

Fleming, Robert 1630-94 EEBO Minister and theologian

Hamilton, Janet c. 1687-95 Wife of Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun

Erskine, Henry 1624-96 Minister, father of Ralph & Ebeneezer

Blackadder, Adam 1659-96 Son of John, Blackness Castle, Darian Colony

Fraser, James, of Brea 1638-98 Persecuted covenanter, origin of New Light

Kirkton, James 1628-99 Minister, scholar, History

Spalding, John 1631-99 Minister, leader post-1690

Lining, Thomas fl. 1680’s-90’s Last 3 Cameronian ministers, joined CoS 1690

. Various Letters

Boyd, William fl. 1680’s-90’s Informatory Vindication, joined CofS 1690

Crawford, Matthew 1640-1700 CofS minister prominent in the 1690’s

Dunlop, William 1649-1700 Presbyterian principal of Glasgow Univ.

Shields, Alexander * 1660-1700 IA EEBO TC Cameronian apologist, joined CofS 1690

Dickson, John †1700 SW Field preacher, Bass Rock, joined CofS 1690

Rule, Gilbert * 1629-1701 EEBO Minister, principal, leader in post-1690 Church

Campbell, George 1635-1701 Professor of Divinity, Univ. of Edinburgh

Forrester, Thomas 1635-1706 EEBO Presbyterian minister and controversialist

Wodrow, James 1637-1707 Professor of Divinity, father of Robert

Makemie, Francis 1658-1708 EEBO Scotch-Irish, founder: American Presbyter.

Meldrum, George 1634-1709 Prominent minister in post-1690 CofS

Kirkwood, James 1650-1709 Advocate of Gaelic literacy, episcopalian

Symson, Andrew 1638-1712 Minister, printer, editor

Veitch, Mrs. 1638-1712 IA Wife of minister William Veitch

Stewart, James 1635-1713 Covenanter lawyer, apologist, Naphtali

Simson, Patrick 1628-1715 Minister, reared by Gillespie, leader post-1690

. Spiritual Songs, or Holy Poems. A Garden of…

Carstares, William 1649-1715 CofS minister, advisor to William of Orange

. Letters

Anne, Lady 1630-1716 Duchess of Hamilton

Lauder, Alexander 1668-1719 Presbyterian apologist

Veitch, William 1640-1720 Minister, remarkable deliverances

Webster, James * 1659-1720 Covenanter, joined CofS 1690, Marrow

. Sacramental Sermons and Discourses Buy

. Discourse, Government of the Church Buy

. An Essay on [against] Toleration Buy

. Lawful Prejudice Against the [1707] Union Buy

. Vindication of the National Covenant Buy

. Covenants of Redemption and Grace Displayed

. Two Great Promises… Covenant of Grace Buy

Jameson, William fl. 1689-1720 EEBO Presbyterian historian, controversialist, blind

Hepburn, John 1649-1723 Leader of the sect of Hebronites

Gordon, Alexander 1650-1726 Son of William, Bass & Blackness Castle

Nisbet, James 1667-1728 Survivor, diary: Our Covenant Heritage Buy

Stevenson, John †1728 Of Carrick, land-laborer, Comforting Cordial

Wishart, William 1660-1729 Covenanter, CofS minister, Discourses of God

. Sermons

Wodrow, Robert * 1679-1734 Church historian, minister, antiquary

Walker, Patrick 1666-1745 Covenanter historian, joined post-1690 CofS

Various, Poems of Fighting Faith Buy Poems of the Covenanters from the 1600’s

Related Pages

All of the Bible Commentaries of the Scottish Covenanters

Social Covenanting

A Defense of the Majority Opinion in the Free Church of Scotland on Covenanting

The Church of Scotland on the Spiritual Conferencing of Elders

Against Separatism

Unity of the Church

Presbyterianism

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The Free Church of Scotland

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All of the Writings of the Westminster Divines Online

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