In Sanquhar, more than one protestation was publicly made by rebels, but the reading of the Declaration at the market-cross in 1680 was the greatest in historic interest, as being the first scene in the drama of the revolution in which the reign of the Stuarts was brought to an end. Twenty men raised the standard of rebellion and threw off allegiance to the king. Twenty men, out of a whole nation, with the forces of the crown to crush them, may appear ridiculous to the cynic smiling at the excesses of political zeal or laughing at the vagaries of religious bigotry. These men were traitors and rebels; but to what cause and to what person? They were traitors against organized tyranny that styled itself the Government of Scotland, rebels against the king in whose name they had been persecuted for abiding that freedom which he had solemnly sworn to preserve.
The scene at Sanquhar was the work of Richard Cameron. His action was rash, if a deed be rash when a man must die for it. Not many were joined with him in it. The Covenanters were all but crushed under the weight of despotism; and there were few with strength and courage to resist. Yet twenty men in Scotland in 1680 threw off Charles Stuart, as the kingdoms threw off James Stuart [James II.] in the year of the Revolution [1688]
The Reformation is simply symbolized in a few short sound bites;
- Sola Sciptura =Scripture alone- is the foundation of truth
- Sola Christus =Christ Alone- there is no other way to be saved
- Sola Gratia =Grace alone- salvation is an unearned gift.
- Sola Fide =Faith Alone- justification is received by faith only.
- Soli De Gloria =The Glory of God alone- all glory is to God alone.
- Ecclesia Semper Reformanda = The Church is always reforming
This is where we find ourselves today if we are building on what these faithful servants of Christ have laid before us. As we go fourth generationally, the traditions we pass on are in themselves not the object of attaining righteousness but mere signs pointing to Christ. There are things we are just starting that have been long forgotten and we don't know where the heart of God will lead. I believe we are seeing the change we read about in Malachi 4:6
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
The ramifications of this are unknown but we should let this fill us with faith and hope.
As we serve Christ right where we are for His glory the world is being changed. When you reach out with the gospel message the world is being changed. When you send out your arrows and they touch others in the name of Christ the world is being changed. Everyone with the spirit of God in them is a world changer, that's what we are here for, to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are to bless the needy and protect the helpless from tyranny. The tyrants vanquished today will not enslave others tomorrow. Reformation is not just church history it is world history. It is the people of God making things "on earth as it is in heaven".
If you remember this reformation as a church holiday, then you have missed the mark. This reformation is what brought us the liberties we hold dear and because of their great sacrifice we now have hope for the future. We have family, church and civil reformation. When we look upon this creation it all should cry out Glory to God in highest!
I pray that our posterity is not punished for ours sins and apathy, but that the world would be blessed by our sacrifice.
In spite of certain death, a bleeding remnant of 200 Scottish Covenanters at Blackgannoch Moss in May 1685, loudly proclaimed their fervent declaration of faith:
"LET KING JESUS REIGN, AND ALL HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED!"
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