by our present distresses and dangers,
the fruits thereof;
we profess and declare,
before GOD and the world,
our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins,
and for the sins of these kingdoms;
especially that we have not, as we ought,
valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel;
that we have not laboured
for the purity and power thereof;
and that we have not endeavoured
to receive Christ in our hearts,
not to walk worthy of him in our lives;
which are the causes
of other sins and transgression
so much abounding amongst us:
and our true and unfeigned
purpose, desire, and endeavour,
for ourselves,
and all others under our power and charge,
both in public and private,
in all duties we owe to GOD and man,
to amend our lives,
and each one to go before another
in the example of a real reformation;
that the Lord may turn away
his wrath and heavy indignation,
and establish these Churches and kingdoms
in truth and peace.
And this Covenant we make
in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD,
the Searcher of all hearts,
with a true intention to perform the same,
as we shall answer at that great day,
when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed;
most humbly beseeching the LORD
to strengthen us by his HOLY SPIRIT
for this end,
and to bless our desires and proceedings
with such success,
as may be deliverance and safety to his people,
and encouragement to other Christian Churches,
groaning under, or in danger of
the yoke of antichristian tyranny,
to join in the same or like association and covenant,
to the glory of GOD,
the enlargement of the kingdom of JESUS CHRIST,
and the peace and tranquillity
of Christian kingdoms and commonwealths.
It was only in the early 17th century
that marker stones became more common
amongst the relatively well-to-do in Scotland.
This was both a realisation and acceptance
of the reformed faith
that the individual could approach God direct.
It was no longer the belief and practice
to seek intercession through the Catholic church
A second and important factor
was the relative improvement in earnings
and development of a social order.
This saw the common man
scrimping together money
to buy a stone
and have it ornamented by a mason;
this also led to development
of a pictorial shorthand
that amongst other things,
expressed the donors views,
hopes of eternal life,
and their trade
The increase in the number of memorials
after the Reformation
perhaps reflects
the growing importance
of individual identity
as well as personal wealth.
The Reformation ushered in an awareness
of equality of man in the sight of God
and the right to communicate
directly with Him.
The emblems then began to change
to those of Immortality overcoming Death
reflecting the certainty of the Resurrection
and eternal life through Christ Jesus.
The emblems of Immortality included
the winged soul or cherub ;
angels of the Resurrection with trumpets
flying through the air;
the Glory or Radiance of God
as portrayed in sunbursts and sun rays;
torches
which if upward and flaming were of eternal life,
and if inverted the end of earthly life;
the Agnus Dei;
the Phoenix,
and the Pelican denoting piety
as it feeds its young with its own blood.
There were many other used in decorations
such as the rosette,
the scallop shell of the pilgrim,
the Crown (of Righteousness);
the palm, bay leaves and laurel of victory over death;
the heart as a symbol of the soul and the Resurrection,
and the scales for weighing the soul come Judgment Day
The sword is now putt into your hands;
goe on therefore to use it;
and let it roust noe longer
till ye have perfited the service trusted to you,
or otherwise we must use it both against you and them .
If anie or all of you be faint- hearted
we are able enough (thanks to God)
to put others in your places
who both can and will
make things possible
which ye think so difficult.
An Act for the Uniformity
of Public Prayer and Administration of Sacraments,
and other Rites and Ceremonies;
and for Establishing the Form
of Making, Ordaining and Consecrating,
Bishops, Priests and Deacons in the Church of England.
I, ….. do here declare my unfeigned assent
and consent to all and everything
contained in and prescribed in and by the Book entitled
The Book of Common Prayer
and Administration of the Sacraments,
and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church,
according to the use of the Church of England,
together with the Psalter and Psalms of David,
pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches;
and the Form and Manner of Making,
Ordaining and Consecrating
of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.
It is important to understand that Presbyterianism is
not just another religion.
A Presbyter was an elder,
a senior member of the congregation,
in the early Christian Church.
The name is also used for priest.
In the Presbyterian denomination
he is a member of the Presbytery
which is an official court of the district
composed of pastors and elders from the associated churches.
I… do declare that it is not lawful,
upon any pretence whatsoever ,
to take arms against the King;
and that I do abhor
that traitorous position
of taking arms by his authority against his person,
or against those that are commissioned by him;
and that I will conform to the liturgy
of the Church of England
as it is now by law established:
and I do declare that I do hold
there lies no obligation upon me
or on any other person,
from the Oath commonly called
The Solemn League and Covenant,
to endeavour any change or alteration
of government either in Church or State;
and that the same was in itself an unlawful Oath,
and imposed upon the subjects of this realm
against the know laws and liberties of this Kingdom.
Above all, there was but one Head of the Kirk –
Jesus Christ,
and they refused to accept the King in that role.
From this opposition to the king arose all their troubles.
Dalgarnock.
A number of stones
to Covenanters who suffered for the cause,
and also a white granite cross
listing all the Nithsdale Martyrs.
Therein lies the clue
and fundamental issue to understand
when Covenanter is mentioned:
Presbyterianism is a way of life.
That we shall, in like manner,
without respect of persons,
endeavour the extirpation of Popery,
Prelacy (that is,
Church government
by archbishops,
bishops,
their chancellors and commissioners,
deans,
deans and chapters,
archdeacons,
and all other ecclesiastical officers
depending on that hierarchy),
superstition,
heresy,
schism,
profaneness,
and whatsoever shall be found contrary
to sound doctrine
and the power of Godliness;
lest we partake in other men's sins,
and thereby be in danger
to receive of their plagues;
and that the Lord may be one,
and his name one,
in the three kingdoms.
They were terribly in earnest.
The passion that was in them ,
like all great passions,
refused to be divided.
Their idea possessed them with a force
and a fulness
to which we find few parallels in history.
It haunted their sleep,
it awoke with them in the morning –
it walked ,
like their shadow, with them
to business or to pleasure –
it became the breath of their nostrils
and the soul of their soul.
It is said
that the God and Goddess
Apollo and Athena
sat in a beech tree
having transformed into vultures.
The legend tells of how the two Gods
sat and watched the fight
between the Trojans and the Greeks.
so is Puritaisme in the braine.
I really can't say for sure that this frog was having a bubble bath, but that's what it looks like!
Durin high tide at St. Andrews -by-the-sea,in New Brunswick, Canada this red sandstone formation is covered by the salt waters of Passamaquoddy Bay. When the tide recedes we are gifted with a lovely walking area on the ocean floor. Please click to enlarge and you can see where to walk.
Tree Swallow gang. Now there's four at the Tree Swallow house. Are the two perched on the post babies? If so is there still one still in the bird house? it seems the adult has food for it still! What a busy location this is! Please click to enlarge.
These pictures were taken this morning in my backyard. We had thought there was only one baby Tree Swallow left in the bird house. We were wrong. There are two. Only after they have gone will I be able to comfortably be able to walk around our back yard. The adult birds are very wary and alert. While standing on our deck taking these pictures, they were diving at me, shouting angrily at me in bird language. We hope these babies get enough courage to leave today! I want the priviledge of walking peacefully around my backyard my yard back.
The adult Tree Swallow is very attentive in its feeding duties.
It was much easier getting its picture when it was standing still.
As I had been driving along a gravel dirt road I kept seeing White Admiral butterflies everywhere. So when passing a little dirt side road I saw two on the ground at its entrance. I stopped, got out of my car and approached them, they stayed where they were and didn't fly away. I like those kinds of nature sightings when I am out with my camera looking for something to take a picture of.
Above a White Admiral butterfly. I hope I can find something interesting out there today, I'll be looking. Its a nice sunny day right now. Have a great day everyone!
