Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Rutherford saw the ruler as being limited in power andfreedom. This was in complete contrast to the character of anall powerful reigning monarch. Yet the laws of Scotland didlimit the king in many ways. The holder of the royal officeopposition to the King, rested upon the philosophical andScriptural foundation of Lex Rex.The modern day relevance of Lex Rex needs to beclearly enunciated. God is the supreme and ultimate sourcewas not permitted to 1) marry by choice 2) expose of civil government. All those who fail to recognize this basichimself to warfare 3) leave the country 4) dilapidate the fact build their foundation on the temporary existence ofrents of the Crown 5) disinherit his eldest son 6) attend man; not on the everlasting Word of God.•••mass 7) correspond with the Pope 8) pardon "seducing End Notes:priests and Jesuits" 9) befriend a traitor 10) dwell where (1) Samuel Rutherford, Lex Rex, Edinburgh, Robert Oglehe pleased 11) confer honors without consent of his And Oliver & Boyd, 1843, pp. xvi-xx passim.council 12) be buried where he pleased, but among the (2) Idem.kings. (6)What made the content of Lex Rex especially seditiouswas Rutherford's discussion of resistance. Comparing theroyalist monarchy of Scotland to an "unchained lion,"Rutherford contended that under certain conditions the civilruler could be lawfully resisted. The distinction was madebetween the king in concreto as a man, and the king inabstracto, as the royal office holder. The king in abstractocould not be resisted in any lawful order. The king as a man,(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)Ibid. p. 5Ibid. p. 209Ibid, p. 7-11 passimIbid. p. 113Ibid. p. 145Ibid. p. 165* The writer of this article on the Scottish classic byif acting the part of a tyrant, could be legally resisted. Theking's superiority in power was the formal participation inGod ordained government. (7)Samuel Rutherford, Lex Rex is Mr. James Robb, a specialstudent this year at the Reformed Presbyterian TheologicalSeminary. Mr. Robb was born in Cleveland Ohio, and wasOnce again Rutherford was emphasizing subordination graduated from Geneva College in 1970, Cum Laude. Histo the sovereignty of God, as opposed to the absolute powerof the state. Furthermore, all resistance was to be defensive;major field of interest is history. During his college years heattended the College Hill Reformed Presbyterian Church ofand not intending to "re-offend." By Rutherford's which he is now a member. His special interest in historydefinition, resistance began with flight and if executed as a resulted in his becoming History Club President andpreventive measure, could finally lead to killing the offender Managing Editor of the Geneva College History Journal.first for self-preservation. (8) In the chronology of events,the publication of Lex Rex preceded the era of persecution forthe Covenanters. In analyzing the actions of the martyrs, itcan be concluded that their forms of resistance, and theirMr. Robb has a particular interest in Scottish Covenanterhistory and has been helping some with research for TheChristian Government Movement as he has time to do so. —Samuel E. BoyleNOT LIGHTER BURDENS. from page 10As a result of his efforts two elementary schools werestarted. Later on when there was need for a high school Dr.Gorde donated his own piece of land for the building. Nowthey have one of the largest and best high schools in thewhole district.After Dr. Gorde had been in Ashta two years he wasmarried. His wife proved every bit a 'better half to him. Notto be outdone in service to the people, she started a publiclibrary. She encouraged girls to go to school and she createda love for reading among the men and women of Ashta.Today Ashta has a fine library.Dr. and Mrs. Gorde educated their two sons and threedaughters well. They are all married and engaged in theLord's work in various walks of life.Dr. Gorde was often called as a guest speaker by theKolhapur Church Council at its conferences for he was notonly a good physician, but also a wonderful teacher andpreacher.In 1947, Dr. Gorde retired from mission service, butnot from the service of the people, for they still flocked tohim for advice, treatment, and guidance.Dr. Gorde, the beloved 'dada' of all, died of a heartattack in 1949. The whole town mourned his passing away.All the shops and schools were closed and people of all castesand creeds, many weeping bitterly, came to his funeral topay their last homage.The people's 'dada' who asked "not for lighterburdens but for greater strength and wisdom" believed thathe could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.He did do great things and he remains in the heart of thepeople as a loving memory.John Ruskin, the famous author, painter and lecturerof the past century was taught early in life to memorizeScripture and he tells us: "It is strange that of all the piecesof the Bible which my mother taught me, that which cost memost to learn, and which was to my child's mind mostrepulsive — the 119th Psalm — has now become ot all themost precious to me in its overflowing and glorious passionof love for the law of God."9