Lest we forget

It is always good to remember the past. In this part of the world people get very excited about remembering 1690 when King William of Orange defeated King James to establish the throne of Britain as a Protestant throne, on the other side of the religious fence others get very excited about remembering 1916 and the Easter rising when Ireland made it’s first attempt to gain independence from Britain.

We are not unique in this matter either, as any Texan will tell you ‘remember the Alamo and across the world most nations remember those who have fallen in the defence of their lands. When it comes to the Bible we are also encouraged to remember.

‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.’ Isaiah 46 v9

The Lord Jesus himself before his death instituted that memorial feast we know as the Lord’s Supper. ‘And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ (1st Cor 11 v24)

So remembering is an important thing and on this day when the pope of Rome has arrived in Scotland as part of his state visit to Britain I think we should call to remembrance the terrible crimes and cruelties that the Roman Church inflicted upon Protestants during the Reformation.

Where will we start you might ask for so many were butchered, burned and drowned one would hardly know where top start. Well perhaps seeing papa is in Scotland we could just take a moment to remember Patrick Hamilton the first Martyr in Scotland.

Patrick Hamilton was of noble birth and born in Glasgow in 1504, as a teenager he studied in Paris and it was here that he first came across the teaching of Martin Luther and the doctrine of Justification by Faith. On returning to Scotland he based himself at St Andrews where he lectured in the University and took every opportunity to communicate his new found faith. His preaching drew the attention of Roman Catholic Archbishop James Beaton who ordered that the young preacher should be tried for heresy. On hearing this Hamilton fled to Germany early in 1527 but returned later that same year and resumed his preaching.

In a subtle act he was invited to a conference at St Andrews where he was afforded to opportunity to preach for a month, this was done in order to gather evidence of his so called heretical views for a trial being planned by the Romanist leaders in Scotland. At length he was summoned before a council of bishops and clergy presided over by Archbishop Beaton. He was charged in all with 13 charges 7 of which were related to doctrines that he had outlined in his only book ‘Loci Communes’. The trial of course was a sham and he was found guilty of heresy and handed over to the secular powers to be burned at the stake on the 29th February 1528

The execution took place on the same day as the trial had concluded in order to ensure no rescue attempt could be planned. He burned from noon to 6pm that afternoon and his last words were similar to those of his Saviour ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’. Sad as his death was it did light a fire in Scotland that swept the Reformation through that land and it was said by his enemies that the ‘reek of Patrick Hamilton infected all it blew on’.

Lest we forget, if Rome had her way she would do it again. Do not be sucked in by the smiley, friendly face of papa as he tours Britain this week, he heads up a system that hates Bible believers and would kill us again and in fact in some parts of the world where she dominates still is persecuting true children of God.

How we need fearless preachers like Patrick Hamilton in 2010. May the Lord raise up more like Patrick Hamilton in our day! Amen