joy unspeakable in the Holy Spirit,
they departed from the city as quietly as they had come and returned to
their homes. The stars were again out while many were yet traveling, but
the great light that fell upon them was the glory of the Lord, as they
carried the brilliant scenes of the day in their hearts. Every
heart-beat had the solemnity of a vow, a prayer, a song of praise, a
psalm of thanksgiving. What devout worship in those homes that night
when the fathers told the touching story of the Greyfriars' Church and
of Covenant.

Within a short time the delegates had reached their respective churches,
in which they rehearsed the renewing of their Covenant with God. The
people were deeply moved, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The interest
became intense; the fires arose into flames; a Covenanting passion swept
the kingdom; the enthusiasm knew no bounds. The Covenant was studied,
accepted, and subscribed by ministers and magistrates, men and women,
old and young, throughout the four quarters of the kingdom. There was a
voice heard throughout the land, as the "voice of a great multitude, and
as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,
saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." The Lord Jesus
Christ was glorified in His people, honored by His Church, and exalted
supremely above the nation's haughty monarch.

Yet the Covenant had its enemies; but they were apparently few and for a
while very quiet. These anti-Covenanters stood with the king in his
effort to foist Prelacy upon the people. These he repaid with political
preferments. Hitherto they had claimed to be in the majority and
therefore assumed the right to rule over the Presbyterians. But the year
of Jubilee had come; the Covenant proclaimed "liberty throughout all the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof." This Covenant with God revealed
to the people their dignity, privileges, rights, power, and freedom in
Christ Jesus, KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. In that light which fell
like the glory of heaven upon Scotland, Episcopacy appeared in its real
strength, or rather in its weakness; in comparison with Presbyterianism
it was a mere faction.

King Charles ruled Scotland from his throne in London. The Covenanters
were his most loyal subjects, devoted to him on every principle of truth
and righteousness; yet by no means would they permit him to assume the
rights of Jesus Christ without their earnest protest. They hastened to