The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society OCT - DEC 2014 // £1 Oct - Dec 2014 1 The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society ANDREW CANT The Magdalen Chapel 41 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1JR Tel: 0131 220 1450 Email: [email protected] ABERDEEN APOSTLE www.scottishreformationsociety.org Registered charity: SC007755 John A. Smith Chairman Committee Members » Rev Dr S James Millar » Rev Maurice Roberts Vice-chairman » Rev Kenneth Macdonald » Rev John J Murray For his zeal in propagating the Truth, Andrew Cant » Mr James Dickson earned the title, “the Apostle of the Covenant”. Sadly, Secretary » Mr Allan McCulloch he is little known today and is barely mentioned in » Rev Douglas Somerset most works on the early Covenanters. One probable Treasurer reason for this is that historians, influenced by hostile » Rev Andrew Coghill chroniclers, have painted a highly negative picture of Cant. With the exceptions of John Knox and Samuel Rutherford, few public figures have been more frequently CO-OPERATION OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY and unjustly maligned. Although he was educated in (a) To propagate the evangelical Protestant faith Aberdeen, many of the townspeople regarded Cant In pursuance of its objects, the Society may co- and those principles held in common by as an unwelcome interloper when he was settled operate with Churches and with other Societies those Churches and organisations adhering to as minister there in 1641. But his friends have left on whose objects are in harmony with its own. the Reformation; record their esteem for a man who, during four troubled decades, fought a lonely battle for Biblical principles (b) To diffuse sound and Scriptural teaching on and Presbyterianism in the North East of Scotland. Magazine Editor: Rev Douglas Somerset the distinctive tenets of Protestantism and Andrew Cant All literary contributions, books for review and Roman Catholicism; papers, should be sent to: (c) To carry on missionary work among I. BACKGROUND decisiveness, frankness, and courage. The Magdalen Chapel adherents of the latter faith with a view to A son of the Laird of Glendye, an upland Certainly, his military service would have winning them to the doctrines of grace and to 41 Cowgate, Edinburgh estate in Kincardineshire, Andrew Cant made him very conscious of the looming the fellowship of the true Gospel; EH1 1JR was born in 1584. The family’s feudal threat of resurgent Romanism. superiors were the strongly Presbyterian (d) To produce and distribute evangelistic, Keiths (the Earls Marischal of Scotland), Eventually, Cant decided to return home and religious and other literature in connection with The views expressed in articles are those of the promotion of the Protestant religion; whose patronage seems to have been prepare for the ministry. He attended King’s the contributor and may not necessarily reflect an important factor in Andrew’s eventual College, Aberdeen in his mid twenties, and those of the Editor or the Committee of the (e) To promote the associating together of men rise to prominence. Along with several subsequently served as Humanist (lecturer and women, and especially young people, of his relatives, he served as an officer in Latin and Greek), teaching both in the Society. Scriptural references are from the A.V. for systematic Bible Study and holding of in the Scots Brigade in Holland, fighting College and the Aberdeen Grammar School. except where stated otherwise. meetings for the above specified purposes. the Spanish forces who were attempting This was a time of spiritual regression in to crush the Reformation in the Low Scotland, when King James VI was seeking Countries. In his subsequent career in the to undermine the work of Reformation by DESIGNED & PRINTED BY: Christian ministry Cant displayed many promoting ritualistic worship, and to assert www.peppercollective.com Tel:028 9851 2233 soldierly characteristics, notably firmness, his power over the Church by reintroducing 2 The Bulwark Oct - Dec 2014 3 View of Glendye King’s College, Aberdeen bishops. About this time Cant married o’ the North”, illegally harbouring several Andrew Cant’s theology was shaped by Very few of Cant’s sermons survive but the Margaret Irvine. They had several children, priests on his extensive lands. An ongoing the English Puritans; he once claimed “I following extract, from a sermon preached with two of his sons becoming ministers. power struggle between the Gordons owe everything to that most reverend Mr. in 1638 in Glasgow, gives some idea of his and the strongly Protestant Forbeses [Thomas] Cartwright”. From the outset method. The text is Matthew 22:2-6: ‘The II. MINISTER IN ALFORD culminated in open warfare during the of his career, Cant was “a mortal enemy kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain Despite his unswerving commitment wars of the Covenant. Moreover, prelacy towards the bishops”. He said of prelacy, king, who made a marriage for his son: to Presbyterianism, Cant was in fact had a better reputation in the North East “I ever condemned it as having no warrant and he sent forth his servants to call them ordained under Episcopacy when he was than elsewhere, partly a legacy of the able in Christ’s house”. It was little wonder that that were bidden to the wedding; and they appointed to the quiet Donside parish of and scholarly pre-Reformation Bishops of Bishop Patrick Forbes could only “tolerate” would not come, etc.’: Alford in 1615. There he became known Aberdeen, William Elphinstone and Gavin Cant. In 1621 Cant was invited to preach for as “bobbing Andrew” for his enthusiastic Dunbar. Patrick Forbes, who was appointed the vacant charge of the High Kirk (St Giles), “This supper is a great feast in respect of preaching style. From the fact that his as Protestant Bishop of Aberdeen in 1618, Edinburgh. It was a clear indication of Cant’s the great number that are called unto it. enemies did not subsequently accuse him was more conscientious and spiritually ability that a minister in such an obscure place The Jews are called, the Gentiles are called, of compromise on the matter, it seems minded than his fellow-bishops; and as Alford should be considered for the most yea the poorest thing that is hearing me is likely that his ordination took place with the the European reputation of the learned important parish in the land. In his sermon called; such as a great man would not look bishop present but only in the capacity of a Aberdeen Doctors, a group of Episcopalian in Edinburgh, Cant “deplored the miseries on, but he would close the gates on such fellow minister. One of Cant’s predecessors theologians, was a source of pride to of our kirk and the corruptions of the time a one; a great man would not deign to look was the godly John Forbes, who was exiled local people. Many Episcopalian clergy, in such a gracious manner that many of the on them in his kitchen, yet come ye away to to Holland for adhering to the Aberdeen however, were inclined to Popish doctrines hearers shed tears”. Though the voting was this feast, the King of Kings has his house Assembly of 1605. such as praying for the dead, baptismal in his favour, the clergy of Edinburgh were open, he has a ready feast, and a room regeneration, and the intercession of jealous of his popular appeal and the king in house and fair open gates and everybody In most parts of the country, ritualism saints. The foremost of these was William any case vetoed the appointment owing to shall be welcome that will come. And now was unpopular, but the North East was Forbes, Bishop of Edinburgh, who had “his seditious sermons”. The congregation through all the nooks and corners of this unusually influenced by Romanism, with been Cant’s immediate predecessor as made a second unsuccessful attempt to call kingdom of Scotland, Christ is sending out the powerful Marquis of Huntly, “the Cock minister of Alford. Cant two years later. his servants, and I am sent out unto you 4 The Bulwark Oct - Dec 2014 5 this day, crying unto you, ‘Come away, who obtained extensive lands in Buchan his oxen and fatlings are killed, his wine following the dissolution of Deer Abbey. is drawn, and his table furnished and all In 1600, the Frasers of Philorth, who had things ready.’” established the town of Fraserburgh, had founded a short-lived Protestant university III. CHAPLAIN AND MINISTER there. IN PITSLIGO In 1629 or 1631 Cant left Alford to take up IV. THE NATIONAL COVENANT the post of chaplain to Sir Alexander Forbes A rising tide of popular anger against of Pitsligo in Aberdeenshire, whose wife is ritualism culminated with the riot in St. Giles described as “ane rank puritan”. Cant’s on Sabbath 23rd July, 1637, when Jenny lordly employer was extremely displeased Geddes threw her stool at Dean Hanna, with the Episcopalian minister of the crying “Dinna say Mass in my lug!” On parish of Aberdour in which his estate was 28th February 1638, Edinburgh’s Greyfriars situated. The story is told that one Sabbath Churchyard witnessed a solemn and the Forbeses were listening to a sermon impressive gathering when the National in the course of which the Aberdour Covenant was renewed. David Dickson, minister inveighed against “the three pits Alexander Henderson, and Andrew Cant of hell, Pittulie, Pittendrum and Pitsligo”. Sir were appointed Commissioners from the Alexander stood up and bellowed “I take General Assembly and they proceeded to you at your word, sir”, before storming out travel all over the country to obtain further along with his retainers, never to return. signatures. Cant concentrated on the Belfry at Old PItsligo Church Old Pitsligo Church North East and was favourably received in He subsequently ordered the construction Inverness, Forres, and Elgin.