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A SCOTTISH COVENANTER FLAG FROM THE 1600S

COVENANT:
BIBLICAL IDEA, SCOTTISH PRECEDENT
The idea of a Covenant as a binding commitment comes from the Bible. There are many examples of Bible heroes such as Noah and Abraham who made a Covenant with God. This idea was adopted by our ancestors in Scotland in the 1500s and 1600s. They became known as Covenanters. And so in Ulster in 1912 the people looked back to their Biblical roots, combined with their Scottish Covenanting heritage and once again bound themselves together in the solemn covenant drafted by Thomas Sinclair in the spirit of the old Scottish Covenants.

JOSHUA
A MAN OF COVENANT AND HUMILITY
Joshua was the leader who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan after forty years of wandering in the desert. He renewed the Covenant between God and the people. One night shortly before the renowned assault on Jericho he went out alone to look at the city. He saw a man with a drawn sword in his hand, and being a good soldier he wanted to know if he was a friend or a foe. When challenged, this man replied he was neither ...but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.... Joshua the commander and leader of the people fell down in humility ...on his face to the earth, and did worship.... When he spoke he did not ask for help in the battle or for an easy victory. Instead he voiced his intention to listen, asking ...what saith my lord unto his servant?..
THOMAS SINCLAIR, AUTHOR OF THE ULSTER COVENANT

JESUS
THE SON OF GOD AS OUR NEW COVENANT
Before Jesus humbled himself to come to this earth as a man, he also made a covenant with those who would come to him for salvation. He ...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [Philippians 2:7-8] Why did he do this? Because everyone born into the world (apart from Jesus) has sinned. God who is holy and sinless cannot look at or tolerate sin, so there is a great separation between us and God which can only be bridged by Jesus sacrifice for us. As you face the challenges of life perhaps you expect Jesus to be on your side? Or are you on His side? What makes you sure of this and more importantly how can you actually be sure of this? The reality is that the most important thing we can do is covenant to be on the Lords side. This change will necessitate a complete u-turn in your attitude and actions, a change that happens when Gods spirit works in your life. This change of attitude demands humility. The ultimate expression of humility is found in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The gospel is good news and the ultimate good news is that Jesus died on the Cross in the place of we sinners, and not only died but rose again the third day.

FAITH
OF OUR FOREFATHERS

One of the almost forgotten parts of the Covenant Campaign was the Day of Prayer and Humiliation called by churches on Sunday 22nd September 1912. There were also Solemn Assemblies held all over the country on the morning of Ulster Day. People demonstrated their simple and sincere faith by turning to God, not expecting Him to be on their side but humbly seeking to be on His side.

Joshua may have expected a ten point battle plan, or some secret insights into the Jericho defenses. But the captain of the LORD'S host said, ...Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. This was a lesson for Joshua to remember that he must be on Gods side rather than expect God to be on his side. To do this he needed to be humble and not self centred. (*Quotations from Joshua 5:13-15)

REPRODUCTION OF THE HYMN SHEET FOR THE ULSTER DAY SPECIAL SERVICES. THE HYMN O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST BECAME THE ANTHEM OF THE ULSTER COVENANT

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WHAT DOES

JESUS SAY?

1912-2012 Ulster Covenant centenary

In 1912 two pieces of legislation came before the British Parliament: the Parliament Act that removed the House of Lords right to veto legislation passed in the Commons, and the Third [Irish] Home Rule Bill. Unionists in Ulster were very unhappy as they believed their civil and religious liberties were under attack. Their opposition was led by Sir Edward Carson, a Dublin Unionist. A Solemn League and Covenant was written, and on Ulster Day, Saturday 28th September 1912

Jesus says that you need to humbly repent of your sin that is turn away from it and put your faith in Him, relying solely in what He has done for you on the cross. Salvation is not achieved by good works because we dont have any works that are good enough. That means we need the salvation that is found in Christ alone.

WHAT DOES THE

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

The message of the Gospel, the Good News, is not for us to believe in God and be good people, but to trust in Christ because we are all bad people. His Covenant, His binding promise, is that everyone who puts their trust in Him can know the joy of forgiveness of sin.

ULSTER COVENANT
MEAN TODAY?

237,368 MEN SIGNED THE COVENANT 234,046 WOMEN SIGNED THE DECLARATION

Published by I.G.B.C. Offices, P.O. Box 63, Brownlow House, Lurgan, Craigavon, County Armagh, BT67 9BJ, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom email: info@royalblack.org website: www.royalblack.org

THE SIGNATURE OF HUNT CHAMBRE, IMPERIAL GRAND MASTER, ON THE ULSTER COVENANT. SEARCH THE ULSTER COVENANT WEBSITE FOR YOUR ANCESTORS AT WWW.PRONI.GOV.UK

1912-2012 Ulster Covenant centenary

1912-2012 Ulster Covenant centenary