Who Was That Masked Prophet? IX

Conclusion

As we saw in the last post, Peden was buried at the foot of the gallows on the hill above Cumnock. But the 'place of ignominy' was hallowed by the prophet's bones, and it became the town's burying-place.

Think! no more in the old graveyard

Will anyone bury his dead!

They carry them high to the Gallows Hill,

And lay them there at his head.

An old hawthorn-tree grows over Peden's grave, and there is a little Reformed Baptist chapel across the road. It is a quiet, affecting spot.

But what are we to make of Peden? He was no deciever, that is certain. What was he? A prophet? Or just a preacher gifted with remarkable insight?
Peden saw himself as a minister called by God to watch over the flock of God in Scotland in peculiarly perilous times. Some of his prophecies, particularly those concerning the battles of Pentland and Bothwell Bridge may be regarded as examples of keen insight. The rebel armies could never have hoped to beat well-trained government troops, and the result of such unsuccessful risings was bound to be further oppression. But can we dismiss all of Peden's prophecies this way? It would be neat and tidy to. I am no charismatic, but I find that I cannot dismiss Peden. God is still able to guide his people today by extraordinary as well as ordinary means. Why should He not have chosen to give some special words of comfort to His persecuted people through Peden? Times of persecution are extraordinary times, after all.

No doubt some of you will accuse me of sitting on the fence. Maybe I am engaging in fence-sitting, but I cannot dismiss The Prophet of the Covenant easily.

(All factual information in these posts has been obtained from the book Alexander Peden: The Prophet of the Covenant, by John C. Johnston, published in 1988 by the Mourne Missionary Trust of Northern Ireland. The book is available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom, Glasgow. Futher information about Peden may be found here and here, not to mention here. )

We have not quite left Peden. God willing I shall post a number of Peden quotes here from his letters and sermons.