Free Grace AND a Free Gospel. IV

The Marrow of Modern Divinity had been republished in 1717, by James Hog, minister of Carnock. Thomas Boston rejoiced to see the book republished, but another man, Principal Hadow of St. Andrews University, entertained very different feelings. Hadow was a 'Neonomian', one who believed that Christ had died in order to establish a 'new law', with certain conditions that had to be fulfilled in order to come to Christ. What was more, he held a personal grudge against Hog from their student days in Holland. Hadow's 'Orthodoxy', as far as it went, was a cold, hard thing, and his doctrinal deviations and personal enmity against Hog led Hadow to preach violently against the Marrow as soon as it was published. Had he been just an ordinary minister in a parish charge, the effects would not have been so great. But he was principal of St. Andrews, and therefore one of the most senior men in the Church of Scotland. Hadow preached many violent sermons against the book, declaring that the author was 'an Independent barber', and that the work itself was antinomian. The matter was taken to the General Assembly, the highest court of the Church, and they set up 'The Committee for Purity of Doctrine' to look into the work.
The Committee examined various supporters of the Marrow (they were now termed the 'Marrowmen' on various points. In the Assembly of 1720 the Committee submitted an overture condemning the Marrow on five points.

Of which more (God willing) next time.