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CROWN & COVENANT SERIES - BOOK 1
by Douglas Bond
age group: 10 years & older
“Four
years had passed since Duncan had been inside the stone walls of the
church, now under the control of the popish bishops and the local
curate. Covenanters and their families were forbidden to worship inside
the little sanctuary unless they swore allegiance to King Charles II as
the head of the church.
Hunted like beasts by the ruthless
James Turner, chief enforcer of the king’s will, Covenanter families
like Duncan’s fled to the hills, worshipping instead in secret field
meetings, hearing faithful field preaching from the lips of wanted men.
Fugitive field preachers, out of loyalty to Christ, the only King in
His Kirk (church), risked their lives for the sake of their scattered
flock”
The year? …1663. The King’s spies were everywhere. The
covenanters were people who confessed Jesus Christ as head of the
church and would rather suffer than acknowledge King Charles II of
England as head.
Duncan, a teenager, who with Brodie his
inseparable sheepdog, tends the family’s small flock of sheep. He is
caught between his desire to fight the persecutors and his Fathers
desire for the truth and conviction that you can’t fight hate with hate.
One
Sabbath day, the covenanters meet in a secluded little valley deep in
the ranges. Here they give praise to the Head of the Church in prayer,
song & preaching. Brodie, who had been allowed to come, was very
restless, sensing the soldiers. Duncan looked up. “Rising, just visible
over the southeast ridge of their meeting glen he saw the head of a
fully harnessed horse and immediately behind the armored helmet of a
dragoon (soldier) lieutenant, rising and falling with the motion of the
horse.”
Do the listeners get to safety? What does Brodie do? What happens to
him? To find out more read the book ”Duncan’s War”.
Douglas
Bond draws on historical facts and describes in interesting detail the
lives these covenanters lived and the persecution they suffered. The
series follows the life of the M’Kethe family who lived during these
times and later after having fled to America.
Review by GJ. de Vos
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