Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 23 November, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Greatest Song Ever (7)
Where Is the Good Shepherd to Be Found? [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Song of Solomon 1
Text: Song of Solomon 1:7-8
I. The Believer’s Excellent Question
II. The Saviour’s Wise Answer
Psalms: 95:6-11; 150:1-6; 23:1-6; 84:1-6
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Daniel 2:31-47
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 52
I. The Characteristics of the Kingdom
II. The Argument From the Kingdom
Psalms: 99:1-7; 1:1-6; 2:4-11; 145:9-18 (AOS)
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
John Gill on Song of Solomon 1:7: “Believers are very fearful, lest they should, and are very desirous that they might not, go aside from the ways of Christ; they are jealous of their own hearts, and are sensible that there is in them a propensity thereunto; they know that Satan uses all the crafty methods, and takes all the opportunities he can to draw them aside, and corrupt their minds ‘from the simplicity that is in Christ;’ they are apprized of their own weakness, and know that they are not kept by their own power, but that if they are left to themselves, they shall soon divert to crooked paths.”
Matthew Poole on Song of Solomon 1:7: “Seeing false teachers and churches bear thy name, Mark 13:21,22, and thy true church sometimes lies hid, Revelation 12:14, discover to me which is thy true church, and which are those assemblies and people where thou art present, and where thine ordinances are dispensed in purity and power, and where thou dost and wilt command the blessing, even life for evermore, as it is expressed, Psalms 133:3, that I may join myself to them.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday night catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Felicity & Sophie (Juniors NT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Seniors NT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 2)
8:00 PM: Abbie, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to consider the latter days of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia during the first missionary journey (Acts 13:48-52).
The Belgic Confession class on Wednesday at 7:30 PM will discuss Christ’s sudden and unexpected return, along with the responses of people on that day.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “The Coming of the Son of Man” (Mark 13:24-27).
Iron Sharpens Iron Interview: Chris Arnzen and Rev. Stewart will discuss Martin and Katie Luther’s courtship, marriage and influence on Friday, 12 December (7-9 PM).
Rev. J. Engelsma will give a lecture on “Biblical Masculinity” on Wednesday, 14 January, at 7:30 PM in the CPRC.
The congregational dinner is being planned for Friday, 16 January.
Offerings: £1,533.15.
Translation Addition: 1 Dutch, 4 Polish and 3 Urdu.
PRC News: Rev. Brummel (Calvary, IA) accepted the call to Lynden PRC. Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI) declined the call to Grace PRC.
More Quotes on the Song of Solomon
William Perkins (1558-1602): “The Song of Songs is an allegorical description of the relationship between Christ and the church in terms of the relationship between a bridegroom and his bride (or a husband and wife)” (The Art of Prophesying).
Richard Sibbes (1577-1635): “The Holy Ghost is pleased here to condescend to our infirmities; and, that we might help ourselves in our spiritual estate by our bodies, he speaketh here of heavenly things after an earthly manner, and with a comfortable mystery. As in other places the Holy Ghost sets out the joys of heaven by a sweet banquet, so here he sets out the union that we have with Christ by the union of the husband with the wife; and that we might the better understand what this union is, he condescends to our weakness, that we might see that in a glass which we through our corruptions cannot otherwise discern. This book is nothing else but a plain demonstration and setting forth of the love of Christ to his church, and of the love of the church to Christ ; so familiarly and plainly, that the Jews take great scandal at it, and would not have any to read this book till they are come to the age of thirty years, lest they thereby should be tempted to incontinency; wherein they would seem wiser than God himself. But the Holy Ghost is pleased thus by corporeal to set out these spiritual things, which are of a higher nature, that by thinking and tasting of the one they might be stirred up to translate their affections (which in youthful age are most strong) from the heat of natural love to spiritual things, to the things of God; and all those who are spiritually minded (for whom chiefly the Scriptures were written) will take special comfort and instruction thereby, though others take offence and scandal at it” (“The Spouse, Her Earnest Desire After Christ,” in Two Sermons [London: T. Cotes, 1638]).
Thomas Manton (1620–1677): “[Song of Solomon 1] is a sweet dialogue between Christ and the church, wherein they interchangeably express their mutual love to each other” (“A Sacrament Sermon,” Works, vol. 15, p. 427).
John Collinges (1623-1690): “In the first place, Let me speak to all of you, who shall hear my further discourses concerning any part of this Book, (as once God spake to Moses at the Burning Bush) Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground … Saint Paul (to Titus) saith, Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving; there is nothing pure but even their minds, and consciences are defiled. I am sure it may be said so of every line of holy writ, to the pure heart, every line there is pure: not so to the impure, the reason is because their own minds, and consciences are filthy, and impure. Here is no wantonness in these sacred lines, they contain indeed discourses of loves, but altogether Divine and Spiritual (though under carnal disguises.) Oh let not your wanton hearts bring hither any unclean thoughts” (The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church [London: Printed by T. Snowden for Edward Giles, 1683], p. 34).
Matthew Henry (1662-1714): “It must be confessed, on the other hand, that with the help of the many faithful guides we have for the understanding of this book it appears to be a very bright and powerful ray of heavenly light, admirable fitted to excite pious and devout affections in holy souls, to draw out their desires towards God, to increase their delight in him, and improve their acquaintance and communion with him. It is an allegory, the letter of which kills those who rest in that and look no further, but the spirit of which gives life, II Cor. 3:6; John 6:63. It is a parable, which makes divine things more difficult to those who do not love them, but more plain and pleasant to those who do, Matt. 13:14, 16. Experienced Christians here find a counterpart of their experiences, and to them it is intelligible, while those neither understand it nor relish it who have no part nor lot in the matter. It is a song, an Epithalamium, or nuptial song, wherein, by the expressions of love between a bridegroom and his bride, are set forth and illustrated the mutual affections that pass between God and a distinguished remnant of mankind. It is a pastoral; the bride and bridegroom, for the more lively representation of humility and innocence, are brought in as a shepherd and his shepherdess.”
John Gill (1697-1771): “The whole is figurative and allegorical, abounding with a variety of lively metaphors, and allusions to natural things; and so may be illustrated by the various things of nature, from whence the metaphors are taken, and to which the allusions be, and by the language and behaviour of natural lovers to each other and which are to be observed in love-poems, though here expressed more decently and beautifully. This divine poem sets forth in a most striking manner the mutual love, union, and communion, which are between Christ and his church; also expresses the several different frames, cases and circumstances which attend believers in this life; so that they can come into no state or condition, but here is something in this song suited to their experience: which serves much to recommend it to believers, and discovers the excellency of it” (An Exposition of the Song of Solomon [Marshallton, DE: The National Foundation for Christian Education, n.d.], pp. 9-10).
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758): “The whole book of Canticles used to be pleasant to me, and I used to be much in reading it about that time, and found from time to time an inward sweetness that would carry me away in my contemplations.”
