Minister’s message: The Eleventh Commandment

In 1627 the Rev Samuel Rutherford, formerly Professor of Humanities at Edinburgh University, was called to be the minister at Anwoth, writes Rev James Gatherer. He arrived with great enthusiasm, rising at 3 o’clock every morning and spending his day reading, praying, writing, teaching and visiting.

One Sunday he walked to a field near the church where locals were playing football. He told them that they were wrong to do this on a Sabbath and called upon three large stones to witness to the fact that by telling them he had done his duty.

Local lore told that some time later workmen arrived at the field to build a new dyke. The suggestion that the three stones be used was greeted with horror. Undeterred one of the workmen swore that if he did not build one of these stones into the dyke before breakfast may his first bite choke him to death.

He broke the stone up and used it for the dyke. As he sat down to eat he placed the first morsel into his mouth when he turned black and fell down dead. The other two stones are said to remain in the field, on Mossrobin farm, to this day.

Rutherford’s preaching brought him fame and some would travel miles to hear him. One such was the Bishop of Armagh. One account tells that there being nowhere to stay the night, Bishop Ussher disguised himself as a beggar and asked for a night’s lodging at Bush of Bield, the manse.

Mrs Rutherford brought him into the kitchen and sitting by the fire began to teach the servants. She asked the beggar how many commandments there were and was surprised when he answered ‘eleven’.

She naturally told him off but was amazed when he defended himself by quoting the
Lord Jesus who said: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.”

The ‘beggar’ then went off to sleep in the barn. Later Samuel Rutherford passed by and hearing eloquent prayers realised that this was no beggar but a learned man in disguise. On discovering it was Bishop Ussher he invited him to stay and preach that day but the Bishop pointed out that he had come to hear Rutherford preach.

That Sunday the fortunate people of Anwoth heard their own minister in the morning and the famous Bishop of Armagh in the evening, whose sermon was based on John 13 : 34: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.”

Rutherford was later forced out of Galloway because of his nonconformity – he held the view that the Lord Jesus is head of the church rather than the King. Forced to retire to Aberdeen he continued to inspire and teach through his letters, which were so highly valued that they were published in three volumes in 1664 and still published today.

The ‘eleventh commandment’ sums up so simply the essence of Jesus’ teaching and is behind much of the exhortations in Paul’s letters.

• Portrait: Rev Samuel Rutherford
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