An Inter-Denominational Protestant Voice in the 21st Century  

Last updated: 13 November 2008

Evangelical Protestant Society

Promoting and Defending the Historical Evangelical Protestant Faith 

EPS, PO Box 306, Belfast BT5 7WA
Phone 028 9048 1920
e-mail: mail@ulsterbulwark.org 

 

The Northern Ireland Assembly debated the 1859 Ulster Revival on Tuesday 4 November. The Hansard Report of the full debate is on the sub-menu on the left hand side.

Verse for the week: 

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalm 85:6)

Quote for the week:

""In the Irish Revival of 1859, people became so weak that they could not get back to their homes. Men and women would fall by the wayside and would be found hours later pleading with God to save their souls. They felt that they were slipping into hell and that nothing else in life mattered but to get right with God... To them eternity meant everything. Nothing else was of any consequence. They felt that if God did not have mercy on them and save them, they were doomed for all time to come."
Oswald J Smith

TWO NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO EPS COUNCIL

For some time now, we have been keen to expand the membership of the EPS Council. The untimely passing of Council member and Treasurer, Mr George Dawson, in May last year also left a significant gap, and we have therefore been giving this matter our active and prayerful consideration. At our meeting on 15 September, we decided to invite Mr Jack Greenald and Mr Ian Loughrin to serve as Council members, and we are delighted to announce that they have agreed. Both men have a clear evangelical Protestant outlook and witness, and they are actively involved in their local churches and the loyal orders. Jack is originally from Manchester but now lives in Newtownards, Co Down, and is married with a young child. He worships in Newtownards Baptist Church and is a noted Orange historian.  Ian was born and reared in mid-Ulster and currently lives near Cookstown, Co Tyrone.  He is a member of Calvary Free Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt, where he is involved in  youth work.  The appointment of Jack and Ian will significantly strengthen the Council and further increase the effectiveness of its stand for evangelical Protestantism truth in these dark days.  

Order your copy of the latest edition of the Ulster Bulwark (October- December 2008) today.

 

NORTHERN IRISH SOCCER OWN-GOAL

Some time ago, the Irish Football Association gave the green light to teams in the Irish League to play their matches on a Sunday. Little interest was shown in this option until Sunday 7 September 2008 when the Irish Premier League fixture between Glentoran and Bangor kicked off at 3pm at the Oval, in the heart of Protestant east Belfast.  The reason given for this first Sunday match was fixture congestion caused by the heavy rain and flooding (which had forced its postponement the previous day), but a precedent has now been set, and we fear it is only a matter of time before other soccer matches are held on the Lord's Day. Whilst we sympathise with Christian players and officials who are put under considerable pressure in such circumstances, we were disappointed that some Christians were prepared to justify their participation in the match on the flimsy logic that it was a "one-off". The Bible tells us "them that honour me I will honour" (1 Sam 2:30), and we urge all believers engaged in soccer to refuse to compromise on this matter, whatever the cost. Evangelical Protestant protestors outside the grounds at the Oval faced verbal abuse from some football supporters. Of course, we were told that it was a great "family occasion" and that Sunday is the only day when families can spend time together. However, football matches used to be played at 3pm on a Saturday across the nation, and in those days people worked longer hours and often didn't finish work until Saturday lunchtime. There is absolutely no reason why a kick-off at 3pm on a Saturday could not also be a great family occasion.

Northern Ireland's morning newspaper "The News Letter" made the following helpful and encouraging comment in its Morning View editorial (8 September) - "Some will argue that this is a further sign of Northern Ireland society 'maturing' and falling into line with Great Britain. Yet for others, this will be another sad milestone in the gradual erosion of the Lord's Day. Religious faith is still strong here and many people will be deeply uneasy that football has crossed this line, placing Christian players and fans, as well as churches close to grounds, in invidious positions. Six days should be enough to accommodate football - and club officials ought to think long and hard before taking any steps to make yesterday's performance a more regular occurrence".

We strongly recommend the evangelistic booklet "The Message of the Banners" by Rev Martin Smyth.  In picking up key themes from well-known banner paintings, it is full of the Gospel. Copies are available from EPS at £2.00 (10 copies for £18.00)

 

 Professor F S Leahy's important pamphlet on the Papal Antichrist is now published on this website - see "Roman Antichrist" menu on left. 

EPS PUBLISHES ITS FIRST EVER FOREIGN LANGUAGE BOOKLET WITH THE RELEASE OF THE POLISH VERSION OF PETER SLOMSKI'S "ROMAN CATHOLICISM - THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY AND SCRIPTURE" 

Order today - price £3 incl p&p 

 

 

MARTIN  LUTHER ON POPERY

"I cannot imagine how there should be peace between us and the papists, for neither will yield to the other; `tis an everlasting war, like that between the woman's seed and the old serpent. When temporal kings are weary of warring, they make a truce, more or less enduring, but in our case, there can be no such cessations; for we cannot depart from the Gospel, nor will they desist from their idolatry and blaspheming; the devil will not suffer his feet to be chopped off, nor will Christ have the preaching of his Word hindered; therefore I cannot see how any peace or truce may be between Christ and Belial" -   Martin Luther

Spurgeon on Popery

 Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers' days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundations. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope's bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, 'The devil hates goose quills,' and doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of his accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do?

 


"ROMAN CATHOLICISM - THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY AND SCRIPTURE by Peter Slomski.

Price £3.00 - See "Books, Tapes, CDs etc" page.