Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 07:1 (Fall 2020)
Article: The Right Channel Of New Obedience: Sanctification In "The" "Sum Of Saving Knowledge"
Author: David G. Whitla

RPTJ 7:1 (Fall 2020) p. 37

The Right Channel Of New Obedience:
Sanctification In The Sum Of Saving Knowledge1

David G. Whitla

Professor of Church History Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

In the year 1643, the Solemn League and Covenant was subscribed to by the three British kingdoms. Its stated goal was “to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church-government, directory for worship and catechizing.”2 Accordingly, by the end of the decade, the Westminster Assembly had prepared the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and its various Directories, which were quickly bound together and published. However, from the year 1650, virtually all editions of the Standards also included an anonymous little book that was neither a product of the Assembly, nor ratified by either Parliament or the Scottish kirk’s General Assembly. That book (or tract) is entitled the Sum of Saving Knowledge, or to give its lengthy seventeenth century subtitle, “A Briefe Summe of Christian Doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures, and holden forth in the foresaid Confession of Faith and Catechisms, together with The Practical Use thereof.”3

The Historical Context Of The Sum Of Saving Knowledge

The book was written in 1650 by two Scottish Covenanter clergymen: veteran minister and professor of Divinity in Glasgow, David Dickson (1583–1663), and his recently-appointed colleague on the faculty, James Durham (1622–58), who was then just in his twenties. It is reported that the two men would often go for an afternoon walk in the hills and discuss theology. As they did so, they concluded that for many of their parishioners the new Standards might prove a bit daunting—”too large and dark.”4 So, in order to make Westminster theology more accessible, they decided to compile a brief summary, along with notes of practical application, for the average person in the pew. They apparently dictated this summary to their secretary, Patrick Simson, as they walked along, and then the latter applicatory sections were compiled from some of Dickson’s sermon notes.5 Thus the Sum of Saving Knowledge came into being, and it was an immediate hit!

RPTJ 7:1 (Fall 2020) p. 38

It is difficult to exaggerate the impact that the Sum of Saving Knowledge had on Scottish Presbyterianism in subsequent centur...