Marrow Controversy

Marrow Controversy, one of the most strenuous and memorable struggles in the religious history of Scotland, took its name from a book entitled the Marrow of Modern Divinity (1645), written by a Puritan soldier or an illiterate barber. The highly evangelical character of this work, and especially its doctrine of the free grace of God in the redemption of sinners, had made it a great favourite with the few zealous and pious ministers then to be found in the Church of Scotland, and in 1718 an edition was published by the Rev. James Hog of Carnock. A committee of the General Assembly reported against the work as too free in its offer of salvation, and the Assembly formally condemned the book. Twelve ministers, amongst whom were Thomas Boston (q.v.) and the Erskines (q.v.), protested against this decision, and were ultimately rebuked by the Assembly, the national sympathy being on the whole with the 'Representers' or 'Marrow-men.' The controversy was substantially the same that, in 1733, resulted in the deposition of Ebenezer Erskine, and the origination of the 'Secession' body.