The picture above has an important place in Scottish Christian history. It marks the spot in St Andrews where Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake for his faithfulness to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Murdered at the hands of evil men who believed that a right standing with God was to be found through the Roman Catholic Church and the doctrine of works righteousness, Patrick Hamilton preached the message of salvation by grace alone in Christ alone. The Christian gospel had set him free and he believed it was the only hope for Scotland.
Of noble birth, Patrick Hamilton was born in 1504. In 1520 he went to Paris, France to study and where he came into contact with the writings and teachings of Martin Luther. Returning to St Andrews in 1523, initially as a student, then tutor, he was becoming increasingly committed to the historic Christian gospel.
Hamilton began to attract the attention of the notorious and merciless Cardinal Beaton. The avowed Romanist was committed to preventing the truth of God's word taking root in Scotland. Sensing his danger, young Hamilton fled to Germany and the university of Marburg in early 1527. He would soon return to his beloved Scotland to face his divine destiny.......(to be continued)....
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