The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism Coveted

The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism .. Coveted 4

1Kings 21:1 – 3

‘And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or if it seem good to thee, I will give the worth of it for money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.’


The husbandman of Paisleyism looked covetously over the wall into the ‘Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism’; like Ahab, Paisleyism had great plans for that which belonged to another. While Ahab wanted to turn the vineyard of Naboth into a ‘garden of herbs’; Paisleyism wanted to turn the ‘Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism’ into a dictatorship. Ahab did everything in his power to obtain Naboth’s vineyard; and in the same mode of operation, Paisleyism set to work.

Paisleyism set about destabilizing the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism by attacking backslidden Protestant leaders, while at the same time, opposing Protestant politicians. The pulpit, once central to the proclamation of the gospel of Christ, became the fountain head of Paisleyism; from this platform there went forth messages on separation which were designed to destroy other protestant denominations, while portraying the Free Presbyterian Church as the only refuge for Biblical Protestantism: simultaneously, messages against Unionism and Irish Nationalism were used to destroy political opponents, while presenting the DUP as the only trustworthy Protestant political party.

So the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism was coveted by Paisleyism; this militant and aggressive husbandman set about attacking the diseased and unfruitful vines with a view to creating a totally controlled environment, in which Paisleyism could flourish. The vines of Christ likeness were to be uprooted and the herbs of Phariseeism were to be carefully planted.

Everything without the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism was considered by Paisleyism to be apostate and Papist; so much so, that the Pope of Rome was depicted as the Antichrist and the system of Popery was depicted by the term, ‘Mystery Babylon the Great’, the ‘Harlot church.’

Despite the arguments and the power of persuasion that Ahab had adopted, Naboth’s answer was, not for sale; in like manner, the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism responded to the rational of Paisleyism. If Paisleyism was ever to take control of the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism, then tactics would have to change.

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6