Marrow Brethren

The teaching of the Marrow Brethren is called "Marrow theology", and they have influenced many Reformed thinkers even after their condemnation in Scotland.

Beliefs

The Marrow of Modern Divinity criticized legalism while criticizing antinomianism, the Marrow argued that antinomianism and legalism, though being opposite to each other both are opposed to grace. They had a very high emphasis on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, they highly opposed the doctrine of Neonomianism which saw acts of obedience as meritorious. A common claim of the Marrowmen was that Neonomianism made the New Covenant into a Covenant of Works.

The Marrow Brethren, though rejecting universal atonement, held to a strong view of common grace and that in some way God desires the salvation of all. They sought to clear the gospel out of any other conditions other than faith. The Marrow Brethren denied that actions such as repentance, with either inward or outward reformation are necessary to receive salvation but saw them as naturally flowing from receiving Christ. They saw high Calvinism as "misguided" and sought to defend the free offer of the gospel against the Assembly.

The Marrow Brethren taught the republication of the covenant of works, meaning that they saw the Mosaic covenant as having a works principle republished from the original Covenant of Works. They saw the distinction of Law and Gospel as vital to the Gospel itself. While the critics of the Marrow argued that being in the Covenant of Grace did not make the duties of the Covenant of Works unnecessary.

The Marrow had a high emphasis on the possibility of assurance, seeing the work of Christ as the foundation of the believer's assurance, while the general Assembly emphasized the human element in having assurance.