sat downe upon his knees and rose againe And thrice he said these words O thou Saviour of the world have mercy on me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands When he had made this Prayer he turned him to the people and said these words having obtained leave to speak a little I beseech you Christian brethren and sisters that ye be not offended at the Word of God for the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me But I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort Moreover I pray you shew my brethren and sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor leave off to learne the word of God which I taught them after the grace given unto me for no persecutions nor troubles in this world which last not And shew unto them that my Doctrine was no wives fables after the constitutions made by men And if I had taught mens doctrine I had gotten greater thanks by men But for the Words sake and true Gospel which was given to me by the grace of God I suffer this day by men not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent That I should suffer this fire for Christs sake Consider and behold my visage ye shall not see me change my colour This grim fire I fear not and so I pray you for to do if that any persecution come unto you for the Words â—ake and not to fear them that slay the body and have no power afterward to slay the soul. Some have said of me That I taught that the soul of man should sleep untill the last day But I know surely and my faith is such That my soul shall sup with my Saviour this night ere it be six hours for whom I suffer this Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech the Father of heaven to forgive them that have of any ignorance or else of any evil minde forged lies upon me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ forgive them that have condemned me to death this day ignorantly And last of all he said to the people on this manner I beseech you brethren and sisters to exhort your Prelats to the learning of the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good And if they will not convert themselves from their wicked errour there shall hastily come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Many faithfull words said he in the meane time taking no heed or care of the cruell torments which were then prepared for him Then the Executioner that was his tormentor sate down upon his knees and said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not guilty of your death To whom he answered Come hither to me When he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy Office And then by and by the Trumpet sounding he was tyed to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle for the love he bore to M. Wischarde drew so neer to the fire that the flame thereof did him harme he wished M. Wischarde to be of good courage and to beg from God the forgivenesse of his sins to whom M. Wischarde answered thus This fire torments my body but no wayes abates my spirit Then M. Wischarde looking towards the Cardinall said He who in such state from that high place feedeth his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with us much ignominy as he now leaneth there in pride Then with this the Executioner drawing the Cord stopt his breath presently after the fire being great he was consumed to powder The Prelats would not suffer any prayers to be made for him according to their Custome After the death of Master Wischarde the Cardinall was cryed up by his flatterers and all the rabble of the corrupt Clergie as the onely Defender of the Catholike Church and punisher of hereticks neglecting the authority of the sluggish Governour And it was said by them That if the great Prelates of latter dayes both at home and abroad had been so stout and zealous of the credit of the Catholike Church they had not onely suppressed all hereticks but also kept under the Lay-men who were so froward and stubborne On the other side when that the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent they could not withhold from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lambs slaughter After the death of this blessed Martyr of God began the people in plaine speaking to damne and detest the cruelty that was used yea men of great birth and estimation and honour at open tables avowed That the blood of the said Master George should be revenged or else it should cost life for life and that in a short time they should be like hogs kept for slaughter by this vitious Priest and wicked Monster which neither minded God nor cared for man Amongst those that spake against the Cardinalls cruelty Iohn Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes was chief with his Cozen Norman Lesley who had been a great follower of the Cardinall and very active for him but a little before fell so foule with him that they came to high reproaches one with another The occasion of their falling out was a private businesse wherein Norman Lesley said he was wronged by the Cardinall On the other side the Cardinall said he was not with respect used by Norman Lesley his inferiour The said Iohn Lesley in all companies spared not to say That that same dagger shewing forth his dagger and that same hand should be put in the Cardinalls brest These brutes came to the Cardinalls ears but he thought himselfe stout enough for all Scotland For in Babylon that is in his new Block-House he was sure as he thought and upon the fields he was able to match all his enemies And to speak the truth the most part of the Nobility of Scotland had either given unto him their Bands of Manred or else were in confederacy and promised amity with him and so he gave his bastard eldest daughter in Marriage to the Earl of Crawford his eldest son and heir and caused the Wedding to be celebrate with such State as if she had been a Princes lawfull daughter He onely feared them in whose hands God did deliver him and for them he laid his nets so secretly as that he made a full compt that their feet could not escape as we shall after hear And something of his former practices we may recompt After Easter he came to Edinburgh to hold the Seingnye as the Papists termed then their unhappy Assembly of Baals shaven sort It was bruted that
be set a part for divine service yet we are not so tied to the place as the Iews were yea not so much as the Rominists would have us to be according to that of S. Ioh 21.22 23 for wheresoever 2 or 3 are gathered together in my Nâ—â—â—r I am in the midst of you * Witnesse the Princes and people that the Pope put to the Interdict without cause to say nothing of private persons * So that many do think it a liberty of Religion to swear and curse * Witnesse the divorce of Mary Stuart daughter to James 2. from her lawfull husband Tho. Boyde and maâ—ried to Iames Hamiltonâ— Also of Mary mother to Iames 5. who married after K. Iam. the fourths death Arâ—hibald Douglas Earle of Angus was divorced from him and married to Henry Stuart Lord Meffen Adam Reade his bold aâ—d godly answer Note 1500. 1513. 1527. Brothers son to Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran and sisters son to Iohn Stuart Duke of Althai A Dominican Frier Note how Church-men rules the good nature of the Prince Frier Campbell apostate Mâ—ior Deuâ— 6. Matth. 12. Minor 1. Joh. 4. Conclusio Matth 7. Rom. 13. Galat. 5. Maior Rom. 13. Minor Joh. 19. Conclusio Christ is the end and fulfilling of the Law to every one that believeth Rom. 10.14 Rom. 3. Rom. 7. Gospel quasi Godspel that is Gods word but ordinarily it is taken from that part which we call Evangel that is Good tidings otherwise Gospel quasi Goodspel that is Good words and so Good tidings Gen. 15. Joh. 5. Jam. 1. Rom 14. Heb 11. Heb. 11. Rom 8. Rom. 4. Rom. 4. Abac. 2. Rom. 1. Joh. 6. 1 Joh. 5. Act. 10. Rom. 10. Joh. 3. Gal. 3. Matth. 19. Joh 9. Joh. 20. Mark 16. Matth. 28. Psal. 117. 1. Tim. 6. This 〈…〉 derstood of circumstance of worldly mâ—n and not of them of God for the neerer that meâ— draw to God we are bound 〈◊〉 more to love them Galat. 3. Matth 13. Matth. 7. Note Note Note Quaere Answer Note Note Here you see verified Cinis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae M. Gawyn Logy Munks Preach Bishops devices M. Iohn Mair whose History of Scotland we have c. He wrote upon the 4 Evangelists c. Arithe his Sermon False Miracles Alexander Furrour his Examination before the Bishops Alexander Seton a black Frier Note Note Iames the fifth Note Aleâ—ander Seton his Letter There was another Frier Forrest hanged in Smithfield 1538. Note For 10 yeers the persecution ceaseth 1534. 1538. The civil troubles give some rest to Gods flock fâ—r a time Note Macdowel Alaesius John Fyfe Machabeus Note 1534. This yeere was Lawes made against the Reformation the Pope having sent to Scotland a Legat the yeere before 6 Accused for Heresie Note 2 Gentlemen Straton and Gowâ—ley burnt See how the Bishops did intrench upon the good disposition of the King and his Soveraigne 1534. Burning of the Bill was a signe of recantation 1537. Lâ—sly writes this done 1540. Iohn Berthwick fled into England from whence Henry sent him into Germany to the Protestant Princes Foure burnt 1538. 1539. Ieremie Russell Alex. Kennedie Kennedie his thanks to God His speech to the Judges Note Sir Iames Hamilton said That God had justly brought him to that because he had offended often to gain the King favour by unjust ways Note George Buchanan by the Kings câ—mmand then angry with the Friers did write this Satyre against them who thereafter having made their peace with the King would not be appeased with Gâ—orge Buchanan whom the king gave over to their importunity and so he was put in prison The Earle of Gleaverne his verse upon the Gray Friers The Church-men ingage the King to warre against his Uncle Halderig Read England called Hereticke bâ—cause it renounced the Pope Note All hallow tyde Fallow Reade Note The Lords answer to the Kings desire Note Note Note An answer worthy of a Prince By this answer you may see how good this Prince had bin if 〈◊〉 Câ—urch mâ—n and flatterâ—â—s â—ad not abused him Abused Prince by Prelats So the evil advised Prince gave himselfe over to the false Propâ—ets I meane the Prelats The Reade of Holway masse by Oliver Sinclar Whaâ—ton was then Warden in these parts Stratageme Note Note Oliver compared to Benhadad against Samaria 2 King 20. 300 men put to flight 10000 Others say at Carlaveâ—ok neer by the place where the defeat was given called Sobâ—â—y Mosse The King foretells his own death Reginae Nativitas Mark the Queens mourning for the King Others stick not to say That the King was hastned away by a Potion Levit. 12. Regis exitus Divers Charactâ—rs of the late King arise post funâ—ra virtuâ— Character of the Hamiltons Note the reasons why the Earle of Arran was thus favoured by the Countrey 1543 Note Frier Scot. The Cardinal taken 1543. An Act of Parliament for reading of the Scripture Note the hypocrisie of worldlings So long as men follow God they are blessed Nothing could be said against the lawfulnesse of Edwards birth Katharine of Spaine and Anne Bullen being dead before his mother was married to his father Note well The Queenes marriage the second time ratified He was before sometimes called Cunningham sometimes Colwan so uncertaine was it who was his father Note Note This is the Prelats language The Governour violated his faith refused God and took absulution of the devil renouncing his Religion in the gray Friers All this was then said by the Cardinall Penes authorem fides estâ— Note the device of the wicked to set men by the 〈◊〉 1543 Note * And many trod under foot died Note As they went to Dundie they said they were going to burne the readers of the new Testament and that they would stick to the old for Luther said they had made the new Note A woman and her childe put to death because she prayed not to the Virgin Mary Men put to death for eating a Goose upon Friday Iohn Roger a black Friet murthered 1544. The English Army arrived in Scotland Note Endinburgh burnt and spoiled by the English Note 1544. Lorge cometh to Scotland 1545. Note The character of Hamilton Note George Wischarde Note a falsâ— brother M. Wischard his words in Dundie The Bishops Sermon Note Note M. Wescharde his zeale to gain soules A Priest appointed by the Cardinall to stab M. George Wischarde The second attempt of the Cardinall for the killing of M. George Wischarde Note the spirit of Prophesie Prophesie spoken by Master George Whischarde of the Church of Scotland Note the resolution of a Preacher Two gray Friers Vengeance against Hadington Master Wischarde taken at Ormeston Note He means Gods people The Lord Bothwels promise M Georges words to the Earl Bothwell 1546. Note The proud Cardinall and the glorious foole Dumbar A question worthy of such two Prelats 1546. Who was a learned man and heartily favoured the pure Religion in secret Bona heresios definitio c. Note the
before it is plain That after the Kings death and during the Cardinalls life whosoever guided the Court he gate his secret businesse sped of that gracious Lady either by day or by night Howsoever the tidings liked her she mended with as great expedition of that daughter as ever she did before of any son she bare The time of her Purification was sooner than the Leviticall Law appoints but she was no Jew and therefore in that she offended not The noyse of the death of King Iames divulgate who departed this life the 13 day of December in the yeere of God 1542 aforesaid the hearts of men began to be disclosed All men lamented that the Realme was left without a male to succeed Yet some rejoyced that such an enemy to Gods Truth was taken away He was called of some A good poore mans King of others he was termed A murtherer of the Nobility and one that had decreed their whole destruction Some praised him for the repressing of theft and oppression others dispraised him for being much given to women The Prelats and Clergie feared a change in the Kings minde as he had expressed himself some few yeers before And thus men spake even as their affection led them and yet none spake altogether besides the truth for part of these aforesaid were so manifest that as the vertues could not be denied so could not the vices by any craft be cloked Yet to speak truth of him his vices may justly be attributed to the times and his breeding and not any wickednesse in his nature for he gave many expressions of a good nature namely in his sobriety and justice c. The question of Government was thorow this Realme universally moved The Cardinall proclaimed the Kings last Will and therein were expressed four Protectors or Regents of whom himself was the first and principall and with him were joyned the Earls of Huntley Argyle and Murhay this was done on Munday at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh But the Munday following took the whole Regents remission for their usurpation for by the stout and wise counsell of the Laird of Grange did the Earle of Arran then so neer to the Crown cause assemble the Nobility of the Realme and required the equity of their judgements in that his just suit to the Government of this Realm during the minority of her to whom he pretended to succeed failing of her and of her lawfull succession His friends convened the Nobility assembled the day of decision is appointed the Cardinall and his faction opposes them and are against the Government of one man and especially of any called Hammilton For who knowes not said the Cardinall that the Hammiltons are cruell murtherers oppressors of innocents proud avaritious double and false and finally the pestilence in this Common-wealth Whereto the Earl answered Defraud me not of my right and call me what ye please whatsoever my friends have been yet unto this day hath no man cause to complain upon me neither yet am I minded to flatter any of my friends in their evill doing but by Gods grace shall be as forward to correct their enormities as any within the Realme can reasonably require of me And therefore yet again my Lords in Gods Name I crave that ye do me no wrong nor defraud me of my just Title before ye have experience of my Government At these words were all that feared God or loved honesty so moved that with one voyce they cryed That Petition is most just and unlesse ye will do against Gods Iustice and Equity it cannot be denied And so in despight of the Cardinall and his suborned Faction was he declared Governour and with publike Proclamation so denounced to the people The Kings Pallace Treasure Jewels Garments Horse and Plate was delivered unto him by the Officers that had the former charge and he honoured feared and obeyed more heartily than ever any King was before so long as he abode at God The cause of the great favour that was born unto him was That it was bruted that he favoured Gods Word and because it was well knowne that he was one appointed to have been persecuted as the Scroll found in the Kings pocket after his death did witnesse These two things together with an opinion that men had of his simplicity bowed the hears of many unto him in the beginning who after with dolour of hearts were compelled to change their opinions but hereof we will after speak The variety of matters that occurred we omit such as the order taken for keeping of the young Queen of the provision for the mother the calling home of the Douglas and other such as appertain to a Universal History of the time For as before we have said we minde onely to follow the progresse of the Religion and of the matters that cannot be severed from the same The Earle of Arran thus being established in the Government godly men repaired unto him exhorted him to call to minde for what end God had exalted him to be Governour out of what danger he had delivered him he being in the bloody Scroll as we saw before and what expectation all men of honesty had of him because they saw him a soft man they conceited goodnesse of him At their instant suit more than of his own motion was Thomas Guilliame a black Frier called to be Preacher The man was of sound judgement of reasonable letters as for that age and of a prompt and good utterance His Doctrine was wholsome without great vehemency against superstition Preached also sometime Iohn Rough who after for the verity of Christ Jesus suffered in England albeit not so learned yet more simple and more vehement against all impiety The Doctrine of these two provoked against them and against the Governour also the hatred of all such as more favoured darknesse than light and their own interest more than God The gray Friers and amongst the rest Frier Scot who before had given himself forth for the greatest Professor of Christ Jesus within Scotland and under that colour had disclosed and so endangered many These slaves of Sathan rowped as they had been Ravens yea rather they yelled and roared as devills in hell Heresie heresie Guilliame and Rough will carry the Governour to the devill The Towne of Edinburgh for the most part was devoured in superstition Edward Hope young William Adamson Sibilla Lyndsay Patrike Lyndsay Francis Aikman And in the Cannongate Iohn Mackaw and Nivian Browne with few others had the burit of knowledge in these dayes One Wilson servant to the Bishop of Dunckell who neither knew new Testament nor the old made a despightfull railing Ballad against the Preachers and against the Governour for the which he narrowly escaped hanging The Cardinall moved both heaven and hell to trouble the Governour to stay the Preaching but yet was the Battell stoutly fought for a season for he was taken and put first in Dalkeyt
after in Seaton But at length by Bribes given to the said Lord Seaton and to the old Laird of Lethington he was restored to Saint Andrewes from whence he wrought all mischief as we shall after heare The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER there began question of the abolishing of certaine Tyrannicall ACTS made before at the Devotion of the Prelates for the maintaining of their Kingdome of Darkenesse To wit That under paine of Heresie no man should reade any part of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue neither yet any Tractate or Exposition of any place of Scripture Such Articles began to come in question we say And men began to enquire If it were not lawfull to men that understood no Latine to use the word of their Salvation in the Tongue they understood as it was for the Latine men to have it in Latine Grecians or Hebrews to have it in their Tongues It was answered That the Church he means the Prelats first had forbidden all Tongues but the three viz. Hebrew Greek and Latine But men demanded when that Inhibition was given and what Counsell had ordained it considering that in the dayes of Chrysostome he complained That the people used the Psalmes and other holy Books in their owne Tongues And if ye will say they were Greeks and understood the Greek Tongue We answere That Christ Jesus commanded his word to be Preached to all Nations now if it ought to be Preached to all Nations it must be Preached in the Tongue they understand Then if it be lawfull to Preach and heare it Preached in all Tongues Why should it not be lawfull to reade it and hear it read in all Tongues to the end that the people may try the spirits according to the commandment of the Apostle Beaten with these and other Reasons they denied not but it might be read in the Uulgar Tongue provided if the Translation were true It was demanded What could be reprehended in it And when much searching was made nothing could be found But that Love say they was put in the place of Charity When the Question was asked What difference was betwixt the one and the other and if they understood the nature of the Greek term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were dumb Reasoned for the party of the seculars The L. Ruthwen father to him that prudently gave counsell to take just punishment upon that knave David for that he abused the unhappy K. Henry Stuart in mo cases then one a stout and a discreet man in the cause of God and M. Henry Balneves an old professour For the part of the Clergy one Hay Dean of Lastarrik and certain old Bishops with him The conclusion was the Commissioners of Broughes and a part of the Nobility required of the Parliament that it might be Enacted That it should be lawfull to every man to use the benefit of the Translation which then they had of the Old and New Testament together with the benefit of other Treatises containing wholsome Doctrine untill such time as the Prelats and other Church-men should give and set forth unto them a Translation more correct The Clergie hereto long repugned But in the end convinced by Reasons and by multitude of voyces in their contrary they also condescended And so by Act of Parliament it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their owne Uulgar Tongue and so were all Acts made to the contrary abolished This was no small Victorie of CHRIST JESUS fighting against the conjured enemies of his Veritie No small comfort to such as before were holden in such bondage that they durst not have read The Lords Prayer The ten Commandments nor The Articles of their Faith in the Uulgar Tongue but they should have been accused of Heresie Then might have beene seene the Bible lying almost upon every Gentlemans Table The New Testament was borne about in many mens hands We grant that some alas prophaned that blessed Word for some that perchance had never read ten Sentences in it had it most common in their hand they would chop their familiars on the cheeke with it and say This hath lyne under my beds feet these ten yeers Others would glory O how oft have I been in danger for this Booke how secretly have I stollen from my wife at midnight to reade upon it And this was done we say of many to make cowrt and curry favour thereby For all men esteemed the Governour to have been one of the most fervent Protestants that was in Europe Albeit we say that many abused that libertie granted of God miraculously yet thereby did the knowledge of God wonderously increase and God gave his holy spirit to simple men in great abundance Then were set forth works in our owne Tongue besides those that came from England that did disclose the pride the craft the tyrannie and abuses of that Romane Antichrist The fame of our Governour was spread in divers countreys and many praised God for him King Henry the eight sent unto him his Ambassadour M. Radulph Saidlair who lay in Edinburgh a great part of the Summer his Commission and Negotiation was to contract a perpetuall amitie betwixt England and Scotland The occasion whereof God had so offered that to many men it appeared that from heaven he had declared his good pleasure in that behalfe For to King Henry of Iane Seymer after the death of Queene Katherine and of all others that might have made his Marriage suspect was given a sonne Edward the sixth of blessed memory elder some yeeres then our Mistresse and unto us was left a Queene as before we have heard This wonderfull providence of God caused men of greatest judgement to enter into disputation with themselves Whether that with good conscience any man might repugne to the desires of the King of England considering that thereby all occasion of Warre might be cut off and great commodity might ensue to this Realme The offers of King Henry was so large and his demands so reasonable that all that loved quietnesse were content therewith There were sent from the Parliament to King Henry in Commission Sir Iames Lermont and M. Henry Balnevis who long remaining in England so travailed that all things concerning the Marriage betwixt Edward the sixth and Mary Queen of Scots was agreed upon except the time of her deliverance to the custody of English-men Upon the finall conclusion of the which head were added to the former Commissioners William Earle of Glencarne and Sir George Dowglas to whom was given ample Commission and good Instructions In Scotland remained M. Radulph Saidlaire advertisements past so frequently betwixt yea the hands of our Lords liberally were anointed besides other commodities promised and of some received for divers Prisoners taken at Solway mosse were sent home free upon promise of their fidelity which as it was kept the issue will witnesse But in the end so well were all once content the Cardinall the
it in nothing for your first two witnesses speak against the Anabaptists who deny that Christians should be subject to Magistrates or yet that it is lawfull for a Christian to be a Magistrate whose opinion I no lesse abhor then ye do or any other that liveth The others speak of Christians subject to Tyrants and Infidels so dispersed that they have no other force but onely to sob unto God for deliverance that such indeed should hazard any further then these godly men wills them I cannot hastily be of counsell But my argument hath another ground for I speak of a people assembled in one Body of a Common-wealth unto whom God hath given sufficient force not onely to resist but also to suppresse all kinde of open Idolatry And such a people yet again I affirme are bound to keep their Land clean and unpolluted And that this my division shall not appear strange unto you ye shall understand that God required one thing of Abraham and of his Seed when he and they were strangers and Pilgrims in Egypt and Canaan and another thing required he of them when they were delivered from the Bondage of Egypt and the possession of the Land of Canaan granted unto them The first and during the time of their Bondage God craved no more but that Abraham should not defile himselfe with their Idolatry neither was he nor his Posterity commanded to destroy the Idolls that were in Canaan or in Egypt But when God gave unto them possession of the Land he gave unto them this strait Commandment Beware that thou make not League or Confederacie with the inhabitants of this Land give not thy sonnes unto their daughters nor yet give thy daughters unto their sonnes c. But this ye shall do unto them Cut down their Groves destroy their Images breake downe their Altars and leave thou no kinde of remembrance of these Abominations which the Inhabitants of the Land used before for thou art a holy People unto the Lord thy God defile not thy selfe therefore with their gods c. To this Commandment I say are ye my Lords and all such as have professed the Lord within this Realme bound for God hath wrought no lesse miraculously upon you both Spiritually and Corporally then he did unto the Carnall Seed of Abraham For in what state your Bodies and this poor Realme were within these seven yeers your selves cannot be ignorant you and it were both in the Bondage of a strange Nation and what Tyrants did raigne over your consciences God perchance may yet again let you feel because that ye do not rightly acknowledge and esteeme the benefits received when our poore Brethren that were before us gave up their bodies to the flames of fire for the Testimony of Gods Truth And when scarcely could be found ten in a Country that rightly knew God it had been foolishnesse to have craved either of the Nobility or of the mean Subjects the suppressing of Idolatry for that had been nothing but to have exposed the simple Sheep in a prey to the Wolves But since that God hath multiplyed knowledge yea and hath given the victory to his Truth even in the hands of his servants if yee suffer the Land again to be defiled yee and your Princes shall both drinke the cup of Gods indignation The Queen for her obstinate abiding in manifest Idolatry in this great light of the Evangell of Jesus Christ And ye for your permission and maintaining her in the same Lethington said In that point we will never agree And where finde ye I pray you that ever any of the Prophets or of the Apostles taught such Doctrine That the people should be plagued for the Idolatry of the Prince or yet That the Subjects might suppresse the Idolatry of the Rulers or them for the same What was the Commission given unto the Apostles My Lord said he we know it was to preach and plant the Evangell of Jesus Christ where darknesse before had Dominion And therefore it behoved them to let them see the light before that they should will them to put their hands to suppresse Idolatry What precepts the Apostles gave unto the faithfull in particular other then that they commanded all to fly from Idolatry I will not affirme But I finde two things which the faithfull did The one was They assisted their Preachers even against the Rulers and Magistrates The other was They suppressed Idolatry wheresoever God gave unto them force asking no leave of the Emperour nor of his Deputies Read the Ecclesiasticall Histories and ye shall finde examples sufficient And as to the Doctrine of the Prophets we know they were Interpreters of the Law of God and we know They spake as well unto the Kings as unto the People I read that neither of both would heare them and therefore came the plague of God upon both but that they flattered the Kings more then they did the people I cannot be perswaded Now Gods Law pronounces death as before I have said to Idolaters without exception of persons Now how the Prophets could rightly interpret the Law and shew the cause of Gods Judgements which ever they threatned should fall for Idolatry and for the rest of the abhominations that did accompany it for it is never alone but still corrupt Religion brings with it a filthy and corrupt life How I say the Prophets could reprove the Vice and not shew the people their duty I understand not And therefore I constantly beleeve That the Doctrine of the Prophets was so sensible That the Kings understood their own abhominations and the people understood what they ought to have done in punishing and repressing them But because that the most part of the People was no lesse Rebellious unto God then were their Princes Therefore the one and the other conjured against God and against his servants And yet my Lord The facts of some Prophets are so evident That thereby we may collect what Doctrine they taught For it were no small absurdity to affirme that their facts did repugne to their Doctrine I think said Lethington ye meane of the History of Iehu What will yee prove thereby The chief head said Iohn Knox that ye deny to wit That the Prophets never taught that it appertained to the people to punish the Idolatry of their Kings The contrary whereof I affirme and for the probation I am ready to produce the fact of a Prophet For ye know my Lord said he that Elizeus sent one of the children of the Prophets to annoint Iehu who gave him a commandment to destroy the house of his Master Achab for the Idolatry committed by him and for the innocent blood that Iezabell his wicked Wife had shed While he obeyed and put in full execution for the which God promised unto him the stability of the Kingdome unto the fourth Generation Now said he here is the fact of a Prophet that proves that Subjects were commanded to execute Gods judgements upon
Office And seeing also that Moses was so far preferred to Aaron that the one commanded and the other did obey Who dare esteem that the Civill power is now become so profane in Gods eyes that it is sequestred from all intromission with the matters of Religion The holy Ghost in divers places declareth the contrary For one of the chief Precepts commanded to the King when that he should be placed in his Throne was to write the example of the Book of the Lords Law that it should be with him that he might reade in it all the dayes of his life that he might learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the words of his Law and his Statutes to do them This Precept he requireth not onely that the King should himself fear God keep his Law and Statutes but that also he as the chief Ruler should provide that Gods true Religion should be kept inviolated of the people and flock which by God was committed to his charge And this did not onely David and Solomon perfectly understand but also some godly Kings in Iuda after the apostasie and idolatry that infected Israel by the means of Ieroboam did employ their understanding and execute their power in some notable Reformations For Asa and Iosaphat Kings in Iuda finding the Religion altogether corrupt did apply their hearts saith the holy Ghost to serve the Lord and to walk in his wayes And thereafter doth witnesse That Asa removed from Honours his mother some say grand-mother because she had committed and laboured to maintain Idolatry And Iosaphat did not onely refuse strange gods himself but also destroying the chief Monuments of Idolatry did send forth the Levites to instruct the people Whereof it is plain That the one and the other did understand such Reformations to appertain to their duties But the facts of Ezechias and of Iosias do more cleerly prove the power and duty of the Civill Magistrate in Reformation of Religion Before the Raign of Ezechias Religion was so corrupt that the doors of the House of the Lord were shut up the Lamps were extinguished no Sacrifice was orderly made But in the first yeer of his Raigne in the first moneth of the same did the King open the doors of the Temple bring in the Priests and Levites and assembling them together did speak unto them as followeth Hear me O ye Levites and be ye sanctified now and sanctifie also the House of the Lord God of your fathers and carry forth all filthinesse he meaneth All monuments and vessels of Idolatry for our fathers have transgressed and have committed wickednesse in the eyes of the Eternall our God they have left him and turned their faces from the Tabernacle of the Lord and therefore is the wrath of the Lord come upon Juda and Jerusalem Behold our fathers have fallen by the sword our sons daughters and wives are led into Captivity But now have I purposed in my heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel that he may turne the wrath of his fury from us And therefore my sons he sweetly exhorteth be not faint for the Lord hath chosen you to stand in his presence and to serve him Such as be not more then blinde cleerly may perceive that the King doth acknowledge That it appertained to his charge To reforme the Religion To appoint the Levites to their charges and To admonish them of their Duty and Office Which thing he most evidently declareth writing his Letters to all Israel to Ephraim and Manasses and sent the same by the hands of Messengers having this tenour You sons of Israel return to the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel and he shall turn to the residue that resteth from the hands of Assur Be not as your fathers and as your brethren were who have transgressed against the Lord God of their fathers who hath made them desolate as you see Hold not your heart therefore but give your hand unto the Lord return unto his Sanctuary serve him and he shall shew mercy unto you to your sons and daughters that be in Bondage for he is pitifull and easie to be intreated Thus far did Ezechias by Letters and Messengers provoke the people declined from God to repentance not onely in Iuda where he raigned lawfull King but also in Israel subject then to another King And albeit that by some wicked men his Messengers were mocked yet as they lacked not their just punishment for within six dayes after Samaria was destroyed and Israel led captive by Salmanazar so did not the zealous King Ezechias desist to prosecute his duty in restoring the Religion to Gods perfect Ordinance removing all abominations The same is to be read of Iosias who did not onely restore the Religion but did further destroy all Monuments of Idolatry which of long time had remained For it is written of him That after that the Book of the Law was found and that he asked counsell at the Prophetesse Hulda he sent and gathered all the Elders of Iuda and Ierusalem and standing in the Temple of the Lord he made a Covenant That all the people from the great to the small should walk after the Lord should observe his Law Statutes and Testimonies with all their heart and with all their soul and that they should ratifie and confirm whatsoever was written in the Booke of God He further commanded Hilkias the high Priest and the Priests of the inferiour Order That they should carry forth of the Temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made to Baal which he burnt and did carry their powder to Bethel He did further destroy all Monuments of Idolatry yea even those that had remained from the dayes of Solomon he did burn them stamp them to Powder whereof one part he scattered in the brook Kidron and the other part upon the Sepulchres and Graves of the Idolaters whose bones he did burn upon the Altars where before they made Sacrifice not onely in Iuda but also in Bethel where Ieroboam had erected his Idolatry yea he further proceeded and did kill the Priests of the high places who were Idolaters and had deceived the people he did kill them I say and burnt their bones upon their own Altars and so returned to Ierusalem This Reformation made Iosias and for the same obtained this Testimony of the holy Ghost That neither before him nor after him was there any such King who returned to God with his whole soul and with all his strength according to all the Law of Moses Of which Histories it is evident That the Reformation of Religion in all points together with the punishment of false Teachers doth appertain to the power of the Civill Magistrate For what God required of them his justice must require of others having the like charge and Authority what he did approve in them he cannot but approve in all others who with like zeal and sincerity