the matter shall come to triall it shall be easily seen for whom the most godly and most ancient Councels shall most plainly speak I will prove by a Councell That of more authority is the sentence of one man founded upon the simple Truth of God then is the determination of the whole Councell without the assurance of the Word But that all their determinations which we oppugne are not onely maintained without an assurance of Scriptures but also are established against the truth of the same yea and for the most part against the Decrees of the former Councels I offer my self evidently to prove But now to the rest of the former Letter Letter AN Oratour and Gods Messenger also might justly require of you now by Gods hand promoted to high dignity A motherly pitie upon your subjects A justice inflexible to be used against murtherers and common oppressours A heart void of avarice and partiality A minde studious and carefull for maintenance of that Realm and Common-wealth above whom God hath placed you and by it hath made you honourable with the rest of vertues which not onely Gods Scriptures but also Writers illuminated onely with the light of Nature require in Gods Rulers But vain it is to crave reformation of manners where Religion is corrupted for like as a man cannot do the office of a man till first he have a beeing and life so to work works pleasant in the sight of God the Father can no man do without the Spirit of Iesus Christ which doth not abide in the hearts of Idolaters And therefore the most godly Princes Jâ—siah Hezekiah and Jehosaphat seeking Gods favour to rest upon them and upon their people before all things began to reform the Religion for it is as the stomack within the body which if it be corrupted of necessitie it infecteth the whole body And therefore often I repeate that which to be done is most necessary if your Majestie pretend to reign with Christ Iesus Then it behoveth you to take care of his true Religion which this day within your Realm is so deformed that no part of Christs Ordinances remain in their first strength and originall puritie which I praise God to me is lesse difficile to prove then dangerous to speak And yet neither the one nor the other I fear partly because the love of eternall life quencheth the terrour of temporall death and partly because I would with Saint Paul wish my self accursed from Christ as touching earthly pleasure for the salvation of my brethren and illumination of your Majestie which thing Work and very deed and not bare writing shall witnesse and declare if I may purchase the liberty of tongue but fourty dayes onely Additon THe wise and facund Democritus had sometimes a familiar sentence that Honest it was to commend such works as were worthy of praise but to praise things that were wicked could not proceed but from a deceivable minde and Themistius a Philosopher of great fame seeing the Hall of Iovinian the Romane Emperour replenished with flatterers said Of their manners it may be espied that more they worship the Scepter and the purple then God signifying that they little regarded whether the Emperour were godly or ungodly so that they might retain themselves in favour with him Albeit that those were Ethnicks and neither had the knowledge of God as we pretend neither had given so plain a confession to declare themselves enemies to all iniquity as we have done by Baptisme and by our whole profession of Christianity yet do their words condemne no small number of us and chiefly such as be conversant with Princes for who in these miserable dayes judgeth himself to have offended albeit he praise allow and maintain whatsoever the Princes and upper powers devise yea although it bee to oppresse and to spoil the poor to pull from them their very skins and as the Prophet sayeth To break their bones and to cut them in pieces as flesh for the Caldron or Pot. Yet I say That the Princes shall not lack Judges to cry It is right It is for the Common-wealth for the defence of the Realm and ease of the Subjects so that the state of times is even now such as when the Prophet complained saying The Princes ask and the Judge is ready to give not his own but the life and blood of the poor How soon a great man hath spoken the corruption of his minde he hath his flatterers ready to applaud and confirm whatsoever he speaketh And let the Princes be of what Religion they please that is all one to the most part of men so that with abnegation of God of his honour and Religion they may retain the friendship of the Court But alas how miserable be Princes that so are abused and how contageous a pestilence be such flatterers to Common-Wealths Empires and Realms God hath declared even from the beginning to paint out the mischief which from them proceedeth to such as give ear unto them The ancient Writers compare them to Harlots to Ravens and to most ravenous Beasts and not without cause For as Harlots can never abide that their lovers should return to repentance and sobernesse of minde so cannot flatterers sustain that such as they deceive shall come to right judgement And as Ravens pike out the eyes of dead carions and as ravenous Beasts devour the same so do flatterers being more cruell pike at the eyes of living men and blinding the eyes of their understanding and judgement do expose them to be devoured in body and soul to Satan This we have by prophane Writers onely but the holy Spirit teacheth us this infallible Trueth That where iniquitie reigneth in a Common-wealth and none is found boldly and openly to reprehend the same that there shall sudden vengeance and destruction follow For thus it is written and pronounced by the Prophet Ezekiel Shalt thou not judge the Citie of blood which hath made Idols Whose Rulers shed blood to the uttermost of their power They have despised my holy things they have devised iniquitie and have performed the same The conjuration of Prophets hath gathered up the riches and whatsoever is precious within the same The Priests violently have torn and rent my Law The people of the Land hath wrought deceitfully They have oppressed the poor and have done violence to the stranger without judgement and I have sought of them a man to repair the hedge and to stand in the gap before me but I have found none Therefore have I poured forth my wrath upon them and in the fire of my hote displeasure I have consumed them Advert Madam for these are not the words of mortall man but of the eternall God and were not spoken against Ierusalem onely but against every Realm and Nation that so offendeth The sins that here be named are Idolatry in all avarice and crueltie in the Princes and Rulers conjuration of
without all doubt is the true Church of Christ who according to his promise is in the midst of them not of that universall of which we have before spoken but particular such as was in Corinthus Galatia Ephesus and other places in which the Ministerie was planted by Paul and were of himselfe named the Churches of God and such Churches we the Inhabitants of the Realme of Scotland professours of Christ Jesus confesse us to have in our Cities Townes and places reformed For the Doctrine taught in our Churches is contained in the written Word of God to wit in the Books of the New and Old Testaments in those Books we meane which of ancient have been reputed Canonicall in the which we affirme that all things necessary to be beleeved for the salvation of mankinde is sufficiently expressed The interpretation whereof we confesse neither appertaineth unto any private nor publike person neither yet to any Church for any preheminence or prerogative personall or locall which one hath above another but appertaineth to the Spirit of God by the which also the Scripture was written When controversie then hapneth for the right understanding of any place or sentence of Scripture or for the reformation of any abuse within the Church of God we ought not so much to looke what men before us have said and done as unto that which the Holy Ghost uniformly speaketh within the body of the Scriptures and unto that which Christ Jesus himself did and commanded to be done For this is a thing universally granted That the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of unitie is in nothing contrary to himselfe If then the interpretation determination or sentence of any Doctor Church or Councell repugne to the plain Word of God written in any other place of Scripture it is a thing most certain that there is not the true understanding and meaning of the Holy Ghost supposing that Counsels Realms and Nations have approved and received the same For we dare not receive and admit any Interpretation which directly oppugneth to any principall point of our faith to any other plain text of Scripture or yet to the rule of charitie XIX The Authoritie of the Scriptures ANd we beleeve and confesse the Scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make the man of God perfect so do we affirm and avow the Authoritie of the same to be of God and neither to depend on men nor Angels We affirme therefore That such as alleadge the Scriptures to have no authority but that which is received from the Church to be blasphemous against God and injurious to the true Church which alwayes heareth and obeyeth the voice of her own Spouse and Pastour but taketh not upon her to be Mistresse over the same XX. Of the Generall Councells of their Power Authoritie and Cause of their Convention AS we not rashly condemne that which godly men assembled together in Generall Councells lawfully gathered have approved unto us So without just examination dare we not receive whatsoever is obtruded unto men under the name of Generall Councells for plain it is that as they were men so have some of them manifestly erred and that in matters of great weight and importance So far then as the Councell proveth the Determination and Commandment that it giveth by the plain Word of God so far do we reverence and imbrace the same But if men under the name of a Councell pretend to forge unto us new Articles of our Faith or to make Constitutions repugning to the Word of God then utterly we may refuse the same as the Doctrine of Devils which draweth our souls from the voice of our onely God to follow the Doctrines and Constitutions of men The cause then why Generall Councells convened was neither to make any perpetuall Law which God before had not made neither yet to forge new Articles of our beliefe neither to give the Word of God authority much lesse to make that to be his Word or yet the true interpretation of the same which was not before by his holy Will expressed in his Word But the cause of Councells we mean of such as merited the name of Councels was partly for Confutation of Heresies and for giving publike Confession of their Faith to the posterities following which both they did by the authority of Gods written Word and not by any opinion or prerogative that they could not erre by reason of their generall assembly And this we judge to have been the chiefe cause of Generall Councells The other was for good policie and Order to be constituted and observed in the Church in which as in the house of God it becometh all things to be done decently and in order not that we think that one Policie and one Order in Ceremonies can be appointed for all ages times and places for as Ceremonies such as men have devised are but temporall so may and ought they to be changed when they rather foster superstition then that they edifie the Church using the same XXI Of the Sacraments AS the Fathers under the Law besides the verity of the Sacrifices had two chief Sacraments to wit Circumcision and the Passeover the despisers and contemners whereof were not reputed for Gods people so we acknowledge and confesse That we now in time of the Gospel have two Sacraments onely instituted by the Lord Jesus and commanded to be used by all those that will be reputed to be Members of his Body to wit Baptisme and The Supper or Table of the Lord Jesus called The Communion of his Body and Blood And these Sacraments as well of the Old as of the New Testament were instituted of God not onely to make a visible difference betwixt his people and those that were without his league but also to exercise the Faith of his children and by participation of the same Sacraments to seale in their hearts the assurance of his â—romise and of that most blessed Conjunction Union and Societie which the Elect have with their Head Christ Jesus And thus we utterly condemne the vanity of those that affirme Sacraments to be nothing else but naked and bare signes No we assuredly beleeve That by Baptisme we are ingrafted into Jesus Christ to be made partakers of his Justice by the which our sinnes are covered and remitted And also That in the Supper rightly used Christ Jesus is so joyned with us that he becometh the very nourishment and food of our soules Not that we imagine any Transubstantiation of Bread into Christs naturall Body and of Wine into his naturall Blood as the Papists have perniciously taught and damnably beleeved but this Union and Communion which we have with the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus in the right use of the Sacraments is wrought by operation of the holy Ghost who by true Faith carrieth us above all things that are visible carnall and earthly and maketh us to feed upon the Body and
be found inobedient I confesse my selfe most worthy to be rejected not onely from this honour but also from the societie of the faithfull in case of my stubbornnesse For the vocation of God to beare charge within his Church maketh not men Tyrants nor Lords but appointeth them servants Watch-men and Pastors to the flock Thus ended question must be asked again of the multitude Question Require ye any further of this your Superintendent or Overseer and Minister If no man answer let the Minister proceed Question Will ye not acknowledge this your brother for the Minister of Christ Jesus your Overseer and Pastour Will ye not reverence the Word of God that proceedeth from his mouth Will ye not receive of him the Sermon of Exhortation with patience not refusing the wholsome Medicine of your soules although it be bitter and unpleasing to the flesh Will ye not finally maintain and comfort him in his Ministerie and watching over you against all such as wickedly would rebell against God and his holy Ordinance The people answered We will as we will answer to the Lord Iesus who hath commanded his Ministers to be had in reverence as his Ambassadours and as men that carefully watch for the salvation of our soules Let the Nobilitie be urged with this Ye have heard the dutie and profession of this our brother by your consents appointed to this charge as also the dutie and obedience which God requireth of us towards him heere in his Ministerie But because that neither of both are able to performe any thing without the especiall grace of our God in Christ Jesus who hath promised to be with us present even to the consummation of the world with unfained hearts let us crave of him his benediction and assistance in this work begun to his glory and for the comfort of his Church The Prayer O Lord to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth thou that art the eternall Sonne of the eternall Father who hast not onely loved thy Church that for the redemption and purgation of the same hast humbled thy selfe to the ignominious death of the Crosse and thereupon hast shed thy most precious and innocent blood to prepare to thy self a Spouse without spot but also to retain this most excellent benefit in recent memory hast appointed in thy Church Teachers Pastours and Apostles to instruct comfort and admonish the same Look upon us mercifully O Lord thou that onely art King Teacher and high Priest to thine own flock and send unto this our Brother whom in thy Name we have charged with the chief care of thy Church within the bounds of L. such portion of thy holy Spirit as thereby he may rightly divide thy Word to the instruction of thy flock and to the confutation of pernicious errours and damnable Superstitions Give unto him good Lord a mouth and wisdome whereby the enemies of thy Trueth may be confounded the Wolves expelled and driven from thy Fold thy Sheep may be fed in the wholsome Pastures of thy most holy Word the blinde and ignorant may be illuminated with thy true knowledge Finally that the degrees of Superstition and Idolatry which now resteth within this Realme being purged and removed we may all not onely have occasion to glorifie thee our onely Lord and Saviour but also daily to grow in godlinesse and obedience of thy most holy will to the destruction of the body of sin and to the restitution of that image to the which we were once created and to the which after our fall and defection we are renewed by participation of thy holy Spirit which by true Faith in thee we do professe as the blessed of thy Father of whom the perpetuall increase of thy graces we crave as by thee our Lord King and onely Bishop we are taught to pray Our Father c. The Prayer ended the rest of the Ministers if any be and Elders of that Church present in signe of their consent shall take the elected by the hand The chiefe Minister shall give the Benediction as followeth God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath commanded his Gospel to be Preached to the comfort of his Elect and hath called thee to the Office of a Watch-man over his people multiply his graces with thee illuminate thee with his holy Spirit comfort and strengthen thee in all vertue governe and guide thy Ministerie to the praise of his holy Name to the propagation of Christs Kingdom to the comfort of his Church and finally to the plaine discharge and assurance of thine owne conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus to whom with the Father and with the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory now and ever So be it The last Exhortation to the elected TAke heed to thy selfe and unto the flock committed to thy charge feed the same carefully not as it were by compulsion but of very love which thou bearest to the Lord Jesus Walk in simplicity and purenesse of life as it becometh the true servant and the Ambassadour of the Lord Jesus Usurpe not dominion nor tyrannicall authority over thy brethren be not discouraged in adversity but lay before thy self the example of the Prophets Apostles and of the Lord Jesus who in their Ministery sustained contradiction contempt persecution and death fear not to rebuke the world of Sin Justice and Judgement If any thing succeed prosperously in thy Vocation be not puft up with pride neither yet flatter thy self as that the good successe proceedeth from thy vertue industrie or care But let ever that sentence of the Apostle remain in thine heart What hast thou which thou hast not received If thou have received why gloriest thou Comfort the afflicted support the poore and exhort others to support them Be not carefull for things of this life but be fervent in prayer to God for the increase of his holy Spirit And finally behave thy selfe in this holy vocation with such sobriety as God may be glorified in thy Ministery And so shalt thou shortly obtaine the Victory and shalt receive the Crowne promised when the Lord Jesus shall appeare in his glory whose omnipotent Spirit assist thee and us to the end Sing 23. Psalme As the servants of God uprightly travelled to have vice punished and vertue planted so did the devill ever stirre up some in the contrary of both There was a Law made against fornicators and adulterers that the one and the other should be Carted thorow the Towns and so banished till that their repentance was offered and received And albeit this was not the severity of Gods Law especially against adulterers yet was it a great bridle to the malefactors whereat the wicked did wonderously storme It chanced that one Sanderson a Fletcher or Boutcher was deprehended to have put away his lawfull wife under colour that he was lawfully parted after the manner of the Papisticall Religion and had taken to him another in his house The complaint and slander proposed
unfainedly cry to him when he correcteth us And so shall we know in experience that our cryes and complaints were not in vain But let us hear what the Prophet saith further Like as a woman saith he with child that draweth neer the travell is in sorrow and cryeth in her pains so have we been in thy sight O Lord we have conceivâ—d we have born in vain as though we should have brought forth the wind Salvations were not made to the earth neither did the inhabitants of the earth fall This is the second part of the Prophets complaint in the which he in the person of Gods people complaineth that of their great affliction there appeared not end This same similitude is used by our Master Jesus Christ for when he speaketh of the troubles of his Church he compareth them to the pains of a woman travelling in her child-birth But it is to another end For there he promiseth exceeding and permanent joy after a sort though it appear trouble But here is the trouble long vehement albeit the fruit of it was not suddenly espied He speaketh no doubt of that long and dolorous time of their captivity in the which they continually travelled for deliverance but obtained it not before the compleat end of 70 yeres during the which time the earth that is the land of Iuda which somtimes was sanctified unto God but was then given to be prophaned by wicked people got no help nor perceiving any deliverance For the Inhabitants of the world fell not that is the tyrants and oppressors of Gods people were not taken away but stil remained and continued blasphemers of God and troublers of his Church But because I perceive the houres to passe more swiftly then they have done at other times I mind to contract that which resteth of this Text into certain points The Prophet first fighteth against the present despair After he introduceth God himselfe calling upon his people And last of all he assureth his afflicted that God will come and require account of all the blood thirsty Tyrants of the earth First fighting against the present despair he saith Thy dead shall live even my Body or with my body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is as the dew of herbes The Prophet here pierceth through all impediments that nature could object And by the victory of faith he overcommeth not only the common enemies but the great and last enemy of all to wit death it selfe For this would he say Lord I see nothing to thy chosen but misery to follow misery one affliction to succeed another yea in the end I see that death shall devour thy dearest children But yet O Lord I see thy promise to be true thy love to remain towards thy chosen even when death appeared to have devoured them For thy dead shal live yea not only shal they live but my very dead Carcase shall arise And so I see honour and glory to succeed this temporall shame I see joy permanent to come after trouble order to spring out of this terrible confusion and finally I see that life shall devour death so that death shall be destroyed and so thy servants shall have life This I say is the victory of faith when in the midst of death through the light of Gods Word the afflicted see life Hypocrites in the time of quietnesse and prosperitie can generally confesse That God is true in his promises but bring them to the extremitie and there ceaseth the Hypocrite further to trust in God then he seeth naturall means whereby God useth to work But the true faithfull when all hope of naturall means faileth then flie they to God himself and to the truth of his Promise who is above nature yea whose works are not so subject to the ordinary course of nature that when Nature faileth his Power and Promise fail also therewith Let us further observe That the Prophet here speaketh not of all dead in generall but saith Thy dead O Lord shall live In which words he maketh difference betwixt those that die in the Lord and those that die in their naturall corruption and in the old Adam Dye in the Lord can none except those that live in him I mean those that attain to the yeers of discretion and none live in him but those that with the Apostle can say I live and yet not I but Christ Iesus that dwelleth in me The life that I now live I have by the faith of the Sonne of God Not that I mean That the faithfull have at all hours such sense of the life everlasting that they fear not the death and the troubles of this life no not so for the faith of Gods Children is weak yea and in many things imperfect But I mean That such as in death and after death shall live must communicate in this life with Jesus Christ and must be regenerate by the seed of life that is by the Word of the everliving God which whosoever despiseth refuseth life and joy everlasting The Prophet transferreth all the promises of God to himselfe saying Even my dead body shall arise and immediately after giveth commandement and charge to the dwellers in the dust that is To the dead Carcases of those that were departed for the spirit and soul of man dwelleth not in the dust That they should awake that they should sing and rejoyce for they should arise and spring up from the earth even as the Herbs do after they have received the dew from above Time will not suffer that these particulars be so largely treated as they ought to be and as I gladly would therefore let us consider That the Prophet in transferring the Power and Promise of God to himself doth not vindicate to himself any particular prerogative above the people of God as that he alone should live and arise and not they also But he doth it to let them understand That he taught a Doctrine whereof he was certain yea and whereof they should have experience after his death As if he should say My words appear to you now to be incredible but the day shall come that I shall be taken from you my Carcase shall be inclosed in the bosome of the earth and therefore shall ye be led away Captives to Babylon where ye shall remain many dayes and yeers as it were buryed in your Sepulchres But then call to minde that I said unto you before hand that my body shall arise Even so shall ye rise from your graves out of Babylon and be restored to your own Countrey and City of Ierusalem This I doubt not is the true meaning of the Prophets The charge that he giveth to the dwellers in the dust is to expresse the power of Gods Word whereby he not onely giveth life where death apparantly had prevailed but also by it he calleth things that are not even as if they were True it is
them he was instant with the Counsell of the City to provide themselves of a worthy man to succeed in his Place Master James Lauson who at that time professed Philosophy in the Vniversity of Aberdene being commended for a good Preacher Commissioners were directed from the Body of the Church of Edinburgh and from Master John Knox in particular to desire him to accept of the Charge To the Letter that the Commissioners carried after that he had set his hand he added this Postscript Accelera mi frater alioqui sero venies Make haste Brother otherwise ye shall come too late Meaning That if he made any stay he should finde him dead and gone These last words moved M. Lauson to take journey the morrow thereafter When he was come to the Town and had preached two severall times to the good liking of the people order was taken by the Rulers of the Church for his admission and the day appointed at which day John Knox himself would not onely be present but also preach though he could scarce walk on foot to the Chayre which he did with such fervency of spirit that at no time before was he heard to speak with such great power and more content to the hearers And in the end of the Sermon calling God to witnesse That he had walked in a good conscience amongst them not seeking to please men nor serving either his own or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth preached the Gospel of Christ With most grave and pithie words he exhorted them to stand fast in the Faith they had received And having conceived a zealous Prayer for the continuance of Gods blessing among them and the multiplying of his Spirit upon the Preacher who was then to be admitted he gave them his last fare-well The people did convey him to his lodging and could not be drawn from it so loath were they to depart from him and he the same day in the afternoon was forced to take bed During the time he lay which was not long he was much visited by all sorts of persons to whom he spake most comfortably Amongst others to the Earle of Morton who came to see him he was heard say My Lord God hath given you many blessings he hath given you Wisdom Honour high Birth Riches many good and great friends and is now to prefer you to the Government of the Realme the Earle of Marr late Regent being newly dead In his Name I charge you That ye will use these blessings better in times to come then you have done in times past In all your actions seek first the glory of God The furtherance of his Gospel The maintenance of his Church and Ministery and next Be carefull of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realme If you shall do this God will be with you and honour you If otherwise ye do it not he will deprive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignominy These speeches the Earle about nine yeers after at the time of his Execution called to minde saying That he had found them to be true and him therein a Prophet A day or two before his death he sent for Master David Lindsay Master James Lauson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church to whom he said The time is approaching for which I have long thirsted wherein I shall be relieved of all cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever And now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son That I have taught nothing but the true and solid Doctrine of the Gospel and that the end I proposed in all my Doctrine was To instruct the ignorant To confirm the weak To comfort the consciences of those that were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatnings of Gods Judgements Such as were proud and rebellious I am not ignorant that many have blamed and yet do blame my too great rigour and severity But God knoweth That in my heart I never hated the persons of those against whom I thundred Gods Judgements I did onely hate their sins and laboured according to my power to gain them to Christ That I did forbear none of whatsoever condition I did it out of the fear of my God who hath placed me in the Function of his Ministery and I know will bring me to an account Now brethren for your selves I have no more to say but to warn you That you take heed to the Flock over which God hath placed you Overseers which he hath redeemed by the Blood of his onely begotten Son And you Master Lauson fight a good fight do the Work of the Lord with courage and with a willing minde And God from above blesse you and the Church whereof you have charge Against it so long as it continueth in the Doctrine of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevail This spoken and the Elders and the Deacons dimitted he called the two Preachers unto him and said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly You have sometimes seen the courage and constancy of the Laird of Grange in the cause of God and that most unhappy man hath cast himself away I will pray you two to take the pains to go unto him and say from me That unlesse he forsake that wicked course wherein he is entred neither shall the Rock in which he confideth defend him nor the carnall wisedom of that man whom he counteth half a god this was young Lethington yeeld him help but shamefully he shall be pulled out of that nest and his carkase hung before the Sun meaning the Castle he did keep against the Kings Authority And so it fell out the yeer next following for the Castle was taken and he was publikely hanged and his body hung before the Sun The soul of that man is dear unto me and if it be possible I could fain have him to be saved They went as he had desired and conferred a long space with Grange but with no perswasion could he be diverted from his course Which being reported he took most heavily Yet Grange at his death did expresse serious repentance for his sins The next day he gave order for making his Coffin wherein his body should be laid and was that day as thorow all the time of his sicknesse much in prayer crying Come Lord Jesu Sweet Jesu into thy hands I commend my Spirit Being asked by those that attended him if his pains were great he answered That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles and beginning of eternall Joyes Oftentimes after some deep meditations he burst forth in these words O serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome unto you Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Jesus In the evening which was the last of this wretched life having slept some hours together
but with great unquietnesse for he was heard to send forth many sighs and groans one Campbell and one John Johnston which two waited very diligently upon him asked after he awaked How he did finde himselfe and what it was that made him to mourn so heavily in his sleep To whom he answered In my life time I have oft been assaulted with Satan and many times he hath cast in my teeth my sins to bring me to despair yet God gave me strength to overcome all his tentations And now that subtill Serpent who never ceases to tempt hath taken another course and seeks to perswade me That all my labours in the Ministery and the fidelity that I have shewn in that Service hath merited heaven and immortality But blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures What hast thou that thou hast not received And Not I but the grace of God in me With which he is gone away ashamed and shall no more returne And now I am sure my Battell is at an end and that without pain of body or trouble of spirit I shall shortly change this mortall and miserable life with that happy and immortall which shall never have an end After which discourse a Prayer was said neer his bed where he lay which being ended it was asked If he heard the Prayer He answered Would to God that ye had heard it with such an ear and heart as I have done Adding Lord Jesu receive my Spirit With which words without any motion of hands or feet as one falling a sleep rather then dying he ended his life He was a man endued with many excellent gifts and with a very great measure of the Spirit God raised him up to be a chief Instrument of the glorious Work of Reformation The Court claw-backs and parasites have been and are displeased with his Doctrine touching the Authority of Princes and Civill Magistrates although there was never man born who did more heartily reverence Civill Authority nor obey more willingly the lawfull commands thereof then he All his Doctrine concerning the Civill Authority was To correct the corruption brought in by the slavish flatterers who abusing the simplicity and debonaritie of those whom God has placed in Authority maketh them inconsiderately to rebell wilfully and openly against God and his Son and turn all things up-side down and undo the poor people of God for whose good and safety they are placed so high Likewise were and are to this day the proud Prelats and idle belly-gods highly offended with his Doctrine concerning Church-Government although he intended no other thing but the pulling down of Antichristianisme fully and casting all tyranny and Idlenesse out of the House of God Never was a man more observant of the true and just Authority of the Church-Rulers according to the Word of God and practice of the purest Primitive times He alwayes urged pressingly due Obedience by the people to the faithfull Pastors and Elders of the Church Although he was both learned and eloquent yet did he not much apply his minde to compose Books for Posterity for he was wont to say That God had called him rather to instruct the ignorant comfort the sorrowfull rebuke the sinners and confirm the weak living in his time then to make Books for ages to come Neverthelesse he wrote severall good Pieces for besides what we have spoken of already namely he left these A learned Treatise against the blasphemous Anabaptists Two Treatises against the Masse One of the Eucharist Some Sermons upon Genesis Some also upon the Psalms An Exhortation to all afflicted Churches An Advice in time of trouble The first blast of the Trumpet c. He died Anno Dom. 1572 and of his age 62. His body was interred at S. Giles without the Church To his Buriall assisted many men of all Ranks among others the Earle of Morton who being neer to the grave as the Corps was put in said by way of Epitaph Here lies the body of him who in his life time never feared the face of man THE PREFACE THe SCOTS by the most judicious Writers and by those who have most diligently studied their Antiquities are acknowledged to be among the first who embraced the Faith of Christ yea they are said to be by some of the very first-fruits of the Gentiles For in few yeers after the Ascension of our Saviour Jesus Christ the Apostles and Disciples being constrained to leave Ierusalem and Iudea by reason of the Persecutions raised against them by the Jews according to the dispensation of the All-wise God went up and down the world and speaking to every People in their own Language declared unto them the glad Tydings of Salvation in Christ Jesus Those who came into our Northern Parts to wit into Scotland and first made known unto our Fathers the Mysteries of Heaven were of the disciples of Iohn the Apostle Some yeers thereafter to wit in the second Persecution raised against the Christians many Britons Provincials of the Empire professing the Name of Christ left their own countrey and went into Scotland for shelter from the generall Massacre then executed thorowout the whole Empire by that bloody Butcher Domitian and to enjoy the freedom of the Gospel which they knew to be received then in Scotland Among these fugitive Britons there were sundry learned and pious men who stayed in Scotland the Persecution ended propagating the Faith of Christ there by their Preaching This we have related unto us by the Historians of best trust We have not then from the Sea of Rome our first Institution in the Christian Faith yea we are so far from it that for many yeers together we hardly had any communication with Rome at all Palladius was the first some yeers after the beginning of the fifth Age who made our acquaintance with Rome although the generall current of the Romish Writers give out That the Gospel was first planted amongst us in Scotland by the means of Victor Bishop of Rome Yet Baronius that renowned Chronologer albeit he would fain have the Scots owe this Obligation unto Rome disclaimeth this opinion of his Party as untrue and disagreeing with the best Antiquity Tertullian who lived in the second Age and wrote Books divers yeers before the end thereof and so was so neer the planting of the Christian Faith amongst the Nations that in a manner he may be said to have been an eye-witnesse unto it in his Book against the Jews speaking how the Light of the Gospel was spread thorow the whole world saith thus The Euangel was diffused into all the parts of the world yea into Britanie and into that part of the Island whereunto the Roman Forces did never pierce By these last words of Tertullian are meant the inhabitants of that part of the Island which lieth benorth the walls first built by Adrian then by Antoninus Pius thirdly by Severus and these were the Scots by name For the Romans put walls betwixt them and the Scots
and hit him so spitefully with the Popes thunder that the ignorant people dreaded lest the earth then would have swallowed him up quick Notwithstanding he stood still with great patience hearing their sayings not once moving or changing his countenance When that this fat sow had read thorowout all his lying menaces his face running down with sweat and froathing at the mouth like a boare He spate at M. Georges face saying What answers thou to these sayings Thou runagate traitour theefe which we have duely proved by sufficient witnesse against thee Master George hearing this sate downe upon his knees in the Pulpit making his prayer to God When he had ended his Prayer sweetly and Christianly he answered unto them all in this manner Master George his ORATION MAny and horrible sayings unto me a Christian man many words abominable for to heare have ye spoken here this day which not onely to teach but also to thinke I thought it ever great abomination Wherefore I pray your discretions quietly to heare me that ye may know what were my Sayings and the manner of my Doctrine This my Petition my Lords I desire to be heard for three causes The first is Because through preaching of the Word of God his glory is made manifest It is reasonable therefore for the advancing of the glory of God that ye heare me teaching truely the pure and sincere Word of God without any dissimulation The second reason is Because that your health springeth of the Word of God for he worketh all things by his Word It were therefore an unrighteous thing if ye should stop your eares from me teaching truely the Word of God The third reason is Because your Doctrine speaketh forth many pestilentious blasphemous and abominable words not coming by the inspiration of God but of the devill on no lesse perill than my life It is just therefore and reasonable for your discretions to know what my words and Doctrine are and what I have ever taught in my time in this Realme that I perish not unjustly to the great perils of your selves Wherefore both for the glory of God your owne health and safeguard of my life I beseech your discretions to heare me and in the meane time I shall recite my Doctrine without any colour First and chiefly since the time that I came into this Realme I taught nothing but the ten Commandments of God the twelve Articles of the Faith and the Prayer of the Lord in the mother Tongue Moreover in Dundie I taught the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes And I shall shew your discretions faithfully what fashion and-manner I used when I taught without any humane dread So that your discretions give me your eares benevolent and attentive Suddenly then with a loud voyce cryed the accuser the fat sow Thou Hereticke Runnagate Traytor and Thief It was not lawfull for thee to preach thou hast taken the power at thine owne hand without any authority of the Church We forthinke that thou hast been a Preacher so long Then said the whole Congregation of the Prelats with their complices these words If we give him license to Preach he is so crafty and in holy Scriptures so exercised that he will perswade the people to his opinion and raise them against us M. George seeing their malicious and wicked intent appealed to an indifferent and equall Judge To whom the accuser Iohn Lawder aforesaid with hoggish voyce answered Is not my Lord Cardinall the second person within this Realme Chancellor of Scotland Archbishop of Saint Andrewes Bishop of Merepose Commendator of Arbroth Legatus natus Legatus a Latere And so reciting as many Titles of his unworthy Honours as would have laden a Ship much sooner an Asse Is not he quoth Iohn Lawder an equall JUDGE apparently to thee Whom other desirest thou to be thy JUDGE To whom this humble man answered saying I refuse not my Lord Cardinall but I desire the Word of God to be my Iudge the Temporall estate with some of your Lordships mine auditors because I am here my Lord Governours prisoner Whereupon the pridefull and scornfull people that stood by mocked him saying Such man such Iudge speaking seditious and reproachfull words against the Governour and other of the Nobles meaning them also to be hereticks And incontinent without all delay they would have given sentence upon M. George and that without further Processe had not certain men there councelled my Lord Cardinall to reade againe the Articles and to heare his answers thereupon that the people might not complaine of his wrongfull condemnation And shortly for to declare These were the Articles following with his Answers as far they would give him leave to speak For when he intended to mitigate their leasings and shew the manner of his Doctrine by and by they stopped his mouth with another Article The first Article Thou false Hereticke Runnagate Traytor and Thief Deceiver of the people despisest the Church and in like case contemnes my Lord Governours Authority And this we know of surety That when thou preachedst in Dundie and was charged by my Lord Governours Authority to desist neverthelesse thou wouldest not obey but persevered in the same And therefore the Bishop of Breachen cursed thee and delivered thee into the Devils hand and gave thee then Commandment That thou shouldest preach no more yet notwithstanding thou didst continue obstinately The Answer My Lords I have read in the Acts of the Apostles That it is not lawfull for the threats and menaces of men to desist from the preaching of the Gospel Therefore it is written We shall rather obey God than men I have also read the Prophet Malachie I shall curse your blessings and blesse your cursings saith the Lord. Believing firmly That he would turn your cursings into blessings The second Article Thou false heretick didst say That a Priest standing at the Altar saying Masse was like a Fox wagging his taile in July The Answer My Lords I said not so These were my sayings The moving of the body outward without inward moving of the heart is nought else but the playing of an Ape and not the true serving of God For God is a secret searcher of mens hearts Therefore who will truely adore and honour God he must in spirit and verity honour him Then the accuser stopped his mouth with another Article The third Article Thou false hereticke Preachest against the Sacraments saying That there are not seven Sacraments The Answer My Lords It is not so by your pleasures I taught never of the number of the Sacraments whether there were seven or eleven so many as are instituted by Christ and are showne to us by the Gospel I professe openly Except it be the Word of God I dare affirme nothing The fourth Article Thou false hereticke hast openly taught That Auricular Confession is not a blessed Sacrament and thou saist That we should onely confesse us to God and to no Priest The Answer My Lords I say
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
suffered in body in respect of that wherewith sometimes she was troubled in spirit She answered A thousand yeere of this torment and ten times more joyned unto it is not to be compared in the quarter of an houre that I suffered in my spirit I thanke my God through Iesus Christ that hath delivered me from that fearfull pain and welcome be this even so long as it pleaseth his godly Majestie to exercise me therewith A little before her departure she desired her sisters and some others that were beside her to sing a Psalme and amongst others she appointed the 103. Psalme beginning My soule praise thou the Lord alwayes which ended she said At the Teaching of this Psalme began my troubled soule first effectually to taste of the mercy of my God which now to me is more sweet and precious then if all the kingdomes of the earth were given to me to possesse them a thousand yeeres The Priests urged her with their Ceremonies and Superstitions To whom she answered Depart from me ye Sergeants of Satan for I have refused and in your own presence doe refuse all your abominations That which you call your Sacrament and Christs body as ye have deceived us to beleeve in times past is nothing but an Idoll and hath nothing to do with the right Institution of Iesus Christ and therefore in Gods Name I command you not to trouble me They departed alleadging That she raved and wist not what she said And she shortly after slept in the Lord Jesus to no small comfort of those that saw her blessed departing This we could not omit of this worthy woman who gave so notable a Confession before that the great light of Gods Word did universally shine thorowout this Realme At the first coming of the said Iohn Knox he perceiving divers who had a zeale to godlinesse make small scruple to go to the Masse or to communicate with the abused Sacraments in the Papisticall manner began as well in privie Conference as in Preaching to shew the impietie of the Masse and how dangerous a thing it was to communicate in any sort with Idolatrie wherewith the conscience of some being affrighted the matter began to be agitate from man to man And so was the said Iohn called to Supper by the Laird of Dun for that same purpose where were assembled David Forresse Master Robert Lockart Iohn Willocke and William Maitland of Lethington younger a man of good Learning and of sharpe wit and reasoning The Question was Proposed and it was answered by the said Iohn That in no wise it was lawfull to a Christian to present himselfe to that Idoll Nothing was omitted that might serve for the purpose and yet was every head so fully answered and especially one whereunto they thought their great defence stood To wit That Paul at the commandment of Iames and of the Elders of Ierusalem passed to the Temple and fained himselfe to pay his vow with others This we say and other things were so fully answered that William Maitland concluded saying I see very perfectly that our shifts will serve nothing before God seeing that they stand us in so small stead before men The answer of Iohn Knox to the fact of Paul and to the commandment of Iames was That Pauls fact had nothing to do with their going to Masse For to pay Vowes was sometimes Gods Commandment as was never Idolatry But their Masse from the originall was and remained odious Idolatry Therefore the fact was most unlike Secondarily said he I greatly doubt whether either Iames his commandment or Pauls obedience proceeded of the holy Ghost We know their counsell tendeth to this That Paul would shew himselfe one that observed diligently the very small points of the Law to the end he might purchase to himself the favours of the Jews who were offended at him by reason of the bruites that were spread That he taught defection from Moses Now while he obeyed their counsell he fell into the most desperate danger that ever he sustained before whereby it was evident That God approved not that mean of reconciliation but rather that he plainely declareth That evil should not be done that good might come of it Evil it was for Paul to confirme those obstinate Jewes in their Superstition by his example worse it was to him to expose himselfe and the Doctrine which before he had taught to slander and mockage And therefore concluded the said Iohn That the fact of Paul and the sequell that thereof followed appeared rather to fight against them that would go to the Masse then to give unto them any assurance to follow his example unlesse that they would that the like trouble should instantly apprehend them that apprehended him for obeying worldly-wise councell After these and like reasonings the Masse began to be abhorred of such as before used it for the fashion and avoiding of slander as then they termed it Iohn Knox at request of the Laird of Dun followed him to his place of Dun where he remained a moneth daily exercised in Preaching whereunto resorted the principall men of that countrey After this returning his residence was most in Calder whither repaired unto him the Lord Erskin the Earle of Argyle then Lord of Lorne and Lord Iames then Priour of S. Andrews and after Earle of Murrey where they heard and so approved his Doctrine that they wished it to have been publike That same Winter he taught commonly in Edinburgh and after Christmas by the conduct of the Laird of Bar and Robert Campbell of Kingieancleuch he came to Kyle and taught in the Bar in the house of the Caâ—nell in the Kingieancleuch in the Town of Air and in the houses of Uchiltrie and Gathgirth and in some of them he ministred the Lords Table Before Easter the Earl of Glencarne sent for him to his place of Fynlaston where after Sermon he also ministred the Lords Table Whereof besides himself were partakers his Lady two of his sons and certain of his friends And so returned he to Calder where divers from Edinburgh and from the Countrey about assembled as well for the Doctrine as for the right use of the Lords Table which before they had never practised From thence he departed the second time to the Laird of Dun and teaching then in greater liberty the Gentlemen required That he should minister likewise unto them the Table of the Lord Jesus where were partakers the most part of the Gentlemen of the Mernes who God be praised to this day do constantly remain in the same doctrine which then they professed To wit That they refused all society with Idolatry and bent themselves to the uttermost of their powers to maintain the true Preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God should offer unto them Preachers and opportunitie The bruite hereof spread for the Friers from all quarters flocked to the Bishops the said Iohn Knox was summoned to appear in the Church of the blacke
which day and of the judgement to be executed in the same is not onely to us a Bridle whereby our carnall lusts are reserved but also such inestimable comfort that neither may the threatning of worldly Princes neither yet the feare of temporall death and present danger move us to renounce and forsake that blessed societie which we the members have with our Head and onely Mediatour Christ Jesus whom we confesse and avow to be the Messias promised the onely Head of the Church our just Lawgiver our onely High Priest Advocate and Mediator In whose honours and Offices if a man or Angell presume to intrude themselves we utterly detest and abhorre them as blasphemous to our Soveraigne Governour Christ Jesus XII Faith in the Holy Ghost THis our faith and the assurance of the same proceedeth not from flesh and blood that is to say from no naturall powers within us but is the inspiration of the Holy Ghost whom we confesse God equall with the Father and with the Sonne who sanctified us and bringeth us into all veritie by his own operation without whom we should remaine for ever enemies to God and ignorant of his Sonne Christ Jesus For of nature we are so dead so perverse and blinde that neither we can feel when we were pricked see the light when it shineth nor assent to the will of God when it is revealed onely the Spirit of the Lord Jesus quickeneth that which is dead removeth the darknesse from our mindes and boweth our stubborne hearts to the obedience of his blessed will and so as we confesse that God the Father created us when we were not as his Sonne our Lord Jesus redeemed us when we were enemies to him So also we confesse that the Holy Ghost doth sanctifie and regenerate us without all respect of any merit proceeding from us be it before or be it after our regeneration To speak this one thing yet in more plain words as we willingly spoile our selves of all honour and glory of our own Creation and Redemption so do we also of our regeneration and sanctification for of selves we are not sufficient to thinke one good thought but he who hath begun the good work in us is onely he that continueth us in the same to the praise and glory of his undeserved grace XIII The cause of good works SO that the cause of good Works we confesse to be not of free Will but the Spirit of the Lord Iesus who dwelling in our hearts by true faith bringeth forth such good works as God hath prepared for us to walke in for this we most boldly affirme that blasphemie it is to say that Christ Jesus abideth in the heart of such as in whom there is no spirit of sanctification and therefore we feare not to affirme that Murderres Oppressors cruell Persecutors Adulterers Whoremongers filthy Persons Idolaters Drunkards Theeves and all workers of iniquitie have neither true faith neither any portion of the Spirit of Sanctification which proceedeth from the Lord Jesus so long as they obstinately continue in their wickednesse For how soon so ever the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which Gods Elect Children receive by true faith taketh possession in the heart of any man so soon doth he regenerate and renew the same man so that he begins to hate that which before he loved and beginneth to love that which before he hated and from thence cometh to that continuall battaile which is betwixt the flesh and the Spirit in Gods Children while the flesh and naturall man according to their own corruption lusteth for things pleasing and delectable to it self grudgeth in adversitie is lifted up in prosperitie and at every moment is prone and ready to offend the Majestie of God but the Spirit of God which giveth witnessing unto our spirit that we are the sonnes of God maketh us to resist the Devill to abhorre filthie pleasures to groane in Gods presence for deliverance from this bondage of corruption and finally to triumph over sinne that it reigne not in our mortall bodies This battaile have not the carnall men being destitute of Gods Spirit but do follow and obey sinne with greedinesse and without repentance even as the Devill and their corrupt lusts do prick them But the Sons of God as afore is said do fight against sin do sob and mourn when they perceive themselves tempted to iniquity and if they fall they rise again with earnest and unfained repentance and these things they do not by their own power but the power of our Lord Jesus without whom they were able to do nothing worketh in them all that is good XIIII What works are reputed good before God VVE confesse and acknowledge That God hath given to man his holy Law in which not onely are forbidden all such works as displease and offend his godly Majesty but also are commanded all such as please him and as he hath promised to reward And these works be of two sorts the one are done to the honour of God the other to the profit of our neighbours And both have the revealed Will of God for their assurance To have one God To worship and honour him To call upon him in all our troubles To reverence his holy Name To hear his Word To believe the same To communicate his holy Sacraments are the works of the first Table To honour father and mother Princes Rulers and superiour Powers To love them To support them yea To obey their Charges not repugning to the Commandment of God To save the life of Innocents To represse tyranny To defend the oppressed To keep our bodies clean and holy To live in sobriety and temperance To deal justly with all men both in word and deed and finally To represse the appetite of our neighbours hurt are the good works of the second Table which are most pleasing and acceptable unto God as those works are commanded by himself The contrary thereof is sin most odious which always displeaseth him and provoketh him to anger as Not to call upon him alone when we have need Not to hear his Word with reverence To contemne and despise it To have or to worship Idols To maintain and defend Idolatry Lightly to esteem the reverent Name of God To profane abuse or contemne the Sacraments of Christ Jesus To disobey or resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they passe not over the bounds of their Office To murther or consent thereunto To bear hatred or to suffer Innocent blood to be shed if we may gainstand it and finally The transgressing of any other Commandment in the first or second Table we confesse and affirm to be sin by the which Gods hot displeasure is kindled against the proud and unthankfull world So that good works we affirme to be those onely that are done in Faith and at Gods Commandment who in his Law hath expressed what be the things that
Justice and Peace and Sathan called the Prince of the world so are they but two Armies that hath continued battell from the beginning and shall fight unto the end The quarrell is one which the Armie of Jesus Christ do sustain and which the reprobate do persecute to wit The eternall truth of the Eternall God and the Image of Jesus Christ printed in his Elect so that whosoever in any age persecuteth any one Member of IESUS CHRIST for his Truths sake subscribeth as it were with his hand the persecution of all that have passed before him And this ought the Tyrants of this age deeply to consider for they shall bee guilty not onely of the blood shed by themselves but of all as is said that hath been shed for the Cause of Jesus Christ from the beginning of the world Let the faithfull not bee discouraged although they bee appointed as Sheepe to the Slaughter-house for hee for whose sake they suffer shall not forget to revenge their cause I am not ignorant That flesh and blood will thinke that kinde of support too too late for wee had rather bee preserved still alive then to have our blood revenged after our death and truely if our felicitie stood in this life or if death temporall should bring unto us any damage our desire in that behalfe were not to bee disallowed or condemned But seeing that death is common to all and that this temporall life is nothing but miserie and that death doth fully joyne us with our God and giveth unto us the possession of our Inheritance why should we thinke it strange to leave this world and go to our Head and Soveraign Captain Jesus Christ Lastly we have to observe this manner of speaking where the Prophet saith that The earth shall disclose her blood In which words the Prophet would accuse the crueltie of those that dare so unmercifully and violently force from the Breasts of the Earth the dearest Children of God and cruelly cut their Throats in her bosome who is by God appointed the common mother of mankinde so that she unwillingly is compelled to open her mouth and receive their blood If such Tyrannie were used against any naturall woman as violently to pull her infant from her Breasts cut the Throat of it in her own bosome and compell her to receive the blood of her deare Childe in her owne mouth all Nations would hold the fact so abominable that the like had never been done in the course of nature no lesse wickednesse commit they that shed the Blood of Gods Children upon the face of their common mother the earth as I said before But bee of good courage O little and despised Flock of Christ Jesus for hee that seeth your griefe hath power to revenge it He will not suffer one teare of yours to fall but it shall bee kept and reserved in his Bottell till the fulnesse thereof bee poured downe from Heaven upon those that caused you to weep and mourne this your mercifull God I say will not suffer your blood for ever to be covered with the earth nay the flaming fires that have licked up the blood of any of our Brethren the earth that hath beene defiled with it I say with the blood of Gods Children for otherwise to shed the blood of the cruell blood-shedders is to purge the land from blood and as it were to sanctifie it The earth I say shall purge her selfe of it and shew it before the face of God yea the Beasts Fowls and other Creatures whatsoever shall be compelled to render that which they have received bee it Flesh Blood or Bones that appertained to thy Children O Lord which altogether thou shalt glorifie according to thy promise made to us in our Lord and Saviour IESUS CHRIST thy welbeloved Sonne to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour praise and glory for ever and ever Amen Let us now humble our selves in the presence of our God and from the bottome of our hearts let us desire him to assist us with the power of his Holy Spirit that albeit for our former negligences God giveth us over into the hands of other then such as rule in his fear that yet he letteth us not forget his mercy and that glorious Name that hath beene proclaimed amongst us but that wee may look thorow the dolorous storm of his present displeasure and see as well what punishment hee hath appointed for the cruell Tyrants as what reward hee hath laid in store for such as continue in his fear to the end That it would further please him to assist That albeit we see his Church so diminished that it appear to bee brought as it were to utter extermination that wee may be assured that in our God there is great power and will to increase the number of his Chosen untill they bee enlarged to rhe uttermost parts of the earth Give us O Lord hearts to visite thee in time of affliction and albeit we see no end of our dolours yet our faith and hope may conduct us to the assured hope of that joyfull resurrection in the which wee shall possesse the fruit of that for which now we labour In the mean time grant unto us O Lord to repose our selves in the sanctuary of thy promise that in thee we may finde comfort till that this thy great indignation begun amongst us may passe over and thou thy selfe appear to the comfort of thy afflicted and to the terrour of thine and our enemies Let us pray with heart and mouth Almighty God and mercifull Father c. Lord into thy Hands I commend my spirit for the terrible roaring of Gunnes and the noise of Armour do so pierce my heart that my soule thirsteth to depart The last day of August 1565. at four of the Clock in the Afternoon written indigestly but yet truly so farre as memomory would serve of those things that in publike I spake on Sunday August 19. for the which I was discharged to preach for a time Be mercifull to thy Flock O Lord and at thy good pleasure put end to my misery JOHN KNOX FINIS Scoti ex discipulis Joannis Apostoli Christianismum edocti sunt Buch. Lib. 5. Multi ex Britonibus Christiani saevitiam Domitiani metuentes in Scotiam commigrarunt è quib is complures doctrina vitae integritate clari in eâ subsisterunt Buch. Lib. 4. Eâ—angelium fuit diffusam in omnes orbis partes etiam in Britanniam usque eamque insulae partem ad quam Romanae vires nunquam penetrâ—rum Tert. lib. contra Judaeos Antoninus Pius Britannos vicit alio muro câ—spicio submotis Barbaris ducto Jul. Cap. Britanniam muro per transversam insulam ducto utrumque ad finem Oceani munivit Adrianus murum primus ducit qui Barbaros Romanósque dividit Aelius Spartianus Venit extremis legio praetenta Britannis Quae Scoto dat froena truci id est opposita Scotis quae eorum furorem a Britannis