the wraith of god aby dis vpon him we further affirme that without the sociecie and bo some of the trew kirk neuer was is nor salbe saluatiouÌ„ vnto man In thir and lyke generall heidis we disagre nocht froÌ„ the Papistis but the diference and dout standis in the specialis to wit quhat faith is and what ground it hes what is religioun and wherin it differis from superstitâ—oun and from I dololatrie And finallie what is the trew kirk and whou it may be decerned from the sinagoge of Sathan Thir heades we say onght he in special to haif intreted wnto zou if he had bene mynded to haue instructed Zou in a treuth â–ª But becaus as the progres of his letter declareth his mynd was to draw you to ye boudage of that Romane Antechrist he takes generall propositions most trew and most certane in thame selues wherupon he wold conclude that which is most fals and all together pernitious to the salauatioun of man Bot thet the craft of sathan moir euidently appear we shall draw his persuasioun in forme of argument and efter returne to the farther meaning of the Propheit and to the declaratioun of thir termis faith religioun and catholick kirk â–ª the Propheit affirmes that whosoeuer sall nocht serue Ierusalem shall perishe Bot the promeis maid to Inrusalem apertenis wnto the kirk ergo whosoeuer seruis nocht the kirk fall perisse This hoil argument we admit and most coÌ„stantly we do affirme it and yet sall he neuer be able to proue his entent which is that the kirk of scotland is no kirk we wil oppin the wound which the wryter of the letter keapes couerit and yet it most greuis him as it doeth the rest of all Papistis The realme of scotland all praise to god hes refused the Pape that Romane antechrist and nocht only be preaching bot also be the publict lawes hes dampned his tyrannical lawis his odious superstitiouns and vsurped iurisdictioun And thairfoir cry the Papistis that we at declyned from the trew kirk and ar fâ—llen back from the catholick faith But befoir that thai be able to conuict ws of those crymes thay monpreiâ— two thinges â—ormer that whatseouer was promysed to Ierusalem dois properly and only apertene wnto Rome and this mon thay do not be coniectures but be plane wordis as god prononced be his propheit of Ierusalem â–ª this is the first the secound is that albeit Rome war al 's able to proue a promise maid to it as Ierusalem was of whome it was said this is my rest heare will I dwell becaus I haue chosin it and albeit that the Papis of Rome whome he stylis the perpetuall successioun of that kirk had as ane assured and plane probatioun that be god thay wre called be god they wer admitted and that be god thay sould be mantenyd in thair ministerie and functioun as that the leuites and successioun of Aaron had to produce at all tymes for their defence yet if they we say who call thame selues the successouris of the Apostlis be nocht able to proueihat thai haif constantly remaned in the first league and conuenant which christ Iesus maid with his Apostolis when he send thame furth to preache the glaid tydingis of the kingdome and to establish his throne not only amonges the Iewis bot also amonges the gentiles according to the former propheseis Albeid we say that all thir former thai wer able to proue as thai ar neuer able to do yet haue they said no thing that may help thair caus not hurt ouris onles that they thairwith planely proue that the kirk of Rome and the successioun of the same hes remanit and yet remaneth in the original puâ—itie of the Apostils in doctrine lyfe lawes and ceremoneis For thir being corrupted the tytill of successioun will na mair help thame theÌ„ did the braging of the preistis wnder ye law who cryit aganis the propheit leremie the temple of the lord te temple of the lord the temple of the lord â–ª what was answeret wn to them let the .7 chap. of his prophesie witnes Butfarther of the assurance theirof efter Now mon we sumthing speak of faith religioun and catholick kirk wherwith he wold terrifie yowr conscience and deface the trewth and then mon we auswer to his bleaspheamous tauntis and mockage befoir we haâ—f confessit that to leue without faith without religioun and vithout the societie of the catholick kirk bringis with it most cettanely death and damnatioun But yet we affirme that al opinioun that is commonly receaued wnder the name of faith is nocht faith whilk god aprouis bot trew faith mon haue for the ground and assurance theirof godis expressed word of his mercy promysed in christ Iesus wher to the heart of the faith full mon coÌ„sent so moued be the haly gaist And thairfoir we fear not to affirme that the Papistis hauing no better ground for thair faith then coÌ„sent of men decreis of counsals and antiquitie of tyme haâ—f no faith bot a fond yea â–ª a damnable opinion And the same we affirme of religioun which if it be pleasing and acceptable wnto God must haue his awin commandement and approbatioun for a warrand otherwais it can nocht be bot odious in his presence as a thing repugning to his expres commandement saying not that which appearis Good in thy awin eyis sall thou do to the lord thy God bot what the lord thy God hes commanded the that do thou ade nothing to it diminishe nothing from it Be this precept of that eternall God who is immutable and that can command nothing but that which is iust aâ— all plâ—ple realms and natiounis that will auow theme selues to be the inheritance of the lord bound and oblist to measure their religioun not be the exemple of other realmes nather yet be their owen good intentioun or determinatioun of men but only be the expressed word of God So that what theirein is commanded aucht to bedone and what is not commanded be him aucht in na wyse to be done be the people of God what apperance or externall shaw of holynes that euer it hes And thairfoir haue we most iustly reiected the rable of ceremoneis which the Papistis held for the cheif exercise of thair religioun as thingis hauing na better ground then the inuention and consent of men Now shortlie of the kirk communlie callit catholick The name of the kirk is commun and is taken as weil for the congregatione of the wicked as for the assemble of the godlie as it is plane be the wordes of Dauid sayng I haue hatet the kirk or the assemble of the wicked the terme Catholick which signifyes vniuersal heth not included in it that vertew which Papistis alledge that is that whatsoeuer is Catholick that most be goode For if so wer than sin in the originall world shuld haue bene gude â–ª for it wes so catholick
trew kirk Bot gif ze wald affirme the halines of the kirk to confist in the dew and lauchfull administratioun of the sacramentis and coÌ„digne professione of the faith as ze appeir to allege â–ª ze micht alsuay thairby perfytlie vnderst and that it is in Lykmaner obscuir and ane ondecydet controuersie For all heretâ—kes hes continuallie vnto this present hour vsurped that as ane taikin and note for approbatioun of thair kirk As to the notis and taikines of tho trew kirk thay suld be sua appropriat to it that thay may nocht be vsurpet be fals propheites be onie meanis as that the kirk is vniuersall and that it hes continewall successioun of pastoures Quhilk tuay markis did neuer as zet aggrie to onie assemblie or congregatioun of heretikes Becaus that all heretikes hes decayet from the trew kirk suay thair sinagoge at all tyme culd nocht be vniuersall and be that same resson thay culd neuer be albe to schaw contineuatioun of thair pastoures Bot did euer gadder to thame selfis ane ordour of ministeris without onie lauchfull beginning as testifeis S. Augustin in his questionis of the auld and new testament saing quhasoeuer hathe collected thame selfis ane seit nocht in tke kirk of God we affirme it to be the cheir of pestilence In respect thay do cummer and molest the ondouted ordour begun at Petir and be continuall successioun of pastoures deducet vnto this present hour making to thame selfes ane ordour without beginning and ane bodie without ane head Quhairfoir in respect thais infallible and suir notes of the kirk of God can nocht be no meanes corespond to zour sinagoge it is maist notoriouflie knawin that ze and the remanant of zour propheites ar alluterlie separat froÌ„ the trew kirk zet pretermittaÌ„d that of fiftie sectes quhilkis dois regne this day euerie ane of thame dois attribuit to thame selfe the rycht administratioun of the sacramentis and the confessioun of faith and beleues as ze do that thay teche na thing bot the sinceir word of God To preif that this mark dois on na way conuein to zour kirk for the present I will wse bot ane aryument The richt administratioun of ye sacramentis and the confessioun of faith or onlie notes of the visible kirk zour kirk afoir Iohne caluin was inuisible as ze coÌ„fesse all reddie Thâ—irfoir it culd nocht be knawin be the formar notes and consequentlie the kirk of God hes bene destitute this monie kuÌ„dreth zeiris of hir maist certane and infallible markes quhilk is ane great blasphemie As quhain ze say that it wilbie verray hard to me and to all thame quhome ze call Iesuistis to preif that the Romane kirk onlie is halie it is nawais hard bot verray easie Becaus that the halines of the kirk is suay coÌ„tonet with the forsaid noâ—es that is with the vniuersalitie and lauchfull suceession of pastouris that it can on na ways be separat Thairfoir considdering that amangis all congregationis quha does profes the name of Christ thai onlie quha dois adheir to the Romane kirk can be able to schaw sic successioun with vniuersalitie it followis of necessitie that â—rew halines do is onlie appertein to thame And as Zour sinagoge is destitute of the formar notis sua of necessitie it is destitute of all halines Bot Schir Iohne knox to seduce the semple people do is argument sua as gif the halines of the kirk culd be separat fra the vniuersalitie thairof and the lauchfull succession of Paustouris quhilk is maist fals erronius and repugnant to all scriptures For the Apostoles did conione thais â—uay notes together I beleif the halie catholick kirk Becaus the kirk of God as it is halie sua it is caeholick or vniuersall And onles Schir Iohne knox proué his kirk to be catholick it is impossible that it be halie THE REST OF SCHIR IOHNE knox ansuer BOt now that the vanitie of his argument may the moir euidentlie appeare we will in as few wordis as we can examine the mynd of the propheit Sic as diligeÌ„tly markis the scope of the propheit Isaias sais cleirlie that from the 40. chap. of his prophecie to the end of the same he traueillis principally to coÌ„fort IerusaleÌ„ and the natioun of the lewis whose miserable distructioun and fearefull captiuttie he foresaw in spreit Pronunced the same in his publict sermonis and left the memoâ—riall and on douted register their of to the posteritie that was to follow and was to be partakeris of all the plaigues that wer befoir spoken And least that they in the myddis of you calamitie suld haif disparit of any delyuerance from the same 40. chap back we say that the propheit as the messinger of Godis mercy pronounced to Ierusalem to mont syon and to the afflicted Iewis delyuerance from captiuitie the protectioÌ„ of God to be their defence the distruction of Babylone and of all their enemies the cumming of the Messias promysed wnto them the felicitie of his kingdome the vocatione of the Gentiles and finally the promyses flowing from mercy that he had maid vnto them to continew for euer And among thir manyfold promysis this was one the kingdome and the natioun that sall not serue thee sall perishe Now glaâ—dly wald we learne of the wryter to what realme to what natione to what prouince or citie will he appoint ws that thairin we may serue Iesus Christ and his immaculate spous the kirk to the end that we shall not perishe if he will name Rome and the kirk theirof then must we demand two thinges the former what become of all the faithfull the space of a thousand yeares that flowed betuix the making of the former promyses and the dayis of the Apostilis what tyme the Euangell began publictly to be offered wnto the Gentiles All whiche tyme Rome was nothing bot a den of Idolatrie we think he will nocht say that the faithfull perished and we ar bauld to say that the faithfull serued not Rome nather yet the kirk contenit thairin all that tyme this is the first whereof we wold be resolued The second is that if the wryter will alledge that during all the tyme the promise foirsaid apperteaned to IerusaleÌ„ and wnto mont Syon but that after that the Euangell was receaued of the Gentiles the promise which befoir was maid te Ierusalem was transfered wnto Rome If so be we pray the wryter that efter he hes consulted with the fynest Papistis be they Iesuites or be thay otheris that he will shaw wuto ws where we shall find the resignâ—tioun and the asseurance theirof we clearlie read the promis maid to Ierusalem and wnto moÌ„t syon we find that the euangell was there preachet in dispyte of Sathan we find that from thence Peter and I hone wer send to samarea and therefter the euangell was planted amonges the gentilles we findfarher
be verteis of zour awin iugement ze ar condemned be resson as interpretis Tertullian ze haue electâ—d and chosin that wnto zou on the quhilk zour condemnatioun dothe iustlie follow quhairfore ze mister nocht to call God so oft to witnes quha has all reddy pronunced his sentence aganis zou to be haldin as ane ethniâ—k and publican in respect ze do nocht Obey his kirk â–ª For as testifies Cipriane â–ª he sall nocht in ony sort haue God to his father quha refuset the kirk to hâ—s mother and quhâ— is nocht ane membre of the bodie of Christ can nocht be quikned â—e his spreit THE REST OF SCHIR Iohne knox ansuer THe ansner to the secund can nocht be so schort for his assertioun aggâ—eis so lytle with the place of the Propheit that we 〈◊〉 in dout whether he has trauelled to vnderstand the mynd of the propheit His assertion is this Of the kirk whereof the propheit speaketh it is said be him in the secuÌ„d chap that it shal be manifest and visible through all the world The wordes of the propheit at these It shal be in the last dayes that the montane of the hous of the lord shal be prepared in the top of the montanis and shal be exalted aboue the hilles and all nationes sall flow vnto it And many people shall go and say cum let ws go vp vnto the montane of the lord to the hous of the God of Iacob and he will reache ws his wayes and we will walk in his pathes For the law shall go furth of Syon and the word of the lord from Hierusalem and he shall iudge among the nationes and rebuke many people c. In thais wordis of the propheit we find no such thing as the kirk shal be manifest and visible through all the world we acknawledge a promise of glade thinges to cum to be ioyned to Hierusalem and vnto mont â—yon after the miserable distructioun of the same we find the tyme appointed to wit the last dayes But that the promise may be better tryed we must â—now of the wryter when these last dayis began and quhen thay shal be compleit We must further know if there be any one certane place appointed â–ª in the which it is said that the kirk of God shal be visible â–ª and manifest in all ages These tuo heades being considdered it shal be moir easie to iudge of the assertioun of the wryter and whou it aggreis with the mynd of the propheit And first we think that the wryter wil nocht deny but the last dayes whereof the propheit speakes begaÌ„ long befoir that euer the Euangell of Iesus Christ wes knowen or publictlie receaued in Rome to wit at the appearing of Iesus Christ in the fleshe when that â—e reueled vnto the world the hole will of his father For so ar we taught be the apostle sayng God in auld tymes spak vnto oure fatheres in diuers maners be the pro hetes in the last dayes he hath spoken to ws be his sone c. and the Apostle Peter in that his most notable sermone made to Ierusalem the day of Penthecost affiâ—es that the prophesie of Ioell maid as concerning the pouring furth of Godes graces vpon all fleshe in the last dayes wes euen then compleit quhen that the holie spreit discended doun vpon those that beleued So then we haue gotten the last dayes to haue begun with Iesus Christ who is the glorie of the secund temple when think we that thay ended If the wryter wil say â— when Rome receaued the Euangel then wes the accomplishement of the last days As men iustly may dout thairof so will the apostle planelie deny it saying the spreit speaketh euideÌ„tlie that in the last tymes some shall depart froÌ„ the faith c. Wherof we may gadder that the Apostle appointeth the last tymes to continew longer then that the Euangell was ones publictly preached ro wit till that meÌ„â—hould begin to sall from the faith and giue airis to the doctrine of deuilles Yea if we will searche the scriptures we shall find that the last dayes continew from the first appearing of Iesus Christ in fleshe vnto his last returning vnto iudgement So that the last dayes do not onely include the first publicatioun of the Euangell but also the defectioun from it yea and the restitutioun of it agane vnto the world be the brightnes wherof that man of sin should be reuealed and distroied wherof we conclude that if the last dayes do yet continew wherof the prophet maketh mentioun the thinges promised to be performed in theme are not yet alltogether compleit but ar in thare progres and shall so procead till that all be finished that is for spoken be the holie prophetes and Apostles of Iesus Christ. And so may Iesus Christ this day be working in Scotland â–ª albeit that Papistes rage against his Euangell as in thase dayes he wroght in Hierusalem when the preastes and the hole visible â—kirk for the most part raged against the same But now to the secund head we wald knaw if the wrytar can appoint vnto ws any one certane place whair this montane of God is promysed to Remane manifestlie and visible For this we mak knowen to the hole world that for the lufe we beare to the building and reparing of Goddes holie hous we haue endangered lyfe and â— all thinges temporall And theirfoir if the writter can appoint wnto ws a certane place wherunto God hes maid â— promise we shall euerie one exhort an other with all diligence to go vp tharuÌ„to But if he can appoint none haueing greater assurance be Godes mouth more then an other then will we cheritabillie desyre him to desist from taunting and mockage of so notable workes of God as he of late yeares hes shawen in mo realmes thaÌ„ one Oure maister Christ Iesus apointes ws to no one certane place where that we shal be assured of his presens but reather forbidding the obseruatioun of all places he sendes ws to his owen spirituall presence saying wheresoeuer two or thrie are gathered in my name there am I in the middest of thame And in ane other place behold I am with zow to the end of the world we being grouÌ„ded vpon these promyses haue good hope through Iesus Christ that in oureâ— congregationis we haue the fauorable presence of Iesus Christ asweill in his word as in his holy sacramentes For in his name alone conuene we be him alone we call vpon God oure father and beâ— him alone we ar assured through the power of his holie spreit to obtene oure requeâ—stis maid according to his will we wonder greatlie that the wryter considderis not the promise of the propheit â—sâ— that all nationis shall cum to that holie montane we ar a natione how abiect that euer we appeare why then will the wryter deny wnto ws fre passage to the
hous of the lord seing that the terme of the last dayes is not yet expyred and seing that we desire to be taught in the wayes of the lord and to walk in his pathes yea seing that thousandes in Scotland refuses not to be rebuked of the lord and to suffer him to iudge amanges ws If the wryter will say becaus we will not acknawlege Rome to be the mother of all vther kirkes we ansuer as of befoir let ws hear the commandement of our God charging ws so to do and oure obedience shall not be long craued For we ar most willing to obey oure mother prouiding that she shâ—w the ondouted signes of a naturall mother But an vsurped tytle without farther assurance we dar not admit And this for his assertioun and for the mynd of the Propheit THE REFVTATION THe probatioun quhilk I vsed in my letter to proue the kirk to be visible was becaus Isaias testifies that the hous of Iacob salbe builded vpon the top of ane montane of the quhilk wordes I collect that it suld be visible Schir Iohne knox ansueris that he perceaues nocht quhow that may be collected of the wordes of Isaias Becaus he spekes onlie of glaid thinges promised to Ierusalem and mont Syon In the quhilk ansuer he declares no thing bot his a wen blindnes For the Propheit testifies that the hous of Iacob be the quhilk the kirk auâ—ht to be vnderstand salbe builded vpon the top of ane montane Christ in his Euangell says that ane cittâ—e builded vpon ane montane can nâ—cht be hid of the quhilk it followis necessarlie that his kirk caÌ„ nocht be hid and consequentlie it must be visible Suay other Isaias be that Metaphore schawis the kirk to be visible and manifest or ellis it seruts to no thing at all quhilk is ane blasphemie The wordes that followes dois conferme this so cleirlie that no man onles he be blind can ony way dout thairof Mony people says he sall flow to the hous of Iacob to that effect that thay may be taught the wayes of the lord quhow is it possible that thay flow to the kirk onles it be visible and manifest or quhow is it possible that thay be taught the wayes of the lord onles thay acknaulege thois be quhome thay ar to be instructed Suay gif Schir Iohne had put on his specticles he micht haue sene easalie that Isaias dois testifie in thais wordes the kirk to be visible I pretermit the Grik text quhilk ever all maist S. Paul vsed in his citations and euer hes bene in great authoritie is so cleir for me that it caÌ„ na way be thrawin to ane vther sence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the montane of the lord salbe manifest Suay dois the ancient fatheres euer allmaistreid this prophecieâ—as Tertullian Cypriane Augustene and the rest Thairfore as apperis nochâ— content of his first ansuer he propones to vse ane vther that is that the prophecie of Isaias is nocht as zet compleit bot in the progres Quhilk maner of ansuering hes euer bene comoun to all fals prophetis Gif this prophecie be nocht compleit I wald demand at his ministers quhether gif the hous of â—acob wes in the top of the montane quhen the Apostlis and disciplis of christ prechit his Euangell all maist throuch the haill warld quhether gif than mony people did flow vnto the montane of the lord qnhether gif than the montane of the quhilk Daniel makis mentioun did occupie the hail erth quhether gif than christ receaued the inheritance promised to him be his father eternall I beleue quhousoeuer thay be impudent thay dar nocht deny the premissis Than I collect necessarlie that lang afoir Iohne Caluin or Iohne knox the prophecie of Isaias was furthfilled and the hous of Iocob was in the top of ane montane that is visible and manifest to the warld suay it salbe visible and manifest nocht onlie for ane hundreth zear or two bot for euer as testifies the for said propheit the zeties of the kirk salbe euer patent day and nycht and so according to Schir Iohne knox awin interpretatioun be the letter letter days we vnderstand the hail tyme quhilk is betuix the publicatioun of the Euangell and the day of iugement during the quhilk the hous of Iacob salbe in the top of the montane Zet he will nocht be sati fiet onles we schaw him the place in the quhilk the montane of the lord remanis Thairfoir he speris at ws quhair is this montane Daniel ansueris that it hes occupeit the hail erth Zet Schir Iohne knox is so blind that he dois nocht se it The scriptures teches ws that the inheritance and kingdome of Christ quhilk is his kirk salbe euer spred through ane greit part of the warld and mair ample and magnificent nor euer wes ony kingdome afoir him in the quhilk his name â—uld be louit and glorifiet for euer to the quhilk the kinges and princes of ye erth suld serue that it is ane greit marueill that euer ony man suld be so impudent to say that Christ hes bene priuat of his kingdome and inheritance this mony hundreth Zearis and that Sathan hes possessed the hoill warld all kingdomis prouinces cities or that Christis kingdome hes bene alluterlie inuisible and onknowen to the world Zet totâ—e effect that Schir Iohne knox nor his ministers haue na excuÌ„se nor pretence of ignorance in the day of iugement I will ansuer directâ—ie to his domaÌ„d that the montane of the lord is in france SpaÌ„ze Italie Germanie Pole and sindrie vâ—heris partis of Europ and in innumerable cuntreis of inde batth OrieÌ„tall and Occidentall and nocht allâ—terlie expirit in ingland and Scâ—â—land Suay that his kingdome is mair ample for the â—resent nor euer wes the empyre of the Grâ—kâ—s or Romanis Bâ—t I feir gretumly that his ministers ansuer as the Donatistis dit to S. Augustene quhen the montane of the lord says he is schawin to thame thay say it is nocht to montane of the lord thai ar so blindit with thair a win phantasies becaus Schir Iohne will acknowlegeno place quhair this moÌ„tane suld be bot will onlie that we haue recours to the spirituall presence of Christ quhilk is expreslie aganis Isaias quhae sais that mony people sall flow vnto this montane quhilk in na ways thay culd do onles thay did acknawlege sum certane place quhair it suld be and repugnant to Christ him self quhair he sais Gif thy brother offend the accuse him to the kirk we can mak nae accusatioun to the kirk onles we acknawlege in quhat place it is Of the quhilk is it appearis euidentlie to be ane greit blasphemie quhilk Schir Iohne knox affirmes that Christ appâ—intes na certane place to ws bot be the cotrar forbiddâ—s all obseruatioun of places Zet
Bot to the effect zour iuglarie he â—nderstand I will oppin and manifest that quhilk deceaues zou and the rest of zour ministres coucerning the authoritie of the ancient fatheris of the kirk we acknawlege the fatheris to haue bene men as ze do and that thay micht haue fallâ—n in sindrie kynd of errouris lyk as at sumtyme thay haue fallin albeid becaus thay did at all tymes continew thame selues within the Catholick kirk thair errouris culd on na wais ingendre ony preiudice to thair saluatioun Bot quhair we do vse thair authorities for confirmatioun of our faith we adduce thame onlie as witnes to ws of that religion quhilk the catholik kirk during thair tyme did imbrace Suay of necessite ze ar constranit other to deny that to be the trew kirk quhilk thay did acknawlage or to embrace that doctrine quhilk in thair tyme the trew and catholick kirk imbraced As be exemple Ireneus testifies that in his tyme the sacrifice of the bodie and bloode of Christ wes offerit throucht the haill warld suay dois testifie Iustine martyr And to pretermit the rest S. Augustene in ane thousand places Gif ze permit nocht sic sacrificies to be offeret in zour kirk it is necessar to zou to confes that S. Augustene did nocht acknawlage the trew kirk nor the rest of the fathers in lykmaner cited of befoir Thairfoir we vse thair testimoneis as ane necessar argument to be certifiet of that faith and religioun quhilk euer hes bene taucht in the kirk of God sen it begouth quhilk we do according to S. Paulis counsall quha says that Christ hes geuin his doctours and pastouris to the effect we be nocht seduced and allured with euerie licht doctrine quhilk ze on the vther pairt will nawais acknawlage euerie ane excogitane to him self ane new forme of religioun contar to that quhilk hath bene establischet be the vniuersall consent of all nations and maist cleielie expressed in the word of God THE REST OF KNOX ansuer IT appeareth to ws be the hole progres of Maister Tyries letter that he and his factioun can acknowledge no kirk which in all ages hes not bene visible to the eyes of men hauing lykwais a visible successiouÌ„ For first he affirmes that the kirk wherof the propheit Isaias speakes should be manifest and visible through all the world And heare last he allegeth that we can cum in no place where we sall not find that religioun spred at the least in mony persones And thairof he coÌ„cludes that if we can not proue the like of our religioun it followis that it is not the trew Religioun If Maisteâ— Tytie recant not this assertioun he must correct his crede And where vniuerselly befor we vse to say credâ— sanctam ecclesiaÌ„ c He must say 〈◊〉 sanctaÌ„ ecclesiam For if thare be no kirk vpon the face of the earth but that which is visible than vane it wer to vs to say â–ª I beleue the holie kirk vniuersall but consideÌ„rlie we might affirme I see the holie kirk If Maister Tyrie will say we may bothe se and beliue and be our sight our faith may be strenghned For Thomas saw the wondes in the handis feat and syde of Christ Iesus and beleueâ— aÌ„d so may we se the kirk and yet beleue it If we shâ—uld grant so far to Maister Tyrie yet wer his argument nothing helped For the questione is not whether that we may notifie those thinges that we ar bound to beleue But the questioun is if that we ar not bound to beleue those thinges which somtymes ar vterlie remoued from the externall senses of men Maister Tyrie will acknowledge no kirk except that which hes bene and is visible â–ª we in the contrare acknowlegde and reueraâ—â—â— the spous of Christ Iesus somtymes exyled from the 〈◊〉 receauing somtymes the winges of an egle that she may fle to the wyldernes wher of God and not of man she hath her place prepared we reuerence her which doeth complane that she hath bene desolat barrane a 〈◊〉 and a vaÌ„derar to and fro That spous of Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 so lytill of hir successioun visible to mannes eyâ—â— that she is roft in admiratioun who should haue nurished her childrene during the tyme of her baniuemeÌ„t If Maister Tyrie be so well sene in the ancient writters as in his writting he wold shaw him self to be then can he not be ignoraÌ„t that it is not without great caus that the holie goist hath taught ws to say I beleue the holie kirk vniuersall To wit becaus that oftentymes it is that the kirk 〈◊〉 is so afflicted yea the beautie thereof is so obscured to the most part of the world that the synagoge of SathaÌ„ vsurpes the tytle of the tieu kirk and Babilone is preferred to HerusaleÌ„ So that the elect ar compellâ—d to complane and say we se oure owen signs now is thair no propheit any moir amonges ws Let the days of Helias and his complent witnes whether that the kirk of God is alwayes so visible that it may be pointed furth whith the singer of man Thus we wreit schortlie to gif occasion to Maister Tyrie and to suche as ar blinded with that errour more deaply to considder that artickle of thair beleue and not so rashely to condempne suche as God of his mercy calis from darknes to light Now to the rest of his litter THE REFVTATION HEir I pray the readar to considder diligeÌ„tlie this inuâ—sible kirk of Schir Iohne knox be the quhilk he is constraniâ— to grant that the Doctours and pastouris cited of beÌ„soir dois naway appertene to the kirk of God for it is maist certane that that kirk quhilk thay acknawleges wes visible aÌ„d manifest to the warld Morower the kirk to be inuisible it is maist erronious and repugnant to all scriptures for quhat can be more manifest and clier nor that quhilk of befoir wes cited of Isaias the portes of the kirk sall euer be patent baith nicht and day And that quhilk almaist all the prophets with ane vâ—ce dois testifie that the kingdome and inheritaÌ„ce of Christ â–ª salbe mair triumphand and glorious nor euer wes â—ny empyre or kingdome afoir him and that it sall continew in the former magnificence to the end of the warld Bot Sr. Iohne knox of lait illuminat be sum new ent husiasme or reuelatioun will be the contrar that Sathan his maister posseid all visible kingdomes nations citeis and that Christ for his inheritance hes reserued onlie to him self ane inuisible kingdome Christ in lykwais the ondoubted fundatour of his awin kirk spâ—ik and to his apostolis quhome he had constitute and ordanit pastoures thair of schaweth the same to be visible at all tyme saying ane citie situat vpon ane montan can nocht be onknawen or hid thairby willing his apostolis and pastours to schene euin as
ane bricht mirrour to vtheris in the veritie as being constitute in sic preeminence and prerogatiue aboue the rest quhair thay culd nocht at ony tyme be onknawen and thairfoir he dois call thame the licht of the warld Quhilk wordes in respect thay ar iustlie referret to the pastours we do coÌ„sequentlie imbring that the pastours being knaweÌ„ the kirk necessarlie man be visible and as the licht can nocht be in the darknes suay the pastours of the kirk can nocht be inuisible He testifies alsuay that na man doth licht ane lanterne putting it vnder ane firlot bot in ane chaÌ„dler to the effect the haill hous may haue licht suay gif the euangell of Christ be the lanterne be verteu of the quhilk the haill warld is illuminat gif the kirk this mony hundreth zeris hath remanit inuisible Christ hath collocat his euangell vnder ane firlot quhik to allege is ane maist abhominable impietie and repugnanâ— to Christ him self He saith alsuay gif ony man offend zou accuse him to the kirk than he supposed his kirk necessarlie to be visible And as this precept and comand of Christ can nocht expyre afoir the end of the warld suay euer to the end of the warld his kirk mon be visible Moreower in the fundatioun and beilding of it he certifies ws that on naways it salbe suppressed or ourcuÌ„ be ony maner of tribulatiouÌ„ or persecution quhik the experieÌ„ce it self dois maist fullelie declair for in the greuous and horribill persecutionis of nero Domitianus Decius Diocletianus and the rest his kirk nocht onlie wes nocht obscured or in ony way inuisible but be the contrar mair declarie and publised to the warld in safar that Diocletianus and Maximinianus throch desperatioun that thay culd nocht exterminat and abolisse the name of Christ deposit thair empyris suay that we may iustlie affirme with al christiane men that hes bene afoir ws Sanguis martyrum semen ecclesiae Sathan zonr maister be this assault perceaue and him self of les strenth nor that he culd euert the hous of God did excogitatat ane vther assault na les dangerous and heuy to the pure flock of Christ that becaus he culd nocht bring thamefra the professioune of the name of Christ to maist abhominable Idolatrie he did call vp to him self sum extraordinar prophetis lik zou quha in deid wer alluterlie separat frome Christ bot in externall apparence apperit to be Christianis to the effect that mair easalie the pure and simpill people vnder the pretext of the name of Christ micht be seduced Sic extraordinar prophetis hes bene callit heretikis as we do call zou for the present bot the hous of God is sa weill beilded and vpon ane sa firme and sure ground that this assalt of Sathan quhou dangerous that euer it be may na mair nor the former assault For as testifies Sainct Paul heresies ar permitit to the effect that thay quha ar prouin be maid manifest as he wald say that be heresies the kirk is mair illustrat and the veritie is mair tryet and notoriouslie declaret vnto the warld Quhilk in lykmaner is confirmit be be experience of all agis To begin at Symon Mag 〈◊〉 to Martin Luther and Iohne Caluin And in dide we may loue and glorifie God that for correctioun of his kirk he hes permittit sic heresies as we sec to ryse in our days for nocht onlie be thame the Catholick kirk is on na ways ourcum nor the veritie obscured that it is maid mair cleir and euident nor euer it wes afoir For as to the multitude of Christiane men it is gretumlie incressed sen Luther begouth to preche his fist Euangell as concerning doctrine and eruditioun alsueill in scripturis as in histories antiquittes and all kynd of writtars It is sa flurish â–ª and in the Catholick kirk for the present that gif we wald compair thir days with thais in the quhilkis Luther begouth for ane that wes ony way lernit we ar able to produce ane thou sand As to correctioun of maners to pretermit ane iâ—finet numbre of thame quha from thair Idolatrie ar conuertit to the faish of Christ in sindrie cuntrais quhair the name of Christ wes nocht afoir acknawlegit we see sic reformatioun of all kynd of estait that we haue greit occasioun to loue and glorifie God of his benefites As concerning the religioun now professit be the Catholick kirk it is satryed be deductioun of all agis histories vritters to be that same self religioun quhik euer hes bene embraced be Christian men sen thay begouth that na man quha is nocht alluterlie reprobat or blindit in his awin fantasies dar deny it Suay we may easalie perceaue that the force and strenth of Sathan sall neuer be able to ourthraw the hous of God nor his ministeris the lauchfull pastouris of the kirk Quhairthrou it is maist cleir that the kirk of God lyk as it wes visible quhen it wes foundet be Christ and be his Apostolis suay in dispyte of Sathan and all his accoÌ„plesis quhou greâ—t that euer thair vproir or thundering be sall romane visible to the end of the warld and the spous of Crist sall euer be able to sing the triumphand and glorius sang of the quhilk Dauid makis mentioun in hir persone Saepe expugnauerunt me a iuuentute mea etenim non potuerunt mihi Thairfoir the halie and glorious Doctour Chrysostome says that it is easier the sone to be priuat and destitute of licht nor the kirk to be onywais obscurit S. Augustene alsuay quha euer says he dois noâ—ht see the kirk he is blind And in ane vth râ—place the propheitis says he hes spoken â—air cleirlie of the kirk nor of Christ becaus thai knew be the spreit of Prophecie that amangis thame quhasuld profes the name of Christ â–ª thair wes to be mony controuerseis of the kirk and for that caus that na man suld be begylit in sa wechtie a mater thai did speik sa cleirlie of it â–ª And albeid the prophetis had nocht forspoken sa euidentlie that the kirk at all tyme suld be visible nor zit Christ him self nor his apostolis had left sa certaâ—e and â—ndoubted testimony thairof nocht withstanding the kirk of it selfis of sic nature that it is nocht possible that it be ordourlie contine wit and conseruit onles it be in all agis visible First becaus it is requisit to the conseruatioun of the kirk considdering it is composed of mortall men that sum men quha did nocht of befoir appertene vnto it adione thame thairto than I domand quhow can it be possible that in all age thair be sum quha do adione thame to the kirk onles in all age it be visible More ower it is requisit in lykmamer that the pastours of the kirk haue sum power and ordour be the quhilk thay may be acknawlegit
ane ansuer we say of any one or tuo heades which thay pleis to oppoung For M Tyrie ought to vnderstand that the preacheing ministers within the realme of Scotland ar oxen euer laboring under the yock and that into the husbandrie of the lord And therefoir thai can haue no â—yme vacant from thair necessarie cures to compas countries with the Iesuites who at subiect to non other yocke then to that of thair owen electione to espy what faultes thay can find amoÌ„ges the congregations As we haue no vacantes we say to considder all trifflis that offend delicate men who can acknowledge no kirk but that which in all pointes be absolute and perfyâ—e so albeid that boith we did considder thame and condempne thame yet we vsurp no authoritie aboue oure breather But remit all men to thair owen iudge And do reuerence all congregations who do aggre with ws in the principalis of ouâ— faith as the particular kirkis of Iesus Christ albeid that in all ceremoneis thair be nocht vniformitie yea and albeid that in sum heades of doctrine also there appeare repugnance yet will we not brek brotherlie concord prouiding that we aggrie in the principallis Principallis we call those heades and doctrine without the confessioun and cousent wherof the kirk wes not planted â–ª Be thais few wordes M. Tyrie gif he be wyre may vnderstand what we meane and so we procead to the conclusioun of his letter THE REFVTATION ALbeid it be notoriuslie knaueÌ„ to the haill world of the diuers and wechtie coÌ„trouersies betuix the Lutheriens and â—aluinistes zet ze wald crafteliâ— dissemble the mater as it war almaist onknawin to zou or at the leist zeschaw siâ— coÌ„trouersies quhilkis ar amangis zou to be friuoll and of litill importance â—uay ze think it a mater of litill in portance to beleue gif the bodie of Christ be contenit in the Sacrament of the altar or nocht quhilk controuersie gif it apperits to zou friuoll considder zour bauldnes and arrogance quha dar reput the principall and cheif mistries of the faith in sa small estimation Bot gif ze beleue it of ony importance zeschaw zour self ane greit hypocreit that in sa wechtie ane mater dois sa grethumlie dissemble And quhow oppen that euer zour synagoge be to receaue all men of large conscience as zuinglianis Lutherianis and vtheris zit Lutheris followars as said is of befoir thinkis zou and thame of zour sect on worthie to be numbret amonges trew Christiens condemnand zow as heretikes and followers of maist pernitius and wicked doctrine And nocht monie zearis ago be zuinglius Scholars in Tigurin Caluins zour maisters werkis wer consecrat to the fyre Suay quhair ze say that ze do reuerence the congregagationis of the Lutherians and zuinglians as particular kirkis of Iesus Christ ze condamne zour awin kirk at the leist according to thair iugement as the synagoge of Sathan THE LETTER QVhairfoir Schir I exhort zou as I begouth to 〈◊〉 on this mater as deiplie as it becommeth â— Christiane man And quhâ—n ze haue sua done aduertise me of zour sentiment â–ª in the meane tyme I sal pray almichtie God be his grace to illuminat zour spreit to knaw in this mater the richt way and to gif zou fortitude and strenth quheÌ„ ze haue knowen itâ— to profes it sasar as salbe conuenient to zonr estare and saluatione Hauing na forther occasione of writing committis zou to the prâ—tectione of almichtie God writtin at Paris the sexâ— of December Be zour maist humble seruitour and brother Iames Tyrie THE REST OF SCHIR IOHNE knox ansuer AGainst this exhortatioÌ„ will we obiect nothing For oure ernest desyre is that men diligentlie considder what doctrine thay embrase what foundation and ground thair faith hes and finallie what way thay follow thinking thairbie to atteane to eternall felicitie For this carâ—les securitie that vniuersalâ—e may be espyed in men we daÌ„pned and euer hath daÌ„ned but this we feare not to affirme as befoir we haue written that the doctrine of the Papisticall kirk now many yeares by past â—ath bene all togidder corrupt that thair opinioun which thay call thair catholick faith hes no sure grouÌ„d within the word of god and that the way which thay for the most pairt haue followed westhe verray way of perditione to all such as witthout treu repentence departed this lif in that blindnes And muche moir shal be to all persones aÌ„d estates that now shall manteane those abominations â–ª becaus the licht is come'and hes sufficientlie declared the former darknes That man of syn is so manifestlie reueled that excuse of ignoraÌ„ce thair rested noÌ„ but a fearefull iudgemeÌ„t abydis all such that yet farther will follow his dampnable wayes THE REFVTATIOVN IT hes bene coÌ„mone to all fals prophetis sen the beginning of the kirk of God to haif coloured thair venome with sum honest denominatiouÌ„ for thay did maist cleirlie vnder staÌ„d gif thai had professit oppinlie thame selues to be siâ— men as thay war in deid thay wald haue bene destitute of all concurrence and audience Quhairfoir willing to cloâ—k thair impietie thay altogether allegit as ze do presentlie that thay professit onlie the pure and sincere word of God As to begin at Symon Magus quha callit him self the veray verteu of God Manicheus in lyk maner did call him self Apostle of God Marmetus affirmeth him to haue receaued his law out of the hand of God And laitlie luther and Caluin with thair accomplises dois maist arrogantlie vaÌ„t thame selues that all thair doctrine proceadis from the instinctione of the halie spreit Suay zeschaw cleirlie that ze do follow in this behalf the fuâ—stoppes of fals prophetis that has bene afoir zou quha euer without all probation as ze do presentlie did maist arrogantlie vsurpe to thame self that quhilk ze vsurp As quhair ze allege the man of sin to be reuelit in the seat of Rome it is fa far repugnant to the veritie that it is maist cleirlie and euidentlie prouen be the word of God and continuatioun of Pastoures of all agis the bischop of Rome to be the successour of Petir and pastour of the vniuersall kirk that na man quha wald nocht schaw utter ignorance conioyned with extâ—eme malice dar deny it Gif ze wald haue had ony authoritie or credit ze suld nocht haue spoken in sa wechtie ane mater without all probatioun as ze do euin as zour authoritie wer sufficient to persuade to all man all to be trew quhatsoeuer apperis to zour phantasticall brane Thairfoir quhomekill that euer zegloir in zour awin vanirie and foleschenes it is easie to euerie man quha will diligentlie inquire zour authoritie and vocatioun to the preching of the word the continuatione ad successioun 〈…〉 kirk of God bot that ze ar of this 〈…〉 quhilk is S.