wold we domaÌ„d of the writer of the letter if the age of Abrahames faith should haue bene measured from the errour of the multitude that past befoir him and if that the age of the kirk gadderit within his hous should haue bene called an aucht yeare auld kirk wheÌ„ that Abraham had so long obeyed God while that all â—he warld continewed in their Idolatrie we demaÌ„d we â—ay if their auld Idolatrie maid Abrahames faith to be â—ut a new found faith and if thair multitude and vuiâ—ersalitie hauing for thame antiquitie maid the kirk that was in Abrahames hous to be a new found kirk we suppone that men of iugemeÌ„t shall other wise proâ—unce and subscrine with ws that the faith of AbrahaÌ„ had the same antiquitie that the word had which he â—eleued Now plane it is that the word which he beleued was the self same word which God pronuÌ„ced vnto the woman in the gardine speaklug aganis the serpeÌ„t saing I shall put inimitie betuix the and the womaÌ„ betuix thy seid and hir seid that sead sall braik doun thy head and thou shall break douÌ„ his heale This promise we say â–ª being espetialie maid to AbrahaÌ„ in thase wordes in thy sead shall all â–ª the natiounis of the earth be blissed was the groÌ„ud of his faith lyk as that it wes the grouÌ„d of the faith of Adame A bell seth and of alâ— the faithfull befoir him so that hir ' â–ª faith wes no new faith bot was that same faith wiche had continued amonges Godis elect froÌ„ the beginning for trew faith may not be measured froÌ„ the errour of meÌ„ bot froÌ„ thâ— word and promise which the faithfull beleue Is thâ— word froÌ„ the beginning and the promise vndo wted theÌ„ must the faith that thairupoÌ„ is grounded not onliâ— be trew but alsuay of the same age and antiquitie thaâ— the word is And thairfoir wheÌ„ soeuer the Papistes anâ— we shall cum to reaknen of the age of oure faith wâ— doutnothing but that thair faith in mo principall poiâ—tis nor one or tuo shal be found verray Zoung and buâ— laitly inueÌ„ted in respect of that onlie trew faith whicâ— this day in the kirks of Scotland is professed And thâ— selfe same thing assirme we of oure kirk and of the Eâ—uangell preached within the same to wit that the Euâ—gell which of Godis mercy is reuealed vnto ws is noâ— forged be man but that it is the self same Euangelâ— which Iesus Christ taught be his awin mouth and thaâ— his apostlis at his commandement published vnto thâ— world And therefore we say that oure kirk is no neâ— found kirk as the wryter blaspheamously rayleth buâ— that it is a part of that holie kirk vninersall which 〈◊〉 gronded vpon the doctrine of the prophetes and Aâ—postlis haueing the same antiquitie that the kirk 〈◊〉 the Apostles hes as concerning doctrine prayers admâ—â—nistratioun of SacrameÌ„tis and all other thinges requâ—site to a particulare kirk But yet will the wryter of thâ— letter alledge that we beleue not as the moste part 〈◊〉 men haue beleued a thousand yeares and moir 〈◊〉 they beleued the Messe to be a sacrifice propitiatoriâ— for the synnes of the quick and dead the Pape to be the head of the kirk and Christes vicare in the erth the naturall body of Christ Iesus flesche bloode and bane to be in the sacrament of the alter after that the wordis of consecratioun wer prononced be a preast Super materia debita that the prayers of the leuing â–ª profite the departed and sic others as the Catholick faith of the Papistes haue concluded These articles will the wryter say we beleue not and therefore whou can it be denyed but that oure kirk is new found and the doctrine thairof is new we haue ansuered and yet we ansuer agane that whatsoeuer Papistes haue beleued befoir ws which hath no better ground than the determinatioun of thair owen counsall can nether preiudge oure faith grounded vpon Godis expressed word nether yet can proue oure kirk to be but a new found kirk â–ª for gif ane commoun errour and a superstitious worshipping of God receaued of a multitude should haue that strength that it should preuale against Godis â–ª simple trewth and against his worshipping prescâ—iwed in his word then had the propheit Helias bene into a miserable conditioun who being but one man opponed him self to the king to his counsall to his prophetes preastes and people and in plane wordes accused thame all of apostasie froÌ„ his God froÌ„ his trew worschipping and froÌ„ the obedieÌ„ce of law and planely coÌ„uicted thame to be Idolatoures becaus they had imbrafed a worshipping of God not coÌ„teyned in his word It is a woÌ„der that the king with his preastes and propheites excepted not against the propheit and said whow eaÌ„ that be Idolatrie which oure kings aÌ„d people sence the days of IeroboaÌ„ haue vsed and maÌ„teyned for Gods trew seruice Thou art but one maÌ„ aÌ„d we ar a multitude how caÌ„ it be that thow onlie should pleis God But no such thing find we obiected wnto the propheit But his requeast being but ane maÌ„ was obeyed which was that god him self should iudge betuix him aÌ„d thame as that he did be fyre froÌ„ the heaueÌ„ This priuiledge craue we to be granted to ws of the Papistes in oure dayes to wit that thay suffre god to iudge betuix oure religione and theirs what he approueth let it be approuen of bothe and what be him is not commandet nor be the Apostles of Iesus Câ—rist established and practised let it be of boith reiected and so shall we suddanelie aggre But if that will still cry that we ar schis matykes and Apostates becaus we refuse to defyle oure selues with their abhominationis we can nor but appeale froÌ„ their corrupt sentence to the vncorrupt iudge of whose fauoures we ar assuredly persuader in the point becaus he hath said follow not the multitude in eâ—il doing and becaus that we find kingis propheites and people befoir ws to haue done the self same thing in their days and therefore to â—aue bene approued of god whiche we in godis feare haue done in oure dayes so wit thay haue distroyed the monumentis of Idololatrie and haue repressed the same externally be power and force notwithstanding she antiquitie thereof and that great multitude adheared vnto it And this muche for the multitude and that wâ—ich the multitude moste commonlie beleueth Now to the further â—essonis of the writer He first tauntis and mockis ws and oure kirk calling it your inuisible kirk of â—cotland Secondlie he aâ—â—irmeth that the kirk whereof the Prophet speakes salbe manifest and visible through all the world And for his proue alledges the second chaptour of the propheit Isaias And last he concludes in thais wordes wherfore if ye can not shaw in what place of the world afoir thre hundretâ— yeare youre kirk was into â—t followeth of necessitie
eternall our god to whose only voce the sheap of his pasture ar bound it is as laughful to ws to reiect that which proceadeth from man and not from god as is easie to â—hame to affirme it Maister Tyrie may know that we vse the wordes of the aucientis THE REFVTATION IT is said in the commun prouerb ane liar suld be of gude memorie in the beginning of zour buke ze affirmet the sacrifice of the Messe to haue bene receaued of auld in the papisticall kirk now be the contrar ze allege it to be of lait days inuentit Bot that zour impudeÌ„cie be knaweÌ„ and manifest to all men I will adduce the plane and sure testimonies of the maist ancient fathers that euer hes bene in the kirk of God as coÌ„cerning thais tua heades quhilkis inspeâ—iall aboue the rest apperis to zou to be destitute of all probatioun And to begin at the bischop of Rome quhome we affirme to be the successour of S. Petir quha was head and principall of the Apostolâ— Christ saâ—eth vnto Peter thou art Peter â–ª and vpon this rock I will build my kirk â–ª In the quhilk word is he orda ned Peter the fundatioun or heid of his kirk vnto him he deliuerit the keyes of the kingdome of heuin and coÌ„mitted vnto him efter his resurrectioun his scheape to be fed sua that thair is no scheip of Christ quhilkis ar nocht also the scheip of Peter aâ— sais S. Bernard The ministers quha thiâ— kis nocht thame selues comprehendit vnder the name of thais scheip quhilkis Christ comendit to petir moÌ„ coÌ„fesse that thai ar nocht the scheip of Christ otherwais gif thai wil be the sâ—heip of Christ let thame obey Peter aÌ„d him that dothe succeid Peter in his office Now becaus the present coÌ„tâ—â—uersiâ— is quhou thais wordis of the scripture aucht to be vnderstand in the quhilk Christ coÌ„mitâ—it has flock to Peter â–ª lat ws coÌ„sidder in quhat maner the pâ—stours and doctures of the kirk euer sâ—n the dayes of the Apostolis hes interpreted thame And to begin at S Paulâ—s a win discipill S Dionise quha in his buke de diuinis nominibus affirmeth Peter to be the heid of all the Apostolis Anacletuâ— quha wes in the Apostols tyme â–ª saith that the holie RomaÌ„ Aposâ—olicall kirk obtenit supremacie nocht of the Aposlolis bot of oure lord him self as he sayeth to Peter thow art Peter c. Thairfoâ—r this Apostolicall kirk is maid the head of vther kirkes by God and by none vther Victor quha wes nere vnto the tyme of the Apostolis and bischop of Rome pat in practise this authoritie quhen he excommunicatet all the kirkes of asia becaus that aggreit nocht with the Romane kirk And albeid that he wes admonissed be letters send froÌ„ Ireneus that he had nocht done discreitlie in that point zet no man euerfaÌ„d falt with him for vsing of sic authoritie for all men did knaw and confesse that he had authoritie to excommunicat quhom he thocht meite and expedieÌ„t zepherin bischop â–ª qâ—ha wes hi successour did call the Romane kirk mother of all kirkes vnto the quhilk all conâ—rouersies auch to be brocht I omit becaus I wil be breue the testimoneis of vthers Papes quho perauenture may seme to forther thair a win caus althocht no suspitioun at all tuitching this mater culd euer enter into ony wyse maÌ„nis heid becaus thais ancient fathers wer maist holie men and also martyris quho sched thair blude for the trewth Bot lat ws speik of vtheris Ireneus bot becaus it wald be oure lang to number the successionis of all kirkâ—s declaring the traditioun of the gretast and most ancient kirk acknawlegit be all men and foundit at Rome be those tua maist glorious Apostolis Petir and Paul quhilk it receaued of the apostolis and be coÌ„tinuatioun deducit vnto ws we confound all thais quha reasson vther wais then thay aucht For with the Romane kirk beresson of the preemineÌ„t power thairof euerilk kirk of necessiâ—ie most aggre Tertullian wes ony thing hid from Petâ—r quho wes callit the rock vpoÌ„ quhilk the kirk suld be builded quha also obtenit the keyes of the kingdome of heuin and power to louss and bind in heuin and in erth And in ane vther place he acknaulegit in lykmaner the supreme authoritie of the bischop of Rome Cyprian efter all this Zit forther efter a fals and wrang bischop be the heretikis appointed to thame selues thay dar saill vpon the seas and cary litters from chismaticall and prophane persones vnto the cheir of Peter and principall kirk quhair vnitie of preisthed first began nather do that think that thai quhome to thai go vnto ar Romans quhaâ—s fayâ— his commendet be the Apostill vnto quhome fals doctrine neuer culd haue acces And in the samyng epistoll heresies sais he or sectis had neuer other beginning than this that obedieÌ„ce was nocht kepit to the preist of God and that ane preist is nocht thocht in the kirk of God to be the vicar of Christ. Athanasius with the rest quhilk wer present at the councell of Alexandria writeth in this sort to the Pape of Rome God has not despiseth the prayars and teiris of his seruandis but has appointed zou and zour pre decessouris that is to say the Apostoli call bischoppis in the tour of supremacie and hathe commandit zou to succur ws and to deliuer ws from all enemies for vnto zou is committit all the iugement of vther bischoppis Chrysoâ—tome quhat God can be him self grant that is remissioun of synnâ—s he doth gif that unto man to the effect that his kirk suld remane immouable thocht mony wauis suld burst out vpon it with great force to the end alsuay thaâ— the heid and pastour thairof quha is bot ane fischar man in fermenes and stabitnes suld exceid the nature of the adamant noâ—ht withstanding the haâ—ll warld wald resist 〈◊〉 So the father sayeth vnto Hieremie â—haue put the as ane pillar of yrne and as ane wall of bres bot the father dothe coÌ„stitute Hieremie onlie oure aâ—e people and natioun bot Christ had constitute Peter our the haill world Opâ—atus Meleuitanus ignorance can nocht be obiectiâ— vnto the seing thou knawest that in the cietie of Rome the bischopp is seat wes placed first for Peter in the quhilk the said Peter satt quha wes heid of all the apostâ—lise for the quhilk caus he wes callit Cephas in quhome as in ane the vnitie of the kirk suld be coÌ„ceruet And efter he had numered all the bischoppis from Peter vnto Syricius he concludis in this maner All the world aggreit with ws in ane communion and societie with syricius as to zou says he mening of the Donatistis schaw the benining of zour kirk gif ze can Hierome wrtttis
alluterlie inuisible ze can nocht be assured in ony ways quether gif it vsed sic scriptures as we vse or nocht thairfoir ze haue na iust title considering ze reiect the authoritie of oure kirk to vsurpe oure scripturis in ony ways for lyk as zour kirk wes in the desert suay wes zour scriptures and becaus that na man hes brocht thame furth of the desert as zit we may instlie suspect that thay be sumpart discrepant from ouris at the leist ze can nocht be assured in the contrar Thairfoir of necessitie ze mon proue considdering the scriptures can nocht be acknawlegit bot be the trew kirk ether that zour inuisibill kirk hes vsit sic scriptures as we vse or ellis ze can haue na iust title nor authoritie to vsurpe oure scriptures As quhair ze say that Elias be his exempill dois confirme the kirk at sum tyme to haue bene inuisible gif we wald grant vnto zow that thing quhilk ze maist ernistfullie desire to wit the kirk during the tyme of Elias to haue bene inuisibill zit ze war no nerar zour propos First becaus that in the self same tyme we haue for oure part at the leist Elias quhome we may produce as witnes aganis zow zebe the contrar can nocht be able to name ane during the tyme of the inuisibilitie of zour kirk SecuÌ„dlie the kirk of God hes at na tyme bene sa obscurit nor hid bot he of his prouidence hes reseruit sindrie as ane seminar be quhome he hes prorogat his doctrine to the posteritie Thairfoir gif ze wald haue followit the exempill of Elias ze suld haue produced ane at the leist indewit with the trew wirschiping of God fra quhome it had ordourlie cum vnto zow and the remanent of zour prophetis For in this maner we reid that Elias did anoynt and constitute Heliseus ane propheit And gif ze wald considder the haill histories of the au'd testament ze sall nocht be abill to find that in ony tyme the trew wirshiping of God did sa perische in the quhilk he hes nocht reseruet sum as said is as ane seminar to the posteritie Quhilk gif we see to haue sa precâ—selie obseruit in the synagoge quhik wes bot ane schaddou and vmbre of the trew kirk and at suÌ„ tyme wes to haue ane eÌ„d quhat thaÌ„ suld we beleif of the kirk Christ quha for inheretance hes receaued the hail warld And as he testifies him self the seid quhilk he hes plantit that is his word sall grow and multiplie euin to the end of the warld For albeid that it be persâ—cutione heresies or vther meanis maid decay in sumpart of the warld zit vniuersalie it sall nocht decay befoir the letter day quhairfoir the exempill of Elias doth na ways help zou Bot quhat gist preif euin during the tyme of Elias the kirk to haue bene visitill mycht nocht the haill warld be iustoccasioun call zou ane maist impudent man and worthie of oll punitioun quha dois abuse the simple and ignoraÌ„t people be sic forgett and fals persuasions Thairfoir that zour impudencie be knawin to the haill warld I ansuer resolutlie that in the tyme of Elias and in that self same tyme quhilk ze allege the kirk of God was visible and manifest in the haill kinkdome of Iuda the sacrifice wes offerit in Hierusalem the ceremoneis and exercise of religioun wes practised Io saphat quha wes than king was ane of the maist Godlie princes that euer raÌ„g in Iudatand to be schort throw his haill empyre all thing wes to be found â—uhilk wes ony way requisit to the visibili ie of the kirk as i manifest in the buâ—kis of the kinges It is trew that in the kingdome of Israel the persecutioun wes greit in sa far that Elias beleuit that amang the prophetis of God he wes left his alane bot S. Iohne knox other be extreme ignoraÌ„ce or extreme malice wald collect uniuersallie that the haill kirk wes than inuisibill becaus Elias mening of the persecutione of Achab onlie and on naway of the kingdome of Iuda did say that he wes left his alane Thairfoir to conclude this argumeÌ„t quhilk â—sis to be the cheif grouÌ„d of the inuisibill kirk of Iohne Caluin and S. Iohne knox is allutâ—rlie aganis thame that onles thair meÌ„strals had lang syne tint all schame thay suld be eschemit of sic vane and fantasticall doctrine contrar to all scripture to all othoritie to all resson foundit on sic freuol and vane imaginations reid S. Augustene Optatios Mileuitanus S. Hierome Tertullian S. Cypriane and thair ze will find at leÌ„th quhatsueuer I haue brocht aganis zou Quhilk I say to that effect that the reader perceaue that ze haue vsit na vther argumentis for the confirmatione of the maist cheif ground and pillar of zour religioun that is to est thelis zour inuist ill kirk nor thay quha in all agis hes bene estemit as heretikis And thad I be the contrar to proue the kirk to be visible in all age and to haue continuall successioun of lauchfull pastours and doctouris do vse na vther argumeÌ„tis bot thais quhilk in all agis thay that wer estemit for Christiane men and lau bfull pastouris of the kirk doth euer vse THE LETTER THair is sum I knaw perchance for laick other of gude discurs or witt measures the veritie of the thing thay follow be the wardlie succes thay haue in the following of it Bot surelie I can nocht esteme zow to be ane of that rank and gif ze war I wald exhort zou to reid amaÌ„gis the rest the 27. psalme and the 143. psalme Quhair by ze will easalie vnderstand that nother the prosperous succes of zour pairt in warldlie thingis I mene prouis it that ze follow to be of veritie nor zit our decay and aduersitie makis our pairt to be conuicted zea rather the mater considerit as it aucht to be zour prosperitie is rather a manifest argumeÌ„t of goddis wraith nor of ony treuth of weritie Fort it is said be ane godlie halie and cuning man ane XI hundreth zeir bypast quod nihil infeelicius foelicitate peccantium qua poenalis nutritur impunitas mala voluntas velut interior hostis roboratur THE REST OF SCHIR IOHNE knox ansuer We micht haue passed by this parcell without ansuer becaus that nothing in it conceaued â–ª â—â—stly can be laid to our charge For oure warldly 〈◊〉 prosperitie and rest nether is nathir yet hes bene at any tyme sence we haif embrassed the euaÌ„gell of Iesus Christ suche as may nurishe ws in wickednes nether yet are the Papists able to conuict ws of suche impictie as all the warld know hath roung among thame of mo yearis then an hundreth thryse told And in the meane tyme to what honour and worldlie dignitie thay
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.
of God salbe mair notefied and knawen at all tyme nor the synagoge of the Iewis bot zour kirk hes bene mair obscure this thowsand and fyuehundreth zearis nor the synagoge in respect thai haue had thair synagoge all this tyme visible zouris be the contrar for the maist part hes bene inuisible thay haue had all this tyme certane places deputed and ordonit to the Ceremoneis and exerceis of thair religiouÌ„ze in pluc king doun of our kirkes dothe gif ane euident testimonie to all men that ze war destitute alluterlie of all sic places suay that it is cleâ—rlie to vnderstand that Christ on na waâ—s hes had that prouidence to wart zou as he maste assuredlie promised to his kirk Bot to cum to the new testament lat ws considder quhow Christ promised his kirk to be as ane citie collocat on ane montane the quhâ—lk he dothe promeis to edifie and erect in sic maner that the portes of hell suld nocht preuail aganis it bot continewand to the end of the warld suld haue the prerogatiue and power to decide all controuerseis alsweil concernand maners as religioun And to be schort that it suld on na wayis inlaik pastowres nor doctoures to the end of the warld Quhilk maist ondoubted testimonies and signes of the kirk of God gif we wald confer with zour kirk we can nocht espy thame to correspond to zou in ony point First in respect zour kirk hathe remanit thir monie hundreth zearis in extreme darknes â–ª and suay on na wais can retene the name of ane citie collocat on ane montane Secundlie quhasumeuer in ony aige hes impugnet it that haue reportet sic victorie that thay haue left na signe nor takin thair of to the posteritie Thirdlie consinddering ze confesse it to haue al maist euer bene inuisible ze ar constranit also to grant that it hes neuer decydet onie controuersie quihilk hes rissin amanges Christiane men Last to conclude it is nocht possible to zou to imbring or mak mentioun of ony pastoures or doctoures thairof precedand the tyme of Caluin Of the quhilk euerie man that is nocht alluterlie blindet and destitute of all iugement may all reddie perceaue that quhow mekle that euer ze gloir in the word of God as euer did fals propheites considdering ze ar destitute of all sic notes and taâ—knes quhilk Christ hes appointet to his trew kirk that all zour congregatioun and assemblie is na thing els bot the synagoge of Sathane and consequentlie that na man quha adheris to zou can be participand of the lyfe euerlasting quhilk is onlie promised to thame quha dois remane and perseueir in humilitie and obedience in the trew kirk of God to the end Bot perchance ze will ansuer that I am deceaued in the interpretatioun of sic scripturis quhilkis I haue allegit aganis zow as it is casuall to euerie man onles he haue sum speciall assistance of the halie spreit quhilk gif ze do ze wil appardone me gif in lyk maner quhatsumeuer interpretatioun ze bring in the contrar I say that ze haue bene abused and begylit Thairfor puttaÌ„d asyde baith my iugement and zouris I am content to receaue for iugis of this controuersie all pastouris and doctouris quha euer hes bene in the kirk of God betuix thâ— Apostolis and Iohne Caluin and onles be ane vniuersall consent thai confes all the kirk of God euer to haue bene visible and knawin to the warld I am content to quyt my haill caus And be the contrar gif ze can name ane onlie for this zour opinioun I am content without fâ—rther disputatioun to admit quhatsumeuer ze say to be trew This micht haue bene sufficient for ansuer to all thinges quhilkis ze haue obiected aganis me zit that zour ministeres beleue nocht that we feare thame or that we haue other opinione of thame nor that thai arfals prophetis quha hes ingyrit thame self to the vsurpatioun of the ministerie of the kirk to the effect thâ—â— thay micht mair liâ—â—ntiouslie scrue thair lâ—st and bâ—llie I will propoise at lenth quhat sumeuer ze say and sall defraud zou of nathing quhilk ony way may be to the auancement of zour caus THE REST OF SCHIR IOHNE knox ansuer BVt nâ—w to the taunting blasphemies of the wrytter it plesis him to terme our kirkis new found inuisible yet but aucht yeare auld c. and our â—uangel new lie muented which blaspheamis albert that man spar yet we ar assured the eternall our God fall not suffer vnpunished in this lyfe and in the lyfe to cum onles that speady and vnfeaned repentens blot away the same But the wrytter left to the iugement of God we wold knoue of him why he calleth oure kirkes new found and our Euangell but new inuented He appeareth tâ— giue his reasone in thâ—is wordes for says he it is maâ—ifest that befoir a thousand yearis in all the world was there peple that trow it as thay do quha defendis the contrare This reasone conteyneth in it sic foly besydes the obscuritie and generalitie of it that west nd in dout at what member we shall begin to confute the same But becaus his greatest strength appeareth to stand in this that befoir a thousand yeares thair wes people in all the world that trowed as Papistis now trowâ— what sall thair of yet be concluded that our kirkis ar new found And will he say that our Euangell is bot new he inuented A good dâ—a lecticiane wold ansuer that albeid the antecedent war granted the consequent may iustlie be denyed And the reason is becaus that nether doeth the kirk the faith of the same nor the authoritie of the Euangell of Christ Iesus depend vpon that which men beleued befoir that it was published Nether yet is the age of the kirk to be compted from the tyme when it pleased God of his mercy either to reueale his word to any realme or natioun that befoir was ignorant of it or yet to reforme abuses whiche haue taken roote amanges the people of God be the negligence of men â–ª And that this reason and proportioun is trew the consideratioun of the planting of the kirk and of the diuers reformationis maid within the same shall witnes when God callit Abrahame from Vr of the Caldeanis and maid to him that promise of the blissed sead and efter gaue vnto him the signe of Circumcisioun wer there not people despersed vniuersallie vpon the face of the earth what ro wit and thought that thay had a good and perfite religioun yea euin that same religioun as thay supposed wherin Noha serued God And yet we knowe that the spirite of God dampneth the multitude of that age of Idolatrie and theirintill magnifies the mercy of God who from that corrupted multitude called Abraham and be grace maid him the father of the faithfull Now
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