The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 31

[571] In edit. 1722, Chap. XVI.

As Sathan hath never cea.s.sed frome the begyning to draw mankynd in one of two extremiteis, to wit, that men should eathir be so ravished with gazing upoun the visible creaturis, that forgetting the caus why thai war ordeyned,[572] thai attributed unto thame a vertew and power which G.o.d hath not granted unto thame; or ellis that men should sa contempne and dispyse G.o.dis blessed ordinance and holy inst.i.tutionis, as [if]

that neathir in the rycht use of thame war thair any proffeit, neathir yit in thair prophanatioun war thair any danger. As this wyese, we say, Sathan hath blynded the most parte of mankynd from the begyning; so doubt we not, but that he will stryve to continew in his malice evin to the end. Oure eyis have seane, and presentlie do see the experience of the one and of the other. What was the opinioun of most parte of men, of the Sacrament of Christis bodie and bloode, during the darknes of superst.i.tioun, is not unknawin, how it was gazed upoun, kneeled unto, borne in processioun, and finallie wirschipped and honored as Christ Jesus him selve. And so long as Sathan mycht thane reteane man in that d.a.m.nable idolatrie, he was quyet, as one that possessed his kingdome of darknes peceablie. But since that it hath pleased the mercyis of G.o.d to reveill unto the unthankfull world the lyght of his wourd, the rycht use and administratioun of his sacramentis, he a.s.sayis man upoun the contrarie parte. For whair, (not lang ago,) men stude in suche admiratioun of that idoll in the Messe, that none durst presume to have said the Messe, but the foirsworne schavin sorte, the beastis marked men some dar now be so bald; as without all convocatioun, to minister, (as thai suppoise,) the treu sacramentis in open a.s.semblies; and some idiottis, (yit more wickedlie and more imprudentlie,) dar counterfeit in thair housses that which the treu Ministeris do in the open congregatioun; thei presume, (we say,) to do it in housses without reverence, without word preached, and without Minister, other then of companioun to companioun.[573]

This contempt proceideth, no doubt, from the malice and craft of that Serpent who first deceaved man, of purpoise to deface the glory of Christis evangell, and to bring his blessed sacramentis in a perpetuall contempt. And farther, your Honouris may clearlie see how proudlie and stubburnlie the most parte despyse the Evangell of Christ Jesus offered unto you; whome onles that scharplie and stoutlie ye resist, we meane alsweill the manifest dispysar as the prophanare of the sacramentis, ye shall fynd thame pernitious ennemyes or it be long. And thairfoir, in the name of the Eternall G.o.d, and of his Sone Christ Jesus, we require of your Honouris, that, without delay, strait Lawis be maid against the one and the other.

[572] In edit. 1621, "the cause wherefore they are ordained."

[573] The last six words are omitted in edit. 1621.

[Sidenote: OPTIMA COLLATIO.]

We dare not prescribe unto you what penalties shalbe required of suche: But this we fear not to affirme, that the ane and the other deserve death; for yf he which doeth falsefye the the seall, subscriptioun, or coynzie of a king is adjudged worthy of death; what shall we think of him who planlie doeth falsefye the Seallis of Christ Jesus, Prince of the Kingis of the earth? Yf Darius p.r.o.nunced, that a bauk[574] should be taken frome the house of that man, and he him self hinged upoun it, that durst attempt to hinder the re-edificatioun[575]

of the materiall Temple, What shall we say of those that contempteouslie blaspheme G.o.d, and manifestlie hynder the [spirituall]

Temple of G.o.d, which is the saullis and bodyis of the elect, to be purged by the treu preaching of Christ Jesus, from the superst.i.tioun and d.a.m.nable idolatrie in which thai have bene of long plunged and holdin captive? Yf ye, (as G.o.d forbid,) declair your selfis cairless ower the treu Religioun, G.o.d will not suffer your negligence unpunished. And thairfoir, moir earnestlie require we, that strait lawis may be maid against the stubburne contempnaris of Christ Jesus, and against such as dare presume to minister his Sacramentis, not ordourlie called to that office, least that whill thair be none found to ganestand impietie, the wrayth of G.o.d be kindilled against the hoill.

[574] In edit. 1621, "a balk."

[575] In edit. 1621, "the re-edifying."

The Papisticall Preastis have neather power nor authoritie to minister the Sacramentis of Christ Jesus; becaus that in thair mouth is not the sermon of exhortatioun. And thairfoir, to thame most strait inhibitioun be maid, notwithstanding any usurpatioun whiche thai have had in that behalf in the tyme of blyndnes:[576] It is neathir the clipping of thair crownes, the crossing[577] of thair fingaris, nor the blowing of the dum doggis, called the Bischopis, neathir yit the laying on of thair handis, that maketh thame treu Ministeris of Christ Jesus. But the Spreit of G.o.d inwardlie first moving the heartis to seke[578] Christis glorie and the proffeit of his Churche, and thaireftir the nominatioun of the People, the examinatioun of the learned, and publict admissioun, (as befoir is said,) maikis men lauchfull Ministeris of the wourd and sacramentis. We speak of ane ordinarie vocatioun, whare churches ar reformed, or at least tend to reformatioun,[579] and not of that which is extraordinarye, when G.o.d by him self, and by his only power, raseth up to the Ministerie such as best pleaseth his wisdome.

[576] The edit. 1722, here supplies, "not to presume upon the like hereafter, as likewise to all others who are not lawfully called to the holy Ministry."

[577] In edit. 1621, "the greasing."

[578] In edit. 1722, is here added, "to seek to enter in the holy Calling for Christis glorie."

[579] In edit. 1621, the words after "ordinarie vocation" are omitted: in the edit. 1722, their place is thus supplied, "in Kirks reformed."

THE CONCLUSIOUN.

THUS have we, in these few Headis, offered unto youre Honouris oure judgmentis, according as we war commanded, tueching the Reformatioun of thingis which heirtofoir have altogidder bene abused in this curssed Papistrie. We doubt not but some of oure Pet.i.tionis shall appear strange unto you at the first sight. But yf your Wisdomes deaplie considder, that we must ansuer not onlie unto men, but also befoir the throne of the Eternall G.o.d, and of his Sone Christ Jesus, for the counsall which we geve in this so grave a mater; your Honouris shall easilie considder, that more a.s.sured it is till us to fall in the displeasour of all men in earth, then to offend the Majestie of G.o.d, whose justice can not suffer flatteraris and deceitfull Counsalouris unpunished.

That we require the Churche to be set at suche libertie, that scho neathir be compelled to fead idill bellyes, neathir yit to susteane the tyrannye which heirtofoir by violence hath bene manteaned, we know will offend many. But yf we should keape silence heirof, we ar most a.s.sured to offend the just and rychteous G.o.d, who by the mouth of his Apostle hath p.r.o.nunced this sentence:--"He that lauboreth nott, let him not eat." Yf we in this behalf, or in any other, requyre or ask any [other] thing, than by G.o.ddis expressed commandiment, by equitie and good conscience ye ar bound to grant, lett it be noted, and after repudiat; but yf we require nothing which G.o.d requyreth not also, let your Honouris tack head, how ye ganestand the charge of him whose hand and punishment ye can not eschape.

Yf blynd affectioun rather lead you to have respect to the sustentatioun of those your carnall Freindis, who tyrannouslie have impyred above the poor flock of Christ Jesus, than that the zeall of G.o.ddis glorie provock and move you to sett his oppressed Churche at fredome and libertie, we fear your scharpe and suddane punischmentis, and that the glorie and honour of this interpryse be reserved unto otheris.

And yitt shall this oure judgment abyd to the Generationis following for a monument and witness, how lovinglie G.o.d called you and this Realme[580] to repentance, what counsallouris G.o.d send unto you, and how ye [have] used the same. Yf obedientlie ye hear G.o.d now calling, we doubt not but he shall hear you in your greatest necessitie. But yf, following youre awin corrupt judgmentis, ye contempt his voice and vocatioun, we ar a.s.sured that your formare iniquitie, and present ingrat.i.tude, shall togither crave just punishment frome G.o.d, who can not long delay to execute his most just judgmentis, when, after many offenses and long blyndness, grace and mercy offered is contemptuouslie refused.

[580] In edit. 1621, "this nation."

G.o.d the Father of oure Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy Spreit, so illuminat your heartis, that ye may clearlie see what is pleasing and acceptable in his presence; so bow the same till his obedience, that ye may prefer his reveilled will to your awin affectionis; and so strengthen you by the spreit of fort.i.tude, that boldlie ye may punishe vyce, and maintene virtue within this Realme, to the praise and glorie of his Holy name; to the conforte and a.s.surance of your awin Consciences, and to the consolatioun and good example of the Posteriteis following. Amen. So be it.

BY YOUR HONOURIS MOST HUMBLE SERVITOURIS, ETC.

Frome Edinburgh, The 20 of Maij 1560.

ACT OF SECREIT COUNSALL, XXVII JANUARII, ANNO &C., LX^O.[581]

[581] That is, the 27th (in edit. 1621, the 17th) of January 1560-1; as the year did not begin at that time till the 25th of March.

WE, quhilkis hes subscryvit thir Presentis, haveand avysit with the Articles heirin specifeit, as is abone mentionat fra the begynning of this Book, thinkis the samin good, and conforme to G.o.ddis Word in all pointis; conforme to the Notes and Additionis thairto eikit; and promittis to sett the samin fordwarte at the uttermost of oure poweris: Providing that the Bischoppis, Abbotis, Priouris, and otheris Prelattis and beneficit men, quhilkis ellis hes adjonit thame to us, bruik the reveneues of thair benefices during thair liftymes, thei susteanand and uphaldand the Ministerie and Ministeris, as is herein specifeit, for preaching of the Word, and ministering of the Sacramentis of G.o.d.

(_Sic Subscribitur._)

JAMES.[582]

JAMES HAMMYLTON.[583]

AR^D. ERGYLL.[584]

JAMES STEWART.[585]

ROTHESS.[586] JAMES HALIBURTON.[587]

R. BOYD.[588]

ALEX^R. CAMPBELL, DENE OF MURRAY.[589]

VILLIAM OF CULROS.[590]

MAISTER ALEX^R. GORDOUN.[591]

BARGANY YOUNGER.[592]

ANDRO KER _of Fawdonsyd_.[593]

T. SCOTT _of Hanyng_.[594]

JOHNE LOKHART _of Barr_.[595]

GEORGE CORRIE _of Kelwod_.[596]

JOHNE SCHAW _of Halie_.[597]

ANDRO HAMMYLTOUN _of Lethame_.[598]

GLENCARN.[599]

UCHILTRIE.[600]

SANQUHAR.[601]

SANCTJOHNS.[602]

WILLIAM LORD HAY.[603]

DRUMLANGRIKE.[604]

CONYGHAMHEID.[605]

JOHNE MAXWELL.[606]

GEORGE FENTOUN _of that Ilk_.[607]

LOCHINWARE.[608]

[582] James Duke of Chattelherault, Regent and Governor of Scotland, after the death of James the Fifth: see vol. i. pp. 95, 242. In edit.

1621, his name is omitted in the above list.

[583] James third Earl of Arran, and eldest son of the Duke of Chattelherault. Owing to his declared incapacity, at his father's death, in 1575, the family estates devolved upon Lord John Hamilton the second son; but the Earl survived till 1609.

[584] Archibald fifth Earl of Argyle, succeeded to the t.i.tle in 1558.

He at first adhered to the Queen Regent, but soon joined the Lords of the Congregation, and continued to act along with the Earl of Murray, until 1568, when he went over to the Queen's party, without materially aiding her cause. When the Earl of Morton was chosen Regent, the Earl of Argyle succeeded him as Lord Chancellor, 17th January 1573; but he did not long enjoy his honours, having died suddenly on the 12th September 1573, and not 1575 as stated in the Peerages and other works. (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 337, and Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[585] Lord James Stewart, Commendator of St. Andrews and Pittenweem; afterwards Earl of Murray, and Regent of Scotland.

[586] Andrew fourth Earl of Rothes, succeeded on the death of his father, November 1558.

[587] In the MS. this name stands in a kind of intermediate column by itself. James Halyburton, sometimes styled Tutor of Pitcur. He was a person of great activity and influence, and filled the office of Provost of Dundee for the long period of thirty-three years. He died in 1588, aged seventy.