The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland. John Armoy Knox
to suffer death.
The lawful use of the Sacrament is most acceptable unto God: the great abuse of it is very detestable unto Him. But what occasion they have to say such words of me, I shall shortly show your Lordships. I once chanced to meet with a Jew, when I was sailing upon the water of Rhine. I did inquire of him what was the cause of his pertinacity in not believing that the true Messias was come, considering that they had seen fulfilled all the prophecies which were spoken of Him; moreover, the prophecies taken away, and the sceptre of Judah. By many other testimonies of the Scripture, I vanquished him, and proved that Messias was come, whom they called Jesus of Nazareth. This Jew answered me, "When Messias cometh, he shall restore all things, and he shall not abrogate the Law, which was given to our fathers, as ye do. For why? we see the poor almost perish through hunger among you, yet you are not moved with pity towards them; but among us Jews, though we be poor, there are no beggars found. Secondly, it is forbidden by the Law to feign any kind of imagery of things in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the sea under the earth, but one God only to honour: your sanctuaries and churches are full of idols. Thirdly, ye adore and worship a piece of bread baken upon the ashes, and say that it is your God." I have rehearsed here but the sayings of the Jew, which I never affirmed to be true.
Then the bishops shook their heads, and spat on the ground. What he meant to say further in this matter, they would not hear.
7. Thou, false heretic, didst say that extreme unction was not a sacrament.—My Lords, forsooth, I never taught anything of extreme unction in my doctrine, whether it was a sacrament or no.
8. Thou, false heretic, saidst that the holy water is not so good as wash, and such like. Thou contemnest conjuring, and sayest that Holy Church's cursing availeth not.—My Lords, as for holy water, of what strength it is, I never taught in my doctrine. Conjurings and exorcisms, if they were conformable to the Word of God, I would commend. But in so far as they are not conformable to the commandment and Word of God, I reprove them.
9. Thou, false heretic and runagate, hast said that every layman is a priest; and thou sayest that the Pope hath no more power than any other man.—My Lords, I taught nothing but the Word of God. I remember that I have read in some places in St. John and St. Peter, of whom one sayeth, "He hath made us kings and priests;" the other sayeth, "He hath made us the kingly priesthood." Wherefore, I have affirmed that any man, being cunning and perfect in the Word of God and the true faith of Jesus Christ, has his power given him from God, and that not by the power or violence of men, but by the virtue of the Word of God—the Word which is called the power of God, as St. Paul witnesseth evidently enough. And again I say that any unlearned man, not exercised in the Word of God, nor yet constant in his faith, of whatsoever estate or order he be, hath no power to bind or loose, seeing he lacketh the instrument by the which he bindeth or looseth, that is to say, the Word of God.
After he had said these words all the bishops laughed, and mocked him. When he beheld their laughing, "Laugh ye," saith he, "my Lords? Though these my sayings appear scornful and worthy of derision to your Lordships, they are nevertheless very weighty to me, and of a great value; because they stand not only upon my life, but also the honour and glory of God."
In the meantime many godly men, beholding the wodness[88] and great cruelty of the bishops, and the invincible patience of the said Master George, did greatly mourn and lament.
10. Thou, false heretic, saidst that a man hath no free will, but is like to the Stoics, who say that it is not in man's will to do anything, but that concupiscence and desire cometh of God, of whatsoever kind it be.—My Lords, I said not so, truly: I say that unto as many as believe in Christ firmly is given liberty, conformable to the saying of St. John, "If the Son make you free, then shall ye verily be free." Of the contrary, as many as believe not in Christ Jesus, they are bound servants of sin: "He that sinneth is bound to sin."
11. Thou, false heretic, sayest it is as lawful to eat flesh upon Friday, as on Sunday.—May it please your Lordships, I have read in the Epistles of St. Paul that "to the clean, all things are clean." Of the contrary, "To filthy men, all things are unclean." A faithful man, clean and holy, sanctifieth by the Word the creature of God; but the creature maketh no man acceptable unto God: so that a creature may not sanctify any impure and unfaithful man. But to the faithful man, all things are sanctified by the prayer of the Word of God.
After these sayings of Master George, all the bishops, with their accomplices, said, "What witness need we against him: hath he not openly here spoken blasphemy?"
12. Thou, false heretic, dost say that we should not pray to saints, but to God only. Say whether thou hast said this or no: say shortly.—For the weakness and the infirmity of the hearers, without doubt, plainly, saints should not be honoured or called upon. My Lords, there are two things worthy of note: the one is certain and the other uncertain. It is found plainly and certain in Scriptures that we should worship and honour one God, according to the saying of the first commandment, "Thou shall only worship and honour thy Lord God with all thy heart." But as to praying to and honouring of saints, there is great doubt among many, whether or no they hear invocation made unto them. Therefore, I exhorted all men equally in my doctrine that they should leave the unsure way, and follow the way which was taught us by our Master Christ: He only is our Mediator, and maketh intercession for us to God, His Father: He is the door, by which we must enter in: He that entereth not in by this door, but climbeth another way, is a thief and a murderer: He is the truth and life. There is no doubt but he that goeth out of this way shall fall into the mire; yea, verily, he is fallen into it already. This is the fashion of my doctrine, which I have ever followed. Verily, that which I have heard and read in the Word of God I taught openly and in no corners, and now ye shall witness the same, if your Lordships will hear me. I dare not be so bold as affirm anything unless it agree with the Word of God.
These sayings he rehearsed divers times.
13. Thou, false heretic, hast preached plainly that there is no purgatory, and that it is a feigned thing that any man, after this life, will be punished in purgatory.—My Lords, as I have oftentimes said heretofore, without express witness and testimony of Scripture, I dare affirm nothing. I have oft and divers times read over the Bible, and yet such a term found I never, nor yet any place of Scripture applicable thereto. Therefore, I was ashamed ever to teach of that which I could not find in Scripture.
Then said he to Master John Lauder, his accuser, "If you have any testimony of the Scripture, by the which ye may prove any such place, show it now before this audience." But that dolt had not a word to say for himself, but was as dumb as a beetle in that matter.
14. Thou, false heretic, hast taught plainly against the vows of monks, friars, nuns, and priests, saying that whosoever was bound by such vows did vow themselves to the state of damnation. Moreover, thou hast taught that it was lawful for priests to marry wives, and not to live sole.—Of sooth, my Lords, I have read in the Evangel that there are three kinds of chaste men: some are gelded from their mother's womb; some are gelded by men; and some have gelded themselves for the kingdom of heaven's sake: verily, I say, these men are blessed by the Scripture of God. But as many as have not the gift of chastity, nor yet for the Evangel have overcome the concupiscence of the flesh, and have vowed chastity, ye have experience, although I should hold my tongue, to what inconvenience they have vowed themselves.
When he had said these words, they were all dumb, thinking it better to have ten concubines, than one married wife.
15. Thou, false heretic and runagate, sayest that thou wilt not obey our General or Provincial Councils.—My Lords, I know not what your General Councils are. I never studied that matter; but gave my labours to the pure Word of God. Read here your General Councils, or else give me a book wherein they are contained, that I may read of them. If they agree with the Word of God, I will not disagree.
Then the ravening wolves became mad, and said, "Whereunto do we let him speak any further? Read forth the rest of the articles, and stay not upon them." Amongst these cruel tigers there was one false hypocrite, a seducer of the people, called John Scott, who, standing behind John Lauder's back, hasted him to read the rest of the articles, and not to tarry for Master George's witty and godly answers; "For we may not abide them," quoth he, "no more than the Devil may abide the sign of the Cross when it is named."
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