The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland. John Armoy Knox
heavens cannot comprehend Thee, how much less this house that I have builded." And Job consenteth to the same sentence, saying, "Seeing that He is higher than the heavens, what canst thou build unto Him? He is deeper than the hell, then how shalt thou know Him? He is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." God cannot be comprehended into one space, because He is infinite. These sayings notwithstanding, I never said that churches should be destroyed; but, on the contrary, I ever affirmed that churches should be sustained and upholden, and that the people should be congregated in them to hear the Word of God preached. Moreover, wheresoever there is the true preaching of the Word of God and the lawful use of the Sacraments, undoubtedly God is there Himself. Thus, both these sayings are true together. God cannot be comprehended into any one place: and, "Wheresoever there are two or three gathered in His name, there is He present in the midst of them."
Then said he to his accuser, "If thou thinkest any otherwise, then I say, show further thy reasons before this audience." He, without all reason, was dumb, and could not answer a word.
17. Thou, false heretic, contemnest fasting, and sayest thou shouldest not fast.—My Lords, I find that fasting is commanded in the Scripture; therefore I were a slanderer of the Gospel if I contemned fasting. Not only so, I have learned by experience that fasting is good for the health and conservation of the body. But God knoweth only who fasteth the true fast.
18. Thou, false heretic, hast preached openly, saying, that the souls of men shall sleep to the latter day of judgment, and shall not obtain life immortal until that day.—God, full of mercy and goodness, forgive him that sayeth such things of me. I wot and know surely, by the Word of God, that the soul of him that hath begun to have the faith of Jesus Christ and believeth firmly in Him, shall never sleep, but ever shall live an immortal life. That life is renewed in grace from day to day and augmented; nor shall it ever perish or have an end, but shall ever live immortal with Christ its Head. To this life, all that believe in Him shall come, and then shall remain in eternal glory. Amen.
When the bishops, with their accomplices, had accused this innocent man, in manner and form aforesaid, they incontinently condemned him to be burned as a heretic, not having respect to his godly answers and the true reasons which he alleged, nor yet to their own consciences. They thought, verily, that they should do to God good sacrifice, conformably to the sayings of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of St. John, chapter sixteen: "They shall excommunicate you; yea, and the time shall come that he which killeth you shall think that he hath done to God good service."
The following is the prayer of Master George. "O immortal God! how long shalt Thou suffer the wodness and great credulity of the ungodly to exercise their fury upon Thy servants, who do further Thy Word in this world. They desire to do the contrary, to choke and destroy the true doctrine and truth, whereby Thou hast showed Thee unto the world, which was all drowned in blindness and misknowledge of Thy name. O Lord, we know surely that Thy true servants must needs suffer, for Thy name's sake, persecution, affliction, and troubles in this present life, which is but a shadow, as Thou hast showed to us by Thy prophets and apostles. But yet we desire Thee, merciful Father, that Thou wouldest preserve, defend, and help Thy congregation, which Thou hast chosen before the beginning of the world, and give them Thy grace to hear Thy word, and to be true servants in this present life."
Then, by and by, the common people were removed (for their desire was always to hear that innocent speak) and the sons of darkness pronounced their sentence definitive, not having respect to the judgment of God. When all this was done and said, my Lord Cardinal caused his tormentors to pass again with the meek lamb unto the Castle, until such time as the fire was made ready. When he was come into the Castle, there came two Grey fiends, Friar Scott and his mate, saying, "Sir, ye must make your confession unto us." He answered and said, "I will make no confession unto you. Go fetch me yonder man that preached this day, and I will make my confession unto him." Then they sent for the Sub-prior of the Abbey, who came to him with all diligence; but what he said in this confession I cannot show.
When the fire and the gallows were made ready at the west part of the Castle, near to the Priory, my Lord Cardinal, dreading that Master George should have been taken away by his friends, commanded his men to bend all the ordnance of the Castle against the place of execution, and commanded all his gunners to be ready, and stand beside their guns, until such time as he was burned. All this being done, they bound Master George's hands behind his back, and led him forth from the Castle with their soldiers, to the place of their cruel and wicked execution. As he came forth from the Castle gate, there met him certain beggars asking his alms, for God's sake. To these he answered, "I want my hands, wherewith I was wont to give you alms. But may the merciful Lord, who feedeth all men, vouchsafe of His benignity and abundant grace to give you necessaries, both for your bodies and souls." Then met him two false fiends—I should say, Friars—saying, "Master George, pray to our Lady that she may be a mediatrix for you to her Son." To them he answered meekly, "Cease: tempt me not, my brethren." After this he was led to the fire, with a rope about his neck, and a chain of iron about his middle.
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