The appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and most iniust sentence pronounced against him by the false bishopes and cledgie of Scotland : with his supplication and exhortation to the nobilitie, estates, and comunaltie of the same realme

wm

COLLECTION OF PURITAN AND
ENGLISH THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE

LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY

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X

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THE A P-

PELLATION OF

JOHN K.K 0 X E F \0 M

the cruell and mo ft iniuft fentence
pronounced againft him by the
falfe bifhoppes and clergie of Scot
land,withhis fupplication and ex-
hortation to the nobilitie3e-
ftates,and comunaltie
of the fame re-
alme.

Printed at GENEVA,
M. D. LVIIL

2f

TO THE NOB I*

LITIS ^i N T) £ S T *A-

tes ofScotlid lohn Kjwxcxijheih grace yrwcie,

and peace from Godthe father of our

Lord It fa Chrift with the

fyirit of righteous

judgement.

If^v^iSfS ^ 1S not onty f^e ^oue °^^e
&^\ \S7li temporal l(right honorable)
f|2 neither yet the fear of corpo
f£~) ral^ Geath, l^at moueth me ac
!§jbJtliisprefent to expone vnto
you the imurics done againft me, and to
craueofyou, asof Iaufull powers by God
appointed;redreife of the fame, but partly
it procedeth from that reuerence whiche
cuerie man oweth to Godds eternal trueth, Euety ma
and partly from a loue which I beare tooo-btto
your faluation, and to the faluarion of my confffe
brethren abufed in that realme by fuch,as andreue*
haueno fear of "God before thcireyes.lt rece god-
hath plcafcd God of his inrinite mercie, des trteth,
notonliefo to illuminate the eyes of my
mindc,andfoto tuchemydull hart, that
clearly Ife,and by his grace vnfeanedly
beleue, that their is no other namegeuen
to men vnder the hcauen, in whiche falua- *Att.\i
tion confifteth, faue the name of Iefusa-
lone,

A x

THE sAP P ELL-4T ION

tfebr.io. Who by that facrifice which he
did once ofFcrvpon the crofTe,hath
fanctitied foreuerthofe thatfliall
enherite the kingdom promifed:

but alfo it hath pleafed him of his fuper-
aboundant grace, to make and appoin-
teme moft wretched of many thoufandes
a witnes, minifter and- preacher of the
fame doctrine: the fomme whereof I did
notfparc to communicate withe my bre-
thren being with them in the realmc of
Scotland in the yeare 1556, becaufe I
I Cor-1' know my felfetobeaftewardand thatac-
*Mat.z^. compts of the talte comitted to my charge
fhal be required by himwho willadmitno
vaineexcufe which fearfullmen pretend.
I did therefore (as God did minifter ) du-
ring the tyme I was conuerfant with them
(God is record and witnefle) truely and
fynccrly according to the gift grated vn-
tome,deuidethewordeof faluation, tea-
chinge all men to hate Syn,whiche before
God was and is fo odious that none other
facrifice coulde fatifHe his iuftice except
the death of his onlie fonne,and to magni
fie the greate mercies of our heuenlieFa-
the^whodidnotfparethefubftaceof his
lohni. own glorie but did giuehym to the world
^jwi.5,8. to fufFer the ignominious andcruell de-
z.^V.f. atbofchecrofIe,bythatmeanes to recon-
cile

OF JOHN J^N OX S. 5

cilehischofcn children to hym felfe: tea-
ching further what is the duetie of fuch as
do beleue them fcluespurged by fuch a pri-
ce from their former filthines.To wit,that \om.G.
they are bound to walke in the newnes of Ephc.q.f
life fighting againit the luftesof the fleflie
andftudyingeatall tymestoglorifieGod Sphe.i.
by fuch good woorkes as he hath prepared
his children to walke in.

In do&rine I did further afTirme , Co
taught by my mafter Chriit. Iefus , that jHat.iO.
whofoeuer denieth hym,y ea or is afhamed
of hym before this wicked generation,
hym mall Chrifl Iefus denie, and of hym
mail he be afhamed whe he mail appearein
his maieftie.And therefore I feared not to
afTirme that of necefiitie it is, that fuche as
hope for life cuerlafting auoide all fuper-
ftition,vaine religion,and idolatrie. Vai- Vainere-
ne religion and idolatrie I call, what foe- ligionor
ueris done in Goddes feruice or honour ijolatrit.
without theexpreffe commaundementof
hisownworde.

This do&rine did I beleue to be fo co-
formable to Goddes holie fcriptures that
I thoght, no creature could haue benefo
impudent as to haue daned any point or
article of the fame. Yetneuerthelefifeme,
as an heritike,and this do&rine as heriti-
call, haue your falsbifhoppes and vngod- ^ifentece
lie clergie damnedj pronouncing againft pronuced'
A 3

rue ~4P PELL^iTION
me a fcntence of death, in te unification
lApftella- wherofthcy haue burned a picture. From
tiou from which fals and crueii fcntence, and from
the fame, all Judgement of that wicked generation
I make it knowentoyour honours,that I
appeal to a laufull and generall counfil,
to fuchc I mean,as the molt auncient lawes
andcanonesdo approuetobe holden, by
fucheaswhofemanifeil impietie is not to
The re- be reformed in the fame: moil humbly re-
aueji of quiring of your honours,that,asGod hath
John appointed you princes in that people, and
J^jtoxe. by reafon thcrof requireth of your handes
the defence of innocetes troubled in your
dominion, in the meane tyme, and till
the controuerfies, that this day be in re-
ligion, be laufully decided, ye recealie
meandfuche others, as moll vniultlieby
thofecruellbeaftesareperfecuted,inyour
defence and protection.

Your honours are not ignorat that it is
n6tIalone,who doth fuftain this caufea-
gainft the peftilet generation of Papiftes,
The peti- but that the raoft part of Germanie ,the
tionofPro countrie of Heluetia, the kinge of Den
Uflantes. marke,thcnobilitieof Polonia,togither
with many other Cities and Churches re-
formed, appeall from the tyrannic of that
Antichrifl,andmoflearne{lIy do call for a
laufuli and general coufiljwherin may all
cotrouerfiesin religion be decided by the

aufto-

OF 10HN K^NOXE. 4

auctoritie of Goddesmoft facred worde.
And vnto this fame,asfaid is, do I appeal
yet once againe,requirlg of your honours
to hold my iimple and playn appellation
of no Jeffe value nor effe&.then if it had
bene made with greater circunftace,folem
nitic, andceremonie,and that yereceaue
me calinge vnto you , as to the powers o£
God ordained, in your protection and de-
fence againft the rage of tyrantes , not to
mentaineme in any iniquitie,errour , or
fals opinion, but to let me haue fuch cqui-
tie,as God by hisworde,auncient lawes,
and determinationsof molt Godliecoun-
fils, grauntc to men accufed or infamed.

The word of God will that no man
fhalldieeKcepthebefoundcriminallcnd
worthie of death for offence committed, Bmf.ij,
of thewhichehemuft bemanifeflly con-
ui&cd by two or three witneiTes. Ancient
lawes do permitt iuit defences to fuch as
beaccufed (be their crimesneuerfo horri
blejand godliecounfilles will that ne-
ther Byfliopp nor Perfon eccleiiafticall
whatfoeuer accufed of any crime fhali fit
in Judgement, confultation, or counfil,
where the caufeoffuchmen,as do accufc
them,istobetried. The pet U

Thcfe thinges require I of your ho- ttom of
nours to be graunted vnto me: to wit, Iolm
That the doctrine which our aducrfaries Knoxe,
A 4 '

run sApp e ll^t ion

condemn for he/efie may be tried by the
fimpleand playnword of God, that iuft
defenfes be admitted to vs that fuftain the
battaile againft this peftilent generation
of Antichnft , and that they be remoued
fromiudgement in our caufe,feingc that
our accufation is not intended againft any
one particular perfo, but againft that hole
kingdome whiche we doubt not toproue
Note tobe a power vfurped againftGod,againft
yaffil, his comaundement and againft the orde
nance of Chrift Iefus eftablifhed in his
Church by his chefc Apoftlcs: lea we
doubt not to proue thekingdome of the
Pope to be the kingdome and power of An
tichrift. And therefore my Lordeslcan
not ceafe in the name of Chrift Iefus to
require of you that the matter may come
in examination , and that ye theeftates of
the realme by your au&oritie compell
fuchaswill be called bifhoppes, not only
to defift from their cruell murthering of
filch as do ftudie to promote goddes glo-
rie in detecting and difclofingthe dam-
nableimpietieofthatmanof fyntheRo-
mane Antechrift, butalfo thatyecopell
them to anfwer to fuche crimes as fhall be
laid to their charge for not righteoufly
inftrufting the flock committed to their
cares.
Unfaet But here I know two thinges flialbe

doubted.

OF lOtiN K^NOXE. f

doubted. The former : whether that my i. to ohic-
appellationis lawful 1 and to be admitted CHons.
feing that I am damned as an heritike:
and fecondarely whether your honours 2.
be bound to defed fuch as call for your fup
port in that cafe, feing that your bifhop-
pes( who in matters ofreligionclaimeall
au&oritieto appertaineto them)haue by
their fentence allredy condemned me.
The one and the other I nothing doubt
moftclerelyto proue. Fyrft that my ap-
pellation is moft Lawfull andiuil: and
fecondarely that your honours can not
refufe to defend me thus calling for your
aid, but that info doing ye declare your NOTE.
felues rebellious to God,mentainers of
murtherers and {hedders of innocent
blood.

How iuft caufe I haue by the ciuile law
(as fortheircanon it is accurfedof God) Theappd
to appeale from their vniuft fentence my l^tonis
purpofe is not to make long difcourfe. iuft and
Onlie I will touche the poyntes which all UvrfttU.
menconfeflfetobeiuft caufes of appella-
tion. Fyrtt. laufully could I not be fom-
rnonedby them being for thattyme ab-
fent from their iurifdiction, charged with
thepreachig of ChriftesEuagill in a free
citienotfubiectto their tyrannie.
Secondarely to me was no intimation ma-
de of their fommondesjbut fofecretewas

TrfB, UPP £ ILLATION

their furmifed malice that the copie of the
fommondes being required was denyed.

Thirdlicto thcrcalme of Scotland
could T hauehadnofree nor furc acccfle
being before exiled fro the fame by their
vniuft tyrannie. And laft to me they ne-
ther could nor can be competent and in-
different iudges, for that , before any
fommondes were raifed againft me, I had
accufed them by my Ires publifhed to
the cjucne dowsgier, and had intended
againft them all crimes, orfring my felfe
with hafardof life to proue the fame, for
the which they are not onlie vnworthie of
eccletiafticallau£toritie,butalfoofany fuf
ferance with i n a commune welthe p rofef-
fing Chrift. This my accufatio preceding
their fomodes, neither by the lawof God,
neither yet by the law of man can they be
to me competent iudges till place be gra-
ted vnto me opclic to proue my accufatio
intended againft them, and they be com-
pel led to make anfwer as criminalls.For I
will plainelieprouethat not onlie bifhop
pesjbut alfo Popes haue bene remoued fro
all auftoritieand pronouncing of Judge-
ment till they haue purged them feluesof
accufations layd againft them. Yea fur-
ther I will proue that bifhoppes and Po-
pes moft iuftly haue bene depriued fro all
honours and adminiftration for fmaller

crimes

OF I OHM F^NOXR. 6

crimes then I haue to charge the holera-
bleof your bifhoppes.

Butbecaufe this is not my chefe grounde Goddes
I wil ftand cotent for this prefent to llnw, m fingers
thatlawfull it is to Goddes Prophctcs and may ap-
to preachers ofChnft Iefus to appeall fro peall from
the fentence and Judgement of the vihble mtmfifen
churcheto the knoliedgeof thetemporall tencesjmd
Magistrate, who bv Goddes law is bound cutUe
to hear their caufes, and to defend them powers are
from tyrannic. bound

The Prophete leremie was comma- to admit
ded by God to ftand in the courte of the them.
houfeofthe Lord and to preach this fcr-
monineffecT:. That lerufalem mould be Ier.16.
diftroyed and be exponed in opprobrie
to ai 1 nations of the earth , and that alfo
that famous teple of God mould be made
defolate like vntoSylo, becaufe thepree-
ftes,theProphetes, and the people did not
walk in the Law, which God had yppofed
vnto the, neither wold they obey the voy-
ces of the Prophetes,whomeGod fentto
call them to repentance.

For this fermon was Teremie appre-
hended and a fentence of death was pro-
nounced againft hym and that by the pree
it.es> by the Prophetes, and by the people,
which thinges being bruted in the eares
of the Princes of Iuda they pailed vp fro
thekingeshoufe to the teple of the Lord,

and

THF ^iPP ELLsAT I 07^

and fat down in Judgement for further
knowledge ofthe caufe. But the preeftes
and Prophetes continued in theyre cruell
fcntece,which before they had pronouced
faying,Thismanisworthie of the death:
for he hath prophefied againft this citic
as your eares haue hard. But Ieremy Co
mouedby theholie Ghoft, began his de-
fence againft that their tyrannous fentcn-
cein thefe wordes. The Lord (faieth he)
hath fent me to prophetie againft this
houfe,and againft this citie all the wordes
which you haue hard. Now therefore
make good yourwayes, ad hear the voyce
of the Lord your God, and then fhallhe
repent of the euill whichehe hath fpoken
againft you. As for me behold I am in
.Adttcrt. your handes(fo doth he fpeak to the Prin-
ces )do to me as you think good and rig h
teous. Ncuertheles know you this moft
aflurcdly,that if ye murther or fley me, ye
fliall make your felues, this citie, and the
inhabitants ofthe fame criminall and
gyltieof innocent blood. Forof atrueth
The prin the Lord hath fent me to fpeak in your
ces did .tip- eares all thofi- wordes.
(olue the Then the princes and the pcople( faieth
Prophet the text) fa icL this man is not worthieof
yelvmethe death, for he hath fpoken to vs in the name
prc:(l> hud ofthe Lord our God. And fo afrcr fomme
rondaml.^ cotcntion was the Prophete dcliuered fro

that

OF 10H N K^NOX £. 7

that d agcr.This fact and hiftorie manefeft
ly proucth whatfoeuer before I haue aftir
med- To wit,that it is Laufull for the fer-
uantes of God to call for the help ofthc
ciuile magiftrateagaiit the fetece of death
if jtbevniuuSbywhomefocueritbejpno-
uncedadalfo that theciuile fwordhathpo
wer to reprefTe the furie of the preetts and
to abfolue whome thei haue codened. For
the prophete of God was damned by thofe
who then only in earthe were knowe to be
the vifible churche, to wit precftes & pro-
pheteswho the were in Ierufalc the fuccef- Deute.ij
fours of Aaro to whome was geue a charge
to fpeak to thepeople in the nameof God,
ad a precept geue to the people toheare the
lawe fro their mouthes,to thewhich if any
fhould be rebelliousoriobediet hefhould
die the death without mercie.Thefemen I
fay thus au&orifed by God, firft did exco
municatlerimieforthathedid preacheo-
ther wife then did thecomunefortofpro-
phetes in Ierufalem,and laft apprehended
him,asyou haue hardJfpnouncing againfl
hymthis fetece afore writen fro thewhich
neuertheles the prophete appealed, that is
fought help and defence againft the fame
and that moft earneftly did he craue of
the princes. For albeit he faieth, I am in
your handes do with me as ye rhink righ-
teous, he doth not contemnenor neglect

his

his life as thoghc he regarded not, what
fhould become of hym, but i thofe his wof
des mod vehementlie did he admonifhe
the princes, and rulers of the people ge-
uing them to vndcrftad what God mould >
The mw- require of the. As he mould fay, You prill
nyKg °f ces of luda, and rulers of the peoplc,to
tbeje whom appcrtaineth indifferent lie to iud-
■mrdes gc betwixt partie and partie, to iuftifie the
lamin iuft manand tocodemncthcmalefa&our,
ycurban- you haue hard a fentencc of death prono-
des^c. unced againfr. me by thofe, whofe lippes
Dcut. 17. oght to fpeakno decept, becaufe they arc
Jererrku fan&ihed and appointed by God hym fel
Deu.1.10 fcto fpcake his law and to pronounce Jud-
gement with equitie3but as they haue left
theliuing God, and haue taught the peo-
ple to follow vanitie, fo are they becomed
mortall ennemies to all Gods true fcruan
tes,ofwhom I am one rebuking theireini-
c]uitic,apoftafieand defection from God
which is the onliccaufethcy fcke my life.
But a thin^ moil contrarie to ail cquitic,
law ad iufticc it is, that I a ma fent of God
to call them, this people, and youagaine
to the true feruiceofGod,from the which
you are all declined, mail fufFcr the death
becaufe that my ennemies do fo pronoun-
ce fentencc. I ftad inyourprefece, whome
God hath made princes, your power is a-
bouc their tyrannie,bcfore you dolcxpo-

ne

OF JOHN K^KOXE. 8

ne my caufc I am in your handes aud can
notrelift to fufferwhat ye think iuft. But
left that my lenitie and patiece mould ci^
thermakeyou negligent in the defence of
me in my iuft caufe appealig to your iud-
gemet,ehhcryet encorragemy ennemies
in feakinge my blood, this one thingel
dar not confile: That if you murtherme,
(which thing ye do ifycdcfed me not)ye
make not only my ennemies gvlnc ofmv
blood,but alfo your felues and this hole ci
tie.By thefe wordes I fay,it is uiidcm,that
thepropheteof God belgdanedto death
by the preeftes ad by.the prophetes of the
viable Church e5 did feke aid fupport and
defenceatthe princes and temporall ma-
giftrates,threatnyng his blood to ^c requi
red of theyre handes, if they by thcyre au-
clorite did not defend hym from thefurie
of his ennemies: alledging alio iuft cau-
fesof his appellation, and vchy he oght
to haue bene defended : to wit, that he was
fent of God to rebuke theire vices and dc- The cm-
fe&ion from God : that he taught nodo-y^ oflns
c"trine which God before had not pronoun appella-
ced in his La\v:that hedeiircd.theyrecon- iionav.il
uerfionto God,conunuallie calling -vpon whjbe
them to walk in the way es which God had cgfotoha
approued and therefore doth he boldiiewe bene
crauc of the princes, as of Goddcslieutena defended.
testo be defended from the blynd rage&

TH£ *AP P ELL^iT I ON
tyrannie ofthe preefts, notwithstanding
thatthey claimed to themfcluesau&ontie
to iudge in all matters of religion. And
the fame did he what tymehewas caft in
pry Ton and thereafter was brought to the
prefece of king Zedechias, after I fay that
he had defended his innocetic, afFirmyng
that he neither had offended againft the
king, againft his feruantes nor againft the
people, at laft he made interceflion to the
king for his lifejfaying,

/fr g But now my lord the king take
*hedc,Ibefechethee let my prayer
fall in to thy prefence commaund
me not to be caried againe in to
the houfe of Ionathan the fcribe,
that I dye not there.

And the text witnefTeth that the king
commatinded the place of his impryfon-
ment tobechaunged. Whereof it iseui-
dent,thatthe prophet did ofter then onee
feke help at the ciuile power and that fyrft
the princes,and thereafter the king did a-
cknowledge,thatir appertained to their
v office to deliuer him from the iniuft fen-

tence,wh ich was pronounced againft him.
yfanythinkethatleremiedidnotappeall
becaus he onely declared the wronge
done vnto him, and did but craue defence

according

OF 10HN KiNOX Er 9

according to his innoccncie Jet the fame
man vndcrftand, that none otherwifedol
appeale from that fals and cruell fentence,
which your Byfhoppes haue pronounced Iuflcaufe
againftme. Neither yet can there be any of appeU4
other iuft caufe of appellation butinno-f>o».
cecie hurt,or fufpected to behurt,whether
it be by ignorance of a iudge, or by mali-
ce and corruption ofthofe3whovnderthe
titleofiufticedoexercifetyranie. if I we-»
re a thefe, murtherer, blafphemer, open a-
dulterer,or any offender whome Gods
worde commaundeth tofufferfor a crime
committed, my appellation were vaine
and to be reiected;but I being innocet,yea
thedo&rine which your Byfhoppes haue
condemned in me, being Gods eternall
ver itie, haue no leffe libertic to craue your
defence againft that crueltie, then had the
Prophet Ieremie to fcke the aydeofthe
Princes and King of Iuda . But this fhall
more plainly appear in the fade of fainct
Paule, who after that he was apprehen- .«
ded inlerufalem,did fyrftclaime to the L ' *
libertie of Romaynecitczesforauoiding *' ^
tormetjwhattyme that the captayn would **
haue examined hym by queftions.-rhere af-
ter in the coucile, where no rightious Jud-
gement was to be hoped for, he affirmed
that he was aPharifie,and that hewasac-
cufed of the rcfurreftionofthe dead, and

B.i.

T H £ ^tPP EL LOTION
laft in thcprefcnceof Fcftus he appealed
from all knowledge and judgement of the
Preeftes at Ierufalem to the Hmperour : of
which laft point, becaufe it dothchefelie
appertaine to this my caufe, I will fom-
what fpeak.

After that Paule had diucrfe tyrne*
bene accufed,as in the Acles of the apo-
ftles ismanifeft, at the laft the chefe Pree-
ftes and theyre fa<5tion came to Cefarea
with Feftus the prefidet, who prefented to
them Paule in iudgement,whome they ac-
cufed of horrible crimes: which neuerthe-
les they could not proue, the Apoftle de-
fending that he had not offended neither
againft the Law,neitheragainft theTem-
ple,neither yet againft the Emperour.
*Acl.t$. gut Fcfius willing to gratifie the
lewes, faid to Paule: Wilt thou
go yp to Ierufalem,ad there be iud
gcd ofthefe thinges inmyprefen
ce?But Paule faid: I ftand at the iu
fticefeatofthe Emperour, where
it behoucth me to be iudged,I ha-
uedonenoiniurie to the Iewesas
thou better knoweft. Yf Ihaue do
ncany thing iniuftly, or yet com-
mitted crime worthieof death, I

refufc

CF 10HN X^NOXE. ip

refufe not to die. But if there be
nothing of thcfe thinges tine, whe
re of they accufe me, no man may
geue me to them: I appeall to
Cefar.

It may appear at the firft fight that Paule
did great iniurie to Feftustheiudge,and
to the hole order of the preefthode3wha
did hope greater cquitie in a cruell tyrant
then in all that ferTion and learned compa
nie.Which thingeno dout Feftus did vn-
derftad, pronouncing thefe wordes: Haft
thou appealed to Cefar? thou (halt goto
Cefar. As he would fay, I as a man willing
to vnderftad the truth before I jpnouce (e
tence, haue required of thee to go to leru-
falem,where the learned of thyneowne na
tion may heare thy caufeand decerncin
the fame. The controuerfie ftandith in
matters of religion. Thou artaceufedas
an apoftatat from the Law, as a violator
of the temple, and tranfgreffbr of thetra-
ditiosoftheyrc fathers: in which matters
I am ignorant, and therefore defire infor-
mation by thofe,that be learned in the
fame religion, wherof the queftion is.
And yet doeft thou refufe fo many god-
ly fathers to hear thy caufe,anddoeftappe
ale to theEmperourrprefernng hym to all

JB.i.

TtfR iAPP SULFATION

our iudgements, of no purpofe belike,but
todelay tyme. Thus I fay it myghthaue
appeared that Pauledidnot onlyiniurie
to the iudgeand to thePreeftes,butalfo
that his caufe was greatly to be fufpe&ed;
partly for that he did refufe the Judge-
ment of thofe that had molte knowledge
(as ail menfuppoledjof Gods will and re
ligion : and partly becaufe he appealed to
the Emperour,who then was at Rome farr
abfent from Ierufalenija man alfo ignorat
of God and ennemie to all venue. But the
Apoftle colidering the nature of his enne-
mics,and what thinges they had intended
againfthym,euen from the fyrftday that
he began freelic to fpeakinthe name of
*hy Pan- Chrift,did not fear to appeale from them,
hwoldad and from the iudge :that would hauegra-
myttnone tified them. They had profelTed the felues
oftbe Le- plain ennemies to Chrift Icfus and to his
Wticallor- blefled Euangill,andhad foght the death
drttoiud- of Paule,yeaeuenby faetiosandtrealona-
geinhu blecofpiracie:and therefore by nomea-
cavfe. nes would he admit them either iudges in
his caufe,either auditoursofthe fame as
Vpowhat Feftus required: but grounding him felfc
reafons vpon ftrong reafons , to wit , that he had
tl?e'appel- not offeded thelewes,ncither yet theLaw,
lotion of but that he was innocet,and therefore that
Patikvas no iudge oght togeue hym in the hadesof
grounded, his ennemies: grounding, I fay, his appel-
lation

OF JOHN t^NOXE. i|

lation vponthcfe reafons, he neither re-
garded thedifplcafure of Fertus, neither
yet the brute of the ignorat multitudc,,but
boldely did appeal from all cognition of
them to theiudgement of the Empcrour,
as faid is. By thefe two examples I dout
not but your honours do vnderftand, that
lawfull it istotheferuantes of God op-
preifedby tyranietofekercmedie againft
the fame, be it by appellation from theire
fentece,or by imploring the helpc of ciui
le Magiftrates.For what God hath appro-
ued in Iercmie and Paul,hecan condemne
in none that likewife be entreated. I might
alledge fome hiftories of'the primatiue
Church feruing to the fame purpofe : as of
AmbrofeandAthana(ius,ofwhomtheone
Wouldnotbeiudgedbutat Millan,where
thatisdoctrinewashardofallhisChurch
and receaucd and approued by many: and
the other would in no wife geue place to
thofe couciles,where he knew that mc con
fpired againft thetrueth of God mould
fir in Judgement and cofultatione. But be-
caufe the Scriptures of God are my only
fundation and aflurance in all matters of
weight andimportace,I hauethoght the
two former teitimoniesiurVicicnt,afwell
to proue my appellation reafonable and
iuft,as to declare to your honours that
with fafe confcicnceye can notrefufetb

B.j.

TUB UPP S ILLATION

*dmit the fame. Yf any thinke it arrogacie
orfooliflines in me to compare my felfc
with Icremie and Paule, let the fame man
vnderftad that as God is immutable, fo is
Thtcaufe the veritie of his glorious Euangill of £-
iito he re- quail dignitie, whenfoeuer it is impu-
eanled gnedjbethe mcmbres fuffering ncuerfo
and not weak.What I think touching mvne owne
thefcrfon. perfon,God mall reueale when the fecrets
ofallhartes (hall be difclofed, and fuel*
as with whomel haue bene conuerfant,
can partly witnefTe,what arrogacie or pry
de they efpie in me. But touching the do-
ctrine and caufe which that adulterous ad
peililent generatioof Antichrifts feruats
(who wilbe called Byftioppes amongft
you )hauecondcncd in me, I neither fear
nor mame to cofefle and auow before man
andAngell to be the ^ternall trueth of the
^ternall God. And in that cafe I doutnot
to copare my felfe with any menbre in w-
home the trucrhhath bene impugned fece
the begynnyng. For as it was the trueth w-
hichlercmie did preach in thefewordes,

t~^ 9 The Precftes hauc not knowen
me (faieth the Lord) but the pa-
llors haue traiteroufly declined
and fallen back from me.The Pro

?mm.u Pn^tes haue prophefied in Baal,

and

OF JOHN K^NOXE. it

andhaue gone after thofe things,
which can not hclpe. My people
haue left the fontaine of Hiring
waters , and haue digged to them
felues pits , which can containe
no water:

As it was a trueth that the paftors and
watchmen in the daies of Ifaie were be- 3lM*
corned dome dogs, blyndJgnorat, proud
and auaricious.'And finally as it was a
trueth, that the Princes and the Preeftes
weremurtherersofChrift Iefus,adcruell "«'•!•
perfecutors of his Apoftlcs: fo likewyfe it & 4«
is a trueth ( and that mode infallible)
that thofe that haue condemned me(the
holerableofthepapifticallclcrgiejhaue
declyned from the true faith, haue geucn ,
eareto deceauable fpiritsand tododtrine r'"M»
ofdeuils,are thefterres fallen from the
heauento the earth.are fontaines without ludeu
water: and tinally are ennemiesto Chrift *•*««■
Icfus,deniersof his vertue,and horrible
blafphemours of his death and paiTio. And
further as t hat viable Churche had no cri
me , where of iuftly they could accufe ei-
ther theProphetes,either the Apoftles,cx-
cept they rdodrine only. fo haue not fuch
as feke mv blood other crime to lay to my
charge,exceptthatIaffiim,asalwaisIof-

THE iAPPELL>AT10?l

fer to proue, that the religion, whichno^
Let the is maintained by fier and fword,is no lefle
cat+febe contrarious to the true religion taught
noted. and eftabliflied by the Apoftles,then is
darknes to light,or the Deuill to God:and
alfothat fuchas now do claime the title
and name of theChurche arno more the
elect fpoufe of Chriftlefus, then was the
Synagoge of the Iewcs the true Church
of God what tymc it crucified Chrift IcP,
damned hisdocltrine and perfecuted his A-
poftles . And therefore feing that m y bat-
tail is againft the proude andcruell hy-
pochrites of this age, as that battaillof
thofe moft excellent inftrumentes was a-
gainft thefals Prophetes and malignant
Church of they rages: neither ought any
man think it Grange that I copare' my felf
with therewith whorne I fuftaine a comon
caufe,neither ought you my Lordesiudge
your felues lefle addetted and bound to
me calling for your fupport, then did the
Princesof luda thinkthe feluesboudeto
Ieremie, whomc for that tyme they deliue
red notwithftading the fetece of death fi -
noticed againft him by the vifibleChurch.
Andthusmuchfortherightofmy appel-
latio,whichinthebowellesof Chriftlefus
Irequieryour honours not to eftemeasa
th ing fuperfluous ad vaine,but that ye ad-
piittitjad alio accept me in your fpte&ion

and

OF lOHN K^NOXE. ij

3d defence,that by you afl'ured I may haue
accefic to my natiue coutrie,which I neucr
offcded to the end: that freely and opely in
the prefece of the hole reaime I may geue
my confeffion of all fuch pointesasthis
day be in controuerfie , and al fo that you
byyourau&oritiewhichyehaueof God,
compellfuch,asoflong tyme haueblyn-
ded and deccaued both your felues and *Anf*er
the people, to anfwer to fuch thinges as to an oh-
{balbe laide to theire charge. But lcit that tecUonor
fomme dout remayne,that I require more c/o«f.
of you then you of confcience ar bound
tograunt,infew wordes I hope to proue
my petitio to be fuch, as withoutGods hea
uy difpleafureyecannocdeny. Mypeti- The peti-
tion is,that yc,whorne God hath apointed tiooflofo
heades in your comune welth, with tingle Kjioxe.
eye do ftudie to promote the gloric of
God, to prouide that your fubie&es be
rightly inflru&ed in his true religio, that
they be defended from all opprerfion and
tirannie , that true teachers may be main-
tained,and fuch as blynde and deceaue the
people,togyther alfo withallidlebellies
which do robbe and oppreffe the flock,
may be remoued and punimed as Gods
Law prefcribeth.And to the perfurmance
ofeuery oneofthefe,doyour offices and
Names.The honours andbenefitcs,which
yercceue,the Law of God vniucrfally ge

uen to all men, and the examples of mofte
godlie Princes bynde and oblifb you.

Mypurpofeis not greatly to labour t©

proue,that your hole ftudie oghttobeto

promote the glorie of God, neither yet

will I ftudie to alledge all reafons that

iuftly may be broght to proue that ye are

not exalted toreigneaboue yourhrethrc

as men without care and folicitude. For

thefe be principals fo grafted in nature,

- r that vcrie Ethnicks haue confoiTed the

Tf"& fame. For feing that God only hath pla-

r J0" ced you in his chaire, hath appointed you

mursv- tODe ^js ljeutenantcs j gn^ by fy$ owne

bub Ma- feaJ1 hafh marI.ed you tobe Magiftrars,

pj rats ^j to rule aboue your brethren,to whom

nceaue £/naturencucrtheles hath made you lyke in

Cod ogbt ajj p0jm$ ^ for ]n conception, birth, life,

tomoue and £cat^ ye jj£fcr nothing from the

,,f?,]""i 'commune fort of men, but God only, ai
alldtkgece ^ {% ? hath promoted you > and Qf his

t° promote c£pecjai fauoUr hath geuen vnto you

bh. Sethis prerogatiue to be called Gods:)

how horrible ingratitude were it then,

thatyoufliouldbe founde vnfaithful to

hym, that thus hath honored you? And

further what a monfter were it that you

fhould be proued vnmerciful to them,

aboucwhomeyeare appointed toreignc

as fathers aboue they re children 3becaufe

I fay that verie Ethnicks haue graunted,

that

OF 10 UN I^NOXS. 14
that the checfe and fyrft care of Prices,ad
of fuch as be appointed to rule abouc
others, oght to be to promote the glorie
and honour of they r goddes,and to main-
taine that religion,whiche they fuppofed
to haue bene true. And that theyre fe-
codcarewastomaintaineand defend the
fubie&s committed to theyre charge in
all equine and iuftice. I will not labour
to mew vnto you what oght to be your
ftudiein maitainyng Gods true honour:
left that in fo doing I fhouM feme to
make you lefle careful ouer Gods true
religion , then were the Ethnickes ouer
theireidolatrie. Butbecaufe other peti-
tions may apperemore hard and difficile
to be graunted, I purpofe brefely, but yet The <"*--
freely, to fpeak what God by his wordef^°M-«
dothafrure me to be true. To wit.fyrft #/&*'•
that in confeience you are bounde to pu-
ny fh malefactors, and to defende inno-
cents imploringe your hclpe: feconda-
rely thatGod requireth of you to prouidc
that your fubiects be rightly inftruCted in
his true religion,and that the fame by you
be reformed whenfoeuerabufes do crepe
in by malice of Satan and negligence of
men/and lafte that ye are bounde to remo-
ue from honour,and to punifli with death
( if the crime fo require ) fuch as deceaue
the people,ordefraudc them of that foode

THS UP P ELLUT ION
of theyre foules,! meane Gods liucly
worde. The fyrltandfecondc arcmoitc
Hem.ll- playne by the wordes of S. Paulc thus
/peaking of lawfull powers.

Letcueriefoule(faieth he) fub-
mithymfclfe vntothe livelier po-
wers, for there is no power but of
god. The po wersthat be,are ordai
ned of God.Whofoeuer therefore
refifteth power, refifteth the ordi-
nance of God, and they that refi ft
fhall receaue to them felues damna
tion. For rulers ar not to be feared
riftjhofe that do wel'l,but of thofe
that do euill. Wilt thou then be
without fear of the power?dothat
which is good, and fo fhalt thou
be praifed of the fame. For he is
the minifter ofG od for thy welth.
But if thou do that which is cuil,
fear. For he beareth not the fwor-
de for noght.-for he is the minifter
ofGodtotake vengance on them
thatdoeuil.

As the Apoftlein thefe Wordes mofte
ftraytly commaundeth obedience to be

gcucn

OP IOHN K^NOXC. 15

geuen to lawfull powers, pronouncing
Gods wrathc and vengance againftfuch
as fliallrefift the ordoruunce of God , fo
dothe he aifigne to the powers theyre ofti
ces, which be to take vengance vponeuit
doers, to maintainc the well doers, and Co
tominiftreand rule in theyre office, that
the fubieSes by them may haue a benefite
and be praifed in well doing. Nowif you
be powers ordcined by God (and that I
hope all men will graunte )then by the
plainewordes of the Apoftle is the fworde
geuen vnto you by God for maintenance
of the innocent,and for punyfliement of
malefactors. But I and my brethren with
me accufed,do offrenot only to proue our
felues innocents in all thing es laid to our
charge,but alfo we offre moft euidently to
proue your Byfhoppes to be theveriepe-
ftilence,who haueinfe&edallchriftiani-
tie. And therefore by the plaine doctrine
of the Apoftle you are boude to maitaine
vs,and to puny fh the other being euident-
ly couicf and proued criminall. Moreouer * »
the former words of the Apoftle do teach, * -wr 1
how far hie powers be bounde to theyre p9<WTJ
fubiectes : to wit, that becaufe they are ymm{e t(t
Gods mi in iters by hym ordained for the f;re/-^
profitt and vtilitie of others, moftc dili- .^
gently oght they to inted vpon the fame.
Vox that caufeaffigneth theholie Ghoft

THS JLV?ZLL*ATlOTf
eommaunding fubieftcs to obey, and to
pay tribute.faing,

For this do you pay tribute and

That is becaufe they are Gods mi-
niftersjbearing rhefwordefor yourvnlr-
tic.Whcrof it is plaine,that there is no ho-
nour without a charge annexed. And this
one point I wifheyour wifdomes dipely
to confider : that God hath not placed
youaboue your brethren to reigneasty-
rantes without refpeft of theyre protite
and commoditie. You heare the holie
Ghoft witnefTe the contrarie,-, affirmyng
that all Jawfull powers be Gods mini-
sters ordened for the welth,profitt and fal-
uatio of their fubie&es, and not for theyre
deftru&i6.Coulditbefaid(Ibefechyou)
Zetthefi- thatMagiftrates,inclofing theyre fubiects
militude in a citie without all victuales,orgeuing
benoted. vntothemno other vicluales but fuchas
were poifoned , did rule for the profitt of
theyrfubiettes ? Itruft that none would
be fofooliflieasfotoafFirme.but that ra-
ther euerie difcrete perfon would bold-
ly affirme, that fucrTas fo did, were ty-
rantes vnworthie of all regiment. Yf we
will not deny that,whiche Chriftlefus af-
firmeth to be a trucrh infallible, to wit,
That the foule isgreater and more pre-

tious,

€F 10HN M^NOXR. ii

tious,then is the bodie-.then (hall we eafe-
lyefpyehow vnworthie of au&oritiebe
thofe, that this day debarretheyre fub-
ie&es from the hearing of Gods worde,
and by fier and fworde compel! them to
fecde vponthe veriepoifonoftheyrefou
Jes, the damnable dodrine of Antichrift.
And therefore in this poit I fay, I can not
ceafe to admonilh your honours dili-
gently to take heede ouer your charge,
which is greater then the moft parte of
men fuppofe. It is not ynough that you
abftainefrom violete wrong, and oppref-
fion which vngodlic men exercifeagainft ititnot
they r fubie&es: but ye are further boude, inough
to witt,that ye rule aboue them for they re that m-
welth. Vhich ye can not do,if that ye ei- Ursop-
ther by negligence not prouiding true prejft not
paflors, or yet by yourmaintainancc of tbeyrefub
fuch as be rauening wolues, fuffer theyre ietts.
foules to fterue and perifheforlackof the
true foode, which is Chriftes Euangill
fyncerelypreached.lt wilnotexcufeyou
inhisprefence,who will require accom-
pte of euerie talent committed to your
charge, to fay that ye fuppofedthat the
charge of the foules had bene committed
to your Byfhoppes. No no, my Lordes>
fo ye can not efcape Gods ludgement.For
if your Byfhoppes be proued to be no
Byfhoppes, but deceauable theues and

THE ^APPELLATION

rauenyng wolues ( which I offer my fclfe
The offer to proue by Gods word , by law, and cou-
oflohn cils,yea by the iudgcment of all the godly
\mxeanl learned fro the primatiue Church to this
hti accufa day) then mail your permiffionand de-
taw in- fence of them be reputed before God a
tended participation with theyr theftc and mur-
aga'mft^ ther. For thus accufed the Prophete Efaie
thepapi- the Princes of Ierufalem.

(kotpe*. IhypnceSjfaieth he,ar apoftatats:

' £f<tiei. thatisobftinatrefufersofGodjandthey

ar companions of theues.

This greuous accufation was laid a-

gainft them, albeit that they ruled in that

citie which fometyme was called holy,whe

re then were the temple, rites and ordo-

nances of God : becaufe that not onlie

they were wicked them felues, butchefe-

Jy becaufe they maintained wiked men

theyr Preeftes ad fals jpphctes in honours

and auctoritie- yf they did not efcapc this

acufatio of the holie Ghoft 1 that age,loo-

ke ye neither to efcape the accufation nor

the iudgemet which is pronoiiced againft

the maitainersofwhickedmenrto wit that

Jtrem.12. c^e onc anc^ tnc ot^er ma^ dr»nck the cup-

C>-Z7. Pe °^ Gods wrathe and vengance togi-

£Vf/,#I?. ther. and left ye mould deceauc yourlel-

Hofa 4. ues> cftcming your Byflioppes to be ver-

tuous

Of 10HH KNOXE. ij
tuous and godlic, this do I affirme and of
fermy felfeto prouethe fame,thar more
wicked men, then he the hole rabble of
your clcrgie, were neuer from the bcgyn-
ning vniuerfally knowen in any age, yea
SodomeandGomorra may beiuftiriedin
theyre refpeft. For they permitted iuft
Lot,to dwell amongeft them without any
violecedonetohis bodie, which that pe-
flilentgenerationofyourlhauenfortdoth
not, but mofte cruelly perfecute by her
andfworde the true membres ofChriftes
bodie for no other caufe, but for the true
feruice ad honoring of God. And therefo-
re I fear not to affirme that, which God
{hall one day iuftifie: That by youroffi-
ces ye be bound, not only to reprcfTe they r
tyranie,but alfo to punifhe them, as theues
and murtherers , as idolators and blafphe-
mersofGod,adintheirroumesyearebou N OT E.
de to place true preachers ofChrrftsEua- rfpo-werr
gile for the inftruction,comfort,and falua prouide
tionof your firbie&es, aboue whome ehnotfirin-
mall neuer the holy Ghoft acJmol]edge,yrrwc7/o of
thatyou rule in iuftice fortheir proffit.Yf theyrefuh
yeepretedtopoiTefTethe kingdomewithrVcfr, they
Chrift Iefus, y ce may not take exaple nei do never
therby the ignorat multitude of Princes, rule a-
neither by the vngodlyaud cruell rulers Louethem
of the earth, of whome fome paffe theyrefor theyre
tymeinflouthjinfoletie,andryore with-pro/r.
C. i.

THE UP P ILLATION
out refpcd had to goddes honour or to the
faluatiobftheyrcbrethre:and other mofte
cruelly opprofle with proudc NIrod fuch
as be fubiect to thcm.But your pattern and
example muft be the pradife of thofe, w-
home God hath approued by theteitimo-
nie of his worde as after Ihal be declared.

Of the premilfes it is euident that to-
lawfull powers is geuen the fworde for
punymement of malefactors, for mainte-
nance of innocents, and for rhe prohtt
and vtilitieoftheyrfubie&s; Now let vs
con(ider,whether the reformation of reli-
gion fallen in decay,and punyfhemene of
falfe teachers do appertaine to the ci-
uile Magiltrate andnobiIitie:of any re-
alme.tam not ignorant that Satan of old
tyme for mentainance of his darknes hath
obtained of theblynd world two chefe
, points. Former,hehathpcrfuaded to Prin

l #*" ces> rulers, and magiftrates,that the fce-
ta, ) ding of Chnftes flock appertained no-
obtamea fofa- to trieyre charge, bur that it is re-
Jj. }j iected vpon the By lhoppes, snxi cftate ec-

ttorld

clefialticall.andfecondarelie that there*-

formation of relig ion, be it neuer fo cor-
rupt and the punifhementof fuch, as be
fworne fouldicrs in theyrekingdome, are
exempted from all ciuile power and are
referuedtothemfeluesjandtotheyreown
cognition. But that no offender can iuftly

be

6t ion a Knoxz. it

be exempted from punyfheme nt, and that
the ordering and reformation of religion
with the innrudion of fubieds, doth ef-
pcciaHy appertaine to the ciuile Magi-
strate, (hall goddes perfed ordenaunce,
his plaine worde,and the fades and exam
pies of thofe that of God are highly prai»
fed,mofteeuidently declare.

When God did eftablifh his Law,fta- The mat*
tutes and ceremonies in the middeft of If- tersand
raci, he did not exempt the matters of re- reformatio
ligion from the power of Mofes,butashe ofrdinion
gaue hym charge ouer the ciuile yolitiQ, afpertamt
fo he put in his mouth and in his hand: tothe care
Thatis,hefyrftreuealed tohym,and the- oftbeci-
reaftercommaunded to put in pradife w- M'lepovet
hatfoeuer was to be taught or done in mat Exod.zi.
tersofreligio.Nothing did God reueale 24.1^
particularely to Aaron, but altogither &c.
was he commaunded to depend from the
mouth of Mofes:Yca nothing was he per-
mitted to do to hym feffor to hischildren
either in his or tfieyr inauguration and NtUl
fandiHcation to the preefthode, but all
was committed to thecare ofMofes,and
therefore were thefe wordes fo frequetly
repeted to Mofes,

Thou (halt feperate Aaron and Exolrt.
his fonnes from the middeft of the
people of Ifrael, that they may

C. 2,

THS *AP PE LL^iT ION

execute the office of the Preeftho-
de,thou fhalt make vnto them gar
ments, thou ftialt annoynte them,
thou ftialt wafh the, thou fhalt fill
theyr handes with the facrificc.

And Co furth of euerie rite and ceremo
nic3that was to be done vnto thc,efpeciall
commaundcment was geuen vnto Mofes,
that he fhould do it NowifAaroand his
fonnes were Co fubiect to Mofes, that they
did nothing but at his commaundement,
whodarbe fobold as to affirme that the
ciuile Magiftrate hath nothing to do in
matters of religio^ For feing that the God
did fo itraytly reouire, that euen thofe,
who did beare the hgure of Chrift, fhould
receauefrom the ciuile power as it were
theyrefonctification, and entraceto theyr
office, and feing alfo that Mofes was Co
far preferred to Aaron, that the one com-
maunded andtheotherdid obey, who dar
etteme that theciuile power isnow beco-
medfoprophanein Gods eyes, that it is
fequeftred from all imromiffion with the
matters of religion The holie ghoft in
diuers places declarethe the contrarie.
For one of thechefe prexepts commaun-
dedtothc king, whenrhat he fhould be
placed in his throne, was to write the ex-
amp I o

OF JOHN K,NOX& i9

ampleofthebokeofthe Lordcs law, that
it mould be with hym, that he might
read in it all thedaiesof his life, that he
might learn to fear the Lord his God, and
to kepe all the wordes of his law, and
hisilatutestodo them. This precept re-
quireth not onlye,that the king fliould
hym felfe fear God,kcpe his L.iw,and fla-
tutcs, but that alfo he as the chefe ruler,
fhould prouidethatgoddestrue religion
{hould be kept inuiolated of the people
and flock, which by God was committed
tohischarge. And thisdidnotonlieDa-
uid and Salomon perfe&ly vnderftad, but
alfo fomme godlie kinges in Iuda after
theapoftafieand idolatrie, that infected Thefacfes
Ifrael by the meanes of Ieroboam, did pra of Godlie
&ifc theyre vnderftanding and execute \ingsare
theyre power in fomme notable reforma- aninter-
tions. For Afa and Iofap hat kinges in lu- pretation
da, fynding the religion altogither cor- oftbelaw
rupt, did applic theyre hearts ( faieth the and dccU
holieghoftjto feructheLord,and to walk ration of
in hiswaies : and thereafter doth witnes theyrepo-
that Afa remoucd from honours hismo-iv^r.
ther, fomme fay gradmother, becaufe fliee
had committed and laboured to men- z. Parol.
taine horribleidolatrie.And Iofaphatdid 14.(^17.
not only refufeftrangegoddes hym felfe,
but alfo diftroying the chefe monuments
of idolatrie, did fend furth the. Leuices Note.

c. i

Tltt \APP € LIGATION

jto inftrud: thepeople,whereof it is playnf
that the one and the other did vnderftand
fuche reformations to appertaine to theire
dueties.But the fades of Ezechias, and of
Iofias do more clerely proue the power
andduetieof the cfuile Magiftrate in the
reformation of rel igion. Before the reign
of Ezechias fo corrupt was the religion
that the dores of the houfe of the Lord
^.prfjvt/ijj^'erefhutvpp, thelampes were extingui-
s>g# flied, no facrifice was orderly made, but

in the firft yeare of his reigne the firft
moneth of the fame,did the king operi
the dores of the temple, bring in the Prce
•Acluert ftesand Leuitesand afTembling themto-
that the gather did fpeak vnto them as folloeth.
ktn*e to- Hear me o yce Leuitcs and be fan&ificd
tetbypon n°w> and fan&ifie alfo the houfe of the
himto co- Lord God of your fathers and cariefurth
tnandthe from thefanciuarieall filthynesfhemea-
nethallmonumetsand vcflellesof idola-
trie ) for our fathers haue tranfgreifed and
haue committed wickednes in thee eyes of
the eternall our God, they haue lefthym
and haue turned they re faces from the ta-
bernacle of the Lord. and therefore is the
wrath of the Lord corned vponludaand
Ierufalcm .Behold our fathers haue fallen
by the fworde , our formes , daughters 54
wifesare led incaptiuitie, but now haue
I purpofediumy heart to makeacouenan

te

freefte

OF 10HN I^NOXr. 10
le with the Lord God of Ifrael5that he
may turnethe wrath of his furiefrom vs.
And therefore my formes (he fwetely ex-
hortethJbenotfaint,fortheLordhathcho
fen you to {land in hisprcfenceand to fer-
ue hym. Such as be not more thenblynd
clerely mayperceaue that the kingdothc
aknolledge, that it appertained to his char
ge to reforme the religion, to appoint the
Lcuites to theyre charges and to admo-
niflithe of theyre duetieand office,wIiich
thing he more euidently declarcth , wri-
ting hislettresto all Ifrael,to Ephfaim,
an Manafles, and fent the fame by the han
des of meflmgershauing thistenour.

You formes of Ifrael return to z'Pa' I0'
the Lord God of Abraham Ifaac,
ad Ifrael, and he fhall return to the
refidue that reftcthfrom the han-
des of Affur. Be not as your fathers
and as your brethren were who
haue trafgrefled againft the Lord
God of theyre fathers, who hath
made them defolate as you fee,
Holde not your heart therefore,
but giue your handvnto the Lord,
return vino his fan&uarie, feruc

C4

THZ. UPP ELL^tTZOT^

hym and he fhall fhe w mercie vnto
you, to your formes, and dough-
ters that be in bondage, for he is
pitifull and eafie to be intreatcd.

Thus far did Ezechias by lettres and
meffingers prouoke the people, declined
fromGodtorepentance,notonly inluda,

NOTE, wkere he reigned laufull king, but alfo in
Ifrael, fubie&then to an other king. And
albeit that by fomme wicked men his mef
fingers were mocked, yet as they lacked
not theyre iufl punifhmet(fbr within fixe
yeares after Samaria was deftroyed and If
racl led captiue by Salmanazar )fo did not
the zelous king Ezechias defiilto profe-
cute his duetie in reftoring the religion to
Gods perfectc ordenance, remouing all
abominations.

The fame is to be red of Iofias,who did
not only reftore the religion, but did fur-

fc.jwr.34. therdiftroy all monumentes of idolatrie,
which ofU5gtyme had remained. For it is
written of him,that after that the bokeof
the law was found, and that hehadafked
counfil at the propheteflfe Hulda , he feme
ad gathered all the elders of iuda and Ieru

^»\eSr falcm,and (landing in the temple of the

2-5. Lord he made aconuenantjthat all the peo

plefrothegreatto the fmall fliould walk
after the Loru.fhould obferac his law, fta-

tutes

OF 10HN J^NOXE. it

tutes and teilimonies with all they re heart,
and all theyre foulc, and that they mould
ratifie and conhrme, what foeuer was writ- The \imr
ten in the bokc of God. He further comaun commaun
ded Hclkias the hie preeft,and the preeftcs ded the
of the inferiour order, that they fliould cupreeTles.
riefurthofthe temple of the Lord all the
veflels, that were made to Baal,which he
burnt and did carie thcire potider to Beth
el. He did further diftroy all monuments
ofidolatrie, yea euenthofe that had remai
nedfro thedayes ofSalomo. He did burn
them,ftampethemtopowder,whcrcofone
part he fcattered in the broke Kidron and
the other vpon the fepulcrcs and graucs
of the idolaters ,whofe bones he did burn
vpo the altars, where before they made fa -
crifice not only in Iuda,butalfo in Beth
el,whereIeroboamhad erected hisidola-
trie: yea he further proceded, and did ky II
the preeftes of the hie places, who were
idolaters,andhaddeceauedthepeople.he
didkyll them, I fay, and did burn theyre
bones vpon theyre owne altars, and Co re-
turned to Ierufalem. This reformatio ma
de Iofias, and for the fame obtained this te
ftimonie oftheholie Ghofl,that neither
before hym neither after hymwas there
any fuche kig, who returned to God with
his hole foule, and with all his ftrengthe
according to all the law of Mofes.

THE UP PELLET ION

Of which hiftoriesitiseuidentthat
thereformationofreligioninall points,
togither with the punifhement of falfe
teachers doth appcrtaine to the power of
thechiileMagiftrate. For what God re-
quired of them,his iuftice muft require of
others hauing the like charge andau&o-
ritie: what he did apprque in them, he can
not but approue in all others, who with
like tealeand fynceritiedo interprife to
purge the Lordes temple and fanctuarie.
what God required of them , it is before.
declared,towit:thatmoft diligently they
fliould obferue his Law,ftatutes and cere-
monies. And how acceptable were they re
factes to God , doth he him felfe witneflfe.
For to fomme he gaue moft notable vi&a
ries without the hande of man, and in
i. ^-S1, theyremoftdefpcratdaungers diddecla-
rc hisefpeciall fauours towcrdes them by
figncs fupcrnaturall: to otherhcfoefta-
blilhcd the kingdome,that they re enne-
rnies were compelled to ftoupe vnder
theyre fectc. And the names of all he hath
rc^eftred not only intheboke of life, but
alfo in the bleflfed remembrance of all po-
fteritics fence theyre daies , which alfo
{hall continue till the commyng of the
Lord Iefus,who (hall rewarde with the
crowneofimmortalitienot only the,but
alfofuch^asvnfaynedly ftudie to do the

wi!

OF IOtfN KiXOXE. zz

will and to promote the glorie of his he-
uenlie father in the middeft of this corru*
pted generation. In cofideration whereof
ougiit you, my Lordes,all delay fee apart,
to prouide for the reformation of reli-
gion in your dominions and boundes,
which now is fo corrupt that no part of
Chriiles inftitution remaineth in the
original puritie,and therefore of nccef-
fitieitis,thatfpedelyye prouide for re-
formationeor clsye declare yourfelues,
not only voyde of louc towcrdes your
fubiectes, but alfo toliucwithoutcareof
your owne faluation, yea without all
fearc and truereuerence of God. Two
fhinges perchance may moue you to efte-
methefe hiftories before briuely tuched
to appertaine nothing to you. Fyrft be-
cause you are no Iewes but Gcntiles:and
fecondarely becaufe you arc no kinges, Thefacres
but nobiles in your realm. But be not ofthegod-
deceaued. For neither of both canexcufe tiefyngs
you in goddes prefence from doing i>iit*U
yourduetie, for it is a thing more then do apper-
certein,that whatfoeuer God required taintothe
oftheciuileMagjftrate in Ifrael orludzpowers
concernyng the obferuation of true re- among
ligion during the tyme of the Law,the the genu-
fame doth he require of IawfuIlMagiftra- In proQf-
tesprofefTingChriftIefusinthetymeof/w£^/>r//i
the Gofpell , as tiic holie Ghoft hath

THS APPELLATION

taught vs by the mouth of Dauid, faying
PfaU.

Be learned you that iudge the
earth, kyfTe the fonne, left that the
Lord waxeangrie,ad thatyeepe-
rifh from the way •

This admonition did not extend to
theiudges vnder the law only , but doth
alfo include all fuch as be promoted to
honours in the tyme of the Gofpe,ll,when
Chrifllcfusdoth reignead feight in his
fpirituajl kyngdome,whofeennemiesm
thatpfalme be fyrft moft {harply taxed,
theyrfurieexprefTed,andvanitiemocked:
& then are kings and iudges, who think
them felues free from all law and obedie-
ce,rommaundedto repent theyre former
blynd rage, and iudgesarechargedro be
Icarned:and laft are all comaunded to fer-
ue the eternal 1 in feare, to reioyce before
hym in tremblyng,to kyfl'e the fonne,
thatis,togeuevnto hym mofthumbleo-
bedience, whereof it is euident that the
rulers , Magiftrats and Judges now in
Chriftes kingdome are no lefTe bound to
obediece vnto God, the were thofe vnder
the Law. And howisitpofllble that any
fliallbcobediet,whodifpifehis religion,
in which ftandeth the chefe glorie,that
man can geue to God, and is a fcruice,

which

OF JOHN K^NOXe. 25

which God e/pccially requireth of kings
and rulers ? Which thing faint Auguftine Epift.jO.
plaineJy did note, writing tooneBoni-
faciusaman ofwarr, according to the fa-
me argument and purpofe,which I labour
toperfuadeyour Honours. For afrer that
he hath in that his epiftle declared the dif
ference betwixt the herefieof the Dona-
tifts and Arrians, and hath fomwhae fpo-
ken of theyr crueltie>he fheweth the way-
how theyr furie mould and oght to be
reprefled,and that it is lawfullforthein-
iuitly afflicted to fekefuppoft and defen-
ce at godlie Magiftrates. For thus he
writeth;

Either muft theveritiebekept Mmt,
clofe,or els muft theyf crueltie be
luiteaned.

But iftheveritie mould be concealed,
not only mould none be faued nordely-
uered by fuchfilece^but alfo-flioulde many
be loft through theyr decept., But if by
preachingoftheveritie theyr furie mould
be prouoked more to rage , and by that
meanes yet fomme were delynered,and
made ftronge,yer mould feare hinder ma-
ny weakligs to folowe the veritie, if theyr
ragebenotftayed. In thefe fyrft wordes
Auguftine fheweth three reafons,why the
afflicted Church in thofe daies called for

THE ^PPEZLsATlON

the help of the Emperour andofgodli
Magistrates againft the furie of the perfc
cuters.Thefyrft,

ewe ' Theveritie muftbe fpoken o
ells mankind fhall perifri in errour

The fecond, theveritie being plarnli<
fpoken proUbketh theaduerfar«ss*o rage
And becaufe that f6me did alleJge that ra-
ther we bght to fufter all iniurie, theiirc
iekefiipport by man, he addeth thethirc
reafon J to witt that many wcalconev be
not able to furTer perfection and death
for the truerhes- fake, to whome not the le<
ferefped oght to be had , that they may
be won from errour and fo be brought to
grater ftrength.

O that the rulers of tms age mould
jxmderandwev thereafons of this godly
writer, and p'tWid the rerrttdie, which
he re^uyreth in'thefe wordes folo!g,No^
w^rfthe Church was thus afflicted y f any
think that rather they mould haue fuftay-
^tugiili- ncd all -calamine , then that the helpeof
»esvords. God fhould haue bene afked by Chriftian
Empcroursyhe doth not well aduert,that
or fuch negligence no good coptes »r rea-
fon could be gcuen. For where Cuch,z9
would that no iuftlawes mould be mato*
gain{ttheyreimpietie5allcdge that the A-
poftles fog he no fuch thigesof the kinges

OF 1 OtfN KNOXE. 24

of the'earth,they do not confider that then
the tyme was other then it is now, and
that all thinges are done in theyrownc?
tyme. What Emperour then bcleued in
Chrift, thadhouid ierue hymjn making
lawes for godlinesagainft impietie?
whill yet that hyibg of the jpphct was co
plete,why hath nations raged, and people
haue imagined vanitie^Thekingesof the?
earth haueftand vp,& princes hauecon-
uented together againft the Lord, and a-
gainfthis annoynted. That which is«f-
rerfaidin the fame pfalme, was not yet
<omme to paiTe. And now vnderftand,d
youkinges,be learned you that iudgethe
earth, ferue the Lord .in fear, and rcioyce
to hym with tremlinge. How do kings ^Juert
ferue the Lord in fear ? but in punifhing the myui
and by a godlie feueritie forbidding ofU»*-
thofe thinges which are done againft £«/?«<•.
the commaundement of the Lord. For
otherwife doth he ferue in fo far as he
is man,other wife in fo far as he is king.
In fo far as he is man, he ferueth hym Jntvofor
by liuing faithfully, but becaule he ii tes oght
alfo king he ferueth eitablifhing lawes, fyugesto
thatcommaund the thinges thatbeiuit, (crue Gel
and that with a conuenicnt rigour for- '
bydthinges contrarie. As Ezechias fer-
ued diftroying the groues, the temples
of idols and theplaces, which wcrebuyl-

THE ^APPELLATION
<jed againftgoddes commaundemcnt.So
ierued alfo Iqfus doing the fame : fo fer-
ved the king ofNiniuites compelling the
hoi ecitie to mitigate the Lord .-fofcnied
Danusgeuing inthe power ofDaniel the
Jdol to be broken, and his ennemies to be
cafttothelionsrfoieruedNabucadnezer,
by aterrible law forbidding all,that were*
Jn his realme, to blafpheme God. Herein
therefore do kinges feruethe Lord info
faras they, are kings, when they do thofe
things. to ferue hym, which none except
kings be aMero do. He further proccdesh
and cocludeth,thatas, when wicked kings
.do reign, impietiecan not be brideied by
O that the lawesjbut rather is tyrannie exercifed vn-
vorlde ^rtnetitleofthefame,foisitathingwi-
{hoM y» thout *U reafon, that kinges profcifing
Jerftand. tneknolledgeand honour of God,fhould
not regard nor care^who did defend, nor
who did oppugne the Church of God in
thcyr dominions. By thefe wordes of this
auncict and godlie writer your 'Honours
may perceaue, what I. require of you,
to wit, to repreffe the tyrannie of yonr By
fhoppes,and to defend the innocents pro-
fcifing the trueth. He did require of the
Emperour and kings of his daiesprofef-
(ing Chrift, and manifestly concludeth,
that they can not ferueChrift, except that
fo they do.Letnot yourByflioppes thinkc

that

OP JOHN K^NOXE. if

that Auguftine fpeaketh for them, bccau-
fehenameth the Church. Let them read
and vnderftand, that Auguftine writeth
for that Church , which profefTeth the
trueth and dothfufFer pcrfecutionforthe
defeceofthe fame, which your by fhoppes
do not,but rather with the Donauftes and
Arrians do cruelly perfecute all fuch,as
boldly fpeak Chriftes eternall veritie to
manifeft theyre impietie and abomina-
tion. But thus much we haue of Augu-
ftine, that it appertained to the obedi-
ence and feruice, which kinges owe to N OTS,
God afwel now in the tymeof the Gof-
pell, as before vnder the Law,todefende
the affli&ed for mattersof religion,and to
reprefTe the furie of the perfecuters by
the rigourand feueritieof godlie lawes.
For which caufeno doubt doth Efaiethef/rfw^?*
prophete fay, that kinges mould be no-
rimers to the Church of God, that they
mould abbafe their heades, and louingly
embrafe the children of God. And thus I
fay your Honours may euidently fee, that
the fame obedience doth God require of
rulers and princes in the ty me of the Gof-
pcll, that he required in the tyme of the
Law. *>*» anfi-

Yfyou do think, that the reformation vertothe
of religion and defence of the afflide Afecond oh
doth not appertaine toyou,becaufe youKtfw*.
D i

THE APPELLATION

are no kings,but nobils ad eftates of a real
me,in two thinges you are deceaued: for-
mer,in that you do not aduert, that Dauid
requircth afwell, that the princes and iud-
gesofthe earth be learned and that they
feme and fear God, as that herequireth,
that the kings repent. Yf you therefore be
iudges and princes, as no man can deny
you to be, then by the playn words of Da-
uid you are charged to be learned, to fer-
ue and fear God,which ye can not do, if
you defpifc the reformation of his reli-
gion. And thy s is your fyrft errour. The
iecod is,that ye neither know your duetie,
which ye owe toGod,neither yet your auc
torit je,which of hy m ye haue receaued, y f
ye for pleafure or fear of any earthliemari
defpifc goddes true religion, and contene
your brethre,that in his name cal for your
fupport.Your dutie is to hear the voyce of
the Eternal your God, and unfainedly to
ftudie to folow his preceptes:who,as is be-
fore faid,of efpeciall mercie hath promo-
ted you to honours and dignitie. His che-
feand principall precept is, that with re-
uerence ye receaue and embrace his on-
liebelouedfonnelcfus.that ye promote
to the vrtermoft of yourpovcers his true
religion: ad that ye defend your brethren
and'fubiectes,whomehe hath putt vnder
your charge ad care. Now if your king be

a man

OF 10HN K^XOXE. li

amanignoratof God,cnnemietohistrue:
religion, blinded by fuperftition,and a
perfecuterofjChriltesmembreSjfhall yet
be excufed,if with filcnce yeepaffe oucr
his iniquities Be not deceaued my Lor-
des,ye are placed in au&oritie for an 6-
ther purpofe then to flatter your king in
his folie and blind rage: to witt, that as
with your bodies, ftrength, riches, and
wifdomeyeare bound to afTift and defend
him in all things,which by your aduifehc
(hall take in hand for Gods glorie arid
for the preferuationof his commune we-
alth and fubiectes,fo by your grauities,
counfil and admonition yee are bound to
correct and reprefle whatfocuer ye know
him to attempt exprefTedly repugning to
Goddes word, honour, and glorie, or
what ye fhall efpie him to do,be it by igno
ranee or be it by malice, againft his fubie-
ctes great, or fmall. Of which laft part of"
your obediece y f y e defraud your king, ye
comit againft him no lefle treafon, then y f
ye did extract fro him your dueand^pmi-
fedfupport,whattime by his ennemiesin-
iuftly he wer purfued.But this parr of their
duetie I fear do a fmall nomber of the no-
bilitieofthis age rightly confider.neither
yet will they vnderftand, that for that
purpofe hath God ypmoted them. For now
the comune fong of al men is, We muft 0-

THS <AP P ELL*AT10N

bey our kinges be they good, or be they
bad, for God hath fo comaunded. But hor
rible mall the vengeance be, that fhalbe
powred furth vpon fuch blafphemers of
God his holie name, and ordinaunce. For
it is no Ieflc blafphemie to fay, that God
hath commaunded kinges to be obeyed,
when they comaund impietie, then to fay,
that God by his precept isau&ourad men-
tainer of all iniquitie.True it is,God hath
comaunded kinges to be obeyed, but like
true it is, that in things, which they comit
againft his glorie, or when cruelly wi-
thout caufe they rage agalft theirebrethre
the members of Chriftes body,he hath co-
maunded no obediece, but rather he hath
approued, yea and greatlie rewarded fuch
as haue opponed them felues to they re vn-
godly commaundementes and bl ind rage:
as in the exampls of the three children, of
Daniel,and Abdemelech it is euident. The
three children wold nether bowe nor ftou-
pe before the golden image at the comaun
dement of the great kingNabuchadnezar.
Daniel did opely pray,his windoes being
open,againft the eftablifhed law of Darius
and of his counfil : and Abdemelech fea-
red not to enter in before the prefenceof
Zedechias ad boldly to defed the caufe ad
Ieremieifi innocetieof Ieremie the prophet, whome
tht king and his couniil had codemned to

dethc

OF JOHN K^NOXE. z7

deth.Euerie one of thcfe fades (hould this
day be iudged foolifhc by fuch,as will not
vnderftad what cofeifion God dothrequi
re of his children3when his veritie is oppu
gned,orhis glorie called in doubt: fuchc
men,I fay,as prefer man to God,and thin-
ges present to theheauenlie inheritaunce,
fhould haue iudged euerie one of thefc fa-
des itubb urn inobedience,foolifhe pre-
fumptionand iingularitie, or elles bold
cotrolinge of the king and his wifecoun-
fil. But how acceptable in Gods prefence
was this refiftance to the vngodlie com-
maundemcntes and determinations of
they r king theed did witnes.For the three
children were deliuered from the fornace
of fyer,and Daniel from the den of lios to
the confulion of their ennemies, to the
better inftrudion of the ignorant kinges,
and to the perpetuall comfort of goddes
afflided children . And Abdemclech in
the day of the Lordesvifitation, when the
kingc and his counfil did drink thebitter
cuppofgoddes vengeance, did fynde his ierem.2)
life for a pray c, and did not fall in the
edge of the fword,whenmaniethoufan-
des did perilhe. And this was (ignified
vntohim by the prophet him felf at the
comaundemet of God before that Ierufa-
lcm was deftroyed. The promeffe and cau
fe were recited vnto him in thcfe wordes,

THS ^APPELLATION
I will bring my wordes vpon this citie vn
to euill and not vnto good: but moft affii-
redly I fhaldeliuer thee becaufe thou haft
trufted in me, fayeth the Lord. The
truftad hope, which Abdemelech had in
God,made;himbo]dtoopponehimfeife,
being but a man,to the ki ng and to his ho-
le coufill,who had codemnedto death the
Prophet,whomehis cofciencedid acknol
ledgetobeinnocent.Forthisdidhefpeak
in the pretence of the king fitting in the
portofBeniami:My Lord the kinge,faith
Abdemclech,thefemendowickedlyinall
thinges, that they haue done to Ieremie
the Prophet. Aduert and take hedemy
Lordes,that the meH,who had condemned
the Prophet,were the king, his prices, and
counfill, and yet did one man accufe them
allof iniquitie,5d did boldly fpeak in the
defefeof hlof whofeinnocetiehewasper
fuaded. And the fame,I fay,is the duetie of
euery man in his vocation, but chefelyof
the nobilitie, which is ioynedwith theyr
fcinges to bfidel and reprefTe that folie
and blind rage. Which thing if the nobili
tie do not,neither y ct labour to do, as they
are traitours to their kings,fo do they pro
iioke the wrath of God agaift them felues
and againft the realme,in which they abu
fethe au&oritie, which they haue recea-
iied of God to mentaine vcrtueandtore-
preffe vice. For hereof I would your Ho-

OF IONH K^KOXE. i*
nours were moft certainlyperfuaded, that
God will neither excufenobilitienorpco
pie, butthenobilitie leaftofal,that obey
ad folow they r kinges inmanifeft iniqui-
tie, but with the fame vengcace will God
punifhe the Prince, people , and nobilitie
confpiring togither againft him and his
holie ordenances: as in the punifhment
taken vpon Pharao>Ifrael,Iudaand Babyr
Ion is euidently to be fene.For Pharao was
not drowned alone,but his captayns, cha-
retes, and greate armie drank the fame
cup with him. The kinges of Ifrael, and
Iudawere not puniflied whitout copagny,
but with them were murthered the counfi-
lers3theyre Princes imprifoned and thei-
re people leddcaptiue.And why?becaufe
none was found Co faithful toGod,that he
durft enterprife to refift nor againftand
the manifeft impietie of theyr Princes.
And therefore was Gods wrath powred
furthvpon the one and the other. But the
more ample difcource of this argument I
differ to better opportunitie:oneIy at this
tymelthoghtexpediettoadmonyfhyou,
that before God it (hall not excufe you to
alledge, We are no kinges and therefore
neither can wcreforme religion, nor yet
defend fuch as be perfecuted . Confider
my Lordes thatyee are powers ordencd
by God( as before is declared)ad therefore
D 4

THE UPP ELL^tT I ON

doth the reformation of religion, and the
defenfe of fuch,as iniufty areopprefled,
appertaine to your charge and care,w h ich
thinge (hall the lawof God, vniuerfally
geuentobekeptofall men,moft euident-
ly declare : which is my laft and moft af-
Dcnt.li. fured reafon,why I fay yeeoght to remo-
ue from honours and to punilh with death
fuck as God hath condemned by his owne
mouth. After that Mofes had declared
what was true religio,to wit,to honorGod
as he commaunded,adding nothing to his
worde,neitheryet diminilhingc anythig
from it,and after alfo that vehemently he
had exhorted the fame law to be obferued,
he denounceth the punifhment againit the
trafgrcffours inthefewordes, Yf rhy bro-
ther, fonne, doghter wife orneghbour,
whome thou loueftas thyne own life,foli-
citate thee fecretiy, faying, Let vs go fer-
Deut. 2,3. ue other goddes,whome neither thou, nor
ty^l* thy fathers haue knowen,confentnot to
hym,hearhymnot,letnot thyne eye fpa-
re hym, (hew hym no indulgentie or
fauour,hide him not,but vtterly kill hym,
let thy had bethefirft vponhym, that he
may be flaine,and after the hade of the ho
le people. Of thefe wordes of Mofes are-
two things,apperteanig to our purpofe, to
be noted. Former, that fuch,as folicitateon
Jy to tdolatrie og ht to be punifhed to death

without

OF JOHK J^NOXE. 19

without fauour or refpcct of perfon . For Ictolatrit
hcthatwillnotfufrermatofparehis fone, oght tobe-
hisdaughter,norhiswife,butftraitlycompa>«yW
maundcth puniflimct to be taken vpon the without
1 idolatours (^haue they neuer fo nie coiunc refyeft of
; tion with vs )will not wink at the idolatric perfon.
of others ,of what cftate or condition fo e-
!uerthcy be.

It is not vnknowen.that the prophetes if ante
'had reuelationsof God, which were not estate
1 commune to the pcoplc,as Samuel had the might
reuelation , that Eli and his pofteritietaw*?
fhouldbe deftroyed,that Saul mould firft clihned
beking and thereafter that he mould bsrepriuiled-
ieded,that Dauidfhould reign for him. gejtvae
Micheas vnderftodeby vifTonthat Achabtheproplx
fhouldbe killed in batcaile againfttheSi- te$.
rians.Elias faw that dogges m>u!d cat
Iefabelithefortrcsof lelrael. ElieTus did i.S.im.^,
fee hunger come vpon Ifrael by the fpa- i.Sam, 9.
ce of fcuen yeares . Ieremie did forefee i$-
the deftruction of Ierufalem and the tyme t.\eg.zi.
of their captiuitie, and fo diuerfe other i-\'g*
prophetes had diuerfereuelationsofGod, it.
which the people did not otherwifevndcr i.\^.8.
{lid, but by their aflfirmatio,and therefore
inthofe dayeswere theprophetes named
Seears,becaufe that God did ope vnto th5
that, which was hid from the multitude.
Nowifaniema-n might haueclaimed anie

priui-

THS UP PZLLUT 10K
priuiledge from the rigour of the Law,
or might haueiuftified his fad, it mould
haue bene the Prophete. For he might
haue alledged for hym felfe his fingular
prerogatiue,thathehadaboue other men
to haue goddes will reuealed vnto hym
by vifio or by dream, or that God had de-
clared particularly vnto hym, that his
pleafure was to be honoured i thatmaner,
in fuch a place,ad by fuch mcanes. But all
fuch excufesdoth God remoue,comaudig
that the Prophete, that fhal I folicitate the
people to ferueftrangegoddes,fhall die
thedeath,notwitftandingthathealledge
for hym felfe dream, vilion, or reuela-
tion. Yea althoghhe promiflfe miracles,
andalfo that fuch thinges as he promi-
feth come to pafTe,yct I fay commaun-
dcth God>that no credit begeuen to hym,
but that he die the death ,becaufe he tea-
cheth apofta(ie>5d defeftion fro God He-
reof your Honours may eafelyefpie, that
none prouoldng the people to idolatrie
•ght to be exempted from the puniflimet
ofdeath.For if neither that infeparableco
junction, which God hym felfe hath fan-
ctified betwixt man and wife,neithcr that
vnfpeakable loue grafted in na{ijre,which
isbetwixt the father and the' fonne,nei-
ther yet that rcuerence, which goddes
people oght to bear to the Prophetes3 can

OF !OHN K^NOXE. 30

excufe anic man to fpare the offendour or
to conceale his oflfenfe, what excufe can
man pretend,which God will accept>Eui-
dent it is that no eftate, condition nor
honour can exempt the idolatour from
the handes of God, when he fhal call him
toaccomptes,or{hall inflid punifliment
vpo him for his offence : how (hall it then
cxcufethe people, that they according to
goddes comaundemet punilh not to death
fuch,as (rial folicitateorvioletly draw the
people to idolatrie? And this is the fyrifc,
which I would yourHonours mould note
of the former wordes.To witt,that no per
fon is exepted fro punifhmet , if hecan be
manifcftly coiiicied to haue prouoked or
led the people to idolatrie: ad this is mod
cuidently declared in that folemned othe
and couenante, which Afa made with the
people to ferue God ad to mctaine his re-
ligio,adding this penaltieto thetrafgref
fours ofit: To wit,thatwhofoeuer mould
not feke the Lord God of Ifrael,mould i.**u$-
bekylledjwerehegreateorwerehefmall,
were it man or were it woman. And of this
oth was the Lorde copleafed,he was foud
oftheadgauethe refioneuerie parte,be-
caufe they foghr. hi with their hole heart,
ad did fwear to punime the offeders accor
ding to the precept of his Law without
refpect of p er fons. And this is it , which

THE sAPP € LLUT10N

I fay I would your Honours mould note
for the fyritjthatno idolatourcan be ex-
empted fro punifhement by goddes Law.
The feconde is, that the punifliment of
fuch crimes as areidolatrie,blafphemie,
adothers,thattuchetherhaieftieof God,
dothenotappertaine to kingesandchefc
rulers only, but alfotothe holebodieof
that people, and to eucric membreofthe
fame accordig to thevocatio of euerie ma,
and according to that poffibilitie andoc-
cafton, which God doth minifter to re-
uenge the iniurie done againft hisglorie,
what time that impietic is manifeftly kno
wen. And that doth Mofes moreplainely
fpeak in thefe wordes,
2>«tf.i$- Yf in anie of thy cities, fa'ieth he,
which the Lord thy God geueth
vnto the to dwell in them, thou
fhalt hear this brute,There are To-
me men the Tonnes of Beli a 1 paf-
fed Turthe from thee, ad haue ToK-
cited the citizens of theyr cities
by thefe wordes, L et vs go ad feme
ftrange goddes, which you haue
not kno wen , fearch and inquire
diligently, and if it be true, that
fuch abomination is done in the

midddl

OF 10HN f^NOXE. $i

middeft. ofthee,thoufhaltvtterly
ftryke the inhabitants of that ci-
tic with the fworde, thou (halt
deftroy it and whatfoeuer is wi-
thin it , thou fhalt gather the
fpoileofit in the middeft of the
marketplace,thou fhalt burnethat
citie with fier, and the fpoile of it
to the Lord thy God, that it may
be a heap of ftones for euer, nei-
ther (hall it be any more buylded.
Let nothing of that execration
cleaueto thy hand, that the Lord
may turne from the furie of his
wrath,ad be moued towerdesthee
with inward affection.

Plaineit is that Mofes fpeaketh nor
geueth not charge to kinges rulers and
judges only, but hecommaudeth the hole
bodieofthe people, yea and euerie mem- w^ eue^
bre of the fame according to their poiTibi- neman
litic.-andwho dar be fo impudent as to de- in jCra<i
nie this to be moft reafonable and iuft* ^itf i0^
For feing that God had delyuered the ho- 10 ^
lebodie from bondage, and to the hole ^oddestu'
multitude had geuenhis law, and to the ma^^
twelue tribes had he fo diftributed the in- ment.

THE sAP PELLET I07£

neritanceofthe Ian d of Canaan, that no
familie could complaine,that it was rte-

fJeded. Was not the hole ad euerie mem-
re addettcd to cofeffe ad acknolledge the
benetitesofGod?ycahad it not bene the'
part of eucric man to haue ftudicd to kepe
the pofTefTion, which he had receaued? w-
hichthig God did plainely jpnouce they
r&etit. 28. {hould not do, except that in their heartes
audio, they did fan&ifie the lord God, that they
embrafedj and inuiolably kept his religio
eftablifhedrand finally except they did
cuttouteiniquitie from amongeft them,
declaring them felues earned ennemies to
thofe abominations, which God declared
hym felfe Co vehemently to hate,that fyrft
hecommaunded the hole inhabitants of
thatcountreetobediftroyed and allmo-
&cut.j* numents of their idolatrie to be broken
doune,and thereafter he alfo ftreatly com-
maudeth,that aciticdccliningeto idola-
• jtr^cftou^ fall in the edge of the fworde,
Goddsind 5d that the ho]e fpoi je of the fame,fhould
gements fce burned,no portio of it referucd.To the
tothecar- carna[ man t},js mav appearea rigorous
nalLman and feuere judgement, yea it may rather
appear rt- femetODe pronounced in a rage, then in
gorou*. wifdome. For what citiewas eueryet,in
which to mannes iudgement were not to
be found manie innocent perfons , as in-
fantsjchildrenj and fomme fimple and i-

g no rant

OF tOHbt t^NOXE. $i

gnorat foules, who neither did nor could
confent to fuch impietie^And yet we fynd
no exception, but all are appointed to
the cruel death. And as concernyng the
citieand the fpoile of the fame,manne$
reafon can not think, but that it might
haue bene better beftowed, then to be con
fumed with Her, and fo to profitt no man-
But in fuch cafes will God that all crea-
tures ftoupe, couer their faces , and defift
from reafonyng,whencommaundemenc
is geuen to execute his iudgement. Al-
beit I could adduce diuerfecaufes of fuch
feueritie , yet will I fearch none other
then the holie Ghoft hath afligned.Fyrft,
that all Ifrael hearing the iudgement
fhouldfearto commit the like abomina-
tion: and fecondarely , that the Lord
might turn from the furieof his anger,
might be moued towerds the people with
inward affection, be mcrcifull vnto them,
and multiplie them according to hisoth
made vnto theire fathers. Which rea-
fonsasthey are fufficient in goddeschil-
dren to correct the murmuring of the
grudging rlelhe , fo oght they to prouoke
euerie man , as before I haue faid , to de-
clare hym felfe ennemie tothat,whichfo
highly prouokeththe wrath of God a-
gainft the hole people. For where Mofes
iaieth,

Let the citie be burned, and let
no part of the fpoile cleaue to thy
hand, that the Lord may return
from the furie of his wrath,&c.
Tor the He plainely doth fignifie, that by the

idolatne defection and idolatric of a few goddes
cfajmale wrath is kyndled againftthe hole, which
number is isneuer quenched till fuch punifhement
goddes be taken vpon the offenders : that what
•wrath foeuer ferued them in their idolatrie, be
fyndled a- broght to destruction ,becaufe that it is
gainft the execrable an^ accurfed before God. And
multitude therefore he will not, that it be referued'
not punt- for anie vfe of his people.I am not igno-
fhingthe rant that this law was not put in execu-
ojfedoM's. tion as God commaunded. But what did
thereof infue and folow hiftories declare:
to witr, plage after plage till Ifrael,and
Itida were led in captiuitic, as the bokes
of kings do witnefTe. The consideration
whereof maketh me more bold to affirm,
that it is the ductie of eucrie man, that
lift to efcapethe plage and punifhement
of God, to declare hym felfeennemieto
idolatrie not only in heart, hating the
fame, but a!fo in cxternall gefture, de-
claring that he lamenteth,yf he can do
E7u! 9 no morc^or^l,criaDomm2tions. Which
^ thing was Hiewed to the (PpheteEzechiel,

what ty me hegaue hym to vnderftad,why

he

OF 10 HN K^NOXe. ft

he would dcftroy Iudawith Ifracl,ad that
he would remoue his g loric from the tem- Exfdt. S.
pleandplace,thathebadchofen,idfopo- and 9.
werfurtn his wrathe and indignationv-
pon the citie,that was full of biood arid a~
p oft afie, which became fo impudent, that
itdurft be bold to fay,thc Lord hath left
the earth,and feerh not. At this tyme,I Ciyt
the Lord reuealed in vifion to his prophe-
te,who they were,that mould fynd fauour
in that miserable deftruction. To witt,
thofethat did murne ahd lament for all
the abominations done in the citie, in
whofeforeheadesdidGod commaund to
print and feal Tau,to the end that the de-
ftroyer,whowas commaunded to ftryke
the reft without mercic, mould not hurt
them, in whome that figne was found. Of
thefe premifles I fuppofe it be euidenr,
that the punifhment of idolatrie doth not
appertainetokinges only, but alfo to the
hole people,yeatoeuerie membreofthc
fame according to his poffibilitie. For
that is a thing moft allured, that no man
can murne, lament, and bewaile for thofe
thinges, which he will not remoue to the
vttermoftofhis power. Yfthisberequi- N OT J§,
red of the hole people, and of euerie man
in his vocation , whatfhall be required of
you, my Lordes, whome God hathraifed
vpp to be Princes and rulers aboue your
E 1

THE viWELL^AT ION
brethren , whofe handes he hath armed
with the fword of his iufticc5 yea whome
he hath appointed to be as brideis to re-
preffe the rage and infolencie of your
kinges, when foctier they pretend mani-
feftly totranfgrefTc goddes blelfedorde-
«An <tnf- nance? Yfany think that this my affirma-
tpertoan tion,tuchinge the p'unifhmet of idolaters,
olieSHon. be contrarie to the praclife of the Apo*
ftles,Whofyndingthe Gentiles inidola-
trie did call them to repentance, requi-
ring no fuch punifhmct,Iettthe fame man
■why no Vnder{tand,that the Gentilcs,before the
law vas preaching ofChrift,liued, as the Apoftle
executed fpCakethjWit|iout God in the world,drow
agatnjt necj jn iJolafrie, according to the blind-
xbtGem- nes -j ignoracc, in which then they were
ksbnng \^0\^t^ as a prophane natio,wh«me God
Idol* had neueropely auowed to be his people,
'""'• had ncuer rcccaued this houfhol ^neither

geuen vnto them lawes to be kept in re-
ligion norpolitie: arid therefore did not
hisholie Ghoit.calling them to repentanr
ce,rcquireof themanie eorporallpunifh-
ment according to the rigour of the law,
vnto the which they were neuerfubieds,
, as they that were ftrangers from the com-

£*e*z* munc wclthof Ifracl . But if anie think,
that,after that the Gentiles w^re called
from theyr vaine conuerfation; and by
«rhb rating Chrift IcThs wcrereceau^d 1 the

OF 10 UN K.M OXE. 34

libmbre of Abrahams children,and fo ma-
de one people with the Iewes beleuing,
yfanithinkjl fay, that then they were not
bounde to the fame obedience , which
God required of his people Ifracl, what
tyrrje he confirmed his leage and conue-
nante with them, the fame man appea-
feth to make Chnft inferiour toMofes,
and contrarious to the law of his heauen-
lie father. For if the contempt or tranf-
greifron of Mofes.law was worth ie of
deathjwhat fhould we iudgerhe contempt
of Chriftes ordenance to beJ( I mean after
they be oncereceaued.) And if Chriflbc
notcommedto dilTolue: but to fulfill the
Jaw of his heauenlie Father, mall the \i-
tertieofhis Gofpell beanoccafion, that
the efpeciall glorie of his Father be troden
vnder foote and regarded of no manJGod
forbid.ThecfpecialglorieofGodis,that r, ~ \
fuch, as proferte them to be his people, -Vf-
fhould harken to his voice, and amongeft *

all the voices of God reuealed to the m^\
worlde,tuching punifhement of vices, is * J*f
none more euident neither more feuere, , Zj
thenis that,which is pronounced againft f
rdolatricjtlie teachers and mentaincrs of**0/
the fame. And therefore I fear not to af- uSafrkli*
firm, that the;Gentiles( Tmean cueriecitie,
realme,prouince , or nation amongeft
the Gehtiles , embrafing Chrift Icfus

THE sAPPZZT-ATlON

and his truereligio) be bound to the fame
leageand couenant,that God made with
his people Ifrael, what tymehe promifcd
to roote owt the nations before them in
thefewordes.

*° &• Beware that thou make aniecoue
nante with the inhabitantes of
the land, to the which thou com-
me(t,lefte perchace that this com-
me in ruin, that is,bedeftruc*tion
to thcrbut thou (halt dcftroy theyr
altars, break their idols and cutt
doune their groues. Fear no ftran-
ge goddes,worfhipthemnot,nei-
ther yet make you facrificc to
them. But the Lord, who in his
great power, and owtftrctched

/ armc hath broght you owt of the
land of Egypt, mall you fear, hy m
(hall you honour, hym fhall you
worfhip , to hym fhall you make
facrifice,his Itatutesjiudgcments,
Lawes , and commaundementes
you fhall kepe and obferue. This
is the connenante, which I haue

made

OF 10HN K^XOXE. gj

made withyou,faieth the Eternall,
forget it not, neither yet fear ye o-
ther goddes: but fear you the Lord
your God,and he fhall deliuer you
fro the hade J of all your ennemies.
To this fame Law, I fay , and couenante
are the Getiles no leife bounde,thcn fom-
tymc were the Iewes, when foeuer God
doth illuminatetheeyes of aniemultitu-
de,prouince, people orcitie,and putteth
thefworde in their own hand to rcmoue
fuch enormities fromamongeft them, as
before God they know to be abominable.
Then, I fay, are they no lefTcboud to pur-
ge theyr dominionsxities and countries
from idolatrie, then were the Ifraelites,
what tyme they receaued the pofTeffion of
the land of Canaan.And moreouer I fay,
jf any go about to ere&and fetvp ido-
latrie or to teach defection from God, af-
ter that the veritie hath bene receaued and
approued,that the not only the Mag Htra-
tcs,to whom the fword is comitted,but al
fo the people are boud by that oth, which
they haue made to God,torcuenge to the ,
vttermoft of their power the iniurie done
againit his Maieftic.In vniuerfal defecti-
ons, and in a general reuolt, fuch as was
in Ifrael after Ieroboam,rhere is a diucrfe
confideration . Forthenbecaufethehoie ,

Ttf£ sAPPELL^iTION

people weretogithercofpiredagaiftGo d,
there could none be foud,that wouldeexe
cute the punifhcmcnt, which God had co-
maunded,till God raifed vpp Ichu,whom
he had appoited for that purpofe. And the
fame is to becofidered in all other general
defe&ios, fucheas this day be in the papi-
ftrie, vc here all are blinded, and all are de-
clined from God and that of loge cotinu-
ance, fo that no ordinarie iuliice ca be exe
cuted, but the punifhmet muft be referued
toGod ad vnto fuch meanes,as he (hall ap
point.But I do fpeakof fuch a nobre,as af-
ter they haue receaucd goddes perfect reli
gio, do boldly profeife the fame,notwith-
ftadig that fome or the moft part fai back:
fasoflate daieswasl Englad^vntofucha
nobre, I fay,it is Laufull to punifh the ido
latoursvfithdeath,ifby aniemeanes God
geue them the povcer.For fo did Iofua and
Ifrael determine to haue done againft the
childreofRube,Gad ad Manaffes for their
fufpc<5ted apoftafie ad defefrio from God.
And the hole tribes did in veriedcde exe-
cute that fharpe iudgemet agalft the tribe
of Beiamin for a lefle offcce then for idoU
trie. And the fameoghtto be donewher-
foeuer Chrifl Iefus ad his Euagill is fo re-
cpaued 1 any realmCjpui'nce^r citie, that
«fie Magiftrates ad people haue folemncly
Mowed ad promifed to dcfed the fame,a$
< vnder

OF 10HK K,NOXE. ;f

vnder king Edward of late dayes was done
inEnglad.In fuch places, I fay, it is not on-
ly lawful to punifh to the death fuch,as la-
bour to fubuert thetrue religio,but the ma
giftratesad people are boudfo to do,onles
they wilprouoke the wrath of God again;
the felues. And therfor I fear not to affirm,
that it had bene the duetie of the nobilitie,
iudgcs,rulers,adpeopleof Englad not on-
ly to haue refifted and againftanded Marie
that Iefabcl,whome they call their quene,
butalfotohauepuwifhed her to the death
withallthe fort of her idolatrous Pree-
ftes, together with all fuch, as mould haue
afTifted her, what tyme that fhee and they
openly began to fupprcfle Cbriftes Euan-
gil,tofhedd the blood ofthefai&sofGod,
adtoere&thatmoftdiuellifhidolatrie,the
papiftical abominatiof, 5d his vfurped ty-
rannic, which ones moft iuftly by comune
oth was baniftied from that rcalme But be-
caus lea not at this prefent difcufle tiiisar
gument, as it appertained), I am copelled
toomittitto better opportunitie,and fo
returning to your Honours, I fay> that if
ye confefle your felues baptifed in the
Lord Iefus, ofneccflitie ye mu ft confefle,
thatthe careof his religiondoth apper-
tained your charge. And if ye know that
in your hades God hath put the fworde fot*
the caufes aboue expreflcd,the ca y c not de
E 4

TtfT. +4PP SUCTION

Xiie,butthatthepunifhementof obftinate
and maleperc idolatours (fuch as all youc
bifhoppes be) doth appertaine to your of-
fice, yt after admonition they cotinewob-
ftinat.Iam not ignorat,whatbcthevaine
defefes ofyourproude prelates. They clai
me firft a prerogatiue and priuiledge,that
.they are exempted, and that by corifentof
Councils and Emperours from all iurifdi-
ftionofthetemporaltie And fecodarely,
when they arecoui&ed of manifeftimpie-
ties, abufes, and enormities afwell in their
manersas inreligion,neitherfear,norfha-
me they to afFirme, that thinges fo longe
eftablifhedcannot fuddenly be reformed,
althogh they becorrupred, but with pro-
ceiTeoftymethey promifl'eto take order.
But in few wordes I anfwer, that no priui-
ledge,grauntcd ag*inft the ordenance and
ftatutes of God, is to beobferued althogh
all Councils and men in the earth haue ap
pointed the fame.Butagainftgoddesorde
.nance it is,thac idolatours, murtherours,
fals teachers, and blafphemcrs (hall be exe-
pred from puni(hement,as before is decla-
red, and therefore invaine it is, that they
claym for priuiledge, when that God fay-
cth: The murthercr fhaltthou riue from
my altar, that he may die the death. And
as to the order and reformati6,which they
promiife, that is to be lolled of hoped for,

when

OF 10HK KjHOXE. 27

vhen Satan, whofc children and flaues
they are,can chage hisnature.This anfwcr
I doubt not mail fuffice the fober ad god-
lie reader-But yet to the end that they may
further fee their own confufion, and that
your Honours may better vnderiUd,what
ye oght to do in Co manifeft a corruption
anddefe&io from Godjlafkeofthemfel-
ues,whara(Turancethey haue for this their
immunitie,exemption,orpriuilcdge:who
istheauctourof itf> and what frute it hath
produced ? And fyrft I fay that of God Godtinot
they haue no affurance, neither yet can he nttctohref
be proucd to be au&our of anie fuchc ante print
priuiledge. Butthecontrarie iseafieto be hdgegra-
feen. For God in efhbli filing his orders anted to
in Ifracl did fo fubicft Aaron(in his pree- papiflical
fthodebeing thefigureof Chrift) to Mo- bifhoppef9
fesjthat hefearcd nottocall him in iud- that they
gement,andtoconftrain hymto giueac- he exnn-
comptesof his wicked dede in consenting ptedfrum
to idolatrie,as the hiftorie doth plaine- the povsr
ly witneffe. For thus it is written, oftheciui

Then Mofes toke the calf, which k^^'
they had made,and burned it with
fier, and did grind it to powder,
and fcattering it in the water, ga-
ue it to drink to the children of If-
jrael«<kclaring herebie the vanitie of their

TH€ <APP1LL*ATI6}J
idol and the abomination of the fame, and
thereafter Mofes faid to Aaron, what
hath this people done to the, that
thou fhouldefl: bring vpon it foi
greatafyn?

Thus,l fay,doth Mofes call and accufe
Aaron of the deftruclion of the hole peo-
ple, and yet heperfe&Iy vnderftode,that
God had appointed hymto be the high
Preeft,that he mould bear vpon his moul-
ders ad vpo his breafl the names of the u.
. tribes of Ifrael,for whome he was appoin-
^ ted to make facrifice, praiers,ad fupplica-
TMi£tti'tions.Heknewhis dignitiewas. fo great,
tieof^ia- that only he might entre within themoft
rodidmt holie place: but neither could his office
exempt nor dignitie exempt hym from iudgemet,
him from when he had offended. Yf any ohieft, Aa-
wdgemei. ron at that tyme was not anointed ad the-
refore was he fubieS to Mofes, I haue anf-
wered, that Mofes,being taught by the
mouth of God, did perfectly vndcrftadjtq
what dignitie A^ro wasappointed,andyet
he feared not to call hym in judgement,
and to copell hym to make anfwer for his
wicked fad. But if this anfwer doth not fuf
h*ce,y et fliall the holie Ghoftwitnefle fur-
ther in the matter. Salomo remoued from
honour Abiathar being the high precfte,
and comaunded him to ceafe from all fun-
ction,

OF JOHN K^MOXE. 38

&ion,'and to liue as a priuate man.Now if
the vndiondid exempt the precft from
Iurifdi&ionof the ciuile M3giftrate,Sa-
lomon did offend, and iniured Abiathar.
For he was anoynted, and had caried
thearkbefore Dauid. But God doth not
reproue the fact of Salomon, neither yet
doth Abiathar claime anie prerogatiue
by the reafon of his ojf ice,but rather doth
the holie Ghoft appfoue the faft of Salo-
mon,fayinge,

Salomo elected furth Abiathar, i.\eg»z.
that he fhould not be the Preeft oh Sarn-l-
the Lord, that the word of the
Lord might be performed, which
he fpake vpon the houfe of Eli.

And Abiathar did think that he obtai-
ned great fauour,in that he did cfcape the
prefent death, which by his confpiracie
he had deferued. Yf anie yet reafon, that
Abiathar was no otherwife fubicdtto the
iudgement of the king, but as he was ap-
pointed to be the executour of that Cen-
tencc, which God before had pronoun-
ced, as I will not greatly denie that rea- Note-well.
fon,fo require I that euerie man confi-
der, that the fame God, who pronoun-
ced feptence againft Eli,and his houfe,
hath pronounced aIfo,that idolaters, hoo- Gal.4.
remongersjmurthcrcrs, and blafphemers i.Tim.^.

THE UtPZLLiATlOH
fliall neither haue portion in the king-
dome of God , neither oght to be per-
mitted to bear anie rule in his Church
and congregation. Now if the vnction
and office faued not Abiathar, becaufc
that goddes fentencemuftnedes be per-
formed, can anie priuiledgc graunted
by man be a buckler to malera&ours,thac
they fliall not be fubied to the punifh-
mentes pronounced by God? I think no
man will be Co fooliflie as fo to afFirm.For
a thing more then euident it is, that the
holepreefthode in the tymeof the Law
was bound to g iue obedience to the ciuile
powers. And if anicmembreofthe fame
wasfoude criminal, the fame was fubieft
tothepunifliemcnt of the fworde, which
God had put in the hand of thc/Magiftra-
te. Andthisordenancc of his father did
JHat.17. not Chriftdifanul, but rather did cofirme
thefame,c6maunding tribute to be payed
forhym felfe and for Peter. Who per-
fectly knowing the myndof his maifter,
thus writcth in his epiftle,
t. Pet. t. Submit your felues to all maner
-*M» ordenance of man^heexcepteth fuch
^* as be cxprcffely repugnyng to goddes
conmaundement) for the Loides
fake, wlicthcr it be to king as to
the chefe head3or vnto rulers as

vnto

OF 10HN K^NQXE. ;>

vnto them , that are fent by hym
for punifhement of euill doers,
and for the praife of them,that do
well.

The fame doth the apoft le faint Paule
moftplainelycommaundinthefewordcs,

Let euerie foulebc fubied to
thefuperiourpowers. \ ly

Which places make euident that net*
ther (Thrift neither his Apoftles hath ge-
uen any afTuracc of this immunitiead pri
ui ledge , which men of Church ( as they
wilbe termed ) do this day claime. Yea it
was a thing vnknowen to the primitiue
Churche many yeares after the daies of , -
the Apoftles. For Chryfoftome, whofer- /p7^ -
ved in the Churche at Constantinople V^ y^°
foure hundreth years after Chhftes afcen , *' °
fion, and after that corruptio was great! ie ; ^•onu
increafed , dorh yet thus write vpon the
forfayd wordes of the Apoft le,

This precept/aiethhe,doth not LetP^
appertaine to fuch as be called fe-/kr*»-
culars onlie,but eue to thofe, that/^ **ry
be Preeftes and religious men. ^
And after he addeth: Whether thou be
Apofrle,Euangelift, Prophete,or
whofoeuer thou be, thou cart not

tome

THE sAPP S iLsATlOX

be exempted from this fubiec"liorr«

Hereof it isplayn that Chryfoftbme
did not vnderftand that God had exepted
any pcrfon from obedience and fubie&io
ofthc ciuile power, neither yet that he
was auclourof fuch cxemptio and priui-r
ledgc,as Papiftes do this day claime. And
the fame was the iudgemet and vniforme
do&rincof the primatiue Church many
yeares after Chrifte. Your Honours do
woder, I doubt not, fro what fotaine then
did this theyr immunitie,as they terme ity
adfingularpriuiledge fprig. I fhallfhort-
ly tuch that,which is euident in their own
law andhiftories. Whenthe Byfhoppes
of Rome,the verie Antichrifts had partly
by fraud , and partly by violence vfurped
thefuperioriticoffome places in Italie,
andmoft iniuftly'had fpoiledtheEmpe-
Lmtheyr rours of their reres andpofleiTi6s,and had
vnnehh- alfo murthered fomme of their offjcers,as
porics-wit- hiftorics do witncfle>the beganPope after
neffe. Pope to pra&ifc and deuifejiow they
fhouldbe exempted from iudgement of
Princes and from the cquitie of Iawes,
and in this poynt they were moft vigi-
lant,t>ll at length iniquitie did To preuai-
lein theyr handes, according as Daniel
had before prophelied of them, that this
fentence was pronounced,

Neither

OF 10HN K,NOXE. 40

"Neither by the Emperour,nei-
ther by the clcrgie, neither yet ^ iheoflhe
the people fhall the iudgebe iud- yeaji fpea
ged .G od w ilJ,faieth S) mmachusjthat King
the caufes of others be determi-^^
ned bv men, but without all quc-f^/n> $m
ftion fie hath refcrued the Byfhop ^/f.j.
of this feat, vnderftanding Rome,to Tbeyre
1 . .1 laioes do

hisowniudgcmcnt. w,„#.

And hereof diuerie Popes,and expoh-
tours of their Iawes would feme to geuc
reafons.Forfaktli Agatho, vift.19.

All the preceptes of the apo- -
ftolik feat are affured, as by the
voice of God him fclf.

The auctour of the glofe vpo their ca-
non arTirmcth;that if all the world (hould
pronounce fentence againft the Pope-yet
fliould his fentece preuailc. For faieth he, %

ThePopehathaheauclic will,^^*
ad therefore he may chauge the na tiontutul
ture of thinges,he may apply the 7-
fubftace of one thing to another,
and of nothing he may make fom-
what,and that fentece, which was
nothing(that is) by his mynd fals

THZ *APP tLL^iTlOH

and iniufte, he may make fomew-
hatthatis tmeadiuft.Fonfaicrhhc,
in all thinges , that pleafe hym,his
will is for reafon. Neither is there
any roan, that may. afke of hym,
why doefr. thou fo . For he may
difpens aboue the Law, and of
. iniuftice he may make iuftice. For
he hath the fulnes of all power.

And manic other moft blafphemous
feteces did they pronouce euery one after
other,which for fhortnesfake I omitt, till
at the end they obtained this moft hor-
rible decrie; thatalbeit in life and con-
2?'/?' # uwfation they were-fo wicked, and detc-
■* 1 ' ftable,that not only they codemncd them
feluesjbut that alfo they drew to hell and
^ j perdition manie thoufandes with them,
. . ; ,-yet that none fhould prcfume to repre-
iqmte °y hed or rdyulce the.T^his being eftablifhed
i " for the head (albeit not without fomme
■• y *~ contradi<ftion,forfommcF.mpero\irsdid
require due obedience of them, as goddei
word commaunded, and auncicr Byfhop-
pes had geuen before to Emperours , and
ro their lawcs,but Satan fo preuailed in
his fuete before the blynd world,thatthe
former fentences were confirmed, which

power

OP 10HN t^NOXE. ^t

power being graunted to the head ) then
began promfion to be made for the reft
or" the membres in all realmes and con-
tries, where they made rcfidence. The
#ute whereof we fee to be this , that
none of that peftilent generation (I mean
the vcrmine of the Papiftical order ) will
befubiec"ttoanieciuileMagiftrate,howe-
normiousthateuer hjs crime be, but will
be refcrued to their own ordenarie,as they
terme it. And what frutes haue hereof
enfued, be the world neuer fo blynd,it
can not but witneffe. For how their head
that Romane Antichrift hath bene occu-
pied euer fece the grauting of fuch priui-
iedges, hiftoriesdo witnefTe,and of late
the moft part of Europa fubied to the
plage of God , to fier and fworde , by his
procurement hath felt and this day doth
fcle. The pride,ambirion, enuie, excelTe,
fraude , fpoile , oppreiTion , murthcr , fil-
thie life, and inceft, that is v fed and men-
tained amongeft that rabble of Preeftes,
freers, monkcs,channons,byfhoppes and
Cardinallcs,cannotbe exprefTed. I fear
nottoaffirme, neither doubt I to proue,
that the papifticall Church is further de-
generate from the puretie of Chriftes The mtt-
do&rine, from the footefteppes of the A- terk more
potties and from the maners ofthepri- thmtui-
matfuc Churchjthe was theChurch of the dm»
F i

THE iAPP ZLLsATlOX

tewes from goddes holie ftatutes,what ti-
me it did crucihe Chrift Iefus the onlie
Me{fias,and moil cruelly pcrfecutehis A-
poftles. And yet will our Papiftes claims
theyr priuiledgcs and auncient liberti^k,
which if you graunt vnto the, my Lords,
ithofieuer ye (nail alfuredly drink thecuppofgod-
metaineth des vengeance with them, and fhalbere-
the print- puted before his prefcnce compagnions
ledges of oftheucs and metainers of murtherers,as
Papifts, is before declared.For theyr immunitiead
fhall dri{ priuilcdge, whereof Co greatly theyboft,
thecupp is nothing <ls,but as if theues, murtherers
ofgodsve or briggandes mould confpire amongeft
geance them felues,that they would neuer anfwer
■*i;b them in iudgement before anie laufull Magi-
ftrate,to the end that their theft and mur-
ther mould not be punimed,euen fuchl
fay istheirwicked priuiledge, which nei-
ther they haue of God the father, neither:
of Chrift Iefus, who hathe reuealed his
fathers will to the world .neither yet of
the Apoftlesnor primatiueChurche,as
before is declared. But it is a thinge
. confpired amongeii them felues,to the
end that their iniquitie, deteftable life,
and tyrannie mail neither be reprefTed
nor reformed. And if they obie&,that
godlie Emperours did graunt and con-
firmethe fame, I anfwer that the godli-
ftes of no man is, or can be of fufficicnt

au&oritic

(5> lOtfH K^NOXE. 4*
audoritie to iuftifie a foolifhe and vn-
godlie fad, fuch I mean,as God hath noc
alowcdby his worde. For Abrahamwas
a godlie man, but the dcniall of his wife
was fuch a fad, as no godlie man oghtto
imitate. The fame might I (hew of Da-
uid,Ezechias and Iofias, vnto whom I
think no man of Judgement will prefer
anie Emperour fence Chnft,in holines ad
wifdome,andyet are not all they r fade*,
no euen fuch, as they appeared t© haue
done for good caufes, to be approued nor
folowed. And therefore,I fay, as errour
and ignorance remayn ailwaie? with the
moft perfed man in this life,fo roiifr their
workes be examined by another rule, the
by their own holines , if they mall be ap-
proued.But if this anfwer doth not fnffice,
then Willi anfwer more fhortly , that no
godlie Emperour fence C hriftes afcenfio
hathgraunted anie fuch priuiledgetoa-
nicfuch Churche or pcrfon,asthey(the
holegeneratioof Papiftes)beatthisday.
I am not ignorat,that fome Emperours of
acertainezealeandfor fomecofideraxios
graumed liberties to the true Church af-
flided for they r mentainanceagainft ty*
rants, but what ferueth this for the defen-
ce oftheyrtyrannie3 Yfthelawmuft be
vnderftaded arcordlg to the myndofthe
lawgeuer, then mult they fyrft prouethe

THE *APPELL>ATI07^

fclucs Chriftes true ad afflicted Churche,
before they can claime anie priuiledge
to appertaine to them. For only to that
Churche were the priuiledges graunted.
It will not be their glorious titles, nei-
ther yet the longe polieffion of the name,
that can preuaile in this fo weg htie a cau-
fe. For all thofe had the Churche of Ie-
rufalem, which did crucifie Chrift,and
did condemnehis do&rine. We offer to
proueby theyrfrutes andtyrannie,by the
Prophetes, and play n fcriptures of God,
what trees and generation they be, to witt
vnfrutefull and rotten , apt for nothing,
but to be cutt and caft in hell Her, yea
that they are the very king dome of Anti-
chrift,of whome we are comaunded to be-
ware. And therefore,my Lordes, to return
to you, feing that God hath armed your
handeswith the fworde of iuft ice, feing
that his Law moft ftreatly commaundeth
idolaters and fals prophetes to bepunif-
flied with death, and that you be placed
aboue your fubiects to reigne as fathers
ouer theyr children: and further feing
that not only I, but with me manie thou-
fand famous, godlieand learned perfons,
accufc your Byfhoppesad the hole rabble
of the Papiftical clergie of idolatrie,of
munher and of blafphemieagainft God
ommit ted : it appertained to your Ho-
nours

OF 10HN K^NOXM. 4j

nours to be vigilant and careful 1 in fo
wcghtie a matter? Thequeition is not of
earthly fubitice,butoftheglorie of God,
and of the faiuation of your felues, and of
your brethren fubied to your charge, in
which if you after this playneadmonitio
be negligent, there refteth no excufe by
reafon of ignorance. For in the name of
God I require of you, that the caufe of re-
ligiomay be tried inyourpre(ecebythc
playne ad fimple worde of God:that your
Byflioppes be compelled to defift from
theyr tyrannic- that they be compelled to
make anfwer for the neg Acting of their
office, for the fubftace ofthc poore,which
vniuftly they vfurpe and prodigally they
dofpend,but principally for the falsand
deceauiblcdoctrine,whichis taught and
defended by theyr fals prophetes, flatte-
ring freers, and other fuch venemous lo-
cuftrs. Which thing if with (ingle eyes
ye do( preferring goddes glorie and the
faiuation of your brethren to all world-
lie commoditie^then (hall the fame God,
who folemnely doth pronounce to ho-
nour thofe , that do honour hym , powre
his benedictions plentifully vpon you,
he (hall be your buckler, protection and
captayne,and (hall repreife by his ftrc-
ngthand wifdome,whatfoeuer Satan by
his fuppofles (hall imagine againft you.
F 5

7HZ UfPELZtATlOH
lam not ignorant, that great troubles
(hall enfue your cntcrprife. For Satan
will not be expelled from the poflfefTion
ofhisvfurpcdkingdome without refiftan
ce. But if you,as is [&d , preferring god-
des glorie to your own liues , vnfeaned-
ly feke and ftudie to obey his bleiTed
will, then fliali your dcliuerance be fuch,-
as euidently it fhall be knowen, that the
angels of the eternal I do watche, make
warr , and feght for thofe,thtt vnfeyned-
lyfearthe Lorde. But if you refufe this
my moft reafonable and iuft petition,
what defece that euer you appeare to haue
before men, then fhall God( whome in
meyoucontcmne) refufe you. Ke fhall
Deu.iS. pourcfurthe contempt vpon you , and
~L?uit.i6. vpon your pofteritie after you . The Spi-
rit of boldncs and wlfdome (hall be ta-
ken from you, your ennemies {hall reign,
and you fhall die in bondage, yea God
fhall cutt doune the vnfrutefull trees,
_, when thev do appeare moft beautifully

e£?a to florifh, and fhall fo burn the roote,that
after of you fhall neither twigge, nor
branch againe fpring to glorie. Hereof
trede not to adduce vnto you examples
from the former ages, and auncient hi-
ftories. Foryour brethren the nobilitie
of England are a mirrour and glafle, in
the which ye may beholde goddes iuft.

punifhmet

OF IOHN K^NOXe. 44
pun i foment. For as they haue rcfufed him,
and rns Euagil, which ones in mouth they
did profcfle, fo hath he refufed them, and
hath taken from them the fpirit of wif-
domc,boldenes, and of counfil. They fee
andfeletheyrownemifcrie,and yet they
haue no grace to auoid it. They hate the
bondage of ftrangers,theprideof prec-
ftes, and the moftriferous empire of a wic-
ked woma3and yet are they copeilcd to bo-
we their ncckes to the yock of the Deuill,
to obey whatfocuer the proude Spaniards,
and wicked Iefabel lilt to commaund, and
finally to ftand like flaues with capp in
hand till the fcruantes of Satan the fhauen
fort call them to counfil. This frute do
they reapead gather of theirformer rebel-
lion, and vnfaithfi'lnes towardes God.
They are left cofufed in their owne coun-
cils.He,whomc in his mebres fortheplea-
fureof a wicked woman they haue exiled,
perfecuted ad blafphemed,dothnowlaugh
them to fkornjfuffercth the to be pyned in
bondage of moft wicked men, ad finally
{hall adiudgethe to the fiereuerlaftig, ex-
cept that fpedcly,adopely they repet theyr
horrible treafo.which againft Gad,agai{r.
his fonneChrift Iefus, andagainft theli-
bertie of their ownc natiue realme they
hauecomitted. The fame plages (hall fall
vponyoujbeyouaflurcdjif ye rcfufc the
F 4

THE APPELLATION

defence of his fcruantes, that call for your
fupport. My words are fharpe, but cofider,
my Lords,that they are not mine,but that
they are the threatnynges of the omnipo-
tent,who afluredly will perfurme the voi-
ces of his Prophetes, how that euer car-
Em En- nail men defpife his admonitions. The
gladand fwordc of Goddes wrath is aired ie dra-
Scotland wc, which of neceffitie muft nedes ilryke,
both ad- when grace oft'red is obftinatly refufed.
Htrt. You haue bene long in bondage of the De
uil>blyndnes,errour and idolatrie,prcuai-
ling againftthcfimplc tructhof God in
that your realme, in which God hath ma-
de you princes and rulers. But now doth
Godofhisgreatmerciecall you to repen-
Godcal- tancc,bcforehcpowrefurththevttcrmoft
Uih tore- of his vengeance.he crieth to your eares,
fentance tfoatyourreligio isnothing but idolatrie.
before fa he accufeth you of the blood of his fainds,
Jlrifc in which hath bene died by your permiffion,
hishote afl'iftance,and powers. For the tyrannieof
dijl'lea- thofe raging bealtes fhould haue no force,
(urc. if by your ftrength they werenot men-
Tapislcs tained. Of thofe horrible crimes doth now
b-idnofvr God accufe you, not of purpofe to con-
cc,yfPrin demneyou,but mercifully to abfolue,and
ces did not pardo you,as fomtyme he did thofe,whom
tmntain Peter accuftd to haue killed the fonnc
them. of <5od,fo that ye be not of mind nor pur-
wl&*. pofeto iuftiHe your former iniquitie.

Ini-

OF 10NH I^NOXJt. 45
Iniquitie I call not only the crimes and
ofFcnfes,which haue bene and yet remaint
in your maners and liues, but that alfo,
which appeareth before men moft holie,
withhaflardof my lifelofFreto prouea- No truef
bomination before God:that is,your hole [eruant &
religion tobefo corrupt and vaine, that God may
no true feruante of God can communicate comtm-
with it, becaufc that in fo doing he mould mcate
manifeftly denie Chritt I<;fus and his c- vithtbe
ternal veritie. I know that your byflroppes papistical
accompained with the fwarmeof thepapi religion*
itical verminefhalcric, A damned here-
tikoghtnottobehard.Butremembrejmy *^» anf*
.Lords, what in the beginnig I haue protc vrto the
fted,vpo which ground Icotinually Had, oldobie-
to witt,that I am no heretike nor deceaua- clion,tbat
ble teacher, but the feruante of Chriftle- anhtwi{
fus,a preacher of his lfallible veritie,inno ogtonoc
cent in all that they can lay to my charge to be bard
cocerning my do&rine, and that therefo-
re1 by them,being ennemies to Chrift, I
am iniuftly damned. From which crucll
fentence I haue appealed and do appeal,
as before mention is made.in the mean ty-
memoft hubly requiring your Honours
to take me in your protection, to be audi-
toursof my iuft defefes,grauting vnto me
the fame libertie, which Achab a wicked
king and I frael at that tyme a biynded peo
ple,grated to Helias in the like cafe. That

TrfE UPP SLL^ITIOH

is,thatyourbyflioppes, and the hole fab-
i.\cg* ble of your clergie may be called before
i%. you and before that people, whome they

haue deccaued: that I be not condemned
by multitude, by cuflome, by auctontie
or law d iui fed by man, but that God hym
felf may be iudge berVixt me and my
aducrfaries. Let God, I fay, fpeak by his
law, by his prophetes, by Chrift Ie£js
or by his Apoftles,and fo let hym pro-
nounce, what religion he approueth,and
then be my ennemies neuer fo manie, and
appeare they neuer fo ftrongc and fo leaf
ned,nomore dolfeare vi&orie, then did
Helias,being but one man againft the mul
titude of Baales preeftes. And if they
Titdmg think to haueaduantage bytheyre coun-
courncils cils and doclours,this I further ofFer,to
and dj- admitt the one and the other, aswitnef-
ttottrs. fesin all matters debateable, three thin-
ges (which iuftly can not be denied)
being granted vnto me.Firft,thatthe moft
auncient Councils nighefttothe primi-
tiue Church , in which the learned and
;odIie fathers did examine all matters
>ygoddes word, may beholden of moft
audoritie. Secondarely , that no deter-
mination of Councils nor man be admit-
ted againft the plaine veritie of god-
des word,nor againft the determination
ofthofe fourechefe Councils, whofe ?.u-

ftoritie

8

OF 10KN \,XOXZ. 4$
Aoritie hath bene and is holden by them
equal with the auttoritie of the foure E-
uangehfles. And laft,rhat to no doctour be
geuen greater auiftoritie,then Auguftine inp^t*
requireth to be geuen to his writinges: <vetraftm
to witt , if he plainely proue not his
affirmation by Gods infallible worde,
thatthenhis fentencebereie&ed and im-
puted to the errour of a n a-Thcfe thinges
graunted and admitted, I fliall no more re
Ttife thctellimonies of Councils and do-
rtours, then fhall my aduerfaries. But and
ifthey will iuftifiethofe Councils,whicfi
mentainetheyr pride, ad vfurped auctori-
tie, and will reieel thofe, which plainly
Jiauecondemnedall fuchtyrannie, negli-
gence, and wicked life,as byftioppes now
dovfe: and if further thev will fnatchea.
doubtfull fentence of ado&our, and refu-
fe his mynd, when he fpeaketh plainly,
then will Ifay,thatall man is a lyer,that
credit oght not to be geuen roan vncon-
ftantwitnes, and that no Coucils oght to
preuaile, nor beadmitted againft the Con-
tence, which God hath pronounced. And
thus,mv Lordes,in few wordesrococlude
Ihaue ortredvnto you a trial 1 of mie in-
nocencie: I haue declared vnto vou, whac
God requireth of you,being placed aboue
his people, as rulers and princes : I ha-
ue offred vnto you; and to the inhabitates

THS *AP PELLET ION

of therealme,thc veritieof Chrift Icfus*

and with the hafard of my life I prefently

offer to prouethe religion, which amon-

geftyouis mentained by fier and fworde,

to be fals,danable and diabolicall.Which

thinges if yerefufe,defending tyrantes in

their tyranie,then dar I not flatter,but as it

Etfll* was commaunded to Ezechiel boldly to

proclaime, fo muft I crie to you, that you.

jfhall perilhe in your iniquitie, that the

Lord Iefus (hall refufe fo manie of you,a§

malicioufly withftand hiseternall veritie,

juat.14 and in the day of his apparition, when all

&.z6. flemlhallappcarbeforehym,thathefhall

repcll you from his compagnie andfhall

commaund you to therier,whiche neuer

Dani.il flialbec]ueched,and then neither mail the

*M>tt.z<i. multitude be able to refift, neither yet the

counfilsof man be able to preuaile againft

that fentence,which he (hall pronounce.

God the father of our Lord Icfus Chrift
by the power of his holie fpirit fo rule and
difpofe your hearts, that with fimplicitie
ye may colider the thinges,that be ofFrcd,
ad that ye may take fuch order in the fame,
as God in you may be glorified,and Chri-
ftcs flock by you may be edified and com-
forted to the praife ad glorie of our Lord
Icfus Chrift,whofcomnipotent fpirit rule
your hearts in his true feare to the end.
Amen.

47

TO MIS BELO-
VED BRET HREN THE

corarmnaltic of Scotland lohn Kjnoxt
•vifhctbgrace,mercie and peace
ftith tbejfrrit of
righteous jud-
gement.

Vhat I haue required of the
Quene Reget,eftates ad no-
bilitieasof thechifeheades
(for this prefent) of the re*
alme,I can notceafe to re-
quire of yoi' dearli beloued Brethre,which
be the comunaltieandbodie of the fame-
To wit, that it (notwithftanding that fals
and cruel fentence, which your difgifed
byftioppes haue pronounced againft me)
would pleafe you to be fo fauorable vnto
me, as to be indifTeret auditours of my iuft
purgation. Which to do if Godearneftly
moue your heartes,as I nothig doubt, but
that your entreprife (hall redoundetothe
praifeofhis holie name, foam I allured,
that ye and your pofteritie fhall by that
meanes receaue moft fingular comfort, e-
diricati6,adprofit.For when ye mall hcare
the matter debated, ye (hall eafelie percea-
ue and vnderftand,vpon what grounde ad
foundationisbuildedthatrcligion,whichr

lOtfN K^NOXE

amongeft you is this day defended by ficr
and (word. As for my own confciencc lam
moft afluredly pcrfuaded,that,whacfoeuer
is vfed in thepapiftical Churche is al to-
gither repugning to Chnftes blerTed ordi
nacc, and is nothing but mortal vercm,of
which whofoeuer drinkethj am afluredly
perfuaded that therewith he driLcth death
and damnation, except by true conuerfion
vnto God he be pureed from the fame.But
becaufethat long ulenceof goddes worde
hath begotten ignorance almoft inal for-
tes of men, and ignorance, ioyned with
long cuftome, hath cofirmed fuperftition
in the heartesof many, I therefore in the
name of the Lord Iefus defire audience a£-
well of you the communaltie,my Brerhre,
as of the eftares and nobilitie of the real-
ty y me, that in publikeprcaching I may haue
' place amongeft you at large to vtrer my
mind in allmattcrs of cotrouerfie this day
in relig ion. And further I defire,that y e co
curring with your nobilitie would com-
pell yourbyflioppes andclergie to ceafc
their tyrannie, and alfo that, for the bet-
ter affurance and instruction of your con-
fciece, ye would compell your faid bilhop
pes and fals teachers to anfwer by thefcri-
pturesof God to fuch obic&ios ad crimes,
as malbe laid againittheir vaine religion,
fals doctrine, wicked life, and fclande-

rous

TOT/*e COMMfH^ETlS. 48
torn conuerfation . Here I know, that it
fhalbe objected , that I require of you a
thin* moft vnreafonable.To witt, that yc
ihould call your religion in doubt, which
hath bene approued and eftabl lflicd by Co
long continuance,and by theconfent of fo
manie men before you. Butlfhortly anf- yAnfiter
weTjthat neither is the log procefle of ty- toaiiobie
me.neither yet the multitude of men a fuf {Hon.
hciet approbation, which God will alow lafcuUt,
for our religip. Forasfommeofthcmoft Firmian.
aunncient writers do witnefle,ncither can Tertulia.
long procefle of tyme iuftjfie'an errour, Cyprian.
neither can the multitude of fuch,as folow
ir,chaug fhe nature of the fame. Eut if it
was an errour in the begynnyng, fo is it in
the end,and the longer that it be folowed,
and the mo that do receaue it, it is the
more peftilent, and more to be auoided.
For ifantiquitie or multitude of me could
iuitifie any religion, then was the idola-
trie of the Gennles, and now is the abo-
mination of the Turkes good religio.For
antiquitie approued the one, and a mul-
titude hath receaue*d and doth defende
the other.But otherwife to anfwcr,god!ie
men may wonder, from what fontaine
fuch a fentece doth flow,that no man oght
to trie his faith and religion by goddes
worde, but that he fafely may beleue and
folow euerie thing , which antiquitie

IOHH K^NOXE.

andamultuudehaue approucd. Thefpi*
John*;, rit of God doth otherwife teach vs. For
&j. thcwifdomeof God Chrift Iefushymfel-
fe remitted his aduerfancs to Motes, and
the fcriptures,to trie by them,whether his
dodnne was of God or not.The Apoftles
*Jfksxj. Paulcand Peter commaundemen to trie
X.Pct.i. thereligion,which they profeiTejby god-
des plaine fcriptures, and do praife men
\J0bn4. for fo doing. S.Iohn ftraytly commaun-
deth,that webeleue not cueriefpirit3but
willeth vs to trie the fpirits, whether they
be of God or not.Now feyng thatthefc
euident teftimonies of the holie Ghofte
will vsto trieour faith and religion by
the plaine wprde of God,wonder it isjthac
the papiftes will not be contentjthat theyr
religion and do&rinccomme vnder the
triall ofthe fame. If this fentcce of Chrift
betrue(asit ismoft true, feing it fprin-
geth from the veritie it fclf)who fo e-
lotmi u'^ doeth,hateththelighf,neitherwjl]he
come to the light left that his euill workes
be manifefted and rcbuked,thcn do our
papiftes by their ownrfentence condemne
them felues and theyrreligion. For in fo
far as they refufe examination and trial,
they dcc!arc,that they know fomme fault,
which the light will vtter. which is a caufe
of theyr feare.ad why thev claime fothat
priuiledge,that no man difpure of theyr

religion.

TO THE COMMVN^iLTlE 49

religion. The veritie and trueth, being of
the nature of fyne purified gold, dorh not Tfhy Fa-
fear thetrial of the fornace,but the ftu- ptTksvtili
ble andchaf ofmanncs inuentions ( fuch notdifp*
is theyr religion) may not abyde the u ofthe
flame ofthe tier. True ic is, that Maho- ground
met pronounced this fentence, that no oftheyr
man mould in paine of death difpute or religion.
reafon of the grounde of his religion. Mahomet
Which law to this day by the art of Satais andthe
yet obferucdamogeft the Turkcs to theyr Popedo
mortal blindnes and horrible blafphe- agree
myngof Chrift Iefus, and of his true reli-
gion. And from Mahomet (or rather from
Satan father of all lies) hath the Pope
and his rabble learned this former leflon-
To witt,that theyr religion mould not be
difputed vpon, but what the fathers ha-
uebelcued,thatoghtand muft thechildre
approue. And in fo diuifing Satan lac-
ked not his foresight. For no one thing
hath more eftabliflied the kingdome of
that Romane Antichrift ,then this moft
wicked decrie. To witt, that no man was
permitted to reafon of his power,or to cal L
his lawes in doubt. This thing is moft aflu
red, that whenfoeuer the papifticall re-
ligion (hall comme to examination, it
fhalbe founde to haucno other grounde,
then hath the religion of Mahomet. To
witt manncs inuention, deuife anddrea-

G 1

JOHN flNOXE.

mes ouerfhadowed with fomme colour of
goddes wordc. And therefore Brethren
feing that the religion is, as the ftomake
fo the bodie,which,if it be corrupted, doth
infeel the hole membres,it is neccrTarie
that the fame be examined, and if it be fo-
unde replcnilhed with peitilent humors
( I mean with the fantalies of men)then of
ncceiTitieitisjthatthofe be purged, els dial
NOTE, your bodies and foules perifhe for euer.
For of this I would yeweremoft certaily
perfuaded,that a corrupt religion defileth
the hole life of man, appear it neucr fo ho-
\efirma lic.Ncithcr would I that ye mould efteme
ttonofrc- the reformation and care of religion lef-
ligion be- fc to appcrtai to you, becaufe ye are no kin
longetbto ges, rulers, iudges, nobils, nor in au&ori-
all,tbatbo tie. Bcloucd Brethren, ye are goddes crea-
te for life tures , created and formed to his own ima-
etKrlasim ge and fimilitude, for whofe redemption
ge. was fhed the molt pretious blood of the

onlic bcloued fonne of God, to whome he
hathcommaunded hisGhofpellandglad-
tidinges to be preached, ad for whome he
hath prepared the heauenlie inheritance,
fo thatycwill notobitinately rcfufe,and
difdainefully cotemne themeuties, which
he hath appointed to obtaine the fame: to
witt,his blcfled Euangile, which now he
ofFercthvntoyou,tothe end that ye may
bcfaued.FortheGhofpelland gladtidin-

TO Ttfi CO UMV tf^lLTI S. 50

ges ofthekigdometruelie preached is the
power of God to the faluation of cuene \onui,
beieucr, which to credit and receaueyou
the communaltie are no leffe addetted,
then be your rulers and princes. For albeit The fuh-
God hath put and ordened diftinctionad kit h ti9
differece betwixt the king and fubie&es, leffe bcud
betwixt the rulers and the commune peo- to btLue
plcintheregimentand adminiftration of in Cbrijl,
ciuile policies, yet in thchopeof the life thtmtha
to comme he hath made all equal 1 . Vor tytigc.
asinChrift Iefus the lew hath no grea- <jaLat.$t
terprerogatiue,thcn hath the Gennie,the
man , then hath the woman, the lear-
ned,then the vnlearned ,the Lord, then
the feruante, but all are one in him, fo is
there but oneway and meanes to attaine
to the participation of his benefites and
fpirituall graces, which is a liuclie faith
wurking bycharitie. And therefore I fay
that it doth no lefle appertaine to you,
beloued Brethren, to be allured that your
faith and religion be grounded andefta-
bliihed vpon the true and vndoubtedwor-
de of God, then to your princes, or ru-
lers.For as your bodies can not cfcapecor
poral depth, if with your princes ye eat
or drink deadlic poifon(althoghc it be by
ignorance or negligence) fo (hall ye not
efcape the death euerlsfting,if with them
ye profefic a corrupt religion. Yea except
G z

1 OH N J^A' 0 X E

In heart yc beleue, and with mouth ye con
feflc the Lord Icfus to be the onlie Sal-
uiourofthe world (which ye cannot do,
except ye embrace his Euangile offered)
^Abacx. ye can not efcapc death and damnatio. For
M<trc.i6. as theiuft liueth by his own faith, fo doth
loh».$. the vnfaithfull perifhe by his jnHdelitie.
And as true faith is engendred ,nori{hed,
and mentained in the heartes of goddes e-
]cc~tby ChriftesEuagile truelie preached,
foisinfideiitie and vnbeiefe foftercdby
concealing and reprefTing the fame. And
thus if ye lokefor the life euerlafting,ye
muft trie if ye ftand in faith, and if yc
would be allured of a true ad liuelie faith,
ye muft nedes haue Chrift Iefus truely
preached vnro you. And this is thccau-
f?(dearBrerhren)that fooft I repeat, and
foconftantly I affirm, that to you it doth
no lcffe appertaine, then to your Idnge or
princes, to prouidethat Chrift [cfu!> be
truely pivached amongeft you^feing that
.without his true knolledgecan neither of
you both attaine to faluation. And this
is thepoynt, wherein, I fay,al man is £-
Dual,
<Wherw That as all be defcended from
allwaiiH Adam, by whofe fvn and inobedi-
equal. cnce ^-j de:Llh enter into the
V"""*' world> fo it behoucd all,that fhall

ootaine

TO T H E C OJIMV N~4 LT IE ^

obtainc life, to be ingrafted ino-
ne, that is, in the Lord Iefus, who (£•?*•
being the iuit feruant, doth by his ioh* **
knolJedge iuftifiemanyrto wit, all
that vnfeanedly beleue in hym.

Of this equalitie,and that God requi-
red no lefleof the fubiect ,be he neuer Co
poore,then of the prince and riche man in
matters of religion, he hath geuenan eui-
dent declaration in the lawofMofcs. For
when the tabernacle wasbuylded,erec"ted,
and fet in order, God did prouide.howit,
and the thinges appertaining to the fame,
mould be ft>fhjned,fo that they mould
not fall indecay. And this prouifion (al-
beit heaue ad earth obey his empire )would
he not take from the fecrete and hid treafu
res,which lie difperfed 1 thevainesof the
carthe;ncither yet would he take it fro the Evod.jO.
richeand potentofhispeoplc,buthe did
commaund, that eueric man of the fonnes
of Ifrael (were he rich or were he poore)
that came in compt from twentie yeares
and vpvcard,fhouldycarely pay half a fi-
de for an oblation to the Lorde in the
remembrance of their redemption, and
for an expiation or clenfing to their fou-
lcs,which money God comaunded fljould
be bellowed vpon the ornamentes and
G 5

10HN K^NOXE.

necefTaries of the tabernacle oftcflimonie.
He furthermore added a precept, that the
riche Paould giue no more for that vfe,
and in that behalf, then mould the poore,
neither yet that the poore (ljouldgiue any
le(Tc,then mould the riche in thatconfi-
deration.This lawtomannes reafonand
judgement may appear verie vnreafona-
ble. For fomme riche man might haue
gcucn athoufand faleswith leflehurtof
his fubltacc, then fome poore man might
haue payed the half licle. And yet God
makcth all cquall, and will that the one
fhall pay no more then the other, nei-
ther yet the poore any lefle then the ri-
che . This law I fay may appeare verie
vnequall. But ifthecaufe, which Godad-
dcth-,beobfcrucd,wclhallfynde in the fa-
me the great mercie and incftimable wif-
domc of God to appear, which caufe is ex
prefled in thefc wordes,
Z\'iJ.$c. This money rcceaucd from the
children of Tfrael thou fhalt gcue
in the feruice of the tabernacle,
that it may be to the children of If
racl for a remembrance before the
Lord, that he may be mercifullto
yourfoulcs.

Thiscaufcjl fay, doth euidently decla-
re,

JO TtfL CO M MV N*A LT1L. }i
rc,thatasthc hole multitude was deliuc-
red from the bondage of Egypt by the mi
ghtie powcrof God alone, fo was euerie
mebrc of the fame without refpect of per-
fon fadiricd by his grace, the riche in that
behalf nothing preferred to the pooreft.
For by no ment,nor worthynes of ma was
hemouedtochofe,ad to eftablifhe his ha-
bitation and dwellingc amongeft them.
But their felicitie,prerogatiue ad honour,
which they had aboueallothcrnatios,pro
ceded only fro the fontaine of his eternal
goodncs,who loued the freely, as that he
freely had chofen them to be his prceftlie
kingdome ad holie people from all natios
of the carth.Thus to honour them,that he txod, i?«
would dwell in the midden1 of them, he
neither wasmoued( I fay)by thewifdome
ofthewife,bythe riches of the potent,nei
ther yet by the venue a nd holynes of any
eftate amongeft them, but of mere good-
nes djd he loue them,and with his prcfen-
ce did he honour that hole people, 5d the-
refore topaynto*tthe fame his comune
loue to the hole multitude, and to curt
of occafions of contention, and doubtes Thepre-]
ofconfeience, he would rcceaueno more fenceof
from the riche, then from the poore,for GUrtpu
themaintenaceof that histabernacle, by fintedim
the which was rcprcfentcd his p re fence, tbetabcr-
and habitation amongeft them . Yf the ri- nask.

04

10 UN K^NOXE.

The pre- che had bene preferred to the poorc,then
fence of as the one mould hauc bene puffed vp with
Go^rtpr* pride, as that he had bene more acceptable
fenced in to God by reafon of his greater gift,fo
thetab*r niould the cofcience of the other haucbe-
myfAg, ne troubled and wouded, thinking that his
pouertiewas an impedimec, that he could
not ftand in fo pcrfe<5tc fauour with God>
as did the othcr,bccauie he was not able to
geue fomuch.asdid the richjtothe men-
tenancc of his tabernacle. But he, who of
niercie (as faid is) did chofehis habita-
tion among tit them, and alfo that beft
knoweth,what hcth within man^ did pro-
uidethe remediefor the one, and for the
other, making them equal in that behalfc,
who in other thinges wercmoft vnequaL
Yf the poore mould haue founde hym
felfe greyed by rcafon of that taxe,and
that afmuch was impofed vpon hym, as v-
pon the richc,y et had he no fmall caufe of
ioy,tbac God him felfe would pleafe to c<$
pare hym, and to make hym equal in the
mentcnace of h is tabernacle to the mod ri
the and potent in Ifrael.Yfthisequalitie
wascommaunded by God for mentcnace
of that tranfrtorie tabernacle, which was
ifebr.s. but a fhadocof a better to come, is not the
fame required of vs,who now hath the ve-
ritie,which isChrift lefus'who being clad
with our nature is made Immanuel,that

is.

TO THE COJUJAV KULT1U o

is, God with vs.

Whofe natural bodic albeit it ifat.
be receaued in the heauens, where "^M-
he mutt abyde till all be complete, Mat'x*'
that is forefpoken by the Prophe-
tes,yet hath he promifcd to be prc-
fet with vs to the ed of the world.

And for that purpo(e,and forthc more af
furance of hispromitfe he hath created a-
mongeft. vs here in earthe the figncs of his
owne prcfence with vs , his fpiritnal ta-
bernacle, the true preaching ofhisworde,
and right adminifh-ation of his facra-
mentes . To the memenance whereof is
no lefle bounde the fubieft, then the prin- Theftm-
ce,thepoorejthentheriche.Foras thepri tualrabar
ce, which was gene for mannes retention, >tM^- '7;;i^
isone,forequirerh God of all,thaf malbe/';:7^'0/*
partakers of the benchtes of the fame, a chfMet
like duetie, which is a plaine confciTion>Pr'fi"<e
thatbyChrift Iefusalome wehauerecea *A£wfc.
ucd, what foeuer was loftin Adam. Of
the prince doth God require, thar here-
fufchym felfe,and that he folow Chrift
Icfus:ofthefiibiec"therequireththefame.
Of the kinges and Judges it is required,
that they kyfTe the fonne, that is , «:tie
honour,fubie<ftion,and obedience ro hym.
And from fuch reucrcce doth not God ex-
empcthe fubie<3,thatlhaibcfaued. And

JOHN K^NOXZ

this is that £ qualirie, which is betwixt the
kinges and fubic&es, the moft riche or
noble, and betwixt the pooreft,and men
of lowefl eftate: to wit, that as the one is
oblifhed to beleue in heart, and with
mouth to cofeffe the Lord Iefus to be the
onlic fauiour of the world, fo al fo is the o-
ther.Neither is there anie of goddcs chil-
dre(whohath attained to theyeares of dif
cretionjfo poore,but that he hath thus
much to beftow vpon the ornamentesand
N OT E. maintenance of tlieir fpiritual tabernacle,
when neceflfitie requircth: neither yet is
there anie fo riche, of whofe hande God
requireth anymore. For albeit that Dauid
gathered greate fuMUce for the buylding
of the temple: that Salomon withearneft
i Tar-ty- diligence and incredible expenfes ere-
s-p-*r,*'i- cled and fini flicd the fame: that Ezeehias
4-0*5« and Iofias purged the religion, which be-
i.Psra. rore was corrupted ,yet to them was God
29->°* no further dcttour in that refpec~t,thcn
€^•35* he was to the moft fimple of the faithfull
poftcritie of faithfull Abraham. For thcyr
diligence, zeal ,and workes gaue rather
tcftimonie and confefTion before men,
what honourthey didbearto God,what
Iouetohisworde,and reucreceto his reli-
g i.Ojthen that any worke proccading from
them did cither eftabliftie,oryet encrea-
fe goddcs fauoure towardes the, who free-
ly

TO THE COMMV N^tLT IE 54

ly did loue the in Chrift his fonnc before
the foundation of the world was laied. So
that thefe fofenamed by thcyr notable
workesgaueteftimonieoftheyrvnfained
faith, and the fame doth the pooreft,that
vnfeanedly and openly profeiTcth Chrift
Icfus, that'doth embrafe his giadty dinges
orTredjthat doth abhorre fuperftition,and
flie from idolatrie. The pooreft, I fay,
and moft fimplc , that this day in earth in
the daies of this cruel perfecution fer-
mely beleucth in Chrift, and boldly doth
confeflehym before this wicked genera-
tion, is no lefife acceptable before God,
neither is iudged in hisprefence to haue
done any lefle in promoting Chrift his
caufe, then is the king, that by the fwor-
dc andpower,whichhe hathreceaued of
God,wrooteth owt idolatrie, and foad-
uanceth Chnftes glorie. But to return
to our former purpofe, it is no leffe re-
quired,! fay, of the fubied to beleuc in
Chrift, and to profefle his true religion,
then of the prince and king. And there-
for^ I affirme, that in goddes prefence
it -{hall not excufe you to allcdge, that
ye were no chefe rulers , and therefore
that the care and reformation of reli-
gion did not appertainc vnto you.
Ye dear Brethren ( asbeforc is faid ) arc
the creatures of God created to his owne

JOHN K^NOXE.

image and fimilitude:to whomc it is conr
Mat.17. maundcd to hear the voycc ofyourhea"
uenlie Father,to embrafc his fonne Chrift
Icfus,toflie from all doctrine and reli-
gibn,whichhehath not approucd by his
own will reuealed to vs in his moltc blef-
fed worde. To which preceptes and char-
ges if ye be founde inobcdient,ye (hall
pcrilh in your iniquitie as rcbclles and
ftubborn feruantes,thathaueno pleafure
to obey the good will of their foueraigne
Lord, who mofl louingLy doth call for
y our obedience. And therefore, Brethren,
in this behalf it is your part to be carefull
Note, and diligent. For the queft ion is not of
th inges temporal*, which al Ithoghc they
be endaungered, yet by diligece and pro-
cefleof tymemay after be red rciTcd,but it
is oft he danat ion of your bodies and fou-
lcsand of the loiTe of the life cuerlafting,
which once loft can neucr be recoucred.
And therefore, I fay, that it behoucth you
to be carefu 1 and dil igct in th is fo weghtie
a matter, left that y e.eontcmnyng this oc-
cafion, which God nowoffereth,fyndno,t
the like,altho^ he that after with gronyng
The nffir and fobbes ye laguy fhe for the fame. And
ofiohn that ye be not ignorant of wh.it occafion
K^noxcto I mean, in few words I fhallcxpreiTeit.
hu ttatine Nor only I, but with me alio diuers o-
realtne. ther godlie and learned men do offer

vnto

TO TtfE CO M*MVN*ALT1Z. tf
vntoyou our labours faithfully to inftruS
you in the waies of the Etecnal our God,
and in the fynceritie of Chriltes Euangil,
which this day by the peftilemgeneratio
of Antichnft(Imean by thepope,andby
his moft vngodlie clergie)are almoft hyd
from the eies of men.We offer to ieopard
our liucsforthefaluation of your foules,
and by raanifelt fcriptiwes to prouethat
religion, which amongeityou is mentai-
ned by tier and fworde,to be vaine, fals ad
diabolical. We require nothing of you,
but that paciently ye will heare our do-
ctrine, which is not oures,but is the do-
ctrine of faluation reuealed to the world
by theonliefonneofGod:adthatyewill ^^y
examine ourreafons, by the which we of- Uqumth
fertoprouethepapiftical religion to be
abominable before God. And lalt we re-
quire, that by your power the tyrannie of
thofc cruel beaftes(I mean ofpreeftsand
frecrs)may bebrideled till wehaue vtte-
red our mindes in all matters this day de-
bateablein religion. Yf thefe thinges in
the fear of God yegraunttome,and vnto
others, that vnfeanedly for your faluation.
and forgoddes glorie require the fame,
I am allured, that of God ye (hall be blef-
fed,whatfoeuer Satan fhall deuife againlt
you.Butand if yeconteneor refufe God,
who thus iouingly offerethvnto you fal-

10HN K^KOXE.

nation and life, ye fhall neither cfcape
plages temporal! , whiche fhortJy fhall
apprehend you, neither yet the torment
prepared for the deuil , and for his an-
gels, except by fpedie repentance ye re-
turneto the Lord,whome now ye rcfu-
fe, if that ye refufc the meffingers of his
worde. ,
lAnan- But yet I think ye doubt, what ye

fwerto oght,and may do in this fo wcghtie a
twoquc- matter. In few wordes I will declare my
fiions. confeiencein the one and intheother.Yc
oghtto prefer theglorieof God, the pro-
moting of Chriit his Euangil, and the
Valuation of your foules to all thinges,
that be in earth;and ye,aIthoghe yc be but
fubiedes, may lawfully require of your
fuperiours,be it of your king,be it of your
lordes , rulers and powers, that they pro-
Suhi.ttet uide for you true preachers, and that they
mayli-w- expellfuch, as vnder the names of pa-
fuliy re- flours deuoure and deftroy the flock, not
quire true feeding the fame as Chrift Icfus hath com
preachers maunded. And if in this point your fu-
ofthyr periour be negligent, or yet pretend to
ruhrs. maitaine tyrantes in their tyrannie,molt
iuitly ye may prouide true teachers for
your felues,be it in your cities, townes
or villages : them ye may maitaine
and defend againft all, that fhall pcrfe-
cutc them, and by that meancs fhall la-
bour

TO THE C OJA MV N *A IT IE. jG n

bour to defraude you of that moft confor
table foode of your foules,Chriftes Euan-
g il truely preached . Ye may moi eouer
withhold thefrutes,and profetts,which
your fals Bymoppcs and ciergie moft in-
iuftly rcce}Hieof you, vntofuch tyme af
they be compelled faithfully to dotheyr
chargeand dueties^which is to preach vn-
to you Chrift Iefus truely,ryghtly to mi-
nifter his facramentes according to his
own infticution , and fo to watche for the
faluationofyour foules,asis commaun-
ded by Chrift Iefus hym felfc and by his Ioa»'zr'
apoftles Paule,and Peter. YfGodfhalHc7-ao*
mouc your heartes in his true fear to be-
gynne to pra&ife thefe th iges , and to de-
maund and craue the fame of your fupe-
riours which moft lawfully ye may do,the
I doubt notjbut of his greate mercie , and
free grace he fhall illuminate the eyes of
your myndes, that his vndoubted veritie
malbe a lantern to your feete toguyde ad
lead you in all the waves, which his god-
licwifdome doth approue. He fhall make Tti;igesy
your ennemies tremble before your faces, that may
hefhalleftablifh his blelTed Euagilamo- dravmtn
geft you to the faluation and perpetual co bac\ from
fort ofyour felues, and of your pofteritie the(yn<e-
after you. But and iffasGod forbyd )the ritie of
loueoffrendes,the fear of your princes, chriTkt
and thewifdomcofthe world draw you twtngL

IOHN F^NOXE.

back from God, and from hisfoncChrift
Icfus,bcye certainly perfuaded , that ye
ihall drink thecnppof liis vengeance, fo
many I mean as {hall conremne and difpi-
fe this louing calling of your hcauenlie
father. It wil notexcufcyou ( dear Bre-
thren jin the prefence of God, neither yet
willitauaileyou in the day ofbisvifita-
tion,tofay , We Were but (imp Iefubi eels,
wecould notredreflcthc faultes andcri-
mesofour rulers,Byihoppes,and clergie:
we called for reformation,and wifhed for
the fame, but Lords brethre were Byftiop-
pes,theyr fonnes were abbottes,and the
frendesofgreatemen had thepoflefTion
of the Churche,and fo were we compel-
led to giuc obedience to all, that they de-
maunded.Thefevaineexcufes,I fay, will
nothing auaile you in the prefence of
God, whorequireth no lefleof the fub-
iecles,then of the rulers, that they decline
from euil ,ad thatthey do good, that they
ab(tainefromidolatrie,fuperflition,blaf-
phemic, mtirthcr and other fuch horrible
crimes, which his law forbiddeth, and yet
nottheles are openly committed and ma-
licioufly defended in thatmiferablc rcal-
me. And if ye think that ye are innocent
becaiife ye arc not the chefe auctours of
fuch iniquitie, ye are vtrcrly deceaued.
For God doth not only punifhe the chefe

offenders,

TO THE CO MJHV X~4LT IE tf

offenders , but with them doth hedamne
the confenters to iniquitie: and all are T^om.J.
iudged to confentjthat knowing impietie
committed giue no teftjmonie,that the
fame difplcafeth them. To fpeak this Note,
matter more playne , as your princes and
rulers are criminal with your Byfhoppes Princes,
of all idolatrie committed, and of all the and Bjy/*-
innocent blood, that is (bed for the tefti- boppesare
monie of Chrift es tructh,and that becaufc a ly{e cri-
they maintainethem in they r tyrannie,ib mind.
are you ( I mean fo many of you, as giue
no pi ay n confeflj onto the contrari e ) cri-
mmaland gyltie with your princes and
rulers of the fame crimes, becaus yeaffift
ad maintaine your prices in they r blynde
rage, and giue no declaration , that theyr
tyrannie difpleafeth you. This do&rine Mov fuhn
I know is ftrange to the blynde world, iettesof-
but the veritieofit hath bene declared in fend iiitb
all notable puniihments from the begyn-f^r
nyng.Whcn the original world pcrifhed Princes.
by water,whe Sodom ad Gomorrha were Gen.-j.O3-
confumed by tier, and finally when Ieru- *9-
falcm was horribly deftroyed, doth any loftfhttf.
man think,that all were a lykc wicked be- *s£gefif~
fore the world?Euidct it is,that they were />«*.
not,ifthey {hall be iudged accoraing to
thcyr external fades, for fomme were
yongc, andouldnot beopDreflours,nei-
her yet could defile them felues withvn-
H i

10H X K^N OXE.

natural and beaft lie Iufte$:fome were pi-
tiful and gentle of narure,ad did not thr-
ift for the blood of Chrift,nor of his Apo
flics. But did any cfcape the plages and
vengeance, which did apprehend the mul
titude: Letthefcriptures witneilcand the
hiftories bcconfidered,which plainely do
teititic , that by the waters all flefhe in
earth at that ryme did periflic,(Noah and
his familie referucd jthat none efcaped in
Sodom and in the othercities adiacenr,
except Lot and his two daughters. And
€uidentitis,thatin that famous citie Ie-
rufalemin that,laft and horrible destru-
ction of the fame none efcaped goddes
vengeance,except fo many as before were
difperfcd.And what is the caufe ofthis fe-
ueritie,feing that al 1 were not a like ofFcn
ders?LctflefheceafetodifputcwithGod,
and let all manbythefe examples learne
bctymestotiieandauoid thefocietieand
compagnic of the proude contemners
of God, if that they lift not to be parta-
kers of theyr plages. The caufe is cui-
dent.ifwecanbe fubicd without grud-
vjjyallpe ging to goddes iudgementes, which in
rifhtdin them felues are moft holie and iuil. For in
the flood, theoriginal world nonewas foundcthat
jn Sodom, either did refift tyrannie andoppreffion,
and Go- thatvniuerfally was vfed, either yet that
monhu earncftly reprehended the fame. In So-
dom

TO THE CO MMVN~4LT IE. 58

dom was none founde, that did againftai
that furious and beaftlie mulmude,thac
didcompaife about and bcfiegc the hou-
feofLot.None would beleucLot.that the
citiefhould bedeftroycd. And finally in
Icrufalem was none found, that ftudied to
repreflethc tyrannieof thePreeftes,who
were coniurcd againft Chrift and his E-
uangil,but all fainted, ( I except euer
i"uch,as gaue witnefle with theyr blood,
or theyr Hying,that fuch impietie difplea-
fedthem^ali kept filence,by the which all
approued iniquitie,and ioyned hads with
the tyrates,and fo were all arrayed and fer,
as ithad bene inone battayle againftthe
omnipotent ,and againft his fonne Chrift
Iefus. For whofoeuergathereth not with
Chrift in the day of his harucft, is judged
to fcarter.And therefore of one vegeacete
poral were they all partakers. Which thig
as before I haue touched, oght tomouC
you to the depe cofideratio cf your duties
in thefe laft and moft perilous ty mes.The
iniquitie of your Byftioppes is more then
manifeft:rheyr fcilrbieliues infe&theaier,
thcinnocetblood,which they (hed,crieth
vegcacein the cares of our God:theidola-
trie and abominatio, which opely they co
mit,ad without pur. ifhmctmaitaine, dorh
cormptad defyle theholeladrand nonea-
mongeft vcu doth vnfainedlvftudie for
H z

JOHN J^NOXE

any redrcfle of fuch enormities.Wil God

in this behalf hold you as innocences >Be

not deccaued dear Brethren. God hath pu-

niftied not only the proude tyrantes, Hl-

thic perfos,and cruel murtherers, but alfo

fuch, as with them did draw the yoke of

whatfttb- iniquitie,was it by flattering theyr ofFcn-

iettesfball fes,obey ing theyr iniuit comaundemctes,

Godpu- orinwynkingattheyrmanifeftiniquitie.

nifhe-with All fuch, I fay, hath God once puniflied

theyre with thechefcorVedcrs.Beyeaflurcd, Bre

Princes. thren,thatas he is immutable of nature,fo

will he not pardon in you that, which Co

feucrely he hath puniflied in others, and

now the lefre,becaufe he hath plainely ad-

monifhed youlof thedaungcrs to come,

and hath ofiYed you his mercie before he

pourcfurth his w>ath anddifplcafurevpo

the inobediet. God the father of our Lord

lefusChnftjWhois father of glorie,and

God of all confolation, gcue you the fpi-

rit of wifdome,and open vnto you the

Imolledgeof hym fclf by the mcancs of

his dear fonne, by the which ye may at-

taine to the efperance and hope, that after

/ thetrublesof thistrafitorious life ye may

be partakers of the riches ofrliatglorious

inheritancc,which is prepared for fuch, as

refufe them fclues, andfeght vnder the

baner of (Thrift Iefus in the day of this his

battaile : that in depe conhderation of the

fame

TO THE C0MMVN^4LTll 53

fame ye mav learn to prefer the inuifible
and eternal ioyes to the vainepleafures,
that are prefent. God further grauntyou
hisholie fpirit,righteoufly to consider,
what I in his name haue required of your
nobilitie,and of you the fubie«ftSjand mo-
ueyou alltogither fo to anfwcr,thatmy
petition be not a tcftimonieof your iuft
condemnation, when the Lord lefusfhal
appear toreuenge the blood of his fain-
c1es,andthe contempt of his moft helic
worde. Amen.

Slcap not in fyn,for vengeance
is prepared againft allinobediet.
Flie from Babylon, if ye will not
be partakers of her plages.

Bewitnefletomy appellation.

Grace be with you.

From Gencua

Thei4.of

Iuly,

1558.

•Your hrolhtr to commauviein go&linti
JOHN K^KOXE.

H l

AN ADMONITION

TO ENGLAND AND

Scotlattdto call them to repentant-

ce^ritten by ~i,doni

GiVby.

/SjkRSJS^ Vhcrc as many hauc writte
\3$J*M*£) many profitable admoni-
\V$S£ tios to you twaine, ( O En-
( ^5 -iv/C^ V3 gland and Scot lad, both ma-
'-^' : ■\</^J% kingc one Hand mo ft hap-
pie, if you could know yourown happi-
nes jfornme againft the regimet of wome,
wherewith ye are bothe plaged,fomme
againft vnlauful obedioce,and the admit-
ting of ftrangerstobe your kinges, ibm-
me declaring the vile nature of theSpa-
niards,whomethou,o Englad, to thy de-
ftru&iomaintcineft, fomme the pryde of
the Frenchmen, whome thou, o Scotland,
to thy ruincrcccaueft: and many hundre-
thes with penne, with tongewich worde,
with writing, with ieopardieand Ioffeof
landes, goods , and lyucs, hane admoni-
fhed you bothe twaine of that cakred poy
ion of papiftrie,that ye fofter and pamper
to your own perdition, and vttcr deftru-
clionof foulcsand bodies, of your felues
id vou rs for nowandcuer. Ithoght it my
duetiXfcingyourdcftru&i°t°mans jud-
gement

U N D SC OT L*AND. 60

gemct to draw fo ncarc Jhow much or Iitlc
ioeuer they haue prcuaiied, yet once agai-
ncto admonifheyou both,togiuetcftimo
nic to that tructh, which my brethren ha-
ue writtc,ldfpccially to ftirrcyour hearts
to repentance, or at the lcaftto ofFre my
felfe a witneffe againft you : for the iufti-
ccofGodandhisrightcous iudgementcs,
which doubtlcs (if your hearts be hard-
ned)againit you both are at hand to be vt-
tered-Thus by ourwritigs,whome it plea
feth God to ftyrrc vp of your nations, all
men.thatnow liuc, and that mallcomme
after vs, {hall haue caufe alfo to praife the
mercie of God,that fo oft admonifheth be
foie he do itn ke,and to cofider his iuft pu
nyfhmcnt, when he fiiall pourcfurth his
vengeance. Giueeare therefore betymes,
O Britanie ( for of that name both reioy-
fethjwhilcstheLordcallctl^cxhortethjad
admonifheth, that is the acceptable tymc,
whenhewill befounde . Yfye refufethe
tyme offrcd, ye can not haue it after ward
thoghwith teares (as did Efau)yedofc-
metofekeit. Yet once againe in goddes
behalfe I dooffre you the vcrie meancs,
which if God of his mercies grauntcyou
gracctofolow,Idoubt nothing butthatof
alyourcnncmiesfpedely ye flnllbe deliue
red.Yereioyce at this word, lam furcifye
haue atli hope of the perfourmSccThc har
ive to the mattcrjWhich Ido write vn:o vou

TO EN G l^AND
ttotfurth of mcnnes dreamesno* fables,
not furtli of prophanc hiftorics painted
vcith mannes wifdome,vaine eloquence,or
fubtile rcafonsjbut furth of the infallible
trueth of goddes vcorde,and by fuch plai-
ne demonftrations, as (hall be ableto con-
uince euerieone of your owne confeien-
ces , be he neuer fo oblti nate. I wi 1 1 afke no
further liidges. Is not this goddes curfe,
and threatninge amongeft many other pro
nounced againft the finfull land and difo-
bedient people?

T>en.i%. That ftr angers fhould deuoure
the frutc of thy lad,that the ftr an-
ger fhould clymc aboue the, and
thou fhould comme do wne and be
his inferiour, he (hall be the head
and thou the taile.The Lord fhall
bring vpon the a people farr of,
whofe tongue thou canfte not vn-
derftand, thy ftrong wales,wherin
thou trufted,fhall be deftroied &c.
And doth not F.faierecke thisalfoas the
cxtrcmitieof all plages for the wicked-

$fa.*. ncsofthe people to haue womeraifed

vp to rule ouer y ou? But what faieth

the fame jpphetc in the begynnyng of his

prophetic foraremedie againftthefcand

all

*A N D SCOT L^iN D. C\

all other euilles11

Your handes arc full of blood,
faieth"he>0 you princes of Sodom,
and you people ofGomorrha,but
wafhe you, makeyou clcanc, take
away your wicked thoghts furth
of my fight.Ccafetodo cuil, learn
to do well,feke iudgemet,hclp the
oppreffed &c. Then will I turn my
hand to the, and trie owt all thv
drofl'e,and take away thy tynne,ad
I will reftorethy iudges, as afore
tyme,andcouniilours,as of old.

AndMofesfaid beforeinthc place al-
ledged-
That if thou wilt heare the voice D^jg
of theLordcthy God, and do his
eommaundementes , thou fhalt be
blefledinthe townc, and blefTed
inthefeclde. The Lord (riallcau
fe thyne enncmies , that rife vp a-
gainft the,to fall before thc.&c.

Lo the "ocav in few wordcs,0 Bnranic/o
winne go Jdes fauour, and therefore to o-
uercome thyne ennemies. But to prynt
this more deeply into your heanes, o>e

TO 6N gt^AND
princes and people of that Iland,whonu
God hath begone to punifhe, feke I warne
younofhifting holes to excufeyourfaul-
tes, no political praftifes to rehft goddes
vengeance. And firft I fpeak to you ( 6 Ru
lers and Princes of both therealmes)rcpct
your treafon,and bewaile your vnthank-
iulnes. For by no other meanes can you ef-
capegoddes ludgementcs. You ftomack I
know to be called traitours, but what {hall
it auaile to fpare the name,where the fads
arc more then euident.You hath God ere-
&ed amogeft your brethre,to the end that
by your wifdome and godlic regiment
your fubicclesfhould be kept afwcll from
domeftical opprcfTion, as from bondage
and flauerie of ftrangers.But ye al as decli-
ninge from God arc made the inftrumetcs
to betray and fell thclibertie ofthofe,for
whome yeoght tohaue fpent your liues.
For your eonfent and afTiftanceis thecau-
fe3that ftran»ers now oppreffe ad deuourc
the poore within your reaImes:who fhort-
ly,if God call you not to repetance, ihall
recompenccvou,asyehauedeferued. For
the cupp, which your brethren do now
drinUhal!beputinyourhandes,andyou
/hall drink the dreggsof yt to your de-
duction. And wader it is if yebe become
fo fooliflie Id Co blynd, that ye think your
fclucsablc long tocontinue,andtobe fa-
fejwhen your brethren rounde about you

UND SCOT LsAX D. £z

flull per iilic: that you can pack your mat-
ters well enough with the princes, thac
ye can make youftronge with manages,
with tiatcries,and other fonde practifes,
or that with your multitude or ftrengthc
ye canefcape the daies of vengeance, or
that you can hide your felues in holes or
corners. Nay thogheyou mould hyde you
inthchels,God candrawe youthence,if
you hadthecgles wynges to flic beyode
the eaftfcas,you cannot auoid goddes pre-
fence. Submitt your felues therefore vnto
hym, which holdcth your breath in your
nollrclsjwho with oncblaft of his mouth
cj deftroy all his ennemies.Embrafc hisfo
neChrift,Icftyeperime,ad for your obfti
nacie agaift hym ad his worde repent be-
tymes,asweall do admonilhe. Repent for
your crueltie againlt hisferuantsandthc
contempt of his worde fo plainely oflfred,
as itwasneuer fence the begynnyngof the
world. Repent we cry repent. For repen-
tance is the onlie way of your redreffe and
deliuerance- Did God euer longe fpare
any people, whome he hath taught by his
Prophetes, without fomme euident re-
pentance? orvfeth any father to pardon
his childe, whome he hathebegonncto
chaftice, without fomme token of repen-
tance:Conf!der how the Lord hath intrea-
ted Ifrael and Iuda his owne people.how
oft they trefpafled, and how he gaue them

TO ENG Lv4N&

ower into the hand of their ennemies. But
whenfoeuer they repented and turned a-
gaine to God vnfeanedly,he fent them
iudges and deliuerers, kinges ad Sauiours.
This way then of repentance and vnfea-
ned turning to God by obedience is the
onlie way before God accepted and alo-
wed. Therefore was Noah fent to the old
world to bring this doctrine of repentan-
ce, and all the old prophctes,as Elias, Eli-
f^us,Efaias, IeremiasandMalachias,and
he, who excelled all the prophetes, Iohn
Baptifl. Any of whofe ftiles,and fliarpe re-
bukes of fynners if I (hould now vfe, it
woflldbe thoght full ftrange and harde-
ly would be fufferediyet were any of their
lefTbns, wherebie they called to repentan-
c.e,moit mete for our ty me and age,and no
thingcd.fagreinge from thismy prefent
ptirpofe.Forthe fame fpiritftill ftriueth
againft the malice of our tymesjthoghe in
d mcrfe inftrumetcs and fundne fortes and
fafnions-Noah pronounceth, that within
anhundrethand twentie yeares all fleflie
mould be deltroyed."We haue many No-
hacs, that fo cricth in our tymes, yet no
marepetcth.AHthetyme, that Noah was
preparing for the arketo auoide goddes
vengeancc,the multitude derided this ho-
lie prophete, as thcmultitude of you two
rcalmcsdothat this day deride all them,

that

>AUD SCOTLAND tf$

that by obedience to goddes worde feke
themeanes appointed to auoid gods Jud-
gements. Then the people would notre-
pent, but as they fhould liue for euer, they
maried,rhey banketed, they builded, they
planted, deriding gods meileger. Do not
you the likc^Iappeale to your own con-
fciences.You marie,but not in God,but to
betray your countries, you baket and buil-
de with the blood of the poore.

The Lorde calleth to failing
(faieththeprophete Efaiejtomortifiethe
felues, and to kill their luftes, but they
kill Ihepe and bullockes.Ieremie
cneth for teares and lamentation, they
Jaughe and mock. Malachie criethtothe
people of his ty me,Turne vnto me ad
I will turne to you,faieth the Lor-
de of hofles j and they proudly anfwer,
wherein fhall we returne? Are yenot
fuche-Do not ye afke wherein (hall we re-
turne, when ye will not know your finnes3
when ye can not confeffe,noracknol ledge
your faitltcs,thogheyego a hooringein
eucrie(treet,towneand village with your
idols^rhoghethe blood of the oppreffed
cri'eeueriewhcreagainftyouforvengean
ce-So that feyng no token of repentance I
cannotcrie vnto you with Iohn Baptift,
Oyegeneratia of vipers who hath

TO ENgL^tND ,

taught you to flic from the wrathe
tocomme?

O that I mighr fee Co good tokens, that
ye would fear goddes wrathe and venge-
ance. But this mull I fay to you bothe to
your confu(ion,and fl)ame,t hat y c arc fuch
vipers and fcrpcntes,vntillfee better to-
kens. You do what ye can to deftroy your
parentes, you caftof God yourheauenlie
father,ye will not fear hym calling you to
repentance, you deitroy and baniflic your
fpiritual fathers, which once had begot-
ten you as fpiritual children by the worde
of tructh ,you confume your countree,
which hath geuenyou corporal life, you
ftlge with tounges ad taylcs all, that would
draw you from your wickednes. Finally
man,woma,and childe are cither vencmed
with your poyfons or ftingged with your
tayles.In you are fulfilled thewordes of
Dauid,

Their throtc is an open fepul-
chre, with theyrtciiges thcyhauc
decciucd,thcpoyfonof afpis is vn-
der their lippes, their mouthes are
full of curfe ad bitterncs5thcir fete
are fwift to iTiedd blood, deftru-
ction and wretchednes are in their
waves, and the way of peace they

\AND SCOTLAND *4

haucnot knowen,the fearc ofGod
is not before there eyes3&c.

I do know your tendre eares, you can
not be grated with fuch (harpe fentecesof
condenation,rhat thus prick you to the he-
arts: ho wbeit thus it behoueth,thatye be
taughttoiudgeyourfeluesjthatintheend
yebe not daned with the wicked world.But
I willwounde you no more with the words
of the Prophctes,with the fay inges of Da-
uid>or of this holy fainct of Godlohnthe
Baptift, but with our fauiour Chrifts two
moft fwete parables of the two fonnes and
of the tilme,to whomc he fet his vineyard,
I will labour to fet before your eyes your
rebe]lion,hypocriGe,and crueltie,if fo IcS
bring any of you to repentance . Our fa-
uiour Chriftc putteth furth this parable,

A certainc man had two fonnes,
ad he came to the firft,and faid lo-
ne go ad worke to day in my vine-
yard. Who anfwcredj willnot,but
afterward repeted andwent.Then
came he to the fecond, and faid li-
kewife,and he anfweredj will fyr,

but went not.

Wherein a wonderful comforrefirftis

tobecofideredhovc'thcLord our God ma
ker of heaue ad earth doth huble him felfe

TO ENG L^iN D
not otily to be cal led a ma,a hufbad man,a
Jioulholdcr, ad fuch like, but he abafeth h*
feifeof mercieto vs vile earth andaflhes,
that his fonne becometh ma to make man-
kynd glorious in his fight,fo make ail tho
fc,tha: do not rcfufc his grace ofFrcd,of the
ilaues of Satan his fonnes by adoption.
You are his fonnes, you are«his vineyard,
you are as dear vnto hym, as the apple of
his eye,as Mofes fpcakcth ,if you can be-
leue it: he fweareth that you fhall be his
inheritace,andhewilIbeyours, if ye will
only receiue his grace and beleuc hym,
when he fweareth. Will ye call histrueth
into doubt? hisglorie into fhame by your
miO)elefc: Better it were, that all creatures
{hould perim, heauen, man and angels,
then that God mould not haue creditor
that his glorie in the lealtiote mould be
diminished. He hath called you by his
wordenow manyatyme toworkein his
vineyard, I afke what you haue anfwered.
your confcience can witnefle and all the
world fceth it. Some of you haue faid piai
nc lyke rebellious childre, thatye would
not doit,thatyewould notworke in your
fathers vineyarde.Shall I applie this part
to Scotland.3 1 may rig ht well do it,and al-
fo to a grcatc parte in England. But Scot-
land in dedecalled molt plainely and eui-
dently through the mercies of God both

by

+AND SCOTLAND 6$

by their own faithfull countrie men, and
alfoby earneft trauail of our Englifh na-
tion tocomme to the Lords vineyard in
the tyme of king Edward, hath to the do-
mage of both cotinually refufed, as the co
fcience of many this day beareth witnefle.
That tyme, as ye know, the vineyarde in
Eng lad by the children of God was not all
togither neglected, and themoft earneftly
wereye(OBrethrenofScotland)required
to ioyne hades with vs I the Lords worke,
but Satan alas would not fuffer it. His old
foftred malice, and Antichrifthis fonne
could not abyde, that Chrifl mould grow
foftrongby ioynyngethatile togitherin
perfed religio^whome God hath fo many
waiescoupledadftrcgthened by his worke
innature:the papiftes practifed alltheyr
fyne craftes in Eng land , Scotland, and in
France, that the Ghofpellcrs fhould not
with fo ftrong walles be defenfedjeft this
oneiland fhould become a fafefanctuarie,
as it began to be, to all the perfecuted in
all places. They mouefturdie ftomackes,
they difpens with periuries,they worke by
theyr craftie c6ferTions,they raife vp war-
re in the end, whereby ye(deare Brethren
of Scotland ) were fore plag cd. Of all the-
fetraiteroufefleghtes ye can not be igno-
rant. For yet it is not palfed the memo*
rieofman3thatyour king made promiflc

TO ENC L^iND

to haue mett kig Herie theeght att Yorke:
whofe purpofe ( albeit in other things I do
not alow him) in that cafe was moil god-
Jieand praifeworthie. For it was to make
an end of that vngodliewarre, and cruell
murther,which logc had cotinued betwixt
the two realms.Your king, I fay, made pro
mifleto me:e himrthebrechc whereof as
it was the occafion of much trouble, fo is
iteuidently knowcn, that your Cardinal,
and his clerg k laboured and procured the
fame. For it is not vnknowen to fommea-
mongeft you, how many thoufandcrow-
J fupffofe nes the churchmen did promiffe for main-
top.*)*- tenance of the warre, which king Henrie
tdlitle. did dcnouce by the reafon of that breche.
Superfluous it were to me, to recite all the
caufes mouing your peftilent preeftes to
folicitat your king to that infidelitie. But
thisismofte euidcnt,rhat they feared no-
thing, but the fall of their glorie,and the
trouble of their kingdome, which then in
England beganne to be fhaken by fupprcf-
fing of the abbaies.This moued your pree
ftes erneftly to labour, that your kinge
fhould fallly breake his promiffe. But
what affliction ye fuftained by that and o-
fher their pra<5tjfes,your feluescanwitnef-
fe.For your borderrs were dcftroyed^your
nobilitie for the moft parte were take pri-
foners3and your king for forowe fodenly
» died

Jl N I) S COT t^tND. 66

died. But thefe your miferies did nothing
moue your precftcs to repentance, but ra-
ther did inflame them againft God,and a-
gainft the jpHt of their natiuerealme. For
when againe after the death ofyourkige,
your fredfhip and fauours were foght,hrit
by king Herie,and after his death by king
Edward his fonne,ad by him,who the was
chofen Protec~tour,how craftely,I fay, did
the your preeftesvndcrmine all,yeatenot
ignorat.When your Gouernoure with the
confent of themoft. part of the nobilitic
hadfolenely fworncitheabbay ofHaliro-
ode houfe,fyr Raphe Sadler the being em-
bafladourforEngladto pcrfurm the ma-
nage cotrac~ted betwixt king Edward and
your yonge quene, and faithfully to ftand
toeuerie point cocluded and agreed for
perfurmace of that vni6,when feales were
interchanged, and thcembaffadourdimif-
fed,what fturr, tumult, and fedicionraifed
your Cardinal in that your realme,it is
not vnknowen. To witt, how that by his
craft and malice the realme was deuided,
the Goucrnour compelled to feke his fa-
uour,to violate his oth.and fo to becomme
ifamous for euer. And finally by the pride
of thepapifteswas that leage broken. But
what did thereof enfue:Edirburgh,Leirb,
Dudie, yea themoft part of the reaJme did
fele.Your mippes were flayed, your good-
I i

TO ENgL^iND

des were loft, your chefetowneswere bur-
ned, and at the end the beautie of your real
medidfallin the edge of the fworde,the
hand of God manifeiUy feg hting againft
you,bccaufe againft your folemne oth ye
did feght againft them, who foght your
fauoursby thatgodlie coiun&ion, which
before was promifed. But ftill proceeded
your ennemiesthe clergie,andtheire ad-
heretes in theyr purpofed malice. Woder
not that I termethem yourennemies,For
albeit they be your countriemen,yet be-
caufe they feke nothing more, then the
maitainace of their ownekIgdome,which
is the power of darckns , ad the kingdome
of Antichrift,they are becommecoiured
ennemies to euerie citie, nation or man,
that labour to comme to the knolledge of
the tructh. That peftilent generation, I
fay,didnotceafe,ti!l they obteined their
purpofe, by deliueringe your yonge que-
ne to the handcs of the French king, aflu-
redly mindinge by that meanes to cutt for
cuer the knot of the frendfliip, that might
haueenfued betwixte England and Scot-
land by thatgodlie conjunction . What
the papiftes feared is manifcil. For then
Chrifte Iefus being more purely prea-
ched in England, then at any tyme before,
would fhortlyhauefupprefled their pride
and vaine glorieiand therefore thev ra-
ged

<A N D SCOT L^iN D. £7

ged,that he mould not reignc aboue them
alfo.But what is like to apprehend you, for
becaufe ye did not betvmes withftad their
molt wicked coufils, wife mendocofidcr.
How heauie and vnpleafant (hall the bur-
then and yock of a Frenchman be to your
moulders ad necks, God graunt that expe
rience do not teach you. But to rcturne to
my former purpofe,by all thofe means re-
herfed,by his meflegers, by the blood of
his fain&sfhed amogeft you, by fauours ad
frendfnip,by warre and the fword, yea by
famin,ad peftilece,ad all other meas, hath
God your mercifull father called you to
labour in his vineyard,but to this day,ala$,
we heare not of your huble obedience, but
ftil ye fay with ftubburn faces,we will not
labour,wewilinotbeboiidetofuch thrai-
dome,to abide the burthens of the viney-
arcLYe think perchace I am to fharpe, and
thatlaccufeyou more then you deferue.
For amogeft you many do know the will
of your father, and many make profeffion
ofhisGhofpel,butcofider, Brethre,that it
is not enoughe to know the comaudemet,
and to jpfcifc the fame inmouthe,but it is
neccflarie, that ye rcfufe your felues,your
owne pleafurcs, appetites, and yourowne
wifdome,ifyeflul! beiudged fairhfull la-
bourers in the Lordes vineyard, ad that ye
beare the burthens togiter with your brc-

TO ENG L^iND

thren, and fuffreheate, and fwcate,before
ye tafte the frutcs with them. God will
not (land content, that ye loke ouer the
hedge, and beholde the labours of your
brethre,but he requirethjthat ye put your
hades alfo to your labours, thatyetrauail
continually to pluck vpp all vnprofi-
table wedes, albeit in Co doing the th6rnes
pricke you to the hard bones: that yeaf-
fift your brcthre in theyr labours, thoghc
it be with the icopardieof your lifes, the
lofTeofyourfubftance3and difpleafureof
the hole earthe. Except that thus ye be
minded to labour,the Lord of the viney-
ardewil nor acknolledgeyou for his faith
full feruantes. And becaufe this matter is
of weight and greate importance, I will
fpeake fowhat more plainely for your in-
#ruclion.It is brutcd (to thegreate com-
fort of all godlie, that hcare it) that fom-
meof you(deare Brethren of Scotland)
do defireChrift Iefusto be faithful lyprea
ched amogeft you, which thing if fro the
heart you defyrc and with godlie wifdo-
me and ftowtcourragefolow your purpo-
feandemerprife,yemall bcbleflTed of the
Lord foreuer. But in thebegynnyng ye
mull beware that ye folownottheexaple
ofyourbrethrcof Englad, in whofehan-
des albeitthe worke of the Lord appeared
to profpcrforatime,yet becaufe the eye
was not fingle,we fee to our grief the ouer

aNT> SCOTLAND 68

throw of the fame. They began toplante
Chriftlcfus in the heartes of the people,
Sd to banift that Romifh Amichrift, they
diddriueowtthefylthiefwynefrotheyr
denncs and holes ( I mean the monkes and
other fuch papifticall vermine from their
cloifters ad abbayes. This was a good be-
oinning,butalas intheone and the other
fherc was great faultc. For the bamfflug of
that Romim Antichnit was rather by the
feareofthelawes pronouced againithim
byaaesofparlamet,thcbythcliuclicprc-

achie of Chrift Icfuss5d by the difcoueng
ofhisabominatios.Andthefuppreffioof

the abbaics did rather fmcll of auarice, the
oftruerelis'io.Thofevenemouslocuites,
whichbeforewereholdewithintheircloi

fterSjwere then fet abrodc to deftroy all
eood ad erene herbes.For fuperft -tious fre
crs,igno?at moks, ad idle abots were made
archbifhoppes, bimoppes, pcrfon$,Vicars,
5d fuch as oghttofedethe foulesof men:
who thus fet at libertic did cotinually wro-
otup the Lords vineyard. And one crafty
Gardener.whofenamewasSrephen,hau.g
wolflikcoditi5s,didmaitaimanyawolfe,
didfowwickedfeedinthegarde,adcheri
(bed many wcedes to deface the vineyard.
And his maid Marie,who after was his ma
ftres,nowmaricd toPhilip,wa«g no w,l to
wickedneswhcfliewasatthcweakcftnorito

I 4

TO EN G LUND,

make to do euill,when flic gatt the maftric

did cheriftie many weedes.Thofe two Ifay

haue Co broken the hedges of the fame vi-

ney arde, ( God Co punifliing the finnes of

thofe, that oght to haue made better pro-

uifionforthe fame) that the hufbandmen

are hanged vp,the diggars, dreflours, and

planters are banifhed,prifoned and bur-

ned.Such hauock is made,that all wild bea

fteshaue power to pollute the fan&uarie

of the Lorde.O heauensbeholde hercru-

eltie,oearthe cry for vengeance, o feas,

and deferte mountains witneffes of her

wickednes,breakfurtheagainft this mon-

fler of England. But whether do I runne

by the bitternesof my grefe?Imuftnedes

leaue the o Scotland, after that I haue ad-

ucrtifed the of this, that thou folow not

the example,as I haue faid,of Englad:buc

in the bowels of Chrift Iefus I exhorre

the,that if thou pretcdeft any reformatio

in religion, which is thechefe labour of

the vineyarde,that thou do it at the flrft

with afingleeye, and all fimplicitie,thac

from yeare to ycare thou be not compel -

led to change, as was England, but let thy

reformation be full and plaine, according

togoddes holie will and wordc without

addition. Let all the plates,which thy hea-

ucnly father hath not planted, be rooted

owt at once, let not auarice blind thc,nei-

ther yet wordlie wifdome difcourage thy

iA N D SCOTLAND. 69

h carte, lee none bearc the name of a tea-
cher, that is knowen to be a foftcrer of fu-
perllitio, or any kynde of wickcdnes.And
thou fo doing (halt mouc God of his grea
temercietofend vnto thefaithfull worke
men in abundIce,to blefle the worke, that
thou pretedeft in the vineyarde, ad to pre-
feruethe to the glorie of his own name,
and to thy euerlatting comfcrtc. Thus
muft thou Scotland repent thy former ino
bedience,ifthat thou wilt be approued of
the Lord. And now do I return to the (O
Englad)Idolikentheto thefecode fonne
in the parable which anfwered his father
with flattering wordes5faying,

I go father,but yet he went not
at all. For fence the time,that I had any re
membrance, our heauc 1 ie father of his gre
at mercies hath not ceafed to call the in to
his vineyard, and to thefe latedaies thou
haft faid alwayes, that thou woldeft enter
and be obedient. In the tyme of king Hen-
rietheeght,whenby Tyndale,Frith,ByI-
nay,and other his faithful 1 feruantcs God
calledEngladto drefTe his vineyard, many
promifed full faire,whome I could name-
But what frutefolowed3 nothing but bit-
ter grapes, yea breeres and brambles, the
wormewood of auarice, the gall ofcruel-
tie,thepoifo of filthiefornicatio, flox/ing
from head to foote,thecontemptof God

TO ENGLAND
and open defenfe of the Cake Idol byo-
pe proclamatio to be red in the Churches
in the Head orgoddes fcripturcs.Thus was
there no reformation, but a deformation
inthetyme of that tyrant and lecherous
mofter. The bore I grate was bufie wroo-
ting ad digging in theearth,ad all his pig
ees,that folowed hy m.Buc they foght on-
ly for the pleafac frutes, that they winded
with their longe fnowtes. And for their
own bellies fake they wrooted vp many
weedsjbut they turned thegroude fo3mig
ling good ad baddtogither, fweteand fo
Kjngt wre? medecine, ad poyfon, they made, I- ■
Henry hh (ayt(Uch cofufio ofreligio and lawes,that
bo\e a- no good thing could grow, but by great
gainfl miracle,vnderfuchGurdners.Andnomer
Lu.t\TTtt Uail,ifit be rig htlyco(idered:for this bore
noted* raged againit God,againftDeuill,againfl
Chrift and againft Antichrift,as the fome
thathecaftowtagainft Luther.the racing
furthofthename ofthcPope,and yetalo
wig his lawsj5d his murtherof many Chri
itianfouldiours,and of many papiftes, do
clearly ad cuidetly teftifie vnto vs.Efpeci-
ally the burnig of Barnes, Ierome,ad Gar
rat three faithfulpreachersof the trueth,&
Jiagigthefamedayformaintainaceofthe
PopePowel, Abel,andFether(lone, doth
clearly paynr h is beafllynes,that he cared
for no manerof rcligio.This moftrousbo
re for al this muft nedes be called the head

^AND S COT L^i NT) 70

of the Churche inpaine of treafon, dif-
placingChrift our onlie head, who oghc
alone to haue this title.Whereforc inthis
pointe(oEngland)yewere no better then
the Romiflie Antichrift, who by the fame
title maketh hym felfea God,fittcth in
menescofciences,binyfheththewordeof
God,as did your king Herie,whome ye fo
magnifie.Forinhis belt time nothing was
hard, but the kings booke,ad the kings sp-
eedings,thekinges homelies in the Chur-
ches,wheregoddes word fhouldonely ha-
ue bene preached. So made you your kig a
God beleuing nothig,but that he alowed.
But how he died, I will not write for fha-
me. I will not name how he turned to his
vomet.I wi 1 1 not write your other wicked
nesofthofetimes,yourmurthers without
meafure, adulteries and inceftcs of your
kinge,his Lordes,aud comunes.lt greueth
mctowritethofe euilsof my coutrie,faue
onlie that I muft ncdes declare , what fru-
teswere foude inthe vineyarde after you
promifed to worke therin,to mouc you to
repentance, and to iufti fie Godds iudge-
ments,howgreuou fly fo euer he (nail pla-
ge you hereafter. Wherefore I dedre you
to call to remebrance y our beft ftate v nder •
king Edward, when all men with gen erall
cofet promifed to worke in the vineyarde,
and ye (hall haue caufe I doubte not to la-
met your wickednes, that fo contened th*

TO ENGLAND

voice of God for your owne luftes,for
your crueltic , for your couetoufnes, that
the name of God was by your vanities e-
uillfpoken of in other nations. I will na-
me no particulare thinges, becaus I reue-
rence thofe tymes, faue only the killing
of both the kinges vncles,and the prifon-
nementofHoperforpopiftiegarments.
God graunt you all repentant heartcs, for
no order nor ftate did any part of his due-
tie in thofe dayes. But to fpeak of the beft,
whereof ye vfe to boafl, your religion
was but an Engliflimatyns, patched fur-
the of the popes portcflc,many thinges
were in your great booke fuperfticious ad
fool ifhe, all Were driuen to a prefcripte
feruice lykc thepapiftes, that they mould
thinke theyr dueties difcharged,if theno-
bre were faid of pfalmes and chapters. Fi-
nally there could no difcipiine be broght
into the Churche,nor correction of ma-
ners. I will touche no further abufes,yet
willing and defiering you to confider the
in your heartes,that knowing your negli-
gence ye may bring furth frutes of repen-
tance.ForthisIadmonifheyou (oyepeo-
pleof England)wherefoeueryou be fcat-
tered or placed,that onles ye do right fpe-
dcly repent of your former negligence, it
is not the Spanyardes only, that ychauc
to feare,as roddes of goddes wrath,but all

other

iAND SCOT L^iN D. 71

other nations, France , Turkie, and Den-
marke, yea all creatures fhall be armed a-
gainft you for the contempt of thofety-
mes,when your heauenlie father fo merci-
fullie called you. To what contempt was
goddeswordeand the admonition of his
prophetei comme in all eftates, before
God did ftryke,fomme men are not igno-
rant. The preachers them felues for the
moft part could fynd no fault in religion,
but that theChurche was poore and lac-
ked liuing.Trueth it is, that theabbay la-
des and other fuch reuenues, as afore ap-
pertained to the papiftical Churche, were
moft wickedly and vngodly fpentjbut yet
many thinges would haue bene reformed,
before that the kitching had bene better
guided for to our prelates in England. It
was mofte euidet, that many of you vnder
theclokeof religion ferued your own bel
lies-.fommewerefobufieto heap benefice
vpon benefice,fome to labourin parlamet
for purchefing of lands, that the tymc was
fmall,which coulde be founde for there-
formation of abufes, and very litle, which
was fpent vpon the feeding of your floc-
kes. I nedc not now to examine particular
crimes of preachers. Only I fay,that the
Ghofpell was fo lightly eftemed ,that the
moft part of men thoght rather, that God
mould bow and obey to theyr appetites.

Td ENGLAND

then that they fhould be fubied to his h^
lie commaundementes. For the commu-
nes did continew inmalice,and rebellion,
incraft and fubtikic, notwithstanding all
lawes, that could be deuifed for reforma-
tionof abufes. Themerchants had their
own foules to fell for gaines, the gentle-
men were becomme Nerods and Gyants,
andthenobilitieand coufile would fuffer
no rebukes of Gods meflegers thogh theyr
offenfeswere neuer fo manifeft. Lettho-
fe 3 that preached in the court, the lent be-
fore king Edward deceafed,ipeak theyr
confeience, and accufc me, if I lie, yea let
* writing written by that miferablc man,
then duke of Northumberland to mafter
Harlow for that time Byfhoppeof Har-
ford,be broght to lighte, and it fhall tefti-
£e,thathe alhamednot to fay, that the li-
bertie of the preachers tonges would
caufc the counfile and nobilitie to ryfe
vppe againft them:for they could not fuf-
fer fo to be intreated. Thefe were the fru-
teseueninthetymeof harueft a litle be-
fore the winter came. And of the tyme of
Marie what fhould I write? England is
now fo miferable,that no pennecan paynt
it. Itceafcth to be in thenombcr of chil-
dren, becaufe it openly difpiteth God the
father. It hathcaft of thetructh knowen
and confeffed,and folowcthlies and er-

rours,

^HT> SCOTLAND. jz

rours, which once it detefted. Itbuyldeth
the buy lding, which it once deftroyedrit
raifethvp the idolsjwhich once we're the-
re confounded:it murthereth the fain&es,
it maintcineth Baals propheresby theco-
maundementof Iefabel. Such are the cuil
hufbandes, that now hauntc the vineyard,
fo that this is true3that ourSauiour Chrift
faicrh:

The Lord hymfelfe hath plan-
ted a faire vineyard , he hedged it
round about, and buylded a tou-
re,&c.And when the tymeof the
frute drew nere, he fent his fer-
uantsto thetilmento receyue the
frutes thereof , but they caught
his fcruantes, they bctt one, they
killed an other, and ftoned o-
thers. Againe he fent other fer-
uantes mo, and theyferued them
likewife.

"What nede any expofition to ap-
plic this vnto England ? Ail is fulfilled,
that isfpokenin that parable, onles they
dowaite for the fonnc hym felfe, for to
comme, that they may handle hym lyke-
wife, asthey haue done his feruantes. But
all is onejfaieth our Sauiour Chrift,

TO ENGLAND

Thatjwhichyedotooneofthe-
Jtat.il. fe i jtje on$5 tjlc ^ame ye ^0 tQ me^

be it good or bad.VVhy doeft thou per
fecutcmc, faiethChrift to Saul, when
hcwas,as he now is, at the right hand of
God his father in the heauens. Therefore
they perfecutc , they banifhe , they burne
Chrift the fonne of God in his mem-
bres. The iudgement therefore now re-
maineth, which the wicked then gaue a-
gainftthcmfelues,

That the Lord of the vineyar-
de will cruelly deftroy thofe euill
perfons , and will let furth his vi-
neyarde vnto other hufbandes.

And the confirmation of the fame by
the fentence of the chefe judge , that
The kingdomeofGodfhall be
taken from fuch , and geuen to a
people, that fhall bringe furth
the frutes thereof.

The which iudgement is begonne in
Englande, and fhortly alas will be fully
executed and finifhed without right fpe-
die repentance. Somme hope is in Scot-
land, which hath not (hewed furth any
fuch crueltie, and hath not contemned the
knowen trcafures:but lykewanton chil-
dren

>AND SCOTLAND. ?j

dren haue contemned the commaunde-
mentoftheyr father, pattely of frailtic,
partcly of ignorance. But Englad the fer-
uante, that knew the will of his Lord and
rnaifter, which was once lightened with
moft clere beames, which hath tafted of
the fwetcnes of the worde of God, and of
theioyesofthe worlde to comme, which
hath abiured Antichrift, and all idolatrie,
which hath boafled to proferfc Chrift
with greate boldnes before all the worl-
de,muft be beaten with many ftripes,it
cannotbeauoided.

But to be fhorte this only remaineth
forbothe thefe nations, that they repent
and returne into the vineyarde with the
fyrft fonne. For neither fliall ignorance
excufe any land or nation, as is playniri
the fyrft to the Romanes, neither can any
people be receyued without thefrutesof
repentance,as lohn Baptiftproclaimeth.
The frutes of repentance I call not only
to know your fynnes,and to lament them,
but to amend your liues, and to make
i^rcg ht the Lordes pat hes by refitting Sa-
tan and fynne,and obeying God in doing
the workes of righteoufnes, and execu-
ting g oddes precepts. and iudgementes,fb
longe amongeft you contemned.

Forcuen now is the axe put to Mat.
K i

TO ENGLAND

the f oote of the trec,fo that eueritf
tree , that bringeth not furthc
goode frute , (Vialbe hewe downe,
and caft into the ficr. The Lord
hath nOw his fahnein hishande,
and will purge his flore, ad gather
the wheate into his garner, but
will burne the chaffe with vnque-
chablefier.

Repent therefore, whiles ye haue ty-
me, before ye be fanned, hewe downe and
fiercd. When I do behold both your two
rcalmes,! fccthefanne,I fee the axe. But
this I am fuer is the begynnyng of your
ruine,that ye do mary with Grangers, and
giueyour power to forraine nations, fuch
as fcarc not God, but are open idolaters,
blafphemers, perfecuters of the fain&s of
God, that careth neither for hcauennor
hell, God nor dcuill,fo that they may
wynne landes,townes and countries. God
Jhall hew you downe by the therefore , a*
he hath done other nations by likemea-
nesand caufes,and they (hall fanne you
furtheofyourownhufkes and homes, to
make you vagaboundes and beggars, and
after poflefle your land cs and goods, as
God threatned by Mofes,as was before

alledged.

^iND SCOTLAND. 7^

alledgcd. Truftnotto thy ftrengthe af-j
terwarde,when thy enncmy is fetled, if (
thou haue no ftrengthe to reiift hisbegyn-
nynges,no more the thou canft ouercomc
acanker,thathath oucrrunncmany mem-
bres. That God would not haue you to
trufte to your force of men,townes, orca-
ftels, there is enough exaples, that you bo-
the haue felt toyourgrefe. And I waAnot
write without murnyng.For how litle a-
uayled the multitude, and ftowt courtage
of you ( dear Brethre of Scotlad) att Muf-
felburghjorPinkefieldjthecarcaiesalasof
many thoufandsj who that day fell in the
edge of the fworde, may teach you. And
how vaine be all ftrcngthes, (be they iud-
ed neuer fo ftronge,or inexpugnable}
ettCalice lately taken admonifli you.
But I do leaue fuch exaples to your confe-
derations to tcacheyou to call to the li-
uinge Lord, whooffereth hym felfe, as a
mercifull father vnto you ,ftill calling
you to repentance by wordes, by writin-
ges,and moft gentle corrections, if ye
will not be harde harted*

Yet here haue we to lamet the mifera-
ble ftate of makynde, which is fo feduced
bv the fubtileferpct,that he can not know
his miferie,when he is admonifhed, nor
perccauchis perdition, when it draweth
fo ncre. ^'hen the feruantes of God fet
K 1

I

TO ENGLAND

furthe his trueth,they arecharged to trou
ble realmcs, and countries, as was Elias;
when they warnemennot to ioync han-
des with wicked kinges and princes, they
ace counted traitours, as was Efaias and
Icremias. Such is mannes malice. But
if there be a God, that is fyrft of all to be
foght,and without whome nothing can
be profitable vnto vs,but without h) m all
thinges are vnhappie and accurfed : if
thekingdomeofGodand the righteouf-
nes thereof muft fyrit be foght,and then
all thinges fhal I be miniftred.ifourhea-
uenlie kinge muft before man be obeyed,
then all fuch doctrine, as calleth vs from
man to God, is eafie to be perceaued, and
oght not to be rcfifted. Wherefore I do
admonifh and exhorte you bothe in the
name oftbeIiuingeGod,that how foeuer
you haue hitherto {hewed yourfelues the
feruants of men to beare and to flatter
with the worlde,that now ye Jearne in
goddes caufet^defpifethc faces of men,
to bend your felues againft this wicked
world, neither regarding the vifars of
honours, vaine titles nor dignities any
further,thcnthcyfeke Godhisonelieglo
rie. For his gforie will he not fufter to
be contemned for any caufe. No he will
powre contempt on thofe princes, that
Oriuc againft histrueth: but thofe, that

glorifie

*AVD SCOT L^iNH. 7*

gIoriiiehym,willhe gloririe. And what
kingdome, realme or nation Co euer it be,
that will not fckc to fun&iric his name,
they fliall in the day of goddcs greuous
visitation , which is now at hand , be vtter
]yc6founded,theyrftregth flialbeftraw,
tneyr honours (hall be {hame,and all their
idolatrous preeftes, in whofe lies they
delyte, togither with their idols, with
whome they are bewitched, fliall beftub-
bleand brymftone to burne togither,whe
the wratheof the Lordeof hoftcs fliall fee
themonrier. The preeftes (hall not faue
theyr goddes,northe goddes their wor-
shippers,but both alike accurfed fhallthe
perifliforeuer.And thogheourmercifull
father hathelonge fuffred heretofore in
the tymeof ignorace, yet now in the endc
oftheworldhecalleth all people foplai-
nelybyhis worde to repentance, that he
muft nedes take fpedie vengeance, if his
callinge be contemned: efpccially becau-
fe the day can not longe be delayed, whe-
rein he h^ath determined to iudge all peo-
ple and nations of the whole world, and
to put a*n end to wickednes.

Wherefore to concludo,behold,your
onlieremedie remaintth to repent your
tyme of ignorace,of ltubburnnes,of cruel
tie, ofidolatrie, wherein ye haue fo long
continued. And now with all diligence
K j

TO ENgi^tND

to feke for fcnolledge of the worde of
God,and opely to profeffe the Ghofpell,
which is the power of God, whereof ye
oght not to be afhamed.Ceafe at the laft
from your oldeftubburnnes,wherbie ye
haue deferucd vengeance, and labour in
the vineyarde with all mekenes,that ye
may receaue mercie and gracerceafe from
your crueltie againft Chriftes membres,
and learne to fuffer for Chriftes fake, if
ye willbetrueChriftians.-banifheallido-
latrie and popifhe fuperftition from a-
mongefl you, els can yc haue no parte in
Chriftes king dome, no more then Chrift
can be partaker with Antichrift. Pray to
the Lorde of hoftes and armies to giue
you thccourrage, ftrengthe, and meancs.
The Lords arme is not (hortencd now, no
morethenofolde.Beftrongethereforein
the Lord for the defence of the trueth,
thogh all the wo ride ry fe agaift itt. Now
when the battaileis fierce againft the li-
uinge God for dead idols, ( euen for the
vile wafercake ,the moft vaine idol, that
cucrwas) againft the Ghofpcl of Chrifte
fortheinuentions of Antichrift , againft
Chriftes mebres for Popifhe ceremonies,
can any of you , that wilbecompted gods
children,ftyll halt of bothehandes?If that
cake baked in yron tonges,not able to a-
by de a blaflfbf winde^be (he eternal God,

folow

>AND SCOT LsAN Z> jt

folow it : but if he only be God, that hath
created theheauens,abhorre fuchevilei-
dols, that haue no force to faue the felues:
ifChriftes Ghofpel anddo&rine befuf-
ficientto faluation,and by receauing of it
ye arecailed Chriftians,away with all An
tichriftcs inuentions brog lit into your Ro
mifli churches: if you hope to haue any
parte with Chri{t,cherime his rhebres and
maintaine the againft theireennemies the
papiftes,ad thebifhoppe of Rome the vcric
Antichrifte. What ftrengthe, what force,
what power, whatcoufil fo cuer ye haue of
God,bendealltothisendeandpurpofe,as
yewyll make anfwere to your heauelykig
for the talent receaued. If you haue no re-
ardeofthofeprlcipalpointcsjwhichon-
y, or chiefly mould be before your eyes,
go to with your forraine manages, ioyne
Frace to Scotlad, and Spayne to Eng land,
if it bepoiTible, yet (hall ye all beconfoun
ded. The Lord mall plage you one with
an other, vntill you be confumed,your
{tregth, wherein ye truft, mall be make to
naught, yourcourragefhalbecowardifc,
yourwifdomfliallbcfoIie,adthe Lord of
hoftes by your rufnead deftruclio will be
renowmedadpraifed,adhisiurt iudgemets
through owt the earth malbe honoured ad
feared. Vhere of the contraric if you will
maintaine Gods trueth in the cart he, he'
K 4

I

TO sn qtun D
will receaueyou as his children into the
heauens, if you confefife his Chrifte befo-
re this wicked generation,Chrift fhall con
feflfe you before his father in the heauen$,
jn the prefeceof his angels.But if you per-
{lfteilubburnly tobaniflie goddes wordc,
and his fonne Chrift in his membres furth
ofyourearthliekyngdomes,howcayelo-
ke for any parte in his heauelie kingdome?
muchemore if yecontinuetomurtherhis
meflfigersjwhat ca ye Ioke for emogftyour
felues,but that ye fhoulde diggeonel ano-
thers bellieto be your own murtherers?So
thatifyewilftilremaineaftcrallthefead-
monitios in your murthers and idolatries,
befucr,that in this worldc yc fhall haue
enogheof your idolatries, and you fhalbc
filled vcith blooddy murthers aud in the
end yefhallbe iudged without the
% eueUu gates of the hcuenlie Icrufalem a-
mongeft the dogges, enchaunters,
hoorem5gers and murtherers and
idolaters with all thofe,that lo-
ueth lies. But he, that ouercom-
meth all thefc,fhall inherit all thin
%es> and I will be his God,faieth
the Lord, and he fhall be my fon-
ne. Where as the fe are full in gods

caufe

*4ND SCOTLAND. 77

caufe,the vnbeleuing,the abomi-
nable, the murtherers, hooremon-
fers, forcerers and idolaters inall
aue their parte in the lake, that
burncth with fier and brymftone.

Lo here is the choife of life and deache, of
miferie and welthe offred vnco you by
gods mercies, and the meanes how yow
may winne goddes fauour opened,wherc~
bieonely ye may preuaile againftyouren
nemies.Godgrauteyou heartes toanf^er
as the people did to Iofua offering the ly-
kechoyfe. Godforbyd ( fay they) tojkzq,
that wefhoulde forfakeGod, we
will feme the LordeourGodand
obey hisvoice, for he his our God.
And we your banifhed brethren by the
power of God to prouoke you forward,
will thus pronounce wi th Iofua.

That we and our families will
ferue the Lorde God, thogheall
natios runne to Idols, thogheall peo
le do perfecute vs. We knowe that Satan
athebuta fhorte tyme to rage, and that^
Chrifte our captainc right fpedely will"
crownehisfouldiours, towhome, as he is
theeternal God with his father,be all ho-
nour and gloric for euer and euer. So be it.

I

iOHN K^NOXZ TO THe

UADEI.

Ecaufe many are offended

at the rlrft blaft of the trompett,
in whiche Iafr*irme,thatto pro-
mote a woman to beare rule, or empire a-
boueany realme, nation or citie, is repu-
gnant to nature,contumelic to God,and a
thing mofte contrarioufe tohisreuealed
and approued ordenacc.and becaufe alfo,
thatfommehathpomifed(aslvnderftad)
a confutation of the fame, I haue delayed
the fccond blaft, till fuche tyme as their
reafons appere, by the which I either may
be reformed in opinion, or els ftiall haue
further occafion more fimply and plainly
to vtter my Judgement. Yet in the mcane
tyme for the difcharge of my confeienee,
and for auoy ding fufpitio, whiche might
be in^endred by reafon of my filence, I
could not ceafe to notifie thefe fubfequent
propo(itios,which by Gods grace I purpo
fe to entreate in the fecod blaft promifed.

1 It is not birth oncly nor propin
. quitieofblood,that maketh a kige lawful
ly to reign aboue a people profefTing
Chrifte Ieius, and his eternall vcritie, but
in his ele&ion mnft the ordenancc,which
God hath eftablifhcd, in the elc&ion of

inferiour

78

inferiour iudges be obferued.

i No manifcft idolater nor noto-

rioufe tranfgrefTor of gods holie preceptes
ogh t to be promoted to any publike rcgi-
metjhonour or dignitie in any realme,pro
uinceor citie,thathath fubiectcd thefelf
to Chrifte Iefus and to his bleffed Euagil.

3 Neither can othenor promefle
bynd any fuch people to obey and main-
teintyrantes againft God and againft his
trueth knowen.

4 But if either rafhely theyhaue
promoted any manifeft wicked perfonne,
or yet ignorantly haue chofen fuche a one,
as after declarethhifelf vnworthieofregi
ment aboue the people of God (and fuche
be ail idolaters and cruel perfecuters) mo-
fteiuftelymay the fame men depofe and
punifhehi,that vnaduyfedly before they
did nominate, appoint and elette-

JVL^i T T H. VI.

If the eye be (ingle,the whole
body fhalbe dere.

PSALME OF DAVID

X C 1 1 1 1, turned in to metre,

by W. Kethe.

OLorde fith vengeance doth to thee,
and to none els belonge:
Nowftiowethy feif(oLordeoureGod)
with fpede reuenge oure wronge.

Arifethow great iudgeof the worlde,

and haue at length regarde,
Thatastheprowdedeferueand do,

thow wilt them fo rewarde.

•

How longe (o Lorde) flial I wicked men

triumphe thy flock to flea?
Yea Lorde,how Ionge3For they triumphe

as thoghe,who now but they.

Ho w longe (ball wicked doers fpcake?

their great difdaine we fe,
Whofe boaftig prowd doth feem to threat

no fpeach but theirs to be.

O Lorde they fmite thy people downe,

not fparingeyonge oroide:
Thine heritage they fo torment,

as Grange is to beholde.

The widdowe and the ftranger both
they murthcr cruelly:
T lie fatherlcfTe they put to death
and caufc they know none why.

79
And vet faye they:tuflie,tuflie, the Lords

(hall not beholde this dedc,
Ne yet will Iacobs God reuolue

thethinges by vs decreed.

But now take hede ye men vnwife,

amonge the folke that dwell:
Yefooles(Ifaye)when willyewaye

or vnderftand this well?

He that the eare did plante and place,

(hall he be flowe to hcarc?
Or he that made the eye to fee,

fhall he not feemoft clere?

Or he that whipte the hethen folke,

and knolledgeteacheth men,
To nurture fuch, as went aftrayc,

fhall he not punilhe then?

The Lorde oure God,who ma did frame-,
his very thoghts dothknowe,

And that they are but vile and vaineB
to him is knowne alfo.

Butblcfled is thatman(o Lorde)
whom thou doelt bringe in awe*

And teacbefte him by this thy rodd
to louc and feare thy lawe.

That patience thou mayfte him geue

in tyme of troubles great,
Vntill the put be digged vp

th'ungodly for to eate.

For why,the Lorde will neuer fay le

his people,whiche him loue;
Ne yet forfakehis hcritauncc,

whiche he doth ftill approue,

Till righteoufnes to iudgement turne,

as itmuftbeindede,
And fuch as be full true in hearte

to folowe it with fpede.

Who now will vp and rife with me

againft this wycked bande?
Or who againft thefe workers ill
on my parte ftowte will ftande?

Yf that the Lorde had not me holpt,

Dowteleflc it had bene done,
To witt,my foule in filence broght,

and fomy foes had wonne.

Butthogh my foote did fwiftly Aide,

Yet when I did it tell,
Thy mercie( Lorde) fo heldeme vp,

that I therewith not fell.

For in theheapes of forrowes fharpe,

that did my hearte opprefle,
Thy comfortes were to me fo greatc,

they did my foule refrefhe.

Wilte thow( vaine man )haue ought to do
with that moft wicked chaire,

Thatmufethmifchicfasalawe
with out remorfe orfeare?

So

Againft thefoulcs of righteous men

they all with fpedc conuent,
And there the giltlefle blood condemned ]

with one moll vileconfent.

But my refuge is to the Lordc
in all thefe daungers deepe,
And God the flrength is of my trade,
who allwaies dothe me keepe.

Hefhall rewarde their wickednefTe,

and in their wrathe them kill,
Yea,them deftroye fhall God oureLordes

tor he borhc can and will.

JF / fi I S .

\*

p

V

m v.

^^^Xt^A-i******^^^^^^

KNOX (John). The Appellation
most uniust sentence pronoune
and clergie of Scotland, with
the nobilitie, estates, and com
at Geneua, M.D.LVIII.

Sm. 8vo., chiefly Roman le
uncut ; dark blue levant moroc

The book was possibly pri

!

f Iohn Knoxe From the cruell and

against him by the false bishoppes

is supplication and exhortation to

i altie of the same realme. Printed

r, a fine copy with some lower edges
extra, gilt edges, by Bedford

Geneva, 1558
lid by J. Pullain and A. Reboul.

^A^lifl^il^. . kWAAJk.