The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland: With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of DisciplineKnox, John
History
The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland: With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of Discipline
Knox, John
Reformation -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history
And then was begun, "False traitor, heretic, thou didst baptize
thine own bairn. Thou saidst there is no purgatory. Thou saidst
that to pray to saints and for the dead is idolatry and a vain
superstition, and so on. What sayest thou of these things?" He
answered, "If I should be bound to answer, I would require an
upright and indifferent judge." The Earl of Huntly disdainfully
said, "Foolish man, wilt thou desire another judge than my Lord
Duke's Grace, great Governor of Scotland, and my Lords the bishops,
and the clergy here present?" Thereto he answered, "The bishops
can be no judges of me; for they are open enemies to me and to the
doctrine that I profess. And, as for my Lord Duke, I cannot tell if
he has the knowledge that should be in him that should judge and
discern betwixt lies and the truth, the inventions of men and the
true worshipping of God. I desire God's Word," and with that he
produced the Bible, "to be judge betwixt the bishops and me, and
I am content that ye shall all hear. If by this book I shall be
convicted to have taught, spoken, or done, in matters of religion,
anything that repugns to God's will, I refuse not to die; but if I
cannot be convicted, as I am assured by God's Word I shall not be,
then I in God's name desire your assistance, that malicious men
may not execute unjust tyranny upon me." The Earl of Huntly said,
"What a babbling fool this is. Thou shalt get none other judges than
these that sit here." Thereto the said Adam answered, "The good will
of God be done. But be ye assured, my Lord, with such measure as
ye mete to others, with the same measure it shall be meted to you
again. I know that I shall die, but be ye assured that my blood will
be required of your hands."
Alexander Earl of Glencairn, yet alive, then said to the Bishop of
Orkney, and others that sat near him, "Take you yon, my lords of the
clergy; for here I protest, for my part, that I consent not to his
death." And so, without fear, the said Adam prepared to answer. As
to the baptizing of his own child, he said, "It was and is as lawful
to me, for lack of a true minister, to baptize my own child, as it
was to Abraham to circumcise his son Ishmael and his family. And as
for purgatory, praying to saints, and praying for the dead, I have
read both the New and Old Testaments often, but I neither could find
mention nor assurance of them; and, therefore, I believe that they
are but mere inventions of man, devised for covetousness's sake."
"What sayest thou of the Mass?" speired[111] the Earl of Huntly.
He answered, "I say, my Lord, as my Master Jesus Christ says,
'That which is in greatest estimation before men is abomination
before God.'" Then all cried out, "Heresy! heresy!" And so this
simple servant of God was adjudged to the fire; which he patiently
sustained that same afternoon, upon the Castle Hill.
[111] Inquired.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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