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
The day approaching, the said John took the text written in Daniel,
the seventh chapter, beginning thus: "And another King shall rise
after them, and he shall be unlike unto the first, and he shall
subdue three kings, and shall speak words against the Most High, and
shall consume the saints of the Most High, and think that he may
change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hands until
a time, and times, and dividing of times."
1. In the beginning of his sermon, he shewed the great love of God
towards His Church, whom it pleaseth Him to forewarn of dangers to
come, many years before they come to pass. 2. He briefly treated of
the state of the Israelites, who then were in bondage in Babylon
for the most part; and made a short discourse concerning the four
Empires, the Babylonian, the Persian, that of the Greeks, and that
of the Romans; in the destruction whereof rose up that last Beast,
which he affirmed to be the Roman Church,--for all the notes that
God hath shewn to the prophet do appertain to none other power
than has ever yet been, except to it alone, and unto it they do so
properly appertain, that such as are not more than blind may clearly
see them. 3. But before he began to open the corruptions of the
Papistry, he defined the true Kirk, shewed the true notes of it,
whereupon it was builded, why it was the pillar of truth, and why
it could not err, to wit, "Because it heard the voice of its own
pastor, Jesus Christ, would not hear a stranger, neither yet would
be carried about with every kind of doctrine."
Every one of these heads sufficiently declared, he entered on the
contrary proposition; and, upon the notes given in his text, he
shewed that the Spirit of God in the New Testament gave to this
king other names, to wit, "The Man of Sin," "The Anti-Christ," "The
Whore of Babylon." He shewed that this man of sin, or Anti-Christ,
was not to be restricted to the person of any one man only, no
more than by the fourth beast was to be understood the person of
any one Emperor. But by such means the Spirit of God sought to
forewarn His chosen of a body and a multitude having a wicked head,
who should not only be sinful himself, but should be occasion of
sin to all that should be subject unto him,--as Christ Jesus, is
cause of justice to all the members of His body. He is called the
Anti-Christ, that is to say, one contrary to Christ, because he is
contrary to Him in life, doctrine, laws, and subjects.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account