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 Friar, somewhat abashed what first to answer, fell into a foul
mire while he wandered about in the mist: for, alleging that we may
not be so bound by the Word, he affirmed that the Apostles had not
received the Holy Ghost when they did write their Epistles; but that
they did ordain the Ceremonies after they received Him. (Few would
have thought that so learned a man would have given so foolish an
answer; and yet it is even as true as that he bare a grey cowl.)
John Knox, hearing the answer, started and said, "If that be true,
I have long been in an error, and I think I shall die therein."
The Sub-prior said to him, "Father, what say ye? God forbid that
ye affirm that; for then farewell the ground of our faith." The
Friar, astonished, made the best shift that he could to correct his
fall; but it could not be. John Knox brought him often again to the
ground of the argument; but he would never answer directly, but ever
fled to the authority of the Kirk. Thereto the said John answered
oftener than once that "the spouse of Christ had neither power nor
authority against the Word of God." Then said the Friar, "If so be,
ye will leave us no Kirk." "Indeed," said the other, "in David I
read that there is a church of the malignants, for he says, '_Odi
ecclesiam malignantium_.' That church ye may have without the Word,
and therein ye may do many things directly fighting against the Word
of God. If ye choose to be of that Church, I cannot impede you.
But, as for me, I will be of none other Church than that which hath
Christ Jesus to be pastor, which hears His voice, and will not hear
a stranger."
In this Disputation many other things were merely skiffed over; for
the Friar, after his fall, could speak nothing to a purpose. For
purgatory he had no better proof than the authority of Virgil in
his sixth Æneid; and the pains thereof to him were an evil wife.
How John Knox answered that and many other things, he did witness
in a treatise that he wrote in the galleys. This contained the sum
of his doctrine and the confession of his faith, and was sent to
his familiars in Scotland; with the exhortation that they should
continue in the truth which they had professed, notwithstanding any
worldly adversity that might ensue. Thus much of the Disputation
have we inserted here, to the intent that men may see how Satan ever
travails to obscure the light; and how God by His power, working in
His weak vessels, confounds his craft and discloses his darkness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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