Church of Scotland; Knox, John, approximately 1514-1572; Reformation -- Scotland; Theology -- Early works to 1800
_Secundlie_, Seing that the Sacramentis of Jesus Chryst are
maist schamefullie abusit and prophanit by that Romane
harlot and hir sworne vassallis; and alssua because that the
treu disciplyne of the ancient Kirk is utterlie now amangis
that sect extinguischeit: for quha within the Realme are
mair corrupt of lyff and maneris than are thay that are
callit the Clergye, living in huredome, adultery, defloring
virgeinis, corrupting matronis, and doing all abominatioun,
without feir of punischement; We humbillie thairfoir desyre
youre Honouris to fynd remedy against the ane and the
uther.
_Thirdlie_, Because that Man of Syn often maist falslie
clames to him self the titillis of "The Vicare of Chryst;
the successour of Peter; the heid of the Kirk; that he can
not err; that all power is grantit unto him," &c., by the
quhilk usurpit authoratie, he taikis upoun him the
distributioun and possessioun of the haill patrimony of the
Kirk, quhairby the trew Ministeris of the word of God lang
tyme hes bene altogidder neglectit, the godlie learning
dispysit, the sculeis not providit, and the poore not onlie
defraudit of thair portioun, but alssua tyrannouslie
oppressit; We lykwise heirof desyre remedy.
And least that your Honouris sould dowt of any of thir
premisses, we offer oure selfis evidentlie to prove, that in
all the [rabill of the] Clergye thair is not ane lauchfull
minister, gif Godis word, the practise of the Apostillis,
and thair awin ancient Lawis, sall judge of lauchfull
electioun. We farther offer oure selfis to prove thame all
thevis and murtheraris, yea, rebellis and tratouris to the
lauchfull authoritie of Empriouris, Kyngis, and Prenceis;
and thairfor unworthy to be sufferrit in any Reformeit
Commonwealth. Quhow malitiouslie thay have murtherit oure
brethren, for na uther cause, bot for that thay offerrit to
us the licht of Godis word, your Honouris can not be
ignorant; and in quhat hasard thair tyrranie hes brocht this
haill Realme, the ages after will considder. Gif ye luik of
thame any uther fruit in tymeis cuming, than ye have sene in
thame quham we accuse, we ar assurit ye sall be desavit. Now
hes God, beyond all expectatioun of man, maid youre selfis,
quha sum tymeis war suppliantis with us for Reformatioun,
jugeis, as it war, in the caus of God. At least he hes
subdewit your ennemeis unto you, that by violence thay ar
nocht abill to suppress the veritie, as heirtofoir thay haif
done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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