A04917:44
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The admonition was this / that the last trumpet was in blowing within the realm of England / and therefore ought every man to prepare him for battle / for if the trumpet should cease / and be put too silence / then should it never again blow with like force in England / till the coming of the Lord Jesus. O dear brethren / how ⟨image 22⟩sore these threatenings pierceth my own hart this day / only God knoweth / & in what agony of heart I write this same / God shall declare / when the secretes of all hearts shall be disclosed. I wish my self to be accursed of God / as touching all earthly pleasure or comfort for one year of that time / which (alas) neither you nor I did righteously esteem / when all abounded with us. I sob and groan / I call and I pray / that in that point I may be deceived. But I am commanded to stand content / for it is God him self / that performeth the words of his true messengers / his justice & order can not be perverted. The sun keepeth his ordinary course / and leapeth not back from the West to the South / but when it goeth down we lack the light of it till it rise the next day towards the East again. And so is it w•th the light of the gospel / which hath his day appointed by God / 1as witnesseth Christ saying while ye have the light / believe in the light / that darkness apprehend you not.2 And Paul / the night is passed / & the day is come (meaning of the gospel) & also this day / if you hear his voice harden not your hearts. And albeit that this day be all time from Christs incarnation / till his last coming again.3 Yet evident it is / that all nations hath not had at one scion the light of God's word. But by the contrary most evident it is / that where the light of the gospel for mans unthankfulness / hath ben taken away / there is it not to this day yet restored again / witness hole Israel / & all the congregations of the gentiles where Christ was first preached by the apostles. ⟨image 23⟩What is in Asia? ignorance of God / what in Africa?