An answer to a letter of a Jesuit named Tyrie, be John KnoxAn answer to a letter of a Iesuit named Tyrie, be Iohne Knox

He first taunts and mocks us and our Kirk, calling it your invisible Kirk of Scotland. Secondly he affirmeth, that the Kirk whereof the Prophet speaks shall be manifest and visible through all the world. And for his proof alleges y• second Chap. of the Prophet Isai. And last he concludes in these words. Wherefore if ye can not show in what place of the world, afore three hundred year, your Kirk was into: It followeth of necessity that it is no Kirk.

He first tauntis and mockis vs and our Kirk, calling it your inuisible Kirk of Scotland. Secundly he affirmeth, that the Kirk whereof the Prophet speakes shalbe manifest and visible through all ye world. And for his profe alledges y• secūd Chap. of the Prophet Isai. And last he cōcludes in these wordes. Wherefore if ye can not shaw in what place of ye world, afoir thre hūdreth yeare, your Kirk was into: It followeth of necessitie that it is no Kirk.

To these heads we must answer in order, and first we will pray the writer in his next answer, to signify unto us, why he ⟨image 18⟩calleth the Kirk of Scotland invisible: seeing that the ground and the persons inhabitant within the same are subject to the senses of all those that list to look upon them: yea, the doctrine taught unto us is so patent, that the very enemies them selves are not forbidden to hear and to judge of it. And finally the administration of the Sacraments within our Kirks are so public, that none justly can complain, that they are either debarred from hearing or from sight. And therefore howsoever it pleaseth the writer to delight him self in his own vanity, we fear not to affirm, That the Kirk of god within Scotland this day, is as visible, as ever it was in Jerusalem ▪ after that Christ Jesus ascended to y• heavens, or as that it was visible in Samaria after that it received •he Evangel: Yea, we will further affirm, that y true Kirk of Jesus Christ is as visible, yea, & as beautiful in all her proper ornaments this day, within the Realm of Scotland, as ever she was in Corinthus, Galatia, Philippi (yea or yet in Rome it self) what time that any of the Apostles ruled them: or that when they were saluted be the Apostle in his Epistles for Kirks. And this