The appellation of John Knox from the cruel and most iniust sentence pronounced against…The appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and most iniust sentence pronounced against…

grounding I say his appellation ⟨p. 11⟩upon these reasons, he neither regarded the displeasure of Festus, neither yet the brute of the ignorant multitude, but boldly did appeal from all cognition of them to the judgement of the Emperor, as said is. By these two examples I doubt not but your honours do understand, that lawful it is to the servants of God oppressed by tyranny to seek remedy against the same, be it by appellation from their sentence, or by imploring the help of civil Magistrates. For what God hath approved in Jeremiah and Paul, he can condemn in none that likewise be entreated. I might allege some histories of the primitive Church serving to the same purpose: as of Ambrose and Athanasius, of whom the one would not be judged but at Milan, where that is doctrine was hard of all his Church and received and approved by many: and the other would in no wise give place to those councils, where he knew that men conspired against the trueth of God should sit in judgement and consultation. But because the Scriptures of God are my only foundation and assurance in all matters of weight and importance, I have thought the two former testimonies sufficient, aswell to prove my appellation reasonable and just, as to declare to your honours that with safe conscience ye can not refuse to ⟨image 12⟩admit the same. If any think it arrogance or foolishness in me to compare my self with Jeremiah and Paul, let the same man understand that as God is immutable, so is the verity of his glorious Evangel of equal dignity,¹ whensoever it is impugned, be the members suffering never so weak. What I think touching mine own person, God shall reveal when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and such as with whom I have been conversant, can partly witness, what arrogance or pride they espy in me. But touching the doctrine and cause which that adulterous and pestilent generation of Antichrists servants (who will be called Bishops amongst you) have condemned in me, I neither fear nor shame to confess and avow before man and Angel to be the eternal trueth of the eternal God. And in that case I doubt not to compare my self with any member in whom the trueth hath been impugned sense the beginning. For as it was the trueth which Jeremiah did preach in these words,