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…

As it was a trueth that the pastors and watchmen in the days of Isaiah were become dumb dogs blind, ignorant,¹ proud and avaricious And finally as it was a trueth, that the Princes and the Priests were murderers of Christ Jesus,² and cruel persecutors of his Apostles: so likewise it is a trueth (and that most infallible) that those that have condemned me (the hole rabble of the papistical clergy) have declined from the true faith,³ have given ear to deceivable spirits and to doctrine of devils, are the stars fallen from the heaven to the earth,⁴ are fountains without water:⁵ and finally are enemies to Christ Jesus, deniers of his virtue, and horrible blasphemers of his death and passion. And further as that visible Church had no crime, where of justly they could accuse either the Prophets, either the Apostles, except their doctrine only: so have not such as seek my blood other crime to lay to my charge, except that I affirm, as always I offer ⟨image 13⟩to prove,⁶ that the religion, which now is maintained by fire and sword, is no less contrarious to the true religion taught and established by the Apostles, then is darkness to light, or the Devil to God: and also that such as now do claim the title and name of the Church are no more the elect spouse of Christ Jesus, then was the Synagogue of the Jews the true Church of God what time it crucified Christ Jesus, damned his doctrine and persecuted his Apostles. And therefore seeing that my battle is against the proud and cruel hypocrites of this age, as that battle of those most excellent instruments was against the false Prophets and malignant Church of their ages: neither ought any man think it strange that I compare my self with them, with whom I sustain a common cause, neither ought you my Lords judge your selves less indebted and bound to me calling for your support, then did the Princes of Judah think them selves bound to Jeremiah, whom for that time they delive red notwithstanding the sentence of death pronounced against him by the visible Church. And thus much for the right of my appellation, which in the bowels of Christ Jesus I require your honours not to esteem as a thing superfluous and vain, but that ye admit it, and also accept me in your protection