A04923:42
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…
The appellation of John Knox from the cruel and most iniust sentence pronounced against him by the false bishops and clergy of Scotland, with his supplication and exhortation to the nobility, estates, and co[m]munaltie of the same realm.The appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and most iniust sentence pronounced against him by the false bishoppes and clergie of Scotland, with his supplication and exhortation to the nobilitie, estates, and co[m]munaltie of the same realme.
Geneva: printed by J. Poullain and A. Rebul?, 1558
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.
Of the premisses it is evident that to lawful powers is given the sword for punishment of malefactors, for maintenance of innocents, and for the profit and utility of their subjects. Now let us consider, whether the reformation of religion fallen in decay, and punishment of false teachers do appertain to the civil Magistrate and nobility of any realm. I am not ignorant that Satan of old time for maintenance of his darkness hath obtained of the blind world two chief points.1 Former, he hath persuaded to Princes, rulers, and magistrates, that the feeding of Christs flock appertaineth nothing to their charge, but that it is rejected upon the Bishops, and estate ecclesiastical: and secondarily that the reformation of religion, be it never so corrupt and the punishment of such, as be sworn soldiers in their king dome, are exempted from all civil power and are reserved to them selves, and to their own cognition. But that no offender can justly ⟨p. 18⟩be exempted from punishment, and that the ordering and reformation of religion with the instruction of subjects, doth especially appertain to the civil Magistrate, shall God's perfect ordinance, his plain word, and the facts and examples of those that of God are highly praised, most evidently declare.
Of the premisses it is euident that to lawfull powers is geuen the sworde for punyshement of malefactors, for maintenance of innocents, and for the profitt and vtilitie of theyr subiects. Now let vs consider, whether the reformation of religion fallen in decay, and punyshement of false teachers do appertaine to the ciuile Magistrate and nobilitie of any realme. I am not ignorant that Satan of old tyme for mentainance of his darknes hath obtained of the blynd world two chefe points.1 Former, he hath persuaded to Princes, rulers, and magistrates, that the feeding of Christes flock appertaineth nothing to theyre charge, but that it is reiected vpon the Byshoppes, and estate ecclesiasticall: and secondarelie that the reformation of religion, be it neuer so corrupt and the punishement of such, as be sworne souldiers in theyre king dome, are exempted from all ciuile power and are reserued to them selues, and to theyre own cognition. But that no offender can iustly ⟨p. 18⟩