A04924:13
The copy of a letter, sent to the lady Mary dowager, Regent of Scotland,…The copie of a letter, sent to the ladye Mary dowagire, Regent of Scotland,…
The copy of a letter, sent to the lady Mary dowager, Regent of Scotland, by John Knox in the year. 1556. Here is also a notable sermon, made by the said John Knox, wherein is evidently proved that the mass is and always hath ben abominable before God and idolatryThe copie of a letter, sent to the ladye Mary dowagire, Regent of Scotland, by Iohn Knox in the yeare. 1556. Here is also a notable sermon, made by the sayde Iohn Knox, wherin is euydentlye proued that the masse is and alwayes hath ben abhominable before God and idolatrye
printed by H. Singleton?, 1556
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.
And therefore the most godly princes Josiah, […], & Jehoshaphat,1 se•ing God's fa••or to rest upon them & upon their people, before all things began to reform the religion. For it is as the stomach within the body, which if it be corrupted, of necessity it infecteth the hole mass. And therefore (oft I repeat that which is most necessary) if your grace pretend to reign with Christ Jesus, then it behoveth you to take care over his true religion: the which this day within your realm is so deformed, that ⟨image 10⟩no part of Christs ordinances remain in their first strength & original2 purity, the which, I praise god is less difficile to me to prove then dangerous to speak. And yet neither the one, nor the other I fear partly because the love of life eternal quencheth the terror of temporal death. And partly because I would with saint Paul wish my self accursed from Christ, as touching earthly pleasure, for the salvation of my brethren & illumination 3of your grace. Which thing work & very deed & not bare word & writing shall witness & declare, if I may purchase the liberty of tongue but forty days only. I am not ignorant how dangerous a thi• it appeareth to the natural man to in n••ate any thing in matters of religion.4 And partly I consider that your gr. power is not so free as a public reformation perchance would require.
And therfore ye moste godly princes Iosias, 〈…〉, & Iosaphat,1 se•ing goddes fa••or to rest vpon them & vpon their people, before all thinges began to reforme the religion. For it is as the stomake within ye body, whiche if it be corrupted, of necessitie it infecteth ye hole masse. And therfore (oft I repete that which is most necessary) if your grace pretend to raigne wt Christe Iesus, then it behoueth you to take care ouer his trew religiō: the which this daye within your realme is so deformed, that