The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Therefore, my Lords, to return to you, seeing that God hath armed your hands with the sword of Justice, seeing that his Law most straightly commandeth Idolaters and false Prophets to be punished with death, and that you be placed above your Subjects, to reign as fathers over their Children; and further, seeing that not only I, but with me many thousand famous, godly and learned persons, accuse your Bishops, and the whole rabble of the Papistical Clergy, of Idolatry, of Murder and Blasphemy against God committed: It appertaineth to your Honours to be vigilant and careful in so weighty a matter? The question is not of earthly substance, but of the glory of God, and of the Salvation of your selves, and of your brethren subject to your charge; in which if you (after this plain admonition) be negligent, there resteth no excuse by reason of ignorance; for in the name of God I require of you, That the Cause of Religion may be tried in your presence by the plain and simple Word of God; That your Bishops be compelled to desist from their Tyranny, That they be compelled to make answer for the neglecting of their Office for the substance of the poor, which unjustly they usurp, and prodigally they do spend; but principally for the false and deceivable Doctrine which is taught and defended by their false Prophets, flattering Friars, and other such venomous Locusts: Which thing if with single eyes ye do, (preferring Gods glory and the Salvation of your Brethren before all worldly Commodity) then shall the same God, who solemnly doth pronounce to honour those that do honour him, pour his benedictions plentifully upon you, he shall be your Buckler, protection and Captain, and shall repress by his strength and wisdom, whatsoever Satan by his supposts shall imagine against you I am not ignorant, that great troubles shall ensue your enterprise; for Satan will not be expelled from the possession of his usurped Kingdom without resistance: But if you (as is said) preferring Gods glory to your own lives, unfeignedly seek and study ⟨p. 31⟩to obey his blessed will, then shall your deliverance be such, as evidently it shall be known, That the Angels of the Eternal do watch, make war and fight for those that unfeignedly fear the Lord.

Therefore, my Lords, to return to you, seeing that God hath armed your hands with the sword of Justice, seeing that his Law most straightly commandeth Idolaters and false Prophets to be punished with death, and that you be placed above your Subjects, to reigne as fathers over their Children; and further, seeing that not onely I, but with me many thousand famous, godly and learned persons, accuse your Bishops, and the whole rabble of the Papisticall Clergie, of Idolatrie, of Murther and Blasphemie against God committed: It appertaineth to your Honours to bee vigilant and carefull in so weighty a matter? The question is not of earthly substance, but of the glory of God, and of the Salvation of your selves, and of your brethren subject to your charge; in which if you (after this plain admonition) be negligent, there resteth no excuse by reason of ignorance; for in the name of God I require of you, That the Cause of Religion may be tried in your presence by the plain and simple Word of God; That your Bishops be compelled to desist from their Tyrannie, That they be compelled to make answer for the neglecting of their Office for the substance of the poor, which unjustly they usurp, and prodigally they do spend; but principally for the false and deceivable Doctrine which is taught and defended by their false Prophets, flattering Friers, and other such venomous Locusts: Which thing if with single eyes yee do, (preferring Gods glory and the Salvation of your Brethren before all wordly Commoditie) then shall the same God, who solemnly doth pronounce to honour those that do honour him, pour his benedictions plentifully upon you, he shall be your Buckler, protection and Captain, and shall represse by his strength and wisdom, whatsoever Satan by his supposts shall imagine against you I am not ignorant, that great troubles shall ensue your enterprise; for Satan will not be expelled from the possession of his usurped Kingdom without resistance: But if you (as is said) preferring Gods glory to your own lives, unfainedly seek and study