The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And thus if ye look for the life everlasting, ye must try if ye stand in faith, and if ye would be assured of a true and lively faith, ye must needs have Christ Jesus truly preached unto you. And this is the cause (dear Brethren) that so oft I repeat, and so constantly I affirm, That to you it doth not less appertain, then to you King or Princes, to provide that Christ Jesus be truly preached amongst you, seeing that ⟨p. 37⟩without his true knowledge, can neither of you both attain to Salvation: And this is the point, wherein (I say) all men are equal, That all are descended from Adam,¹ by whose sin and inobedience did death enter into the world, so it behoved all that shall obtain life, to be ingrafted in one, that is, in the Lord Jesus, who being the just servant, ²doth by his knowledge justify many; to wit, all that unfeignedly believe in him. Of this equality, and that, God requireth no less of the subject, be he never so poor, then of the Prince and rich man in matters of Religion, he hath given an evident declaration in the Law of Moses; for when the Tabernacle was builded, erected, and set in order, God did provide, how it and the things pertaining to the same, should be sustained, so that they should not fall in decay: And this provision (albeit heaven and earth obey his Empire) would he not take from the secret and hid Treasures which lie dispersed in the veins of the earth,³ neither yet would he take it from the rich and potent of the people; but he did command, That every one of the sons of Israel (were he rich or were he poor) that came in count from 20 years and upward, should yearly pay half a Sickle for an oblation to the Lord, in the remembrance of their Redemption, and for an expiation or cleansing of their souls, which money God commanded should be bestowed upon the Ornaments and necessaries of the Tabernacle of Testimony. He furthermore added a Precept, That the rich should give no more for that use, and in that behalf, then should the poor; neither yet that the poor should give any less then should the rich in that consideration. This law, to mans reason and judgement, may appear very unreasonable; for some rich man might have given a thousand sickles with less hurt of his substance, then some poor man might have payed the half Sickle: