The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

JOHN KNOX, THE SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, In preaching of his Holy Evangel, To the benevolent Reader, desireth grace and peace, with the spirit of righteous judgement.

JOHN KNOX, THE SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, In preaching of his Holy Evangell, To the benevolent Reader, desireth grace and peace, with the spirit of righteous judgement.

Wonder not, Christian Reader, that all my study and travel within the Scriptures of God, these twenty years, I have set forth nothing in expounding any portion of Scripture, except this only rude and indigested Sermon, preached by me in the public audience of the Church of Edinburgh, the nineteenth day of August, Anno 1565. That I did not in writing communicate my judgement upon the Scriptures, I have ever thought my self to have most just reason; for, considering my self rather called of my God to instruct the ignorant, comfort the sorrowful, confirm the weak, and rebuke the proud, by tongue and lively voice, in these most corrupt days, then to compose Books for the age to come, seeing that so much is written (and by men of most singular erudition) and yet so little well observed; I decreed to contain my self within the bounds of that Vocation, whereunto I found my self especially called. I dare not deny (lest that in so doing I should be injurious to the Giver) but that God hath revealed unto me, secrets unknown to the world, and also that he hath made my tongue a Trumpet to forewarn Realms & Nations, yea, certain great revelations of mutations and changes, when no such things were feared, nor yet was appearing; a portion whereof cannot the world deny, (be it never so blind) to be fulfilled; and the rest (alas) I fear shall follow with greater haste, and in more full perfection then my ⟨p. 89⟩sorrowful heart desireth: Notwithstanding these revelations and assurances, I did ever abstain to commit any thing to writing, contented only to have obeyed the charge of him, who commanded me to cry. If any then will ask to what purpose this only Sermon is set forth, and greater matters omitted; I answer, to let such as Satan hath not altogether blinded so, upon how small occasions, great offence is now conceived, This Sermon is it, for the which (from my Bed) I was called before the Council, and after long reasoning, I was by some forbidden to Preach in Edinburgh so long as the King and Queen were in Town; This Sermon is it that so offendeth such as would please Court, and will not appear to be enemies to the Truth, yet they dare affirm, That I exceeded the bounds of Gods Messenger: