The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The theme of his Sermon was; Verity is the strongest of all things. His discourse of cursing was▪ That if it were warily used, it were the most fearful thing upon the face of the earth;¹ for it were the very separation of man from God; but that it should not be used rashly, and for every light cause, but only against open and incorrigible sinners: but now; said he, the avarice of Priests, and the ignorance of their Office, hath caused it altogether to be vile-pended. For the Priest (saith he) whose Duty and Office is to pray for the people, standeth up on Sunday, and crieth, Anne has lost her Spindle; There is a Flail stolen behind the barn; The goodwife on the other side of the gate hath lost a horn spoon; Gods curse and mine I give to them that knoweth of thy goods, and restoreth them not. How the people mocked their cursing, he further told a merry tale, How after a Sermon that he made at Dumfermeling, he came to a house where gossips were drinking their Sundays penny; and he being dry, asked drink; Yes Father (said one of the gossips) ye shall have drink, but ye must first resolve one doubt which is risen among us, to wit, What servant will serve a man best at least expenses? The good Angel, said I, who is mans keeper, who maketh good service without expenses. Tush, said the gossip, we mean no such high matters; we mean, What honest man will do greatest service for least expenses. And while I was musing (said the Friar) what that should mean, she said, I see, father, that the greatest Clerks are not the wisest men. Know ye not how the Bishops and their Officials serve us husbandmen, Will they not give to us a letter of cursing for a plack, to last for a year, to curse all that look over our ditch, and that keep our Corn better nor the sleeping boy that will have three shillings of Fee, a shirt, and a pair of shoes in the year. And therefore if their cursing do any thing, we hold the Bishops the cheapest servants in that behalf, that are within the Realm. As concerning Miracles,² he declared what diligence the ancients took to try true miracles from false. But now, said he, the greediness of Priests not only receive false miracles, but also they cherish and hire knaves for that purpose, that their Chapels may be the better renowned, and Offerings may be augmented.

The theme of his Sermon was; Verity is the strongest of all things. His discourse of cursing was That if it were warily used, it were the most fearfull thing upon the face of the earth;