The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But I am assured, that to refuse Gods word and to chase from yo• ⟨p. 48⟩his messenger shall not preserve you from trouble, but it shall bring you into it: For God shall send unto you messengers who will not be afraid of burning, nor yet for banishment. I have offered unto you the word of Salvation, and with the hazard of my life I have remained amongst you. Now ye your selves refuse me,¹ and therefore must I leave my Innocency to be declared by my God, if it be long prosperous with you, I am not led with the Spirit of Truth. But if trouble unlooked for apprehend you, acknowledge the cause, and turn to God. For he is merciful, but if ye turn not at the first, he will visit you with fire and sword. These words pronounced, he came down from the Preaching place. In the Church present was the Lord Marshall, and divers noble men, who would have had the said M. George to have remained, or else to have gone with them into the Country. But for no request would he either tarry in the town or on that side of Tay any longer. But with possible expedition past to the West-land, where he began to offer Gods word, which was of many gladly received, till that the Bishop of Glasgow, Dumbar, by instigation of the Cardinal, came with his gatherings to the Town of Air to make resistance to the said M. George, and did first take the Church. The Earle of Glencarne being thereof advertised, repaired with his friends to the Town with diligence, and so did divers Gentlemen of Kyle (amongst whom was the Laird of Lefnoreise, a man far different from him that now liveth, in the year of our Lord 1566. in manners and Religion) of whom to this day yet many live, and have declared themselves always zealous and bold in the cause of God, as after will be heard. When all were assembled, conclusion was taken that they would have the Church. Whereto the said M. George utterly repugned• saying, Let him alone, his Sermon will not much hurt▪ Let us go to the Market Cross: And so they did, where he made so notable a Sermon, that the very enemies themselves were confounded.² The Bishop Preached to his Jackmen, and to some old Bosses of the Town. The sum of all his Sermon was, They say we, should Preach; Why not? Better late thrive, then never thrive. Hold us still for your Bishop; and we shall provide better the next time. This was the beginning and the end of the Bishops Sermon: