The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

to whom it necessarily belongeth to have the true understanding of the Word of God,¹ that they may be able to win again the false Teachers of Heresies, with the sword of the Spirit, which is, the word of God: and not only to win again, but also to overcome, as faith Paul to Timothy, A bishop must be faultless, as becometh the minister of God, not stubborn, nor angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre, but harberous, one that loved goodness, sober-minded, righteous, holy, temperate, and such as cleaveth unto the true Word of Doctrine. That he may be able with wholesome learning, and to impugn that which they say against him. The fourth part of his Sermon was, how Heresies should be known; Heresies (quoth he) be known on this manner;² As the God-smith knoweth the fine gold from the unperfect, by the touch-stone; So likewise may we know Heresy by the undoubted Touch-stone, that is, The true, sincere, and undefiled Word of God. At the last he added, That Heretics should be put down in this present life. To which Proposition, the Gospel he treated of appeareth not to repugn, Let them both grow to the harvest. The harvest is the end of the world, nevertheless he affirmed, That they should be put down by the civill Magistrate, and Law. And when he ended his Sermon, incontinent they caused M. George to ascend into the Pulpit, there to hear his Accusation and Articles, for right against him stood one of the fat flock, a monster, John Lawder, a Priest, laden full of cursings, written in paper of the which he took out a roll, both long, and also full of outrages, threatenings, maledictions, and words of devilish spite and malice, saying to the innocent M. George, so many cruel and abominable words, and hit him so spitefully with the Popes thunder, that the ignorant people dreaded lest the earth then would have swallowed him up quick. Notwithstanding he stood still with great patience, hearing their sayings, not once moving or changing his countenance. When that this fat sow had read throughout all his lying menaces, his face running down with sweat, and frothing at the mouth like a boar: He spate at M. Georges face, saying, What answers thou to these sayings? Thou runagate, traitor, thief, which we ⟨p. 59⟩have duly proved by sufficient witness against thee.