The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But what occasion they have to say such words of me, I shall shortly show your Lordships. I once chanced to meet with a Jew, when I was sailing upon the water of Rhene;¹ I did enquire of him, What was the cause of his pertinacie, that he did not believe that the true Messiah was come, considering that they had seen all the Prophesies which were spoken of him, to be fulfilled: Moreover, the Prophesies taken away, and the Sceptre of Judah. By many other testimonies of the Scripture I witnessed to him, and proved that the Messiah was come, the which they called Jesus of Nazareth? This Jew answered again unto me, When Messiah cometh, he shall restore all things, and he shall not abrogate the Law which was given unto our Fathers, as ye do; for why? We see the poor almost perish through hunger amongst you, yet you are not moved with pity towards them: But amongst us Jews, though we be poor, there are no beggars found. Secondarily, It is forbidden by the Law to fain any kind of Imagery, of things in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the Sea under the earth, but one God only to honour. But your Sanctuaries and Churches are full of Idols. Thirdly, a piece of bread baked upon the ashes, ye adore and worship, and say that it is your God. I have rehearsed here but the sayings of a Jew, which I never affirmed to be true. Then the Bishops shook their heads, and spitted on the ground; and what he meant in this matter further, they would not hear. The seventh Article. Thou false heretic didst say, That extreme Unction was not a Sacrament. The Answer. My Lords, forsooth I never taught of extreme Unction, in my Doctrine, whether it was a Sacrament or no. The eighth Article. Thou false heretic didst say, That holy water is not so good as Wash, and such like. Thou contemnest conjuring, and sayest, That holy Churches cursing availeth not. The Answer. My Lords, as for holy water, what strength it is of, I taught never in my Doctrine. Conjurings and Exorcisms, if they were conformable to the Word of God, I would commend them; but in as much as they are not conformable to the Commandment and Word of God, I reprove them. ⟨p. 63⟩The ninth Article. Thou false Heretic and runagate, hast said, That every man is a Priest; and likewise thou sayest, That the Pope hath no more power then another man. The Answer.

But what occasion they have to say such words of me, I shall shortly shew your Lordships. I once chanced to meet with a Iew, when I was sayling upon the water of Rhene;