The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

My Lords, I taught nothing but the Word of God, I remember that I have read in some places of S. John, and S. Peter, of the which one saith, He hath made us kings and priests. The other saith, He hath made us the kingly Priesthood. Wherefore I have affirmed, Any man understanding and perfect in the Word of God, and the true faith of Jesus Christ, to have his power given him from God, and not by the power or violence of men, but by the virtue of the Word of God, the which word is called, The power of God, ¹as witnesseth S. Paul, evidently enough. And again I say, Any unlearned man, and not exercised in the Word of God, nor yet constant in his Faith, whatsoever estate or order he be of; I say, he hath no power to bind or to loose, seeing he wanteth the instrument by the which he bindeth and looseth, that is to say, The Word of God. After that he had said these words, all the Bishops laughed, and mocked him: When that he beheld their laughing; Laugh ye (said he) my Lords? Though that these my sayings do seem scornful, and worthy of derision to your Lordships, nevertheless they are very weighty to me, and of a great value; because that they stand not only upon my life, but also upon the honour and glory of God. In the mean time many godly men, beholding the woodness and great cruelty of the Bishops, and the invincible patience of the said M. George, did greatly mourn and lament. The tenth Article. Thou false Heretic saidst, That a man had no free-will, but is like to the Stoics, which say, That it is not in mans will to do anything, but that all desire and concupiscence cometh of God, of whatsoever kind it be of. The Answer. My Lords I said not so, truly, I say, That as many as believe in Christ firmly, unto them is given liberty conformable to the saying of S. John, If the Son make you free, then shall you verily be free: Of the contrary, as many as believe not in Christ Jesus, they are bond-servants of sin: He that sinneth, is bound to sin. The eleventh Article. Thou false Heretic sayest, It is as lawful to eat flesh upon Friday, as on Sunday. The Answer. Pleaseth it your Lordships, I have read in the Epistles of S. Paul, That who is clean, unto him all things are clean: Of the contrary, to the filthy men all things are unclean. A faithful man, clean and holy, sanctifieth by the Word, the creature of God;

My Lords, I taught nothing but the Word of God, I remember that I have read in some places of S. Iohn, and S. Peter, of the which one saith, He hath made us kings and priests. The other saith, He hath made us the kingly Priesthood. Wherefore I have affirmed, Any man understanding and perfit in the Word of God, and the true faith of Jesus Christ, to have his power given him from God, and not by the power or violence of men, but by the vertue of the Word of God, the which word is called, The power of God,