The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

that is, To the authority of the Church, which Authority, said he, damned all Lutherans and Heretics, and therefore he needed no further disputation. John Knox answered, Before we hold our selves, or that ye can prove us sufficiently convinced, we must define the Church by the right notes given to us in Gods Scripture, of the true Church: we must discern the Immaculate Spouse of Jesus Christ, from the mother of Confusion, Spiritual Babylon; lest that imprudently we embrace a Harlot, instead of the chaste Spouse; yea, to speak it in plain words, Lest that we submit our selves to Satan, thinking that we submit our selves to Jesus Christ: For as for your Roman Church, as it is now corrupted, and the Authority thereof, wherein stands the hope of your Victory, I no more doubt but that it is the Synagogue of Satan; and the Head thereof, called the Pope, to be that man of Sin of whom the Apostle speaketh, then that I doubt that JESUS CHRIST suffered by the procurement of the visible Church of Jerusalem.¹ Yea, I offer my self by word or writing, to prove the Roman Church this day farther to degenerate from the purity which ⟨p. 76⟩was in the days of the Apostles, then was the Church of the Jews from the Ordinance given by Moses, when they consented to the innocent death of JESUS CHRIST. These words were spoken in the open audience of the Parish Church of Saint Andrews, after the said Dean John had spoken what it pleased him, and had refused to dispute. The people hearing the offer, cried with one consent, We cannot all read your writings, but we can all hear your Preaching: Therefore we require you in the Name of God, That ye let us hear the approbation of that which ye have affirmed: ²For if it be true, we have been miserably deceived. And so the next Sunday was appointed to the said John, to express his mind in the public Preaching place: Which day approaching, the said John took the Text written in Daniel, the seventh Chapter, beginning thus; And another King shall rise after them, and he shall be unlike unto the first, and he shall subdue three Kings, and shall speak words against the most High, and shall consume the Saints of the most High, and think that he can change Times and Laws: And they shall be given unto his hands until a time, and times, and dividing of times, &c.