The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

how mighty the devil is to sow discord; how that many would desire no better game, but to hunt us at other. I pray your Lordship beguile them, we will agree upon all purposes with Gods pleasure, standing to his glory. There are divers Houses in Scotland near us, that profess the same God secretly; they desire but that ye begin the bargain at us; and when it begins at us, God knows the end thereof, and who shall bide the next put. My Lord, consider this; make no Preparative of us: Let not the vain exhortation of them that regard little of the weal and strength of both our Houses, stir up your Lordship as they would, to do against God, your own conscience, and the weal of your posterity for ever. And therefore now in the end I pray your Lordship weigh these things wisely; and if ye do otherwise, God is God, was, and shall be God, when all is wrought that man can work.

how mighty the devill is to sow discord; how that many would desire no better game, but to hunt us at other. I pray your Lordship beguile them, we will agree upon all purposes with Gods pleasure, standing to his glory. There are divers Houses in Scotland neer us, that professe the same God secretly; they desire but that ye begin the bargaine at us; and when it begins at us, God knows the end therof, and who shall bide the next put. My Lord, consider this; make no Preparative of us: Let not the vain exhortation of them that regard little of the weale and strength of both our Houses, stirre up your Lordship as they would, to do against God, your owne conscience, and the weale of your posterity for ever. And therefore now in the end I pray your Lordship weigh these things wisely; and if ye do otherwise, God is God, was, and shall be God, when all is wrought that man can work.

This answer received, the Bishop and his complices found themselves somewhat disappointed; for the Bishops looked for nothing less, then for such Answers from the Earle of Argyle; and therefore they made them for their extreme defence, that is, To corrupt, and by buds to stir up the Queen Regent against us; as in the second Book we shall more plainly hear. Shortly after that, God called to his mercy the said Earle of Argyle from the miseries of this life; whereof the Bishops were glad; for they thought that their great enemy was taken out of the way, but God disappointed them: For as the said Earle departed most constant in the true Faith of Jesus Christ, with a plain renunciation of all Impiety, Superstition, and Idolatry; so he left it to his Son in his Testament, That he should study to set forward the public and true preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,