The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

They trusted in their own strength, and thought themselves able enough to do their purpose, without any invocation of the Name of God: But after that they had twice proved the vanity of their own strength, they fasted and prayed; and being humbled before God, they received a more favourable answer, and assured promise of the Victory. The like may be amongst us, albeit suddenly we do not espy it: And to the end that every man may the better examine himself, I will divide the whole company into two sorts of men. The one are those that from the beginning of this trouble have sustained the common danger with their brethren: The other be these which be joined to our fellowship. In the one and in the other I fear that just cause shall be found, why God should thus have humbled us. And albeit that this appear strange at the first hearing, yet if ⟨p. 210⟩every man shall examine himself, I speak as that his conscience dyteth him, I doubt not but he shall subscribe to my sentence. Let us begin at our selves who longest hath continued in this Battle. When we were a few number in comparison of our enemies, when we had neither Earle nor Lord (a few excepted) to comfort us, we called upon God, and took him for our Protector, Defence, and only Refuge. Amongst us was heard no bragging of multitude, nor of our strength nor policy, we did only sob to God to have respect to the equity of our Cause, and to the cruel pursuit of the tyrannical enemy. But since that our number had been thus multiplied, and chiefly since the Duke with his friends have been joined with us, there was nothing heard, but, This Lord will bring these many hundred Spears; This man hath the credit to persuade this Country; If this Earle be ours, no man in such bounds will trouble us. And thus the best of us all, that before felt Gods potent hand to our defence, hath of late days put Flesh to be our Arm. But wherein yet had the Duke and his friends offended?¹ It may be, That as we have trusted in them, so have they put too much confidence in their own strength. But granting it be not so, I see a cause most just, why the Duke and his friends should thus be confounded amongst the rest of their brethren.

They trusted in their own strength, and thought themselves able enough to do their purpose, without any invocation of the Name of God: But after that they had twice proved the vanity of their own strength, they fasted and prayed; and being humbled before God, they received a more favourable answer, and assured promise of the Victory. The like may be amongst us, albeit suddenly we do not espie it: And to the end that every man may the better examine himself, I will divide the whole company into two sorts of men. The one are those that from the beginning of this trouble have sustained the common danger with their brethren: The other be these which be joyned to our fellowship. In the one and in the other I fear that just cause shall be found, why God should thus have humbled us. And albeit that this appear strange at the first hearing, yet if