The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

There are three things in it (said Lethington) that never liked me; and the first is, Ye pray for the Queens Majesty with a condition, saying, Illuminate her heart, if thy good pleasure be; Wherein it may appear, That ye doubt of her conversion; Where have ye the example of such Prayer? Wheresoever the examples are (said the other) I am assured of the Rule, which is this, If we shall ask any thing according to his Will, he shall grant us: And our Master Christ Jesus commands us to pray unto our Father, Thy will be done. But (said Lethington) Where ever find ye any of the Prophets so to have prayed? It sufficeth me (said the other) my Lord, that the Master and Teacher both of Prophets and Apostles, hath taught me so to pray. But in so doing (said Lethington) ye put a doubt in the peoples heads of her conversion. Not I (said the other) but her own obstinate rebellion, causeth more then me to doubt of her conversion. Wherein (said he) rebels she against God? In all the actions of her life (said M. Knox) but in these two Heads especially; The former is, That she will not hear the Preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ.¹ 2. That she maintaineth that Idol the Mass. She thinks not that rebellion (said Lethington.) So thought they (said the other) that sometimes offered their children unto Molech; and yet the Spirit of God affirms, That they offered them unto devils, and not unto God: And this day the Turks think they have a better Religion then the Papists have; and yet I think ye will excuse neither of both from committing rebellion against God; neither yet can ye do the Queen, unless ye will make God to be partial. But (said Lethington) Why pray ye not for her, without moving any doubt? Because (said the other) I have learned to pray in faith; now faith (ye know) depends upon the Word of God; and so it is that the Word teacheth me, That prayer profiteth the sons and daughters of Gods Election; of which number if she be one or not, I have just cause to doubt; and therefore I pray that God would illuminate her heart, if his good pleasure be so to do: But yet (said Lethington) ye can produce ⟨p. 381⟩the example of none that so hath prayed before you.

There are three things in it (said Lethington) that never liked me; and the first is, Ye pray for the Queens Majesty with a condition, saying, Illuminate her heart, if thy good pleasure be; Wherein it may appear, That ye doubt of her conversion; Where have ye the example of such Prayer? Wheresoever the examples are (said the other) I am assured of the Rule, which is this, If we shall ask any thing according to his Will, he shall grant us: And our Master Christ Jesus commands us to pray unto our Father, Thy will be done. But (said Lethington) Where ever finde ye any of the Prophets so to have prayed? It sufficeth me (said the other) my Lord, that the Master and Teacher both of Prophets and Apostles, hath taught me so to pray. But in so doing (said Lethington) ye put a doubt in the peoples heads of her conversion. Not I (said the other) but her own obstinate rebellion, causeth more then me to doubt of her conversion. Wherein (said he) rebells she against God? In all the actions of her life (said M. Knox) but in these two Heads especially; The former is, That she will not hear the Preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ.