A68306:12
The copy of an epistle sentThe copie of an epistle sent
The copy of an epistle sent by John Knox one of the ministers of the English Church at Geneva unto the inhabitants of Newcastle, & Berwick. In the end whereof is added a brief exhortation to England for the speedy embracing of Christs gospel heretofore suppressed & banished.The copie of an epistle sent by Iohn Knox one of the ministers of the Englishe Church at Geneua vnto the inhabitants of Newcastle, & Barwike. In the end wherof is added a briefe exhortation to England for the spedie imbrasing of Christes gospel hertofore suppressed & banished.
At Geneva : s.n., M.D.LIX. 1559
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Consider with me dear brethren (I speak to you of New-castle and Berwick) your miserable estate and most dolorous condition. Your profession did once declare before men,1 that ye were branches planted and ingrafted in Christ Jesus, whose holy gospel (which is the power of God to the salvation of all that believe it) ye appeared to have received with all reverence and gladness.2 The displeasure of your ⟨p. 10⟩natural and carnal friends, who then were enemies to Christ Jesus and to his eternal verity, some of you did patiently bear. Ye feared not to go before statutes and laws, yea openly and solemnly you did profess by receiving the sacraments not as man had appointed, but as Christ Jesus the wisdom of God the father had institute to be subject in all things concerning religion to his yoke alone, to acknowledge and avouch him before the world to be your only law giver, sovereign prince and only saviour. Thus I say ye appeared at that time, to have been the delicate plants of the Eternal, the workmanship of his own hands, and the trees that in season and time should have produced good fruit in abundance. But o alas how are ye changed? how are ye corrupted: whi••ervnto ⟨p. 11⟩are ye fallen? and how •ave ye deceived the expectation •f those that then did labour in •lā •inge and watering you, and •ow do sob unto God for your ••gratitude, calling with tears •nto his mercy for your conversion •nd that unfeigned repentance •ay suddenly appear in you. O miserable change, that ye who were once fervent professors of Christ Jesus and of his gospel, should now •e subjects to Antichrist, giving obedience to his false, and deceivable doctrine. O grievous fall and more than grievous, that from the dignity of the sons of God (which prerogative ye had by grace and not by nature) ye are become slaves to Satan, justifying by your presence most abominable Idolatry. If ye see not the danger which hereupon dependeth, ye are more then blind, and if ye see it, and study not with all diligence to avoid it, ye are not only foolish,