A68306:21
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.
I have no pleasure (God is witness) to threaten you, much less to pronounce plagues and Gods severe judgments against you, but seeing and considering your horrible defection from God and from his verity known and professed, ⟨p. 29⟩• dare not cease to exhort you to repentance. For although I should •epe silence, yet should stones accuse your unthankfulness. If • should flatter you and speak according to your appetites,1 saying •as we can not redress the in•quitie of these times, we have […] pleasure in Idolatry, we are •orye, that the blood of innocents •s shed in our land, we would •e content that true religion should be used, but wicked men •ow bear dominion, and therefore we must serve and obey the •yme: when God shall please to restore his truth we will be glad of it, but in the mean time we must obey the laws set forth by •ur superiors: God knoweth •ur hearts, and we trust he wil•e merciful unto us. If on this •aner (I say) I should flatter you •aying pillows under your hea•es, who already do sleep in a ⟨p. 30⟩deadly security, should ye therefore escape Gods vengeance? No no dear brethren, but by such means be you assured that Gods indignation is more kindled, both against the people, and the prophet. For when all are conjured against his truth, then must his just judgements revenge his own cause, and therefore brethren suffer the word of exhortation, suffer it I say with trembling & fear, not esteeming the threatenings pronounced against the disobedient forth of the book of God to be voice sparsed in the aye,