Latest / Ten Days in a Madhouse / Letters of John Knox-John Knox

Transcript

Letters of John Knox-John Knox · Ten Days in a Madhouse

0:00
Speaker 1: Letter one of the letters of John Knox. This is
0:04
Speaker 1: a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
0:08
Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
0:12
Speaker 1: The Letters of John Knox, by John Knox to his
0:16
Speaker 1: mother in law. He comes and shall not tarry in
0:20
Speaker 1: whom is our comfort and final felicity, Dearly beloved sister,
0:24
Speaker 1: in Jesus our Sovereign, Rejoice now and be glad from
0:28
Speaker 1: the heart for that which long the prophets of God
0:30
Speaker 1: hath cried appereth, now shortly to come to pass, the
0:34
Speaker 1: elect of God to suffer, as they have done from
0:36
Speaker 1: the beginning. And why shall you rejoice therein? Because it
0:40
Speaker 1: is a sure seal and testimony of that word which
0:42
Speaker 1: we profess to be the very true and infallible word
0:45
Speaker 1: of God, to the which he who adhers shall not
0:48
Speaker 1: be confounded. And also because our glory cannot be perfect
0:52
Speaker 1: till first we taste of that cup, which, although it
0:55
Speaker 1: be unpleasing to the flesh, yet is most wholesome and
0:58
Speaker 1: profitable for us. The cause of these my words is
1:01
Speaker 1: not sudden chance that newly has happened, but the perpetual
1:05
Speaker 1: and constant cause of God's true word from the first
1:08
Speaker 1: declaration thereafter the world, O miserable, unthankful, and most mischievous world.
1:14
Speaker 1: What shall be thy condemnation? When He that has so
1:17
Speaker 1: often gently provoked THEE to obey his truth shall come
1:20
Speaker 1: in his glory to punish thy contempt? Who shall hide
1:23
Speaker 1: THEE from the presence of that lion whom thou didst
1:25
Speaker 1: persecute in every age? What shall excuse THEE that so
1:29
Speaker 1: tyrannously has shed the blood of such as faithfully labored
1:33
Speaker 1: to bring THEE from blind ignorance and idolatry? When stubborn
1:36
Speaker 1: contemners shall cry, mountains fall on us and hide us
1:40
Speaker 1: from the presence of the Lord. Dear sister, we shall
1:43
Speaker 1: be placed in most security with the lamb in whose
1:46
Speaker 1: blood we are purged. My Lord of Westmoreland has written
1:50
Speaker 1: unto me this Wednesday at six of the clock at night,
1:53
Speaker 1: immediately thereafter to repair unto him, as I will answer.
1:56
Speaker 1: At my peril, I could not obtain license to remain
1:59
Speaker 1: the time of the sermon upon the morrow, lest it
2:02
Speaker 1: be God who does ratify and confirm the truth of
2:04
Speaker 1: his word from time to time, as our weakness shall
2:07
Speaker 1: require your adversary, sister, doth labor that you should doubt
2:12
Speaker 1: whether this be the word of God or not? If
2:14
Speaker 1: there had never been testimonial of the undoubted truth thereof
2:17
Speaker 1: before these our ages, may not such things as we
2:20
Speaker 1: see daily come to pass prove the verity thereof. Doth
2:24
Speaker 1: it not affirm that it shall be preached and yet
2:27
Speaker 1: contemned and lightly regarded by many, that the true professors
2:31
Speaker 1: thereof shall be hated by father, mother, and wife of
2:34
Speaker 1: the contrary religion, that the most faithful shall cruelly be persecuted,
2:38
Speaker 1: and cometh not all these things to pass in ourselves. Rejoice, sister,
2:43
Speaker 1: for the same word that for speaketh trouble doth certify
2:46
Speaker 1: us of the glory subsequent. As for myself, albeit the
2:50
Speaker 1: extremity should now apprehend me, it is not come unlooked for.
2:54
Speaker 1: But alas I fear that yet I am not ripe
2:56
Speaker 1: nor able to glorify Christ by my death. But what
3:00
Speaker 1: lacketh now God shall perform in the own time. Where
3:03
Speaker 1: God saith, it repenteth me that I made Saul king.
3:06
Speaker 1: He means not that Saul at any time was a
3:08
Speaker 1: member of Christ's body, but that he was a temporal officer,
3:12
Speaker 1: promoted of God, yet most inobedient to his commandment, and
3:16
Speaker 1: therefore that he would provide another to occupy his room.
3:19
Speaker 1: And that where he says I repent, we must understand
3:22
Speaker 1: him to speak after the manner of men, attemperating himself
3:26
Speaker 1: to our understanding. For otherwise God repenteth not, for before
3:31
Speaker 1: his majesty knew the inobedience and rebellion of the wicked King.
3:35
Speaker 1: But Sister, God, the Father cannot repent that he hath
3:39
Speaker 1: engrafted us members of Christ's body, for that were to
3:42
Speaker 1: repent the honor of his own son Yea, and his
3:45
Speaker 1: own good work in us. Abide patiently and give no
3:48
Speaker 1: place to the temptations of the adversary. Let him shoot
3:51
Speaker 1: his doubts in his despite. But say you in your heart,
3:54
Speaker 1: the Lord is my defender, and therefore shall I not
3:57
Speaker 1: be confounded. Dollah shall be back for a moment, But
4:00
Speaker 1: ever and ever shall we reign with Jesus, our Lord,
4:03
Speaker 1: whose Holy Spirit be your comfort to the end. Be
4:06
Speaker 1: sure I will not forget you and your company, so
4:09
Speaker 1: long as mortal man may remember any earthly creature. Your brother,
4:12
Speaker 1: John Knox from Newcastle, fifteen fifty three end of Letter one,
4:24
Speaker 1: Letter two of the Letters of John Knox, by John Knox.
4:28
Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain to his
4:31
Speaker 1: mother in law, dearly beloved sister. After hearty commendation, as
4:36
Speaker 1: I can call to mind, there rests nothing in your
4:38
Speaker 1: writings whereunto I have not answered, except God's repentance that
4:42
Speaker 1: he made sole king for understanding, whereof you shall consider
4:46
Speaker 1: that the Spirit of God must attemper and submit himself
4:48
Speaker 1: oft times to our weakness, and speak unto us, who
4:52
Speaker 1: by corruption are made ignorant and rude, so that we
4:55
Speaker 1: may understand what He worketh by his incomprehensible wisdom and
4:58
Speaker 1: inscrutable providence. While that yet there is no such thing
5:01
Speaker 1: in our God as the vocal words and first sense
5:04
Speaker 1: appereth unto us, as when David saith rebuke me, not
5:08
Speaker 1: O Lord, in thy hot displeasure, and in the Book
5:11
Speaker 1: of Exodus the Lord was angry with Moses and Sundry.
5:14
Speaker 1: Other places of scripture to attribute unto God not only
5:17
Speaker 1: such members as be in man, but also such affections
5:20
Speaker 1: and unstable passions, which nevertheless are not in God, who
5:24
Speaker 1: always in himself remains stable, constant, Holy and just, and
5:29
Speaker 1: of that sort is that manner of speech. It repenteth
5:31
Speaker 1: me that I have made sole king, that is my
5:34
Speaker 1: justice is compelled to eject and throw down the rebellious
5:37
Speaker 1: king from that estate and dignity in which I have
5:40
Speaker 1: placed him. And so shall I appear to repent my
5:42
Speaker 1: former work. The scripture attributes to God such conditions, qualities,
5:47
Speaker 1: and affections as his Majesty appereth to show in his
5:50
Speaker 1: works upon his creatures, as when he plagues the world,
5:54
Speaker 1: then says the scripture, God did this in his anger
5:57
Speaker 1: when he delivers such as long have suffered trouble, Then
6:00
Speaker 1: says the scripture, God stretched out his hand. God lifted
6:03
Speaker 1: up his eyes, his face, or countenance. And yet no
6:06
Speaker 1: such thing can be in the god Head. And therefore, sister,
6:09
Speaker 1: think not that God is changeable and doth repent albeit
6:13
Speaker 1: such a peer. For so speaks the Scripture to instruct
6:16
Speaker 1: our infirmity. For before he appointed Saul to be king,
6:19
Speaker 1: his Majesty knew his inobedience and how he was to
6:22
Speaker 1: be objected. Neither did Saul please him in Jesus his son,
6:26
Speaker 1: but always was reprobate, and never did embrace the promise
6:29
Speaker 1: of remission and reconciliation in the said promises, Albeit the
6:32
Speaker 1: Lord did promote him to worldly dignity, which is no
6:35
Speaker 1: sure sign of God's everlasting love and favor, Seeing thereunto
6:39
Speaker 1: is placed as well the ungodly as godly. Then would
6:42
Speaker 1: you inquire how we shall be assured of God's favor
6:45
Speaker 1: that changeth not by his own word, which assures us
6:48
Speaker 1: that such as knowing and lamenting their own corruption and
6:51
Speaker 1: great infirmities, and that embrace the satisfaction which is by
6:54
Speaker 1: the redemption in Christ's blood, are surely engrafted in Christ's body.
6:59
Speaker 1: And therefore shall they be separated nor rent from Him,
7:02
Speaker 1: As witness of himself, saying, forth of my hands can
7:05
Speaker 1: none rave footnote pluck to take by force? End of footnote.
7:11
Speaker 1: Look further of this matter in the other letter written
7:14
Speaker 1: unto you. At such time as many thought I never
7:16
Speaker 1: should write after to man heenus were the dilations laid
7:19
Speaker 1: against me, and many other lies that are made to
7:22
Speaker 1: the council. But God one day shall destroy all lying tongues,
7:25
Speaker 1: and shall deliver his servant from calamity. I look but
7:29
Speaker 1: a day or other to fall into their hands. For
7:31
Speaker 1: more and more rage ofth for members of the Devil
7:33
Speaker 1: against me. This assault of Satan has been to his
7:36
Speaker 1: confusion and to the glory of God. And therefore, sister,
7:39
Speaker 1: cease not to praise God and to call for my comfort,
7:42
Speaker 1: For great is the multitude of enemies, whom every one
7:45
Speaker 1: the Lord still conform. I intend not to depart from
7:49
Speaker 1: Newcastle before Easter. My daily labors must now increase, and
7:53
Speaker 1: therefore spare me so much as you can. My old
7:56
Speaker 1: malady troubles me sore, and nothing is more contrarious to
7:59
Speaker 1: my flesh than righte think not that I weary to
8:02
Speaker 1: visit you. But unless my pain shall cease, I will
8:05
Speaker 1: altogether become unprofitable work. O Lord, even as pleaseth thy
8:09
Speaker 1: infinite goodness, and relax the troubles and thy own pleasure
8:12
Speaker 1: of such as seek thy glory to shine. And I
8:15
Speaker 1: bid you heartily farewell in Christ, our Sovereign, your brother
8:18
Speaker 1: John Knox at Newcastle, the twenty third of March fifteen
8:22
Speaker 1: fifty three. End of Letter two, Letter three of the
8:32
Speaker 1: Letters of John Knox by John Knox. This LibriVox recording
8:36
Speaker 1: is in the public domain. To his mother in law.
8:39
Speaker 1: The Lord shall put an end to all troubles, dearly
8:42
Speaker 1: beloved sister in our savior, Jesus Christ, the manifold and
8:46
Speaker 1: general assaults of the devil, raging against you and troubling
8:49
Speaker 1: your rest, while you first and most earnestly desire to
8:51
Speaker 1: remain in Christ, doth certify unto me your very election,
8:55
Speaker 1: which the devil envies in all the chosen of God.
8:58
Speaker 1: And albeit his arts be subtle and tormenting painfully, yet
9:01
Speaker 1: there are followeth great commodity, a hatred of yourself, who
9:05
Speaker 1: may not nor cannot resist as you would his temptations,
9:08
Speaker 1: and a continual desire of God's support, which too are
9:11
Speaker 1: most acceptable sacrifices in God's sight. Where the adversary would
9:15
Speaker 1: persuade that it maketh nothing what you think, because it
9:19
Speaker 1: shall not be imputed. There he is compelled to bear
9:21
Speaker 1: witness to the truth, but not of a true intent. Truly,
9:26
Speaker 1: neither thought nor deed shall be imputed unto you, for
9:28
Speaker 1: they are remitted in Christ's blood. But therefore do you
9:32
Speaker 1: not rejoice in thoughts and works repuning to God's express commandment,
9:35
Speaker 1: but do lament and mourn that any such motion should
9:39
Speaker 1: remain in you, and desire to be made free from
9:41
Speaker 1: that corruption by your champion Christ, and so you shall
9:44
Speaker 1: be as He has promised. Other things, as time will permit,
9:48
Speaker 1: I will most gladly fulfill I Lord and praise my God,
9:51
Speaker 1: asking from my heart that such as have professed His
9:53
Speaker 1: son Jesus condemn not his admonitions to the end, Amen,
9:58
Speaker 1: your brother in Christ, Jesus. John Not from Carlyle this
10:01
Speaker 1: Friday afternoon, fifteen fifty three, end of letter three, Letter
10:12
Speaker 1: four of the Letters of John Knox, by John Knox.
10:16
Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain to his
10:19
Speaker 1: mother in law. There is no condemnation to such as
10:22
Speaker 1: be in Christ Jesus, to whom we all praise, dearly
10:25
Speaker 1: beloved sister, after most hearty commendation, in my conscience, I judge,
10:30
Speaker 1: and by the Holy Spirit of my God, am fully
10:32
Speaker 1: certified that you are a member of Christ's body, sore,
10:35
Speaker 1: troubled and vexed, presently that the lusts and vain pleasures
10:39
Speaker 1: of the flesh mortified, you may shortly rest and rise
10:42
Speaker 1: hereafter in honor and glory, where too yet never attained
10:45
Speaker 1: mortal creature. But first they confess themselves almost burnt in hell.
10:50
Speaker 1: Wherefore persevere, albeit the battle be strong. Yet the glory
10:54
Speaker 1: of your deliverance may be ascribed and wholly given to
10:56
Speaker 1: God alone. I think it best you remain till the morrow,
11:00
Speaker 1: and so shall we commune at large at afternoon. This
11:03
Speaker 1: day you know to be the day of my study
11:05
Speaker 1: and prayer unto God. Yet, if your trouble be intolerable,
11:08
Speaker 1: or if you think my presence may relieve your pain,
11:10
Speaker 1: do as the spirit shall move you. For you know
11:13
Speaker 1: that I will be offended with nothing that you do
11:15
Speaker 1: in God's name. And oh how glad would I be
11:18
Speaker 1: to feed the hungry and give medicine to the sick.
11:21
Speaker 1: Your messengers found me in bed after a sore trouble,
11:24
Speaker 1: and most dolorous knight. And so Dollah may complain to
11:27
Speaker 1: Dollar when we two meet. But the infinite goodness of God,
11:31
Speaker 1: who never despiseth the petitions of a sore troubled heart,
11:34
Speaker 1: shall at his good pleasure remove these pains that we
11:37
Speaker 1: presently suffer, and in place thereof shall crown us with
11:39
Speaker 1: glory and immortality for ever. But dear sister, I am
11:43
Speaker 1: even of mind, with faithful job, that most sore tormented,
11:47
Speaker 1: that my pain shall have no end in this life
11:50
Speaker 1: the power of God may against the purpose of my heart,
11:52
Speaker 1: alter such things as appear not to be altered, as
11:55
Speaker 1: he did unto Job. But Dolla and pain, with sore
11:58
Speaker 1: anguish cries the contrary. And this is more plain than
12:01
Speaker 1: ever I spake to let you know you have a
12:03
Speaker 1: fellow and companion in trouble, and thus rest in Christ,
12:07
Speaker 1: for the head of the serpent is already broken down,
12:09
Speaker 1: and he is stinging us upon the heel. In great haste,
12:12
Speaker 1: your brother, John Knox, from Newcastle, fifteen fifty three, end
12:17
Speaker 1: of Letter four, Letter five of the Letters of John Knox,
12:25
Speaker 1: by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in the public
12:29
Speaker 1: domain to his mother in law, dearly beloved sister in
12:33
Speaker 1: our Savior and only Mediator, Jesus, who is the fulls
12:35
Speaker 1: forgotten of the Dead, the sole and sovereign Prince, exolted
12:39
Speaker 1: above all powers and potentates whatever that by Him we may,
12:42
Speaker 1: now sore, afflicted and punished in absence of our bridegroom,
12:45
Speaker 1: receive immortality and glory when he shall return to restore
12:49
Speaker 1: liberty to the sons of God, of which number are
12:51
Speaker 1: you and I, beloved sister, whom the enemy doth trouble,
12:54
Speaker 1: not without permission of our heavenly Father to further mortification
12:58
Speaker 1: of this wicked flesh. Be persuaded of the merciful presence
13:01
Speaker 1: of our Lord, God and Father, For he doth not
13:04
Speaker 1: trouble you in sign of his wrath, absence, or not
13:06
Speaker 1: regarding of you. No, dear sister, every son whom the
13:09
Speaker 1: Father loveth he chasteneth. But not ever will he threaten.
13:13
Speaker 1: But from time to time he giveth, and shall give rest,
13:16
Speaker 1: as our utility shall require. Which thing may be unto
13:19
Speaker 1: your heart, as it is unto mine, most comfortable remembrance,
13:23
Speaker 1: till that you may aspy the providence of our God
13:25
Speaker 1: to be such as his own word does witness, that
13:27
Speaker 1: is that sometimes he does turn away his face, apparently
13:31
Speaker 1: even from his elect And then are they in anguish
13:34
Speaker 1: and care, But mercifully returns he unto them and gives
13:38
Speaker 1: gladness and consolation, which, albeit it remains but the twinkling
13:41
Speaker 1: of an eye. Yet is it the arless penny footnote
13:45
Speaker 1: earnest money or small sum in hand with which a
13:47
Speaker 1: bargain is ratified in the footnote of his eternal presence. Resist, sister,
13:53
Speaker 1: and continue, my brother have communicated his whole heart with me,
13:56
Speaker 1: and I perceive the mighty operation of God, and so
13:59
Speaker 1: that us be established in His infinite goodness and most
14:02
Speaker 1: sure promises, whose omnipotent spirit be your comfort forever. Your
14:06
Speaker 1: brother in Jesus Christ. John Knox from Newcastle, fifteen fifty three,
14:11
Speaker 1: end of Letter five, Letter six of the Letters of
14:20
Speaker 1: John Knox by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in
14:24
Speaker 1: the public domain. To his mother in law, write, dearly
14:27
Speaker 1: beloved sister in our sovereign Jesus Christ. Very dollar and
14:31
Speaker 1: anguish of heart will not suffer me at this instant
14:33
Speaker 1: to answer your letter, but to call for you. I
14:36
Speaker 1: will not cease and doubt not to obtain of God's
14:39
Speaker 1: free mercy or continuance. In Christ. Faithful is he that
14:42
Speaker 1: has commanded us to pray one for another, promising that
14:45
Speaker 1: our petitions are acceptable yea, and that we shall give
14:48
Speaker 1: life to such a sin not unto death. To sin.
14:51
Speaker 1: To death is to blaspheme the word of life, which
14:54
Speaker 1: once we have professed, and to fall back not of fragility,
14:57
Speaker 1: but of hatred and contempt to such idolatry and abomination
15:00
Speaker 1: as the wicked maintain, whereof I am most surely persuaded
15:04
Speaker 1: in the Lord Jesus that your heart shall never do.
15:07
Speaker 1: You are engrafted in the body, and by him you
15:09
Speaker 1: shall be defended, but not without dollar, for it behooves
15:13
Speaker 1: every member of his body to suffer with the head
15:15
Speaker 1: that false and lying spirit dows according to his wicked
15:18
Speaker 1: and deceivable craft, when he would cause you believe that
15:21
Speaker 1: I know your rejection, no false devil he lies. I
15:26
Speaker 1: am even equally certified of your election in Christ, as
15:28
Speaker 1: I am that I myself preacheth Christ to be the
15:31
Speaker 1: only Savior, et cetera. I have more signs of your
15:33
Speaker 1: election than presently I can commit. To write your brother,
15:36
Speaker 1: John Knox at Newcastle in haste, fifteen fifty three, end
15:41
Speaker 1: of Letter six, Letter seven of the Letters of John
15:49
Speaker 1: Knox by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in the
15:53
Speaker 1: public domain to his mother in law. The Lord shall
15:56
Speaker 1: put an end to all dollars at his good pleasure. Write,
15:59
Speaker 1: dear belave mother, after most hearty commendation, I have received
16:03
Speaker 1: your letter from your son, mister George. The piteous complaints
16:06
Speaker 1: whereof peerce and trouble. My heart having no comfort but
16:10
Speaker 1: that the truth of God assures me that from the
16:12
Speaker 1: hands of Jesus Christ may none wave. For seeing that
16:16
Speaker 1: he is sent of God the Father, a triumphant victor
16:18
Speaker 1: to conquer the kingdom, it should redound to his dishonor
16:21
Speaker 1: if any should take the spoil from him. You have
16:24
Speaker 1: committed yourself to his protection and have forsaken all saviors
16:27
Speaker 1: but him alone. The knowledge of your sins does trouble
16:30
Speaker 1: and displease you. You know that His blood is a
16:33
Speaker 1: sufficient satisfaction for all believers therein, and albeit the adversary
16:37
Speaker 1: would persuade you that you believe, not trust not his
16:40
Speaker 1: deceivable lies, you believe, and are also sorry that more
16:44
Speaker 1: constantly you cannot believe. And therefore pray, O Lord, increase
16:47
Speaker 1: my faith. Our faith is not worthy of and for itself,
16:51
Speaker 1: of remission of sins and of the life everlasting. But
16:54
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is all sufficiency to us, whose justice and
16:57
Speaker 1: holiness we embrace and receive by faith, which which never
17:00
Speaker 1: can be perfect in us, but that His mercy will
17:02
Speaker 1: accept it, how faint and feeble, that ever it be
17:05
Speaker 1: for his own infinite goodness and promise's sake. And therefore
17:10
Speaker 1: abide patiently the Lord's deliverance to the end, remembering that
17:13
Speaker 1: our head is entered into his kingdom by troubles and
17:16
Speaker 1: dollars without number yea. It may be said that every
17:19
Speaker 1: hour was anguish and pain increasing in our savior Jesus,
17:22
Speaker 1: from the hour that his Majesty received our mortal nature
17:25
Speaker 1: until the rendering up the spirit in the hands of
17:27
Speaker 1: his Father. After that, most lamentably, he had complained in
17:30
Speaker 1: these words, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
17:34
Speaker 1: Which words deeply considered by us, shall relieve a great
17:36
Speaker 1: part of our spiritual cross. For if so was the
17:40
Speaker 1: only son entreated, and if it becomes the members to
17:43
Speaker 1: be like unto the head, why should we despair under
17:46
Speaker 1: such tribulations. He did not only suffer poverty, hunger, blasphemy,
17:50
Speaker 1: and death, but also he did taste the cup of
17:53
Speaker 1: God's wrath against sin, not only to make full satisfaction
17:56
Speaker 1: for his chosen people, but also that he might learn
17:59
Speaker 1: to be pitiful, to say, such as are tempted, and
18:01
Speaker 1: therefore despair, not for your troubles be the infallible signs
18:05
Speaker 1: of your election in Christ's blood being engrafted in his body.
18:09
Speaker 1: As for the assaults of your enemy, sometimes alluring you
18:11
Speaker 1: to idolatry, sometimes to other manifest iniquity, so that you
18:15
Speaker 1: obey him. Not altogether there is no danger, but rather
18:18
Speaker 1: the feeling of his continual assaults is the sign that
18:21
Speaker 1: he hath not gotten victory over you, but that there
18:24
Speaker 1: is in you a spunk footnote, spark in footnote of faith,
18:28
Speaker 1: which your heavenly Father shall never suffer to be quenched
18:31
Speaker 1: nor put out, but will keep and increase the same
18:34
Speaker 1: for his promise's sake. Dear Mother, so may and will
18:37
Speaker 1: I call you not only for the tender affection I
18:40
Speaker 1: bear unto you in Christ, but also for the motherly
18:42
Speaker 1: kindness you have shown unto me at all times since
18:44
Speaker 1: our first acquaintance. Albeit such things as I have desired,
18:48
Speaker 1: if so had pleased God, and you and others have
18:51
Speaker 1: long desired and never liked to come to pass. Yet,
18:53
Speaker 1: shall you be sure that my love and care towards
18:56
Speaker 1: you shall never abate, so long as I can care
18:58
Speaker 1: for any earthly creature. You shall understand that this sixth
19:02
Speaker 1: of November I spake with Sir Robert Bows in the
19:05
Speaker 1: matter you know, according to your request, whose disdainful ye,
19:08
Speaker 1: despiteful words, have so pierced my heart that my life
19:11
Speaker 1: is bitter. Unto me, I bear a good countenance with
19:13
Speaker 1: a sore, troubled heart. While that he that ought to
19:16
Speaker 1: consider matters with a deep judgment is become not only
19:19
Speaker 1: a despiser, but also a torture of God's messengers. God
19:22
Speaker 1: be merciful unto him amongst others his most unpleasing words.
19:26
Speaker 1: While that I was about to have declared my part
19:29
Speaker 1: in the whole matter, he said, away with your rhetorical reasons,
19:32
Speaker 1: for I will not be persuaded with them. God knows
19:35
Speaker 1: I did use no rhetoric nor colored speech, but would
19:38
Speaker 1: have spoken the truth. And that in most simple manner,
19:41
Speaker 1: I am not a good orator in my own cause.
19:43
Speaker 1: But what he would not be content to hear of me,
19:45
Speaker 1: God shall declare to him one day to his displeasure
19:48
Speaker 1: unless he repent. It is supposed that all the matter
19:52
Speaker 1: comes by you and me. I pray God that your
19:55
Speaker 1: conscience were quiet and at peace. And I regard not
19:57
Speaker 1: what country consume this my wicked carcase. And were it
20:01
Speaker 1: not that no man's unthankfulness shall move me. God supporting
20:04
Speaker 1: my infirmity to cease to do profit. Unto Christ's congregation,
20:08
Speaker 1: the days should be few that England should give me bread.
20:11
Speaker 1: And I fear that when all is done, I shall
20:13
Speaker 1: be driven to that end. For I cannot abide the
20:15
Speaker 1: disdainful hatred of those of whom not only I thought
20:19
Speaker 1: that I might have craved kindness, but also to whom
20:22
Speaker 1: God hath been by me more liberal than they are thankful.
20:25
Speaker 1: But so must men declare themselves afflictions trouble me at
20:29
Speaker 1: this present. But yet I doubt not to overcome by
20:32
Speaker 1: him who will not leave comfortless, is afflicted to the end,
20:35
Speaker 1: whose omnipotent spirit rest with you. Amen by yours unfeigned
20:39
Speaker 1: in Christ, John Knox, end of Letter seven, Letter eight
20:49
Speaker 1: of the Letters of John Knox by John Knox. This
20:52
Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain to his mother
20:55
Speaker 1: in law, dearly beloved sister in our Savior. After the
20:59
Speaker 1: sight of your letter received from your husband upon Saturday,
21:02
Speaker 1: the nineteenth of this instant December, I partly was moved
21:05
Speaker 1: in my spirit, weighing with myself your continual trouble, which
21:08
Speaker 1: proceedeth from the infirmity and weakness of your soul, whichever
21:12
Speaker 1: firsts for the presence of your Father's mercy, that no
21:14
Speaker 1: mortal man can have at all times. Yea sister, the
21:18
Speaker 1: most perfect is ofttimes left without all sense and feeling thereof,
21:22
Speaker 1: and that partly because sin must needs be mortified day
21:24
Speaker 1: by day, and no fire so tries the gold, as
21:27
Speaker 1: that kind of cross tries our faith till it burn
21:30
Speaker 1: and consume in us not only the vain glory of
21:32
Speaker 1: the world, but also that blind love we bear to ourselves,
21:36
Speaker 1: so that in very deed we hate and abhor ourselves,
21:39
Speaker 1: because we find neither constancy nor perfection in this our
21:43
Speaker 1: corrupted nature. And therefore are we compelled to sob and
21:46
Speaker 1: groan for deliverance by Him who hath promised and shall
21:49
Speaker 1: not deceive. This battle knoweth not the careless of the world,
21:53
Speaker 1: and therefore they live as brute beasts, only seeking such
21:56
Speaker 1: things as may please the flesh, and appetites thereof seldom behold.
22:00
Speaker 1: Alas the more pity the end where to man is
22:02
Speaker 1: created not so much here to live, as it were,
22:05
Speaker 1: for a moment in that which flesh reckons to be pleasure,
22:09
Speaker 1: as for to inherit. The kingdom prepared for such as
22:11
Speaker 1: unfeignedly firsting their salvation to stand in Christ by the
22:15
Speaker 1: redemption which is by his blood to suffer with him,
22:18
Speaker 1: as it is appointed by the providence of our Father,
22:20
Speaker 1: that the members shall be correspondent and like to the head, who,
22:24
Speaker 1: in anguish of extreme dollar cried, my God, My God,
22:27
Speaker 1: Why hast thou forsaken me? O words most dolorous and
22:30
Speaker 1: voice most lamentable to be heard proceed from the mouth
22:33
Speaker 1: of the Son of God. Consider, dear sister, he was
22:36
Speaker 1: no debtor to sin nor death. And yet this did
22:39
Speaker 1: he suffer, not only to make satisfaction to the justice
22:42
Speaker 1: of God, which we were never able to do, but
22:44
Speaker 1: also to put us in comfort that his suffering was
22:47
Speaker 1: not in vain, but even for our example, that in
22:49
Speaker 1: most extremity, yet we shall look for deliverance which we
22:53
Speaker 1: must needs receive if we did thirst for the same. Sister,
22:57
Speaker 1: Albeit we hear not always God's word, notably crying unto us,
23:00
Speaker 1: to put us in memory that all that is in
23:02
Speaker 1: earth is transitory. Yet have we the hand of our
23:05
Speaker 1: Father that suffers us not to slumber and sleep in wantonness,
23:09
Speaker 1: vainglory and fleshly pleasure. I know well that the purpose
23:12
Speaker 1: of Satan is to slay and to destroy, but his
23:15
Speaker 1: counsels shall be confounded, as they were in purchasing leave
23:18
Speaker 1: to trouble just job. Upon Monday, I was with your
23:21
Speaker 1: daughter Bouse, who hath her heartily commended unto you and
23:25
Speaker 1: unto our sister Marjorie. She forgot none of your directions,
23:28
Speaker 1: but did declare unto me both your grief and her own,
23:31
Speaker 1: which I find both to proceed from one fountain. Praise
23:34
Speaker 1: be unto God left her in good comfort, referring thanks
23:37
Speaker 1: unto God for all his benefits. I was not as
23:40
Speaker 1: yet I am in good case to have traveled, for
23:42
Speaker 1: I had lain Thursday at night and Friday all day, sore,
23:45
Speaker 1: troubled in the gravel. I know the cause and original,
23:48
Speaker 1: but I cannot remedy. But he who willeth me to
23:51
Speaker 1: suffer shall at his pleasure. It will be after the
23:55
Speaker 1: twelfth day before I can be at Berwick, and almost
23:58
Speaker 1: I am determined not to come at all. You know
24:00
Speaker 1: the cause. God be more merciful unto them than they
24:04
Speaker 1: are equitable to me. In judgment, the face of my
24:06
Speaker 1: own conscience absorbs me before His face, who looks not
24:10
Speaker 1: upon the person of man with troubled heart and weak body.
24:13
Speaker 1: At Newcastle this Tuesday, twenty second of December fifteen fifty three,
24:17
Speaker 1: Your brother, John Knox, I may not answer thee places
24:21
Speaker 1: of scripture, nor yet write the exposition of the sixth Psalm.
24:24
Speaker 1: For every day of this week must I preach if
24:26
Speaker 1: the wicked carcass will permit. End of letter eight letter
24:36
Speaker 1: nine of the Letters of John Knox, by John Knox.
24:39
Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain to his
24:42
Speaker 1: mother in law, beloved sister, after my hearty commendation, touching
24:46
Speaker 1: the Angel of God, send to wrestle with Jacob. The
24:49
Speaker 1: matter shall be most easy to understand if you shall
24:51
Speaker 1: mark in what estate standeth Jacob departed from Laban. He
24:55
Speaker 1: was to enter into his native land, but not without
24:57
Speaker 1: great danger of his life, seeing before him was Esau,
25:00
Speaker 1: who before had conspired his death. And albeit Jacob had
25:04
Speaker 1: a promise of God to be kept and also a
25:05
Speaker 1: commandment to enter into the land and not to fear. Yet,
25:09
Speaker 1: when he comes to the very point where danger appereth
25:12
Speaker 1: or sore afraid, fearing the coming of his brother Esau,
25:15
Speaker 1: as by gifts and rewards, by direction of his messengers,
25:18
Speaker 1: by dividing of his companies, to avoid the uttermost of
25:21
Speaker 1: his brother's hatred evidently may be aspied, this weakness and
25:25
Speaker 1: imbecility resting in all men, yet not imputed for sin
25:28
Speaker 1: in God's elect The merciful providence of our God supports,
25:32
Speaker 1: as that his wisdom thinketh and judgeth to be expedient.
25:35
Speaker 1: And albeit he useth not one medicine to every patient,
25:39
Speaker 1: yet to every one of his chosen people, giveth he,
25:41
Speaker 1: at one time or other, some sure and undoubted significations
25:45
Speaker 1: that He knoweth their infirmity, taketh care for the same,
25:48
Speaker 1: and that he will not suffer them to perish forever.
25:50
Speaker 1: Albeit the world and the devil rage most violently to
25:53
Speaker 1: oppress and confound us that be most feeble and frail,
25:57
Speaker 1: And hereof we have an image most lively painted fork.
26:00
Speaker 1: In the wrestling of Jacob with the Angel, Jacob feared
26:03
Speaker 1: that his brother Esaul would vanquish and overcome him. God
26:06
Speaker 1: would witness the contrary by that he made him able
26:09
Speaker 1: to resist and prevail during the whole night against an angel,
26:12
Speaker 1: a spiritual creature, who alone, by God's power, is of
26:15
Speaker 1: greater puisance and might than all earthly creatures. And thus
26:18
Speaker 1: would God speak to the heart of Jacob o Jacob
26:21
Speaker 1: why fearest, thou man, who is but flesh, bones and blood,
26:24
Speaker 1: Seeing I have made THEE able to withstand a spiritual creature,
26:27
Speaker 1: this knight that thou hast endured in wrestling, signify if
26:31
Speaker 1: unto THEE and unto God's elect after THEE all time
26:33
Speaker 1: of transitory trouble, whereunto I have supported THEE, not only
26:37
Speaker 1: to confirm THEE in my promise, but also for comfort
26:39
Speaker 1: of such as shall hereafter suffer adversity, that my very
26:43
Speaker 1: angel hath not prevailed against THEE. And therefore will I
26:46
Speaker 1: now change thy name from Jacob, which signify a supplanter deceiver,
26:50
Speaker 1: a one that is weak, which name was given to
26:52
Speaker 1: THEE in that Thou, in thy nativity apprehended the heal
26:55
Speaker 1: of thy brother, and did also, by counsel of thy
26:58
Speaker 1: mother Rebeccah, receive from thy fe father the benediction without
27:01
Speaker 1: his knowledge, which he provided for thy brother Esau, which
27:04
Speaker 1: albeit it appeared to proceed from the counsel of the woman,
27:08
Speaker 1: meaning deceit. Yet because I was author thereof and moved
27:12
Speaker 1: her heart and mind, there too, now will I change
27:14
Speaker 1: that name, and thou shalt be called Israel, which signifies
27:17
Speaker 1: strong by God for by me you have ever been defended,
27:22
Speaker 1: and shall also be to the end of this transitory battle.
27:25
Speaker 1: And so art thou victor not only of men, but
27:28
Speaker 1: also of gods, that is, of angels and spiritual creatures.
27:32
Speaker 1: By this paraphrase upon the last part of the text,
27:34
Speaker 1: you may aspy what is meant by the wrestling of
27:36
Speaker 1: Jacob with the angel all night and bought by the
27:39
Speaker 1: changing of Jacob's name. The angel touched the main or
27:42
Speaker 1: principal sinew of Jacob's thigh, whereby he became crooked, and
27:46
Speaker 1: did halt to witness unto him that it was not
27:48
Speaker 1: by his own power that so long he had resisted.
27:51
Speaker 1: The fire, you know, is the principal part that sustains
27:54
Speaker 1: man to stand, and therefore, being maimed or crooked in
27:57
Speaker 1: that part, he is unable to wrestle. And yet a
28:00
Speaker 1: matter greatly to be wondered. Jacob would not suffer the
28:03
Speaker 1: angel to depart till he gave unto him the benediction
28:06
Speaker 1: a response before written, and this was done at the
28:09
Speaker 1: spring of the morning. Hereby is signified that our victory
28:13
Speaker 1: proceedeth not from our own strength, but from the goodness
28:16
Speaker 1: of him who, by his spirit poureth into us, understanding will,
28:19
Speaker 1: sufficiency and strength. For without him we can do nothing.
28:23
Speaker 1: And lest we should glory as that some power resteth
28:26
Speaker 1: with us, For ever would the flesh rest in itself,
28:30
Speaker 1: it is necessary that our thighs be touched and we
28:32
Speaker 1: be made crooked, that is, that all hope and comfort
28:35
Speaker 1: of the flesh be taken from us, that we may
28:37
Speaker 1: learn to depend upon the promises of our most faithful God.
28:41
Speaker 1: Let us not despair, albeit all the strength not only
28:44
Speaker 1: within us, but also appearing in others vanish and forsake us. Remember, sister,
28:49
Speaker 1: that God never brought any excellent work to pass till
28:52
Speaker 1: first man's judgment was despared thereof, And this his majesty
28:55
Speaker 1: doth to notify his power to the sons of men.
28:58
Speaker 1: Abel cried not for vengeance upon Cain the murderer till
29:01
Speaker 1: first his blood was cruelly shed. Joseph obtained not dominion
29:05
Speaker 1: and power till first he suffered great trouble and imprisonment,
29:09
Speaker 1: and in the opinion of his father, was dead. Moses
29:12
Speaker 1: was not received in protection of Pharaoh's daughter till first
29:15
Speaker 1: he was exposed to the danger of the flood, and
29:18
Speaker 1: finally Jesus Christ, our champion and head, did not obtain
29:21
Speaker 1: victory above all his enemies, so that after they might
29:24
Speaker 1: not trouble nor molest him any more, till first he
29:27
Speaker 1: suffered the vile death of the Cross. And so, sister,
29:30
Speaker 1: albeit we be dejected even to the ground, Yet with
29:34
Speaker 1: jacob let us hold fast the Angel, that is, the
29:36
Speaker 1: promises of our God, and no doubt benediction shall follow
29:40
Speaker 1: in the spring of the morning, that is, after the
29:43
Speaker 1: cloudy storms of these dolorous knights, wherein we fight not
29:46
Speaker 1: only against flesh and blood, and yet that were a
29:49
Speaker 1: battle too strong for our pursuants, but also against spiritual
29:53
Speaker 1: wickedness in heavenly things, that is, sometimes against despair, which
29:57
Speaker 1: would call all God's promises in doubt, and so sometimes
30:00
Speaker 1: against confidence in one's self, wherewith almost every living man
30:04
Speaker 1: is infected. Albeit alas every man doth not aspy it.
30:07
Speaker 1: It is a sin dangerous and odious in God's sight.
30:10
Speaker 1: And happy are those that be entreated in the mercy
30:13
Speaker 1: of God, that they find no cause to rejoice in themselves.
30:16
Speaker 1: After long debate, Paul came to this knowledge that when
30:19
Speaker 1: he found greatest weakness in himself, then did he glory,
30:22
Speaker 1: that the virtu and power of Jesus Christ might abide
30:25
Speaker 1: in him, who earnestly can care for meet. Yet feeleth
30:28
Speaker 1: not the pain of hunger, who unfeignedly thirst for drink
30:32
Speaker 1: that sustains not the dollar of drought, and who with
30:35
Speaker 1: fervent heart can desire to be rid and deliver it
30:38
Speaker 1: from the cares and dollars of this wicked flesh, Yet
30:41
Speaker 1: tastes not the bitterness and anguishes thereof. And so, sister,
30:44
Speaker 1: are troubles very profitable for God's chosen people, as well
30:48
Speaker 1: to humble the proudness born with us, as to engender
30:51
Speaker 1: in us a thirst and desire of the life everlasting.
30:54
Speaker 1: Jacob thought he had seen God face to face when
30:57
Speaker 1: he saw the Angel, and by him attained to so
30:59
Speaker 1: great nons knowledge, For he understood by communing with him
31:02
Speaker 1: what every point of his conflict meant, and wherefore he
31:06
Speaker 1: was made impotent of his thigh. And herein was not
31:09
Speaker 1: jacoble together deceived. For albeit he saw not the pure
31:12
Speaker 1: and very substance of God as he is in his
31:14
Speaker 1: own essence, which, as God of firmuth to Moses, no
31:17
Speaker 1: man can see and live. That is no living man
31:20
Speaker 1: in his mortal life, to see, perceive, and behold the
31:23
Speaker 1: naked substance of God as his majesty is in his
31:26
Speaker 1: own beauty and glory. For that sight is reserved to
31:29
Speaker 1: the life everlasting, where and when we shall see as
31:32
Speaker 1: we are seen, and therein shall stand our great comfort
31:35
Speaker 1: and felicity. Albeit, I say Jacob saw not God, yet
31:39
Speaker 1: saw he the goodness of his God, the power of
31:41
Speaker 1: his God, and the merciful providence of his God, taking
31:44
Speaker 1: care for him to deliver him from pursuit of his enemies,
31:47
Speaker 1: whom so greatly he feared, and instructing him in such
31:50
Speaker 1: cases as appertained to his present comfort. And so he
31:54
Speaker 1: saw God face to face, that is, he had a
31:56
Speaker 1: true and undoubted knowledge of God's will and present favor
31:59
Speaker 1: towards him. For that is, to see God as Jesus.
32:02
Speaker 1: Christ answereth unto Philip, desiring to see the Father. He
32:05
Speaker 1: that seeth me, says Christ, seeth the Father, that is,
32:08
Speaker 1: he that understandeth the cause why I am come into
32:11
Speaker 1: the world, and so believes in me, which is to
32:13
Speaker 1: see me by faith. The same man seeth the Father
32:16
Speaker 1: that is understands and knows that God, the Father beareth
32:19
Speaker 1: an unfeigned favor towards him. Christ here meaneth not of
32:23
Speaker 1: any corporal sight, but of the eyes and sight of faith,
32:26
Speaker 1: which pierceth through the clouds of darkness, that is, through
32:29
Speaker 1: the wrath of God, which our sins do deserve, to
32:31
Speaker 1: the brightness of the glory of our Father's face, wherein
32:34
Speaker 1: we behold mercy and grace in that He has given
32:37
Speaker 1: to us salvation and life in his only son, Jesus Christ.
32:41
Speaker 1: That our Savior meant not hear of any corporal sight.
32:44
Speaker 1: It is plain for Judas and many other reprobates saw
32:47
Speaker 1: the same faith and visage of Jesus Christ. Yea also
32:50
Speaker 1: his works and wondrous signs that either Peter or any
32:53
Speaker 1: other of the apostles saw in the mortal flesh. And
32:56
Speaker 1: yet no reprobates sore and considered God the Father merciful
33:00
Speaker 1: their offenses in Jesus Christ. And so the texts are
33:03
Speaker 1: not repugnant. For the text of Moses means that no
33:06
Speaker 1: mortal creature in this life, for the dullness and infirmity
33:09
Speaker 1: of this corrupt nature, is able to behold the naked
33:12
Speaker 1: presence of God as he is in his own substance
33:15
Speaker 1: and essence, and all other texts. Making mention that men
33:18
Speaker 1: have seen God or spoken to God face to face
33:21
Speaker 1: mean that God reveals and notifies himself to such as
33:24
Speaker 1: he will, and in such form and similitude as his
33:26
Speaker 1: wisdom knows to be expedient for their infirmity. And thereby
33:30
Speaker 1: doth He instruct them of His counsel and godly will,
33:32
Speaker 1: as you may perceive by His visions shown to Isiah
33:35
Speaker 1: and Iseqel, and other more prophets of God. Whereof to
33:38
Speaker 1: write my other great labors, permit not the contents of
33:41
Speaker 1: your other letter, received long ago, I bear not now
33:44
Speaker 1: in mind. But I know your letter to be in custody,
33:47
Speaker 1: and so at some convenient leisure, after advisement with your doubts,
33:51
Speaker 1: I will do diligence to resolve them. Or if you
33:53
Speaker 1: shall write the same doubts again, if possible, I will
33:56
Speaker 1: answer them. Before I go. Be fervent in reading, fervent
33:59
Speaker 1: in prayer, and merciful to the poor, according to your power.
34:02
Speaker 1: And God shall put end to all dollars when least
34:04
Speaker 1: is thought to the judgment of man, your brother unfeigned.
34:08
Speaker 1: John Knox end of Letter nine, Letter ten of the
34:18
Speaker 1: Letters of John Knox by John Knox. This LIBRIVANX recording
34:22
Speaker 1: is in the public domain. To his mother in law, Rise, Lord,
34:26
Speaker 1: stretch out thy hand, forget not the sobs of the
34:29
Speaker 1: oppressed Psalm seventy, Write, dearly beloved mother. In our savior
34:34
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Now is our dollar, appointed by God and
34:37
Speaker 1: for spoken by His prophets. Come upon us as the
34:40
Speaker 1: dollar of a woman in the birth of her first child.
34:42
Speaker 1: And so it is. Come as with your ears, both
34:45
Speaker 1: openly and privately. Oftentimes you have had declared. When I
34:48
Speaker 1: remember your great infirmity and the strong battle that externally
34:51
Speaker 1: you fight, and call to mind how small comfort you
34:54
Speaker 1: have on earth, I am compelled to sob and grieve
34:56
Speaker 1: to him that only may give strength, comfort and consolation
34:59
Speaker 1: with us help of any creature unto you in these
35:02
Speaker 1: most dolorous days. And good hope I have that my
35:05
Speaker 1: petition shall not be repelled but for Christ Jesus Sake,
35:09
Speaker 1: accepted and grunted, albeit not in such sort as you
35:12
Speaker 1: and I gladly would, yet I doubt not, but in
35:15
Speaker 1: such sort we shall obtain it, as His glory and
35:17
Speaker 1: our everlasting comfort and profit requireth it hath not been
35:22
Speaker 1: without the most special providence and favor of God, that
35:25
Speaker 1: these many days by passed you have been grievously tempted
35:28
Speaker 1: and sore assaulted to revolt and turn back again to
35:31
Speaker 1: that abominable and blasphemous idolatry, which now, in God's anger
35:34
Speaker 1: is erected before the uttermost of his plagues be poured
35:37
Speaker 1: forth upon the stubborn and inobedient, who never would delight
35:40
Speaker 1: in the truth of his wood. And therefore of his
35:42
Speaker 1: just judgments, most justly has He given them over according
35:46
Speaker 1: to their heart's desire to delight in lies to their
35:49
Speaker 1: eternal damnation. In these days, I say, beloved Mother, that
35:52
Speaker 1: no appearance there was, that ever such abomination should have
35:56
Speaker 1: taken place. So suddenly within this realm of England you
35:59
Speaker 1: are tempted, and so to turn back again to idolatry,
36:02
Speaker 1: which tempting spirit, God, our heavenly Father, permitted to trouble you,
36:06
Speaker 1: partly for that he would have you exercised in the
36:09
Speaker 1: battle before the great danger approached, lest perchance you might
36:12
Speaker 1: have been overthrown if unprovidedly, both occasion and temptation at
36:16
Speaker 1: once had assaulted you, And partly that by continual repugnance,
36:19
Speaker 1: you might learn how odious is all kind of idolatry
36:22
Speaker 1: in the sight of God. For Satan uses seldom to tempt,
36:26
Speaker 1: but in those things whereof he knows God must to
36:28
Speaker 1: be offended with as pride, last, covetousness, adultery, idolatry, and
36:32
Speaker 1: such like, and the committes whereof and continuous in the
36:35
Speaker 1: same Paul pronounces to have no portion in the Kingdom
36:38
Speaker 1: of God. This is my hope, beloved mother, that in
36:41
Speaker 1: your continual battle so far you have profited that in
36:44
Speaker 1: this case almost you need no admonition of me, but
36:48
Speaker 1: because it is my bound and duty, not only by
36:50
Speaker 1: a common Christian spirit and tender love according to Godliness,
36:54
Speaker 1: that we have had since our first acquaintance, to do
36:57
Speaker 1: the uttermost of my power for your comfort. By pen.
37:00
Speaker 1: Therefore will I write, because the bodies are now put
37:02
Speaker 1: asunder to meet again at God's pleasure, that which by
37:05
Speaker 1: mouth and face to face you have heard. If man
37:08
Speaker 1: or angel shall labor to bring you back from the
37:10
Speaker 1: profession that once you have given, let them in that
37:13
Speaker 1: behalf be accursed, and in any part concerning your faith
37:16
Speaker 1: and religion obeyed of you. If any trouble you above measure,
37:19
Speaker 1: whether they be magistrates or carnal friends, they shall bear
37:22
Speaker 1: their just condemnation unless they speedily repent. But whosoever it
37:26
Speaker 1: be that shall solicit or provoke you to that abominable idol,
37:29
Speaker 1: resist you all such boldly unto the end, learning of
37:32
Speaker 1: the Holy Ghost, not to defile the temple of God
37:35
Speaker 1: with idols, neither yet to give your bodily presence unto them,
37:39
Speaker 1: but obeying God more than man, avoid all appearance of iniquity.
37:43
Speaker 1: The necessity that all men have so to do that
37:46
Speaker 1: willingly will not deceive themselves. I remit partly to that
37:49
Speaker 1: which after you have heard, and partly to a general
37:52
Speaker 1: letter written by me in great anguish of heart, to
37:54
Speaker 1: the congregations of whom I hear say a great part
37:57
Speaker 1: under pretense that they may keep faith secret in them heart,
38:00
Speaker 1: and yet do as idolators do, begin now to fall
38:03
Speaker 1: before that idle. But oh alas blind and deceived are they,
38:07
Speaker 1: as they shall know in the Lord's visitation, which so
38:10
Speaker 1: assuredly as our God liveth shall shortly apprehend these backsliders
38:14
Speaker 1: amongst the midst of idolators. With very grief of heart,
38:18
Speaker 1: I write better it had been unto them never to
38:20
Speaker 1: have known the truth, than so suddenly to God's great
38:23
Speaker 1: dishonor to have returned to their vomit. God of his
38:26
Speaker 1: infinite mercy, grant unto them speedy repentance. For if the
38:29
Speaker 1: sins sleep long, I fear it shall awake to their
38:32
Speaker 1: perpetual confusion. But now, Mother, comfort you my heart, God
38:36
Speaker 1: grant you may in this my great affliction and dolorous pilgrimage,
38:40
Speaker 1: continue stoutly to the end, and bow you never before
38:43
Speaker 1: that idle And so will the rest of worldly troubles
38:46
Speaker 1: be unto me more tolerable with my own heart, I
38:48
Speaker 1: oft commune yea. And as it were comforting myself, I
38:52
Speaker 1: appear to triumph that God shall never suffer you to
38:54
Speaker 1: full in that rebuke. Sure I am that both you
38:57
Speaker 1: would fear and be ashamed to commit that abomination in
38:59
Speaker 1: my presence. Who am but a wretched man subject to
39:02
Speaker 1: sin and misery like yourself? But O Mother, though no
39:07
Speaker 1: earthly creature should be offended with you, yet fear you
39:09
Speaker 1: the presence and offense of Him who present in all places,
39:13
Speaker 1: searcheth the very heart and reigns whose indignation once kindled
39:16
Speaker 1: against the inobedient, and no sin more inflameth his wrath
39:19
Speaker 1: than idolatry. Doth no creature in heaven nor in earth,
39:23
Speaker 1: that only this creature is able to appease the same.
39:26
Speaker 1: And therefore dear Mother, avoid and flee from it, even
39:29
Speaker 1: as from the death everlasting, very love and careful solicitude,
39:33
Speaker 1: which God knoweth my heart taketh for you, compels me
39:35
Speaker 1: to double so ofttimes. And whereof a thing being uncertain,
39:39
Speaker 1: when God shall grant any opportunity to visit you again,
39:42
Speaker 1: but the Spirit of the Lord Jesus shall by his
39:44
Speaker 1: omnipotent and invincible power, supply in you that which wanteth
39:48
Speaker 1: of worldly comfort, that the glory may be known to
39:50
Speaker 1: be our Gods alone, who for a time useth to comfort, sustain,
39:54
Speaker 1: and feed a creature by another. But in the end
39:57
Speaker 1: he draws us his own image to himself, that by
40:00
Speaker 1: him alone, without the help of all, we may live, joice, reign,
40:04
Speaker 1: and triumph, as He has promised by Jesus Christ his son.
40:07
Speaker 1: One thing will I not conceal from you, Mother, that
40:10
Speaker 1: neither are we free nor yet in our hearts to
40:12
Speaker 1: we glorify God as our duty requireth. So long as
40:15
Speaker 1: we have the carnal comfort and defense of creatures with us,
40:18
Speaker 1: the whole man, in body and soul, shall evidently prove
40:21
Speaker 1: this conclusion. For this body that liveth by meat, drink, clothing,
40:25
Speaker 1: and nourishment, we see its subject to infirmity, yea to
40:29
Speaker 1: mutability and fine footnote end disillusion end footnote as the
40:34
Speaker 1: final death of all men declareth, and the soul even
40:37
Speaker 1: of the very elect living by the lively word of
40:39
Speaker 1: our heavenly Father. Having a teacher that carries flesh is
40:42
Speaker 1: always flowing and troubled with some fear, as in Christ's
40:45
Speaker 1: apostles and many others. Most manifestly we are instructed. But
40:49
Speaker 1: when all earthly creature ceaseth, then shall the sufficiency of
40:52
Speaker 1: God's Spirit work his own work. And therefore, beloved Mother,
40:56
Speaker 1: fear not the battle that you sustain, neither yet the
40:59
Speaker 1: infirmity that you find, either in flesh or spirit. Only
41:02
Speaker 1: abstain from external iniquity that you make not your members
41:05
Speaker 1: pertinence to sin, and your imperfections shall have no power
41:08
Speaker 1: to damn you. For Christ's perfection is imputed to be
41:11
Speaker 1: yours by faith which you have in his blood. Be assured, Mother,
41:15
Speaker 1: willingly I will not deceive you. If any such infirmity
41:19
Speaker 1: were damnable, long ago, I would have showed you the truth.
41:22
Speaker 1: But no more, nor God is displeased. Albeit that sometimes
41:25
Speaker 1: the body be sick and subject to diseases, and so
41:28
Speaker 1: unable to do the calling. No more is he offended,
41:31
Speaker 1: albeit the soul in that case be diseased and sick.
41:34
Speaker 1: And as the natural Father will not slay the body
41:37
Speaker 1: of his child, albeit through sickness it faint and a
41:40
Speaker 1: poor comfortable meets, no more and much less will our
41:43
Speaker 1: heavenly Father slay our souls, albeit through spiritual infirmity and
41:47
Speaker 1: the weakness of our flesh. Sometimes we refuse the lively
41:51
Speaker 1: food of his comfortable promises. Where the contempt of God
41:55
Speaker 1: is by his grace removed, and a love of justice
41:57
Speaker 1: and of life to come engrafted in the heart. There
42:00
Speaker 1: is the infallible seal and testimony of the Holy Ghost,
42:03
Speaker 1: who shall perform his own work in due season. For
42:06
Speaker 1: the power of God is known in our infirmity. And
42:09
Speaker 1: thus I commit you to the protection of Him who
42:11
Speaker 1: by grace has called you from darkness to light, by
42:15
Speaker 1: faith has purged your conscience and heart, and of his
42:17
Speaker 1: free mercy shall glorify you according to His promise made
42:21
Speaker 1: under them that obediently received the message of life in
42:23
Speaker 1: Christ Jesus our Lord, whose omnipotent spirit rest with you forever.
42:29
Speaker 1: At Deep the twentieth of July fifteen fifty four, after
42:32
Speaker 1: I had visited Geneva and other parts, had returned to
42:35
Speaker 1: Deep to learn the estate of England and Scotland. My
42:39
Speaker 1: own estate I cannot well declare. But God shall guide
42:42
Speaker 1: thee footsteps of him that is wilsome, and will feed
42:44
Speaker 1: him in trouble that never was greatly solicitous for the world.
42:48
Speaker 1: If any collection might be made among the faithful, it
42:51
Speaker 1: were no shame for me to receive that which Paul refused,
42:53
Speaker 1: not in the time of his trouble. But all I
42:56
Speaker 1: remit to His providence, that ever careth for his own
42:59
Speaker 1: rest in Christ, your son with troubled heart, John Knox,
43:04
Speaker 1: end of Letter ten, Letter eleven of the Letters of
43:13
Speaker 1: John Knox by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in
43:17
Speaker 1: the public domain from Scotland to his mother in law.
43:21
Speaker 1: The ways of man are not in his own power.
43:24
Speaker 1: Albeit my journey towards Scotland, beloved mother was most contrarious
43:28
Speaker 1: to my own judgment before I did enterprise the same.
43:31
Speaker 1: Yet this day I praise God for them who were
43:34
Speaker 1: the cause external of my resort to these quarters. That is,
43:37
Speaker 1: I praise God in you, and for you, whom He
43:40
Speaker 1: made the instrument to draw me from the den of
43:42
Speaker 1: my own ease. You alone did draw me from the
43:44
Speaker 1: rest of quiet study to contemplate and behold the fervent
43:48
Speaker 1: thirst of our brethren night and day, sobbing and groaning
43:51
Speaker 1: for the bread of life. If I had not seen
43:53
Speaker 1: it with my eyes in my own country, I could
43:56
Speaker 1: not have believed it. I praised God when I was
43:59
Speaker 1: with you, perceiving that in the midst of Sodom, God
44:02
Speaker 1: had more lots than one, and more faithful daughters than two.
44:06
Speaker 1: But the fervency here doth far exceed all others that
44:09
Speaker 1: I have seen, And therefore you shall patiently bear. Although
44:12
Speaker 1: I spend here yet some days for depart I cannot
44:16
Speaker 1: under such time as God quench their thirst. A little
44:18
Speaker 1: yea mother, their fervency doth so ravish me that I
44:22
Speaker 1: cannot but accuse and condemn my slothful coldness. God grant
44:25
Speaker 1: them their heart's desire, And I pray you advertise of
44:28
Speaker 1: your estate and of things that have occurred since your
44:31
Speaker 1: last writing. Comfort yourself in God's promises, and be assured
44:35
Speaker 1: that God stirs up more friends than we beware. Of
44:38
Speaker 1: my commendations to all in your company. I commit you
44:41
Speaker 1: to the protection of the Omnipotent in great haste, the
44:44
Speaker 1: fourth of November fifteen fifty five, your son, John Knox.
44:49
Speaker 1: End of Letter eleven, Letter twelve of the Letters of
44:58
Speaker 1: John Knox, by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in
45:01
Speaker 1: the public domain from Scotland to his mother in law,
45:05
Speaker 1: beloved Mother, with my most hearty commendation in the Lord Jesus.
45:09
Speaker 1: Albeit I was fully purposed to have visited you before
45:12
Speaker 1: this time, yet hath God laid impediments which I could
45:15
Speaker 1: not avoid. They are such as I doubt not are,
45:18
Speaker 1: to His glory and to the comfort of many. Here
45:21
Speaker 1: the trumpet blew the old sound three days together, till
45:25
Speaker 1: private houses of indifferent burgesses could not contain the voice
45:28
Speaker 1: of it. God, for Christ, his Son's sake, grant me
45:32
Speaker 1: to be mindful that these sobs of my heart have
45:34
Speaker 1: not been in vain nor neglected in the presence of
45:36
Speaker 1: His majesty or sweet with the death that should follow
45:39
Speaker 1: such forty days in Edinburgh, as here I have had three, Rejoice, Mother,
45:44
Speaker 1: the time of our deliverance approacheth. For as Satan rageth,
45:48
Speaker 1: so does the grace of the Holy Spirit abound, and
45:50
Speaker 1: daily giveth new testimonies of the everlasting love of our
45:53
Speaker 1: merciful Father. I can write no more to you at
45:56
Speaker 1: this present. The grace of the Lord Jesus rest with
45:59
Speaker 1: you in haste this Monday, your son, John Knox. End
46:03
Speaker 1: of Letter twelve, Letter thirteen of the Letters of John
46:12
Speaker 1: Knox by John Knox. This LibriVox recording is in the
46:16
Speaker 1: public domain to his sister in Edinburgh, the Mighty comfort
46:20
Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit. For salutation the unfeigned desire which
46:24
Speaker 1: you seemed to have beloved, sister, to proceed in godliness,
46:28
Speaker 1: moveth me at this time to put you in mind
46:30
Speaker 1: of that solemn profession which once you have made in
46:32
Speaker 1: my presence, the which were your chief principles. First, that
46:37
Speaker 1: salvation or life is none to be found without the
46:39
Speaker 1: body of our Lord Jesus, which, once offered and suffering
46:43
Speaker 1: the death, we and all God's elect children to confess
46:46
Speaker 1: the only sacrifice acceptable in the sight of God. The
46:48
Speaker 1: Father for the offenses of all believers, by which sacrifice
46:52
Speaker 1: all the elect of God, not only once redeemed, but
46:56
Speaker 1: also sanctified by the same forever, all sacrifices for Sein
47:00
Speaker 1: other than the death of the Immaculate Lamb Jesus. We
47:03
Speaker 1: did openly protest ourselves to abhor and detest at last
47:08
Speaker 1: all religion not grounded upon the word of God. We
47:10
Speaker 1: feared not to proclaim abominable and wicked. Against this assertion,
47:14
Speaker 1: I know that not only the devil in his own face,
47:17
Speaker 1: working within the sons of unbelief, shall strive and contend
47:20
Speaker 1: as against that which is the subversion of his whole kingdom,
47:24
Speaker 1: but also shall he clothe himself with an angel of light,
47:27
Speaker 1: and come to you under the color of friendship, as
47:29
Speaker 1: in another letter I have touched, and shall allure and
47:32
Speaker 1: solicit you by persuasions of the natural man, that you
47:36
Speaker 1: need not be so straight and so severe, for God
47:38
Speaker 1: is merciful, and therefore that you may bear with the
47:41
Speaker 1: time for avoiding danger and displeasure, both to yourself and others.
47:45
Speaker 1: Yea perchance he shall be so bold that he shall
47:48
Speaker 1: object that you tempt God, except that you do as
47:51
Speaker 1: others do to keep yourself in safety. But to all
47:55
Speaker 1: these objections, beloved sister, I can answer no otherwise than
47:58
Speaker 1: our Master gave counsel and commandment to his disciples in
48:01
Speaker 1: these words, be ye simple as doves and prudent as serpents.
48:05
Speaker 1: Before he had spoken much of their trouble, and he
48:08
Speaker 1: was not ignorant that by diverse ways they should be tempted.
48:11
Speaker 1: Sometimes they should be provoked to defend themselves by the
48:14
Speaker 1: arm of man, And in that case he commends unto
48:17
Speaker 1: them the simplicity of the dove, which can defend herself
48:20
Speaker 1: by no other means, from the assaults of ravenous fowls,
48:23
Speaker 1: but only by the swiftness of her wings. Sometimes they
48:26
Speaker 1: should be tempted to obey wicked magistrates in things unlawful,
48:30
Speaker 1: And in that case he willed them to follow the
48:32
Speaker 1: prudence of the serpent, who doth stop her ears when
48:35
Speaker 1: she beginneth to hear an instrument play or any man sing,
48:38
Speaker 1: lest by the sweetness of the same she should be
48:40
Speaker 1: brought asleep, and so taken or slain. So wiled Christ
48:45
Speaker 1: his disciples to shut up the ears of their mind,
48:47
Speaker 1: when that ever the world, by pleasing allurements would persuade
48:51
Speaker 1: us to decline from God by obedience given to iniquity.
48:54
Speaker 1: Be you assured, dear sister, that all these persuasions are
48:57
Speaker 1: nothing else but sweet songs of the devil to bring
49:00
Speaker 1: your soul asleep, to that intent that he may destroy it. True,
49:04
Speaker 1: it is that God is merciful, but ought we therefore
49:07
Speaker 1: to continue in sin without repentance. If it be straight
49:10
Speaker 1: severity to flee and avoid idolatry, then it is foolishness
49:13
Speaker 1: to abstain from adultery. For they are both alike odious
49:16
Speaker 1: before God. YEA, the one, in so far as it
49:19
Speaker 1: doth violate the first table, is more abominable before Him
49:22
Speaker 1: than the other. Danger is to be feared, I confess,
49:24
Speaker 1: But I wonder that men, for fear of an uncertain danger,
49:28
Speaker 1: will jeopard to run into the inevitable and perpetual condemnation.
49:32
Speaker 1: The word of the Living God, which was, is and
49:34
Speaker 1: shall be sure and stable forever, promises damnation to idolators,
49:38
Speaker 1: And under such as for fear of temporal punishment, dare
49:41
Speaker 1: not abstain from idolatry. But the word of vain man
49:45
Speaker 1: doth threaten temporal death to such as will not obey
49:48
Speaker 1: their wicked and detestable precepts. Now, Let your wisdom judge
49:52
Speaker 1: which danger is greatest, most sure, and most to be feared.
49:55
Speaker 1: The word of God, which pronounces death perpetual to idolators,
49:58
Speaker 1: is irrevocable and cannot be false. The wood and wrath
50:02
Speaker 1: of man is vain and uncertain. Like himself, he can
50:04
Speaker 1: perform nothing of his own cogitations. He has not by
50:08
Speaker 1: himself breath nor life to live the moment of an hour.
50:11
Speaker 1: How then, shall he have power to hold and molest
50:14
Speaker 1: the sons and daughters of the Most High God without
50:16
Speaker 1: his own permission and tolerance. No, sister, there is no
50:20
Speaker 1: such thing to be feared. Neither can abstaining from idolatry
50:23
Speaker 1: be called a tempting of God, but a humble obedience
50:26
Speaker 1: given to His commandment, which His Majesty shall acknowledge, allow
50:29
Speaker 1: and justify when fearful shrinkers shall tremble and shake before
50:33
Speaker 1: the judge most incorrupt. And Therefore, dear sister, study you
50:37
Speaker 1: to please your heavenly Father, and he shall take care
50:39
Speaker 1: over you. He that hath preserved you in your mother's womb,
50:43
Speaker 1: that hath sent you the light of his blessed Eve Angel,
50:46
Speaker 1: and hath covered the multitude of your sins with the
50:48
Speaker 1: mantle of his mercy, will not leave you comfortless in
50:51
Speaker 1: your battle, which you shall sustain for His truth's sake.
50:54
Speaker 1: The God of comfort and consolation, who hath called from death,
50:57
Speaker 1: Jesus our Lord, who by the blood of the eternal
50:59
Speaker 1: Death Testament, is the great pastor of our souls. Make
51:02
Speaker 1: you perfect in all good works, and establish you in
51:05
Speaker 1: the known verity of Jesus our Lord, whose omnipotent spirit
51:09
Speaker 1: comfort and assist you now and ever yours known. John K.
51:14
Speaker 1: Sinclair footnote. This name, we are informed in the manuscript
51:19
Speaker 1: volume was that of Knox's mother, which he wrote when
51:22
Speaker 1: he was in trouble at the present period, when the
51:25
Speaker 1: clergy of Scotland had condemned him as a heretic and
51:28
Speaker 1: boned him in effigy. His usual signature might have compromised
51:31
Speaker 1: the safety of his correspondence and footnote at deep the
51:35
Speaker 1: eighth of August fifteen fifty six, end of Letter thirteen,
51:46
Speaker 1: Letter fourteen of the Letters of John Knox by John Knox.
51:50
Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain to his
51:53
Speaker 1: sister in Edinburgh, grace, mercy and peace from God, the
51:57
Speaker 1: Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, with the natual increase
52:00
Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit. For salutation the chosen vessel of Christ, Jesus,
52:05
Speaker 1: Saint Paul, appointed to his ministry and preaching not by man,
52:09
Speaker 1: but by the imperial voice of the Son of God,
52:12
Speaker 1: speaking unto him from Heaven. Ashamed not to confess, dearly
52:15
Speaker 1: beloved that, albeit he had an earnest zeal and desire
52:19
Speaker 1: to have visited the congregation of thessil Anaika in their
52:22
Speaker 1: greatest necessity, that yet he was impeded by Satan of
52:26
Speaker 1: his journey and purpose. It may appear marvelous strange at
52:30
Speaker 1: the first sight that Satan should have such power to
52:33
Speaker 1: impede such a good and godly work which the people
52:36
Speaker 1: desired so earnestly. No congregation was more dear to him
52:40
Speaker 1: than that was for that he had begotten them to Christ.
52:44
Speaker 1: After that he was afflicted, mocked, and rejected in many
52:47
Speaker 1: other places. That they, notwithstanding received the Word with such
52:51
Speaker 1: joy and gladness of the Holy Spirit, that they were
52:54
Speaker 1: an example to all the faithful in Macedonia and Archaea,
52:57
Speaker 1: for their faith, obedience and constancy was bruted and praised
53:01
Speaker 1: in far countries. This their promptness and ready obedience to
53:05
Speaker 1: receive Christ's evangel which then in many places was condemned
53:09
Speaker 1: as a pernicious and wicked doctrine, moved the Apostle unfeignedly
53:13
Speaker 1: to love them. And moreover, shortly after his departure from them,
53:17
Speaker 1: Satan did raise up great trouble and sharp persecution against
53:20
Speaker 1: the faithful in that city, even by their own companions,
53:23
Speaker 1: friends and countrymen, So that love called upon the one
53:26
Speaker 1: part for his presence, and their affliction on the other
53:29
Speaker 1: side required his assistance in that their sudden battle. And
53:33
Speaker 1: yet doth he confess that Satan did impede him after
53:36
Speaker 1: that he had attempted over again to have visited them. This,
53:40
Speaker 1: I say, may appear very strange at the first sight.
53:43
Speaker 1: But if we shall mark and consider, dear sister, that
53:46
Speaker 1: God sometimes does humble his most faithful servants, disappointing them
53:50
Speaker 1: of their own enterprises, which they nevertheless have purposed for
53:53
Speaker 1: promoting of His glory, we shall cease to wonder and
53:56
Speaker 1: begin to magnify the providence of our mighty God, who
53:59
Speaker 1: only dispose of the times, and alone knoweth the causes
54:02
Speaker 1: why he not in all times satisfies the desires in
54:05
Speaker 1: this mortal life of his dearest children. Assuredly, Paul earnestly
54:09
Speaker 1: fisted to have been with them in the time of
54:11
Speaker 1: their battle, to have confirmed them in the doctrine which
54:14
Speaker 1: before he had taught, and their estate, as said, is
54:18
Speaker 1: required his comfort. Yea, in their hearts they did sore,
54:21
Speaker 1: lament and bewail his absence. But the desires of neither
54:25
Speaker 1: party were granted when they most required. But the journey
54:29
Speaker 1: of the Apostle was stopped by Satan, not in his
54:31
Speaker 1: own person, but by his supports instruments of iniquity, who
54:35
Speaker 1: continually did labor to stop the course of the evangel
54:38
Speaker 1: And therefore did oft lie in wait for the Apostle,
54:41
Speaker 1: seeking his destruction. As the diligent reader of the acts
54:44
Speaker 1: of the Apostles may easily understand this impediment made unto
54:48
Speaker 1: him by such as did trouble him. Did he call
54:51
Speaker 1: the work of Satan, saying, I have purposed once and
54:54
Speaker 1: again to have visited you, but Satan has impeded me.
54:58
Speaker 1: Not that Satan by himself, for the working of his
55:00
Speaker 1: obstinate soldiers, hath or can have any power to impede
55:04
Speaker 1: the course of Christ's evangel or yet to withhold spiritual
55:08
Speaker 1: comfort from the afflicted. But in so far as it
55:10
Speaker 1: is permitted to them and Him by the permission of God,
55:14
Speaker 1: to trouble the elect for a time, foolishness, presumption, and
55:18
Speaker 1: arrogance it were to me to compare myself with that
55:21
Speaker 1: most excellent instrument of the Lord Jesus in zeal towards
55:25
Speaker 1: the promoting of Christ's glory, or yet love towards the
55:28
Speaker 1: salvation and comfort of my brethren. Know, alas as my
55:31
Speaker 1: heart is corrupt, and the hypocrisy thereof in many thousand
55:34
Speaker 1: cases hid from myself, so is my zeal cold and
55:37
Speaker 1: my love nothing, if it shall be tried by the
55:40
Speaker 1: right touchstone. Only this I dare say that, sometimes, seldom
55:45
Speaker 1: alas I feel a sob and groan, willing that Christ
55:48
Speaker 1: Jesus might openly be preached in my native country, with
55:52
Speaker 1: a certain desire that my ears might hear it, although
55:55
Speaker 1: it should be with the loss of this wretched life
55:58
Speaker 1: and of very purpose to have visited uar you, did
56:00
Speaker 1: I leave this congregation here and also the family committed
56:03
Speaker 1: to my particular charge. But the cause of my stop
56:06
Speaker 1: do I not to this day clearly understand I most
56:10
Speaker 1: suspect my own wickedness. Who am not worthy of so
56:13
Speaker 1: great a joy and comfort? As to hear Christ Jesus
56:16
Speaker 1: truly preached where my heart most thirsteth by reason of
56:19
Speaker 1: my former unthankfulness. Notwithstanding the former benefits, which I cannot
56:23
Speaker 1: deny myself to have received from the hands of my
56:25
Speaker 1: God in greater abundance than ever could have entered into
56:29
Speaker 1: my heart. To have asked, but what hath been my
56:32
Speaker 1: inobedience to His majesty? Who yet hath promoted me? My
56:36
Speaker 1: own conscience is not ignorant, and therefore I say just thee.
56:39
Speaker 1: May my God not only deny unto me that which
56:41
Speaker 1: I most desire, but also worthy am I to be
56:44
Speaker 1: deprived of all his gifts unless his mercy shall shadow
56:47
Speaker 1: my offenses, and so to punish my former unthankfulness. It
56:51
Speaker 1: may be that my God most justly have permitted Satan
56:54
Speaker 1: to put in my mind such cogitations as did impede
56:57
Speaker 1: my journey towards you at this present, And they were
57:00
Speaker 1: these I heard such troubles as appeared in that realm.
57:04
Speaker 1: I began to dispute with myself, as followth shall Christ,
57:08
Speaker 1: the author of peace, concord, and quietness, be preached where
57:11
Speaker 1: war is proclaimed, sedition engendered, and tumults appear to arise.
57:15
Speaker 1: Shall not his evangel be accused as the cause of
57:18
Speaker 1: all calamity which is like to follow? What comfort canst
57:21
Speaker 1: thou have to see the one half of the people
57:24
Speaker 1: rise up against the other, yea to jepid the one
57:27
Speaker 1: to murder and destroy the other. But above all, what
57:30
Speaker 1: joy shall it be to thy heart to behold with
57:32
Speaker 1: thy eyes thy native country betrayed into the hands of strangers, which,
57:36
Speaker 1: to no man's judgment can be avoided, because that they
57:40
Speaker 1: who ought to defend it and the liberty thereof, are
57:42
Speaker 1: so blind, dull, and obstinate that they will not see
57:46
Speaker 1: their own destruction. These and more deep cogitations did so,
57:51
Speaker 1: and yet do trouble and move my wicked heart. That
57:54
Speaker 1: as I was without comfort, so was I almost without counsel,
57:58
Speaker 1: not only in that matter, but also in matters of
58:00
Speaker 1: smaller importance. I grant that none of these dangers which
58:04
Speaker 1: are before expressed, are any sufficient cause or excuse why
58:07
Speaker 1: that I should not hazard all for the manifestation of
58:10
Speaker 1: Christ's glory. For if the apostles had looked to any
58:13
Speaker 1: of these, they should never have preached Christ. For all
58:16
Speaker 1: such troubles and more grievous also did ensue the publication
58:19
Speaker 1: of his Gospel. And it is forespoken that so it
58:23
Speaker 1: must be also to the end of the world. For
58:25
Speaker 1: always must the reprobate. The children of this world have
58:28
Speaker 1: some pretext of excuse why that they reject the light
58:31
Speaker 1: which is offered. But therefore must not the messengers of
58:34
Speaker 1: God desist from their office. And therefore I say I
58:37
Speaker 1: know that no cogitations can excuse me before God. For
58:40
Speaker 1: my conscience beareth record that the salvation of my brethren
58:43
Speaker 1: ought to be so dear unto me, that it ought
58:46
Speaker 1: to be sought with the hazard of all that is
58:47
Speaker 1: on earth. But alas as the wounded man be he
58:51
Speaker 1: never so expert in physic or surgery, cannot suddenly mitigate
58:55
Speaker 1: his own pain and dollar. No more can I the
58:58
Speaker 1: fear and grief of my heart. Although I am not
59:01
Speaker 1: altogether ignorant what is to be done. It may be
59:05
Speaker 1: also that the doubts and cold writing of some brethren
59:08
Speaker 1: did augment my dollar and somewhat discourage me that before
59:12
Speaker 1: was more than feeble. For Satan is so subtle that
59:15
Speaker 1: he can make the very elect of God labor and
59:17
Speaker 1: travail for a time to stop the preaching of the
59:20
Speaker 1: evangel which thing because they do neither of hatred against
59:23
Speaker 1: Christ Jesus, nor of malice against the glory of his name,
59:27
Speaker 1: but either unwittingly or else of some calnal affection and
59:30
Speaker 1: inconsiderate zeal is not damned, but obtaineth pardon, and so
59:34
Speaker 1: is suddenly removed or else gently rebuked to repentance, as
59:38
Speaker 1: the foolish zeal of Peter laboring to impede Christ's death
59:42
Speaker 1: in persuading him to be merciful to himself, and the
59:45
Speaker 1: request of the Virgin his mother calling him forth to
59:47
Speaker 1: speak with her, what time he was most diligent instructing
59:51
Speaker 1: the people. I am certainly persuaded that whatsoever my brethren
59:55
Speaker 1: did write, did proceed of love as well towards me,
59:57
Speaker 1: as towards the common action which before was intended. But
1:00:01
Speaker 1: yet it may be that Satan did either abuse God
1:00:04
Speaker 1: so permitting for causes known to his wisdom, their simplicity
1:00:07
Speaker 1: and zeal, or else my fear and weakness, so that
1:00:11
Speaker 1: for that time my journey towards you is stated, But
1:00:14
Speaker 1: nothing do I so much accuse as myself and former iniquity.
1:00:18
Speaker 1: Desiring you, therefore, dear sister, with all those that thirst
1:00:21
Speaker 1: the glory of Christ Jesus to be proclaimed among you, unfeignedly,
1:00:25
Speaker 1: to call to God for me, that it would please
1:00:27
Speaker 1: Him for his great mercy, and for Christ Jesus his
1:00:29
Speaker 1: Son's sake, to bury the remembrance of my grievous sins,
1:00:33
Speaker 1: and so to rule my heart with His principal spirit,
1:00:36
Speaker 1: that from henceforth I may so behave myself within His
1:00:38
Speaker 1: cok that my life be no slander to that doctrine
1:00:41
Speaker 1: which I profess. And I will not cease to call
1:00:45
Speaker 1: for you and for the faithful in these quarters, that
1:00:48
Speaker 1: day by day ye may increase and grow in faith, zeal, love,
1:00:51
Speaker 1: and patience, strengthened by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost,
1:00:55
Speaker 1: with such virtue and force, that no assaults of Satan,
1:00:58
Speaker 1: nor terrors of death, nor flattering promises of transitory life
1:01:02
Speaker 1: move you from the stability of that which once ye
1:01:05
Speaker 1: have professed, but that constantly ye may continue to the end,
1:01:09
Speaker 1: leaving unto your posterity such testimony of your perfect faith,
1:01:13
Speaker 1: that in you they may have occasion to glorifying God
1:01:16
Speaker 1: in that it has pleased His godly majesty by your
1:01:18
Speaker 1: patience to minister and offer unto them the light of salvation.
1:01:22
Speaker 1: And if these things ye shall earnestly ask of God
1:01:25
Speaker 1: to be granted unto you for the glory of his
1:01:27
Speaker 1: own name and for the merits of His only well
1:01:29
Speaker 1: beloved Son Jesus, then whatsoever shall become of my wretched
1:01:33
Speaker 1: carcass I most certainly persuaded that the invincible power of
1:01:37
Speaker 1: Him who has committed his evangel to be preached to
1:01:40
Speaker 1: all realms and nations, shall perform that good work which
1:01:43
Speaker 1: He has begun amongst you, to the praise and glory
1:01:46
Speaker 1: of His great mercy, and to your eternal comfort, by
1:01:49
Speaker 1: the means of our Lord Jesus, whose omnipotent spirit rest
1:01:53
Speaker 1: with you now and ever salute heartily in my name,
1:01:56
Speaker 1: mister David Sinclair, with others of faithful acquaintance superfluous, I
1:02:01
Speaker 1: thought it to write to every one, particularly, for I
1:02:03
Speaker 1: suppose that ye will not spare to communicate whatsoever ye
1:02:06
Speaker 1: receive with such as may have profit or comfort. Thereby
1:02:10
Speaker 1: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
1:02:13
Speaker 1: from our town the sixteenth of April fifteen fifty eight,
1:02:16
Speaker 1: your brother John Sinclair. End of Letter fourteen Letter fifteen
1:02:28
Speaker 1: of the Letters of John Knox by John Knox. This
1:02:33
Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain to missus Guthrie
1:02:37
Speaker 1: Janet Henderson. It is the Lord that giveth spirit to
1:02:41
Speaker 1: the feeble. Albeit I have no particular matter to write
1:02:45
Speaker 1: under your beloved sister, other than I have expressed in
1:02:47
Speaker 1: my other writings, yet I could not refrain to write
1:02:50
Speaker 1: these few lines to you in declaration of my remembrance
1:02:53
Speaker 1: of you. It is true that I have many whom
1:02:56
Speaker 1: I bear in equal remembrance before God with you, to
1:02:59
Speaker 1: whom at this present I write nothing, either for that
1:03:02
Speaker 1: I esteem them stronger than you be, and therefore they
1:03:05
Speaker 1: need the less my rude labors, or else because they
1:03:08
Speaker 1: have not provoked me by their writing to recompense their remembrance.
1:03:12
Speaker 1: My daily prayer shall be for you that as God
1:03:15
Speaker 1: hath given his spirit to assist you, and hath opened
1:03:18
Speaker 1: your eyes so that you can discern betwixt the good
1:03:20
Speaker 1: and the evil, that so it will please His Majesty
1:03:23
Speaker 1: to confirm in you the spirit of constancy to the
1:03:26
Speaker 1: end The more that you feel your own weakness, the
1:03:30
Speaker 1: more able and apt a vessel you are to receive
1:03:33
Speaker 1: the grace of God, so that you once determine with
1:03:35
Speaker 1: yourself to die with Christ Jesus, rather than to refuse
1:03:39
Speaker 1: his known verity, which albeit appear bitter at the first sight.
1:03:43
Speaker 1: Yet when the necessity and fruit of it shall be considered,
1:03:46
Speaker 1: it shall be found pleasing yea, and delectable. For statuted
1:03:50
Speaker 1: it is to all men once to die, but to
1:03:53
Speaker 1: few it is granted in so just an action, and
1:03:56
Speaker 1: with such honor as to be Christ's witness yea, and
1:03:59
Speaker 1: to be made like unto himself. If we should earnestly
1:04:02
Speaker 1: consider the fruit that shall follow a transitory and momentary pain,
1:04:06
Speaker 1: as Saint Paul calleth the afflictions of this life, they
1:04:09
Speaker 1: should not so greatly affray us. The fruit is called
1:04:13
Speaker 1: life everlasting, the sight of God, and the fullness of
1:04:15
Speaker 1: all joy. All these are promised for the suffering of
1:04:19
Speaker 1: a moment, if it be compared with time without end,
1:04:23
Speaker 1: and they are promised by Him who cannot deceive us. Alas,
1:04:27
Speaker 1: then why fear we so greatly as that there were
1:04:29
Speaker 1: no truth in God, or yet recompense for the battle
1:04:32
Speaker 1: or travail of the just. If any object that I
1:04:35
Speaker 1: follow not the counsel which I give to others for
1:04:38
Speaker 1: my fleeing the country declareth my fear, I answer, I
1:04:41
Speaker 1: bind no man to my example, and that I trust
1:04:44
Speaker 1: to God that I do not expressedly against the word
1:04:47
Speaker 1: which God uttereth by me. If the love of this life,
1:04:50
Speaker 1: or the fear of corporal death cause me to deny
1:04:52
Speaker 1: the known verity, or to do anything in the eyes
1:04:55
Speaker 1: of men which might seem for fear to favor idolatry,
1:04:58
Speaker 1: then woe unto me forever, for I were nothing but
1:05:01
Speaker 1: a traitor to Christ and his religion. But if my
1:05:04
Speaker 1: fear be so measured that it compelled me not to
1:05:06
Speaker 1: commit open iniquity, then do I nothing against my counsel,
1:05:10
Speaker 1: which is not mine, but the express commandment of Christ Jesus,
1:05:13
Speaker 1: commanding us to forsake ourselves and to follow him. If
1:05:17
Speaker 1: we knew, I say, what comfort life hid under the
1:05:20
Speaker 1: fearful cross of Christ, we would not be so slack
1:05:23
Speaker 1: to take up the same. If we knew that life
1:05:26
Speaker 1: is buried with Christ in his grave, we would not
1:05:29
Speaker 1: fear to go and seek him. In the same we
1:05:31
Speaker 1: praise and extol the martyrs and saints who, by afflictions
1:05:34
Speaker 1: have overcome this world. And yet we, having the same occasion,
1:05:38
Speaker 1: offered to fly from the battle Yea and alas to
1:05:41
Speaker 1: agree with our enemies before the battle approach, call earnestly
1:05:44
Speaker 1: and incessantly for the assistance of God's spirit. Dear sister,
1:05:48
Speaker 1: and determine with yourself to suffer with Christ Jesus. And
1:05:51
Speaker 1: then shall you feel a comfort according to the promise
1:05:54
Speaker 1: of Christ Jesus. My own motion and daily prayer is
1:05:57
Speaker 1: not only that I may visit you, but also that
1:06:00
Speaker 1: with joy I may end my battle amongst you. And
1:06:03
Speaker 1: assure yourself of that that whenever a greater number among
1:06:06
Speaker 1: you shall call upon me than now hath bound me
1:06:09
Speaker 1: to serve them, that by His grace it shall not
1:06:11
Speaker 1: be the fear of corporal punishment, neither yet of the
1:06:14
Speaker 1: death temporal that shall impede my coming unto you. I
1:06:18
Speaker 1: have written a large letter to the gentleman of my
1:06:20
Speaker 1: last acquaintance within that country, which partly came by your
1:06:23
Speaker 1: acquaintance and occasion, and I have joined it with these
1:06:27
Speaker 1: your letters, that by you it may come more surely
1:06:29
Speaker 1: to his hands. I pray you take pains in that
1:06:33
Speaker 1: behalf the matter is such that I would all should
1:06:36
Speaker 1: understand of it. Therefore, do as you think expedient. Salute
1:06:39
Speaker 1: heartily my familiars, my mother and wife, Salute you the
1:06:43
Speaker 1: grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rest with you from
1:06:46
Speaker 1: our town. Footnote Geneva, where he was at present day minister,
1:06:49
Speaker 1: but waiting anxiously for a summons to Scotland. End footnote
1:06:53
Speaker 1: the tenth of March fifteen seventy seven, your brother John Sinclair.
1:06:59
Speaker 1: End of letter fifteen. End of the Letters of John Knox,
1:07:03
Speaker 1: by John Knox