have power to drive you from the hope and expectation of that kingdom, which for the elect was prepared from the beginning, by our heavenly Father, to whom be all praise and honour, now and ever. Amen.

Remember me, dear brethren, in your daily prayers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Yours, with sorrowful heart,

JOHN KNOX.

NOTABLE SERMON OR CONFESSION,

MADE

BY JOHN KNOX,

April 4, 1550.

WHEREIN IS EVIDENTLY PROVED THAT THE MASS IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ABOMINABLE BEFORE GOD, AND TO BE IDOLATRY.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

THE OPINION CHRISTIANS HAVE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

KNOX.

WHEN Knox was released from his imprisonment on board the French gallies in 1549, he proceeded to England, and was received by the Protestants with much joy. Cranmer and his associates in promoting the Reformation, having stationed several pious and zealous preachers to itinerate in different parts of the kingdom, sent Knox to Berwick, where he laboured for nearly two years with much success. His preaching was very disagreeable to the clergy of that country, who were almost entirely bigoted Romanists, and were countenanced by Tonstal, bishop of Durham, a papist in his heart, and who opposed the Reformation as far as he could with safety, till he was deprived of his see in 1553.

A charge was brought by these ecclesiastics against Knox for teaching that the service of the mass was idolatrous, and the Reformer was summoned to appear before the council of the North, which directed public affairs in that district. Bishop Tonstal and several of his clergy were also present, not being suffered by the Protestant counsellors to proceed against Knox according to the usual practice of the church of Rome. Knox being permitted to declare his mind fully and freely, made a most able and impressive defence, which completely silenced the Romish prelate and his clergy. He was allowed to continue his labours; in the following year he was stationed at Newcastle, and in December, 1551, received a further mark of the approval of the government, being appointed one of king Edward's chaplains in ordinary.

SERMON OR CONFESSION,

MADE

BY JOHN KNOX,

WHEREIN HE PROVES THE MASS TO BE IDOLATRY.

The fourth of April, in the year 1550, was appointed to John Knox, preacher of the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, to give his confession why he affirmed the mass to be idolatry. On which day, in the presence of the council and congregation, amongst whom were present the bishop of Durham and his doctors, in this manner he began :—

THIS day I do appear in your presence, honourable auditors, to give a reason why so constantly I do affirm the mass to be, and at all times to have been, IDOLATRY, and abomination before God. And because men of great erudition, in your hearing have affirmed the contrary, most gladly would I that they were here present, either in proper person, or by their learned men, to ponder and weigh the causes moving me thereto; for unless I evidently prove my intent by God's holy Scriptures, I will recant it as wicked doctrine, and confess myself most worthy of grievous punishment.

How difficult it is to pull forth of the hearts of the people the thing wherein opinion of holiness standeth, is declared by the great tumult and uproar moved against Paul by Demetrius and his fellows, who, by idolatry, got great advantage, as our priests have done by the mass in times past. The people hearing, I say, that the honour of their great goddess, Diana, stood in jeopardy, with furious voices cried, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

As though they would say, we will not have the magnificence of our great goddess Diana, whom not only Asia but the whole world worships, called in doubt, or in question, or in controversy; away with all men intending that impiety. And hereunto were they moved by long custom and false opinion.

I know that in the mass there has not only been esteemed to be great holiness and honouring of God, but also the ground and foundation of our religion; so that, in the opinion of many, the mass being taken away, there remains no true worshipping or honouring of God in the earth. The deeper hath it pierced the hearts of men, that it occupies the place of the last and mystical supper of our Lord Jesus. But if I shall, by plain and evident Scriptures, prove the mass, in her most honest garments, to have been idolatry before God, blasphemous to the death and passion of Christ, and contrary to the supper of Jesus Christ; then good hope have I, honourable audience and beloved brethren, that the sure love and obedience of God, who, in his Scriptures, hath spoken all verity necessary for our salvation, shall move you to give place to the same. O Lord eternal! move and govern my tongue to speak the verity, and the hearts of the people to understand the

same.

That you may the better perceive and understand the manner of my doctrine in this my confession; first, I will collect and gather the sum thereof in a brief and short syllogism; and hereafter explain the same more largely. The mass is idolatry.

All worshipping, honouring, or other service invented by the brain of man in the religion of God, without his own express commandment, is idolatry.

The mass is invented by the brain of man, without any commandment of God.

Therefore it is idolatry.

To prove the first part, I will adduce none of the Gentiles' sacrifices, in which, notwithstanding, there was less abomination than has been in the mass. But from God's Scriptures will I bring the witnesses of my words. And, first, let us hear Samuel speaking unto Saul, after he had sacrificed unto the Lord upon mount Gilgal, what time his enemies approached him. "Thou art become foolish," said Samuel," thou hast not observed the precepts of the Lord, which he commanded thee; truly the Lord had