sacrifice propitiatory for the sins of the quick and the dead: which doctrine, as blasphemous to Christ Jesus, and making derogation to the sufficiency of his only sacrifice, once offered for purgation of all those that shall be sanctified, we utterly abhor, detest, and renounce.

XXIII. To whom Sacraments appertain.

We confess and acknowledge, that baptism appertaineth as well to the infants of the faithful, as unto those that are of age and discretion; and so we condemn the error of those, who deny baptism to appertain to children, before that they have faith and understanding.* But the supper of the Lord we confess to appertain only to such as have been of the household of faith, and can try and examine themselves, as well in their faith, as in their duties towards their neighbours. Such as eat and drink at that holy table without faith, or being at dissension and division with their brethren, do eat unworthily; and therefore it is, that, in our churches, ministers take public and particular examination of the knowledge and conversation of such as are to be admitted to the table of the Lord Jesus.

XXIV. Of the Civil Magistrate.

We confess and acknowledge empires, kingdoms, dominions, and cities, to be destinated and ordained by God; the powers and authorities in the same (be it of emperors in their empires, of kings in their realms, dukes and princes in their dominions, or of other magistrates in free cities,) to be God's holy ordinance, ordained for manifestation of his own glory, and for the singular profit and commodity of mankind. So that whosoever goeth about to take away, or to confound the holy state of civil policies, now long established, we affirm the same men not only to be enemies to mankind, but also wickedly to fight against God's express will. We further confess and acknowledge, that such persons as are placed in authority, are to be loved, honoured, feared, and holden in most reverend estimation, because they are the lieutenants of God, in whose session God himself doth sit and judge, (yea, even the judges and

* In giving this confession, it was necessary to retain the whole, or a complete view of the doctrines of Knox and his brethren could not have been presented. The reader, of course, will be aware that a difference of opinion as to this article exists among Protestants.

princes themselves,) to whom by God is given the sword, to the praise and defence of good men, and to revenge and punish all open malefactors. Moreover, to kings, princes, rulers, and magistrates, we affirm, that chiefly and most principally the reformation and purgation of religion appertains; so that not only they are appointed for civil policy, but also for maintenance of the true religion, and for suppressing of all idolatry and superstition whatsoever; as in David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and others, highly commended for their zeal in the cause, may be espied. And therefore we confess and avow, that such as resist the supreme powers (doing that which appertaineth to their charge,) do resist God's ordinance, and therefore cannot be guiltless. And further, we affirm, that whosoever deny unto them their aid, counsel, and comfort, while the princes and rulers vigilantly travail in the executing of their office, that the same men deny their help, support, and counsel to God, who, by the presence of his lieutenant, craveth it of them.

XXV. The gifts freely given to the Church.

Albeit that the word of God truly preached, the sacraments rightly ministered, and discipline executed according to the word of God, be the certain and infallible signs of the true Church; yet do we not so mean, that every particular person joined with such a company, is an elect member of Christ Jesus. For we acknowledge and confess, that darnel and cockle may be sown, and grow in great abundance, and chaff lie in the midst of the wheat. That is, the reprobate may be joined in the society of the elect, and may externally use with them, the benefits of the word and sacraments. But such being but temporal professors in mouth but not in heart, do fall back, and continue not to the end; and therefore have they no fruit of Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. But such as with heart unfeignedly believe, and with mouth boldly confess the Lord Jesus, as before we have said, shall most assuredly receive these gifts;-First, In this life remission of sins, by faith only in Christ's blood, insomuch that albeit sin remain and continually abide in these mortal bodies, yet it is not imputed unto us, but is remitted and covered with Christ's justice. Secondly, In the general judgment there shall be given to every man and woman, resurrection of the flesh: for the sea shall give up her dead,

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the earth those that therein be inclosed; yea, the Eternal, our God, shall stretch out his hand upon the dust, and the dead shall arise incorruptible, and that in the substance of the same flesh that every man now bears, to receive, according to their works, glory or punishment. For such as now delight in vanity, cruelty, filthiness, superstition, or idolatry, shall be adjudged to the fire inextinguishable, in which they shall be tormented for ever, as well in their body, as in their souls, which they now give to serve the devil in all abomination. But such as continue in well doing to the end, boldly professing the Lord Jesus, we constantly believe that they shall receive glory, honour, and immortality, to reign for ever in life everlasting, with Christ Jesus, whose glorified body all his elect shall be like, when he shall appear again to judgment, and shall render up the kingdom to God his Father, who then shall be, and ever shall remain, All in all things, God blessed for ever; to whom, with the Son, and with the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

"Arise, O Lord! and let thine enemies be confounded; let them flee from thy presence that hate thy holy name: give thy servants strength to speak thy word in boldness, and let all nations attain to thy true knowledge."

These acts and articles were read in the face of parliament, and ratified by the three estates of this realm, at Edinburgh, the 17th day of August, in the year of our Lord, 1560.*

*"This our Confession was publicly read, first in audience of the lords of the articles; and afterwards, in the audience of the whole parliament, where were present, not only such as professed Christ Jesus, but also a great number of the adversaries of our religion, who were commanded, in God's name, to object, if they could say any thing against that doctrine. Some of our ministers were present, standing upon their feet, ready to have answered, in case any would have defended papistry, and impugned our affirmatives: but when no objection was made, there was a day appointed for concurrence in that and other heads.

“Our Confession was read every article by itself over again, as they were written in order, and the vote of every man was required accordingly. Of the temporal estate, only the earl of Athol, the lords Somervel and Borthwick, gave their votes on the contrary; and yet, for their dissenting, they produced no better reason, but, We will believe as our fathers believed.' The bishops, the papistical we mean, spake nothing. The rest of the whole three estates, by their

public votes affirmed the doctrine; and the rather, because that the papistical bishops fain would, but durst say nothing on the contrary. "This was the vote of the earl Marshal, 'It is long since I have had some favour unto the truth, and since that I have had a suspicion of the papistical religion; but I praise my God, who this day hath fully resolved me in the one and the other. For seeing that the bishops, who for their learning can, and for their zeal that they should bear to the verity would, as I suppose, have gainsaid any thing that directly repugneth to the verity of God; seeing, I say, the bishops here present speak nothing to the contrary of the doctrine proposed, I cannot but hold it for the very truth of God, and the contrary to be deceivable doctrine. And therefore, so far as in me lieth, I approve the one, and contemn the other; and do further ask of God, that not only I, but also all my posterity, may enjoy the comfort of the doctrine that this day our ears have heard. And yet more I must vote, as it were by way of protestation, that if any persons ecclesiastical shall after this oppose themselves to this our Confession, that they have no place nor credit; considering that they, having long advertisement, and full knowledge of this our Confession, none is now found, in lawful, free, and quiet parliament, to oppose themselves to that which we profess: and therefore, if any of this generation pretend to do it after this, I protest that he be reputed rather one that loveth his own advantage and the glory of the world, than the truth of God, and the salvation of men's souls.'

"After the voting and ratification of this our Confession by the whole body of the parliament, there were also pronounced two acts: the one against the mass, and the abuse of the sacraments; and the other against the supremacy of the pope."-Knox, History, b. iii. Calderwood says, "Sir James Sandiland was directed to go to France, to queen Mary, to seek the ratification of the Confession of Faith, and the other acts, but returned with a refusal: no less was expected, but it was thought meet to try her disposition."-Calderwood's True History of the Church of Scotland, p. 14.

The copies of the Confession, as printed in Knox and Calderwood, have been compared for this edition.

AN

ANSWER

ΤΟ

A LETTER OF A JESUIT NAMED TYRIE,

BY

JOHN KNOX.

PROVERBS Xxvi.

Answer not a fool according to his foolishness, lest thou be like him: answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

The contrariety appearing, at the first sight, betwixt these two sentences stayed for a time, both my heart to meditate, and my hand to write any thing contrary to that blasphemous letter. But when, with better mind, God gave me to consider, that whosoever opposes not himself boldly to blasphemy and manifest lies, differs little from traitors; cloaking and fostering, so far as in him lies, the treason of traitors, and damnable impiety of those, against whom God's just vengeance must burn without end, unless speedy repentance follow; to quiet, therefore, my own conscience, I put hand to the pen as followeth.

1572.

KNOX.

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