common to all, why will you jeopard to lose eternal life, to escape that which neither rich nor poor, neither wise nor ignorant, proud of stomach* nor feeble of courage, and, finally, no earthly creature, by any craft or disposition of man, did ever avoid. If any escaped the ugly face and horrible fear of death, it was those that boldly confessed Christ before men. Yet the flesh grudges for fear of pain and torment. Let it do its own nature and office; for so must it do while it is burdened with Christ's cross, and then no doubt God shall send comfort, that now we neither can feel nor understand.

But why ought the way of life to be so fearful by reason of any pain, considering that a great number of our brethren have past before us by like dangers as we fear? A stout and prudent mariner in time of tempest, seeing but one or two ships or vessels like his, pass through danger, and win a sure harbour, will have good experience by the like wind to do the same. Alas! shall ye be more fearful to win life eternal than the natural man is to save the life of the body? Have not the most part of the saints of God, from the beginning, entered into their rest by torment and troubles? of whom, as Paul witnesseth, some were racked, some hewn asunder, some slain with swords, some walked up and down in sheep skins; in need, tribulation, and vexation; in mountains, dens, and caves of the earth! and yet what complaints find we in their mouths, except it be the tormenting of their persecutors? Did God comfort them, and shall his Majesty despise us? If in fighting against iniquity we will follow their footsteps, he will not, for he has promised the contrary. And therefore, be of good courage, the way is not so dangerous as it appears; prepare in time and determine with yourselves to abide with Christ Jesus, and his cross shall never press you as at present ye fear. And, therefore, dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, as you would avoid the grievous vengeance to come, that shortly and assuredly will strike all obstinate idolaters; as you desire to have the league betwixt God and you to stand sure and inviolate; and as you would leave the true knowledge of God in possession to your children; flee from idolatry, and stand with Christ Jesus in this day of his battle, which shall be short and the victory everlasting. For the Lord himself shall come in our defence with his mighty power; he shall give us victory where the * High spirited.

battle is most strong, and he shall turn our tears into everlasting joy. He shall confound our enemies with the truth of his mouth, and shall let us see the destruction of them that now are most proud, and that most pretend to molest us; from God alone we wait for redemption.

The God of all comfort and consolation, for Christ Jesus his Son's sake, grant that this my plain admonition, yea, rather the warning of the Holy Ghost, may be received and accepted of you, with no less joy and obedience than I have written it unto you with unfeigned love and sorrowful heart. And I doubt not but both you and I shall be comforted, when all such as molest us shall tremble and shake by the coming of our Lord Jesus: whose omnipotent Spirit keep you undefiled, body and soul, to the end. Amen.

The peace of God rest with you all. From a sorely troubled heart, upon my departure from Dieppe, 1553,* whither God knoweth. In God is my trust through Jesus Christ his Son, and therefore I fear not the tyranny of man, neither yet what the devil can invent against me. Rejoice ye faithful, for in joy shall we meet where death may not dissever us.

Your brother in the Lord,

* 1554, according to the new style.

JOHN KNOX.

FORT FOR THE AFFLICTED;

OR,

AN EXPOSITION

UPON THE SIXTH PSALM OF DAVID.

WHEREIN ARE MINISTERED MANY NOTABLE AND EXCELLENT REMEDIES AGAINST THE STORMS OF TRIBULATION, WRITTEN CHIEFLY FOR THE COMFORT OF CHRIST'S LITTLE FLOCK, WHICH IS THE

SMALL NUMBER OF THE FAITHFUL.

John xvi.

BY JOHN KNOX..

WHEREIN IS DECLARED HIS CROSS, COMPLAINTS, AND PRAYERS; MOST NECESSARY TO BE READ OF ALL THEM, FOR THEIR SINGULAR COM

FORT, WHO, UNDER THE BANNER OF CHRIST, ARE ASSAULT

ED BY SATAN, AND FEEL THE HEAVY BURDEN OF

SIN WITH WHICH THEY ARE OPPRESSED.

The patient abiding of the sorely afflicted was never yet confounded.

Written in 1554.

On Knox's arrival at Dieppe, in January, 1554, he transmitted to England two short treatises. The one was an Exposition of the sixth Psalm, which he had begun to write in England at the request of Mrs. Bowes, his mother-in-law, but had not found leisure to finish. It is an excellent practical discourse upon that passage of Scripture, and will be read with peculiar satisfaction by those who have been trained to religion in the school of adversity.—M'Crie's Life of Knox.

AN

EXPOSITION

UPON

THE SIXTH PSALM OF DAVID;

WHEREIN ARE DECLARED HIS CROSS, COMPLAINTS, AND PRAYERS; NECESSARY TO BE READ, FOR THEIR SINGULAR COMFORT, BY ALL THEM WHO, UNDER THE BANNER OF CHRIST, ARE, BY SATAN, ASSAULTED, AND FEEL THE HEAVY BURDEN OF SIN WITH WHICH THEY ARE OPPRESSED.

The patient abiding of the sorely afflicted was never yet confounded.

To his beloved Mother, John Knox sendeth greeting, in the Lord.

THE desire that I have to hear of your continuance with Christ Jesus, in the day of this his battle, which shortly shall end to the confusion of his proud enemies, I can neither express by tongue nor by pen, beloved mother. Assuredly it is such that it vanquishes and overcomes all remembrance and solicitude, which the flesh uses to take for feeding and defence of itself; for in every realm and nation God will stir up some one or other to minister things that appertain to this wretched life; and if men cease to do their office, yet he will send his ravens; so that, in every place, perchance I may find some fathers to my body. But, alas! where I shall find children to be begotten unto God by the word of life, that can I not at present consider. And therefore the spiritual life of such as sometime boldly professed Christ is, to my heart, more dear than all the glory, riches, and honour on earth.

And the falling back of such men as I hear daily turn back to that idol* again, is to me more dolorous than, I * The Romish mass.