LETTERS OF JOHN KNOX.

LETTER I.

To his Sister.*

GRACE and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, rest and be multiplied with you. Amen.

Beloved sister-after most hearty commendations-the remembrance of your continual battle is dolorous unto me, yet fear I nothing less than your victory by Him who ever hath vanquished, when satan appeared to have possessed all. The art of your adversary, dear sister, is subtle; in that he would cause you to abhor and hate that wherein alone stands salvation and life. Jesus, by interpretation is a Saviour, by reason that he saves his people from their sins, and Christ is called anointed, as Isaiah doth witness. The Spirit of God hath anointed our Saviour in so far as he is man. There is given unto him all power in heaven and earth, that from him, as from a fountain most abounding and an overflowing well, we may receive all that we have lost by the transgression of a man.

Now, sister, our adversary, knowing that the rest and tranquillity of our conscience depends upon this-that we embrace Jesus to be the only Saviour of the world; and that we learn to apply the sweetness of his name, which surpasses the odours of all fragrant smelling spices; for the corruption of our wounds, he labours to make that name odious, and this he does as an enemy not so much to you, as unto Jesus Christ, who by his own power has broken down his head, and also shall triumph over him in his members. You are sick, dear sister, and therefore no

*Probably Margery Bowes, his first wife, or her mother; Knox, however, applied the term in a general sense to all who were sisters in Christ. See Letter XIV.

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wonder albeit you (not of yourself, but by his continual assaults) abhor the succour of most wholesome food. I said unto you that I was sure that you remained not always in that bitterness of heart, for I perceived otherwise, both by your words and conditions. If you always hated Jesus, the Son of God, and abhorred the redemption that is by his blood, you should never so seek comfort nor consolation from God, neither by my prayers nor my company, but you would hate me as the rest of the wicked world doth. For such as are reprobate can never love God nor the members of Christ's body, but must needs persecute them, and chiefly such as in whom the Spirit of God worketh abundantly. Witness king Saul, who to his death persecuted David; albeit David at all times was beneficial unto him. The contrary, reigning in the two, never permitted concord to stand between them. Further, sister, such as taste the cup of desperation without any motion of thirst of grace, never taste any sweetness of God's promises; the contrary whereof I have known in you, whereto I am sure your own conscience must needs bear witness. And so, sister, you are sick, but will not die, your faith is weak and sorely troubled, but you are not unfaithful; nor yet shall your infirmities be imputed unto you.

Remember, dear sister, what ignorance, what fear, and what appearance of incredulity remained in Christ's disciples after they had heard his most plain doctrine, and after they had seen the power of his works, a longer time than you have yet continued in Christ. That is not so often and so diligently rehearsed by the evangelists without a most special cause, but to be a comfort unto us; so that although both fear and doubt remain in our consciences, even of long time, yet is there no danger to such as once have embraced God in his promises. For his majesty is such, that he cannot repent him of his gifts. To embrace Christ, to refuse idolatry, to confess the truth, to love the members of Christ's body, are the gifts of God; therefore he cannot repent that he hath made you partaker thereof. But lest you should wax negligent, and desire to remain in this wicked life, his godly wisdom permits you to taste a little of that bitter cup that his own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did taste in greatest abundance; and it is profitable that you do so to the mortification of the wicked carcass.

After the writing of this preceding, your brother and

mine, Harry Wickliff, advertised me by writing, that your adversary took occasion to trouble you, because that I did start back from you when you were rehearsing your infirmities. I remember myself so to have done, and that is my common custom, when any thing pierces or touches my heart. Call to your mind, what I did standing at the cupboard in Alnwick. In very deed I thought that no creature had been so tempted as I was, and when I heard proceed from your mouth the very same words that he troubles me with, I did wonder, and from my heart lament your sore trouble, knowing in myself the dolour thereof. And no other thing, dear sister, meant I, and therefore think not that I either flatter you, or yet that I conceal any thing from you; no, for if I had been so minded, I had not been so plain in other cases. My other great labours permit me not to write as I would. I will pray for your continuance with Christ.

At Newcastle in great haste, the 26th February, 1553. JOHN KNOX.

LETTER II.

To his Sister.

Most dear sister, whom I reverence, as it becomes, in all godliness, thinking it my bounden duty to visit those who are always troubled. I have rather taken occasion by reason of this messenger who partly can recite my present impediments, all which I remit to the merciful providence of my good God, to whose protection I unfeignedly commit you and others for whom I am more fearful than for myself. But as for you, sister, I only lament your corporeal trouble, which albeit it be painful, yet is transitory, and shall shortly have an end, and the dolour thereof be recompensed above all that man's heart can ask or devise, for the afflictions of this life are not worthy of that glory that shall be shown forth in us, whom God our Father hath appointed to be like to the image of his only Son Jesus Christ; whom it behoved to suffer dolour in such sort that he was compelled to cry in anguish of heart-" My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" Which affliction God our Father laid upon Him, not only for a satisfaction to his godly justice, but also for most singular comfort to such

as are troubled, as of necessity every member of Christ's body must be at one time or other. For seeing we have a Bishop, who by experience has learned in himself to have compassion upon our dolour and infirmities, we ought of good reason to quiet ourselves-knowing undoubtedly that he who has vanquished in himself, has vanquished for us. For no debtor was he to death or dolour, but he suffered all for our cause. A portion whereof the providence of our God wills that we also sometime taste, not only to mortify in us the pleasures and affections of the flesh that reign in others, but also to let us feel in ourselves how horrible is sin, and what it is to abide the hot displeasure of God's wrath for ever. So that, being assured of our redemption in Christ's blood, we may unfeignedly render thanks for his fatherly mercy, who correcteth every son whom he receiveth to his favour, to the end aforesaid. And so, if flesh should suffer greatly, ought we to rejoice that it has pleased the goodness of our God to print in our heart the seal of his mercy.

Our impatience, albeit we ought to fight against it, is not damnable, seeing we are the members of Chirst's body, therein engrafted by faith, which is the free gift of our God, and not proceeding from our works; out of which we cannot be cut by any assaults of our adversary, whom it behoves to rage against us, because he is a spirit confirmed in malice against God and his elect. But let us not fear him, seeing he is confounded, and is broken, and does only abide that day, when he shall be committed to torment for ever. Rejoice, sister, and be constant, for the Lord cometh and shall not tarry; and thus I commit you to the protection of Him, who cannot deceive such as call upon his name. My commendations to those that affeirs.* At Carlisle, 26th July, 1553.

Your brother,

JOHN KNOX.

LETTER III.

To

DEARLY beloved sister in our Lord Jesus. The troubles sustained by you, as they are to the mortification of the

* Are near to you.

wicked flesh, so are they dolorous unto me. Not that I fear any deadly damnation to follow thereupon, but that I lament your bodily inquietudes, and most that you are afraid when there is no cause. What wonder that the devil provoke you to idolatry, seeing he durst do the same to the Son of God himself. I am sure that your heart neither thirsts nor desires to invocate or make prayer unto bread,* nor unto any other creature, but to the living God only, and that you abhor idolatry. So long it were not sin unto you, albeit a thousand times a day you were assaulted. Alas, sister, your imbecility troubles me, that I should know you to be so weak, that you should be moved for so small a matter. But your weakness is not reckoned, but by Jesus our Lord it is excused; for he breaks not down the bruised reed, nor yet quenches the smoking flax: which words are most comfortable to us. How weak soever we be, he will not cast us away, but will feed and make us strong; and therefore Paul glories in his infirmities, affirming that when he is weak, then is he in greatest surety. The small and imperfect knowledge which now we have, shall every day increase, and when we are delivered from this mortal carcass, we shall see and behold the glory and wisdom of our God for ever. It is not necessary to put me in remembrance to call for your deliverance. In God's presence I write, that as often as I find the spirit to call for myself, so often forget I not you; which cometh not of me, but of the Holy Spirit, that so teacheth me. And albeit I should cease, yourself should cease, and all other creatures should cease, yet your dolour continually crieth and returns not void from the presence of our God. And therefore, sister, abide patiently that final and sure deliverance; remember that the holy Son of God cried thrice with tears; and in place of sweat, blood flowed from his body through the vehemence of his pain; and yet must he needs drink of the cup prepared by his Father. If the Son of God so suffered, in whom there was never sin nor deceit, what becomes us to do? Stand in God's promises, and the end shall be joyful. Great labours, and partly troubles of mind, will not suffer me to write more. spirit of the kind Jesus assist you to the end. Your brother,

*The Romish host.

The

JOHN KNOX.