The Treatise on Prayer contained in this edition is printed from a transcript of the Wodrow manuscript in the possession of Dr. M'Crie, by whom it was kindly furnished. It has been collated with the printed edition of 1554, from which the titles of paragraphs, printed in italic, are inserted. The other tracts here printed from the Wodrow manuscript have also been examined by the early printed copies, and the result of this examination fully shows the hasty and incorrect manner in which those editions must have been printed. Dr. M'Crie (Life of Knox, vol. i. note N.) has noticed this subject, and has stated several of the most important variations in the treatise on prayer. It should, however, be mentioned, that the manuscript and printed copy of this tract differ more than any of the others; and in some instances the alterations appear to have been made designedly while passing through the press.

To the printed copy of the Treatise on Prayer is added the following confession or prayer, which appears to have been composed, and used by Knox, after the death of Edward VI.

Hereafter followeth a confession by John Knox, minister of
Christ's most sacred evangely,* upon the death of that
most virtuous and most famous king, Edward the VI.,
king of England, France, and Ireland, in which
confession the said John doth accuse no less
his own offences, than the offences of

others, to be the cause of the taking
away of that most godly prince,
now reigning with Christ,
while we abide plagues
for our unthank-
fulness.

Omnipotent and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy eternal providence disposest kingdoms, as seemeth best to thy wisdom: we acknowledge and confess thy judgments to be righteous, in that thou hast taken from us, for our ingratitude, and for abusing of thy most holy word, our native king and earthly comforter.

Justly mayest thou pour forth upon us the uttermost of thy plagues; for that we have not known the days and time of our merciful visitation. We have contemned thy word, and despised thy mercies; we have transgressed thy laws; for deceitfully have we wrought, every man with our neighbours; oppression and violence we have not abhorred: charity hath not appeared among us, as our profession requires. We have little regarded the voices of thy prophets. Thy threatenings we have esteemed vanity and wind. So that in us, of ourselves, remains nothing worthy of thy mercy; for all are found fruitless; even the princes with the prophets, as withered trees apt and meet to be burned in the fire of thy eternal displeasure.

But, O Lord, behold thy own mercy and goodness, that thou mayest purge and remove the most filthy burden of our most horrible offences. Let thy love overcome the severity of thy judgments, even as it did in giving to the world thy only Son, Jesus, when all mankind was lost, and no obedience was left in Adam nor in his seed. Regenerate our hearts, O Lord, by the strength of the Holy Ghost. Convert thou us, and we shall be converted. Work thou in us unfeigned repentance, and move thou our hearts to obey thy holy laws.

Behold our trouble and apparent destruction, and stay the sword of thy vengeance before it devour us. Place above us, O Lord, for thy great mercy's sake, such a head, with such rulers and magistrates as fear thy name, and will the glory of Christ Jesus to spread. Take not from us the light of thy gospel, and suffer thou no papistry to prevail in this realm. İlluminate the heart of our sovereign Lady Queen Mary,* with fruitful gifts of thy Holy Ghost; and inflame the hearts of her council with thy true fear and love. Repress thou the pride of those that would rebel; and remove from all hearts the contempt of thy word. Let not our enemies rejoice at our destruction, but look thou to the honour of thy own name, O Lord; and let thy gospel be preached with boldness in this realm. If thy justice must punish, then punish our bodies with the rod of thy mercy. But, O Lord, let us never revolt, nor turn back to idolatry again. Mitigate the hearts of those that persecute us; and let us not faint under the cross of our Saviour, but assist us with the Holy Ghost, even to the end.

* This prayer_sufficiently shows that the charges sometimes brought against Knox, that he stirred up rebellion against Queen Mary, are unfounded.

A

FAITHFUL ADMONITION,

MADE

BY JOHN KNOX

UNTO THE PROFESSORS OF GOD'S TRUTH

IN ENGLAND;

WHEREBY THOU MAYEST LEARN HOW GOD WILL HAVE HIS CHURCH
EXERCISED WITH TROUBLES, AND HOW HE DEFENDETH
IT IN THE SAME.

After all this shall not the Lord's wrath cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still. Take heed that the Lord root thee not out both head and tail in one day.-Isaiah ix.

In July, 1554, Knox left Switzerland, and proceeded to Dieppe in France. He wished to obtain accurate information of the state of his persecuted brethren in England, and to learn whether he could in any manner promote their comfort. The tidings which he receiv ed caused him much sorrow; for the sufferings of the English Protestants were daily increasing, and although none as yet had been committed to the flames, there was every reason to expect such proceedings would not be long delayed. Nor was it less painful to him to learn that many who had embraced the truth under his ministry, had been induced to return to popery. In the anguish of his mind he wrote to some of them, setting forth the danger resulting to their souls from their conduct, and impressing upon them the necessity of repentance. Under the influence of these feelings the following admonition to the professors of the truth in England was written: it was printed in the same year.

"Therein he spake of himself, and what he was at first; and made some reflections upon the days of the gospel under king Edward; undertook to show why God took the gospel away; and prayed against these Marian days, that they might be short, and foretold deliverance."- Strype.

In this " Admonition," the reader will observe that Knox uses very strong language when speaking of the enemies of the truth. At this we are not surprised, when their characters and the times in which they lived are considered. But while we strive to be equally decided in opposing error, let us avoid personalities, remembering that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." See also some observations in the sketch of the life of Knox.