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for zeal or piety in the Romish communion。 Their opposition to the papacy
was the result of their knowledge of the errors of the 〃holy see。〃 Their
acquaintance with the mysteries of Babylon gave greater power to their
testimonies against her。
〃Now I would ask a strange question；〃 said Latimer。 〃Who is the most
diligent bishop and prelate in all England？ 。 。 。 I see you listening and
hearkening that I should name him。 。 。 。 I will tell you： it is the devil。 。
。 。 He is never out of his diocese； call for him when you will； he is ever
at home； 。 。 。 he is ever at his plow。 。 。 。 Ye shall never find him idle； I
warrant you。 。 。 。 Where the devil is resident； 。 。 。 there away with books；
and up with candles； away with Bibles； and up with beads； away with the
light of the gospel； and up with the light of candles； yea； at noondays； 。 。
。 down with Christ's cross； up with purgatory pickpurse； 。 。 。 away with
clothing the naked； the poor； and impotent； up with decking of images and
gay garnishing of stocks and stones； up with man's traditions and his laws；
down with God's traditions and His most holy word。 。 。 。 O that our prelates
would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine； as Satan is to sow
cockle and darnel！〃Ibid。； 〃Sermon of the Plough。〃
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The grand principle maintained by these Reformersthe same that had been
held by the Waldenses； by Wycliffe； by John Huss； by Luther； Zwingli； and
those who united with themwas the infallible authority of the Holy
Scriptures as a rule of faith and practice。 They denied the right of popes；
councils； Fathers； and kings； to control the conscience in matters of
religion。 The Bible was their authority； and by its teaching they tested all
doctrines and all claims。 Faith in God and His word sustained these holy men
as they yielded up their lives at the stake。 〃Be of good comfort；〃 exclaimed
Latimer to his fellow martyr as the flames were about to silence their
voices； 〃we shall this day light such a candle； by God's grace； in England；
as I trust shall never be put out。〃 Works of Hugh Latimer； vol。 1； p。
xiii。
In Scotland the seeds of truth scattered by Columba and his colaborers had
never been wholly destroyed。 For hundreds of years after the churches of
England submitted to Rome； those of Scotland maintained their freedom。 In
the twelfth century； however； popery became established here； and in no
country did it exercise a more absolute sway。 Nowhere was the darkness
deeper。 Still there came rays of light to pierce the gloom and give promise
of the coming day。 The Lollards； coming from England with the Bible and the
teachings of Wycliffe； did much to preserve the knowledge of the gospel； and
every century had its witnesses and martyrs。
With the opening of the Great Reformation came the writings of Luther； and
then Tyndale's English New Testament。 Unnoticed by the hierarchy； these
messengers silently traversed the mountains and valleys； kindling into new
life the torch of truth so nearly extinguished in Scotland； and undoing the
work which Rome for four centuries of oppression had done。
Then the blood of martyrs gave fresh impetus to the movement。 The papist
leaders； suddenly awakening to the danger that threatened their cause；
brought to the stake some of the
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noblest and most honored of the sons of Scotland。 They did but erect a
pulpit； from which the words of these dying witnesses were heard throughout
the land； thrilling the souls of the people with an undying purpose to cast
off the shackles of Rome。
Hamilton and Wishart； princely in character as in birth； with a long line of
humbler disciples； yielded up their lives at the stake。 But from the burning
pile of Wishart there came one whom the flames were not to silence； one who
under God was to strike the death knell of popery in Scotland。
John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church；
to feed upon the truths of God's word； and the teaching of Wishart had
confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome and join
himself to the persecuted Reformers。
Urged by his companions to take the office of preacher； he shrank with
trembling from its responsibility； and it was only after days of seclusion
and painful conflict with himself that he consented。 But having once
accepted the position； he pressed forward with inflexible determination and
undaunted courage as long as life continued。 This truehearted Reformer
feared not the face of man。 The fires of martyrdom； blazing around him；
served only to quicken his zeal to greater intensity。 With the tyrant's ax
held menacingly over his head； he stood his ground； striking sturdy blows on
the right hand and on the left to demolish idolatry。
When brought face to face with the queen of Scotland； in whose presence the
zeal of many a leader of the Protestants had abated； John Knox bore
unswerving witness for the truth。 He was not to be won by caresses； he
quailed not before threats。 The queen charged him with heresy。 He had taught
the people to receive a religion prohibited by the state； she declared； and
had thus transgressed God's command enjoining subjects to obey their
princes。 Knox answered firmly：
〃As right religion took neither original strength nor authority from worldly
princes； but from the eternal God alone； so are not subjects bound to frame
their religion
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according to the appetites of their princes。 For oft it is that princes are
the most ignorant of all others in God's true religion。 。 。 。 If all the
seed of Abraham had been of the religion of Pharaoh； whose subjects they
long were； I pray you； madam； what religion would there have been in the
world？ Or if all men in the days of the apostles had been of the religion of
the Roman emperors； what religion would there have been upon the face of the
earth？ 。 。 。 And so； madam； ye may perceive that subjects are not bound to
the religion of their princes； albeit they are commanded to give them
obedience。〃
Said Mary： 〃Ye interpret the Scriptures in one manner； and they ＇the Roman
Catholic teachers＇ interpret in another； whom shall I believe； and who shall
be judge？〃
〃Ye shall believe God； that plainly speaketh in His word；〃 answered the
Reformer； 〃and farther than the word teaches you； ye neither shall believe
the one nor the other。 The word of God is plain in itself； and if there
appear any obscurity in one place； the Holy Ghost； which is never contrary
to Himself； explains the same more clearly in other places； so that there
can remain no doubt but unto such as obstinately remain ignorant。〃David
Laing； The Collected Works of John Knox； vol。 2； pp。 281； 284。
Such were the truths that the fearless Reformer； at the peril of his life；
spoke in the ear of royalty。 With the same undaunted courage he kept to his
purpose； praying and fighting the battles of the Lord； until Scotland was
free from popery。
In England the establishment of Protestantism as the national religion
diminished； but did not wholly stop； persecution。 While many of