The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 51
The Life and Death of John Knox, who dyed Anno Christi 1572.
JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothain in Scotland, Anno 1505. of honest Parentage: brought up first at School, then sent to the University of Saint Andrews, to study under Master Io. Maior, who was famou… for learning in those dayes, and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School Divinity, and took hi… Degrees, and af…erwards was admitted very young into Orders; then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers, especially Augustine's Works; and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures; by wch, being through God's mercy informed of the Truth, he willingly embraced it, and freely professed it, and imparted it to others. But when there was a persecution raised up by the Bishops, against the Professours of the Truth, he fled into England, where he preached the Gospel with much zeal & fruit, both at Berwick, Newcastle and London. He was much esteemed …y King Edward the sixt, who proffered him a Bishoprick, which he rejected, as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo; something in it common with Antichrist. King Edward being dead, the p…rsecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England, and goe to Frankefort, where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation: but meeting with opposition there, both from Papists and false brethren, he went to Geneva. Anno Christi 1559. and of his age 54. the Nobility of Scotland, with some others, beginning the Reformation of Religion, sent for him home, and shortly after he was setled Minister at Edinbrough, where he preached many excellent Sermons. Anno Christi 1566. the Earl of Murray being slain on the Saturday, Knox preaching at Edinbrough the next day, amongst the papers given of those that desired the prayers of the Church, he found one with these words, Take up the man whom yee accounted another God: At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse that the Church and State had by the death of that vertuous man; adding further, There is one in this company that makes this horrible murder the subject of his mirth, for which all good men should be sorry; but I tell him, he shall dye where there shall be none to lament him.
The man that had written those words, was one Thoma… Metellan, a young Gentleman of excellent parts, but bearing small affection to the Earl of Murray; he hearing this commination of Iohn Knox, went home to his Sister, and sa…d, That Iohn Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom. His Sister replyed with tears, If you had taken my advice, you had not written those words; saying further, Tha… none of Iohn Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect. And so indeed this came to passe; for shortly after, this Gentleman going to travell, dyed in Italy, having none to assist, much lesse to lament him. Towards Knox his later end, his body became very infirm, and his voyce so weak, that People could not hear him in the ordinary place; wherefore he chose another place, wherein he preached upon the History of Christs passion, with which, he said, it was his desire to close his Ministry: finding his end neer, he importuned the Council of the City to provide themselves a worthy man to succeed in his place: Master Iames Lawson Professor in Aberdene was the man pitched upon, and Commissioners were sent from the Church of Edinborough to request him to accept of the place; Iohn Knox also subscribed that request; adding, Accelera mi frater, alioqui …erò venies; Haste my Brother, otherwise you will come too late: this made Master Lawson to hasten his journey, and when he was come, he preached twice to the good liking of the people, whereupon order was taken by the rulers of the Church for his admission, at which time Iohn Knox would needs preach, though very w…ak, which also he performed with such fervency of spiri…, that he was never before heard to preach with so grea… power, or more content to the hearers. In the end of his Sermon, he called God to witnesse that he had walked in a good conscience with them, not seeking to please men, nor serving either his owne, or other mens affections, but in all sincerity, and truth had preached the Gospell of Christ. He exhorted them in most grave and pithy words to stand fast in the Faith they had received: and so having prayed zealously for Gods blessing upon them, and the multiplying of Gods spirit upon their new Pastor, he gave them his last farewel: Being conveyed to his lodging, that afternoon he was forced to betake himselfe to his bed: and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sicknesse, to whom he spake most comfortably: amongst others the Earle of Morton came to see him, to whom he said, My Lord, God hath given you many blessings, Wisdome, Honor, Nobility, Riches, many good, and great friends, and he is now about to pr…fer you to the Government of the Realm (the Earl of Marr, the late Regent, being newly dead.) In his name I charge you, use these blessings better then formerly you have don: seeking first the glory of God, the furtheance of his Gospell, the maintenance of his Church, and Ministry; and then be car… full of the King to procure his good, and the welfare of the Realm. I… you doe thus, God will be with you, and honor you: if otherwis…, …e will d…prive you of all these benefits, and your end shall be shame, and ignonminie. These speeches the Earl called to minde about nine years after, at the time of his Execution, saying, That he had found Iohn Knox to be a Prophet. A day or two before Knox his death, he sent for Master David Lindsey, Master Lawson, and the Elders, and Deacons of the Church, …o whom he said, The time is approaching, which I have long thirsted for, wherein I shall be released from all my cares, and be with my Saviour Christ for ever: and now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Go…e… of his Son, that I have taught nothing but the true & sinc…r… Word of God: and that the end that I proposed in my M… nistry was, To instruct the ignorant, to confirm the wea…, to comfort their consciences who were humbled under the sense of their sins, and born down with the threatning… o… Gods judgments. I am not ignorant that many have, and doe blame my too great rigor, and severity; but God knoweth that in my heart I never hated those aga…ns… whom I thundered Gods judgments: I did onelyonly hate thei… sins, and labored according to my power to gaine them to Christ: That I did forbear none of what condition soever; I did it out of the fear of my God: who hat… placed me in the function of his Ministry, and I know will bring me to an account. Now bretheren, for your selve…, I have no more to say, but to warn you that you …ake he…d to the Flocke over which God hath placed you Over seers, which … hath redeemed by the blood of his onelyonly begotten son: and you Master Lawson fight a good fight, doe the Worke of the Lord with courage, and with a willing minde, and God from heaven blesse you, and the Church whereof you have the charge: Against it (so long as it continues in the Doctr…n… of the Truth) the gates of hell shall not preva…le: having thus spoken, and the Elders, and Deacons being dismissed, he called the two Preacher to him, and said, There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly, you have sometimes seen the Courage, and Constancy of the Laird of Grang in the Cause of God; and now that unhappy man is casting himself away: I pray you go to him from me, and tell him, That unlesse he forsake that wicked course that he is in, the Rock wherein he confideth shall not defend him, nor the carnall wisdome of that man whom he counteth halfe a god [which was young Leshing…on] shall yeeld him help; but he shall be shamefully pulled out of that nest, and his carcasse hung before the Sun, (meaning the C…stle which he kept against the Kings Authority) for his soul it is dear to me, and if it were possible, I would fain have him saved: accordingly they went to him, conferred with him, but could by no meanes divert him from his course: But as Knox had fore-told, so the year after his Castle was taken, and his body was publickly there hanged before the Sun: yet at his death he did expresse serious repentance. The nex day Knox gave order for the making of his Coffin, continuing all the day (as he did also through all his sicknesse) in fervent prayer, crying, Come Lord Iesus: sweet Jes…s into thy hands I commend my spirit: being ask'd whether his pains were great, he answered, That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles, and the beginning of eternall joyes. Oft after some deep meditation, he used to say, Oh serve the Lord in fear, and death shall not be troublesome to you: Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Iesus. The night before his death, he slept some hours with great unquietnesse, often fighing, and groaning, whereupon when he awakened, the standers by asked him how he did, and what it was that made him mourn so heavily? to whom he answered: In my life time I have been assaulted with Temp…a…ion… from Satan, and he hath oft cast my sin… into my teeth to drive me to despair, yet God gave me strength to overcome all his Temptations: but now the subtill serpent takes another course, and seek's to perswade me, That all my labors in the Ministery, & the fidelity that I have shewed in that service hath merited heaven and immortality: but blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures: What hast thou that thou hast not received? And, Not I, but the grace of God in mee: With which he is gon away ashamed, and shall no more return: and now I am sure that my battell …s at an end, and that without pain of body, or trouble of spirit, I shall shortly change this mortall, and miserable life, with that happy, and immortall life that shall never have an end. After which, one praying by his bed, having made an end, asked him, If he heard the Prayer? Yea, said he, and would to God that all present had heard it with such an ear, and heart as I have don: Adding, Lord Iesus receive my spirit: With which words, without any motion of hands, or feet, as one falling a sleep rather then dying he ended his life. Never was man more observant of the true & just authority of Church-Rulers according to the Word of God, and th… practise of the purest Primitive time: he alwayes pressed due Obedience, from the people to the faithfull Pastor…, and Elders of the Church. He dyed Anno Christi 1572. and of his Age 62. Men of all ranks were present at his Buriall: The Earl of Murray, when the Corps was put into the ground, said Here lies the body of him, who in his life time never feared the face of any man.
Undaunted Knox would never fear to tell
The bett their follyes, if they did not well:
He was severe to those that would not
Observant to his preach'd Divinity:
He lov'd the wayes of peace, and would delight
Himselfe in …ods just Lawes both day and night:
His soul would be laborious to fullfill
The sweet commands of his deare makers will.
In peace he liv'd, and with a peacefull breath
He call'd on God, and yeelded unto death…