Page:Life of John Knox (2).pdf/19

Rh all rise agane in glorie; howsoever it be that the wicked for a tyme sall trode me and others thy servandes under their feit. Be merciful, O Lord, unto the kirk within this realme; continew with it the light of thy evangell; augment the number of true preieheris. And let thy mercyfull providence luke upon my desolate bedfellow, the fruit of hir bosome, and my two deir children, Nathaneal and Eleazer. Now, Lord, put end to my miserie." The advertisement " to the Faithful Reader," dated from St. Andrews, 12th July, 1572, concludes as follows: "I hartly salute and take my good night of all the faithful in both realmes, earnestly desyring the assistance of their prayers, that, without any notable slander to the evangel of Jesus Christ, I may end my battell. For as the world is wearie of me, so am I of it."

His health declined so rapidly in the Spring of 1572, that it was thought he would end his days in St. Andrews, but he was once more restored to his flock. The Queen's forces having abandoned Edinburgh, his hearers, who were anxious that once again his voice might be heard among them," intreated him to come to them immediately, if his health permitted. He accordingly left St. Andrews on the 17th of August, but on account of his weakness, he was obliged to travel slowly, and it was the 23d of the month before he arrived at Leith. After resting a day or two, he came to Edinburgh, and the inhabitants had the satisfaction of seeing him in his own pulpit once more. His voice was now so enfeebled, that he could searcely be heard by half the congregation, and he requested the session to provide a smaller house where he could be heard, if it were only by a few. Perceiving that he would not long be able to preach, or attend to other ministerial duties, he was desirous to have an assistant and successor appointed, that his followers might not be left "as sheep without a