Page:Life of John Knox (4).pdf/13

13 doubt not to prove to be a power usurped against God, against his commandments, and against the ordinated of Christ Jesus, established in his church by his chief apostles; yea, we doubt not to prove the kingdom of the Pope to be the kingdom and power of Antichrist, and therefore my lords cannot cease, in the name of Christ Jesus, to require of you that the matter may come to examination, and that ye, the estates of the realm, by your authority, compel teach as will be called bishops not only to desist from their cruel murdering of such as do study to promote God's glory, in detecting and disclosing the dammable impiety of that man of sin the Roman Antichrist, but, also, that ye compel them to answer to such crimes as shall be laid to their charge, for not righteously intructing the flock committed to their dare.

In March 1557, sensible of his importance, a letter, subscribed Glehcairn Erskine, Lorn, and James Stuart, was transmitted to Mr Knox at Geneva, entreating him to return home to be their teacher. Having communicated its contents to his congregation, for which he provided another minister, and taken the advice of John Calvin, and other ministers, he set out for Scotland; but on his arrival at Dieppe, letters met him requesting him to remain there, owing to the falling off of some from the cause, alarmed at the danger to which they were exposed.

Addressing himself the lords who had invited his return, Mr Knox expostulates with them on their rash and unadvised conduct, as having a tendency to cause both them and him to be evil spoken of.-"For either," said he, "it shall appear that I was marvellous vain, being so solicited where no necessity required, or else that such as