Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/256

 246 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. again in the Kirk of St. Andrews to a distinguished audience ; who voted the purport and substance of it to be essentially true and justifiable. Here, at second hand, is Knox's summary of the discourse, written many years after. ' the strongest of all things.'' His discourse of Curs- 'ing was. That if it were rightly used, it was the ' be vilipended ; for the priest (said he) whose duty ' Sunday and cries, " Ane has tynt a spurtil " {lost a ' the people mocked their cursing, he farther told a
 * The theme ' {text) * of his sermon was " Yeritie is
 * most fearful thing upon the face of the earth ; for
 * it was the very separation of man from God ; but
 * that it should not be used rashly and for every light
 * cause, but only against open and incorrigible sinners.
 * But now (said he) the avarice of priests and the
 * ignorance of their office, has caused it altogether to
 * and office is to pray for the people, stands up on
 * porridge stick). " There is ane flail stolen from them
 * beyond the bum." " The goodwife of the other side
 * of the gate has tynt a horn spune " {lost a horn
 * spoon). " God's maleson and mine I give to them
 * that knows of this gear and restores it not." How