Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/299

 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. 289 pretence to worsliip God by methods not of God's appointing ; open idolatry it is, in Knox's judgment ; a mere invitation and invocation to the wrath of God to fall upon and crush you. To a common, or even to the most gifted and tolerant reader, in these modern careless days, it is almost altogether impossible to sympathise Avith Knox's horror, terror and detestation of the poor old Hocuspocus {Hoc est Corpus) of a Mass ; but to every candid reader it is evident that Knox was under no mistake about it, on his own ground, and that this is verily his authentic and con- tinual feeling on the matter. There are four or five dialogues of Knox with the Queen, — sometimes in her own Palace at her own request ; sometimes by summons of her Council ; but in all these she is sure to come off not with victory, but the reverse : and Knox to retire unmoved from any point of interest to him. She will not come to public sermon, under any Protestant (that. is, for her, Heretical) Preacher. Knox, whom she invites once or oftener to come privately to where she is, and remonstrate with her, if he find her offend in any- thing, cannot consent to run into backstairs of Courts,