September 22nd 2007

Stand with Christ

Stand with Christ Jesus in this day of his battle, which shall be short and the victory everlasting! For the Lord himself shall come in our defence with his mighty power; He shall give us the victory when the battle is most strong; and He shall turn our tears into everlasting joy.

September 21st 2007

Letter of John Knox

To MRS GUTHRIE AND JANET HENDERSON

Albeit I have no particular matter to write unto you, beloved Sister, other than I have expressed in my other writings, yet I could not refrain to write these few lines to you, in declaration of my remembrance of you. True, it is, that I have manywhom I bear in equal remembrance before God with you, to whom, at this present I write nothing; either for that I esteem them stronger than you be, or else, because they have not provoked me by their writing, to recompense their remembrance. My daily prayer shall be for you, that as God hath given his Spirit to assist you, and hath opened your eyes, so that you can discern betwixt the good and the evil, that so it will please his majesty to confirm in you the spirit of constantcy to the end.

The more that you feel your own weakness, the more able and apt a vessel you are to recieve the grace of God, so that you once determine with yourself to die with Christ Jesus, rather than to refuse his known verity. Which albeit it appear bitter at the first sight, yet, when the necessity and fruit of it shall be considered, it shall be found pleasing, yea, and delectable. For statuted it is to all men once to die; but to few it is granted in so just an action, and with such honour as to be Christ's witness, yea, and to be made like unto himself. If we should earnestly consider the fruit that shall follow a transitory and momentary pain, as St. Paul calleth the afflictions of this life, they should not so greatly afray us. The fruit is called Life everlasting, the Sight of God, and the Fullness of all joy. All these are promised for the sufering of a moment, if it be comapred with time without end; and they are promised by Him who cannot decieve us. Alas, then, why fear we so greatly, as that there were no truth in God, or yet recompense for the battle, or travail of the just?

If any object that I follow not the counsel which I give to others, for my fleeing the country delcareth my fear, I answer, I bind no man to my example, and that I trust to God, that I do not expressedly against the Word which God uttereth by me. If the love of this life, or the fear of corporal death, caused me to deny the verity, or to do any thing in the eyes of men, which might seem for fear to favour idolatory, then woe unto me forever, for I were nothing but a traitor to Christ and his religion! But if my fear be so measured, that it compels me not to commit open iniquity, then do I nothing against my consel, which is not mine, but the express commandment of Christ Jesus, commanding us to foresake ourselves and follow him.

If we knew, I saw, what comfort lyeth hid under the fearful cross of Christ, we would not be so slack to take up the same. If we knew that life is buried with Christ in his grave, we would not fear to go and seek him in the same. We praise and extol the martyrs and saints who by afflictions have overcome this world: and yet we having the same occassion offered, do fly from the battle, yea, and alas! do agree with our enemies before the battle approach. Call earnestly and incessantly for the assitance of God's Spirit, dear Sister, and determine with your self to suffer with Christ Jesus, and then, shall you feel a comfort, according to the promise of Christ Jesus. My own motion and daily prayer is, not only that I may visit you, but also that with joy I may end my battle amongst you. And assure yourself of that, that whenver a greater number among you shall call upon me, than now hath bound me to serve them, that by His grace, it shall not be the fear of corporal punishment, neither yet of the death temporal, that shall impede my coming unto you.

I have written a large letter to the gentelman of my last acquaintance within that cuontry, which partly came by your acquaintance and occassion; and I have joined it with these your letters, that by you it may come surely to his hands. I pray you take pains in that behalf. The matter is such, that I would all should understand of it; therefore, do as you think expedient. Salue heartily my familiars. My mother and wife salute you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest with you.--From our town the 10th of March 1557. Your brother John Sinclar.

September 19th 2007

A man of prayer

I know how hard is the battle between the Spirit and the flesh, under the heavy cross of affliction, where no worldly defence but present death doth appear. I know the grudging and murmuring complaints of the flesh...calling all his promises in doubt, and being ready every hour utterly to fall from God. Against which rests only faith, provoking us to call earnestly and pray for assistance of God's Spirit; wherein, if we continue, our most desperate calamaties shall be turned into gladness, and to a prosperous end. To thee alone, O Lord, be praise, for with experience I write this and speak.

September 18th 2007

Be not moved

Be not moved from the sure foundation of your faith. For albeit Christ Jesus be absent from you (as he was from his disciples in that great storm) by his bodily presence, yet he is present by his mighty power and grace...and yet he is full of pity and compassion.

September 16th 2007

Knoxes Day of Troubles

I have read the cares and temptations of Moses, and some times I supposed myself to be well practiced in such dangerous battles. But, alas! I now perceieve that all my practice before was but mere speculation; for one day of troubles, since my last arrival in Scotland, has more pierced my heart than all the torments of the galleys did the space of nineteen months; for that torment, for the most part, did touch the body, but this pierces the soul and inward affections.

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