Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

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KNOX.
LIFE OF JOHN
ing to John, where he had left off at Longniddrie. He
catechised them in the parish church belonging to the
city. A number of persons attended both these exer¬
cises. Among those who had taken refuge in the castle,
(though not engaged in the conspiracy against the Car¬
dinal), were John Rough, who, since his dismissal by
the Regent, had lurked in Kyle, Sir David Lindsay of
the Mount, and Henry Balnaves of Halhill. These per¬
sons were so much pleased with Knox’s doctrine and
mode of teaching, that they urged him to preach publicly
to the people, and to become colleague to Rough, who
acted as chaplain to the garrison. But he resisted all
their solicitations, assigning as a reason, that he did not
consider himself as having a call to this employment,
and would not be guilty of intrusion. They did not,
however, desist from their purpose; but, having consulted
with their brethren, came to a resolution, without his
knowledge, that a call should be publicly given him, in
the name of the whole, to become one of their ministers.
Accordingly, on a day fixed for the purpose. Rough
preached a sermon on the election of ministers, in which
he declared the power which a congregation, however
small, had over any one in whom they perceived gifts
suited to the office, and how dangerous it was for such a
person to reject the call of those who desired instruction.
Sermon being ended, the preacher turned to Knox, who
was present, and addressed him in these words: “Brother,
you shall not be offended, although I speak unto you
that which I have in charge, even from all those that
are here present, which is this : In the name of God, and
of his Son Jesus Christ, and in the name of all that pre¬
sently call you by my mouth, I charge you that you re¬
fuse not this holy vocation, but as you tender the glory
of God, the increase of Christ’s kingdom, the edifica¬
tion of your brethren, and the comfort of me, whom you
understand well enough to be oppressed by the multi¬
tude of labours, that you take upon you the public office
and charge of preaching, even as you look to avoid God’s