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

102
LIFE OF JOHN
city, arrived at Geneva with a letter, and credence, from
the Earl of Glencaim, Lords Lorn, Erskine, and James
Stewart, informing him that those who had professed the
reformed doctrine remained stedfast, that its adversaries
were daily losing credit in the nation, and that those
who possessed the supreme authority, although they
had not yet declared themselves friendly, still refrained
from persecution; and inviting him in their own name,
and in that of their brethren, to return to Scotland, where
he would find them all ready to receive him, and to spend
their lives and fortunes in advancing the cause which
they had espoused.
PERIOD V.
FROM HIS INVITATION INTO SCOTLAND, BY THE PROTESTANT NOBILITY, ANNO
1557, TO HIS SETTLEMENT AS MINISTER OF EDINBURGH, UPON THE ESTABLISH-
WENT OF THE REFORMATION ANNO 1560.
This invitation Knox laid before his congregation, and
also submitted to Calvin and his colleagues. The lat¬
ter delivered it as their opinion, “ that he could not re¬
fuse the call, without shewing himself rebellious to God,
and unmerciful to his country.” His congregation agreed
to sacrifice their particular interest to the greater good
of the church; and his own family silently acquiesced.
Upon this, he returned an answer to the letter of the
nobility, signifying, that he meant to visit them with all
reasonable expedition. Accordingly, after seeing the con¬
gregation agreeably provided with a pastor in his room,
and settling his other affairs, he took an affectionate leave
of his friends at Geneva, and went to Dieppe, in the be¬
ginning of October. While he waited there for a vessel,
he received letters from Scotland, written in a very dif¬
ferent strain from the former. These informed him, that
new consultations had been held; that some began to