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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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the Roman harlot to be the true and immaculate spouse
of Jesus Chrjst. Wonder not, madam, that I call Rome
an harlot, for that church is altogether polluted with all
kinds of spiritual fornication, both in doctrine and man¬
ners.” He added, that he was ready to prove that the
Romish church had declined farther from the purity of
religion taught by the apostles, than the Jewish church
had degenerated from the ordinances which God gave
them by Moses and Aaron, at the time when they deni¬
ed and crucified the Son of God. “My conscience is not
so,” said the queen. “ Conscience, madam, requires
knowledge; and I fear that right knowledge you have
none.” She said, she had both heard and read. “ So,
madam, did the Jews who crucified Christ; they read
the law and the prophets, and heard them interpreted
after their manner. Have you heard any teach but such
as the pope and cardinals have allowed? and you may be
assured, that such will speak nothing to offend their own
estate.”
“ You interpret the Scriptures in one way,” said the
queen evasively, “ and they in another: whom shall I
believe, and who shall be judge 1” “You shall believe
God, who plainly speaketh in his word,” replied the
Reformer, “ and farther than the word teacheth you,
you shall believe neither the one nor the other. The
word of God is plain in itself; if there is any obscurity
in one place, the Holy Ghost, who is never contrary to
himself, explains it more clearly in other places, so that
there can remain no doubt, but unto such as are obstin¬
ately ignorant.” As an example, he selected one of the
articles in controversy, that concerning the sacrament of
the Supper, and proceeded to shew, that the popish doc¬
trine of the sacrifice of the mass was destitute of all
foundation in scripture. But the queen, who was de¬
termined to avoid all discussion of the articles of her
creed, interrupted him, by saying, that she was unable
to contend with him in argument, but if she had those
present whom she had heard, they would answer him.