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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
199
and exonerated him from all future concern in his
affairs. This variance, which continued nearly two
years, was very gratifying to the queen and others,
who disliked their former famUiarity, and failed not, as
Knox informs us, to “ cast oil into the flame, until God
did quench it by the water of affliction.”
Before the dissolution of the parliament, the Reformer
embraced an opportunity of disburdening his mind in
the presence of the greater part of the members assem¬
bled in his church. After discoursing of the great
mercy of God shewn to Scotland, in marvellously deliver¬
ing them from bondage of soul and body, and of the
deep ingratitude which he perceived in all ranks of
persons, he addressed himself particularly to the nobility.
He praised God that he had an opportunity of pouring
out the sorrows of his heart in their presence, who could
attest the truth of all that he had spoken. He appealed
to their consciences if he had not, in their greatest extre¬
mities, exhorted them to depend upon God, and assured
them of preservation and victory, if they preferred
his glory to their own lives and secular interests. “ I
have been with you in your most desperate temptations,”
continued he, in a strain of impassioned eloquence : “ in
your most extreme dangers I have been with you. St.
Johnston, Cupar-moor, and the Craggs of Edinburgh, are
yet recent in my heart; yea, that dark and dolorous night
wherein all ye, my lords, with shame and fear, left tjiis
town, is yet in my mind, and God forbid that ever I for¬
get it! What was, I say, my exhortation to you, and
what has fallen in vain of all that ever God promised
unto you by my mouth, ye yourselves yet live to testify.
There is not one of you against whom was death and
destruction threatened perished; and how many of
your enemies has God plagued before your eyes! Shall
this be the thankfulness that ye shall render unto your
God? To betray his cause, when ye have it in your
hands to establish it hs you please ?” He saw nothing,
he said, “ but a cowardly desertion of Christ’s standard.