22 chapters
5 hour read
Selected Chapters
22 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The sources from which the following narrative has been derived are (1) the splendidly edited and complete edition of Knox's Works in six volumes, by Dr. David Laing; (2) the Memoir of the Reformer, by Dr. Thomas McCrie, forming the first volume of the collected works of that eminent theologian; (3) the monograph by the late Professor Lorimer, D.D., entitled "John Knox and the Church of England"; and (4) the Histories of the Period, more especially that of Scotland, by John Hill Burton, vols. ii
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
EARLY LIFE AND CALL TO THE MINISTRY, 1505-1547.
EARLY LIFE AND CALL TO THE MINISTRY, 1505-1547.
On the sixteenth day of January, 1546, George Wishart delivered a remarkable sermon in the church of Haddington. Two things had combined to produce special depression in his heart. Shortly before he entered the pulpit a boy had put into his hands a letter informing him that his friends in Kyle would not be able to keep an appointment which they had made to meet him in Edinburgh. This news so saddened him that he expressed himself as "weary of the world," because he perceived that "men began to b
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IN THE FRENCH GALLEYS, 1547-1549.
IN THE FRENCH GALLEYS, 1547-1549.
During the months which had elapsed since the time when the Castle of St. Andrews had become a refuge for those who had so summarily and unscrupulously murdered Beaton, changes had occurred both in England and in France which deeply affected their interests. Henry VIII. died on the 28th January, 1547, and for a short time during the minority of Edward the reins of government had been virtually given into the hands of the Duke of Somerset, under the name of Protector. This deprived the besieged o
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MINISTRY IN BERWICK-ON-TWEED, 1549-1550.
MINISTRY IN BERWICK-ON-TWEED, 1549-1550.
By what means Knox obtained his release from the galling servitude in which he had been held by the French, we have not been able to discover; but it is believed that he was indebted for it to the intercession of England, and it is certain that in the early part of the year 1549, he was employed by the Privy Council of that country as one of the ministers whom its members commissioned to preach the doctrines of the Reformation throughout the kingdom. The probability is that he arrived in London
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
KNOX AND THE ENGLISH BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1551-1553.
KNOX AND THE ENGLISH BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1551-1553.
From Berwick Knox was removed, in the early summer of 1551, to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he laboured, with occasional absences, for nearly two years. Already, in the spring of 1550, he had made a public discourse of great importance there, and perhaps the impression produced by his words then, may have led to his being ultimately transferred thither. There is extant among his writings "A Vindication of the Doctrine that the Sacrifice of the Mass is Idolatry," to which this note is prefixed: "The
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LAST DAYS IN ENGLAND, 1553.
LAST DAYS IN ENGLAND, 1553.
During the last illness of the young King Edward, Knox, as we have seen, received a commission to go upon a preaching tour in the county of Buckingham, where, like an old Hebrew prophet, he warned his hearers of the coming crisis. He was back in London, however, as we learn from the date of the first of his published letters, on the 23rd of June (1553); but before the death of his majesty, which happened on the 6th of July, he had returned to Buckinghamshire, and there, at Amersham, on the 16th
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
FIRST DAYS OF EXILE, 1554.
FIRST DAYS OF EXILE, 1554.
From England Knox went to Dieppe, where he sojourned at this time for a month, and finished his exposition of the sixth Psalm, the first instalment of which he had sent to Mrs. Bowes just before leaving the shores of Britain. This production was primarily designed for the consolation and encouragement of that lady, who, as we have already hinted, seems to have been afflicted with religious melancholy. Apparently she was one of those, of whom every pastor has had some experience, who believe that
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE TROUBLES AT FRANKFORT, 1554-1555.
THE TROUBLES AT FRANKFORT, 1554-1555.
From Dieppe, after having launched across the channel the thunderbolt of the "Faithful Admonition," Knox retired to Geneva, where he enjoyed the friendship of John Calvin and other Swiss divines, and where, though he was now bordering on fifty years of age, he applied himself to the study of Hebrew with all the ardour of youth. But such a man could not long be permitted to enjoy learned leisure. Accordingly we find that in the end of September, 1554, he was called to be one of the pastors of a c
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE MINISTRY AT GENEVA, 1555-1559.
THE MINISTRY AT GENEVA, 1555-1559.
On his departure from Frankfort Knox made his way to Geneva, whither he was followed by a considerable number of those who had adhered to him in the former city. There it seems evident that he was invited by them, and probably also by others who had joined them, to resume his pastoral labours; for at the solicitation of Calvin, the Lesser Council of Geneva granted for the joint use of the English and Italian congregations the church called the Temple de Nostre Dame la Nove; and it is recorded th
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
RETURN TO SCOTLAND, 1559.
RETURN TO SCOTLAND, 1559.
The landing of Knox in Scotland was almost dramatic in its timeliness; and though we cannot here undertake to rewrite the annals of the period, we must as briefly as possible outline the situation. The Queen Regent, who had so far succeeded in her temporizing policy as even at one time to have secured the commendation of Knox, had now openly declared herself as the enemy of the Reformation; and, at that very moment, four of its preachers were under summons, at her instance, to stand trial before
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH, 1560.
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SCOTTISH CHURCH, 1560.
The meeting of Parliament, provided for in the Treaty of Leith, was opened with great ceremony on the 1st of August, 1560, and was attended by an unusually large number of members. Knox "improved" the occasion by preaching from the cathedral pulpit a series of expository sermons on the prophecies of Haggai, with special application to the circumstances of the country at the time. On his own showing he was "vehement," and as he inveighed strongly against those who had been enriched with the reven
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
KNOX AND QUEEN MARY STUART, 1561-1563.
KNOX AND QUEEN MARY STUART, 1561-1563.
Beautiful in person, attractive in manner, able, acute, brilliant even, in intellect, Mary Stuart had many qualities which might have been turned to good account for the welfare of her country. But, brought up in a French court, her moral code was neither of the highest nor the purest; educated under the supervision of her uncles of Lorraine, she was taught to believe that the one great object of her life was to advance the interests of the Roman Catholic Church; and sister-in-law to him whose n
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MINISTRY AT EDINBURGH, 1564-1570.
MINISTRY AT EDINBURGH, 1564-1570.
In the month of March, 1564, Knox, who had been a widower for now rather more than three years, was united in marriage to Margaret Stewart, daughter of Lord Ochiltree, and the room in the old baronial residence where the ceremony was performed is still pointed out to visitors. Despite their dissimilarity in age, the union seems to have been a very happy one, and such as brightened the last days of the Reformer's home life. This year passed with little to make it memorable save a long discussion
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LAST DAYS, 1570-1572.
LAST DAYS, 1570-1572.
At St. Andrews Knox was free from personal danger, and resumed the work of preaching. In the pulpit of the parish church he discoursed almost regularly, with a vigour which triumphed for the time over his physical weakness. We have a most graphic portrait of him at this time from the pen of James Melville who was then a student at the University, and who writes thus in his diary: (We are constrained to modernize the words that they may be generally understood by English and American readers, but
42 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
REV. DR. WM. M. TAYLOR'S WORKS.
REV. DR. WM. M. TAYLOR'S WORKS.
"This work touches on numerous phases of life and thought and experience, showing that the author has lived through a vast deal and has been made the richer and stronger by it. It leaves the impression of wisdom that comes from actual experience, dealing with life rather than speculations, and so comes home to the heart and conscience. IT SHOWS A WIDE RANGE OF READING AND CLOSE GRAPPLE WITH THE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS OF OUR TIME. Such preaching is tonic and invigorating. It strengthens the heart and
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AND OTHER SERMONS. By WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D.
AND OTHER SERMONS. By WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D.
"In variety of theme, in clearness and penetration of vision, in distinctness of aim, in intensity of purpose, in energy and well-directed effort, etc., this volume is perhaps without its equal in the language."— The Scotsman . Providence Journal : "The directness, earnestness, descriptive and illustrative power of the preacher, and his rare gift for touching the conscience and the heart, are fully exemplified in these eloquent discourses." N. Y. Evangelist : "They have the noble simplicity and
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STANDARD HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES,
THE STANDARD HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES,
will have equal value for the student and general reader. Critical, Historical and Miscellaneous. With a Biographical and Critical Introduction from the well-known pen of Mr. E. P. Whipple. 3 vols,, crown 8vo, Cloth, 3,000 pages. With a fine Portrait on Steel. Price, $3.75. In this edition the essays have been arranged in chronological order, so that their perusal affords, so to speak, a complete biographical portraiture of the brilliant author's mind. It contains the pure text of the author and
44 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
New and Enlarged [4th] Edition, in Cheaper Form,
New and Enlarged [4th] Edition, in Cheaper Form,
A HISTORY OF HUMANE PROGRESS UNDER CHRISTIANITY. With New Preface and Supplementary Chapter. 540 pp., cloth. "It is especially adapted to assist the clergyman and religious teacher in his struggles with honest, thoughtful infidelity." " It presents a storehouse of facts bearing on the influences of Christianity upon such important topics as the paternal power, the position of woman under custom and law, personal purity, and marriage, slavery, cruel and licentious sports, and all matters of human
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
The Clerical Library.
The Clerical Library.
THIS SERIES of volumes is specially intended for the CLERGY, STUDENTS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL DENOMINATIONS, and is meant to furnish them with stimulus and suggestion in the various departments of their work. Amongst the pulpit thinkers from whom these sermon outlines have been drawn are leading men of almost every denomination in Great Britain and America, the subjects treated of being of course practical rather than controversial. The best thoughts of the best religious writers of th
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Anecdotes Illustrative of New Testament Texts.
Anecdotes Illustrative of New Testament Texts.
With 600 Anecdotes. Crown 8vo, 400 pages. Cloth, $1.50. (Being the 5th vol. of the CLERICAL LIBRARY.) London Christian Leader says: " This is one of the most valuable looks of anecdote that we have ever seen. There is hardly one anecdote that is not of first-rate quality. They have been selected by one who has breadth and vigor of mind as well as keen spiritual insight, and some of the most effective illustrations of Scripture texts have a rich vein of humor of exquisite quality ." The London Ch
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Eminent English and American Authors.
Eminent English and American Authors.
A series of biographies of men eminent in religious history, by writers of recognized ability. Popular in style, trustworthy, and comprehensive, and dealing with the most interesting characters and events in the story of the Christian Church. The series condenses, in entertaining form, the essential facts of the great body of religious literature, and will have special value for the large class anxious for information touching these great men, but unable, by reason of limited leisure or means, t
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
NOW READY.
NOW READY.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. By REV. JNO. STOUGHTON, D.D. HENRY MARTYN. By REV. CHAS. D. BELL, D.D. PHILLIP DODDRIDGE. By REV. CHAS. STANFORD, D.D. WILLIAM CAREY. By REV. JAS. CULROSS, D.D. THOMAS CHALMERS. By REV. DONALD FRASER, D.D. ROBERT HALL. By REV. E. PAXTON HOOD. RICHARD BAXTER. By REV. G. D. BOYLE. "This series of books will be widely popular. It consists of compact, popular biographies of men eminent in religious history, prepared by English and American authors of repute. They are similar in
44 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter