Page 16 - 14 Later English Reformers

When brought face to face with the queen of

Scotland, in whose presence the zeal of many

a leader of the Protestants had abated, John

Knox bore unswerving witness for the truth.

He was not to be won by caresses; he quailed

not before threats. The queen charged him

with heresy. He had taught the people to

receive a religion prohibited by the state, she

declared, and had thus transgressed God's

command enjoining subjects to obey their

princes. Knox answered firmly:

“As right religion took neither original

strength nor authority from worldly princes,

but from the eternal God alone, so are not

subjects bound to frame their religion

according to the appetites of their princes.

For oft it is that princes are the most ignorant

of all others in God's true religion.... If all the

seed of Abraham had been of the religion of