August 26, 2012

Reformation in Scotland - Knox - XX - Chapter 4 of Book 4

Required reading
Reformation in Scotland by John Knox, edited by C J Guthrie (Available from Amazon or free here)
- Read Chapter 4 of Book 4.

My summary
Today Knox teaches us about:
(i) the relationship between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth;
(ii) the appointments of Commissioners by the General Assembly, one of whom was Knox;
(iii) the unsuccessful marriage proposals for Queen Mary;
(iv) the General Assembly of 1562;
(v) punishment of the idolatry of Catholicism;
(vi) Knox's third meeting with the queen.

What grabbed me
Mary certainly never had an easy time with Knox, particularly when he makes statements like the following: 'It shall be profitable to Your Majesty to consider what is the thing Your Grace's subjects look to receive of Your Majesty, and what it is that ye ought to do unto them by mutual contract. They are bound to obey you, and that not but in God : ye are bound to keep laws unto them. Ye crave of them service ; they crave of you protection and defence against wicked doers. Now, Madam, if you shall deny your duty unto them, who especially crave that ye punish malefactors, think ye to receive full obedience from them ? I fear. Madam, ye shall not.'


Knox has a faith point.  You can't expect your people to do what you ask of them, when you do not do what they ask of you.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 5 of Book 4.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

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