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THE LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.

favourable ear to their doctrine. With this request he was induced to comply, and as a specimen of the manner in which this letter was written, we give the following quotation:- “Albeit, Madam, that the messengers of God are not sent this day with visible miracles, because they teach no other doctrine than that which is confirmed with miracles from the beginning of the world, yet will not He (who hath promised to take charge over his poor and little flock to the end,) suffer the contempt of their ambassage to escape punishment and vengeance, for the truth itself hath said, 'he that heareth you heareth me, and he that contemneth you contemneth me.' I do not speak unto you, Madam, as Pasquillus doth to the Pope and his carnal cardinals, in the behalf of such as dare not utter their names, but I come in the name of Christ Jesus; affirming, that the religion ye maintain is damnable idolatry, which I offer myself to prove, by the most evident testimony of God's Scriptures; and in this quarrel I present myself against all the Papists in the realm, desiring no other armour but God's holy word, and the liberty of my tongue."

About this time he received letters from the English congregation at Geneva, stating that they had made choice of him as one of their pastors, and urging him "in God's name to repair to them for their comfort." He considered it his duty to accept this call, and accordingly, in the month of July 1556, he left Scotland, and, arriving at Dieppe, proceeded to Geneva.

As soon as the clergy understood that he had left the kingdom, they renewed the summons against him, and on his non-appearance, adjudged his body to the flames, and his soul to damnation. His person being out of their reach, they burnt him in effigy at the cross of Edinburgh. Against this sentence, he published his "Appellation," in which he appeals to a "lawful