The first note of this trumpet blast, “The Kingdom apperteineth to our
GOD,” shows us the vast difference between the way in which men
regarded the Almighty Being then and now. Shall we say that the awe of
the Deity has departed! Now so much stress is laid on the Fatherhood of
GOD: in KNOX’S time it was His might to defend His own or to take
vengeance on all their murderers. Both views are true. Nevertheless
this age does seem wanting in a general and thorough reverence for His
great name and character.
KNOX seems like some great Hebrew seer when he thus pronounces the doom
of MARY and her adherents.
The same God, who did execute this greuous punishment, euen by the
handes of those, whom he suffred twise to be ouercomen in batel, doth
this day retein his power and iustice. Cursed Iesabel of England, with
the pestilent and detestable generation of papistes, make no litle
bragge and boast, that they haue triumphed not only against Wyet, but
also against all such as haue entreprised any thing against them or
their procedinges. But let her and them consider, that yet they haue
not preuailed against god, his throne is more high, then that the
length of their hornes be able to reache. And let them further
consider, that in the beginning of their bloodie reigne, the haruest of
their iniquitie was not comen to full maturitie and ripenes. No, it was
so grene, so secret I meane, so couered, and so hid with hypocrisie,
that some men (euen the seruantes of God) thoght it not impossible, but
that wolues might be changed in to lambes, and also that the vipere
might remoue her natural venom. But God, who doth reuele in his time
apointed the secretes of hartes, and that will haue his iudgementes
iustified euen by the verie wicked, hath now geuen open testimonie of
her and their beastlie crueltie. For man and woman, learned and
vnlearned, nobles and men of baser sorte, aged fathers and tendre
damiselles, and finailie the bones of the dead, as well women as men
haue tasted of their tyrannie, so that now not onlie the blood of
father Latimer, of the milde man of God the bishop of Cantorburie, of
learned and discrete Ridley, of innocent ladie Iane dudley, and many
godly and worthie preachers, that can not be forgotten, such as fier
hath consumed, and the sworde of tyrannie moste vniustlie hath shed,
doth call for vengeance in the eares of the Lord God of hostes: but
also the sobbes and teares of the poore oppressed, the groninges of the
angeles, the watch men of the Lord, yea and euerie earthlie creature
abused by their tyrannie do continuallie crie and call for the hastie
execution of the same. I feare not to say, that the day of vengeance,
whiche shall apprehend that horrible monstre Iesabal of England, and
suche as maintein her monstruous crueltie, is alredie apointed in the
counsel of the Eternall; and I verelie, beleue that it is so nigh, that
she shall not reigne so long in tyrannie, as hitherto she hath done,
when God shall declare him selfe to be her ennemie, when he shall poure
furth contempt vpon her, according to her crueltie, and shal kindle the
hartes of such, as sometimes did fauor her with deadly hatred against
her, that they may execute his iudgementes. And therfore let such as
assist her, take hede what they do.