taken from john knox apostle of the scottish reformation (g. barnett smith) rewritten by dorothy martin
1505? (near the village of haddington)-11.23.1572...
...'a student at saint andrews wrote of knox's appearance before the students in 1571.
'of all the benefits that i had that year was the coming of that most notable prophet and apostle of our nation, my john knox, to saint andrews...i heard him teach there the prophecies of daniel that summer and the winter following. in the opening of his text, he was moderate the space of an half hour. but when he entered to application, he made me so to thrill and tremble, that i could not hold a pen to write. he was very weak...and was lifted up to the pulpit where he behooved to lean at his first entry. but, ere he had done with his sermon, he was so active and vigorous, that he was like to beat the pulpit in pieces and fly out of it.
j
k spent much of his time in saint andrews encouraging the students. he also wrote and published a vindication of the reformed religion in answer to a letter from a scottish esuit. he published this work as a farewell address to the world and as a dying testimony to the truth he ha so long taught and defended. along with it he published one of the letters he had written to his mother in law, who had just died. he now frequently confessed that he was 'weary of the world' and 'thirsting to depart'.
in august 1572 he wrote a..letter of farewell to the general assembly. from this time on, his health failed so rapidly that it seemed he would end his days at saint andrews. however, his old congregation at saint giles's wanted to hear him once more before he died. they begged him to come to edinburgh if his health would permit. he agreed to return..
...he began to fail perceptibly and was unable to read his customary scripture. either his wife or his secretary read regularly to him from john 17, isaiah 53, and a chapter from ephesians. he sometimes asked for certain psalms and for calvin's french sermons on ephesians. occasionally he seemed to be asleep, but when asked, he replied,
i hear, praise God and understand far better.
on his death bed, he seemed almost to have the gift of prophetic insight as he talked with those standing near. he sent urgent messages to kirkaldy, his former ally in the reformed faith, begging him to repent or else he would be 'disgracefully dragged from his nest to punishment and hung on a gallows before the face of the sun, unless he speedily amend his life and flee to the mercy of god' he told those near him,
that man's soul is dear to me, and i would not have it perish if i could save it.
receiving kirk's contemptuous response, k grieved for him, trusting that
'his soul would be saved, though his body would come to a miserable end.
he continued to receive many visitors of every rank, though he had great difficulty breathing and spoke only with pain. all who came to him received loving counsel suited to their needs....
on friday, nov. 21, he ordered his casket made. during that day he spent much time in meditation and prayer. listeners heard him day,
come, Lord Jesus;
into Thy hand i commend my spirit.
be merciful, Lord, to Thy church, which Thou hast redeemed.
give peace to this afflicted commonwealth.
raise up faithful pastors who will take charge of Thy church.
grant us, Lord, the perfect hatred of sin, both by the evidences of Thy wrath and mercy.
he often spoke to those who stood by, saying,
oh serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be terrible to you. nay, blessed shall death be to those who have felt the power of the death of the only begotten Son of God.
on sunday the 23rd, the first day of the national fast, he suddenly exclaimed,
if any be present, let them come and see the work of God.
after a moment he exclaimed again,
i have been these last two nights in meditation on the troubled state of the church of God, the spouse of Jesus Christ, despised of the world, but precious in the sight of God. i have been called to God for her, and have committed her to her head, Jesus Christ. i have fought against spiritual wickedness in heavenly things and have prevailed. i have been in heaven and have possession. i have tasted of the heavenly joys where presently i will be.
when someone asked if he felt much pain, he answered that he was willing to lie there for years if God so pleased. he slept very little, but was constantly active in meditation and prayer and exhortation.
'Lord, grant true pastors to Thy church that purity of doctrine may be retained.
restore peace again to this commonwealth with godly rulers and magistrates.
then, stretching his hands toward heaven he said,
Lord, i commend my spirit, soul, and body and all into Thy hands. Thou knowest, o Lord, my troubles; i do not murmur against Thee.
his exclamations were so frequent that those standing near could not remember all that he said. he was only silent when someone was reading or praying.
monday, nov. 24, was his last day on earth. that morning he insisted on getting up. he sat in a chair for about half an hour and then was put to bed. as the day went on, it was clear that the end was near. his wife and three of his closest friends took turns sitting beside him. one asked if he had any pain. he answered'
'it is no painful pain, but such a pain as shall soon, i trust, put an end to the battle. i must leave the care of my wife and children to you, to whom you must be a husband in my place.
about three in the afternoon he asked his wife to read I corinthians 15 to him.
'oh what sweet consolation the Lord has given me from that chapter..then he asked her to read the 17th chapter of john and a par of calvin's sermons on ephesians.
after this he seemed to fall into a deep sleep, interrupted by heavy moans. when he awakened, he was asked the reason for the deep sighs. he answered,
i have often during my frail life sustained many assaults from satan. but now he as assailed me most fearfully, and put forth all his strength to devour and make an end of me at once.
'often before he has placed my sins before my eyes,
often tempted me to despair,
often endeavored to ensnare me by the allurements of the world.
but these weapons were broken by the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, and the enemy has failed.
now he has attacked me in another way. the cunning serpent has tried to persuade me that i have merited heaven and eternal blessedness by the faithful discharge of my ministry.
but blessed be God, who has enabled me to beat down and quench this fiery dart, by suggesting to me such scripture as
'what hast thou that thou hast not received?
and 'by the grace of "God i am what i am. not i but the grace of god in me.
upon this, as one vanquished, he left me.
'wherefore, i gave thanks to my God through Jesus Christ who has been pleased to give me the victory.
i am persuaded that the tempter shall not again attack me, but, within a short time, i shall, without any great pain of body or anguish of mind, exchange this mortal and miserable life for a blessed immortality through Jesus Christ.
he then lay quiet for some hours. when asked if he had heard those with him reading the evening prayers, he replied,
would to God that you and all men had heard them as i have heard them.
i praise God for that heavenly sound.
then he gave a deep sigh and said,
'now it is come.
his friends realized that he could not speak and asked him to give them a sign that he heard them and died in peace.
in answer, he lifted up one of his hands.
k was onl67 when he died, but in that time he had lived more than many men.
his career had been distinguished both for its extraordinary labors and
for its equally extraordinary cares and anxieties.
probably few men passed through so many dangers and yet lived to finish the course in peace and honor.
in the brief eulogy...
'here lies one who never feared the face of man.
on the north side of an imposing monument to his memory erected in glasgow in 1825...
'to testify gratitude for inestimable services in the cause of religion, education and civil liberty;
to awaken admiration of that integrity, disinterestedness, and courage, which stood unshaken in the midst of trials, and in the maintenance of the highest objects; and , finally,
to cherish unceasing reverence for the principles and blessings of that great reformation, by the influence of which our country, through the midst of difficulties, has risen to honor, prosperity and happiness-
this monument is erected by voluntary contributions to the memory of john knox, the chief instrument, under god, of the reformation of scotland..
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