that threatened their cause , brought to the stake some of the noblest and most honoured of the sons of Scotland . They did but erect a pulpit , from which the words of these dying witnesses were heard throughout the land , thrilling the souls of the people with an undying purpose to cast off the shackles of Rome .
Hamilton and Wishart , princely in character as in birth , with a long line of humbler disciples , yielded up their lives at the stake . But from the burning pile of Wishart there came one whom the flames were not to silence , one who under God was to strike the death knell of popery in Scotland . John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church , to feed upon the truths of God ' s word ; and the teaching of Wishart had confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome and join himself to the persecuted Reformers .
Urged by his companions to take the office of preacher , he shrank with trembling from its responsibility , and it was only after days of seclusion and painful conflict with himself that he consented . But having once accepted the position , he pressed forward with inflexible determination and undaunted courage as long as life continued . This truehearted Reformer feared not the face of man . The fires of martyrdom , blazing around him , served only to quicken his zeal to greater intensity . With the tyrant ' s axe held menacingly over his head , he stood his ground , striking sturdy blows on the right hand and on the left to demolish idolatry . 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 Pharaoh , whose subjects they long were , I pray you , madam , what religion would there have been in the world ? Or if all men in the days of the apostles had been of the religion of the Roman emperors , what religion would there have been upon the face of the earth ? . . . And so , madam , ye may perceive that subjects are not bound to the religion of their princes , albeit they are commanded to give them obedience ."
Said Mary : " Ye interpret the Scriptures in one manner , and they [ the Roman Catholic teachers ] interpret in another ; whom shall I believe , and who shall be judge ?" " Ye shall believe God , that plainly speaketh in His word ," answered the Reformer ; " and farther than the word teaches you , ye neither shall believe the one nor the other . The word of God is plain in itself ; and if there appear any obscurity in one place , the Holy Ghost , which is never contrary to Himself , explains the same
152