IPC Messenger
A Weekly Publication of The Independent Presbyterian Church O ffi c e 912-2 3 6- 3 3 46 | F a x 912- 236-3676 | E-Mail info @ ipcsav . org | Website www . ipcsav . org
Volume 17 • No 5 FEBRUARY 2017
John Knox and Worship – II
We have traced Jane Dawson ’ s account of John Knox ’ s involvement with English Protestantism from Edward VI and the 1552 Prayer Book , to the English exiles in Frankfurt and Geneva during the reign of Queen Mary . We move along now to Knox ’ s homeland .
Scotland
Once Queen Mary died and her sister Elizabeth came to the throne in 1559 , Protestantism was restored in England . Knox penned his Brief Exhortation in anticipation of this event , urging , “ Let God ’ s word alone be the rule and line to measure his religion . What it commands , let that be obeyed ; what it does not command , let that be execrable ” ( 167 ). Forbidden by Elizabeth to reenter England because of his infamous tract against female rulers , First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women ( 1558 ), he returned to Scotland in May of 1559 . Within a year , amidst intense military and political struggle , Presbyterianism was established as the religion of the realm in Scotland . The First Scots Book of Discipline and the Scots Confession of Faith were adopted by the Scottish “ Reformation ” Parliament in August , 1560 . English Ambassador Thomas Randolph ( 1525 / 6-1590 ) described Knox ’ s battlefield sermons “ as like having five hundred trumpets blowing in one ’ s ears ” ( 183 ). Archbishop John Jewel ( 1522-1571 ) described Knox ’ s policy as “ churching like a Scythian ,” that is , of promoting undiluted reform . Worship was the litmus test separating Protestants from Roman Catholics in Scotland , as also was the case among the Reformed churches on the continent .
The struggle continued throughout the 1560 ’ s and into the 1570 ’ s as Scotland was ruled by Mary Queen of Scots , a Roman Catholic . For a time the Roman Catholics seemed to gain strength in Edinburgh , the capital . Throughout it all , Knox was a champion of “ the true worshiping of God ,” worship in its purity , worship as regulated by God ’ s word . A young James Melville ( 1556-1614 ), future leader of the Church of Scotland , but then a 15-year-old student at St . Andrews , was awestruck by the preaching of Knox , “ that most notable prophet and apostle of our nation .” The elderly Knox had to be helped up into the pulpit as he began his exposition of Daniel 1-9 . Melville at first took notes . However , as the sermon progressed , he later wrote in his diary , “ He made me so to shudder and tremble , that I could not hold a pen to write .” Before Knox finished , “ He was so active and vigorous that he was like to ding that pulpit in pieces , and fly out of it ” ( 300-301 ).
Dawson is not entirely sympathetic in her portrait of Knox . She at one time or other regards him as extremist , tactless , unforgiving , ungrateful , hateful , uncompromising , inflexible , radical , and paranoid . So often does she regard Knox in a pejorative light that one wonders how such a disagreeable man could have experienced so powerful an influence , and done so not through the command
Continued Page 2
IPC Messenger
CONTENTS
2 Music Ministry 3 Children ’ s MInistry 5 Student Ministries 6-7 Missions Conference 8 Family Corner
10 Announcements and Events
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