The Bounden Duty of All Magistrates

The Appellation of John Knox from the Cruel and Most Unjust Sentence Pronounced Against Him by the False Bishops and Clergy of Scotland, to the Nobility and Estates of Scotland (1558 A.D.).


"I say, your duty is to hear the voice of the Eternal your God... and to defend your brethren from the mouth of these cruel lions. ... For it is no less crime to give place to an open tyrant, than it is to join hands with him... Therefore, it is your bounden duty, and the duty of all magistrates, not only to correct and punish the manifest wicked, but also to deliver the innocent from their hands."

 
-preacher John Knox of Scotland  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Great Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 19 October, 2025 A.D.

"Behold, he prayeth!"   -Acts 9:11 [KJV] In many trades, it is customary to shew samples or patterns. By these men judge of the goodness or quality of the whole. St. Paul sets himself forth as a sample, or pattern, of the free, distinguishing, sovereign, unmerited grace of God, that we should judge of its nature by its efficacy upon him. “I obtained mercy, for this cause, that in me first   (-a first rate sinner) Jesus Christ may shew forth His all long suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting”   (I Timothy 1:16.) Thou hast seen this pattern of free grace. What dost thou think of it?  The whole is alike with the pattern. It cometh alike upon elect sinners. It finds no more prerequisites, fitness, qualifications, or conditions in any, than it did in St. Paul. Whenever it takes place upon any, it produceth the same effects as it did in him. Grace and mercy from Jesus, makes Saul pray to Jesus. There is the ...
Read more

THE GREAT TRUMPET BLAST ~ The Joyful Sound!

"The great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come, who were ready to perish." -Isaiah 27:13 [KJV] One trumpet has been blown, at the giving of the law, on mount Sinai: the voice of it sounded long, and waxed louder and louder. It made even Moses to fear and quake exceedingly, and all the people tremble. Soon, very soon, (who knows but it may be the next moment, in the twinkling of an eye?) the last trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised (I Corinthians 15:52.)   Tremendous voice! most solemn sound! The prophet asks, “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?” (Amos. 3:6.) If the alarm of war, and the approach of an enemy should be sounded in the dead of the night, what fear and terror would seize us! Must we hear the sound of the last trumpet, calling us to judgment?  Blessed, eternally blessed be our God, for the blowing of this great trumpet: it is the sound of great love: it proclaims salvation—to whom? Even to great s...
Read more

JOYFUL TRUTH TO MISERABLE SINNERS ~ Take Heart, Friends

"...So by the obedience of one (or by ONE obedience) shall many be made righteous." - Romans 5:19 [KJV] Joyful truth to miserable sinners. O that this word was ever upon our minds, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8.)   Our thoughts are, to make ourselves righteous by our own obedience; and our ways are, to be justified before God by our own righteousness. But the Lord calls us to forsake these unrighteous thoughts, as well as wicked ways, and to submit by faith, to His thoughts and His ways, to be made righteous by the obedience of ONE.  Consider, (1st.) this negative implies that no obedience but ONE, can make any sinner righteous. O professor, what art thou seeking after, and striving to be and to do? What is the end of thy praying, reading, hearing, communicating, striving against sin, and seeking to excel in obedience, etc.? Is it to make thyself righteous? then it all proceeds from unbelief of t...
Read more