Geneva, July 14, 1558
John Knox to the Reader:
Because many are offended at the first blast of the trumpet, in which I affirm that to promote a woman to bear rule or empire above any realm, nation or city, is repugnant to nature, contumely to God, and a thing most contrary to his revealed and approved ordinance; and because also that some hath promised (as I understand) a confutation of the same, I have delayed the second blast till such time as their reasons appear, by which I either may be reformed in opinion, or else shall have further occasion more simply and plainly to utter my judgment. Yet in the meantime, for the discharge of my conscience, and for avoiding suspicion which might be engendered by reason of my silence, I could not cease to notify these subsequent propositions, which by God’s grace I purpose to treat in the second blast promised.
- It is not birth only, nor propinquity of blood, that maketh a king lawfully to reign above a people professing Christ Jesus and his eternal verity, but in his election must the ordinance, which God hath established in the election of inferior judges, be observed.
- No manifest idolater, nor notorious transgressor of God’s holy precepts, ought to be promoted to any public regiment, honour or dignity in any realm, province or city that hath subjected themselves to Christ Jesus and to his blessed Evangel.
- Neither can oath nor promise bind any such people to obey and maintain tyrants against God and against his truth known.
- But if either rashly they have promoted any manifest wicked person, or yet ignorantly have chosen such a one as afterward declareth himself unworthy of regiment above the people of God (and such be all idolaters and cruel persecutors), most justly may the same men depose and punish him that unadvisedly before they did nominate, appoint and elect.
MATTHEW 6. If the eye be single, the whole body shall be clear.
