John Knox (1505 - 1572) was a mighty Scottish Reformer. Knox led quite an adventurous life for a Christian, including tours throughout England, the Isles, and the continent, suffering numerous persecutions at various times of his turbulent life, including being imprisoned as a galley-slave for two years. Through it all, he never lost his zeal for Jesus Christ and his fire for preaching the gospel. During one of his exiles to Geneva, he became very close friends with John Calvin, and stated that Calvin's school was "the most perfect school of Christ that ever was in the earth since the days of the apostles." Knox also participated in the translation and production of the Geneva Bible, which was used by all the Puritans until the King James Bible supplanted it. John Knox shook Scotland and England as surely as Luther shook Rome and Germany, and therefore he has been accurately compared to Elijah and John the Baptist, for he drew large crowds and had many followers throughout his life. Like all true disciples, John Knox was utterly uncompromising with the world, and he pulled no punches in exposing the wickedness of Popery and the prevalence of the hypocrisy of his times.

"A man with God is always in the majority."  Inscription On Reformation Monument, Geneva, Switzerland

"For albeit that we should heare that the mercies and the graces of God were offered unto all men, and albeit also that we should fele that our heartes were somewhat moved to beleve; yet onles the very cause of our faith be knowne, oure joye and comfort can not be full.  For if we think that we beleve and have embrased Christe Jesus preached, because our wittes be better then the wittes of others, and because that we have a better inclination, and are of nature more tractable then be the common sorte of men, Sathan, I say, can easely overthrow all comfort buylded upon so weak a ground.  For those that this day be tractable and obedient, having also som zeale toward godlines, yea, and also bothe sense and feling of God's mercie; such, I say, may shortly hereafter become stubborn in some cases, disobedient in maters of greate importance, tempted with lustes, and finally they may be left so barren, that rather they shall tremble at the sight of God's judgementes, then that they can rejoyse in the free adoption of his children.  And therefor, I say, that except our comfort be grounded upon that foundation which never can be moved, it is not perfect.  And that ground is this, that when we understand that presently we beleve in Christe Jesus, because we were ordeined before the beginning of all tymes to beleve in him; as in him we were elected to the societie of eternall life; then is oure faith assuredly grounded, and that because the giftes and vocation of God are without repentance, and he is faithful that hath called us." Works of John Knox, vol 5

"No man is so regenerate, but that continually he hath need of the means which Christ Jesus, the Wisdom of his eternal Father, hath appointed to be used in his kirk; to wit, the word truly preached, and the sacraments rightly administered." Answer To Some Questions On Baptism

"If the regenerate man hath never received the sacramental sign of baptism, he is bound to receive the same: and that did Peter perfectly understand, seeing the Holy Ghost visibly descend upon Cornelius and his household; which he perfectly understood could not be, without the spirit of regeneration. And that doth he contend and obtain, that they should not be forbidden to be baptized. And Paul also, after his conversion, and after that Christ Jesus had promised that he was a chosen vessel to him, yet was commanded to wash away his sins by baptism. Whereof it is evident, that regeneration doth not so exempt man, but that once he ought to be baptized." Answer To Some Questions On Baptism

"But the question is, Whether a man baptized in papistry, ought to be rebaptized, when he cometh to knowledge? And I answer, he ought not... We have some respect also, that no more be given to the external sign, than is proper to it; that is, that it be the seal of righteousness, and the sign of regeneration, but neither the cause, neither yet the effect and virtue. The seal once received is durable, and needeth not to be iterated." Answer To Some Questions On Baptism

"Spiritual things, such as are deliverance from impiety, remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of life everlasting, we should desire absolutely, without any condition, by Jesus Christ, in whom alone all these are promised." Treatise On Prayer

"The Holy ghost instructeth us, that maintainers of idolatry and provokers to the same, intend to draw us from God; and therefore, He commandeth us that we shall not conceal their impiety, but that we shall make it known, and that we shall punish it, if we will have the league betwixt us and God to stand sure." Treatise On Prayer

"There is a spiritual hatred which David calleth a perfect hatred, which the Holy Ghost engendereth in the hearts of God’s elect, against the rebellious contemners of his holy statutes; and it is, when we more lament that God’s glory is suppressed, and that Christ’s flock is defrauded of their wholesome food, than that our bodies are persecuted." A Comfortable Espistle

"If any persuade, that our merits, good works, or obedience, be any cause either of our justification, or yet of our election, let him be accursed, suppose that he were an angel from heaven; for he preacheth to us another Evangel than the Son of God hath revealed to the world, and the Holy Ghost hath sent up to us by the mouths and writings of the apostles." Letter To The Queen Regent

"This is the conclusion of the Holy Ghost most certain and infallible, that where God of his 8great mercy and infinite goodness once begins to touch the heart with his true fear, and as it were, to change it from the natural rebellion, to give unfeigned reverence to his holy majesty, that there he will, yea, even against the puissance and rage of the ports of hell, perform the work of our redemption, to the manifestation of his own glory, and to the everlasting joy of those to whom he appointeth his Holy Spirit, schoolmaster and instructor." Letter To The Queen Regent

"Where the contempt of God is by his grace removed, and a love of justice and of the life to come engrafted in the heart, there is the infallible seal and testimony of the Holy Ghost, who shall perform his own work in due season; for the power of God is known in our infirmity." Letters Of John Knox

"Such as desire this Article to be buried in silence, and wold that men should teach and beleve that the grace of God's election is common unto all, but that one receaveth it, and another receaveth it not, procedeth either from the obedience or disobedience of man; such disceave themselves, and are unthankfull and injurious unto God... And further, we feare not to affirm, that suche as fele not that comfort inwardly in their conscience, can never be thankfull to God, neither yet willing to be subject to his eternall counsel; which is the onelie cause that these wicked men moste unreverently do storme and rage against that doctrine which they do not understand.  But let us, deare Brethren, be assured, that none other doctrine doth establishe faith, nor maketh man humble and thankfull unto God.  And finally, that none other doctrine maketh man careful to obey God according to his commandement, but that doctrine only which so spoileth man of all power and vertue, that no portion of his salvation consisteth within himself; to the end that the whole praise of our redemption may be referred to Christe Jesus alone; whom the Father, of verie love, hath given to death for the deliverance of his bodie, which is the Church, to which He was appointed Head before the beginning of all tymes." Works of John Knox, vol 5