Knox to Sir James Croft
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. to your cliscression ; for, as to your devises how to colour our doings in that parte, you must thinke that the worlde is not so blynde but that it woll sone espie the same.
And surely we can not hona fronte so colour and excuse the matier, but that it woll be expounded to a playn breche of our leage and treatie, whereby the honour of the prynce can not be a litle touched ; wherefore I pray you requyre that of us which we may do with honour and safetie, and you shall not fynde us unwilling.
And touching the supporte of such as you have often written for, I coulde fynde the meanes that they might have some relief at theyr frends hands here, if I knew how the same might be conveyed unto them in such secret and close maner, as none I others have notice and knowledge of the same.
But, to be playn with you, ye are so open in your doings as you make men half affrayed to deale with you, which is more than wisedom and polycie doth requyre.
Fynally, where you wryte that Fraunce laboureth to make us utterly refuse you, and that the Queen Douagier there hath playnely spoken that she knoweth the meanes how to frustrate your expectacion of our supporte by del)^eraunce of Calice, I dare boldely say, that there is no such matier in treatie, ne yet in question
; for you may be sure that Calice can not make us to neglect or refuse the establishment of this Island in perpetuell unyte and concorde, wishing to lyve no longer then to see the same, and so to leave the joye thereof to our posteryte.
For the rest, I referre you to such lettres as we send at this tyme by this berer.
From Berwyck, the 27th Oct. 1559.
XLII.
Knox to Sir James Croft.
Your reassonable answer to my unreassonable requeaste, ryght WorshipfuU, receaved I this 28 of October, and have im-
lo59.
KNOX TO SIR JAMES CROFT.
parted the contents of the sam to such as partlie induced me befor to write.
I was not altogetther ignorant neather what myght ensew your manifestation in' supporting us, nether yet how far did your commission extend in such cases.
But cousiddering (as my slender witt did serve for the tym) whettlier war the greatter daunger, the ISTobilitie here to he defaitt (or yet frustrat of thare interprise), or ye to abyd the hasard of the future and suspected incommodities, it appeared to me that the former myght justly devour the other.
As tuiching the leage and treatie which now ye suppose to have with such as ye term your freinds, I unfeanedlie wishe that it war so suyr that you should never have occasion to break any point contracted.
But whether it may stand with wisdom to have such respect to that which som men do call honour, that in the mean tym I shall see my freind perrisshe, both till his disstruction and myn, I reffer to the judgement of the most honorable.
France was under leage and treaty of peace with England when it did manifestlie support Scotland to both our displeasure
; and yet I think that thei nether wold have confessed breche of treaty nor blemyshe of honour.
But omitting to urge that mater any farther, I beseche God that we both reapent not the drift \A of tym when the remeady shall not be so easy.
Yf you understood the daunger as I do, luf should compell you somwhat to excead the boundes of your commission.
Yf you can fynd no meanes secreatlie to convey such liberaltie as freinds, without you please to bestow upon such as otherwiess cannot serve, I am less able att this present to compass such a thing then be you, and many mo of your acqueintance now present with you.
But this I will yet say as of befor, that onless speady order be tacken in that case, your nomber will schortlie be so mean that some will reapent that thei saw Edinburgh att this voyage.
Besides tliose whom befor I did specifye, it will please you remember that the Master of Maxwell hath susteaned great damaige, Ormeston is joyned with us to the comfort of many.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559.
Touching secreacye, which ye requyr, 1 dar promess for som, I and for my self, but difficill it is for to bridell the tonges of a multitude in maters which must pass by publick and common suffraige.
But maters which concern particuler persons ar not to my knowledge verry patent.
I hope that God hath delivered me from the most part of these civill effares, for now are men of better judgement and greatter experience occupied in these maters.
Young Leding-
ton, Secreatarie/ is delivered from the fearful! thraldom of the I Frenchmen, and is now with us in Edinburgh, who, I trust, shall releaf me of the presupposed jorney.
In few words.
Sir, yf ye joyn not with us in open assistaunce, we will both repent it when the remeady shalbe mor difiicill.
Ye have now the man to whom ye may communicat all thinges ; to whom also I wold wislie ye had respect.
The Lord prosper all to his glory, and to the confort of our posteritie.
In great hast from Edinburgh, this 29 of Octobre 1559.
To the right worshipful! Sir James Croftes, Capitan of the Quen at the toon and caste!! of Barwick.
Be tliese delivered.
XLIII.
Calvin to Knox.^ Of Children who are to be admitted to Baptism.
If, most excellent Brother, I answer your letter not so soon as you expected, your countryman who brought it will be my best witness that slothfulness was not the cause of the delay.
You ^ Sir William Maitlaud younger of not thouglit necessary to swell out tins Letbington.
See vol. i. p. 463, vol. ii. volume with adding the original Latin p. 4, note 5.
He relieved Knox from of some letters addressed to Knox by much of his public correspondence.
Calvin and Beza, as they have already ^ This letter, written in Latin, is conbeen printed, and are easily accessible. tained in CaJvini Epistokc, etc.
It is
1559.
CALVIN TO KNOX.
yourself also understand quite well liow few opportunities of writing are afforded us, seeing that in troublous times all means of access to your country are difficult.
It was delightful not only to me, but to all the pious whom I made partakers of ^y Joy> to hesiv of the veiy abundant success of your labours.
Moreover, as we wonder at success incredible in so short a time, so also we give great thanks to God, whose especial blessing here shines forth—which both suggests abundant matter for confidence in future, and should therefore encourage us to overcome all opposition.
As I am not ignorant how energetic a counseller you are, and how great readiness and power God has given you for acting such a part, ThaA'^e fliought it superfluous to stir up the brethren.
INIeantime, we are as much concerned for your dangers as if the warfare was common to us ; aud, as all that we can do, we join our prayers with yours, that our Heavenly Father may smite the ragingenemies with madness and blindness, may confound their designs, may frustrate all their endeavours and preparations.
They certainly have much difficulty in equipping a fleet, especially from scarcity of money.
The serpent, however, is surer of his end by confounding all things than by attempting nothing.
As to the questions of which you ask the solution, after refeiTing them to my colleagues, we have unanimously decided on the following answer.
You do \vell to question Avhether it is right to admit the Children of idolaters and excommunicated persons to Baptism, until the parents have testified their
^ repentance.
For we should ever most carefully beware lest the sacredness of that mystery be profaned, which is certain to be the case if it is proini.scuunsly allowed to strangers, or if any one is received without proper sponsors, and such as may be numbered among the regular members of the Church.
But, as the authorit}' of God is to be regarded in the right use of baptism, and his appointment should decide what
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. is right, it is here proper to consider in the lirst place, who they are that God by his word invites. ta.Jbaiiti^m.
But the promise not only comprehends the offspring of each of the faithful in the first degi-ee, but is extended to a thousand genL'ratioii.s.
Whence also it is the case, that the interrup- ' tion of true religion, which has prevailed under Poj^ery, has not abstracted the virtue and efficacy of baptism.
For the origin of baptism is to be considered, and its veiy reason and nature are to be estimated by the jrorm'se.
Wlierefore we have not the least doubt that the progeny of lioly and pious ancestors, although their grandfathers and parents may have been apostates, belong notwithstanding to the body of the church.
For^'as it was a wicked and insane superstition of Popery to steal or carry off children from Jews and Turks, and immediately hurry them to baptism—so, wherever the profession of Christianity has not wholly perished or become extinct, infants are defrauded of their right if they are kept from the common symbol—because, since God, three hundred years ago or more, has honoured them with his adoption, it is unjust that the sub- ,, sequent impiety of parents should stop the course of heavenly
/ grace.
In short, as no one is received to baptism in respect or favour of his father alone, but on account of the perpetual covenant of God, so, that infants should be excluded from the initial rite oTlhe church through the odium attached to but one parent is contrary to all reason.
At the same time we admit that sponsorship is necessary.
For nothing is more preij posterous than that those whom we do not expect to be Christ's
disciples should be engrafted into JiisJ^^ilx.
Wherefore, if no I'l^ /relation appears to pledge his faith to the church, and to under- / take the care of instructing the infant, the action is a farce, and f baptism is profaned.
But whatever infant is presented on the I j ground of a legitimate sponsorship, we see not why he should I be rejected.
Besides, the manner of the now renascent church is different from that of one rightly formed and settled.
For
1559.
CALVIN TO KNOX.
while the Church is being gathered together after a fearfull dispersion, since the possession of baptism has through a long series of ages survived even to our times, it ought to be retained—and in process of time the licentiousness which has " must be forced to pre^i^" crept in must be corrected, and parents sent their own children, and to be their chief siJonsors.'y^For, if in beginnings the highest perfection is rigidly exacted, it is much to be feared that many, eagerly seizing such an opportu- , nity, will lie down in their filth.
We admit, indeed, that no consideration should induce us in the slightest degree to diverge from the line divinely prescribed to us ; but we think we have_briefly shown that if we refuse baptism to those who are clearly! of the Churches household, the prohibition wovdd be too severe.
Therefore, while better progress is expected, and discipline may be properly maintained, let infants be received on the condition w^e have named, that sponsors shall promise that their good and faithful education shall be their care and studious endeavour.
Although at the same time we do not deny that idolaters, as often as children are born to them, should be sharply admonished, and stimulated truly to devote themselves to God, and excommunicated persons to reconcile themselves to the Church.
It is true that subsistence is not due to monks and priests from a public source, in order that they may live in useless ease.
If any therefore are fit to edify the Church, let them be called to labour therein.
But, seeing they are for the most part unlearned and destitute of all skill, we think they should be humanely dealt with.
For, although those who give none of their labour to the church have no right to claim their maintenance, yet, since they have ensnared themselves through ignorance and error, and have spent part of their life in idleness, it M'ere hard that they should be totally deprived of it.
They ought, indeed, to be admonished rather to seek their living by honest labour than to consume what has been allotted to the ministers of the church, and to the poor.
A middle course too VOL.
VI.