By Austin B. Tucker
He spoke in
plain terms to reach the common man. Others spoke of “the sacrament of the
altar”; Knox called it simply “the mass.” He could be harsh but said he took
no joy in it. He was obeying his Master who commanded him to use plain speech
and to flatter no flesh. Dargan, in his History of Preaching, cited a
report of great boldness in the preaching of Knox in the court of King Edward.
Knox asked, "What wonder is it that a young and innocent king be deceived by
crafty, covetous, wicked and ungodly councilors? I am greatly afraid that Ahithophel
is councilor, that Judas bears the purse, and that Shebnah is scribe, controller
and treasurer." Knox later reproached himself for those words; he thought them
not strong enough in rebuke of iniquity.14
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Knox preached
to change individuals and nations. He proclaimed the evangel as a true reformer
preaching for decision. He wanted Scotland to be a Christian republic; separation
of church and state was not a part of his theology. He wanted the evangel “truly
and openly preached in every Kirk and Assembly” of the realm. His Book of
Discipline called for all doctrine repugnant to the Scriptures to be “utterly
suppressed as damnable to man’s salvation.” When in the minority, believers
must separate from idolatry; when in the majority they must abolish it.15
He believed in the priesthood of the believers but made a strong case for state
support of the ministry. Probably the long tradition of state support of the
ministry and presence of so many ministers in poverty influenced this view.
His delivery
was what we usually call today extemporaneous. He prepared thoroughly but
did not write out a manuscript. From an incidental remark in his Administration
of England we learn that his method was to speak from a few notes made on
the margin of his Bible. His preaching made a profound impact on those who heard
him. James Melville heard Knox preach and took notes on delivery as well as
content. His account was written in Old English, but I offer the following summary
in updated English.
He spent the first
half hour in opening up of his text. In this he spoke with moderation. . . .
But when he began the application of the scripture he caused me so to shudder
and tremble that I could not hold a pen to write. . . . He was so vigorous in
his pulpit that I thought he was likely to beat the pulpit to pieces and fly
out of it.16
_____________________
Austin B. Tucker
is a pastor, teacher and author who lives in Shreveport, LA.
_____________________
Notes
1. Jasper Ridley, John Knox, NY: Oxford, 1968., 44.
2. Knox, John, The History
of The Reformation in Scotland, ed. by Wm C. Dickinson, NY: Philosophical
Library, 1950., vol. 1, 179.
3. Ibid. 8.
4. Ibid.
5. Ridley, 66-67.
6. Ridley, 71, cf Knox, History.
7. Ridley, 74-75.
8. N. A. Woychuk, The
British Josiah: Edward VI, the Most Godly King of England. St. Louis: SMF
Press, 2001, 108-09.
9. F. W. Boreham, A Bunch
of Everlastings. NY: Abingdon, 1920, 110f.
10. Richard Kyle, The
Ministry of John Knox: Pastor, Preacher, Prophet. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen
Press, 2002, 135.
11. Kyle, 84, 85.
12. Kyle, 89.
13. W. W. Wiersbe, ed. Treasury
of the World’s Great Sermons. (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1993), 323-330.
14. Edwin Charles Daggan,
A History of Preaching, Vol. I, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1970 reprint of
1905 edition), 502-03.
15. Kyle, 34-38.
16. Reformed Theological
Journal (Nov. 1987) , p. 8, quoted in Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland
website.