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Knox understood the supremacy of the Glory of God and thus the supremacy of Christ over His Church. Knox wrote, “O Lord, Thou that art the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father, who has not only so loved Thy Kirk, that for the redemption and purgation of the same, Thou has humbled Thyself to the death of the cross, and thereupon has shed Thy most innocent blood, to prepare to Thyself most excellent benefit in memory, has appointed in the Kirk, teachers, pastors, and apostles, to instruct, comfort, and admonish the same. Look upon us, O Lord, Thou that only art King, Teacher, and High Priest to Thy own flock.”

Knox was a man of Prayer: “Prayer as ‘an earnest and familiar talking with God,’ is not natural to us. It is by sanctified trouble and by the recognition of our own helplessness that we learn to pray. `Out of weakness made strong’ is the biblical principle. ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble,’ because a promise of special significance to Knox.” (Murray, 13.) Knox wrote, “I know how hard is the battle between the spirit and the flesh, under the heavy cross of affliction, where no worldly defence but present death does appear. I know the grudging and murmuring complaints of the flesh…calling all his promises in doubt, and being ready every hour utterly to fall from God. Against which rests only faith, provoking us to call earnestly and pray for assistance of God’s Spirit; wherein, if we continue our most desperate calamities shall be turned to gladness, and to the prosperous end. To thee alone, O Lord be praise, for with experience I write this and speak.”

Knox stated, “Where constant prayer is, there the petition is granted. Let no man think himself unworthy to call and pray to God, because he has grievously offended his Majesty in times past; but let him bring to God a sorrowful and repenting heart, saying, with David ps23 ‘Heal my soul, O Lord, for I have offended against thee. Before I was afflicted, I transgressed, but now let me observe they commandments’ (Ps. 41:4)…Yet more boldly will I say: He who, then necessity constrains, desires not support and help of God, does provoke his wrath no less than such as make false gods or openly deny God.” (Bond, 41)

Knox was a man who ‘hit-it-in the face’, Knox once stated, “Railing and sedition they are never able to prove in me, till that first they compel Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, St. Paul, and others to recant; of whom I have learned plainly and boldly to call wickedness by its own name, a fig a fig, and a spade a spade.” (Stalker, 85)

I have a side note that I want to suggest. This isn’t in response to the article.

Do we Calvinists really need to post under “[Calvinist Caucus]”?

We have no need to exclude those who disagree with us. As far as I’m concerned, what is called “Calvinism” is simply the Gospel.

There are certain groups on FR — I won’t name them — who post all the time under Caucus-this or Caucus-that. They usually tend to be very defensive against anyone questioning their assumptions.

I personally don’t think we Calvinists have to hide behind a Caucus. Our spiritual forebearers never found the need to hide from controversy or taking a stand. So I say: Bring it!

Fellow Reformers, I would offer that we need not follow the practice of other groups in closing our threads to other opinions.

It’s what Knox would do. :-)

Interesting wee summary. I thank ye!

Grace and Peace...

Amen. Good article. Knox is a hard act to follow. He’d be so sorrowful over the present spiritual ills of Scotland.

If KNOX was an American preacher today and preached such sermons he could kiss his 501-3c tax status goodby.

But then, we might have a real revival in America with his preaching!