Exile in Jesusville

Jul 31, Carrie rated it it was amazing. Have you ever wondered if the current American church is what Jesus had in mind? This is one man's honest journey that gives us a glimpse into the sausage making of what we call "church". Perhaps it is the harsh reality that the American church is a business, like any other, to make money. And Bryan tells of his own struggles of what happens "behind the pulpit" when it comes to the emphasis of saving souls versus filling seats in the pew.

Bryan's writing style is intelligent with very humorous an Have you ever wondered if the current American church is what Jesus had in mind? Bryan's writing style is intelligent with very humorous and witty, thought provoking, self awareness. After each chapter you'll think that is preacher is on the road to atheism, along with many of Americans who don't put up with the Christian hypocrisy, so you might be surprised where this God fearing man ends up.

But then again, the story isn't over. No matter the reader's religious background, if we as a people 1 loved God 2 loved our neighbor as ourself, this whole church "business" would go bankrupt.

Aug 10, Marti rated it it was amazing. Not everyone can appreciate or understand what it means to take a journey like Phil has, but for those of us who have Many of the sentiments and emotions he shares are recorded in my own journals from the past decade and a half, even if the details vary.

I enjoyed this perspective that showed a very kindred path and prompted me to do some reflective soul-searching yet again! Mar 03, Brandon Giella rated it liked it. The author gets a little harsh and antagonistic at times, but I can't say I don't understand him. Kaye rated it it was amazing Feb 09, Phil Bryan rated it it was amazing Nov 20, Mark Smith rated it it was amazing Mar 03, Skipper Pickle rated it really liked it Feb 03, Nathan D Bishop rated it it was amazing Mar 20, Julia Danklef rated it really liked it Sep 18, When Katherine realizes the same man who kidnapped and raped her years ago is the one holding Misty and the other teenager, the terror of those months in captivity resurfaces.

Together, Katherine and Vince must figure out where the kidnapper has taken two teenagers, and fast. But nothing is at it seems in this race to stop a madman before he kills again. The clock is ticking—and this time, the past is close behind. Award-winning novelist Maris Soule delivers a briskly paced, masterfully plotted, spine-tinglingly realistic thriller that will leave readers gasping for breath. And the twist at the end? Do yourself a favor and read this thriller now. Brian Bane glanced at the girl sitting next to him before again splitting his attention between the twisting road in front of his Chevy Blazer and the tailgating Ford Explorer.

On their right the roadway dropped over a thousand feet. Misty—or Miss T as she was known on ChatPlace—twisted in her seat to look behind them. Her wild, blonde curls brushed her shoulders, and her mini-skirt showed a teasing view of her inner thigh. She flopped back against the seat, and crossed her arms over her chest. Meaningless, my ass , he thought. He was about to take an under-aged girl into Canada. A thump to the back corner bumper sent the Blazer into a fishtail, and Brian gasped, clinging to the steering wheel as he fought to bring the car back under control.

The first part of the Klondike Highway, from Skagway to White Pass and the Canadian line, was a twisting, turning two-laner that rose from sea level to over three thousand feet. The steep incline was already taxing the engine. Again the Explorer rammed into them, this time lurching them straight toward the guardrail as the road turned.

Mystery | The Dark Phantom Review

Misty yelped and grabbed at the door. Brian swung the wheel. The sensation of the front right fender grating on metal vibrated through the steering column. When they came out of the turn, the Explorer was nearly side by side. The powerful Explorer began squeezing them closer to the guardrail. Jaw clenched and muscles taut, Brian struggled to keep his SUV on the pavement. Adrenalin pumped through his body, a bitter taste rising to his throat. Just a few hundred feet ahead, the guardrail turned into a twisted, jagged strip of metal that hung limply to the ground.

Open air replaced protection. Man, his friends had been right about this whole hooking up online thing.

Brian brought the Blazer to a complete stop, his entire body shaking. The Explorer angled in front of him, preventing a forward escape. With a sigh, Brian shifted into park, and then turned toward Misty—the beautiful, sexy Miss T. She glared at him. Brian stared at her for a second, kicking himself for being such an idiot, then he stepped out of the car. As he looked toward the Explorer, he wondered if he should act angry—after all, Misty had duped him.

Or guilty—because he should have known she was under-age. He almost laughed when he saw the bear mask. Acclaimed novelist Maris Soule is a two time RITA finalist who has won numerous awards for her novels over the last three decades. Born and raised in California, Maris majored in art at U. Davis and taught art for 8 years before retiring to raise a family.

Maris and her husband divide their time between Michigan and Florida. Visit Maris Soule online at: Harley worked as a record salesman vinyl and later served the U. Government as a computer programmer and in communications, where he honed his writing style as an editor and content provider for official web sites. Retired now, he likes to write pulp fiction, mostly private eye stories, several of which have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Congratulations on the release of your latest book, White with Fish, Red with Murder. White with Fish, Red with Murder is the story of private eye Frank Swiver, who accepts an invitation to a wine tasting on a private rail car, and brings along his secretary and lover, Vera Peregrino.

But Thursby takes two slugs through the pump, and the cops arrest Vera for his killing. But soon he realizes he must change his way of thinking, or risk losing both women. I loved it, and I wanted more, even if I had to write it myself. I tried to reproduce the feel of their stories in characters, atmosphere, dialogue, and plot so that readers who liked Hammett and Chandler will feel as much at home with Frank Swiver as they would with Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe.

What do you think makes a good mystery? Character, plot, and pace. A good private eye story is not about the eye, but about the characters —the client, the femme fatale, the villain or antagonist. The characters must be believable, well-rounded, and distinct from one another. They must be driven by desires they are powerless to resist.

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Character is revealed in action. The plot must be credible; it has to be of a certain magnitude to hang a novel on it. The best way for a writer to conceal a mystery is by interesting the reader in solving some other mystery. You want the reader to wonder, what happens next. A fourth element, close behind these three, is setting, environment, or a sense of place.

How did you go about plotting your story? Or did you discover it as you worked on the book? I was working towards a certain ending that I had in mind, but in this novel, the characters revealed to me how to get there and what to do along the way as the book progressed. For example, no one saw the murder, but private eye Frank Swiver questioned the seven suspects present, each of whom had a story, a version of the truth.

By following along with Frank, I learned what I needed to know to write my way to the ending. Because of his experiences in the Spanish Civil War, Frank Swiver is a pacifist, unusual in the tough, fists and blackjacks world of private eyes. He was a conscientious objector during WW II. We shared the same values. In some ways the antagonist is the opposite of the protagonist, Frank.

Consider variations on that theme—even a car chase, for instance. Also, I try to think of my book as a series of dramatic scenes that will tell the story. I think, how will I move the plot along in this scene? How will I reveal character? What I tried to do in White with Fish was create a story world—a noir-ish version of San Francisco.

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I used descriptions of specific locations and objects, details, and stylized dialogue to give the novel verisimilitude, and try to give the book the feel of a more human, less technological world than the one we live in. I think I have a sense of the themes of my work inside my subconscious when I start writing.

But I can only articulate the themes after the first draft is complete. Some of the themes in my writing have been recurring—non-violence, the duality of human nature, the breakdown of civil order, and classic noir themes, like love, lust, greed, lying dames, violence, double-crosses, and murder. I believe editing and revision are a part of art, maybe 60 percent or more. This is especially true in marketing your manuscripts—pitching your novel to an agent or a publisher, or submitting shorter fiction to the right journal or magazine.

Discipline —To me, discipline means to write every day. The surest way to improve your skills and grow as a writer is to write. Creativity —Creativity is the fun part of making a successful novelist. You can start with the tropes of your subgenre—like I use tropes from hard-boiled fiction and from noir fiction. You should keep a handful of reference books, such as Strunk and White and a dictionary on hand.

Well, classes and workshops can be great and can give you a good foundation in the craft. But I truly believe there are two keys to being a writer. Reading is learning to write by osmosis. See how the great writers tackled a particular problem, or learn how contemporary writers in your genre handle a specific sort of scene. Everything you write is practice and experience. There will be good stuff even in your earliest writing that you can build upon. Harley Mazuk [ http: His first novel, White with Fish, Red with Murder [ http: He chased hurricanes, earthquakes, plane wrecks, presidential candidates, wildfires, rodeo cowboys, ranchers, miners, loggers, farmers, migrant field hands, doctors, neo-Nazis and nuns with an eye for the telling detail and an ear for the voice of the people who give life to a story.

He is a lapsed horseman, pilot, hunter and saloon sport with a keen appreciation for old guns, vintage cars and trucks, good cigars, aged whiskey and a well-told story. He now lives in Athens, Alabama. Congratulations on the release of your latest book, The Right Wrong Number. To begin with, can you give us a brief summary of what the story is about and what compelled you to write it?

The Right Wrong Number is a hard-boiled tale of revenge and redemption set in Texas and northern Mexico. These partners include some mobsters from New Orleans who send a pair of hitmen to get back their money, drugs and jewels and kill anybody involved in the score. When his best friend is killed in Dallas by hired muscle, Ed Earl blames himself and sets out for revenge that winds up being a bloody form of redemption.

My primary motivation is the desire to write well-told, hard-boiled crime fiction. And when you read the novels of Hammett, Chandler and more contemporary writers like James Ellroy, James Lee Burke and the late, great James Crumley, the stories are so much more than a whodunit. What do you think makes a good hard-boiled crime thriller? Crackling dialogue, rich and detailed narrative that gives the reader a vivid sense of time and place and lots of action. To me, plot takes a back seat to those three elements, although I know a lot of damn good writers will forcefully reject this notion.

But I also wanted to make sure I had enough freedom to let the characters and action take me where they wanted to go. That said, you always have to make sure those surprises serve your story. I wanted him to be strong, flawed, reckless, cagey and cynical, a guy who has a code he sometimes forgets to live by but returns to under pressure. Sometimes with a bullet. I learned a hard lesson from my first novel, The Last Second Chance , when I made the main villain way too over the top, haunted by visions of Aztec heart sacrifice and nightmares of flying serpent demons.

I tried not to make that same mistake with the two villains in this book—the old flame and her fugitive husband. You can see this discipline even in the wretched excess or wild tangents of a James Ellroy or Hunter S. Even my main character, Ed Earl Burch, is profane, violent and reckless, with a mean streak a mile wide. Henry Forrest was deed by the bloody brotherhood around burned at St. Andrews about the same time.

The two young sufferers perished In February , Robert Forrester, together at the stake, exhorting each gentleman, Duncan Simpson, priest, other to endure patiently their short agoFriarKyllor, Friar Beveridge,and Dean nies, for the sake of Him who died to Thomas Forrest, were condemned to destroy death, and to purchase for his death, and burned in one huge pile on followers eternal life; and their calm the Castle Hill of Edinburgh.

There is Christian fortitude awoke the deep syman incident connected with the last-named pathies of the pitying and admiring specperson, which deserves attention, as ex- tators. Hitherto the persecution of the reformWe give it in the words of Archbishop ers had been carried on nominally under Spotswood: Andrews, who, however, was in of Dunkeld, his ordinary, for preaching his latter years greatly under the influevery Sunday to his parishioners upon Spotswooi, pp.

IL ence of his nephew, David Beaton, a of a talent for poetry. But matters of man of great talents, still greater ambi- grave political importance and civil distion, and immitigable cruelty of disposi- sensions intervened, turning aside the tion. He had been educated in Fra-nce; king's favour, and directLng the active and after his return to Scotland, he was energies of the cardinal into another sent by the king to negotiate respecting channel.

Against this the hensive lest James should comply with cardinal and whole clergy of the kingthe proposal of Henry VIII. The deep designs example of Henry might induce James of the clergy were successful. The minds to favour the Reformation, in which case of Henry and James were estranged their power and their wealth must inevitfrom each other; and first a daughter of ably perish. They pointed out to James the French king, and, upon her early the danger of his being imprisoned, as his death, Mary of Guise, became succes- ancestor James I.

For these services the King of to provide him funds for the support of an France prevailed upon the pope to raise army, should war arise in consequence David Beaten to the rank of a cardinal, of his refusing to hold an interview with by which title he is hereafter to be desig- Henry. The reader of Scottish history nated. His him in the archbishopric of St. Andrews, first great conflict was with the house of and very speedily gave proof of his de- Douglas, which he succeeded in overtermination to employ still sharper mea- throwing, after a protracted and dubious sures for the extermination of the reform- struggle.

Pursuing what had been the ers and their tenets. He called together policy of the race of Stuart, especially all his adherents of the clerical body, to- since the time of James I. Andrews; and there, pre- barons; and this induced him to yield siding in state, proceeded to declare the more readily to the persuasions of the dangers to which the Church was ex- clergy than he might otherwise have posed from the prevalence of heresy, done and also to promote unworthy fawhich, he said, found too much counte- vourites to those stations of dignity and nance even at court, and the necessity of power'which the nobility were accusinstituting still more rigorous measures tomed to regard as their birthright.

He then- though the intrigues of the clergy might named Sir John B-rthwick as infected Isway the councils of the king, they could with heretical opinions, and- cited him to do him little service in the field. The appear and answer to the charge. But wars with England produced but a series Borthwick, having been aware of his of disgraceful defeats, the nobles allowdanger, had fled to England; and not ing themselves to be routed and taken appearing when summoned, was con- prisoners by mere handfuls of their andemned in absence, and burnt in effigy, tagonists.

These disastrous events broke in May , both at St. The king was at that time died at Falkland on the 14th day of Dethought to be favourably disposed to- Member , leaving the shattered sovewards the reformers, influenced, proba- reignty to his infant daughter, the ill-fated bly, by his friendship for Sir David Mar, who was born seven days before Lindsay, whose poetical genius attracted his death. The regent, pointed governors of the kingdom during though a plausible, was a weak and fickle the minority of the infant queen.

But man, liable at all times to be wrought this daring attempt was defeated in a upon and biassed by those of greater demeeting of the chief nobility at Edin- cision and energy of character. With burgh; and James Hamilton, earl of this, his constitutional failing, the wily Arran, next heir to the crown, was ap- cardinal'was well acquainted; and, to pointed regent and governor of the king- avail himself of it, invited from France, dom. John Hamilton, abbot of Paisley, the The defeat of the cardinal, and the ap- regent's own illegitimate brother, and pointment of Arran to the regency, were David Panter, afterwards bishop of Ross, productive of great advantage to the cause two able and designing men, by whose of the Reformation.

After the kings influence he hoped to accomplish his dedeath, there was found a list which had sign. Too well did they succeed in their been furnished to him by the cardinal, subtile enterprise. In a short time the containing the names of some hundreds of regent's mind became so much alienated persons of various ranks, and possessed of from the reformers, that his chaplains property and wealth, whom they denounc- were under the necessity of withdrawing ed as heretics, and by whose forfeited from court to save their lives; Williams riches the coffers of the king might, ac- retiring to England, and Rough to Kyle.

The knowledge of this ne- and other gentlemen who favoured the farious scheme tended not a little to bring reforming party, were also obliged to reodium on the cardinal and his party, and tire; and the regent became completely to strengthen the cause of their opponents. He accordingly broke off the time favourable to the Reformation, to agreement with England, abjured the rewhich the lamented death of his relative, formed religion, and entered heartily into the martyr Patrick Hamilton, may easily the great master-scheme of the'cardinal, be thought to have greatly contributed.

Against the passing of this ment of the kingdom, renewed his efforts act the cardinal and the bishops strove to suppress the Reformation, by means of with all the energy of fury and despair, the most merciless and exterminating perbut strove in vain. The effect was in- secution. He began his barbarous career stantaneous and great. Copies of the sa- at Perth, where five men and one woman cred volume, which had been most care- were brought before him, accused of fully concealed, and perused with secrecy heresy. They were tried, condemned, and fear, were now to be seen, as Knox and sentence of death passed upon them, says, lying on every gentleman's table, -the men to be hanged, the woman to and the New Testament, especially, borne be drowned.

The case of the poor woabout in almost every person's hands. She was the agement to the Reformation, and employ- wife of one of the above-mentioned men, ed as his own chaplains Thomas Guil- and had recently given birth to a child. And, as if for the pray to the Virgin Mary, and had anpurpose of settling the Reformation upon swered that she would only pray to God, a firm and extensive basis, a treaty was in the name of Jesus Christ.

On the day of execution. Her pathetic John,-so mild, gentle, patient, and unappeal was harshly refused; but she ac- resisting,-his lips touched with a live companied him to the fatal spot, bearing coal from off the altar, and his heart overher infant in her arms, and exhorting her flowing with holy love to God, and cornhusband to patience and constancy in the passionate affection to mankind. The cause of Christ. He was murdered be- citizens of Montrose; and especially of fore her eyes; and as soon as life had Dundee, felt and owned the power of his left his quivering frame, she was dragged heavenly eloquence; and much of his to a pool of water close at hand, with her time and labours were spent in the latter babe still clinging to her bosom.

Instigated by him, Robert bour, and to the care of Him who is the Mill, a man of great authority in the orphan's stay, she felt that for her the bit- town, openly commanded him to leave terness of death was past, and being cast the place, and trouble them no more with into the whelming waters, died without a his sermons. Expressing his pity and struggle, full of the steady fortitude and regret that they were thus refusing tn the heavenly comfort of a Christian listen to the message of salvation, he took martyr.

There his preachcardinal pursued his bloody circuit ing was attended with equal success, and, through Angus and Mearns, inflicting of course, excited equal hostility in the upon some fines, upon others imprison- breasts of the bishops and clergy. The ment, and persecuting others to the death, archbishop of Glasgow hastened to the taking with him the feeble regent, that town of Ayr, to prevent Wishart from he might have the appearance of his preaching in the church; and the sheriff sanction to the perpetration of these cruel of the county prevented him from preachdeeds.

He could preach in the victim. This was the celebrated George market-place, in the fields, or on the hillWishart, brother of the Laird of Pittar- side, with equal readiness, and with equal row, in Mearns. He had been banished success in convincing his hearers. There tive country in the company of the com- he braved the horrors of the plague, minmissioners who had been sent to negoti- istering comfort to the miserable sufferate a treaty with Henry VIII. Immediately upon his arrival in plying their temporal necessities.

Even Scotland, he began to preach the doc- when engaged in this work of mercy, an trines of evangelical truth, with such attempt was made upon his life by a warm and persuasive eloquence as at priest; and he escaped narrowly from a once to attract, and soften, and convince plot laid to get him into the power of the the crowding audiences, who wept, and cardinal. Soon afterwards he proceeded glowed, and trembled as he preached.

During his martyr, we seem to trace the features of abode in that neighbourhood he was very a character of surpassing loveliness, bear- constantly attended by John Knox, who ing a close resemblance in its chief line- was at that time residing as tutor in the Spotswood, p. After preaching at Had- such guarded terms, that it gave no coundington, he went to Ormiston, accompa- tenance to the ruthless deed about to be nied by the proprietor, and by Crichton perpetrated.

He answered them all ing the night, the house was beset by calmly and mildly, but with great strength armed horsemen, headed by the Earl of of reasoning, and full proof of all his Bothwell; while the regent and the car- opinions from the Scriptures. He was dinal were but a short way distant with nevertheless condemned by the unania larger force, so that resistance was in mous voice of the assembled popish prevain.

Ormiston, however, refused to lates and clergy, and sentence passed adyield up Wishart, till Bothwell pledged judging him to be burned to death, as a his honour to protect his life from the heretic, on the following day. Early next morning, the 2d persuaded Bothwell to violate his pledge; day of March, , after refusing to and Wishart was carried to St. Andrews, hold intercourse with two friars who had and left theie a prisoner, in the power of been sent to hear his confession, he rehis deadly foe. Winram came immediately, together his prelatic council, that he and after some private conversation, remight with the utmost pomp and ostenta- turned to the cardinal, to request that the tion proceed to the destruction of his vic- sacrament might be given to the prisoner.

The regent yielded so bread and wine to those who were prefar as to write to the cardinal not to pre- sent,-thus commemorating, as fully as cipitate the trial of Wishart till he should circumstances would permit, the dying himself come to St. The car- love of Him for whose sake he was himdinal haughtily returned this answer: He then retired to "That he wrote not to the governor as his private apartment, and remained in though he depended in any measure upon prayer till those came who were appointed his authority, but out of a desire he had to take him to the place of execution.

The battlements and win- dom. But his death, while it seemed dows of the fore-tower of the castle were the triumph of the cardinal's power, hung with tapestry and spread with rich proved to be the consummation of his cushions, that the cardinal and the pre- guilt, and the knell summoning him to lates might, in state, and at their ease, judgment. While the fierce popish facfeast their eyes upon the torments of the tion extolled the zeal and the courage of martyred servant of the Lord.

Father of heaven, I commend my the bloodthirsty career of the cardispirit into thy holy hands! Of those who thus talked, of God, notwithstanding the torments the chief were John Lesly, brother to the which they saw prepared for him; en- Earl of Rothes; Norman Lesly, son to treated them to accept, believe and obey the same Earl; William Kircaldy of the Word of God; and expressed entire Grange, who afterwards acted a distinforgiveness of his enemies and persecu- guished part in the Reformation; Peter tors.

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Then the executioner, casting him- Carmichael; and James Melville, of the self upon his knees, before the martyr, family of Carnbee. To these were begged to be forgiven for the deed he joined several other men of less note, but was about unwillingly to do. Wishart equally determined; and they began to desiring him to draw near him, kissed plot how they might best succeed in their his cheek, saying, " Lo, here is a token determination to put the cardinal to death.

For this purpose he gave putting an end to his sufferings. The his illegitimate daughter in marriage to captain perceiving him still alive, drew the Earl of Grawford, thereby to confirm near the pile, and bade him be of good his personal influence; and began to forcourage. Wishart replied with unfalter- tify more strongly his archiepiscopal ing voice, " This fire torments my body, palace, or castle, at St.

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This but no way abates my spirit. He who in such state from that high The conspirators came privately, and seplace feedeth his eyes with my torments, parate from each other, so as to avoid within few days shall be hanged out at causing suspicion, to St. Andrews, on the the same window, to be seen with as evening of the 28th of May.

Next much ignominy as he now leaneth there morning, as the workmen employed in in pride. They then seized the porter, sumed to ashes. Having thus mastered the. Starting at length out a tumult arose in the town, caused by of his slumbers, the cardinal demanded those who had been expelled from the the cause of the noise; and learning that castle; and a large body of the populace the castle was in the hands of his ene- collected and began loudly to demand to mies, he at first attempted to escape, and see the cardinal, or to know what was befinding that to be impracticable, he barri- come of him.

To allay the tumult, the caded his chamber door, and then held conspirators exposed the dead body from parley with those by whom it was as- the same window, or over the same part sailed. The assailants refused to prom- of the battlements, where the cardinal had, ise him his life; and, as the door re- a short time before, reclined in haughty sisted their efforts to force it, they called state, gazing on the martyrdom of Wishart. Upon this the Thus were the prophetic dying words of door was opened, and the cardinal the martyr fulfilled; aI 4 many of the peothrowing himself despairingly into a pie, when they beheld the strange spectachair, cried out, " I am a priest, I am a cle, remembering at the same time the priest; ye will not slay me!

God, although it be secret, yet ought to That the death of Cardinal Beaton was be done with greater gravity. At the same time it continued, "Repent thee of thy former ought to be kept in mind, that such actions wicked life, but especially of the shed- bear in our eyes a much blacker aspect ding of the blood of that notable instru- than they did in the estimation of men of ment of God, Mr. George Wishart; that period.

Some of the conspirators which, albeit, the flame of fire consumed may also have been excited by resentment before men, yet cries it for vengeance for private injuries, others by motives of upon thee, and we from God are sent to state policy and the influence of English; avenge it. For here, before my God, I gold; but a desire to deliver their country protest, that neither the hatred of thy from his oppression, and especially to person, the love of thy riches, nor the avenge the death of Wishart. The attempt which has been thou hast been, and remainest, an obsti- recently made, by a modern historian, to nate enemy against Christ Jesus and his blacken the characters of all parties conholy evangel.

Andrews, thus both giving Soon after his arrival, the people of the countenance to the deed of the conspira- place, together with Rough, resolved to tors, and securing a place of strength in give John Knox a solemn and public call which they could defend themselves while to be their minister. He was at first overthey were endeavouring to make their whelmed with anxiety when he thought peace with the regent. This, however, of the awful responsibility of the ministeit was not so easy to accomplish, insti- rial office, but durst not refuse the call; gated as he was by the clergy to avenge and from that hour manifestly regarded in the most exemplary manner the death himself as devoted, with all his energies of their leader.

The regent laid siege to of mind and body, to the preaching of the the castle in August; but it was by this everlasting gospel. Andrews, monies, the licentious lives of the priestalong with the Fifeshire gentlemen, pre- hood, and minor errors and perversions vious to the commencement of the siege; of doctrine, he boldly stated, and offered but upon the suspension of hostilities he to maintain, the proposition, that the papal extended his preaching to the town, to Church of Rome is Antichrist.

From which he then gained ready access. He the hour when that proposition was boldly was there encountered by John Annan, a announced, are we disposed to date the popish priest and dean, and being inferior real beginning of the Reformation in to his antagonist in learning, made ap- Scotland; because from that hour it was plication for aid to one who was destined manifest that there could be no comproto become the MAN of the age.

He had been other authority than what was derived educated for the Romish Church; but his from the practice or the teaching of an bold and penetrating mind could not be apostate and antichristian body,-no apheld in the trammels of mere priestly and peal to any other standard than the Word scholastic authority, and at a very early of God. His mind had received who now clearly perceived that the some benefit in its early researches by the popish party were unable to maintain teaching of the regent's two chaplains, their cause in argument Nor were the Guillaume and Rough; but the clear prelates unaware of their danger; and doctrines, the heart-warm love, and the therefore they prepared to overwhelm by heavenly piety of the martyr Wishart, force what they could not oppose successcompleted his conversion to the reformed fully from reason and Scripture.

About the beginning of April ing procured assistance from France, , he entered the castle of St. An- they again besieged the castle, not only drews, partly drawn by respect to those Life of Knox,by Dr M'Crie, pp. After the taking of the French galleys, which blockaded the castle of St. Andrews, and the banishharbour, thereby cutting off their sup- ment of its defenders, the popish party plies from England. After a gallant re- continued their efforts for the suppression sistance, the defenders were obliged to of the incipient Reformation; in which capitulate, on the 31st day of July , they promised themselves the more corn making their terms with the French plete success that Knox was now no loncommander, and stipulating that their ger present to defend it.

Adam Wallace, lives and liberties should be preserved. Several French fleet to France, the prisoners, in- gentlemen of property, accused of favourstead of being set at liberty, were con- ing the reforming party, were banished, fined to the galleys as slaves. Councils of The triumph of the popish party was the clergy were held at Linlithgow, and great; but it was of brief duration.

The at Edinburgh, for devising measures, Duke of Somerset, protector of England not only to extirpate heresy, but also to in the minority of Edward VI. This had little other affect than they were left to be carried into executhat of throwing the ruling party in Scot- tion by the very persons who were inland more completely into the arms of terested in the perpetuation of abuses, France, and thereby hastening the de- they remained themselves generally incisive struggle. In a parliament held at operative. In the meantime, the reformStirling in , it was resolved to send ing party were left without a leader.

The zeal of the character, a peace was concluded, in persecutors seemed also to abate. They which France also was embraced; and, flattered themselves that they had sucin consequence of the application of the ceeded in suppressing heresy in ScotEnglish ambassadors, John Knox was land; and they returned to their old emreleased from the galleys, and allowed ployment of engaging in political in-'o return to England. He resided for trigues. It was her desire to obFrom England Knox proceeded to the tain the regency, and yet not to give Continent; and, after being for some direct offence to the Earl of Arran.

At length Arturn to Scotland in the year She thus reached Knox, Historic, p. The Earl by conscientious scruples, and able to of Glencairn, who alone had opposed the gild over her designs by plausible artifice martyrdom of Adam Wallace, gave the and deep dissimulation. Conlowed to remain long in this state of tor- tinuing his reforming progress Knox pidity. The accession of Mary to the again visited Calder, the district of AnEnglish throne on the lamented death of gus and Mearns, and finally returned to Edward VI. The fierce persecution were thoroughly roused out of their vain which arose in England drove several security; and, determining to stem the of the English Protestants to Scotland, tide ere it should reach its flood, they where they renewed the public preach- summoned Knox to appear in the Blacking, which had been for some time in a friars Church at Edinburgh, on the 15th great measure suppressed.

Of these the of May Knox at once determined most distinguished were William Har- to comply with this summons, and conlow and John Willock, the latter of front his opponents; and with that intenwhom was afterwards colleague to John tion came to Edinburgh a little before the Knox. They were not sure how far the success. From Edinburgh, where he queen-regent would support them, and first recommenced his toils, he proceed- they deserted the diet, and allowed Knox ed, along with the justly celebrated John to keep the field unchallenged. He, on Erskine of Dun, to Angus and Mearns, his part, did not let slip the opportunity: His next position was increasing the alarm and confusion of his at Calder House, where he resided for enemies.

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Some of the nobility, who were some time as the friend and guest of Sir equally impressed and astonished with James Sandilands, preceptor, or provin- the convincing power of his fervid elocial grand-master of the Knights of St. In his mansion Knox held ter, she handed it to the archbishop of intercourse with Lord Erskine, subse- Glasgow, saying, in a tone of mockery, quently Earl of Mar, and Regent; the " Please you, my Lord, to read a pasLord of Lorn, afterwards Earl of Argyle; quil.

After revisiting those parts of self-defence, but of wielding the king- of Scotland where he had previously dom. Andrews that Argyle, he departed for Geneva in July stands beside you. We avow to God, He was no sooner gone than the that ere we yield, we will make a day of clergy renewed their summons; and up- it. These idle drones oppress us and our on his failing to appear, he was con- tenants; they trouble our preachers, and demned of heresy, and burned in effigy at would murder them and us.

Shall we the market-cross of Edinburgh,-an suffer this any longer? No, madam, it achievement sufficiently showing the shall not be. The queen-reAlthough John Knox had left Scot- gent had recourse to fair words, disaland, the reformed doctrines continued to vowed the proclamation, and discharged be preached in different parts of the the citation of the preachers.

John Douglas, a Carmelite storm blew past. Giles, when the imAndrews endeavoured to persuade the age was thrown scornfully to the ground, earl to dismiss his suspected chaplain, he drawn through the mi: Willock, the North Loch, and then dragged out about the same time, arrived from the and burned. These events so discourContinent; and Paul Methven began to aged the queen and the clergy, that they preach the Protestant doctrines in Dun- thought it expedient to abandon their dee, as did others in Angus and Mearns.

This accession of strength the preachers before the council of state, they expected to obtain by procuring an and there to have them accused of stir- act of the Scottish parliament to confer ring up sedition among the people,-a the crown-matrimonial of Scotland on device to which persecutors have very Francis the Dauphin, and husband of often since resorted, for the purpose of Mary; by which scheme there would be at once accomplishing the object, and es- so close a union between France and caping the odium of persecution.

But Scotland, the king of the one country this device was, in this instance, com- being also the king of the other, that pletely frustrated. When the preachers French power would give the popish came to Edinburgh, such numbers of clergy paramount influence in Scotland, their friends came along with them, that and enable them to extirpate the Reforit was judged dangerous to proceed to mation by force. A proclamation was, how- [ A letter was accordingly under the banner of the lieutenant-gen- sent to him in March The Protestant gentlemen, pene- Earl of Glencairn, and Lords Erskine, trating easily into the object of this pro- Lorn, and James Stewart, inviting him clamation, assembled together, and, in- in their own name, and in that of their stead of obeying it, proceeded to court, brethren, to return to Scotland, where he and forced themselves with little cere- would find them all readyto receive him, mony into the presence of the queen, and to jeopard their lives and fortunes in then sitting in council with the bishops.

Having consultChalmers of Gadgirth, a bold and zealous ed Calvin and his other friends at Geneva, man, spoke in the name of all: When "We, perceiving how Satan, in his he arrived at Dieppe, he received letters members the antichrists of our time, crufrom Scotland of a tenor so discoura- elly doth rage, seeking to downthrow ging as to cause him to delay his farther and destroy the evangel of Christ and his journey till he should receive additional congregation, ought, according to our information as to the real state of matters bounden duty, to strive in our master's in his native country.

While at Dieppe cause, even unto the death, being certain he wrote a letter to the nobility by whom of the victory in him: Being unwilling to abandon congregation, That we, by his grace, the enterprise, he continued to reside at shall with all diligence continually apply Dieppe for several months, expecting a our whole power, substance, and our very more favourable answer from Scotland; lives, to maintain, set forward, and estaband employing his time in writing some lish the most blessed Word of God, and very long and able letters of a public his congregation; and shall labour at our character, in particular, one against the possibility to have faithful ministers, erroneous tenets of the Anabaptists, and purely and truly to minister Christ's another to the Scottish nobility on their evangel and sacraments to his people.

Not re- and defend them, the whole congregation ceiving such answers, and so directly as of Christ, and every member thereof, at he wished, he returned again to Geneva our whole powers, and wairing [expendin the beginning of the year Notwithstanding and trouble against the foresaid congrethe discouraging letters which Knox had gation. Unto the which holy word and received at Dieppe, the chief of the no- congregation we do join us; and also do bility who invited him were still prepared renounce and forsake the congregation of to.

And although the over shall declare ourselves manifestly return of Knox was delayed, yet his let- enemies thereto, by this our faithful ters from Dieppe seemed to have little promise before God, testified to his conless influence than his presence might gregation, by our subscription at these have had. The lords and chief gentry, presents.