John Knox Quotes: Sermons, History and Words to the Queen
John Knox (c. 1514–1572), the Scottish Reformer, is quoted all over the internet, but many of the lines credited to him have no source, and some aren't his at all. Every quotation below is copied exactly from his writings in TheWay Library, with the book and section it comes from.
Some of these are in modern spelling, from his sermon on Isaiah 26 and his Admonition to England. Others come straight from his History of the Reformation in Scotland and the First Book of Discipline, in the Scots spelling of the 1500s. We've kept that spelling, since that's how Knox wrote, and added a plain-English sense where it helps. We've left out lines he quotes from other people, including Queen Mary's side of their conversations. For his life, see who was John Knox, and for what's in each book, see John Knox books.
On the Word of God
Knox believed the preached Word was God's own power to save, to comfort and to overthrow error. In his Admonition to England he wrote to Protestants facing persecution:
You know the word of God not only to be that whereby heaven and earth were created, but also to be the power of God to salvation to all that believe, the bright lantern to the feet of those who by nature walk in darkness, the life to those that by sin are dead, a comfort to such as are in tribulation
The Pulpit of the Reformation, "It Is I, Be Not Afraid"
You know God’s word to be of such efficacy and strength, that thereby sin is purged, death vanquished, tyrants suppressed; and, finally, the devil, the author of all mischief, overthrown and confounded.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, "It Is I, Be Not Afraid"
Willing to teach us the dignity and effectual power of his most holy word, he uses no other instrument to pacify the great and horrible fear of his disciples but his comfortable word, and lively voice.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, "It Is I, Be Not Afraid"
There is the footstool, yea, there is the face and throne of God himself, wheresoever the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly preached, and his sacraments rightly ministered.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
And in the preface to the First Blast, he said the truth can't be silenced for long:
The veritie of God is of that nature, that at one time or at other, it will pourchace to it selfe audience. It is an odour and smell, that can not be suppressed, yea it is a trumpet that will sound in despite of the aduersarie.
The First Blast of the Trumpet, The Kingdome Apperteineth to Ovr God
On faith in affliction
Knox preached to a church that was often hunted, and his sermon on Isaiah 26 is full of comfort for people under pressure.
This, I say, is the victory of faith, when to the midst of death, through the light of God’s word, the afflicted see life.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
In our God there is wisdom and power, in a moment to change the joy and mirth of our enemies into everlasting mourning, and our sorrows into joy and gladness that shall have no end.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
The chambers then are God’s sure promises, unto which God’s people are commanded to resort; yea, within which they are commanded to close themselves in the time of greatest adversity.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
It is his proper office to bring light out of darkness, order out of confusion, life out of death
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
For as our God in his own nature is immutable, so his love towards his elect remains always unchangeable.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Albeit God speedily removes not this horrible darkness, neither suddenly pacifies this tempest, yet shall he not suffer his tossed ship to be drowned.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, "It Is I, Be Not Afraid"
But be of good courage, O little and despised flock of Christ Jesus! for He that seeth your grief, hath power to revenge it; he will not suffer one tear of yours to fall, but it shall be kept and reserved in his bottle
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Seeing that death is common to all, and that this temporal life is nothing but misery, and that death fully joins us with our God, and gives unto us the possession of our inheritance, why should we think it strange to leave this world and go to our Head and sovereign Captain, Jesus Christ?
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
On obedience and repentance
Knox called his hearers to obey God and to blame their troubles on their own sin before blaming anyone else.
There is no doubt but that obedience is the most acceptable sacrifice unto God, and that which above all things he requires
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Let every man therefore examine himself, with what mind, and what purpose, he comes to hear the word of God
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
For nothing can be more odious to God, than to mock him in his own presence.
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Let us not be discouraged, but with unfeigned repentance let us return to the Lord our God; let us accuse and condemn our former negligence, and steadfastly depend upon his promised deliverance
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
And where no repentance is founde, there can be no entrie to grace.
The First Blast of the Trumpet, The Kingdome Apperteineth to Ovr God
On kings and rulers
This was the theme that got Knox into trouble. He taught that rulers hold their power from God and must answer to Him.
Kings then have not an absolute power, to do in their government what pleases them, but their power is limited by God’s word
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
The sword of God is not committed to the hand of man, to use as it pleases him, but only to punish vice and maintain virtue
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Wouldst thou, O Scotland! have a king to reign over thee in justice, equity, and mercy? Subject thou thyself to the Lord thy God, obey his commandments
The Pulpit of the Reformation, A Sermon On Isaiah XXVI. By John Knox
Before Mary Queen of Scots
Knox recorded his conversations with the queen in Book Fourth of his History. These are his own replies, in his own spelling.
As rycht Religioun tooke nather originall strenth nor authoritie frome worldly Princes, but frome the Eternall God allone, so are not subjectis bound to frame thair Religioun according to the appetites of thair Princes.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, Book Fourth of the History
In plain English: true religion never got its strength or authority from earthly princes, only from God, so subjects aren't bound to shape their religion to suit their rulers.
My travell is, that boyth princes and subjectis obey God.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, Book Fourth of the History
That is, "My work is that both princes and subjects obey God."
Conscience, Madam, (said he,) requyres knowlege; and I fear that rycht knowlege ye have none.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, Book Fourth of the History
When the queen wept with anger, he answered:
Madam, in Goddis presence I speak: I never delyted in the weaping of any of Goddis creatures; yea, I can skarslie weill abyd the tearis of my awin boyes whome my awin hand correctis, much less can I rejoise in your Majesties weaping.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, Book Fourth of the History
Later, when she accused him of meddling in her marriage, he described his calling:
As tueching natour, I wes ane worm of this earth, and yet ane subject of this Commounwelth; but as tueching the office whairintill it hes plesit God to place me, I wes ane watchman, bayth over the Realme, and over the Kirk of God gatherit within the same
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, Book Fourth of the History
"By nature I was a worm of this earth and a subject of this commonwealth, but by the office God has given me, I was a watchman over both the kingdom and the church."
On his own calling
Knox wrote parts of his History about himself in the third person. Here is his account of what happened when John Rough charged him, before the whole congregation at St. Andrews, to take up the work of preaching:
Whairat the said Johnne abashed, byrst furth in moist abundand tearis, and withdrew him self to his chalmer.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 1, Book First of the History
And here is his answer, as a galley slave, whenever a fellow prisoner asked if they would ever be freed:
That God wald deliver thame from that bondage, to his glorie, evin in this lyef.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 1, Book First of the History
On the church he hoped for
The First Book of Discipline, which Knox wrote with five other ministers in 1560, opens its first head with this:
Seeing that Christ Jesus is he quhom God the Father hes commandit onlie to be herd, and followed of his scheip, we urge it necessarie, that his Evangell be trewlie and openlie preached in everie Kirk and Assemblie of this Realme
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, The Book of Discipline
It also pleaded for the poor farmers who had been squeezed for tithes:
Ye must have compassioun upoun your brethren, appointing thame to pay so reasonabill teyndis, that thei may feill sum benefit of Christ Jesus, now precheit unto thame.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2, The Book of Discipline
Read more
The best place to hear Knox in full is his sermon on Isaiah 26 in The Pulpit of the Reformation. For his story of the Scottish Reformation, read the History in Volume 1 and Volume 2 of his Works, and for the tract that angered two queens, The First Blast of the Trumpet. All his books are on the John Knox author page.