The pure, heart searching doctrines that were preached by this Scotch Reformer, were very offensive to the carnal mind, and particularly obnoxious to the corrupt court of Queen Mary; hence he was commanded to stop preaching; but, owning no master, and obeying no mandate, which was in opposition to God and the Bible, he paid no attention to the command of the palace. The haughty Mary, hearing, from the enemies of the cross, that her orders were disobeyed, summoned Knox into her presence. When he arrived, he was ushered into a room in which were the Queen and her attendant lords. On being questioned as to his persistency, he answered plainly that he preached the truth, and dared not preach less.
“But,” exclaimed one of the lords, “our commands must be obeyed on penalty of death; silence, or the gallows is the alternative.”
The spirit of the Reformer was roused by the insinuation that human punishment could make him desert the cause of Christ, and he firmly replied, “My lords, you are mistaken if you think you can, by threats, intimidate me to do what conscience and God tell me not to do; for be it known to you that it is a matter of no importance to me, when I have finished my work, whether my bones shall bleach in the winds of heaven, or rot in the bosom of the earth.”
Knox having retired, one of the lords said to the Queen, “We may let him alone, for we cannot punish that man.”
Well, therefore, might it be said at the grave of John Knox, “Here lies one who never feared the face of man.”