KNOX, JOHN
The Works of
John Knox (6 volumes)
Here is a chance to touch the flame that ignited whole nations
for covenanted Reformation. John Knox is considered by many to
have been the most biblically consistent and thoroughgoing of
all the great Reformers of the sixteenth century. "John Knox
was in fact the embodiment of the Scottish Reformation as its
preacher, theologian, liturgist, historian, and catalyst for
reform." (Hall and Hall, ed. Paradigms in Polity: Classic
Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Government With
this concern for purity of worship," notes Kevin Reed
regarding Knox, "it is no wonder that the Scottish Reformation
was the most thorough among any of the Protestant nations."
(From the introduction to John Knox, True and False Worship: A
Vindication of the Doctrine that the Sacrifice of the Mass is
Idolatry . "I know not," states George Smeaton, "if ever so
much piety and genius were lodged in such a frail and weak
body. Certain I am, that it will be difficult to find one in
whom the gifts of the Holy Spirit shone so bright to the
comfort of the church." (Cited in Thomas M'Crie, The Life of
John Knox [1831], p. 272.) The Works of John Knox listed here
is the complete six volume set collected by David Laing, 1895.
Concerning this 6 volume collection, Kyle, in The Mind of John
Knox (p. 14) notes, "The only real basis for a study of Knox's
thought must be the writings of the reformer himself. From
1846 to 1864, David Laing collected and edited nearly all of
Knox's extant writings. This remarkable collection, which
scholars regard highly, is indispensable for any serious study
of John Knox
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 1 -
Unedited History of the Reformation in Scotland (Book 1 & 2)
and 18 appendices.
Reid, in his Trumpeter of God, notes that Knox "wrote history
as a prophet" and that, wherever he could, he used original
sources, many of which he reproduced. Furthermore, he
proclaims that this "is still a work that no one interested in
this area can afford to neglect." As W.C. Dickinson has
commented, "it is his monument, for in it he puts flesh and
blood on the whole Reformation movement." Innes (John Knox, p.
45) says of this work, "[t]he author who has enabled us to see
his own confused and changing age under ëthe broad clear
light of that wonderful book' the History of the Reformation
in Scotland, and who outside that book was the utterer of many
an armed and winged word which pursues and smites us to this
day, must have been born with nothing less than genius ó
genius to observe, to narrate, and to judge. Even had he
written as a mere recluse and critic, looking out upon his
world from a monk's cell or from the corner of a housetop, the
vividness, the tenderness, the sarcasm and the humour would
still have been there." Moreover, Burton writes, "[t]here
certainly is in the English language no other parallel to it
in clearness, vigour, and picturesqueness with which it
renders the history of a stirring period" (cited in Innes,
John Knox, p. 45). This photocopy edition far surpasses the
editeddown version that is available in paperback. Over 600
pages of stirring Reformation history.
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 2 -
Unedited History of the Reformation in Scotland (Book 3, 4 and
5) and six appendices, index, etc.
"Knox portrayed the origins and development of a movement and
not a mere chronology of events... Knox based his arguments on
original sources and he often cited the documents in full.
When Knox's History is compared to the contemporary vernacular
narratives of Bishop Leslie and Sir James Melville, the
superiority of Knox's work becomes evident. For the most part,
these writers were preoccupied with petty details and had no
conception of the momentous issues that hung on the events
they recorded... Knox used history to demonstrate his
single-track philosophy. And his philosophy said: 'The hearts
of men, their thoughts, and their actions are but in the hands
of God.' Lee said Knox's History was a sermon without an
audience, a preaching book, one long inflammatory speech in
behalf of God's truth as the reformer saw it." (Kyle, The Mind
of John Knox, p. 13). Our editions of volumes one and two of
Knox's Works contain the only full, unedited version of Knox's
massive History of the Reformation in Scotland available
today.
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 3 -
EPISTLES, ADMONITIONS, etc.
Includes "... That the Sacrifice of the Mass is Idolatry."
Also, writings on justification by faith, prayer, the Lord's
supper, obedience to magistrates, an exposition of the sixth
Psalm, letters of warning, comfort and more.
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 4
- Includes "The Appellation... to the Scottish Nobility," "The
First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of
Women," Answers Concerning Baptism, Form of Prayers/Sacraments
in Geneva 1556, "Letter to the Queen," "Summary of the
Proposed Second Blast of the Trumpet," and much more.
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 5
- Includes "On Predestination, in Answer to the Cavillations
by an Anabaptist" (462 pp.), which Boettner, in his Reformed
Doctrine of Predestination, calls Knox's "chief theological
work." Also, A Letter to John Foxe, Names of Martyrs, etc. 536
pages.
KNOX, JOHN
Vol. 6
- Includes the Life of Knox, Letters relating to Reformation
in Scotland, The Book of Common Order, a debate concerning the
Mass, Fasting, "The Order of Excommunication and Public
Repentance," indices of names, places and the general index,
etc. 755 pages.