Against Romish Rites & Political & Ecclesiastical Tyranny 1 of 2

Formerly titled "A Faithful Admonition to the Professors of God's Truth in England," this letter is said to be "undoubtedly the most important" of Knox's writings (up to that time) by W. Stanford Reid in Trumpeter of God (p. 114). Furthermore Reid notes that Knox's, "[v]iews on the magistrate expressed in the 'Faithful Admonition,' were to have an important influence upon much of his future conduct, and upon the development of the Reformation in both England and Scotland."

The editor of Knox's Works (cf. resource #6 below) states, "[t]he object of the Admonition was twofold. The one was to animate those who had made a good profession to perseverance, and to avoid the sin of apostatizing, or appearing to conform to the 'abominable idolatry' re-established in England; the other, to point out the dangers to be apprehended in when the kingdom became subjected to the dominion of strangers."

Written at a time when the true church had been driven underground by Roman Catholic persecution, it was said concerning this letter that "many other godly men besides have been exposed to the risk of their property, and even life itself, upon the sole ground of either having had this book in their possession, or having read it."

John Knox's Works are available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1 at the Outside Web Link below.