The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-28
From Alexander Campbers Alillennial Harbinger
WHERE THE HIGHER LAW DOCTRINE
COMES FROM.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, AND JOHN KNOX.
Mary next desired to see Knox, and perhaps
hoped to mollify him, apd attach him to her
self. In the interview which she had with him.
she discussed the duties of the Christian and
the subject. She pointed out to him, that, in
his book against female government, he excl
ted nations to rebel against their rulers; and
she advised him to treat with greater charity
those who differed from him in matters of re-
hgious belief eff, madam" said Knox, "to
rebuke idolatry, and to persuade the people to
worship God according to his Word, be to raise
subjects against their princes, cannot stand
excused, for SO have l acted; but, if the true
knowledge of God and his right worship lead
all good subjects las they assuredly do) to obey
the prince from their heart then who can rep
rehend me?" He then protested his willing
ness to live in all contentment under her Maj
esty's Government, SO long as the blood of the
saints was not shed and he maintained that
in religion, subjects were bound to follow, not
the will of their prince, but the commands of
their Creator. "IG," said he, Gall men in the
days of the Apostles should have been com
PEELED to follow the religion of the Roman EN-
perors, where would have been the Christian
faith Z" The Queen, drawing judicous dis
tinction between conscientious dissent and re-
bellious instruction, replied, "But these men
did not resist" "And yet" answered Knox,
"they who obey not the commandment may
virtually be said to resist" "Nay," re;oined
Mary, they did not resist with the sword"
That" said Knox, "was simply because they
had not the power" At this candid and bold
declaration, that power conferred the right of
lnsurrecton, and that weakness was the only
reason for submission to princes Mary Stuart
exclaimed, with establishment, "What do you
maintain that subjects, having power, may re-
sst their princes2" The fanatical reformer.
who considered that the State should be subor-
dinate to religion, did not hesitate to adopt
these consequences of his theory. "Most as
| suredly, madam" he replied, "if princes exceed
their bounds" Then, comparing sovereigns
who, In their blind zeal, would persecute the
children of God, to father who, struck with
madness, should attempt to slay his own chill
dren, whose duty it would be to bind and dis
arm him, Knox continued, "Therefore, to take
| the sword from them, to bind their hands, and
cast them into prison till they be brought to a
more sober mind, ID no disobedience against
princes, but Just obedience, because it agreeth
| with the Word of God" Mary was utterly
amazed. doctrine so subversive of all au-
| thority, which made subjects Judges of the
| obedience which they owed to their rulers, and
which authorized them to revolt at the instiga-
ton Of their spiritual leaders, filled her with
| alarm. She pictured to herself the terrible
future which was reserved for her, a Catholic
Queen, IN the midst of these naughty and insu-
oordlnate Protestants, with their stern and
| fanatlcal ministers. She had no strength to
answer, for she felt reply was useless. She
fell into melancholy silence and Z" stood as
| II were amazed, for more than a quarter of an
| hour"