n Huss, by Luther, Zwingle, and
those who united with them--was the infallible authority of the Holy
Scriptures as a rule of faith and practice. They denied the right of
popes, councils, Fathers, and kings, to control the conscience in matters
of religion. The Bible was their authority, and by its teaching they
tested all doctrines and all claims. Faith in God and His word sustained
these holy men as they yielded up their lives at the stake. "Be of good
comfort," exclaimed Latimer to his fellow-martyr as the flames were about
to silence their voices, "we shall this day light such a candle, by God's
grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."(367)

In Scotland the seeds of truth scattered by Columba and his co-laborers
had never been wholly destroyed. For hundreds of years after the churches
of England submitted to Rome, those of Scotland maintained their freedom.
In the twelfth century, however, popery became established here, and in no
country did it exercise a more absolute sway. Nowhere was the darkness
deeper. Still there came rays of light to pierce the gloom, and give
promise of the coming day. The Lollards, coming from England with the
Bible and the teachings of Wycliffe, did much to preserve the knowledge of
the gospel, and every century had its witnesses and martyrs.

With the opening of the Great Reformation came the writings of Luther, and
then Tyndale's English New Testament. Unnoticed by the hierarchy, these
messengers silently traversed the mountains and valleys, kindling into new
life the torch of truth so nearly extinguished in Scotland, and undoing
the work which Rome for four centuries of oppression had done.

Then the blood of martyrs gave fresh impetus to the movement. The papist
leaders, suddenly awakening to the danger that threatened their cause,
brought to the stake some of the noblest and most honored of the sons of
Scotland. They did but erect a pulpit, from which the words of these dying
witnesses were heard throughout the land, thrilling the souls of the
people with an undying purpose to cast off the shackles of Rome.

Hamilton and Wishart, princely in character as in birth, with a long line
of humbler disciples, yielded up their lives at the stake. But from the
burning pile of Wishart there came one whom the flames were not to
silence, one who under God was to strike the death-knell of popery in
Scotland.

John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the
chu