Monday took us to the little city of Stirling. There, the Church of the Holy Rude stood near the castle. Here the great John Knox also thundered his reforming sermons, calling the pure church to stand against the false doctrines of catholicism. Here, he preached at King James VI inauguration, or King James I as he was later crowned in England. In this church James Guthrie gave his life, so angering the powers of the land that his head would be displayed for 28 years for all to remember his outcry against idolatry. While meant to threaten others , it was martyrs such as this who continued to fan the Scottish Reformation. Reading a book on John Knox by Lloyd-Jones, he states "you simply cannot understand the history of Scotland unless you know something about the Protestant Reformation."
Also in Stirling is the William Wallace monument and the old bridge (redone in the 1800s) where the battle for Scotland took place. Every where you turn is history! His story.... And fun to share with good friends as we continue to proclaim the "evangel of Jesus Christ" today, as it seems forgotten amongst these peoples.
Of course, there is a castle in every city - Stirling with some of the most interesting of tales with their young widowed Queen, Mary of Scots. Death, adultery, murder, fornication - John Knox death with issues not very different from our churches today.... except he spoke against the Queen herself.
More to come....
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