America in Prophecy by Ellen White [Original Edition]

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
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
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
John Knox had turned away from the traditions and
mysticisms of the church, to feed upon the truths of God’s
word, and the teaching of Wishart had confirmed his
determination to forsake the communion of Rome, and join
himself to the persecuted reformers.
he shrank with trembling from its responsibility, and it was
that he consented. But having once accepted the position, he