Knox. What ye may do by force, I dispute not; but what ye may and ought to do by God's express commandment, that I can tell. Idolatry ought not only to be suppressed, but the idolater ought to die the death, unless we will accuse God.
Lethington. I know that the idolater is commanded to die the death; but by whom?
Knox. By the people of God. The commandment was given to Israel, as ye may read, "Hear, Israel, says the Lord, the statutes and the ordinances of the Lord thy God," etc. Yea, a commandment was given, that, if it be heard that idolatry is committed in any one city, inquisition shall be taken; and, if it be found true, the whole body of the people shall then arise and destroy that city, sparing in it neither man, woman, nor child.
Lethington. But there is no commandment given to the people to punish their king if he be an idolater.
Knox. I find no privilege to offend God's Majesty granted to kings, by God, more than to the people.
Lethington. I grant that; but yet the people may not be judges to their king to punish him, albeit he be an idolater.
Knox. God is the Universal Judge, as well of the king as of the people. What His Word commands to be punished in the one, is not to be absolved in the other.
Lethington. We agree in that; but the people may not execute God's judgment. They must leave it to Himself. He will either punish it by death, by war, by imprisonment, or by some other plagues.
Knox. I know the last part of your reason to be true; but for the first, that the people, yea, or a part of the people, may not execute God's judgments against their king, he being an offender, I am assured ye have no other warrant except your own imagination, and the opinion of such as have more fear to offend princes than God.
Lethington. Why say ye so? I have the judgments of the most famous men within Europe, and of such as ye yourself will confess both godly and learned.