ran,[96] he tawght the commandimentis of God onlye, ever
beatting in the earis of his auditouris, That the law of God had of many
yearis not bein trewlie tawght; for menis traditionis had obscured the
puritie of it. These war his accustomed propositionis: First, Christ
Jesus is the end and perfectioun of the law. 2. Thair is no syne quhair
Goddis law is not violated. 3. To satisfie for syne lyes not in manis
power, but the remissioun thairof cumis by unfeaned reapentance, and by
faith apprehending God the Father mercifull in Christ Jesus, his sone.
Whill often tymes he puttis his auditouris in mynd of thir and the lyik
headis, and maikis no mentioun of purgatorye, pardones, pilgramage,
prayer to sanctes, nor such trifillis, the dum Doctouris, and the rest
of that forsworne rable, begane to suspect him; and yitt said thei
nothing publictlie, till Lentrain[97] was ended, and he passed to
Dundie. And then, in his absence, ane hired for that purpose openlie
damned the hole doctrin[98] that befoir he had tawght. Which cuming to
the earis of the said Frear Alexander, then being in Dundye, without
delay he returned to Sanctandrose, caused immediatlie to jow the bell,
and to give significatioun that he wald preach; as that he did in deid.
In the which sermon he affirmed, (and that more plainlie then at any
uther tyme,) whatsoever in all his hole sermones hie had tawght befoir
the haill Lentrantyde preceding;[99] adding, that within Scotland thair
was no trew Bischoppe, yf that Bischoppes should be knawin by such notes
and vertewis, as Sanct Paule requyres in Bischoppis. This delatioun flew
with wyngis to the Bischoppis earis, who, butt farther delay, send for
the said Frear Alexander, who began greveouslie to complayne, and
sharplye to accuse, that he had so sclanderouslie spokin of the dignitie
of the Bischoppes, as to say, "That it behoved a Bischope to be a
preachear, or ellis he was but a dume dogg, and fed not the flock, but
fed his awin bellye." The man being witty, and mynded of that which was
his most assured defence, said, "My Lord, the reaportaris of such
thingis ar manifest lyearis." Whareat the Bischope[100] rejosed, and
said, "Your ansour pleasses me weall: I never could think of yow, that
ye wold be so foolische as to affirme such thingis. Whare ar thei
knaiffis that have brought me this tale?" Who compearing, and affirmyng
the same that thei did befoir, hie still replyed, That thei ware
leyaris. But whill the witne