Reformed Anglicans

Some theological hints emerge in 1536 and 1537, but Dr. Cranmer is swimming with a lot of sharks in the water too. The size of the "ecclesiastical machinery," which is sizeable, cannot be understated. By 1536-1537, Dr. Cranmer's reputation as an "heretic" had gone far north to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, as well as Essex, Suffolk and Kent in the south. But, by whom and how? (Christ Church, Canterbury, amongst the monks is one hotbed in Canterbury.) The chattering-communications-networks?

Who likes and supports Laud? Wonder how he would have fared with modern polling data? There's a lot of smoke. Now, where's the fire and how big is it? Half, if not more, of what Will is doing is political and imperiously so. Who were his friends? Arminians and Jesuits? The jury is hearing the evidence.

One juror inclines to Prof. Ridley's assertion that Dr. Cranmer knew Anne Boleyn was innocent, but proceeded, under Henry's regime, to "nullify" the marriage to Anne and to "bastardize" Elizabeth. Perhaps cases of "sociopathy" are on offer, e.g. Henry and Crumwell? Dr. Cranmer, the ever-loyal Tudor Churchman and Prince, does his duty. We're still getting nothing on Dr. Cranmer's theology or historical theology. Inquiring minds are asking.

Again, problems are noted in this historian's handling of the Canon, in what appears to be a common trope amongst some historians. ??. The close and tight logical analysis continues. We're at periscope depth and rigged for ultra quiet. "Bring 'er around to a 005 degree angle on the beam."

CDR Tom Cranmer: "Combat Center, I'm closing in on Rome. Do I have permission to drop my payload onto the Vatican?" Combat Center: "Commander Cranmer, fire at will!" Thomas Cranmer continues to assert the infallibility, necessity, sufficiency, authority and perspicuity of the Sacred Canon.

Detour from Prof. Grudem to OT Canon with an article by Dr. Roland K. Harrison of Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. Of serious note, ZERO in Prof. Bruggemann (thus far) in his OTT. We're at periscope depth and watching closely. How does one write an OT Theology and omit the "canon" issue?

Karl Barth and Emil Brunner, the dynamic and noisy duo of the anti-orthodoxy (falsely called the neo-orthodox but were not orthodox), were escorted over the brig following their conviction at trial for theological defamation and theft. Throw the keys aways. Bye, bye fellas. Error always comes in elegant dress and smooth palaver. Barthianism is a soft and academic version of Montanism. Nothing new under the sun. Same error, different name and different centruy. Prof. Allison is an able prosecutor. He got a conviction today.

Not fully pleased with his remarks on the canon. Far, far too concessionary to more modern and standard narratives. God is the Canon and His apostles the Vox Dei et Verbum Dei ad populam.

Hazmat suits required. Laud is a "precisionist" on matters that don't matter. On matters that matter, he's theologically wrong. Aside from liturgical impositions ("my way or the highway" Laud on marriage rings, crossing in baptism, eastward table and clothes...again and again and again from these types), Laud's Arminianism directs itself against justification by faith alone. Preach just works, fellas, he orders the SEC Bishops. As a result of the Arminianism, the sacraments are affected, e.g. Ubiquitiarianism and baptismal regeneration. This is anti-Cranmerian. "Authority," another issue, is the subtext to the English-Scottish divide. Laud was going north to set the Scots aright. Where's James Ussher when ya' need an ABC like that? Also, Laud uses "preferments" and "better bishoprics" for leveraging, used then, used now. Laud will tell the Scottish Kirke how it will be. The results are predictable. Laud's...

τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων = suppressing, imprisoning, holding down, proactively repressing the truth in unrighteousness (Rom.1.18). The thumbnail picture is not an exaggeration. This interior, psychiatric, psychological, intellectual, volitional and moral force "suppresses" God's revelation. The sinfulness of the sinful instinct is to obscure, hide and minimize God's speech in natural revelation. Results? Idols of all kinds.

Q. 33. What is justification? A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Q. 34. What is adoption? A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of, the sons of God. Q. 35. What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification? A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to t...

τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν = And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mt.1.21) Can still hear Bishop Theophilus Herter, ThD, smilingly, joyfully and with emphasis, waxing long on the reflexive pronoun in αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει. To wit and accurately, "He Himself will save..." The English misses the reflexive pronoun entirely. Even Calvin didn't note it, but old Bishop Herter was at his finest on the reflexive pronoun, to wit, "Jesus Himself, Jesus alone, Jesus and no other" shall save His people. And offwards the goodly Bishop would lecture (more than once) on the finality, firmness, certainty and definitude of Christ's salvation, "accomplished and applied." B.B. Warfield would have smiled at the Bishop's joys and exegesis. Dr. Cranmer would have too. Oh, a great memory of a goodly scholar--hum...

It will be a great, great pleasure to finish this volume on the Anti-Trinitarian efforts of these Arminian, Anglican clerics like George Bull and others (mistakenly called the "holy living" crowd). As for the proper nomenclature, they are "proud" and "self-righteous" men, to a man denying that Romans 7 applies to a justified saint. Bishop Barlow of Lincoln was, to his credit, calling these men to account as Papists and Socinians. Crypto-Papists with elegant words, nice robes, nice BCPs and more--but deniers of gratuitious justification. Bishop Allison perpetuates the myth by calling them the "holy living" divines repeatedly, yet failing to notice how their doctrines are Anti-Christian sub-textually, even deceptively so. He can't and doesn't go that far. Other disciplines more widely are not evident here. The end of this book can't come fast enough. Once done, it shall never be reread. We understand the ACNA-catechism is soft on...

A torrent of words which is not much more than that. A torrent of winds that pass over and are not useful or memorable. No signs of other disciplines informing his OT work. Not recommended. Totally un-useful for Pastors. UCC-noise. Little-to-no exegesis, just "enthusiasms." Review based on reading 10% of the volume. If this doesn't pick up or get "new rudders' orders," the preliminary review shall stand.

Prof. Hunter continues his exposition of the cultural chasm between classical forces in Romanism, Protestantism, and Jewry and the religiously hostile, pagan, retrogressivists inside the same orientations...as well as those, who honestly ditch organized faith orientations, but share the same pagan hostilities as the retrogressivsts in the churches. As usual, "renaming" and "proper branding" by yours truly is presented to "get the facts right." Progressives are not progressive (e.g. pro-baby killing, defamation, etc.). Secularists are not secular but are foundationally "religious" to the core, "suppressing the truth in unrighteousness and creating their own alleged truth claims" (Rom.1.18). Good naming identifies the errorists who come in elegant clothes and sophisticated speech to deceive the wary, the weary, the naive, the non-reader, the unsophicated, the uncatecethized and non-theologian. A decent exposition by Prof. Hunter that s...

The F-18 aerial runs with ordnance-on-target with precision-guided bombs is laid down by Dr. Thomas Cranmer. To wit, Dr. Cranmer, an ace pilot, is advocating Sola Scriptura and putting rounds on those who add and subtract, or, attack and derogate, or blaspheme against God's Canon. Yes, blaspheme the Canon and canon. Dr. Cranmer is an ace pilot too. Send the memo to all Bishops and clergy worldwide. Up the game, fellas! Otherwise, Dr. Cranmer will commence aerial runs over targets with his precision-guided bombs! Thank you, Dr. Cranmer.

Review of the modern period of the assault on the Canon (God) and His canon: Deists like Herbert of Chertbury and Matthew Tindale as well as Schleiermacher and Bushnell. The Deists exalted themselves like the later experientialists. Efforts to "tame" divine inspiration making it equivalent to human experience were made. Essentially, "Marcionism-and-Montanism Revisited" but with different names and a different historical period. Dr. Gregg Allison has done good work here. A Trinitarian heresy. Blasphemy of the Trinity. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Protestant liberalism = foundationally, blasphemous.

A discussion of Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Polycarp, Irenaeus and Tertullain re: the revered, accepted, cherished, canonical NT books--long cherished throughout the old imperial church, with a few pockets questioning James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John and Jude. Hebrews and Revelation had wide reverence too, although a few pockets had questions. The cherished canon had been revered and long-accepted since the writings were issued. Prof. Harrison is not forceful enough for this scribe.

A fair presentation of the aims and results of the Diet of Augsburg, the Protest of Speyer, the Marburg Colloquy with its stalement, the impertinence and rudeness of Luther and Melancthon, the verbosity of Martin Bucer, the Eucharistic views of Zwingli and Zwingli's death at Cappel, 1531. The story will shift to Oecolampadius and Henrich Bullinger in Switzerland, the latter becoming most highly revered in English Reformed circles.

Snakes--coloration, camouflage, eyes, noses, teeth and more. No wonder they are often used to describe "infiltators" with hidden agendas. Snakes do what God created them to do. Infiltrators do what they do by nature too...let's just say, "τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων."

The beautiful context is established for Dr. Cranmer's reforms. One can see his work since the late 1530s but also into the 1540s, despite oppositional forces at work in the hierarchy and varied other places. An excellent digest of developments. That Dr. Cranmer even survived the Prebendaries' Plot, a murderous, complex conspiracy, 1540-1543, from Canterbury to London to OXBRIDGE to Winchester..that he survived this conspiracy is stilling amazing. Numerous forces had come together--with malice aforethought and murderous designs on Dr. Cranmer. A known man! A Reformer with a big target on his back. Henry plucked his Archbishop from the fires, providentially. Something akin to Daniel in the lion's den or the Esther-Mordedai story of the 5th century BC. Amazing. And we still have Dr. Cranmer's BCP to this day! Conserving the theological thoughts of "master minds" through the centuries.

What of the Conquest by Joshua? Lawful homocides, that is, the killing of human beings by other human beings under divine orders. The modern cannot conceive of God as a "life-giver-and-life-taker." They only think of His Majesty as a "life-giver." What was Dr. Cranmer's relationship to the back-channel game (and it certainly was that, perhaps for several months) to kill Anne Boleyn? Was Tom a principal? Was this a lawful homocide? What were the roles of Chapuys (our reliable Spanish ambassador and truth-teller), Charles V, (the ever-malignant and malicious) Reginald Pole, (lusty) Henry VIII and (the ultimate gamer) Thomas Cromwell? Was Anne just a sacrificial lamb for other ends, e.g. pacify Charles V and ensuring geo-political balances while satisfying Henry's uncontrolled emotions and lusts? The musings continue apace. God doesn't ask questions, debate common law or examine witnesses, but has every known motive in every player's heart in mind--a...

What role did Laud play in the Civil War? Willy seemed to annoy half the nation of England? The grand jury has heard the evidence in the Commons and Lords. Now, for the trial. Still reading the bill of indictments.

τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων = arrest, detain, enchain, suppress, and imprison divine revelation--possessing and illegally holding down the divine revelation--a psychiatrically dynamic instinct of repression, subversion, irreverence and giddy indifference. Such is the unregenerate, godless, and irreverent person in the First Adam. An arresting participle!

Was not quite expecting the "joy and power" of the Gospel to this effect in Leviticus. Was expecting more of the liturgical details about the offerings (and that is meeting expectations), but the "joy of the Gospel?" Why, of course, Mr. Veitch. It's the Gospel old boy. What a joy! What access to the eternal God! What peace of conscience! Romans 5.1-2: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." A simple point above, but a good one. The Gospel of Atonement and redemption in Leviticus. Meanwhile, we're reading of the dead-beat "holy living crowd" (Taylor, Laud, Forbes, Cosin, Montagu and others) of the 17th century. They were a joyless and precisionist crowd, talking about rituals rather than the joys of an everlastingly abiding, eternally efficaceous redemption, accomplished and...

Regnal Psalms of God's infinite majesty are expressed in Psalms 95-97. Solomon lectured on monogamy. When did he come to that view in light of his own manifold corruptions and lusts with 1000 foreign wives? (Biblical characters, at times, make huge mistakes and Solomon's polyamory is one of them. Yet, he speaks of rejoicing with the "wife of your youth"). Paul is pressing onwards to Jerusalem. Of note, Luke is with him. Historical research for St. Luke's Gospel? He was an historian after all. A theological historian and historical theologian. Aside from St. Paul, what historical work is the physician doing? Acts 21 has the "we" passages.

The awful subject of Laud, the Arminians, the liturgical precisionists seeking to trouble the Church (Laud, Montague, Cosin and and a host of other disturbers known as the "Durham House" sect), and other proto-anarchists will contribute seriously to theological disasters in later decades. The criminal laws of libel and defamation are needed to aid in the analysis of these infiltrating Arminians and troublers of God's Church. We're continuing to read the trial transcript of Laud's indictment and conviction by the Parliament.

That goodly lil' WSC and Rev. Watson never grow old. A catechism for the children and the old folks too. Ever-solid.

More confusions from the crypto-Romanist George Bull. Bishop Fitzsimons Allison, while doing a thorough job, is not successfully disentangling Bull from Tridentism, what Bishop Hall called "accursed Tridentism."

Prof. Hunter discussed the religious changes of the 20th century including the weakening of denominational loyalties, intra-denominational conflicts in all faith groups, and the proliferation of para-church-special-agenda groups within and without the church. A provocative and thought-invoking piece of work by Prof. Hunter.

These three Psalms are golden. The rabbis thought Psalm 91-100 were written by Moses. Moses was a song-writer. Music is a gateway to theological training, learning and as an expression of God's "most worthy praise." Proverbs enjoins pursuit of knowledge and wisdom--no anti-intellectualism there. Further, there is the "doctrine of avoidance," to wit, steering clear of unwise and unlearned people. Acts gives St. Paul's final message to the Ephesian elders at Miletus. Paul preached the "whole counsel of God," to wit, the Trinity and redemption from the OT. The WSC discusses the Lord's Supper and the Lord's Prayer. The WSC never grows old.

Thomas Cranmer's letter to Henry on 3 May 1536 regarding Anne Boleyn was parsed. Further exegetical work is required on that letter. More context is needed. There is an oleaginous quality and sycophancy in Tom (again). What options did he have? But, it's thick. What did the poor girl do? Flirtations? Adultery? Incest, as alleged? Did she cross Cromwell on the monastery-issue (fact)? This game will go down fast. Off to the Tower! Off with her head and Jane Seymour will be the new Queen within 30 days or so. Gerry-rigged, front-end to back-end. Just like the Dunstable Judgment axing Catherine of Aragon off has Henry's wife. That was a 30-day gig too. This letter is some courtly tap-dancing by Tom. What does he know? What does he really believe? Just when it couldn't have gotten worse, it does. We soldier on! Tom, a "nullifcation-machine" for Henry? Prof. Ridley is giving "zero information"--no information--on Dr. Cranmer's theology and developm...

Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian and Cyprian were reviewed with the characterizations offered by Prof. Cairns. Allusions to Jerome and Augustine were to be had. A rework and reread of the primary documents is ordered up, God willing.

Psalms attendant to national disasters. Assyrian or Babylonian invasions? Clear references to canonical authorities predating the Psalms, to wit, the Pentateuch. Paul gets "jammed up" in Ephesus with a crowd deploring the desertion of Dianna-worship and trade guilds fearing the loss of income. Paul's fame is noted beyond Ephesus as well, "throughout Asia." Word travels fast. We suspect the same dynamics are at work well into the period of the murderers--Emperor Trajan and Governor Pliny with the murders of Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna and others. The WSC involved the ten commandments, cited and explained.