Reformed Anglicans

1.      LUTHER’S OUT. ROME’S IN. The Diet begins closing down in late May with an epidemic and deaths with Charles remaining in his quarters. Aleander obtains the signatures of all with a back-dating of the document to 8 May 1521. “It tells the story of Luther's heresies, narrates what had taken place at Worms, vaunts the justice of the Emperor, the clemency of the Pope, paints with a broad brush the wickedness of the criminal on whom it is about to pass sentence. It places Luther and his adherents out of the pale of the law; condemns his books to the flames; and subjects all printing to the control of the bishops” (455). The Reformation was not stayed for a moment. Variously, Luther preaches as he heads home. He writes letter with the same themes offered at the Diet. On May 4, he is interdicted near Eisenach in a secret operation run by the Elector who has a close-hold on the project. “They put Luther on horseback, and by devious ways brought him to the "Wartburg, a...

THE HEAT’S ON. CHARLE’S RESULTS. Charles brags of his descent from Emperors, Kings of Spain, Archdukes of Austria, and Dukes of Burgandy (failing to mention his relationship to the first and second Adam) and that he’d uphold their decisions including Constanz and other councils. Luther, the mere “son of a peasant,” was resisting 1000 years of Christendom. Dr. Charles decrees (French, German): “And as we have before said, it is our will that he should be proceeded against as a true and evident heretic. Admonishing you that in this thing you should give your opinions as good Christians, and as you have promised. Given under my own hand” (442). Why they ever let Luther go from Worms is amazing, given Dr. Charles’s and the Pope’s decrees? Charle’s document was rapturously reported to Rome and translated into Latin, Italian, German, Spanish, French and Flemish and published throughout Christendom. Luther versus Emperor, Councilors, Electors, Princes and the Diet. A “maimed” affair in terms ...

THE HEAT’S ON. Luther’s cavalcade arrives in Worms with Luther in a horse-drawn carriage and knightly escorts. News spreads fast and crowds of supporters applaud. Aleander is the grand marshal and writes the agenda to be pitched by Eck (a different Eck than the Leipzig debate). The audience was set for 4 PM. Two leading questions: are these your books and do you recant? We might add that Charles V was a young and uneducated layman—he will run with the Pope’s boys. The Electors are gathered including other prelates, princes, delegates of free cities and noblemen—Electors of Mainz, Koln, Trier, Saxon, Pfalz, Brandenburg, all representing the varying shades and colors of German and ecclesiastical opinions. Luther’s counsel asked, “What’s the list of books under review?” After owning authorship to the books, Luther seems to have equivocated and skirted around the second question, fearing he would injure the faith, true, believing souls and giving sanction to error and tyranny. The reaction...

1.      ON TO WORMS. Beard chronicles the journey from Wittenberg to Worms, starting and ending 2 Apr and 16 Apr, respectively. Will he get safe conduct or the Hus-treatment? That’s fresh on the minds of the church historians. There was a “gravamina,” a long-known and standard list of abuses going back to the Council of Constanz, an annual event of complaining, that most agreed needed to be addressed, but Luther was beyond that. He was special. Charles V’s summons was dated 6 Mar but was dispatched 16 Mar. Beard stresses that since ceremonious burning the Bull of Excommunication at Wittenberg, 10 Dec 1520, until his departure from Wittenberg, Luther had engaged in ceaseless literary activity. A creature of academic and ecclesiastical routine and duties. Also, Luther preached variously as he travelled to Worms. The “chatterbox,” Martin Bucer, is in the vicinity. Amidst the wide intrigues, Spalatin advises Luther to end the mission upon intel. Luther’s answer: “Though ...

1.      “But they [Papists, including the legates Aleander and Caracciola] bear abundant witness to the contemptuous hatred, not unmingled with fear, with which Luther was regarded by the leading Papalists; he has no better names for him than `ribald,’ ‘thief,’ ‘assassin,’ ‘monster,’ ‘Alius,’ ‘Mahomet,’ and the like” (415). Yet, in Germany, things are afoul: “`At present,’ he writes on the 8th of February, `all Germany is in commotion: nine out of every ten cry `Luther,’ and the tenth, if he do not care for what Luther says, at least cries, `Death to the Court of Rome!’ and every one demands and shrieks `Council! Council!’ and will have it in Germany” (416). Aleander was instructed to demand the burning of Luther’s books and that Luther should be remanded to Rome. Meanwhile, things were being watched from Wittenberg. Italian politics was “ever-eddying” (417). Luther had burned the Pope’s bull on 10 Dec 1520. Should Luther go? His response to Spalatin on 21 Dec 1521: ...

The Diet of Worms, 406-415. THE DIET WAS A BIG, BIG DEAL, NOT JUST THEOLOGICALLY., ALTHOUGH IT WAS THAT TOO. Beard spends a significant amount of time on the political situation leading up to, shaping and informing the Diet of Worms in 1521. It was the first Diet for Charles V. The Reichsregiment was a Supreme Court to adjudicate (and regionalize) judicial power from lower tribune. Charles wanted money for an escort to Rome for enthronement but Germans were unwilling to cough it up. Spain had internal turmoils with requests for Charles V to return. Francis 1, a competitor for the Empire, was Charles V’s peril, each arguing that they were the just heirs of the preponderance of Europe. Charles V added Austria, Burgundy, other kingdoms in Spain and also Naples. Diplomatic intrigues festered with varied Papal interventions through Alexander VI, Julian 2, Adrian and Leo’s times. Charles V had no time for doctrinal or disciplinary reforms being young and unread as a youth and he had no time ...

Context of 1547-1550. The “history of the doings and attempts of Stephen Gardiner.” Several letters are offered. The first two letters are dated: one is undated and the second is in May 1547 concerning the destruction of images in Portsmouth. One can see how slippery he is—undercutting Edward’s authority and in line with Mary’s same arguments. He also is sycophantic to the Protector. He’s crafty, that’s for sure. 24-27.

1533-context. The story of Thomas Benet is further retailed, including interrogations by two friars. The writ of comburendo goes out 15 Jan 1531 from London to the Sheriff of Exeter (one’s maternal ancestral city). He is further accosted by some English Romanists at his burning, although others believe he’s a genuine Christian. He refuses to pray Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Rather, he confesses and prays to his only Advocate and Mediator, clearly and oppositionally to the Romanists. Known to God, but unknown otherwise.

The history of the Turks continues with Orchan, Mahomet (died 1419?), and Amurath, the sixth, seventh, and eighth Mahometan Emperors (30-34). Greece, Thracia, Croatia, Asia and southern Europe are troubled and beseiged. The Turks set up their seats at Adrianople. Whomever and wherever the Turks conquered, people were instructed in Turkish religion, law and customs—hostile take-overs. Belgrade, Hungary is seiged for a while. Johanne Hunniades arises as a Christian warrior who stops the lusty Turks.

[1] Creation in the Reformation and Post-Reformation Period   Luther: “We assert that Moses spoke in the literal sense, not allegorically or figuratively—i.e., that the world, with all its creatures, was created within six day, as the words read” ( Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 1-5, in LW, 1:3).   Luther: “The Father creates heaven and earth out of nothing through the Son, whom Moses calls the Word. Over these the Holy Spirit broods. As a hen broods her eggs, keeping them warm in order to hatch her chicks, and, as it were, to bring them to life through heat, so Scripture says which the Holy Spirit brooded, as it were, on the waters to bring to life those substances that were to be quickened and adorned. For it is the office of the Holy Spirit to make alive” ( Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 1-5 , in LW, 1:9).   Luther on the Nicene Creed’s Affirmation of Divine Creation: “What is the force of this, or what do you mean by these words: I believe in God, the Fa...

1.      Creation, 254-276. The historic view—God created everything out of nothing, ex nihilo, in 6 literal, 24-hour days. Views: naturalistic evolution, theistic evolution, old earth creationism, young earth creationism and fully gifted creationism. The views of the early church are as per the index. [i] Shepherd of Hermas, Origen, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Minucius, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, Tertullian, Lanctantius, Basil the Great, and Ampilochius affirm the historic view. Augustine adopts a view of “progressive knowledge of divine creation by God’s angel creature, but it did not refer to actual days of creation,” a more allegorical approach that tried to fit in the time of the creation of the angels” (259). Aquinas and Anselm reiterated the standard history (cf. Aquinas’s Summa Theologica , pt.1, q.45, art.6; Anselm’s Monologion, 7, in Anselm, 18-20). In the Reformation and Post-Reformation periods, Luther, Calvin, Turretin, James Ussh...

Bishops confront Pelosi: 'You facilitate... the murder of millions' : As U.S. Catholic bishops consider forbidding actively pro-abortion politicians from receiving Communion, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has spoken out saying that she can “use [her] own judgment” when determining whether or not she should participate in Communion. But the bishops are firing back. “I think I can use my own judgment on that,” Pelosi told …

Divine Creation in the Early Church   Shepherd of Hermas : “The God of hosts…by his invisible and mighty power and by his great wisdom created the world, and by his glorious purpose clothed his creatin with beauty, and by his mighty word fixed the haven and set the earth’s foundation upon the water.” ANF, 2;20.   Tatian: “Matter is not, like God, without beginning, nor, as having no beginning, is of equal power with God; rather, it is begotten, and not produced by any other being, but brought into existence by the Framer of all things alone.” Address to the Greeks , 5, ANF , 2:67.   Theophilus of Antioch ( Θεόφιλος ὁ Ἀ ντιοχεύς ) : “If God is uncreated and matter is uncreated, God is no longer, according to the Platonists’ own thinking, the Creator of all things, nor, so far as their opinions hold, is the monarchy [the idea of God as the one and only first principle] established. And what great thing it is if God made the world out of existing materials? ...

Day 21.    Morning Prayer. Psalm 105 .  Confitemini Domino GIVE  thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his Name : tell the people what things he hath done. 2. O let your songs be of him, and praise him : and let your talking be of all his wondrous works. 3. Rejoice in his holy Name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 4. Seek the Lord and his strength : seek his face evermore. 5. Remember the marvellous works that he hath done : his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth. 6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant : ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7. He is the Lord our God : his judgements are in all the world. 8. He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise : that he made to a thousand generations; 9. Even the covenant that he made with Abraham : and the oath that he sware unto Isaac; 10. And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law : and to Israel for an everlasting testament; 11. Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan : the lot of your ...

1382. BEHOLD THE APOSTOLIC LOVE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. The Sentence pronounced on John Ashton (32). The sentence of excommunication passed upon Herford and Reppington with the citation against them (34). A private statute made by the clergy without the consent of the Commons with the examination of it by the Fox (36). An Extract from the Petition of the Commons for repealing the aforesaid statute (37). Commons notes they never passed the clerical statute. 1382. The King's Letters-patent to the Archbishop against the favourers of Wickliff. The King's Letter to the Vice-chancellor and Proctors of Oxford (38). And the Papists were so apostolic and loving.

1554—deprivations, resignation and deaths—vacancies in the diocese of London (155). Bye, bye married fellas. In the diocese of Norwich (158). In the diocese of Ely. Parties in the Council (160). Each with variable followers, there was a rivalry of Gardiner and Paget. Change in Gardiner: his violent and imperious demeanor (161). Paget was offended by Gardiner (162). “Gardiner at this period of his career, by all accounts, exhibited a violence of conduct, which in part sprang from his inability to maintain his own former opinions against the Romanensian or papal party With them indeed he now cast in his lot. Foreseeing the return of the Papacy, he showed himself among the first in welcoming it.” (163). Paget on Gardiner: “`I share the opinion,’ he said another time, `that the affairs of the kingdom cannot be remedied without restoring the old religion; but the Lord Chancellor is for carrying the matter through by fire and blood’” (163).  The noblemen were not for extremes. Various p...

1549. Peter Martyr refuses to use the scholastic terms accidents and matter (115). He would only say carnally and/or corporally (115). Hard treatment is given and Smith flees.  There is a disputation on the Eucharatist between Martyr and Tresham, Chedsey, and Morgan before the visitors at Cambridge Both sides claimed the victory. The literary memorials of the contest and their curious history. Bucer and Fagius at Cambridge. Bucer not so advanced as Martyr. Disputation at Cambridge before the Visitors. Ridley's conduct as moderator. Fall of the Scholastic philosophy in England. Profanities appear in the playhouses which are shut down lest the New Learning should be ridiculed. An amazing spectacle of Somerset’s pillages. Building of the former Somerset House. He has his eyes on Westminster Abbey. Other examples of sacrilege. Sales and exchanges of the monastic lands about this time. 

1.      Young Calvin, 93-106. On our view, about 99% of the views of Calvin expressed these days are just plain ignorant. Been reading him since age 18. Calvin was a serious minded, well-adjusted, well-educated scholar, mature when young. A new story: a rumor was heard that Calvin had passed in 1551 and the Cathedral of Noyon had a processional celebration of the death—um, 13 years too soon. A brief discussion of the family ancestry is offered on the Noyon family. Stipendiary benefices supported the young Calvin at the University of Paris as an entrant in 1523 at age 14. Paris was hearing of the Luther-problem and Latin works were there. Francis 1 had a united nation and royal prerogatives with a tame Parlement—bishoprics were handed out by Francis in accord with the Pragmatic Solution—this creates preferment-seekers, then, like now. Calvin was trained with sons of the aristocracy and there were long-lasting connections, contrary to the popular nonsense that Calvin w...

6. Young Calvin, 93-100. On our view, about 99% of the views of Calvin expressed these days are just plain ignorant, stupid and malicious. Been reading him since age 18. Calvin was a serious minded, well-adjusted, well-educated scholar, and mature scholar when young. No tomfoolery and goof-bagging. Studious. A new story: a rumor was heard that Calvin had passed in 1551 and the Cathedral of Noyon had a processional celebration of the death—um, 13 years too soon. A brief discussion of the family ancestry is offered on the Noyon family. Stipendiary benefices supported the young Calvin at the University of Paris as an entrant in 1523 at age 14. Paris was hearing of the Luther-problem and Latin works were there. Francis 1 had a united nation and royal prerogatives with a tame Parlement—bishoprics were handed out by Francis in accord with the Pragmatic Solution—this creates preferment-seekers, then, like now. Calvin was trained with sons of the aristocracy and there were long-lasting connect...

SIX ARTICLES OF 1539. Just before the Six Articles go though, this will be the last and final appearance of Abbots in Parliament (132). Their abodes had been vanquished or recommandeered. Or, “surrendered.” The “Achans” pursued the “Babylonish garments and wedges of gold” (133). Also, the Six Articles are passed (133). Effect of the new Acts on the country and on the King (134). Henry issues a new Proclamation for Uniformity on the strength of the Act of Proclamations. He complains of alleged abuses made of liberty to read the Scriptures (like learning and thinking). Sorry, Henry, the Bible is on the streets. The toothpaste ain’t goin’ back in that tube. Of note, Lambert had been burned the previous year. The first persecution of heretics under the Six Articles was, Dixon alleges, conducted mainly by laymen of Mercers Chapel, self-appointed inquisitors seeking out fellow Londoners. Dixon clearly tries to exculpate bishops and ministers. The laymen showed great activity (136). They coll...

ACT OF SUBMISSION. DISSENTERS. The Clergy offer a personal submission to the King (106). No more Thomas a Beckets. They modify the King’s Articles very considerably, that is, for maneuvering room (107). The famous Submission of the Clergy comes with poor Warham forced to reconstitute the liberty of the Church as a “grant” from the Royal throne (110). Henceforth, no new ecclesiastical laws or canons can be “enacted, promulged, or executed without the King's assent.” Hence, theology and exegesis “by the hermeneutic of King Henry VIII.” Also, a review is ordered by to examine the existing canons. Henry and his own commission of 42 examiners—appointed by Henry—is to proceed. That would be like exegeting Scripture by the “hermeneutic of Obama, Trump, or, horrors, Joe.” Interestingly, the clergy petition the King, Convocation and Parliament for the abolition of the Papal Annates (113). This was attempted at the Council of Basel, 1431, to wit, no more exactions by the Roman Court. But, it...

More back-and-forth between Wily and the ABC. Both are skilled at innuendo and the daggers are out. Wily has levelled his digs and imputations against Dr. Cranmer. Cranmer uses the exact language in this section: a mirror of Wily’s language but hurls back the same terms of craftiness, sleights, obliquities, etc. Here’s Dr. Cranmer’s return volley using Wily's own words against him -- “And for the conclusion of your matter here, I doubt not but the indifferent reader shall easily perceive what spirit moved you to write your book. For seeing that your book is so full of crafts, sleights, shifts, obliquities, and manifest untruths, it may be easily judged, that whatsover pretence be made of truth, yet nothing is less intended, than that truth should either have victory, or appear and be seen at all.” Oh the great love they have for each other. Wily will be an accessory and principal to mass genocide--287 first degree homocides. Jesus teaches that there is an afterlife which this scene...

Chapter 18. The Pagan Reaction: Julian the Apostate—Julian’s religious policy, 193-197. Julian hated his uncle, Constantius, and the Christian faith. At the time of Constantine’s death, most close relatives had been massacred—only three surviving sons lived and two cousins, Gallus and Julian. All had been baptized and raised as Christians. Julian dissed the faith in favor of classical studies and the adoption of ancient mystery religions—he took up studies at Athens. By a convoluted path, he was proclaimed Augustus by his troops while in Gaul. Constantius, the Emperor, died and Julian was the man. He sought to restore the ancient Graeco-Roman religions organizing it into regional archpriests with subordinate pagan priests beneath him, Julian, the Chief High Priest. One may see here the organic growth later expressed by the Romanist hierarch. Julian was an able political ruler and did not authorize official persecutions, although some zealous supporters did engage in persecutions. Julia...