Reformed Anglicans

THE MUSHY-MISHMASH-OF-MUDDLING-MIXING ANGLICANS WITH THE STUDIED AMBIGUITY OF THE TEN ARTICLES OF 1536. PLEASING NONE AND IRRITATING ALL. Paging Tom Cranmer: "Where are ya' old boy?" After the quickie-beheading of Anne and Henry’s quickie marriage to Jane with her coronation, the Ten Article of 1536 are crafted.  Henry wrote a long introduction to them. It was a “theology by committee” effort after discussions between the English (Foxe, Heath, Barnes) and German theologians in spring 1536. Some of the Wittenberg Articles and Augsburg Confession was channeled in this mish-mash-of-muddling. Notably, justification by Christ’s merits alone was smuggled in and was an advance. Three sacraments was an advance with Anglo-Romanist bishops being unhappy about the loss of the other four. Also, Tom and this crew was still hustling Ubiquitarianism. Invocation of saints and their heavenly prayers are still on the books. Of note, “theology by committee” was the venue for changes with no...

Tom hears Anne’s on 10 May. 17 May, Tom declares a nullity of the marriage—how convenient. This, like other instances, was a unmitigable “stain” on Cranmer’s reputation. Rather than labor to advance the truth between men, he served as a Royal lapdog and bootlicker. On 19 May, Anne loses her head. Tom’s real feelings emerge in an early morning discussion at Lambeth Palace with his client, Alesius. With true tears (covering his evident cowardice), he claimed, “She has been a Queen of England on earth will today become a Queen of heaven” (159). Tom cannot be excused here for his failure. Meanwhile, Cromwell is strengthening his Machiavellian grip on power and Henry, ever-seeking a male heir and some marital sex, marries Jane Seymour on 30 May. This was a 6-week operation with the climax of a May-beheading and a May-remarriage. MacCulloch tells us that Convocation open on 9 Jun 1536, a day after Parliament convened. Allegedly, on MacCulloch’s retelling, Latimer attacked clerical immorali...

Cranmer preached in Lenten sermons, 3-31 Mar 15, in Parliament: (1) as propaganda, shutting monasteries will redound to the people’s benefit, (2) chantry priests would be gone, (3) papal deception, (4) purgatory monies for masses for the dead. Also, theological trouble-shooters of Cranmer, Latimer and Shaxton were interviewers troubles: Dr. Robert Crouker, a traditionalist, and John Lambert, a Bible man opposing prayer to saints, etc. Also, in Feb-Mar 1536, preliminary, doctrinal discussions were afoot on “articles” and worship changes. Bishop Foxe was in consultations with Lutheran princes in parallel with the “domestic doctrine-making” and tinkering (153). Collapse of Anne Boleyn. Cromwell takes the pre-emptive strike emerge from March forwards, but visibly in Apr 1536. Alleged issue: money conflict of monies in the monastery closure, Anne believing such should go to education and the poor. Cromwell appears to effect his Machiavellian strike—right or wrong be damned with victory at...

From Anne Boleyn to Thomas Cromwell: 1535-1537. 1535 was a big year. Fisher and More were executed to the horror of watchers and royalty on the Continent. Royal Supremacy was the theme. In Aug 1535, Melanchthon  dedicated his Loci Communes to Tudor 8—a justifiable inference, Cranmer had a copy or had surveyed it. A lengthy summer progress by Tudor 8 and Anne involved Cranmer in travels, assessments and more preaching. Cromwell was visiting monasteries for his future putsch again the Anglo-Papal hegemony. A large episcopal body gathered in Winchester, including Cranmer while Gardiner would earn an honorable exile to France for three years, removing his influence at Court.   UPSHOT: (1) Bloom where planted. (2) Like Daniel, live intelligently as a believer in an alien land. without compromising convictions. (3) Given all this chaos in England and forces threatening any Reformation, one is amazed at divine providence. A Reformation out of this hot mess? (4) If in the desert ...

Johnson, Margot (ed.). Cranmer: Essays in Commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of his Birth. Durham: Turnstone Ventures, 1990. A modest effort and description of liturgies for marriage, the sick and the departed is offered looking at the 1549, 1662 and the newer versions. Not recommended.

1.      CHAPTER V: THE KING S INSTRUMENTS, pp.42-51. Cranmer at Cambridge is discovered. He is employed by Henry to write-up his results while in the Boleyn home. Cranmer advises securing university opinions, thus, reducing papal jurisdiction and authority to the level of “expert opinions.” Henry buys in—“Cranmer has the right sow by the ear.” The King and the Cambridge scholar get on well, the King seeing Cranmer’s talents and Cranmer with his gentle pliability. After Wolsey’s fall in Oct 1529, Thomas Cromwell comes to view as a loyalist to Wolsey, a factor Henry’s appreciates. Cromwell was a runagate and mercenary while in Italy. It’s hard to imagine Cromwell not getting a full taste of the corruption of Papacy—with Borgias, Sforza and Medicis flitting around the throne and courts of power. Did Cromwell read Machiavelli’s “The Prince.” Cromwell soon comes into Henry’s orbit—loyal, courageous, perhaps devious, and, we would add, in time, an earnest Protestant. Dr. C...

A.    The Homily on Salvation, 31f. See the footnote for the text. [i] Justification by faith alone was a settled article for Dr. Cranmer in 1547. To teach anything else was a program of vanity and vaingloriousness. One may apply "vanity” and “vaingloriousness” to the Tridentine formulations and every single Pope by inference . A few highlights: “therefore can not man by his own acts, works, and deeds, seem they never so good, be justified and made righteous before God…another righteousness or justification” [DPV, must be sought]…which we received by God’s mercies and Christ’s merits…the most precious body and blood of his own must dear and beloved Son Jesus Christ…fulfilled the law for us perfectly…the justice of God and his mercy did embrace together and fulfilled the mystery of our redemption…three things must go together in our justification…upon God’s part, his great mercy and grace; upon Christ’s part, justice, that is, the satisfaction of God’s justice, or the price o...