Evening Prayer (Part 2)

For Ecclesiology (locus 6), Prof. Berkhof discusses Rome’s view of the sacraments, the Church being the supreme and superior “means of grace.”

ODCC: Anslem (1033-1109): in 1095, he writes his magum opus, Cur Deus Homo, a classic. He attended the Council of Bari (eastern coast of Italy) defending the Filioque clause. He attends the Vatican Council of 1099 learning of the Papal decrees of lay investiture, making him an enemy to the English king, Henry 1. He ends up enforcing clerical celibacy and engaged in the long-standing conflict over primacy—Canterbury or York?

For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (0-100) Prof. Schaff ends his slap-down of the vision theory of the resurrection. Apparently, even F.C. Baur backed down and conceded the reality of the resurrection in his final days of life, a contrast to his earlier diktats as a dogmatist.

For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff introduces Gregory 1 and gives a list of Popes, Anti-Popes, and Kings throughout history.

For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff begins a review of American reviewers of Calvin.

For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch notes that the absentee Rector of Bredon, Dr. Cranmer, served suitably in his trip to Rome. He’s back in England by 23 Oct 1530. He did not alienateds colleagues although there were other tensions between Englishmen, Croke and Stokesley. By Jan 1531, Stokesley has assembled a team of royal partisans to face off against six opponents led by Bishop Fisher. Can anyone smell the party spirit? The King steps up measures to depress and suppress ecclesiastical authorities (including Wily). Leaders were starting to see the underlying theological issues. Dr. Cranmer, the Prof. notes, has his first recorded contacts with Continental reformers. 1531? As for Bredon, the absentee Rector relies on a flock of curates. Throughout 1531, he is at Court (53).

For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff concludes his survey of Romanist liturgical standards from the priests’ breviaries to service manuals and Episcopal manuals. On to the Old Catholics tomorrow, that breed that broke off from Vatican 1.

1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs 261-264 offers an admirable summary of the Trinity.

Westminster Larger Catechism 154:

Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.