Dr. William Whittaker, Bishop John Jewel, & The Letter to Diognetus

William Whittaker’s “Disputation on Holy Scripture:” Dr. Whittaker “goes there.” To wit, Pope Pius 4 and Trent’s severe, widespread, controlling “black-out” and “cancellation” of God’s Word from the churches, the people, the laity, God’s elect. He “goes there.” This brutality and demonic movement reigned from Trent until the 1960s. Yes, a few scholars could read vernaculars, but 99.9.% of the people were forbidden from it. Jesus said, “Search the Scriptures” and “ye know not the Scriptures nor the power of God,” yet the Pontiff, Lord of Lords, Peter’s successor, bearing both swords, the Sun’s light which enlightens the moon for Monarchs, the controller of purgatory, the treasury of the saints SAYS NO BIBLE IN THE CHURCHES, HOMES, OR GRAMMA’S LAPS WITH CHILDREN. Remember Lollardy and Wycliffe. This BLACKOUT goes back to the late 14th century, or 600 years of church history, or, 33% of church history ORDERING THE BLACKOUT. These are the facts. Draw Godly conclusions after re-reading Psalm 119 among others. John Jewel’s “Apology for the Church of England:” Jewel begins his point-by-point rebuttal of Romish articles, including Scripture alone for the people of God in their homes and parishes. He also rebuts clerical celibacy and artwork in churches. “Ante-Nicene Fathers down to 325 AD: the Epistles of Mathetes to Diognetus, Tutor of Marcus Aurelius, fails in one part on redemptive history and the OT, but recovers with this glorious statement:

“He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors! Having therefore convinced us in the former time that our nature was unable to attain to life, and having now revealed the Saviour who is able to save even those things which it was [formerly] impossible to save, by both these facts He desired to lead us to trust in His kindness, to esteem Him our Nourisher, Father, Teacher, Counsellor, Healer, our Wisdom, Light, Honour, Glory, Power, and Life, so that we should not be anxious concerning clothing and food.”