not within the limits of our time | acknowledged practice of the church in the early ages. To attempt this, however, would, on an occasion like the present, be out of place. We have endea to discuss the subject at large; although, after some attention to the points which have passed before us, we are satisfied, that, were it needful, we could estab-voured, as clearly and briefly as lish the principles we have laid down by evidence which no man ought to despise, not only from the New Testament, but from the we could, to state the principles on which we act; and, on these, we now proceed to attend to the business before us. Miscellanea. HISTORICAL ESSAYS. No. XXIV. proaching state, when he shall be indulged with a full display of the equity, harmony, and perfection of the divine government. A great variety of circumstances concurred to give Henry that com On the Commencement of the Refor-plete sovereignty over his ministers mation in England during the Reign of Henry VIII. A. D. 1509 -1547. THE flagrant and long continued corruptions of Christianity, to which we have occasionally called the reader's attention, prior to this remarkable reign, must have rendered every prospect of reformation welcome; and that an instrument should have been raised up to effect it, must be a cause of grateful joy to every serious mind. However politicians, philosophers, and infidels, may speculate on the apparent causes which contribute to produce such important changes, the Chris tian discerns the hand, which "moves in secret every latent wheel of government." He knows there is a Being, who, happily, orders all things according to the counsel of his own will; and, amid much that is mysterious in the great convulsions and movements of states, he is still assured that that Being is God; and that his own inability to account for what transpires, arises from his ignorance and unbelief, and not from any error or defect in the perfect administration of the great Supreme: he is, morcover, animated by the prospect of an ap derable degree, over Europe, which and people, and, indeed, in a consi enabled him to do almost what he pleased, and, therefore, to commence this great work: although there is no evidence that he was instigated to it by correct motives. Amid the most conspicuous of these, were the immense treasure left by his father, his own personal beauty and bravery, his independent spirit, and uncontrolable disposition, his taste for popular amusements and splendour, his learning, considering the age in which he lived, and the perpetual envy, jealousy, and rivalry of contemporary monarchs: added to which, he united in his own person the long and dire-conflicting titles of York. Among the evidences of the Divine controul over all human affairs, there is scarcely one more convincing, than the important consequences that result from events, which we are accustomed to consider comparatively trifling. Thus Henry's dissatisfaction with his first wife, his admiration of Anne Boleyn, and his determination to marry her, were the primary cause of the reformation in England. The King's marriage with Catherine of Arragon was the mere result of national po licy: tired of her person, entertain- | in England, next to Henry, but ing doubts of the propriety of marriage with a brother's widow, and beginning to feel his own power, he applied for a divorce, which, from the Pope's desire to please the Emperor Charles, who was adverse to Henry, was, from time to time procrastinated; indeed, the military pontiff Clement, at the period of the application, was the prisoner of Charles-a just reward of his military exploits. The intrepid Luther had already begun to expose the delusions and iniquities of the papal system, especially the sale of indulgences, which the Dominican friars were every where recommending, to replenish the exhausted treasury of the new Pope, Leo X.; and having clearer views of truth, in proportion as he impartially examined the scriptures with so good a motive, he happily succeeded in diffusing a spirit of inquiry, not only on the Continent, but in England, for which the previous labours of Wickliffe had well prepared. The object of the King's affection was a convert to the great reformer's views; and, although Henry had written against him, to which he was the more induced by Luther's opposition to his favourite author, Thomas Aquinas; and, notwithstanding he had thereby so increased his reputation, as on presenting a copy of his work to the holy father, as he was called, he was rewarded with the title of "Defender of the Faith," still retained by our kings; yet such was his regard for Anne, her influence over him, and such his independent spirit, that he privately married her, which, on the prospect of an increasing family, he publicly acknowledged, and the new queen was crowned with royal state. Various were the expedients of the court of Rome, both before and after this event, either to deter or punish Henry, and secure his future obedience. Out of this affair arose the downfall of that extraordinary, vain, and ambitious minister, Wolsey; who, from the humble station of a butcher's son at Ipswich, became an archbishop and a cardinal, and even aspired to the papacy; he was not only the greatest man possessing an ascendancy over that mighty monarch, he was courted by all foreign princes, who sought his master's favour, which they all did in their turn, by the most costly presents, and profound adulation. Hampton-court palace, and that at Whitehall, remain to attest bis worldly greatness, and his pathetic dying declaration is happily preserved, to confirm the real worth of that greatness in the calm and solemn hour of death, and in the prospect of eternity: "Had I,” said he, "but served God as diligently as I have served the King, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. But this is the just reward that I must receive for my indulgent pains and study, not regarding my service to God, but only to my prince." Connected with this business, moreover, was the elevation of Cran mer, the justly-celebrated archbishop of Canterbury, who contributed not a little to the progress of the glorious work. During the King's perplexities, before he had courage to marry without the Pope's consent, Cranmer, in discoursing on his sovereign's doubts respecting the propriety of his marriage with Catherine, suggested the propriety_of consulting the universities of Europe, with a view of abiding by their decision, stating the probability of the royal conscience being satisfied, if they decided on its legality; and the strength of his cause, if they determined agreeably to the monarch's wish. This being reported to Henry, he exclaimed, the divine had the right sow by the ear; admitted him to his friendship, and soon promoted his advancement. One step in Henry's separation from the church of Rome led to another; nor did he stop until he had seized the revenues of the various religious houses, first abolishing the smaller, next the larger; the desirableness of which may be inferred, not only from their nature, but their number; for there were 645 monasteries, 90 colleges, 2374 chantries, and 110 hospitals. For this impiety, Henry was compared to Adrian, and the discipline of a that a copy should be chained near the altar in the parish church, to be occasionally consulted; yet, happily, at length, its free circulation was permitted, and, subsequently, a farther advantage was gained, in the substitution of the English, instead of the Latin, as the language of public worship. That so much should have been effected in such a reign, may well tude. Its fearful severity is abundantly attested by the numerous executions which disgraced it, from which neither the tenderest ties, witness the fate of Anne Boleyn; nor the most distinguished services, witness the end of Cromwell and More; nor the obscurest condition, witness that of the unfortunate Lambert, could shield, It is said that not less than 72,000 suffered death during this reign—a sad indication of the state of the times;yet, it is in this period that so much good is done; a striking illustration of the truth of that remarkable scripture, He maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder thereof he will restrain ?" papal bull was resorted to, but without effect. The monarch proceeded in his corrections, destroying the renowned shrine of Thomas a Becket, erasing his name from the list of saints, and prohibiting pilgrimages to his tomb. He even made it treason not to renounce the Pope's authority, and directed the word to be blotted out in all forms in which it had been used. Such were the peculiar circum-excite our astonishment and gratistances of this reign, such the peculiar character of this prince, and such the ambiguity of his conduct, arising from the conflict of policy and temper, with his strongly established prejudices and love of reputation, (for he had distinguished himself by his theological writings,) that both reformers and papists had their occasional triumphs. Indeed, he may be said to have repeatedly changed the national religion, for, although professedly done by act of parliament, he always previously composed and prescribed the creed. His counsellors, and most intimate associates, were of the most opposite principles, and anxiously watch ed every opportunity of forwarding | their different views, consistently with their dread of offending such a master. His wives, too, of whom he had so many, differing in their sentiments, as long as they possessed influence over him, either promoted or impeded the cause of truth. The majority of those whom he most loved, favouring the views of Luther, A, B, and C, with D and E, and a effected much-such were Anne few others, are likely to have soon a Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and particu- pastor settled among them: and' Jarly Catherine Parr. Even his oc- they are thinking on the best mode casional severity to the disciples of of remunerating him for his serthe reformation, was over-ruled for vices. Shall they give him the freegood; for although Tindal, Joyce, will-offerings of the congregation, and others, fled to Antwerp, there collected exclusively for that purthey employed themselves in writing pose-or shall they offer him whatEnglish books, which greatly assist-ever the seat-rents may produce-or ed the inquiries of the people, especially Tindal's translation of the scriptures, at which Tonstal was so alarmed, that he bought up all the copies he could procure, and burned them publicly in Cheapside; thereby affording the translator the means, which he much desired, of printing a new and more correct edition. It was, for sometime only, allowed, VOL. XVI, | Mr. Editor, QUERY. H. S. A. shall they propose a definite sum, to be paid out of a mixed fund, that is applicable to all the expenses of public worship? A speedy answer to this Query, will oblige more than a few of your CONSTANT READERS. London, Sept. 2, 1824. 2 T 434 Obituary and Recent Deaths. MISS ELIZABETH STRODE. |ed for some weeks, and the next time I saw her, it was truly interesting to witness her state of mind; and I hope it will never be forgotAs soon as I saw her, 6 Elizabeth Strode was born at arminster, in Wiltshire, in the ten by me. year 1803, and, at the same place, resigned her breath, after a painful illness, on the 12th of February, 1824, aged 21 years. The circumstances attendant on her illness and death are here made known, for the benefit of others. With reference to the early, and even more advanced years of the deceased, nothing of a very striking character appears to be on record in the minds of her friends. The present recital is particularly offered to the young, and that because the subject of it was earnestly desirous of their deriving benefit from her dying experience. The account of it is from the pen of one who conversed most intimately with her, at different periods of her af fiction, and is as follows: "When I first saw the dear sufferer," says the writer, "she did not say much, but was evidently anxiously concerned respecting the state of her immortal soul. She sometimes experienced many fears lest she should be deceiving herself, and once asked me, what I thought of her: here, however, I could only direct her to a crucified Redeemer; and, on this theme she delighted to dwell; saying, frequently, that it seemed to satisfy her spiritual wants. she said she had been suffering 'Jesus, thy blood and righteousness, "She often spoke, with peculiar feeling, of her neglect of privileges which were now for ever gone; and many tears of bitter sorrow did she shed as she thought of her past life; saying, I have much consolation now, but if I had studied closely the scriptures when in health, how much more might I enjoy than I do!' She was extremely anxious for the salvation of others, and, as was natural, felt most for those who were near and dear to her. On one, occasion she mentioned her relatives, and, bursting into tears, exclaimed, I have been thinking of them, when they shall be brought to judgment; Oh! On one occasion, she appeared, to all around to be dying, and she thought herself to be so: at that time she was perfectly composed, and told me, when she revived, that her mind, during that period, was greatly supported, that she had no doubt of entering on a state of happiness, if she had been then taken out of time. On the next day I left her, never expecting to see her again, and on my saying, I leave you, with the pleasing hope that you "One evening, she had been siare safe for eternity;' she replied, lent for a long time, at length, she "Yes, I hope,-I believe I am.' said, I have been watching the After this, however, she still linger-light disappear, and the darkness Will the sinner's heart confound!". "How the summons and I now wonder how I could ever be so taken up with its trifles.' "At another time, she requested a friend, who had been sitting with her, to leave the room, saying, she had not been much alone that day, and she should like to be left. On her friend returning, she asked the sufferer if she had experienced a season of spiritual enjoyment? She replied Yes.' This, however, was not always the case with her; she had many distressing doubts of being prepared for the great change; and she longed to say to the young, Prepare, prepare, whilst in the midst of health, to meet your God: she felt deeply at not having done so; and the consideration of this, caused her to select the words she did, as her dying counsel to the young: (Isaiah Iv. part of 6th verse, Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found ;) on which passage a funeral sermon was preached, according to her own request. "At length our dear friend was reduced to such a state of weakness, that her removal appeared truly desirable; but she was enabled to endure all patiently. She said, on one occasion, I am unable to read, am too weak to converse; but I think much, and I enjoy much.-I am very happy. These were her last words, expressive of the state of her mind, and were uttered a very short time before her spirit left the tenement of clay, and joined, as we believe it did, that glorious society, after which she panted." |