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endeared to the hearts of the English people。 Northern Germany
the scene of the stupendous triumphs of Lutheris and has been；
since the time of Frederick the Great； the hot…bed of rationalistic
inquiries； and the Genevan as well as the French and Swiss churches
which Calvin controlled have become cold； with a dreary and formal
Protestantism； without poetry or life。 But the Church of England
has survived two revolutions and all the changes of human thought；
and is still a mighty power； decorous； beautiful； conservative； yet
open to all the liberalizing influences of an age of science and
philosophy。 Cranmer； though a scholastic； seems to have perceived
that nothing is more misleading and uncertain and unsatisfactory
than any truth pushed out to its severest logical conclusions
without reference to other truths which have for their support the
same divine authority。 It is not logic which has built up the most
enduring institutions； but common…sense and plain truths； and
appeals to human consciousness；the cogito； ergo sum； without
whose approval most systems have perished。 In mediis tutissimus
ibis； is not indeed an agreeable maxim to zealots and partisans and
dialectical logicians； but it seems to be induced from the varied
experiences of human life and the history of different ages and
nations； and applies to all the mixed sciences； like government and
political economy； as well as to church institutions。
As Cromwell made his fortune by advising the King to assume the
headship of the Church in England； so Cranmer's rise is to be
traced to his advice to Henry to appeal to the decision of
universities whether or not he could be legally divorced from
Catharine； since the Popetrue to the traditions； of the Catholic
Church； or from fear of Charles V。would not grant a dispensation。
All this business was a miserable quibble； a tissue of scholastic
technicalities。 But it answered the ends of Cranmer。 The schools
decided for the King； and a great injustice and heartless cruelty
was done to a worthy and loyal woman； and a great insult offered to
the Church and to the Emperor Charles of Germany； who was a nephew
of the Spanish Princess and English Queen。 This scandal resulted
in a separation from Rome； as was foreseen both by Cromwell and
Cranmer； and the latter became Archbishop of Canterbury； a prelate
whose power and dignity were greater then than at the present day；
exalted as the post is even now；the highest in dignity and rank
to which a subject can aspire；higher even than the Lord High
Chancellorship； both of which however； pale before the position of
a Prime Minister so far as power is concerned。
The separation from Rome； the suppression of the monasteries； and
the curtailment of the powers of the spiritual courts were the only
reforms of note during the reign of Henry VIII。； unless we name
also the new translation of the Bible； authorized through Cranmer's
influence； and the teaching of the creed； the commandments； and the
Lord's prayer in English。 The King died in 1547。 Cranmer was now
fifty…seven； and was left to prosecute reforms in his own way as
president of the council of regency； Edward VI。 being but nine
years old；〃a learned boy；〃 as Macaulay calls him； but still a boy
in the hands of the great noblemen who composed the regency； and
who belonged to the progressive school。
I do not think the career of Cranmer during the life of Henry is
sufficiently appreciated。 He must have shown at least
extraordinary tact and wisdom；with his reforming tendencies and
enlightened views；not to come in conflict with his sovereign as
Becket did with Henry II。 He had to deal with the most capricious
and jealous of tyrants； cruel and unscrupulous when crossed； a man
who rarely retained a friendship or remembered a service； who never
forgave an injury or forgot an affront； a glutton and a sensualist；
although prodigal with his gifts； social in his temper； enlightened
in his government； and with very respectable abilities and very
considerable theological knowledge。 This hard and exacting master
Cranmer had to serve； without exciting his suspicions or coming in
conflict with him； so that he seemed politic and vacillating； for
which he would not be excused were it not for his subsequent
services； and his undoubted sincerity and devotion to the
Protestant cause。 During the life of Henry we can scarcely call
Cranmer a reformer。 The most noted reformer of the day was old
Hugh Latimer； the King's chaplain； who declaimed against sin with
the zeal and fire of Savonarola； and aimed to create a religious
life among the people； from whom he sprung and whom he loved；a
rough； hearty； honest； conscientious man； with deep convictions and
lofty soul。
In the reforms thus far carried on we perceive that； though
popular； they emanated from princes and not from the people。 The
people had no hand in the changes made； as at Geneva； only the
ministers of kings and great public functionaries。 And in the
reforms subsequently effected； which really constitute the English
Reformation； they were made by the council of regency； under the
leadership of Cranmer and the protectorship of Somerset。
The first thing which the Government did after the accession of
Edward VI。 was to remove images from the churches； as a form of
idolatry；much to the wrath of Gardiner； Bishop of Winchester； the
ablest man of the old conservative and papal party。 But Ridley；
afterwards Bishop of Rochester； preached against all forms of papal
superstition with so much ability and zeal that the churches were
soon cleared of these 〃helps to devotion。〃
Cranmer； now unchecked； turned his attention to other reforms； but
proceeded slowly and cautiously； not wishing to hazard much at the
outset。 First communion of both kinds； heretofore restricted to
the clergy； was appointed； and； closely connected with it； Masses
were put down。 Then a law was passed by Parliament that the
appointment of bishops should vest in the Crown alone； and not； as
formerly； be confirmed by the Pope。 The next great thing to which
the reformers directed their attention was the preparation of a new
liturgy in the public worship of God； which gave rise to
considerable discussion。 They did not seek to sweep away the old
form； for it was prepared by the sainted doctors of the Church of
all ages； but they would purge it of all superstitions； and retain
what was most beautiful and expressive in the old prayers。 The Ten
Commandments； the Lord's Prayer； and the early creeds of course
were retained； as well as whatever was in harmony with primitive
usages。 These changes called out letters from Calvin at Geneva；
who was now recognized as a great oracle among the Protestants： he
encouraged the work； but advised a more complete reformation； and
complained of the coldness of the clergy； as well as of the general
vices of the times。 Martin Bucer of Strasburg； at this time
professor at Cambridge； also wrote letters to the same effect； but
the time had not come for more radical reforms。 Then Parliament；
controlled by the Government； passed an act allowing the clergy to
marry；opposed； of course； by many bishops in allegiance to Rome。
This was a great step in reform； and removed many popular scandals；
it struck a heavy blow at the conditions of the Middle Ages；
holding that celibacy sprung from no law of God； but was Oriental
in its origin； encouraged by the Church to cement its power。 And
this act concerning the marriage of the clergy was soon followed by
the celebrated Forty…two Articles； framed by Cranmer and Ridley；
which are the bases of the English Church；a theological creed；
slightly amended afterwards in the reign of Elizabeth； evangelical
but not Calvinistic； affirming the great ideas of Augustine and
Luther as to grace； justification by faith； and original sin； and
repudiating purgatory； pardons； the worship and invocation of
saints and images； a larger creed than the Nicene or Athanasian；
and comprehensive；such as most Protestants might accept。 Both
this and the book of Common Prayer were written with consummate
taste； were the work of great scholars；moderate； broad；
enlightened； conciliatory。
The reformers then gave their attention to an alteration of
ecclesiastical laws in reference to matters which had always been
decided in ecclesiastical courts。 The commissionersthe ablest
men in England； thirty…two in numberhad scarcely completed their
work before the young King died； and Mary ascended the throne。
We cannot too highly praise the moderation with which the reforms
had been made； especially when we remember the violence of the age。
There were indeed two or three capital executions for heresy。
Gardiner and Bonner； who opposed the reformation with unparalleled
bitterness were only deprived of their sees and sent to the Tower。
The execution of Somerset was the work of politicians； of gr