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English Church； and led to a separation or a schism； whatever name
it goes by；to most people in these times not very interesting or
edifying； because they were not based on any great ideas of
universal application； and seeming to such minds as Bacon and
Parker and Jewell rather narrow and frivolous。
The great Puritan controversy would have no dignity if it were
confined to vestments and robes and forms of worship； and hatred of
ceremonies and holy days； and other matters which seemed to lean to
Romanism。 But the grandeur and the permanence of the movement were
in a return to the faith of the primitive Church and a purer
national morality； and to the unrestricted study of the Bible； and
the exaltation of preaching and Christian instruction over forms
and liturgies and antiphonal chants； above all； the exaltation of
reason and learning in the interpretation of revealed truth； and
the education of the people in all matters which concern their
temporal or religious interests； so that a true and rapid progress
was inaugurated in civilization itself； which has peculiarly marked
all Protestant countries having religious liberty。 Underneath all
these apparently insignificant squabbles and dissensions there were
two things of immense historical importance： first； a spirit of
intolerance on the part of government and of church dignitaries；
the State allied with the Church forcing uniformity with their
decrees； and severely punishing those who did not accept them；in
matters beyond all worldly authority； and； secondly； a rising
spirit of religious liberty； determined to assert its glorious
rights at any cost or hazard； and especially defended by the most
religious and earnest part of the clergy； who were becoming
Calvinistic in their creed； and were pushing the ideas of the
Reformation to their utmost logical sequence。 This spirit was
suppressed during the reign of Elizabeth； out of general respect
and love for her as a Queen； and the external dangers to which the
realm was exposed from Spain and France； which diverted the
national mind。 But it burst out fiercely in the next reigns； under
James and Charles； about the beginning of the seventeenth century。
And this is the last development of the Reformation in England to
which I can allude；the great Puritan contest for liberty of
worship； running； when opposed unjustly and cruelly； into a contest
for civil liberty； that is； the right to change forms and
institutions of civil government； even to the dethronement of
kings； when it was the expressed and declared will of the people；
in whom was vested the ultimate source of sovereignty。
But here I must be brief。 I tread on familiar ground； made
familiar by all our literature； especially by the most brilliant
writer of modern times； though not the greatest philosopher： I mean
that great artist and word…painter Macaulay； whose chief excellence
is in making clear and interesting and vivid； by a world of
illustration and practical good…sense and marvellous erudition；
what was obvious to his own objective mind； and obvious also to
most other enlightened people not much interested in metaphysical
disquisitions。 No man more than he does justice to the love of
liberty which absolutely burned in the souls of the Puritans；that
glorious party which produced Milton and Cromwell； and Hampden and
Bunyan； and Owen and Calamy； and Baxter and Howe。
The chief peculiarity of those Puritansonce called
Nonconformists； afterwards Presbyterians and Independentswas
their reception of the creed of John Calvin； the clearest and most
logical intellect that the Reformation produced； though not the
broadest； who reigned as a religious dictator at Geneva and in the
Reformed churches of France； and who gave to John Knox the
positivism and sternness and rigidity which he succeeded in
impressing upon the churches of Scotland。 And the peculiar
doctrines which marked Calvin and his disciples were those deduced
from the majesty of God and the comparative littleness of man；
leading to and bound up with the impotence of the will； human
dependence； the necessity of Divine grace；Augustinian in spirit；
but going beyond Augustine in the subtlety of metaphysical
distinctions and dissertations on free…will election； and
predestination；unfathomable； but exceedingly attractive subjects
to the divines of the seventeenth century； creating a metaphysical
divinity； a theology of the brain rather than of the heart； a
brilliant series of logical and metaphysical deductions from
established truths； demanding to be received with the same
unhesitating obedience as the truths； or Bible declarations； from
which they are deduced。 The greatness of human reason was never
more forcibly shown than in these deductions； but they were carried
so far as to insult reason itself and mock the consciousness of
mankind； so that mankind rebelled against the very force of the
highest reasonings of the human intellect； because they pushed
logical sequence into absurdity； or to dreadful conclusions：
Decretum quidem horribile fateor； said the great master himself。
The Puritans were trained in this theology； which developed the
loftiest virtues and the severest self…constraints； making them
both heroes and visionaries； always conscientious and sometimes
repulsive； fitting them for gigantic tasks and unworthy squabbles；
driving them to the Bible； and then to acrimonious discussions；
creating fears almost mediaeval； leading them to technical
observation of religious duties； and transforming the most genial
and affectionate people under the sun into austere saints； with
whom the most ascetic of monks would have had but little sympathy。
I will not dwell on those peculiarities which Macaulay ridicules
and Taine repeats；the hatred of theatres and assemblies and
symbolic festivals and bell…ringings； the rejection of the
beautiful； the elongated features； the cropped hair； the unadorned
garments； the proscription of innocent pleasures； the nasal voice；
the cant phrases； the rigid decorums； the strict discipline；
these； doubtless exaggerated； were more than balanced by the
observance of the Sabbath； family prayers； temperate habits； fervor
of religious zeal； strict morality； allegiance to duty； and the
perpetual recognition of God Almighty as the sovereign of this
world； to whom we are responsible for all our acts and even our
thoughts。 They formed a noble material on which every emancipating
idea could work； men trained by persecutions to self…sacrifice and
humble duties；making good soldiers； good farmers； good workmen in
every department； honest and sturdy； patient and self…reliant；
devoted to their families though not demonstrative of affection；
keeping the Sunday as a day of worship rather than rest or
recreation； cherishing as the dearest and most sacred of all
privileges the right to worship God according to the dictates of
conscience enlightened by the Bible； and willing to fight； even
amid the greatest privations and sacrifices； to maintain this
sacred right and transmit it to their children。 Such were the men
who fought the battles of civil liberty under Cromwell； and
colonized the most sterile of all American lands； making the dreary
wilderness to blossom with roses； and sending out the shoots of
their civilization to conserve more fruitful and favored sections
of the great continent which God gave them； to try new experiments
in liberty and education。
I need not enumerate the different sects into which these Puritans
were divided； so soon as they felt they had the right to interpret
Scripture for themselves。 Nor would I detail the various and cruel
persecutions to which these sects were subjected by the government
and the ecclesiastical tribunals； until they rose in indignation
and despair； and rebelled against the throne； and made war on the
King； and cut off his head； all of which they did from fear and for
self…defence as well as from vengeance and wrath。
Nor can I describe the counter reformation； the great reaction
which succeeded to the violence of the revolution。 The English
reformation was not consummated until constitutional liberty was
heralded by the reign of William and Mary； when the nation became
almost unanimously Protestant； with perfect toleration of religions
opinions； although the fervor of the Puritans had passed away
forever； leaving a residuum of deep…seated popular antipathy to all
the institutions of Romanism and all the ideas of the Middle Ages。
The English reformation began with princes； and ended with the
agitations of the people。 The German reformation began with the
people； and ended in the wars of princes。 But both movements were
sublime； since they showed the force of religious ideas。 Civil
liberty is only one of the sequences which exalt the character and
dignity of man amid the seductions and impediments of a gilded
material life。
AU