Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-08-10
;-'FssEYIsM Two CENTURIES OLD.

Y
DlkuAsRyise forms in religion SIS women revive
Meg IN There IN rarely novelty In the one
any more than.in tic other; they nearly all bu,
old doctrines old fashions Restored by the iervof
OF the policy Of The divine the art or the ingenuity
Of the millincr. Take the mos, modern fashion 10
religion, yclepi Puseyism, from the name OF tho
founder OF that sect: IL is but revival Of the doc
,nnes which prevailed in Gres, Britain above two
centuries ago, and he holders Of which were then,
IS they are now, charged with hankering after
reunion with the Church OF Rome. This fact. ac-
cording 10 the Liverpool Albion, is clearly estab-
hsGed by Mr.. Hallsm, in his History Of The Lera-
lure OF Europe, from which we make Che following
interesting extracts :--Bosfon Traoeiler.
"ln this most learned period, according TO the
sense ia which the word then taken, that Eu
rope has ever seen, II VI 10 be expected
that the siudous ecclesiastics of both the Romish
and Protestant denomination would pour forth q
prodgal erudltion IN their great controversy II
had always been tho aim OF the former 10 give an
historical character TO theological inquiry It was
their business TO ascertain the faith OF the Catholic
Church matter Of fact, the single principle Of
its intalbiiy being assumed as the basis OF all in
ves,igaon. But their opponents, though less con-
cerned IN the issue OF such questions frequently
thought themselves competent to dispute the field
and conversant as they were with ecclesiastical
tiquity, found IN lis niermInable records sufficient
weapons 10 protrac, tue war, though not to subdue
the loe Hence, partly in the last years OF the six
ent, We lind an essential change in the char OF
theological coniro,e rsy. /, became less reasoning,
less general and popular but far more patriotic
that ls appealing to the testimony of the fathers and
altogether more historical than before. Several con-
sequences Of material influence on religious opin-
ion sprang naturally from this method Of conducting
| the defence of Professionalism. One was, that it con-
racted very greatly the circle OF those who, upon
any reasonable Interpretation OF the original princi-
pie Of personal Judgment could exercise it for them
selves IL became the privilege OF the deeply learn
| ed alone. Another, that, from the real obscurity
and incoherence Of ecclesiastical authorities those
who had penetrated farthest into the province OF
! learning were least able TO reconcile them and
however they might disguise il from the world
while the pen was in their hands, were themselves
necessarily felt, upon many points, in an embarrass-
| ing state OF doubt and confusion. A third enec,
was that upon these controversies Of Catholic ira
dton, the Church OF Rome had very often the best
OF the argument; and this was occasionally display
ed in those wrestling matches between religious dis
| putants, winch we're held, publicly or privately
either with the vain hope OF coming to agreement
or To settle the faith OF the hearers. And from the
two last OF these it arose. that many Protest
ants went over TO the Church Of Rome, and that
new theological system was contrived, 10 combine
what had been deemed the Incompatible teneis Of
those who had burst from each other with such VIC
lence In the preceding century.
This reirocession, as il appeared, and as in spri
1t was, towards the system abandoned in the frs
!. impeiuos,y of the Reformation, began in Enganc
about tue conclusion of the sixteenth century.
was evidently connected with the high notions Of &c
clesiastical power, of an episcopacy by unbr oker
transmission from the apostles, Of pompous ritual
which the rulers of the Anglican Church took up a
that time in opposition 10 the Puri,ans. 1t rapid,
gained ground in the reign Of James, and still
|, Of his son. Andrews, man lar more learned in pa
,risuc theology than any the Elzabehan bishops
/. or perhaps than any of his English contemporaries
except Usher, was, il no, the founder, the chic
leader of this school. Laud became afterwards
from his political importance, its more conspicuous
head; and from him il is sometimes styled. In hi
conference with the Jesuit Fisher first published il
1924 and afterwards with many additions in 1859
we find an attempt, not feeble, and we may believe
not eigned, TO vndicate the Anglican Professionalism
such as he meant II TO be, against the Church o
Rome, but with much Difference to the name OF Cath
Ole, and the authority Of the ancient fathers. Ii il
unnecessary TO observe, that this was the prevaen
c language OF the English church in that period q
forty years, which was terminated by the civil
and that II was accompanied by a marked enhance
mcnt OF religious ceremonies, as well as by a con
siderable approximation TO several doctrines sn'
usages Of the Romanis,s."