New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-06
Professionalism Before the Reformation.
BY REV. MR.. oSGooD,
OF the unitarinn Clnrch

BY REV. Mk. oSGOOD
OF the Unitarian Church
Last evening Rev. Mr. OsgOOd delivered a
sermon in {, Church Of the Messiah Broadway, upon
texts to be found in Revelations 1lth chapter 81 and
9Th verses and Acts 4h chapter 18TH aud 10Th verses
"And viii give power uRto my two tnesses, aud they
days co,bea in sackcloth These the olive trees
eud the two candle sticks standing before the God OF tho
earth" Revelations.
And they called them and commanded them not to
spesk all teach in the name OF Jesus But Pecr and
John answered and said unto them Whether b. CHI IN
the sight oil God 20 hearken unto yOu more than unto Goa
judge ye.' Acts
Remembrance as well es anticipation was one Of
the beauties of Christian feeling It surely the
Office Of the Christian pulpit sometimes to review the
past that might derive from the experience which
tho page Of history unfoded to gaze, important
lessons for future guidance .hatthe Book Of His
tory might appeario bca Book Of Providence Were we
tofolow the train OF history from the period mentioned
In the text noticin, the tall Of Judaism the way.
we would finally perceive that the tyranny Of Judaism
the arrogant assumption OF Caphas reproduced in
the organization ofthc Church Of Rome Peter would
stand aghast were he to the person who claimed TO
be his legitimate successor advancing professions not
only 10 spiritual supremacy but the disposition of all
earthly thrones Vast changes had taken place in the
Christian world-Church authority had supersededthe
commands OF the wordsof God and fastings, macera'
tcns of the boly and Pill ,rmages, took the place OF
religious, God.fcaring Life. One power
full than Csiphas claimed to be the head Of
the Christian Church. And, in the Eleventh Century
we find HildCb brand OF the most powerful OF the
Popes claiming to be King all the Kings OF the
earth spirit of resisance TO the expressions OF &c
clesisstcR tyranny was evoked prior to the accom-
plishment Of the great reformation by Luther
There were two classes Of Procsants prior 10 that
period Some who philosophically protested because
the deprivation by ecclesiastical tyranny Of freedom OF
thought was antogonisc TO ell others because
of spiritual considerations, and in some instances both
feelings were combined. Peter Abelnrd the philoso-
pher. and John Wycife the theoogian, were the Pc
ter and John who did the mott in the age in which
they respectively lived to overcome the spiritual tyr
rany of Rome When Gregory the With, the nishtest
of the Popes died in 1905, Abelard was yet youth
He was educated in ofthe Senares establshedior
the training Of eccesascs and throu hOu the course
Of his studies displayed talents OF brilliant order
At Msn be gathered around him large number Of
pupils, attracted by the growing reputation Of the sue
ccssful antagonist of the celebrated De Chanpeaux.
lie econ removed to Paris, where ne assumed the
chair Of divinity and shortly afterward saw himself
surrounded by some OF the eminent scholars OF
C.
tend with was the noted Bernard of Clar'oix. Bcr'
nard nfterward known known az So Bernard, was the
spiritual dictator of lineage settling differences between
the Pope and the soyeregns OF Europe or stimulating
the spirit of the age to adventurous enterprise in the
Holy Land He was the watchdog of the Church.
Bernard looked to St Augustine for his theology
"; Abelard derived bis from Ohgen and the
other libernlists OF the early Church. Being
accused of heresy by st. Bernard he defended himself
before full council at Sens. But his eloquence and
reasoning were Of no avail with that stupid and bgo,ed
assemblage. Appealing from their decision 10 the
Court Of Rome, instead Of obtaining redress, he re-
ceivcd his condemnation. He shortly after retired 10
perfect secusion and died in ll42 s the prOry OF 81
Marcel II but of late years that any justice wns
done 10 the memory OF a man who exercised potent
influence upon the opinions of the age in which he
lived scholar in our own land was at present en-
goged in preparing life Of the great philosophical re-
former-AbelaTd Turn from the philosopher 10 an
other man Of another age, but OF ike kinda man
who yndiceted the word OF God as Abelard INDICATED
the freedom Of human thousht--John Wycihe usually
called the morning star OF the Reformation Unti very
recently he was but little understood and had everbeen
much msgued by high church historians. Wclihe was
born in the year 1924 century and half after the
deasd of Abelard He was of the people and
wes emnenty matter Of fact lie was good preacher,
and loved to draw the people around him while be ex
pounded the word of God in plain and simple terms.
But stil hs reputation theologAn and scholastis
dalectiean stood preemnent among his cO.emporaries
AT Oxford Uniyersity lie occupied positions OF impor-
tsIce and sponsibly and he there known sthe
Evangelical Doctor His first act a reforner was his
writing against the merdicsnt Clergy who at that time
overspread England and INJURED religion BY their
vices ard immortality and impoverished the people BY
their extoriiors SO strenuous was he in his hostility
10 the eacions and assumptions Of the clergy that be
was authorized By Parliament to prepare tract IN op-
uosition 10 some of the naughty demands Of Rome In
1881 subseguent 10 the publication Of his greatest
work the krt complete English version OF the Scrip
tures he attacked the doctrine Of transbstaniton In
ceurse Of Lectures read at Oxford in that yer. The
boldacss Of this step aroused the luminosity OF both
Church ard Parliament and at the investigation OF an
old enemy. Courtney, the Archbishop Of Canterbury,
be YVES summoned TO appear before aeonvocation ofthe
eersy 20 defend himself against charge Of heresy He
was condemned but not 10 death, and all bis dgnites
audernolu1nenis in the University were tekenfr him.
Sofor time the Church tnumphed over the Reforner.
Wycfe then retired to his psrsh where he spent the
remainder Of bis LIE and died OF the age Of 90 in 1891
The nalgnity that prosecuted him with unremitting
assdui;y during lis life time, did not with hi'
death for In the reign Of the succeeding monarch hi.
aches were rudey snatehed from the tomb and thrown
into an sdjecentbrook. Wyele before the world
a. an especial champion Of the Bible He was in every
form peace man-opposed TO wars and capital punish
mcnt. Some would be glad TO know, perhaps, tina
though prizes, in orders he thought the episcopac!
was human system. and he denied tie existence 0
any rronf N fhe Bible ror The precautions q bib