The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04

ouI tne statement OF Jeremy Taylor, that
the English Reforners, in framing the
Liturgy, Joined to their own star all
the shining tapers of the other Reformed
Churches, calling for the advice of the
eminently learned and Jealous reformers
in other kingdoms, that the light of all
together might show them clear path
to walk in.
The Zurich Letters" issued by the
Parker Society present us with the cor
respondence of the Reformers-of Gran
mer, Coverdale, Hooper, Cox, Jewel,
Fox, Grlndal, and others in England,
with Calvin, Melancthon, Bucer, Bull
linger, Gualter, Martyr, and other con-
tinental divines. 1t is correspondence
belonging to a period which extends from
the establishment of Professionalism in
England to the closing part of Eliza
beth's reign. And no candid reader of
that correspondence will question the
statement of Professor Fisher, that ain
all these free, unreserved communications
In which the difference among Protes-
tants, as on the doctrine of the Lords
Supper, are frequently considered, there
Is no hint of any trouble, alienation, or
want of sympathy on account of the diff
ference of the English polity from that of
the Continental Churches. The authors
are engaged in common cause fighting
under common banner, and the oues-
ton OF Episcopacy does not excite a rip
pie OF discomfort with one another"
No historical fact is more clearly de-
monstrable than that the change in the
relations of the Church of England to-
wards the other Protestant Churches.
which unhappily still rules, came in with
Archbishop Laud. 1t was one item in
that accusation against Laud which cost
him his head, that, as part of scheme
for Romanising the Church of England,
he had broken off communion with the
Protestant Churches abroad, and had
tried to lead Bishop Hall TO lay down
theory which would exclude them from
fellowship. So Clarendon, in his history
OF the Civil War, relates how a new
policy was adopted under Laud's in
fuence by the English ambassadors
abroad, which had the effect of turning
the foreign Protestants against the King.
He says that ain all former times the
ambassadors and all foreign ministers of
State, employed from England into any
parts where the reformed religion was
exercised frequented their Churches,
gave all possible countenance to their
profession, and held correspondence with
the most active and powerful persons of
that relation; and especially the ambas-
sador at Paris, from the time of the Re-
formation had diligently and constantly
frequented the Church at Clarendon
the scene of the labors of Claude, Daille,
and other famous Presbyterian ministers.
But he goes on to say that change of
policy was now introduced 'Some in
structions were given to the ambassadors
to 'forbear any extraordinary commerce
with that tribe. Lord Scudamore, the
English ambassador Clarendon further
states) fitted up chapel in Ritualistic
fashion in his own house, and took pains
to say that the Church of England
looked not on the Huguenots as part
OF their communion" which" adds
Clarendon, "was too much and too in
dustriously discussed at home"
In further confederation of what we
have stated, we may refer to the state
ments of some well known historians.
In his Constitutional History of Eng
land" we find Hallam writing thus (voi.
i. PIP. 395-D:-
The system pursued by Bancroft and
his imitators, Bishops nellie and Laud,
with the appreciation Of the King, far
opposed to the healing counsels of Bur
leigh and Bacon, was Just such as low
born and little-minded men, raised to
power by fortunes caprice, are ever
found to pursue. They began by
preaching the Divine right, as it is called,
or absolute indispensability of Episco-
pacy; doctrine of which the first traces.
as | apprehend, are found about the end
of Elizabeths reign. They insisted on
the necessity OF Episcopal succession
regularly derived from the apostles.
They drew an inference from this tenet
that ordination by Presbyters was in all
cases null. And as this affected all the
reformed Churches in Europe except
their own,-the Lutherans not HAVING
preserved the succession of their bishops
while the Calvinists had altogether abol-
ished that order,-they began to speak
OF them, not as brethren of the same
faith, united in the same cause, and dis.
tlnguished only by differences little
more material than those of political
commonwealth (Which had been the
language of the Church Of England ever
since the Reformation, but as aliens to
whom they were not at all related. and
| schlsmatics with whom thew held No corn.