OneworldunderGod
It's flat!
CHURCH HISTORY 16-20 (My words in red)
CHURCH HISTORY
16
THE REFORMATION 2
In Switzerland, the historic land of freedom, reform was started by Zwingli, and carried on by Calvin, the union of their followers, 1549, constituting the "Reformed Church." Their reforms were more sweeping than Luther's.
Zwingli, 1484-1531, Zurich, became convinced, about 1516, that the Bible was the means by which to purify the church. 1525 Zurich officially accepted his teaching; and the churches gradually abolished Indulgences, Mass, Celibacy, Images, using the Bible as Sole Authority.
John Calvin, 1509-64, a Frenchman, accepted Reformation teachings 1533. Driven out of France 1534. Went to Geneva 1536. There his Academy became a pivotal center of Protestantism, attracting scholars from many lands. Called "the greatest theologian of Christendom," and, by Renan, "the most Christian man of his generation." More than any other he has guided the thinking of Protestantism.
In the Netherlands the Reformation was received early; Lutheranism, and then Calvinism; and Anabaptists were already numerous. Between 1513 and 1531 there were issued 25 different translations of the Bible in Dutch, Flemish and French. The Netherlands were a part of the dominion of Charles V. In 1522 he established the Inquisition, and ordered all Lutheran writings to be burned. In 1525 prohibited religious meetings in which the Bible would be read. 1546 prohibited the printing or possession of the Bible, either vulgate or translation. 1535 decreed "death by fire" for Anabaptists. Phillip II (1566-98), successor to Charles V, re-issued the edicts of his father, and with Jesuit help carried on the persecution with still greater fury. By one sentence of the Inquisition the whole population was condemned to death, and under Charles V and Philip II more than 100,000 were massacred with unbelievable brutality. Some were chained to a stake near the fire and slowly roasted to death; some were thrown into dungeons, scourged, tortured on the rack, before being burned. Women were buried alive, pressed into coffins too small, trampled down with the feet of the executioner. Those that tried to flee to other countries were intercepted by soldiers and massacred. After years of non-resistance, under unheard of cruelty, the Protestants of Netherlands united under the leadership of William of Orange, and in 1572 began the great revolt; and after incredible suffering, in 1609, won their independence; Holland, on the North became Protestant; Belgium, on the South, Roman Catholic. Holland was the first country to adopt public schools supported by taxation, and to legalize principles of religious toleration and freedom of the press.
In Scandina via Lutheranism was early introduced, and was made the State Religion, in Denmark 1536, Sweden 1539, Norway 1540. A hundred years later Gustavus Adolphus (1611-32), King of Sweden, rendered signal service in defeating Rome's effort to crush Protestant Germany.
In France. By 1520 Luther's teachings had penetrated France. Calvin's soon followed. By 1559 there were about 400,000 Protestants. They were called "Hugenots." Their earnest piety and pure lives were in striking contrast to the scandalous lives of the Roman clergy. In 1557 Pope Pius urged their extermination. The king issued a decree for their massacre, and ordered all loyal subjects to help in hunting them out. The Jesuits went thru France persuading the faithful to bear arms for their destruction. Thus hunted by Papal agents, as in the days of Diocletian, they met secretly, often in cellars, at midnight.
St. Bartholomew's Massacre. Catherine de Medici, mother of the King, an ardent Romanist and willing tool of the Pope, gave the order, and on the night of August 24, 1572, 70,000 Hugenots, including most of their leaders, were Massacred. There was great rejoicing in Rome. The Pope and his College of Cardinals went, in solemn procession, to the Church of San Marco, and ordered the Te Deum to be sung in thanksgiving. The Pope struck a medal in commemoration of the Massacre; and sent a Cardinal to Paris to bear the King and Queen-Mother the Congratulations of Pope and Cardinals. "France was within a hair-breadth of actually becoming Protestant; but France massacred Protestantism on the night of St. Bartholomew, 1572. 1792 there came to France a "Protest" of another kind." (Thomas Carlyle.)
The Huguenot Wars. Following St. Bartholomew's Massacre the Huguenots united and armed for resistance; till finally, in 1598, by the Edict of Nantes, they were granted the right of freedom of conscience and worship. But in the meantime some 200,000 had perished as martyrs. Pope Clement VIII called the Toleration Edict of Nantes a "cursed thing"; and, after years of underground work by the Jesuits, the Edict was Revoked, 1685; and 500,000 Hugenots fled to Protestant Countries.
The French Revolution, a hundred years later, 1789, one of the most frightful convulsions in history. The people, in a frenzy against the tyrannies of the ruling class (among whom were the Clergy, owners of one-third of all land, wealthy, lazy, immoral, and heartless in their treatment of the poor), rose up in a Reign of Terror and Blood abolished the government, closed the churches, confiscated their property, suppressed Christianity and Sunday, and enthroned the Goddess of Reason (impersonated by a dissolute woman). Napoleon restored the church, but not the property; 1802 granted Toleration to all; and almost ended the Political Power of the Popes in every country.
In Bohemia, by 1600, in a population of 4,000,000, 80 per cent were Protestant. When the Hapsburgs and Jesuits had done their work, 800,000 were left, all Catholics.
In Austria and Hungary more than half the population had become Protestant, but under the Hapsburgs and Jesuits they were slaughtered.
In Poland, by the end of the 16th century, it seemed as if Romanism was about to be entirely swept away, but here, too, the Jesuits, by persecution, killed Reform.
In Italy, the Pope's own country, the Reformation was getting a real hold; but the Inquisition got busy, and hardly a trace of Protestantism was left.
Note:
1414 A.D. The hierarchy forbade the cup to the laity by instituting the communion of one kind in the
Council of Constance.
1439 A.D. The doctrine of purgatory was proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Council of Florence. Not
one word in the Bible teaches such a thing as purgatory. The blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses us from all sins (1John 1:7-9 1John 2:1-2 1John 5:24 Romans 8:1 )
1439 A.D. The doctrine of the 7 sacraments affirmed. Jesus Christ instituted only two ordinances. baptism
and the Lord's Supper ( Matthew 28:19-20 Matthew 26:26-28 )
1508 A.D. Use of part of the Ave Maria. it was completed 50 years later and was finally approved by
Pope Sixtus V, at the end of the 16th century.
1545 A.D. The council of Trent declared that tradition has equal authority with the Bible. Tradition is
By human teaching. The Pharisees believed this way and Jesus bitterly condemned them.
human tradition they nullified the commandments of God.
( Mark 7:7-13 Colossians 2:8 Revelation 22: 18 )
1546 A.D. The Council of Trent added the apocryphal books to the Bible which were never recognized as
canonical by the Jewish church. ( Revelation 22:8-9 )
CHURCH HISTORY
17
THE REFORMATION 3
In Spain the Reformation never made much headway, because the Inquisition was already there. Every effort for freedom or independent thinking was crushed with a ruthless hand. Torquemada (1420-98), a Dominican monk, arch-inquisitor, in 18 years burned 10,200 and condemned to perpetual imprisonment 97,000. Victims were usually burned alive in the public square; made the occasion of religious festivities. From 1481 to 1808 there were at least 100,000 martyrs and 1,500,000 banished. "In the 16th and 17th centuries the Inquisition extinguished the literary life of Spain, and put the nation almost outside the circle of European civilization." When the Reformation began Spain was the Most Powerful country in the world. Its present negligible standing among the nations shows what the Papacy can do for a country.
The Spanish Armada, 1588. One of the features of Jesuit strategy was to seek the overthrow of Protestant countries. Pope Gregory XIII "left nothing undone to impel Philip II, Emperor, and King of Spain, to proceed in war against Protestant England." Sixtus V, who became Pope as the enterprise was maturing, made it a Crusade (that is offered Indulgences to those who would take part). At that time Spain had the most powerful Navy that had ever sailed the seas; but the proud Armada met defeat in the English Channel. "England's victory was the final turning point in the great duel between Protes-tanism and Romanism; not only assured England and Scotland, but Holland, North Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, to the Protestant cause." (Jacobs.)
In England it was Revolt, and then Reform. From the days of William the Conqueror, 1066, there had been repeated protests against Papal Control of England. Henry VIII (1509-47) believed, as his predecessors had, that the English Church should be independent of the Pope, and that the King should be its Head. His Divorce was not the Cause, but the Occasion, of his break with Rome. Henry was no saint; but neither was the contemporary Pope, Paul III, who had many illegitimate children. In 1534 the Church of England definitely repudiated Papal authority, and settled down to an independent life under the spiritual direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, while Henry VIII assumed the title of "Supreme Head" for its temporal affairs and political connections. Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury, and under him Reform began; monasteries were abolished on the grounds of immorality; an English Bible was put in the churches and a Prayer-Book for services in English, and the churches were stripped of many Romanist practices. In the next reign, Edward VI (1547-53), reform made great progress. But Bloody Mary (1553-58) made a determined effort to restore Romanism, and under her many Protestants suffered martyrdom, among them, Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer. Under Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) freedom was again permitted, and the Church of England was re-established in the form in which it has continued to this day. Out of the English Church came the Puritans and Methodists.
In Scotland Wycliff's influence still remained; Luther's teachings entered about 1528; Calvin's followed. The story of the Scotch Reformation is the story of John Knox.
John Knox, 1515-72, a Scotch priest, about 1540 began teaching Reformation ideas. 1547 he was taken by the French army and sent to France, where for 19 months he was a galley slave. Thru the influence of the English government he was released, and returned to England, 1549, where he continued preaching. On the accession of Bloody Mary, 1553, he went to Geneva, where he thoroly absorbed Calvin's teaching. 1559 he was recalled to Scotland by the Parliament of Scotch Lords to become leader of the National Reform movement. The Political situation made Church Reform and National Independence ONE movement. Mary, Queen of Scots, had married Francis II, King of France, who was son of Catherine de Medici (of St. Bartholomew's Massacre fame). Scotland and France were thus in alliance, their crowns united by marriage. France was bent on the destruction of Protestantism. Phillip II, King of Spain, with other Romanists, plotted the assassination of Queen Elizabeth, to put Mary queen of Scots on the English throne. Pope Pius V aided the scheme by issuing a Bull excommunicating Elizabeth and releasing her subjects from allegiance (which, by Jesuit teaching, meant that the assassin would be doing an act of service to God). Thus there was no chance for Reform of the Scotch Church as long as it was under French control. John Knox believed that the future of Protestantism was bound up in an alliance between Protestant England and Protestant Scotland. He proved to be a magnificent leader. The Reformed Church was established 1560; and, with the help of England, by 1567, the French were driven out; and Romanism was more completely swept away than in any other country. John Knox, largely, made Scotland what it still is.
The Counter-Reformation. In 50 years the Reformation had swept Europe, with most of Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Scandinavia, England, Scotland, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland in its grasp; and making headway in France. This was a terrific blow to the Roman Church, which, in turn, organized -the Counter-Reformation; and by means of the Council of Trent (in session 18 years, 1545-63) and the Jesuits and the Inquisition some of the moral abuses of the Papacy were abolished, and by the close of the century Rome was organized for an aggressive onslaught on Protestantism; and under the brilliant and brutal leadership of the Jesuits regained much of the lost territory; South Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, and crushed the Reformation in France. Within a hundred years, by 1689, the Counter-Reformation had spent its force. The principal Rulers who fought the Pope's Wars were: Charles V, 1519-56, of Spain, against German Protestants; Philip II, 1556-98, of Spain, against Holland, England; Ferdinand II, 1619-37, of Austria, against Bohemians; (these three were Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire) ; Catherine de Medici, mother of three kings of France (Francis II, 1559-60, Charles IX, 1560-74, Henry III, 1574-89), in the wars for the extermination of French Hugenots.
CHURCH HISTORY
18
THE REFORMATION 4
Religious Wars. The Reformation movement was followed by a hundred years of religious wars: 1. War on the German Protestants, 1546-55; 2. War on the Protestants of the Netherlands, 1566-1609; 3. Hugenot Wars in France, 1572-98; 4. Philip's attempt against England, 1588; 5. Thirty Years War, 1618-48. In these wars political and national rivalries were involved, as well as questions of property, for the Church in most countries owned one-third to one-fifth of all lands. But every one of these wars was STARTED by Roman Catholic Kings, urged on by Pope and Jesuit, for the purpose of crushing Protestantism. They were the Aggressors. The Protestants were on the Defensive. Dutch, German nor French Protestants became Political Parties till after years of persecution.
The Thirty Years War, 1618-48. In Bohemia and Hungary, by 1580, Protestants were in the majority, including most of the land-owning nobles. Emperor Ferdinand II, of the House of Hapsburg, had been educated by the Jesuits; and with their help undertook to suppress Protestantism. The Protestants united for defense. The first part of the war, 1618-29, was a Catholic victory; they succeeded In driving Protestantism out of all Catholic States. Then they determined to re-Catholicize the Protestant States of Germany. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, realized that the fall of Protestant Germany would mean the fall of Sweden, and perhaps the end of Protestantism. He entered the war, and his army was victorious, 1630-32. He saved the day for the Protestant cause. The rest of the war, 1632-48, was mainly a struggle between France and the House of Hapsburg, ending with France the leading power in Europe. The Thirty Years War had started as a Religious War; it ended as a Political War; it resulted in the death of 10,000.000 to 20,000,000. Jesuit educated Ferdinand II started it with the purpose of crushing Protestantism. It ended with the Peace of Westphalia, 1648, which fixed the lines between Romanist and Protestant States.
Papal Persecutions. The number of Martyrs under Papal Persecutions far outnumbered the Early Christian Martyrs under Pagan Rome: hundreds of thousands among the Albigenses, Waldenses, and Protestants of Germany, Netherlands, Bohemia, and other countries. Truly "the Great Harlot was Drunk with the Blood of Saints." It is common to excuse the Popes in this matter by saying that it was the "spirit of the age," and that "Protestants also persecuted." As for the "spirit of the age," whose age was it? and who made it so? The Popes. It was their world. For a 1000 years they had been training the world to be in subjection to them. If the Popes had not taken the Bible from the people, the people would have known better, and it would NOT have been "the spirit of the age." It was NOT the spirit of Christ, and "Vicars of Christ" should have known better. Persecution is the spirit of the DEVIL, even tho carried on in the name of Christ.
Protestant Persecutions. Calvin consented to the death of Servetus. In Holland Caivinists executed an Arminian. In Germany Lutherans put to death a few Anabaptists. In England Protestant Edward VI executed 2 Roman Catholics in 6 years (Romanist Mary in the 5 following years burned 282 Protestants). Elizabeth executed, in 45 years 187 Romanists, most of them for treason, not heresy. In Massachusetts, 1659, 3 Quakers were hanged by Puritans, and, in 1692, 20 were executed for witchcraft. All told a few hundred martyrs may be charged against Protestants, at most not over a few thousand; but to Rome, untold millions. While the Reformation was a grand struggle for Religious Freedom, the Reformers were slow in granting to others what they sought for themselves. But the fundamental principles of their movement were Against Persecution for Religious Belief. Luther said: "Let us REASON this thing out." The Pope answered: "SUBMIT, or be burned." Even tho the Reformers themselves here and there showed traces of Rome's Intolerance, yet their teaching was that Christianity should be propagated Purely and Exclusively by Intellectual and Moral and Spiritual means. Rome's idea: Conversion by FORCE, by the secular Arm, by WAR. In Protestant countries Persecution ceased by 1700.
Public Education. One of the conspicuous features of Luther's work was his emphasis on Public Education. Rome had dominated the world for a 1,000 years, and yet the great mass of people could neither read nor write. And in Roman Catholic countries Public Ignorance still seems to flourish, as compared with Protestant countries. The following table gives the Percentage of ILLITERATES.
Argentine (1895) ……….54 Holland (1900) ………..…4
Australia (1921) …………1.5 Hungary (1910) ………...33
Austria (1910) …………..19 India (1921)……………. 93
Belgium (1910) ………….13 Ireland (1911)………….. 17
Brazil (1890) …………….85 Italy (1911) ……………...38
Bulgaria (1905) ………….66 Mexico (1910) …………..70
Canada (1921)…………… 6 Philippines (1903) ……….56
China …………………….80 Portugal (1911) …………69
Chile (1907) ………………50 Rumania (19C9)……….. 61
Egypt (1917) ……………..92 Russia (1897) ……………69
England (1910)………….. 6 Scotland (1900) …………4
France (1906) …………….14 Spain (1920)…………… 46
Germany (1900) …………..1 Switzerland (1900)……... 3
Greece (1907) …………….57 United States (1920)……. 6
While within the last few years nearly all countries have adopted Compulsory Education, and illiteracy is disappearing, yet this table shows under which Institutions Public Intelligence has flourished.
Two Civilizations. For 300 years now there have been in our Western world two very well defined civilizations: PROTESTANT, standing for the Open Bibia, Popular Education, Democratic Institutions, Social Reform, Liberty of Conscience, Freedom of Speech, dominant in Germany, ScandinaVia, England, Scotland, United States and Canada; ROMAN CATHOLIC, temporizing with these things, but not standing for them, dominant in Italy, Spain, Mexico, South America. THESE TWO CIVILIZATIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Note:
1650 A.D. The creed of Pope Pius IV was imposed as the official creed instead of scriptures.
CHURCH HISTORY
19
PROTESTANTISM
Its Divisions. The Protestant Movement was an effort of a part of the Western Church to free itself from the authority of Rome, and to gain for every man the right to w/orship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Inevitably, in the break-away, the struggle for freedom resolved itself into different streams with different emphasis carrying over some of Rome's errors. The Movement, now about 400 years old, has made enormous growth and remarkable improvement. There is a growing spirit of unity, and a clearer understanding of Christianity. With all its divisions it is a thousand-fold better than Papalism. The Protestant Church, tho it is a long way from perfection, in spite of its cross-currents and its weaknesses, beyond any doubt whatever, represents the Purest Form of Christianity in the world today; and probably the purest the church has known since the first three centuries. On the whole, there is no nobler set of men in the world than the Protestant Ministers.
National Churches. Wherever Protestantism triumphed a National Church arose: Lutheran in Germany; Episcopal in England; Presbyterian in Scotland; etc. Worship conducted in the language of the country, as against the universal use of Latin in Romanist churches. Invariably when the church in any country gained its freedom from the Pope it began to make progress in self-purification.
The United States was colonized: 1607, by Anglican Puritans, In Virginia: 1615, by Dutch Reformed, in New York; 1620, by Puritans, in Massachusetts; 1634, by English Catholics, in Baltimore, who could obtain their charter only by allowing freedom to all religions; 1639, by Baptists, in Rhode Island, under Roger Williams pioneer in advocating unlimited toleration for all religions; 1681, by Quakers, in Pennsylvania; lured to our shores in search of Religious Liberty. Thus our country came into being on the principles of Religious Toleration for all, and of absolute Separation of Church and State; principles that are now permeating all the Governments of the world, so that, in recent years, very many countries, even Roman Catholic countries, have decreed Separation of Church and State (though there seems to be a setback just now) ; which means a great victory, for churches will become purer as they are supported by Voluntary contributions instead of tax money, and truth flourishes better under Free institutions than under Enforced systems of belief.
The Future of the Protestant Movement is bound up In Its attitude toward the Bible. "With the traditional form of Christianity there was handed down, in the Sacred Text itself, a source of divine knowledge, not exposed in like manner to corruption, from which the Church might learn how to distinguish Primitive Christianity from all subsequent additions, and so carry forward the work of keeping the Church pure till its completion."
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Founded by Robert Raikes, an editor of Gloucester, England, 1780, to give Christian training to poor and unschooled children. Founded as a missionary branch of the church, it has grown enormously, and has now become a normal part of church life. Originally church attendance was required of the pupils. Now, to an alarming extent, it has become a Substitute for church. Its great value is its promotion of the Bible, and its development of layman leadership, which in the long run will save Protestantism from the abuses of clerical autocracy which has been such a blight to the Roman church.
MODERN WORLD-WIDE MISSIONS
The Most Important movement in history. Supplies some of the most thrilling stories in all literature, vibrant with life and heroism and helpfulness. Neither preachers nor Sunday School teachers pay enough attention to the lives of missionaries. Every congregation ought to hear over and over the story of Livingstone, unmatched among the world's heroes; and Carey, Morrison, Judson, Moffat, Martin, Paton, and others, who have borne the tidings of Christ to distant lands and founded systems of preaching and Christian education and philanthropy which are transforming the world. When history is finished, and the whole story of mankind can be seen in its broad general perspective, it will probably be found that the World-Wide Missionary Movement of the past century, in its total influence on the nations, will have constituted THE MOST GLORIOUS CHAPTER IN THE ANNALS OF MAN.
THE GREEK, OR EASTERN ORTHODOX, CATHOLIC CHURCH
Christianity was first established in the Eastern, or Greek part of the Roman Empire. For two hundred years Greek was the language of Christianity.
In 330 A D Constantine made Constantinople Capital of the Roman Empire; henceforth, there was rivalry with Rome.
In 395 the Roman Empire was divided into the Eastern and Western Empires; Constantinople the seat of the Eastern, and Rome, the Western.
In 632-638 the three Eastern centers of Christianity, Syria, Palestine and Egypt gave way to Mohammedanism; and Constantinople alone was left.
At the eighth Ecumenical Council, 869, occurred the final schism between the Greek and Latin Churches. From the first the East refused to recognize the primacy of Rome.
At times there have been attempts to reunite the churches; but they have been futile, because the East would not acknowledge the authority of the Pope.
The Greek Church, now the church of southeastern Europe and Russia, is one of the three great divisions of Christendom, numbering 150,000,000 as against 340,000,000 Roman Catholics and 210,000,000 Protestants; or approximately one-fifth of Christian population of the world.
The Greek Church, in many of its practices, is very similar to the Roman Catholic Church. They do not require celibacy of their priests. The Church, being controlled by the State, there have not been struggles with civil rulers, as in the West, between Emperors and Popes.
Notes:
1854 A.D. The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX. All men, except Jesus are sinners. Mary also needed a Savior
( Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12 Psalms 51:5 )
1870 A.D. Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility. This is a blasphemy and the sign of the apostasy and of the antichrist predicted by the apostle Paul.
( 2Thes 2:2-12 Rev. 17:9 Rev. 13:5-8,18 )
Many Bible students see the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), 666 in the Roman letters of
pope's title.
VICARIVS FILII DEI
(Latin: Vicar or Representative of the Son of God)
VICAR=GOD INCARNATE
1907 A.D. Pope Pius X condemned all modern science not approved by the church. Pius IX had done the same thing in Syllabus of 1864.
1950 A.D. Pius XI condemned the public schools.
1951 A.D. Pius XI reaffirmed the doctrine that Mary is the "Mother of God." This lie was the first invention by the Council of Ephesus in 431. This is a heresy, contrary to Mary's own words. ( Luke 1:46-49 John 2:1-5 )
1960 A.D. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII, another Roman
Catholic invention. They say it never changes; yet, it has continually invented new
doctrines contrary to the Bible and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken bodily from
paganism. Scholars report that 75% of the rites and ceremonies of the Catholics are
of pagan origin.
1960 A.D. Cardinal Newman in “The Development of the Christian Religion,” admits that “…temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and season of devotions, processions, blessings of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priest, monks and nuns), images…are all of pagan origin…"
CHURCH HISTORY
20
CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF
THE PROTESTANT MOVEMENT
in
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES
Edward II 1307-1327
Edward III 1327-1377
Wyclif 1324-1384
Richard II 1377-1399
Henry IV 1399-1413
Henry V 1413-1422
Henry VI 1422-1461 Invention of Printing 1450
Edward IV 1461-1483
Richard III 1483-1485 Discovery America 1492
Henry VII 1485-1509 Luther 1433-1546
Henry VIII 1509-1547 Calvin 1509-1564
Edward VI 1547-1553 Knox 1515-1572
Mary 1553-1558 (bloody Mary)
Elizabeth 1558-1603 Rise of Puritanism
James I 1603-1625 Issued creation of KJV1611 Bible
Charles I 1625-1649 Roger Williams 1604-1634
Cromwell 1653-1653
Charles II 1660-1685
James II 1685-1688
Wm&Mary 1689-1702
Anne 1702-1714
George I 1714-1727
George II 1727-1760
Wesley 1703-1791
George III 1760-1820 American Revolution 1775
George IV 1820-1830 French Revolution 1789
William IV 1830-1837
Victoria 1837-1901
Edward VII 1901-1910
George V 1910-1936
George VI 1937-1952
Elizabeth II 1952- 2022
Charles III 2023-PRESENT
Wyclif, 14th century, the "morning star of the Reformation", translated the Bible into English, and paved the way for the Reformation in England.
Luther, Calvin, Knox, 16th century, were the leaders in the Protestant Revolution that freed Western Europe from bondage to the Papacy.
Puritanism, early half of the 17th century, arose in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was produced by a popular interest in the Bible. It was a reform movement within the Church of England, protesting against the lifeless formalism of the times, and aiming at general purity and righteousness of life. Because they were persecuted by the ecclesiastical authorities, they separated themselves into Independent Churches, mostly Baptist, Congregational and Presbyterian. It was from among these Puritans that New England was colonized, lured to the shores of the New World, in search of liberty.
Roger Williams, 17th century, an Episcopal clergyman, was driven out of Massachusetts, 1636, and founded the colony of Rhode Island, where he affiliated himself with the Baptists. The Puritans had been very zealous in demanding liberty of conscience for themselves. But Williams insisted on it for ALL. His great passion was for the ABSOLUTE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. All honor to the Baptists for their unceasing emphasis on it, for there are still mighty forces at work that would rob us of this precious heritage if they could.
John Wesley, 18th century, a hundred years after the rise of Puritanism, and a product of it, for his mother was of Puritan stock. At a time when the Church had again fallen into lifeless formalism, he preached the doctrine of the witness of the Spirit and of a holy life. He was a rector in the Church of England, but they would not let him preach his doctrines in the churches. So he preached in the fields, mining camps and street corners. Organized societies of holy living, and spent his long life looking after them. Like the Puritan movement of the preceding century, he changed the whole moral tone of England. His movement is generally credited with saving England from a French Revolution. One of earth's greatest.
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