Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/77

 Reformation was not really the Church of Rome. What have you learnt to-night? Certainly that England did not recognize that the Pope was their lord and master, their Spiritual Father before the Reformation.

The Church of England, as a Church, was not a papal Church in the years we have had under our review. Had it been a papal Church you would not have seen so many national movements to curb the Pope's authority. Had it been a papal Church no doubt would have been raised respecting the Pope's right of spiritual lordship. What you have learned to-night is that the Popes of Rome tried their utmost to subjugate England to their will, and to make our Church subservient to their aims. You have learnt also that Rome sowed the seeds of strife, which were not destroyed till after the age of the Reformation. England before the Reformation was not strong enough to deal effectually with the Popes and their cautious emissaries. It had to tolerate the aggressions of a despotic master, and to be content merely with feebly objecting to his conduct, and with expressions of disapproval and contempt.

Next week I hope to speak on that movement known as the Reformation.