Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/120

* ENGLAND, CHURCH OF. 98 the English reformers began to look upon what had already been completed as but partial, and intro- ductory to other changes thought by them to be equally essential. From this source arose the pro- line evils belonging to that Puritanism which j ht as great damage as the Erastianism with which much of the previous work had been accom- panied. Elizabeth herself had little religious sen- timent, and questions of State determined her pol- icy to abel and foster the Reformation movement. But she had no liking for the Puritanical spirit, which boded a curtailment of the prerogatives of the throne and an assertion of rights, which might intrench upon the privileges of Tudor absolul ism While seeking to hold Puritanism in cheek, never- theless, her minister understood its value to the Queen, and judiciously maintained a balance be- the retroactive and extreme reforming par- ties. There was still considerable religious contro- versy, in which 'the judicious Hooker' took a prom- inent part. Archbishop Parker — a thorough!} loyal pi scholarly man. and an efficient or- o 3 to this same period. The almosl unanimous conformity — only 200 clergymen quit- ted their benefices at Elizabeth's accession — was. no doubt, due in part to the severe penal laws ■iced. There was no visible norfoi i! until the Pope, finding Elizabeth i his appeals and determined in her refusal to acknowledge his supremacy, formally excommu- nicated her and absolved her subjects from alle- to her. Thus encouraged, the Papal adhe- rents began to separate themselves into a distinct community in the year 1570. They had, however, for nearly a century no bishops of their own. ex- cept for six years, when a titular bishop, sent from Rome, resided in England. The Puritans, failing to bring the Church to their way of thinking, cut themselves off from her communion, and set up communities of their own. Having — notwithstanding Archbishop Whitgift'a earnest struggle against them — se- cured a majority in both Eouses of Parliament, they passed an ordinance to establish a Presby- form of government. The Prayer-Book and episco] y were practically abolished fur a season, despite the brave and determined protests and opposition of non-conforming churchmen. Convocation in 1563 settled and '•ii "i I loci rine n hich has ii remained an authoritative teaching • i the English Church. It also set Forth, with il authority, a second Book of Homilies. a I. did not prove very serviceable to the 1'uritan-. altl gh he waa nol always reliable in his support of the Church, lie restored the to his nat ive Scot land, and ordered a revision of the English version of the Holy Scrip 1 i ii of ' lharlea I. and Archbishop the King and prelate may rightly be joined together, such was theii i lly in character and policy was a t to the Church. Their de- i i heir sacrifices in her behall II lie doubted or belittled, how- uch it i- i | t ne ,,„,. w . ls o( her in conciliatori i rheir n in in honorable mar- The period of the I . I ■ ■, . .I. in hj | and yel po er il may be tENGLAND, CHURCH OF. that this very lawlessness was more to the advan- tage of the Church than any system which they could have put into operation. Of the varied mischief and cruelty to the Church perpetrated during this period, there was ample evidence everywhere; and the senseless and profane dam- age done by or under Cromwell's order is still visible in cathedrals and churches throughout the kingdom. On the restoration of Charles II. (1G60). the persecutions and other outward disasters to the Church came substantially to an end; and she be- gan once more to go on with her work quietly and prosperously. No period, perhaps, furnished a richer company of learned and godly divines, among whom may be mentioned Sanderson, Jeremy Taylor. Barrow, Pearson, and Bull, who were worthy successors of Jewel, Hooker, An- drewes, and Hammond. The peace of the Church was again disturbed by the efforts of James II. to reestablish the Papal supremacy. His subjects were so generally indignant at these efforts that the King was driven from his throne (1688). It is calculated that at this time nineteen-twentieths of them were, at least nominally, adherents of the Church. William and Mary were declared King and Queen. Hence arose the non-jurors — bishops and others who refused to swear allegiance to the new dy- nasty. The greatest among them were Ken and Sancroft. Much controversy ensued; but event- mi lly most of the non-jurors returned to the Church, and were reconciled to the succession. Sheldon bad perhaps greater and more uncon- trolled power than any who had preceded or have followed him in the primacy. He superintended and to a large extent dictated the reconstruction of the Churches of England, Scotland, and Wales, alter the Great Rebellion. With the formation, in 1038. of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and, in 1701, of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and with the fostering care of Queen Anne, the Church began her history in the eighteenth century under most favorable circum- stances. The clergy attained to an influence never before surpassed, their great zeal and dis- interestedness contributing in no small measure to this result. The advent of George I. boded no good to the Church. Before long. Bishop Hoad- ley's heterodox writings brought much disquiet harm. They were condemned by Convocai ion, for which act it was summarily prorogued — to reassemble, withoul legislative functions, only in the middle of the next century — the foreign prince's ministers treating the matter as one of a political character. How many evils resulted the long-continued silence of the Church's te i council it is impossible to say: but it. n blow from which it took many years to re- i Walpole, who was so influential with the monarch, encouraged a policy of quietness, and. by practically preventing (he discussion of es, became B very questionable benefactor to ureh. Various causes tended to prevent the fair pros- pects that marked the opening of the eighteenth century from being realized al its close. Promi- nent among the i maj be mentioned the system of pluralities and non residence, and the abuse of patronage. The Church was now somewhat in a transition state Not being compelled any longer to flghl for her verj existence and nationality,