"Granny's Chapters" (on scriptural subjects) / The New Testament, with a Sketch of the Subsequent History of the Jews.

by Lady Mary Ross

Chapter XIV.—SEPARATION IN THE CHURCH.

The events which have been noticed in Spain and Portugal, extended well into the sixteenth century, and thus belong to modern history; for the fifteenth is the last of the ten centuries known in history as "the Middle Ages," during which, as we have seen, the sufferings of the Jews were very terrible. It is impossible here to give a particular account of this persecuted race in all countries, during the centuries that have since elapsed.

In the sixteenth century took place that important movement in the Christian church, spoken of in history as "the Reformation."

In speaking of the Inquisition, allusion has been made to the feelings of mistrust and opposition, which had arisen in regard to the Pope, and the Church of which he claimed to be the head.

By the beginning of the eleventh century, the Papal power, or power of the Popes, was far greater than that of any sovereign; and kings were obliged to acknowledge and submit to it, because in case of any dispute, their subjects would probably have obeyed the Pope rather than their own sovereigns. Nor was this extraordinary, since the people were led by the priests to believe, that they could not possibly be saved, unless they obeyed the Pope in everything; and that on the other hand, he could forgive their sins, and ensure their salvation. Thus was the Pope put almost into the place of God.

This naturally produced evil consequences, and for more than two centuries the corruptions of the Church of Rome went on increasing: the real doctrines and truths of the Gospel were more and more forgotten, and its precepts disobeyed; so that wickedness seemed everywhere triumphant. Such a sad state of things led many to think, that as the Pope and his clergy were not teaching the truth as contained in the Scripture, some reform was greatly needed. This feeling once roused, spread rapidly; and in the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was strengthened and confirmed by the preaching of a German, called Martin Luther. Luther was born in a.d. 1483, at Eisleben, in Lower Saxony: wishing to devote himself to a religious life, he entered a monastery of Augustines. His fondness for learning caused him to be appointed as a teacher in the new University of Wittemberg: but his studies soon taught him that the church to which he belonged, had departed very far from Gospel truth and practice; and a journey to Rome showed him so much that was wrong in the lives and conduct of her clergy, as quite to destroy all his reverence for the Pope. His own mind being thus made up, Luther boldly declared his convictions; and taught that all who wished to be saved by Jesus Christ, must make a great change in their religious opinions and practice; and instead of blindly obeying the Church of Rome, must strive to worship God as the Apostles and early Christians had done; for this purpose he urged every individual to read and study the Holy Scriptures, which the Pope did not permit any member of his Church to do. People of all ranks listened to Luther's words; and many determined no longer to submit to the Pope's dictation, but to purify the Church, by extirpating the errors which had one after another crept into her doctrines and practice, so as to restore her to her original condition of a scriptural Church.

Whole nations now shook off the authority of the Pope, and became separate branches of the One Catholic or Universal Church established by the Apostles, and of which Jesus Christ is the true and only head. In a.d. 1517, when Henry the Eighth was King of England, such a branch was established in our own country, and called "the Church of England"; whilst to that branch over which the Pope still rules, we give the name of "the Church of Rome."

All the works of man are liable to error, and in this great separation from the Church of Rome, some mistakes were probably made; nor were all who advocated the changes actuated by holy and religious motives. But whatever mistakes may have been made, we find in the teaching of the Church of England the way of salvation. All of us who have been baptized into this Church, must ever remember with thankfulness that we belong to a Church which bids us take the Holy Scripture as our rule of life. As members of such a Church, let us always strive to act up to our baptismal vows, carefully studying all the articles of the Christian faith, that we may hold them fast; and that our faith may be firm and lively: let us renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, constantly striving against sin in every form, so that we may truly keep the commandments and precepts of God: loving Him with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves, for His sake. If we are thus true and worthy members of the Church Militant upon earth, we shall, through the atonement and mediation of Jesus Christ, be hereafter received into His Church triumphant in Heaven.

Before we go on, it will be well to say a few words as to the word "Protestant," often applied both to Churches and individuals who have separated from the Church of Rome. To "protest," means to "object to," to "declare against." "Protestant," therefore, only means one who objects to anything, or declares against it; and so the word came to be applied to those, who so objected to the errors and false doctrines of the Church of Rome (which claimed for itself alone the title of Catholic), as to separate from it, and establish a reformed branch. In this sense the Church of England may be called Protestant; but we must never give up our claim of being a true and pure branch of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head.