half-century the earth will be rid of us, and of our drivellings. But we see no immediate danger of such a delinquency in our body at large, whatever may be the case with some individuals; and even of them we have reason to "hope for better things," the encouragements to fidelity are so great and manifest, and the way to success so plain. There is a door to usefulness and efficient labor open before us, such as few bodies of Christians have been favored with in any age of the world. We have only to abide true to the sacred trust we have in charge, we have only to see that we do not grow “ashamed of the gospel," nor substitute, for that “ power of God," vanities which have been tried again and again with empty issue; we have but to occupy the whole field upon which we have entered, and, while maintaining that God will "reconcile all things to himself" by Jesus Christ, be careful to keep this truth in the same relations with the general system of Christianity that it holds in the New Testament; and the leaven that is working will ferment the entire mass. It is a privilege, that we may hum. bly accept, to be the agents in this renovation. If we read "the signs of the times" aright, we are now ap proaching a crisis, more propitious than we have hitherto seen, for a wide and rapid extension of the gospel under the light of this truth. But let us be aware that the crisis, when it comes, will bring with it increased responsibilities, and a greater demand for effort, self-sacrifice, and singlehearted devotedness to the cause of Christ. The Lord grant that we be not found wanting!

H. B. 2d.

ART. X.

Cranmer and the Anglican Church.

An investigation of the causes that led to the establishment of Protestantism in England, is a subject of deep interest, especially to those who would know any thing

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about the Anglican Church. The Reformation, there, proceeded in a peculiar way, and was guided by a singular man.

Thomas Cranmer, the first protestant archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Aslacton, in the county of Nottingham, England, July 2, 1489. His father being dead, he was sent by his mother to Jesus College, Cambridge, when fourteen years of age. He lost his fellowship at Cambridge by marrying, and was appointed lecturer at Magdalen College, at twenty-three. His wife died one. year after marriage, and Cranmer was re-elected to fellowship in his former college. In 1524, Wolsey made him an offer of preferment in the new foundation at Oxford, but he declined. He was appointed divinity lecturer at Cambridge, and was elected by the University one of the examiners in that faculty, in 1526. Two years after, the plague visited Cambridge, and Cranmer retired to Waltham, where he had an interview with Fox and Gardiner, and gave his opinion in regard to Henry's divorce. His views were reported to the king, and his fortune was made. Henry sent for him to Court, and introduced him to the earl of Wiltshire, father of Anne Boleyn. In the earl's house, Cranmer wrote his famous treatise on the king's divorce; and was sent on the same business to Rome, in 1530. After his return to England, he went on an embassy to Germany, where he met some of the Reformers, and married the niece of Osiander. In 1532, he was summoned home from the Continent, to be made archbishop. He was steadily supported by Henry VIII., as long as that king ruled. By the will of Henry, Cranmer, in 1547, was placed at the head of a regency, by which, during the minority of Edward, the kingdom was to be governed. He retained the favor of Edward until the premature death of the young and precocious king, in 1553. Cranmer then took part in the affair of Lady Jane Grey, and, at the close of her brief reign, undertook to win the favor of Mary. In the first year of Mary's reign, he was summoned before the Queen's commissioners and the council, was committed to the tower, accused, and declared guilty of high treason, and imprisoned with the Lady Jane, Ridley, Bradford, and Latimer. The archbishop was degraded, and recanted six times in hope of

saving his life. He afterwards retracted his recantations, and was burnt, in 1556.

Such are the outlines of his life; but to judge of his character is no easy task. It is fortunate that we have well authenticated facts, from which to form an estimate of the man. It is said that no human eye can read the heart, that no insight can lead us to motives; and we have no objection to such a charitable protest in favor of the erring; but when we are commanded not to form any conclusions in regard to character, we must plead for the natural operation of the mind; for in our intercourse with men we are obliged to judge and to act upon our judgement. Christ himself has said, that men are known by their fruits. With Cranmer, we would simply be just. There are few men in history, whose nature it is so difficult to analyze. About the deeds of his life, there has never been any very dignified controversy, but they have been variously estimated, by opposite parties.

That

We admit, in the beginning, that Cranmer knew the right, and pursued it, when it cost him no sacrifice. he was perverse, because he was naturally inclined in that direction, no one entitled by knowledge of his life to pronounce a judgement, will admit. Under favorable circumstances, he would have been a good man. Had he lived in peaceable times, when the current of events flows on without change of course, he might have been a consistent man. If a fatal opportunity had not given him a chance to turn courtier, he might have remained as divinity lecturer and examiner at Cambridge, securing the esteem of his fellow doctors, and adding something to the theological literature of his times. If self-interest had not brought him in contact with Rome, he might have lived a godly life in her service, and might have died with her blessing, instead of her curse. He was by no means an intrinsically bad man. He did many noble things, which command our admiration. With circumstances as much in his favor as against him, he would undoubtedly have pursued a course of strict integrity. We admit, that the bent of his nature was towards goodness, that the inclination of his heart was towards virtue and benevolence. In him the selfish elements were strong. He was ambitious. He loved distinction and applause. He liked to bask in

the sunshine of royal smiles. The world had a large place in his heart. The higher qualities of his nature were not strong enough to resist the lower elements, when he was brought within the reach of temptations. We do not attribute the defects of Cranmer's character, so much to absence of moral feeling, as to the presence of large selfish propensities.

This gives us the key to Cranmer's character, and will enable us to explain facts that are otherwise enigmatical. When the avaricious, fierce, and sensual Henry was using every effort to get a divorce from his queen, Cranmer took fortune at its flow, by giving an opinion, that most of all pleased the king. Henry was bribing European schools to give a favorable answer to the question of the illegality of his marriage with Catharine. He was sueing in vain to the court of Rome. Most of the theologians of his own realm were against him. He was greatly pleased that a doctor of some ability, belonging to the faculty in the University of Cambridge, should decide in accordance with his wish. To favor the project of Henry, Cranmer not only wrote a treatise in the house of Anne Boleyn's father, but undertook a mission to pope Clement, and went on an embassy to Germany. A vacancy opportunely occurred in the see of Canterbury, and Henry rewarded his faithful tool.

The dissimulation of Cranmer most especially appeared when he took the oath of obedience to Rome. He took the oath, after having protested against it in the most solemn manner: "I, Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury elect, do before you, persons of authority and credible witnesses, here present, say, allege, and, by this present instrument in writing, openly, publicly, and expressly protest, that whereas at my consecration, or at the time thereof, I am obliged to take the oath, or oaths, usually taken by the archbishops of Canterbury elect to the pope, for form sake, rather than for any essentiality or obligation there is in the thing, in order to my obtaining the same; it neither is, nor shall be, my will or intention to oblige myself by said oath, or oaths, howsoever the same may seem to be worded, to any thing hereafter to be said, done, or attempted, by reason thereof, which shall be, or seem to be, contrary to the law of God, or contrary to our most

illustrious king of England, or the commonwealth of this his kingdom of England, or to the laws or prerogatives of the same." It was virtually saying that he would swear like a machine, without conscience. The contest between Dr. Todd and Dr. Lingard, as to whether the protest was given secretly or publicly, is ridiculous enough. The only way for a conscientious man was to decline the oath; but the rich see of Canterbury was too great a temptation for one like Cranmer.

Henry despaired of assistance from the pope, and the new archbishop pronounced his divorce from his lawful wife. He also officiated at Henry's shameless marriage with Anne Boleyn. Henry had penetration enough to see, that that fascinating woman had married the king, rather than the man. It was no difficult thing to find accusations against her, when he grew weary of her; and Cranmer was ready to undo the marriage. He was for a long time on terms of intimacy with Cromwell. During his prosperity, Cromwell had no better friend than the archbishop. We call it base ingratitude, when a man forsakes his friend in adversity. Cranmer not only forsook the prime minister when the tide of fortune turned, but, among others, cast a vote to have him executed without trial. No possible excuse can be assigned for his divorcing Henry from Anne of Cleves. Between him and the will of his sovereign, conscience was not allowed to intrude. His course was a beautiful illustration of the doctrine, that the "higher law" demands entire obedi

ence to the " powers that be." When Somerset was laboring to procure, without trial, the death of his brother, Cranmer lent a helping hand. The destroyer of Somerset, in turn, found the archbishop available.

After Henry's death, Cranmer turned hither and thither, always supporting the dominant party. He plays no small part in the tragedy of Lady Jane. He became the tool of Northumberland, and used his influence to overcome the just scruples of one whose fate has been deeply lamented. Notwithstanding the stately rhetoric of Hume, Dudley was not worthy to be a footman to one so beautiful, so accomplished, so lovely, so elevated in mind, and so exalted in character. The student of English history and the English constitution, knows that Jane was not