An English Reformer: The Works of Nicholas Ridley

The Works of Nicholas Ridley, ed. Parker Society Series (Cambridge: Cambridge Press, 1843).

This work includes a biographical introduction, a “Treatise against Transubstantiation,””Lamentation,” “Treatise against Image Worship,””Conference with Latimer,””Conference with Secretary Bourne,””A Determination Concerning the Sacrament,””Disputation at Oxford,””Examination before the Queen’s Commissioners,” along with a set of smaller documents, e.g. a conference with Gardiner and assorted letters. It also includes six appendices, essentially more letters.

As a book, it is free and downloadable in pdf-format at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=tucYAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+works+of+nicholas+ridley&as_brr=1

A few miscellaneous and discursive notes are offered.

B. early 15th century. Entered Pembroke College, Cambridge (1518), earning a BA in 1522. Became a fellow at Pembroke, 1524. Earned MA, 1525. Studies at Sorbonne, 1527. Senior Proctor at Pembroke and earns B.D., 1534. Was made a Doctor of Divinity (the D.D. degree was given when it meant something, unlike America and unlike the Reformed Episcopal Church which confers such on unpublished and unstudied clerks.) As the senior proctor, he signed the document against the Pope’s supremacy in England. Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, 1537. Master of Pembroke and Chaplain to Henry VIII, 1540. Bishop of Rochester, 1547. Bishop of London, 1550, during King Edward’s times. Crowds are attracted by his preaching.

Had Ridley been a member of the White Horse Inn? He was known to have a great memory and great wit; also, he was “known for great wit and skill in reducing obstinate Papists” from their views. He was careful to instruct his family, reading from Acts and St. Paul’s Epistles after evening prayer.

He was nominated to Durham bishopric, but exempted from amnesty by order of Queen Mary 1, 1553. He was committed to the Tower, 1553. Theological disputes are held at Oxford in 1554 and he was burnt at the stake in 1555.

He was largely influenced in reading Bertram’s view on the Sacrament of the Table. It was said that “Latimer leaneth to Cranmer. Cranmer leaneth to Ridley. Ridley leaneth to his own wit.” An aphorism of the period.

One work herein is “A Brief Declaration about the Lord’s Supper against Transubstantiation written during his imprisonment, 1555.” He was not a hunter for promotion or advancement re: bishoprics. He saw himself, like St. Paul, to be a defender of the Gospel (Gal.1-2). A grand prayer is offered to understand the Table, an issue of long dispute amongst Reformers on the Continent. An interesting analysis of the Gospel writers with St. Paul in 1 Cor.11. The importance of self-examination is under-scored. The breaking of bread is a “participation in the body of Christ.” A serious examination proceeds about the Body and Blood of Christ. Ridley declares his effort to set forth the instruction of God’s Word on the matter. The issue of the double-ministration, cup and body emerges. The Mass of the sacrifice is “perjurious” to the Scriptures. “High blasphemy and heinous arrogance” to affirm the Romish doctrine.. The “sacrifice of the Mass” is injurious to Christ’s passion. Tertullian and Augustine called the elements the figurative elements. Augustine plainly argues contra: transubstantiation. Psalm 3, figurative expressions. Christ is absent in body, but not in Spirit.

“The Piteous Lamentation re: the Miserable Estate of the Church of England is the Last Revolt.” Ridley laments the anti-Scripture spirit. The “Papists” cry down the English catechism. Prayers were made throughout England to deliver the land from the “enormities” of Romish transgressions. PV—well should this prayer be reclaimed by all Confessional, Protestant Churchmen. Claims against the Papist practice of the Latin, rather than the English tongue, for services. Ridley laments the bondage and darkness that has befallen England. This reminds uf of Luther's Babylonian Captivity. He notes that Cranmer, Lever, and Knox had ripped into the “backs” of Romanism. God’s plague on England justified. Yet, Antichrist has been revived in England.

Well would Anglican bishops to read Ridley, let alone those forlorn REC bishops. Don't look for this from Christianity Today or other centres of advertisment. Do not look for this from David Virtue at http://www.virtueonline.org/ or from the new ACNA leaders. You surely shall not hear this from the Orthodox Metropolitan of the US, who condemned the Reformation as "heretical" without as much as a peep from Archbishop Duncan. Ridley's Piteous Lamentation applies to these days as well. Any Protestant, Reformed and Confessional Churchman should read these English Reformers.

Ridley rehearses the greed of English magistrates, princes, courtiers and even Gospellers, who of convenience, blew with the wind rather than to have had convictions born of God’s Word. He speaks even of the Henrician period and the despoliation of the churches and revenues for greed. He notes that Cranmer, Knox, Bradford, Latimer and Lever spoke energetically and deeply to the power-structures and persons, to wit, that divine judgments had befallen the land in the Marian period.

One thing emerges in reading these English Reformers—they did not fear to apply God’s Word to the contemporary situation. It was not mere academics, but a learned, academic and applied theology. He laments the “return of the doctrine of Antichrist” to England. You will find no Anglicans, Packer included, who will call Tractarians’ doctrine anti-Christ or anti-Christian.

Ridley counsels English Churchmen who can flee to flee. He offers St. Paul’s example of an escape while in Damascus, an honourable retreat to fight another day. Athanasius did this going into exile a number of times. Christ commanded believers to flee when there were persecutions. Rev.18: flee from Babylon lest one be infected with her spirit and errors. Anglicanism is afar from its roots.

He encourages his readers to not shrink from the tasks of reform and freedom from Papalism, yet warns about running rashly or presumptuously into danger.