A friend asks a question re: Cranmer's Preface to the Great Bible. We posted that here. http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/thomas-cranmers-preface-to-great-bible.html
My friend, a Reformed Anglican, asks: Why is this gold mine not explored?
A few suggested reasons.
1. American Anabaptism--Baptist, Revivalist, Enthusiast--teachings dominant the American landscape. Theology, confessions and liturgy are substantively minimalistic, Arminian, experience-based, and anti-intellectual. Fundamentally, these folks do not think like Cranmer. This Preface by Cranmer makes the Bible--as the Westminster Confession puts it--"most necessary." Cranmer views the Bible as man's "daily medicine."
2. Emergent theology which makes Scriptures less than clear or necessary. Brian McClaren is a liberal.
3. Megachurchdom leaders that abuse the Bible making it a quarry for self-help.
4. Liberalism in the mainline which erases the fear of the LORD.
5. Generally, hypocrisy--as in the days of the Judges and other periods of religious declension. We have other loves and values.
6. As to Anglicans, liberalism above obtains, e.g. #4 above.
7. Leaders with shrivelled up stones who will not speak courageously and believingly like Cranmer. Calvin's Preface is quite bold. Cranmer's love of the Bible is little appreciated from my experiences with Episcopalians. Again, as I have said before many times, Cranmer really became an earnest Bible student. At some time, he crossed the Rubicon and saw the necessity and value of Bible knowledge. I am unaware of the exact date, but, as an examiner of ordinands at Cambridge, he turned many away from holy orders. These ordinands had studied and were learned in the scholastics and fathers--secondary sources, but did not know the Bible--the primary source. He told them to go back and study the Bible for a few years--the Bible itself. He ruffled feathers, but many men bore witness later in life that Cranmer's rebuffs and advice were salutary. Cranmer insisted on Biblical literacy for Rectors. The seminaries today bear much blame here. I can think of several ways for modern seminaries to remedy Biblical illiteracy. Listen to Cranmer at another place in the Preface as he speaks to all the national congregations in the Church of England.
My friend, a Reformed Anglican, asks: Why is this gold mine not explored?
A few suggested reasons.
1. American Anabaptism--Baptist, Revivalist, Enthusiast--teachings dominant the American landscape. Theology, confessions and liturgy are substantively minimalistic, Arminian, experience-based, and anti-intellectual. Fundamentally, these folks do not think like Cranmer. This Preface by Cranmer makes the Bible--as the Westminster Confession puts it--"most necessary." Cranmer views the Bible as man's "daily medicine."
2. Emergent theology which makes Scriptures less than clear or necessary. Brian McClaren is a liberal.
3. Megachurchdom leaders that abuse the Bible making it a quarry for self-help.
4. Liberalism in the mainline which erases the fear of the LORD.
5. Generally, hypocrisy--as in the days of the Judges and other periods of religious declension. We have other loves and values.
6. As to Anglicans, liberalism above obtains, e.g. #4 above.
7. Leaders with shrivelled up stones who will not speak courageously and believingly like Cranmer. Calvin's Preface is quite bold. Cranmer's love of the Bible is little appreciated from my experiences with Episcopalians. Again, as I have said before many times, Cranmer really became an earnest Bible student. At some time, he crossed the Rubicon and saw the necessity and value of Bible knowledge. I am unaware of the exact date, but, as an examiner of ordinands at Cambridge, he turned many away from holy orders. These ordinands had studied and were learned in the scholastics and fathers--secondary sources, but did not know the Bible--the primary source. He told them to go back and study the Bible for a few years--the Bible itself. He ruffled feathers, but many men bore witness later in life that Cranmer's rebuffs and advice were salutary. Cranmer insisted on Biblical literacy for Rectors. The seminaries today bear much blame here. I can think of several ways for modern seminaries to remedy Biblical illiteracy. Listen to Cranmer at another place in the Preface as he speaks to all the national congregations in the Church of England.
Here's Cranmer again:
"And that I exhort you (saith he) and ever have and will exhort you, that you not only here in the Church give ear to that that is said by the preacher, but that also when ye be at home in your houses, ye apply yourselves from time to time to the reading of holy scriptures, which thing also I never lin [i.e. spare] to beat into the ears of them that be my familiars, and with whom I have private acquaintance and conversation. Let no man make excuse and say (saith he), I am busied about matters of the commonwealth; I bear this office, or that; I am a craftsman, I must apply mine occupation. I have a wife, my children must be fed, my household must I provide for. Briefly, I am a man of the world. It is not for me to read the scriptures. That belongeth to them that have bidden the world farewell, which live in solitariness and contemplation, and have been brought up and continually nuzzled in learning and religion. To this answering, What sayest thou man? (saith he) Is it not for thee to study and to read the scripture, because thou art encumbered and distracted with cares and business? So much the more it is behoveful for thee to have defense of scriptures, how much thou art the more distressed in worldly dangers. They that be free and far from trouble and intermeddling of worldly things live in safeguard and tranquility, and in the calm, or within a sure haven. Thou art in the midst of the sea of worldly wickedness, and therefore thou needest the more of ghostly succor and comfort! They sit far from the strokes of battle, and far out of gunshot, and therefore they be but seldom wounded. Thou that standest in the forefront of the host, and nighest to thine enemies, must needs take now and then many strokes, and be grievously wounded, and therefore thou hast most need to have thy remedies and medicines at hand. Thy wife provoketh thee to anger; thy child giveth thee occasion to take sorrow and pensiveness; thine enemies lie in wait for thee; thy friend (as thou takest him) sometime envieth thee; thy neighbor misreporteth thee or picketh quarrels against thee; thy mate or partner undermineth thee; thy lord, judge, or justice, threateneth thee; poverty is painful unto thee; the loss of thy dear and wellbeloved causeth thee to mourn; prosperity exalteth thee, adversity bringeth thee low. Briefly, so divers and so manifold occasions of cares, tribulations, and temptations, beset thee and besiege thee round about. Where canst thou have armor or fortress against thine assaults? Where canst thou have salves for thy sores but of holy scripture?"
"And that I exhort you (saith he) and ever have and will exhort you, that you not only here in the Church give ear to that that is said by the preacher, but that also when ye be at home in your houses, ye apply yourselves from time to time to the reading of holy scriptures, which thing also I never lin [i.e. spare] to beat into the ears of them that be my familiars, and with whom I have private acquaintance and conversation. Let no man make excuse and say (saith he), I am busied about matters of the commonwealth; I bear this office, or that; I am a craftsman, I must apply mine occupation. I have a wife, my children must be fed, my household must I provide for. Briefly, I am a man of the world. It is not for me to read the scriptures. That belongeth to them that have bidden the world farewell, which live in solitariness and contemplation, and have been brought up and continually nuzzled in learning and religion. To this answering, What sayest thou man? (saith he) Is it not for thee to study and to read the scripture, because thou art encumbered and distracted with cares and business? So much the more it is behoveful for thee to have defense of scriptures, how much thou art the more distressed in worldly dangers. They that be free and far from trouble and intermeddling of worldly things live in safeguard and tranquility, and in the calm, or within a sure haven. Thou art in the midst of the sea of worldly wickedness, and therefore thou needest the more of ghostly succor and comfort! They sit far from the strokes of battle, and far out of gunshot, and therefore they be but seldom wounded. Thou that standest in the forefront of the host, and nighest to thine enemies, must needs take now and then many strokes, and be grievously wounded, and therefore thou hast most need to have thy remedies and medicines at hand. Thy wife provoketh thee to anger; thy child giveth thee occasion to take sorrow and pensiveness; thine enemies lie in wait for thee; thy friend (as thou takest him) sometime envieth thee; thy neighbor misreporteth thee or picketh quarrels against thee; thy mate or partner undermineth thee; thy lord, judge, or justice, threateneth thee; poverty is painful unto thee; the loss of thy dear and wellbeloved causeth thee to mourn; prosperity exalteth thee, adversity bringeth thee low. Briefly, so divers and so manifold occasions of cares, tribulations, and temptations, beset thee and besiege thee round about. Where canst thou have armor or fortress against thine assaults? Where canst thou have salves for thy sores but of holy scripture?"
No comments:
Post a Comment