The Works of Augustus Montague Toplady, Vol. 5 at:
http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA11&dq=augustus%20toplady%20calvinism%20church%20of%20england&ei=CHbgTILcHIWglAeBiq2YAw&ct=result&id=ybYOAAAAIAAJ&output=text
A.M. Toplady (Vol.5, 153-157). Church of England is Protestant and Calvinistic. What the difference between the Church of England and the Church of Rome? Toplady deals with election, original sin, and justification to which—against which—the Council of Trent hurled thunderbolts and anathemas. We cite a few classics from Toplady which are found below. (1) “Arminianism is the forerunner which prepares the way for Romanism, and, if not discarded in time, will, one day, open the door to it.” (2) Concerning subscription to the Articles, a public event at ordination and upon installment or rotation of clerics to churches, denial of these matters by Anglican clerics is dishonest. “I fear, such a clergyman, if such a clergyman is to be found, may take home those awful words to himself, Thou hast not only lied unto men, but unto God.” What measure of dishonesty is it with GAFCON clerics of the ACNA? Or, the Church of England clerics? Honesty compels that observation of Anglican "triple-speak." We believe this practice of public subscription to the Articles, in its intended sense of personal belief and aderence, has been diluted to something like this: "Yes, we believe these Articles were once foundational and formative, to wit, we acknowledge them to be a part of history." Toplady would roll over in his grave if he saw what happens today. (3) Of interest is Toplady’s observation that after the “happy” Restoration, clerics were so offended by the radicalism of “Puritans,” that there was a counter-reaction away from the Articles. While the Restoration was positive, “they out-ran the Thirty-nine Articles, and lost sight of the Church itself.” One can understand. Who can abide the “Everlasting Arguers” which some Reformed Churchmen become (not all, by any stretch, but some, e.g. theonomists)? Yet, on principle, following Toplady’s logic, one does not toss the national Articles and theology. OTOH, are we dealing with "Everlasting Capitulators?" I know one English Bishop who summarizes Anglicanism this way: "Weak." He includes the Rev. Dr. Prof. James Innes Packer in that group. Or "weak" until you call them "weak" and then they get in a huff. We share that view of "weakness." But, back to Toplady. It is interesting to see this Calvinistic Anglican speaking well of the Restoration while observing a century of “moral therapeutic deism,” (Rick Warren might be a modern counter-point in our times yet Rick and his ilk--pretty laughably--without an august Prayer Book and without Psalm-singing which characterized even the 18th century Anglican parish). (4) Free will is a myth.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND THE CHURCH OF ROME.
I. The godly consideration of predestination, and our election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons. ART. XVII.
II. The condition of man after the fall of Adam, is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon God. ART. X.
III. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and not for our own works, or deservings. ART. XI.
IV. That we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. ART. XI.
[Editor. Toplady speaks of the Council of Trent]
I. No man, so long as he liveth in this mortal life, ought so far to presume concerning the hidden mystery of divine predestination, as positively to conclude that he is actually in the number of the predestinate. Council of Trent. Session. 6. Canon xii.
II. If any person shall say, that since the fall of Adam, man's free will is lost and extinct, &c. Let him be accursed. Council of Trent. Session. 6. Canon v.
III. If any person shall say, that men are justified, either by the alone righteousness of Christ, or by a bare forgiveness of sins. Let him be accursed. Council of Trent. Session.Canon ix.
Even from this slight survey, must not a man be blind, not to discern that Calvinism is the religion of England, and that Arminianism is the heresy of Rome; yet far be it from me to think, that all, among us, who espouse the Arminian tenets, are intentional Papists, or have any affection for Popery, as such. But this I cannot help believing, that Arminianism is the forerunner which prepares the way for Romanism, and, if not discarded in time, will, one day, open the door to it.
To close all, our doctrines are the precious depositum, committed, in a particular manner, to the guardianship of us, who have the honour to minister in holy things. How those, who make no scruple to betray this inestimable trust, which they have so solemnly and repeatedly engaged to preserve, can answer it in conscience, must be submitted to God and themselves. For a clergyman to subscribe to our articles in the presence of his bishop, and after his admission to a benefice to read over those articles in his Church, deliberately, and word by word ; and there, in the presence of God, and in the hearing of his own parishioners, publicly to testify his unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything therein contained ; while he disbelieves, and it may be, the fame day, contradicts, in the pulpit, what he had so lately assented to from the desk; is, I believe, a species of guilt, unknown to any Protestant nation but these. I fear, such a clergyman, if such a clergyman is to be found, may take home those awful words to himself, Thou hast not only lied unto men, but unto God.
We have had long experience of the sad effects, that have attended that mere ethical way of preaching which has been in fashion ever since the restoration. When that happy event took place, the generality of the clergy ran so fast and so far from puritanism, that they out-ran the Thirty-nine Articles, and lost sight of the Church itself. "Good works, good works," was the cry of that age, and is the cry of the present. I heartily wish, good works abounded more among us, than they do: but I am certain they never will, until they are enforced on Christian principles; even the doctrines of grace. Under a pretense of magnifying good works, we have almost kicked faith out of doors: whereas they will always stand or fall together. There can be no good works which do not flow from faith; and no true faith but what is productive of good Works. I appeal to demonstration, the life of argument. Faith is banished, and good works are posting after it as fast as they can. Contempt of gospel doctrines, and neglect of gospel-morals, are inseparable. That morality, which does not result from faith, is, (as Luther fays of free-will) no more than myth.
Augustus Toplady, C of E, Calvinism, Reformation, Thirty-nine Articles
For pages 1-42 and comments, see:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/augustus-toplady-c-of-e-calvinism.html
Augustus Toplady, C of E, Calvinism, Reformation, Thirty-nine Articles
For pages 43-82 and comments, see:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-from-augustus-toplady-c-of-e.html
Augustus Toplady (Vol.5, 82-97), C of E, Calvinism, 39 Arts, Te Deum, Absolution
For pages 82-97
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/augustus-toplady-vol5-pg82-97-c-of-e.html
Augustus Toplady (Vol.5, 98-118), C of E, Calvinism, 39 Arts, Election, Baptism, Justification by Faith Alone
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/augustus-toplady-vol5-82-97-c-of-e.html
A.M Toplady (Vol.5, 118-132), C of E, Calvinism, Arminianism, Justification, Total Depravity
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/11/augustus-toplady-vol5-pg1-83-c-of-e.html
A.M. Toplady (Vol.5, 133-152), Church of England is Protestant and Calvinistic
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/12/church-is-england-is-protestant.html
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