Comments for Part One are found at:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/07/historic-proof-of-doctrinal-calvinism.html
"Historic proof of the doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England : including among other particulars, I. A brief account of some eminent persons..." by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady.
Rev. Toplady's volume is found at the URL below. We offer observations below the URL. We learn thus far that the English, Protestant, Reformed, and Anglican Churchmen--by the time of Mary 1's persecutions--were literate in Lutheran and Reformed thinking. We offer brief digests from Augustus Toplady's work below.
http://www.archive.org/details/historicproofofd02topl
The Rt. Rev. Robert Farrer, Bishop of St. David's, burned at the stake 30 Mar 1555, 461 years ago. One of the charges was justification by faith only or alone. Not just the Mass and Transubstantiation, but JBFA. Toplady notes that Arminians agree with Papists, to wit, the meritorious of works like faith as a work of justification. Reportedly, he did not flinch as the flames engulfed his body for the Protestant, Reformed and Anglican faith.
Mr. George Marsh. Chester, UK. The flames on 24 Apr 1555. A Calvinist. He believed in the invincibility of interior grace wrought by the Holy Spirit, faith being a fruit of that sovereign operation. "We are unable to pray apart from Thy grace..." Grace, in Paul's epistles, is free. God will not impute our sins to us, but Christ's works and merits to believers. The Holy Spirit alone animates His chosen people.
Mr. John Warner, a Confessional and Reformed Anglican, upholsterer and citizen of London. Burned at Smithfield on 31 May 1555. He gives clear expression to his Nicene and Christological faith...or faith in Christ confessed in the Catholic Church of the ages. A very intelligent and even breath-taking exposition is offered, phrase-by-phrase, by Mr. Warner. Mr. Warner's profession of faith is exemplary and rises to the level of a codification of wisdom, insight and imitiation. The church is the elect, gathered, justified and purified by Christ.
Rev. John Cardmaker, Canon of the Bath Cathedral. Prior to death in a letter to his friend, "May the LORD strengthen you and His elect." The shorter version: Protestant, Reformed and Anglican Churchmen were reading their Greek, Hebrew and English Bibles by the time of the Marian "Toast-Fest" of 1555.
Mr. Thomas Haukes of Essex. Died 10 Jun 1555. His friends feared the same fate. He told his friends that he would raise his hands as the flames enveloped him as a sign of perseverence and fidelity. He did that. Friends expressed praise and joy. Nothing shall prevail against "The Apostles' Church and the Elect." Writing to a guardian of his child with imminent death pending for the Reformed and Anglican faith, he said, "I hope to meet him and you among all God's elect." These were men with chests.
Mr. Sheterden, burned outside Canterbury Cathedral, 12 Jul 1555. As he died, he prayed: "O Father, I do not presume unto Thee in my own righteousness. No! But only in the merits of Thy dear Son, my Savior. For which excellent gift of salvation, I cannot worthily praise Thee." He wrote his surviving brother, to wit: (1) God is the giver of all goodness, (2) God loved us without our own deserts or merits, (3) God loved us contrary to our fallen nature, and (4) God alone gives regeneration.
Mr. John Newman. Martyred 31 Aug 1555. Contrary to Arminians and Romanists, justifying faith is the divine gift. Christ's death was for those ordained to eternal life and those He is sanctifying. The Church is the "elect" extending "throughout the earth."
Mr. Robert Smith, burned at Uxbridge, August 1555. Satan rageth against the elect, as at Corinth. All favour, grace and mercy is of Christ above. All the gifts of salvation are given to us in Christ. These gifts are not because of the merits of men. They are freely given "without our deserts." God gives us "perseverence." He keeps His sparrows and "will preserve them." Mr. Smith gave explicit testimony to those watching--as preparations were made--about his faith and confession. As he was consumed by the flames, he clamped his half-clumped arms together giving testimony to his Protestant, Reformed, Prayer Book and Anglican faith. (And then there was Osteen enthusing and Warren about the Purpose Driven Life. Eegads.)
Mr. Robert Samuel, useful during Edward VI's time, burned 31 Aug 1555. The Scripture shows us the Father and the Father in the Trinity. In Scriptures, we learn of "election" wherein we are "chosen to blessings." Our trespasses go to Christ and His righteousness comes to believers (this is double imputation). Christ died for "the elect." The "active and passive obedience" of Christ was operative (this put Berkhof, 1935, out of date). Christ's "holiness, righteousness, and justice" are "our's." This is for the "elect, redeemed and justified."
Mr. Robert Glover. Died at Coventry, 1555. He held firmly, as all Biblical readers will, to unconditional election. All are "receivers" not "bringers" of merits to God in prayer. They "chose not God but God chose them." "O LORD, thou chosest us in power, in our weakness, foolishness...Thou chosest us as Thou wilt..."
Mr. Thomas Whittle, Minister, Sussex, Church of England Churchman. Martyred Jan 1556. Christ "fully redeemed us and His elect." The stirrings of the Holy Spirit works in His "elect." The elect with follow their Captain, Lord, Saviour and Redeemer. "Perseverence" is a consequence of "election."
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