Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Monday, March 18, 2013

Guy De Bres: Reformed and Lutheran Consensus

Hat tip to Heidelblog, a commendable and recommended site.

http://heidelblog.net/2013/03/guy-de-bres-on-reformed-agreement-with-the-lutherans/

Guy De Bres on Reformed Agreement with the Lutherans

This document is entitled, “Concord between the Doctors of Wittenberg and the Doctors of the Imperial Cities in Greater Germany.”

My above-mentioned lord has commanded me to write to you, so that you would think carefully about this—because we want you to be in agreement with the Germans, having the same confession of the main things, in order to break entirely the force of the pope.

If we were all united in doctrine, no one could touch us without offending people throughout Germany. This would be an invaluable benefit for us and would serve to shut the mouths of those who say that we are not united. Also, our poor country would be greatly relieved by this means. When they ask what we are trying to accomplish with our reformation, it would be easier to answer them. It is true that the aforementioned document looks disagreeable at first glance, but if we want to, it is possible to see it in a better light.

The Duke sent us to Metz to communicate this matter to our brothers in the ministry in that city–which we have done. At first glance, they had difficulties with the statement, just as we did. However, after all things were considered, they have agreed with us in the opinion that we could agree with the Germans on the point of the Lord’s Supper, following the statement that Mr. Bucer gave at the end. That is already a great accomplishment for us, since we are not divided with them on this point.

— 1565 Letter of Guy De Brès to the Consistory of Antwerp, translated by Wes Bredenhof, from Guy de Brès: Pages Choisies, E. M. Braekman (Brussels: Les Cahiers Calvinistes, 1967), 30–34 in Wes Bredenhof, The Beautiful Bride of Christ.