Someone asked about “Reformed Anglicans” on a
couple of views. As a “Post-Anglican,”
whatever that means, that does not entail “throwing the baby out with the wash.” It does mean draining the dirty tub from time
to time. So glad to be retired, not need
an income from anyone, and with no need to report or answer to anybody. Also, our lovely TEC Rector doesn’t mind much
about theology; we live in quietness.
So, indulge my confusions and tensions
graciously. I confess to having confusions. I have an old BCP and hold to the Westminster
Standards. But, back to the questioner from yesterday, a “Reformed Anglican.” Here's an example from better years.
I came across—today—another wonderful hymn by the
Rev. or Mr. Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778), a Church of England man, a
stern antagonist to the “Arminian and High Anglican,” the Rev. or Mr. John
Wesley. While at Oxford, John was known
as a “high Anglican” (what we call doctrinally
and abysmally “low”). Some have ascribed
that to old John. So high, in fact, that he was “methodical.” Things might have been different, if the Church of England had been more sober, more reflective, and more scholarly, but no, they ditched the Westminster Standards in their extremism and enthusiasm in 1662. But I digress.
Of all things, the “Anglican hymn” by Toplady is
found in the “Presbyterian hymnal.” Never
mind the 1982 TEC hymnal: it’s gone. Poof!
Too much! And never mind asking
Bob of Pittsburgh about it! Or, Jack
Iker either.
A minor annoyance with the Presbyterians is that
they “filed” the hymn under “adoption,” a category not to be seen in the
Anglican hymnal or heard amongst them. The
hymn should have been filed under “justification by faith alone.” It’s a classic, in my estimation.
Here is old Augustus’s hymn; it’s sung to the tune
of St. Matthew, C.M.D.; of course, it is a “liturgical hymn;” that is, the
Presbyterians are often mis-caricatured as having “no liturgy.” Or, impugning these statesman as producing only
a “spectator religion” with an “auditorium” only. Such people fail to see the “Amen” at the end
of the hymn and fail to see that the
1982 TEC lacks—entirely—“Amens” at the end of the hymns; in other words, these
hymns are liturgical for those inclined to lack of insight.
I’m not sure old Toplady can be improved.
Here’s old Toplady.
1. Fountain
of never-ceasing grace,
Thy saints’ exhausting theme,
Great Object of immortal praises,
Essentially supreme,
We bless Thee for the glorious
fruits,
Thine incarnation gives,
The righteousness which grace
imputes,
And by faith alone receives.
2. In
thee we have a righteousness,
By God Himself approved,
Our Rock, our Sure Foundation
this,
Which never can be moved.
Our ransom by Thy people giv’n,
The law Thou perfectly obeyed,
That they might enter heav’n.
3. As
all, when Adam sinned alone,
In his transgression died,
So by the righteousness of One,
Are sinners justified,
We to Thy merit, gracious Lord,
With humblest joy submit,
Again to Paradise restored,
In Thee alone complete. Amen.
We would also recommend reading Rev. or Mr. Toplady’s “Historic Proof of Doctrinal Calvinism in the Church of England.” However, institutionally, the Church of England must be abandoned—keeping the baby, a Reformed Prayer Book with a Reformed Confession, but ditching the dirt and draining the dirty water. They’ll never recover barring divine intervention. Here’s the URL if desired. Cheers!
FWIW.
No comments:
Post a Comment