Part two beginneth.
The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland (London: Whittaker and Co., 1847).
Calvinistic divines with a Prayer Book really existed, once upon a time. He knew the idiot of Canterbury, William Laud.
Observations:
1. James VI of Scotland doubted he would succeed Elizabeth to the throne.
2. James IV sends two emissaries in 1585 to Dublin, James Fullerton and James Hamilton, to maintain correspondence with the Protestant nobility. They opened a school. Hence, Calvinistic theology in Ireland. Fullerton had been a. student of Andrew Melville of Glasgow. Both Fullerton and Hamilton may have been class fellows of Melville’s at St. Andrews in 1558. All three names appear on the list of admission. Age issues are discussed in this introduction as well as the interactions of these Scots Reformers.
3. To this school, James Ussher was sent at the age of eight. 1588, the same year as the Spanish assault against England. Ussher continued at the school for five years. Ussher is a third generation Calvinistic or Reformed Anglican.
4. January 1593-94, Trinity College, University of Dublin was erected. Ussher’s family was instrumental in the establishment of the College. His Grandfather, Stanihurst, made the motion for such in Parliament. His uncle, Henry Ussher, Archdeacon of Dublin, later Archbishop of Armagh, went to England twice to negotiate the matter. In 1591, Henry returned with letters of approval by Exegete the First.
5. Page, 18, footnote 5, is instructive re: the course of training in logic, rhetoric, grammar, math and classical literature. Also, instruction in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Syriac. Also, the use of the finest systematic theology written and used as the basis of lectures—Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. The importance of this latter point cannot be underestimated---it reflects the state of things in England also.
6. Ussher will be the man who marshals the Irish Articles of 1615 into force for the Church of Ireland. These Articles are taken over, by and large, into the English expansion of needed revision of the XXXIX Articles. The Calviniphobes of modern Anglicanism and hyper-allergic AC/TRACTO’s need a re-introduction to the grand Master, the French sovereign in skill and attainment…over the English Reformers.
7. Ussher’s name remains to this day as the “very first enrollee” in Trinity College.
8. In addition to language studies, he became an avid reader in theology.
9. Ussher vowed to read “everything” in the Church Fathers. Age 20. Completed when age 38. Ergo, started in 1600 and completed in 1618.
10. He obtained the BA in 1597.
11. 1600, MA. Ussher was appointed as the “Catechetist to the College” and first Proctor of the College.
Correlations:
1. Travers in London. Timeline and arrival in Ireland. Relations with Whitgift. Laud's name will appear in later correspondence with Ussher.
2. Comparison to other baccalaureate programs, e.g. Cambridge, Oxford.
3. Comparison to non-classical backgrounds of current seminary students.
4. The Institutes. Impact on Irish clergy besides Ussher. The Irish Articles will be ratified by a Convocation of Irish Calvinists with the Prayer Book.
Interpretation:
The Reformation was led by upon well-trained men and, yet, Ussher’s works are largely ignored by Anglican leaders. If you listen to modern Anglicans, you'd think the Reformation was over. In fact, we heard tell of one influential "evangelical Calvinist" in the ACNA--this week--who said that; what's he been smokin'? That proposition by this "influential evanglical Calvinist" could be destroyed in a nano-second if pushed. Dumb statement by a dumb churchman, more political than theological. (Sola stupida.) People still vote for idiots as Bishops. So glad to be retired, owned by no one, serving as a simple lay person (though still ordained), and not influenced by sola getta accepta by'a da'a crowd. Tremendous freedom to call it like we see it. And laugh too.
Application:
1. “Maintain course and bearing.” No one else is talking about Calvinistic Anglicans.
2. Support Calvinists, even though most have no Prayer Book piety. Beata pazienzia.
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