This is a handy little volume and is not exhaustive. It is 121 pages. We are looking, preliminarily, for digested conclusions or an abstract of sorts. We’ll see what unfolds, but it appears to be in the hero-tradition of biographies.
The structure is:
Foreward
1. Preparation
2. King’s Matter
3. First-fruits
4. Counter-attack
5. Work Continued
6. Work Concluded
7. Disaster
8. Good Confession
Bibliography (quite short)
Index
The man who writes the Foreward to Mr. Bromiley’s work is Mr. (Rt. Rev.) J.R.S. Taylor, D.D., former bishop of Sodor and Man.
A few notes from Mr. Taylor’s review of Mr. Bromiley's presentation of Mr. Cranmer:
1. England was fortunate to have both the Renaissance and Reformation co-incide together rather than one preceding or post-dating the other.
2. God in His providence was “raising up men to match the hour of crisis” (vii). He references King George VI and Winston Churchill.
3. There are, on Mr. Taylor’s view, three things about Cranmer
i) Cranmer was a scholar. He was 40 years old, a Cambridge trained man, a recent D.D., a university lecturer, and had been offered, but declined, a canonry at Christ Church, Oxford. He learned and kept up his language studies: Hebrew, Greek, Latin as well as French, German and Italian. His private library contained “nearly all the Greek and Latin fathers” and was “reputed to be larger than that of the University of Cambridge.” As such, he wrote during the “golden age of English prose.”
ii) Cranmer was a moderate man. He did things in a “gradual and unhurried” way. This didn’t satify his “impatient sympathizers.” It caused some to wonder whether he “was fully convinced of his own cause.” He was “not quick to judgment” but was “sorting out new ideas and principles.” Mr. Taylor offers this dubious and highly debatable gem: “He [Cranmer] claimed a freedom of conscience for himself, so he allowed it to others.” This last statement seems to be a serious over-reach, but we will hold it in abeyance for now. On this point, Mr. Pollard is closer to the mark, to wit, that freedom of speech and freedom of religion was not distinctive in this period and should not be inserted into the narrative. (Pollard, A.F. Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation, 1489-1556. London: G.P. Putnam’s Son, 1906.)
iii) Cranmer had singleness of heart. Mr. Taylor approvingly quotes Mr. Pollard to the effect that Cranmer had “in him no guile; his variations were not calculating, but the faithful reflex of developing convictions.” Henry tolerated, but had no respect for Wolsey and Cromwell; Henry knew these two “each had his price.” On the other hand, Henry trusted Cranmer and “respected” him. This is an interesting claim by Mr. Taylor, to wit, Henry's trust and respect for Cranmer.
We look forward to getting Mr. Bromiley’s perspective. He has passed now.
Mr. Bromiley was a tweedy, highly scholarly, Church of England man, allegedly in the “evangelical Anglican” tradition (whatever that means). That is, he valued “highly” ideas, thinking, reason, and history. That makes him a "High Churchman," not settling for "Low" puerilities that "higher sorts" attempt to claim for themselves. "High Churchman" have "high doctrines."
Mr. Bromiley edited and translated the infamous 10-volume Kittel set available for over $550: http://www.amazon.com/
As an aside, these 10 volumes are essential for the serious New Testament scholar, but we digress. We have two sets here: mine and the one my father bequeathed me; I need to sell one, but again another digression.
Mr. Bromiley’s views on Cranmer will be weighed carefully.
Mr. Bromiley taught at Fuller Seminary for many years, but we digress there also.
For the present, we will evaluate Mr. Bromiley’s digested views of Mr. (Canterbury) Cranmer.
All Saints Day. “For All the Saints.”
1. For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!...
2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
6. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
7. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
8. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
9. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
10. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
11. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
No comments:
Post a Comment