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

Sunday, December 28, 2014

28 December. Day of Remembrance: 1662 Book of Common Prayer: Slaughter & Murder of Children


28 December.  Day of Remembrance: 1662 Book of Common Prayer:  Slaughter & Murder of Children

We’ve modified the name or title in light of Romans 5 and the doctrine of original sin, the want of original righteousness, together with all the actual sins that do proceed from it.  The original title, “Holy Innocents,” has unsavory connotations;  it undermines Romans 5;  having said that nonetheless, the slaughtering children is a reprehensible act of Herod’s manifold wickedness, cruelty, demonic depravity and his hell-bound destination.  As for the title, the note—like so many others from this Eskimo-site—needs theological editing.


The Innocents' Day. -- The Festival dates from the 3rd century, though the day of the celebration may not always have been the same. (In the Greek Church it is kept on the 29th.) Its celebration is most natural, and if the claim of martyrdom for the Innocents fails to satisfy the rigid demands of reason, it commends itself by a singular beauty and pathos. Suffering for His sake, who called the little children to Him as the very types of His Kingdom, they come to be looked upon, not only as innocent sufferers, but as martyrs, baptized by blood unto His salvation. -- December 28th.

28 December.  1662 Book of Common Prayer.  Slaughter of the Children. We had to rename this.  The Prayer Book calls it the slaughter of the innocents.  No one born, even children, is born without original sin, hence the name change. Theologians are ever-wont to reduce the effects of sin, but we must part with those who do that.


The Slaughter of the Children -- Eskimo dates this from the 3rd century, though the day of the celebration may not always have been the same. (In the Greek Church it is kept on the 29th.)  Unfortunately, Anglicans need to read their Bibles more often  than “once per year,” although it is warranted for congregations to read the NT at least three times a year.  For individuals, 10-12 times per year for the serious Churchman.   It was a horrific act by Herod called the “Great” but whom may have been a “Reprobate.” God alone knows. His envy and malice was against the Son of God.  Revelation 21-22 is a few days off for HM. Lest we forget.

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