T BOOK IV. HE proteftant religion in its advances thus far, kept pace with the civil policy of nations, and in England with the policy of this kingdom. We have found, that the principal reformers both in Germany and England, for the most part, proceeded under the favour and aufpices of the feve-ral civil powers they were connected with; and the form of the proteftant religion was generally modelled according to the feveral taftes of princes, where it was profeffed. In thofe parts, where civil goverment is republican, the promoters of the reformation endeavoured to form their religious fyftem of policy, according to that order. This was the cafe of Geneva and the Swifs Cantons, where a parity of power was established among all the Paftors of churches, and nothing could be deterA mined mined but by the voice of the majority. It does not appear, that the principal promoters of the reformation in thofe parts, endeavoured fo much to bring the form of church order to the conformity, which the New Teftament points out, as to render it agreeable to the tafte of civil Governors, and the inclinations of the people. The rights of private judgment, which were infifted upon at the council of Spires, were foon betrayed by the fame perfons who gave in a proteftation in their favours; for the united fentiments of fo many divines were foon fubftituted in place of the Pope's authority, and the power of general councils; and it was accounted as criminal to depart from the formularies of religion, which were then compofed, as it was to renounce the papal power, and the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome. The first design of these formularies was, to exhibit to the world an account of what were the principles of the proteftants; and they meant no more by them, than a public vindication of themselves, from the falfe accufations of the papists but after they began to increase, and became more refpectable in the eyes of the world, they made these confeffions terms of their fellowship, and refused their communion to fuch as did not agree with them in every particular. The feveral historians who have handed down to us an account of the rife and progrefs of the reformation, and the principles and practice of our chief reformers, have acted, in many inftances, rather the part of apologists than of writers of history. Burnet, though in general he writes impartially, yet : often oftentimes conceals fome circumftances, when the faults of thofe of his own perfuafion are ready to appear very confpicuous; which would elucidate matters of fact, and clear up fome doubtful points of History. The controverfy between the two contending parties of proteftants, at Frankfort, he relates in a very unfair manner, though he could not but know, that Fuller had recorded the facts at large as they really happened. It does not appear, that the chief reformers were far removed from popery until fuffering, and the ap proach of death opened their eyes: for their notions of the King's fupremacy in matters of religion, upon which they ingrafted a fyftem of perfecution, differed from popery in nothing except the name. This very principle reftored the Romish religion to its greateft height, in the reign of Mary for by the fame laws which were made in the reigns of Henry the eighth, and Edward the fixth, for abolishing the Pope's authority, was the power of the Roman Pontiff reftored in England, in Mary's reign. This Queen made use of her fupremacy to reftore popery, as her father and brother had done to abolish it; which fhews, that a power of this fort, in the hand of any fovereign, is always dangerous to true religion; and, that any profeffion of christanity, in which this is a leading article, cannot be truly proteftant. Cranmer and Ridley were both zealous defenders of the fupremacy, and Cranmer confented to the burning of people for breach of this article; which fhews, that however much the rules of human policy operated upon his mind, the spirit of humanity was wanting in him. It is fometimes long before the power of truth makes its way to the heart, and death itself is often neceffary for this purpose. Cranmer who was fo zealous for veltments at the confecration of Hooper, when he himfelf was degraded, and had death in his eye, had a different opinion of them, and the very principles which he had perfecuted others for profef fing, for thefe he chearfully laid down his life. None of the actions of his life have acquired him fo much renown as that of his burning the hand which figned his recantation of the reformed religion. While the fole right of reforming the church of England was vefted in the crown, it could not well be expected that religion would make much progrefs. This was better than the authority of the Pope; but it cannot be proved from divine revelation, that the King and his council have a right to judge for the reft of the kingdom without their confent. The reformation in England was carried on by the King, affifted by Cranmer, and a few chofen divines; the convocation was feldom confulted, and when they proceeded, they were over-awed by their fuperiors; fo every thing was modelled according to the defigns of the court. Bishop Burnet has offered his apology for this conduct; but his Lordship appears in much distress to vindicate fuch proceedings. He fays, "What "must be done when the major part of a church is, according to the confcience of the fupreme "civil magiftrate, in an error, and the leffer part is in the |
