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

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Response to Rev. Roger Salter at Virtue.org: ACNA Necromancy

Response to Mr. (Rev.) Roger Salter at virtue.org. 


http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18469#.UtiL-sKA1jo


Roger wrote:
 
"Current Anglo-Catholic theology reveals a trending to Rome and wins applause from Vatican sympathizers. `Upon the issue of our present struggle', wrote E.B. Pusey, `depend the destinies of our church." Has the struggle ceased? Pusey took up the leadership of Anglo Catholicism when Newman defected to Rome after attempting to un-Protestantize the Church of England. `Two systems of doctrine', observed Pusey, `are now, and probably for the last time, in conflict: the system of Geneva and the Catholic system.'"


Come now, Roger, let us reason together.


Roger, with Tractarians, I wish to invoke Mary and the saints, like Jack Iker and Keith Ackerman with the support of several REC Bishops like Leonard Riches and Ray Sutton. Will you not allow this? As other Tractarians have allowed? Roger, never mind that awful Geneva Bible and its wicked notes. What hath Geneva to do with Canterbury? ZERO. I want nothing to do with that awful Bible! But, what can be done with the Bible? Oh no!\


Jeremiah has its own context of course, but 44.17 sticks out with a peculiar ugliness (can we please cut this out of the Bible?): "17 But we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, as to burn incense unto the Queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, both we and our fathers, our kings and o...ur princes in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of vittles and were well and felt none evil."


That wicked 1599 Geneva Bible that was awash in England--that Shakespeare of all things was reading--raises this issue with that dreadful insight:


"Read Jer. 7:18, it seemeth that the Papists gathered of this place Salve Regina, and Regina caeli latare, calling the virgin Mary Queen of heaven, and so of the blessed virgin and mother of our Savior Christ, made an idol: for here the Prophet condemneth their idolatry.

 Jeremiah 44:17 Hebrew, we were satiated with bread.

"Jeremiah 44:17 This is still the argument of idolaters, which esteem religion by the belly, and instead of acknowledging God’s works, who sendeth both plenty and dearth, health and sickness, they attribute it to their idols, and so dishonor God."


Who can abide such notes? With Pusey, what hath Geneva to do with Canterbury?


Never mind that 430,000 Geneva Bibles were printed in London under Elizabeth's nose for 500,000 English families. And never mind that that awful Bible came over to Virginia with Anglican settlers either.


Yet, like Bob Duncan, Jack Iker, Keith Ackerman and Ray Sutton, can we not tolerate and allow invoking Mary?
 
While touring the Chronicles, this tiny tidbit and most offensive verse, 1 Chron. 10.13, a summary note on Saul with his invocation and necromancy (amidst his larger set of alleged iniquities), to wit:
"13 So Saul died for his transgression that he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord which he kept not, and in that he sought and asked counsel of a familiar spirit..."


The Geneva note is just awful:


"1 Chronicles 10:13 Or, witch, and sorceress."
 
Ya' mean I can't invoke departed saints? I hereby protest such discrimination. I wish to be a necromancer. I want to follow Bob Duncan, Jack Iker, Keith Ackerman, Ray Sutton, and Leonard Riches. Invoking Mary is entirely acceptable.
 
Roger, c'mon, lighten up. Geneva hath nothing whatsoever to do with Canterbury. Didn't King (sodomite?) James 1 and the Laudster put an end to these things? Geneva hath nothing to do with Canterbury! None!

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