LECTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 33, 20 June 1868, Page 3

LECTURE.

The Ror. W. J. Habons delivered n looturo on "Tho English Reformation," in tho Wesleyan Church, Durham streot, last ovoning, Tho chair was ocoupied by Mr F, J, Garrlck, who promise .1 that the lecture would ho a highly Interesting ono. Tlio Rev. Mr Habeas offered an apology for any short" comings that might mako thomsclves manifest in tho course of his lecture, In tho first plnco ho had not invited himself to lecture on tho English Reformation, hut had complied with tho wishes of thoso whom ho addrossod. History was not his forto \ ho was ono of thoso to whom tho appollatlon " Jack-of-all-trados, and master of none" might be applied, and tho tlmo which he had at disposal was not sufficient to enablo him to put his lecture thoroughly together. Thoy had first of all to mako up thoir minds an to what was meant hy tho Reformation j and what they meant hy it was that ohango of feeling with regard torollgion, which in several countries of Kuropo had caused tlio Protestant faith to lake hold of the public mind, In theyear 1528, when England wuti just about to separate from Romo, a council was hold in Switzerland, and tho result of tho conference was that ton resolution.) woro carried, The first of these resolutions asserted that tho Church In born of tho word of God, adheres to tho word of God, and lhitons not to the word of tho strangorj tho second was to tho effect that no laws or ordinances aro binding upon tho Church of God, exoopt such as ara "founded on the Word of Go:l j tho third, that Josus Christ is to us wisdom, rlghtcousno.s, uanctiflcatlon, and rodomptlon. and that Christ alone is the way to salvation j tho "4lh, that the body and blood of Christ aro not substautlally present in the Sacrament of tlio Lord's Buppor \ tho lith, that tho Mans, as a Sacrament, in contrary to Holy Horlpturo j tho Oth, that thero is no mediator between God and man but Christ, aud that, theroforo, prayers to tho saints arc against Soripturo i tho 7th, that fioro Is no truth In Horlpturo of Purgatory j tho Bth, that no images aro to ho sot up where thoro can he any danger of their boing worshipped, or having any reverence paid to thorn ) tho Oth, that marrliigo of the olorgy ls not forbidden In Horlpturo \ and tho loth, that tho lifo lod by tho clorgy Is tho greatest injury that can bo Inflicted on the causo of religion- With regard to tho fourth resolution, considerable difference of opinion cxlstod at the period of the Reformation. Tho Lutherans beliovcd that tho body and blood were present ln tho bread and wino j tho belief of tho Romans was that tho bread and wine, upon the blessing of the priest, hecamo the nubstaulial body and blood of^Chrlsti and tho Calvlnlsts believed that the body nnd blood of Christ woro not thoro substantially, hut that tho broad and wino wero to picture to our oyos tho body and blood of Christ, Tho resolution., of the Conference constituted the basis of the Reformation. He would now Inquiro into tho Roformatlon so far aB Eng* land was conoorncd, and how and whon it was introduced, It was impossible to point to auy distinct dale In history at whicli the - Reformation took place. Feoplo often hoard tlio rolgn of Henry tho Eighth roforrcd to, but lt wan not through that King that tho Reformation wns brought about, it was impossible— ho daro not attempt It— for him to tour tho pooplo from tho Church of Rome ln ordor that ho mljrht gratify his pnflslonn for Anno Boloyn, nnd havo his own way in splto of tho Popo, In Ills rolgn certain Important political changes— change* In popular and Individual opinion— took plaoo, hut the Reformation, regarded in its real senso nnd effeot, was a work extending over vory muoh moro than tho rolgn of one King, What wns dono in tho reign of Henry the Eighth was this— the Royal power, hacked up hy the parliamentary power, wjib used to rogulato tho dovolopmonc of publio opinion, nnd In many casos to restrain It, nnd hold baok tho progross of the Roformatlon, Tho supremacy of the Church of Rome was abolished, The English Reformation was a mattor of muoh moro gradual growth than it was in many narts of tho Contlnont, Tho supromnoy of tlio Popo in matters of religion was not sot asido until the reign of Henry the Eighth, but his supromuey ovor tho dominion of England was dono nway with long bofore. William tho Conqueror successfully roslfltod tho Popo in tho appointment of a bishop to the See, of Cantorbury j aad puhllc opinion had raised itself against tho unholy lfvoß lod by tho olorgy sinco tho tlmo of Wick-

llffo, It wan rather dlillloult to traco tho history of tho Church up to tho porlod of the Information j It was uncertain how tho knowlcdgo of tho Qospol got Into England. A writer so early as A.D. 220, Informs us that tho icnowlodge of tho Gospel existed In parts of tho country which nt that porlod woro inncoosslblo to tho Romans » and history also Informs us that the Irish Church for a considerable tlmo maintained its Independence from tho Sco of Homo, and so did tho North British Church, Errors oxlstod, no doubt, but tho difference of, the orrora between thoso Churches and that of Homo was sufficient to show that at that porlod Homo had no authority ovor tlio British Church. Homo first obtained authority ovor tho British Church in the 1 tli century, but sho had considerable dillieulty in acquiring It, The lecturer referred at some length to tho lifo and principles of Wlokllffo > to tho part whioh Erasmus had takon in advancing tho causo of tlio Reformation j to tho matters whioh conduced to tho overthrow of tho Pope's ecclesiastical supremacy In England In the reign of Henry tho Eighth •, and to the changes which wore wrought in the threo subsequent roigns. Ho wished it to bo dlstlnotly understood that in his viow tho Reformation was to bo regarded chiefly as a spiritual movement, which wan somotlmes an much hindered as It was holpod by oxlsting Governments. But thero woro so many <T ...oronoofl in tho Church as to Bhow that it •■ uh not thoroughly roforniod yet, Wkon tbo i uproinaoy of tho Popo wnn got rid of, It was one of the greatest errors of tho Reformation that tho King was mado tho head of tho Churoh, for the truo hend waß Christ, Tho locturor wnn frequently applauded, and tho meeting returned to him a voto of thanks at tho conclusion of his discourse,