Reformation occasioned by three great idols

[py3ak]

Stephen Charnock, discoursing of providence and particularly God's providence towards England, wrote:

Our reformation and return from under the yoke of antichrist was, by the wise disposal of God, occasioned by the three great idols of the world, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; lust, covetousness, and ambition, three vices notoriously eminent in Henry the Eighth, the first instrument of that work. What he did for the satisfaction of his lust is ordered by God for the glory of his mercy to us. And though the papists upon that account reflect upon our Reformation, they may as well reflect upon the glorious work of redemption, because it was in the wisdom of God brought about by Judas his covetousness and the Jews’ malice.​

 

[Wayne]

What do you make of this, Ruben?

Do we imply conditions are ripe for another Reformation, if the Lord so wills?

 

[Peairtach]

It may be that the present "malaise" may have to "run its course" before there is a full turning to the Lord. The foolishness of liberal humanism cannot be fully displayed in history unless it runs it's course without being aborted too early. Other manifestations of the humanistic principle had to run until they were shown to be foolish e.g. French Revolution, Nazism and Marxism. Of course these are just speculations on the future. It may be that the Church herself grows stronger in the midst of general decline.

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

 

[johnny]

Stephen Charnock, discoursing of providence and particularly God's providence towards England, wrote:

Our reformation and return from under the yoke of antichrist was, by the wise disposal of God, occasioned by the three great idols of the world, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; lust, covetousness, and ambition, three vices notoriously eminent in Henry the Eighth, the first instrument of that work. What he did for the satisfaction of his lust is ordered by God for the glory of his mercy to us. And though the papists upon that account reflect upon our Reformation, they may as well reflect upon the glorious work of redemption, because it was in the wisdom of God brought about by Judas his covetousness and the Jews’ malice.​

Of course, now we can level against RC's 800 years of Christian Martyrdom.

But thank you for posting this quote Ruben because I have often pondered the shaky start of Protestantism.

 

[py3ak]

What do you make of this, Ruben?

Do we imply conditions are ripe for another Reformation, if the Lord so wills?

Wayne, I think a general lesson is that while the world is constantly trying to commandeer the church for its own ends, God is constantly overruling the world for his own ends. I've read that some elites in China think of Christianity as a useful tool of social engineering to bring better behavior to the masses, though they personally are not believers. God can use that!

As for conditions being ripe for another reformation, in one sense, yes. In many ways lost learning is being recovered (revival of Latin studies, renewed accessibility and use of Protestant Scholastics), and the groundwork for a united application of a refined hermeneutic seems to have been laid. The need for reformation becomes ever more pressing and evident. However it also seems clear that without a change in direction reformation will slip away. Some of the necessary wood has been laid, but we need a spark not currently much in evidence.

 

[catechumen]

\

As for conditions being ripe for another reformation, in one sense, yes. In many ways lost learning is being recovered (revival of Latin studies, renewed accessibility and use of Protestant Scholastics), and the groundwork for a united application of a refined hermeneutic seems to have been laid. The need for reformation becomes ever more pressing and evident. However it also seems clear that without a change in direction reformation will slip away. Some of the necessary wood has been laid, but we need a spark not currently much in evidence.[/QUOTE]

This is all very thought provoking. Could you tease out what you mean by the 'united application of a refined hermeneutic'?

Thanks