Church History, Volume 2 (of 3)Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
History
Church History, Volume 2 (of 3)
Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
Church history
were appointed by the royal edict, the orders of knights
(§ 98, 13), by the transference of the grand-mastership to
the king, were placed in complete subjection to the Crown;
and whether he would or not Alexander VI. was obliged to accord
to the royal commission for church and cloister visitation
and reform the most absolute authority. But in everything
else these rulers were worthy of the name of “Catholics,”
for they tolerated in their church only the purely mediæval
type of strict orthodoxy. The most distinguished promoter
of their reforms in church polity was a Franciscan monk,
=Francis Ximenes=, from A.D. 1492 confessor to Isabella,
afterwards raised by her to the archbishopric of Toledo,
made a Roman cardinal by Alexander VI., and grand-inquisitor
of Spain in A.D. 1507. He died in A.D. 1517.
§ 119. EVANGELICAL EFFORTS AT REFORM.
Alongside of the Parisian reformers, but far in advance of them,
stand those of the English and Bohemian churches represented by Wiclif
and Huss. The reformation aimed at by these two was essentially of
the same kind, Wiclif being the more original, while Huss was largely
dependent upon his great English precursor. For in personal endowment,
speculative power, rich and varied learning, acuteness and wealth of
thought, originality and productivity of intellect, the Englishman
was head and shoulders above the Bohemian. On the other hand, Huss
was far more a man for the people, and he conducted his contention
in a sensible, popular, and practical manner. There were also powerful
representatives of the reform movement in the Netherlands during this
period, who pointed to Scripture and faith in the crucified Saviour as
the only radical cure for the corruptions of the church. While Wiclif
and Huss attached themselves to the Augustinian theology, the Dutchmen
gave themselves to quiet, calm contemplation and the acquirement of
practical religious knowledge. In Italy too a reformer appeared of a
strongly evangelical spirit, who did not however show the practical
sense of those of the Netherlands.
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