For further information, however, beyond what will here be found, the student is particularly directed to the perusal of Bede's, and Collier's Ecclesiastical Histories; Burnet's, and Blunt's Histories of the Reformation, Bp. Short's History of the Church of England, and Dr. Hook's Lives of the Archbishops. TO THE SIXTH EDITION. RECENT research in the State Paper Office, and elsewhere, having brought to light so much additional information connected with the History of the Church of England, the Author, anxious to keep the student au courant with the newly discovered facts, as well as with modern changes, has been induced to extend the pages of the Analysis in this Edition in the hope of giving increased satisfaction. Somersham Rectory, ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORY OF THE Early English Church. PART I. PRIOR TO THE REFORMATION. CHAPTER I. Britain under the Romans.-B. C. 55. * The questions in Italics are from the Cambridge University EXAMINATION PAPERS. 1. POMPEY THE GREAT had not long aspired to universal dominion in the East, carrying his conquests through Judæa (B. C. 63.), and leading multitudes of Jews captives into Rome, by which the first elements of Judaism, and a true knowledge of the Almighty Being were planted in the Imperial city, before JULIUS CESAR imitated his ambition in the West, and after subduing Spain and Gaul, passed over into Britain, B. C. 55. Julius Cæsar. 2. DRUIDS.-At the time of Cæsar's invasion, and for many years afterwards, the inhabitants of the British isles were idolators. They, however, believed in a Supreme Deity, and in the immortality of the soul, 1. What proceedings of Pompey and Julius Cæsar may have had some influence in introducing true religion into Rome and Britain ? 2. What was the state of religion in Britain at the time of, and for some period after, Cæsar's invasion ? A Julius derived possibly from immigrants of the patriarchal times; and their faith became encumbered with the fanciful imaginations and superstitions of future ages, and flourished throughout the Celtic nations under the name of Druidism. One great doctrine inculcated by the Druids was the transmigration of the soul; they believed that the soul advanced through various accretive stages of animal life till it reached its nobler essence in the human form; after which, at death, it either went back again for its evil deeds into animal existence, or ascended for its good into higher enjoyments of happiness and plea sure. 3. THE DRUIDS were not only the ministers of religion, but also the sole repositories of learning: they assumed the power of foretelling future events, and of being the dispensers of light and fire, requiring the people to extinguish all their lights and fires every night, and come to them every morning for a fresh supply; this, doubtlessly, was a great source of Druidical revenue. The cruelty and superstition of their idolatry were conspicuous in not being satisfied with animal sacrifices, but requiring also human victims to appease the anger of their fabulous deities. The mistletoe, when it chanced to be a parasite of the oak, a rare occurrence, was held in high veneration. Their places of religious worship were chiefly consecrated groves; and the various rock-altars, cromlechs, cist-vaens, and other relics of antiquity, bear testimony to the superstition of the age, and the ignorance of the worshippers. 4. BIRTH OF CHRIST. -Thus did Druidism prevail, and Britain remain unmolested for nearly a hundred years following this visit of the Romans; its new masters were too much occupied with the cares and troubles of empire at home to think much of the distant and insignificant isle of Britain. In the mean time, when AUGUSTUS swayed the imperial sceptre of Rome, JESUS CHRIST was born at Bethlehem in Judæa · Augustus. (Luke ii. 6.). A. U. C. 750. B. C. 4.; four years before the Vulgar Era. 3. What were the power and influence of the Druids ? What peculiar doctrine did they hold ? what was the nature of their religious rites? 4. How long did Britain remain unmolested after Cæsar's invasion? when was our Saviour born ? |