History Of The Church Of Christ Author:Henry Stebbing Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: avail himself of such support, the proud separatist, thankful for such a retreat, readily consented to bear the name of a party which was once only known for its... more » superior holiness, and anxious zeal in the cause of the gospel. What they gained by this subterfuge, the true pietists lost in respectability ; and the only actual monument of Spener's virtues, and of the faithfulness of his immediate followers, is that which the spiritual reader still sees existing in those imperishable writings which influenced to so large an extent, and for many successive generations, the minds of his countrymen, and through them the temper of the Church at large. CHAP. III. STATE OF RELIGION IN ENGLAND—MEASURES OF THE CHURCH RISE OF THE PURITANS GENERAL VIEW OF AFFAIRS. While such was the conflict of opinion in the very birth-place of the Reformation, in other countries the light and interests of the gospel increased, and were developed by events, the powerful course of which effectually overcame the resistance of human opponents. We shall first, therefore, turn our attention to some of the main circumstances distinguishing the state of religious feeling in the countries where the principles of the Reformation displayed a direct influence; after which we shall note the state of opinion in that large portion of the Christian community still remaining iu allegiance to the Church of Rome. Notwithstanding the prior claims of Germany to our respect and veneration, as the birth-place of those true servants of God who revived the knowledge of the gospel, England may claim at the hands of Christendom a not inferior homage as an appointed instrument of Divine Providence for the solid and permanent establishment of the reformed faith, and as destined to become the centre of the circle around whi...« less