Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

128 1636 and 1866.
communities of the continent, but still identical
with the corporation which had been constituted
of old by S. Augustine.
Union "seemeth possible enough," writes
Father Leander,
"
in an assembly of moderate men without con
if the points were discussed
tention or desire of victory, but out of a sincere
j
desire of Christian Union ; especially since
the learneder sort of Protestants hold this
difference to be no impediment to salvation,
and grant besides that the Church of Rome is
a true member of the Church of CHRIST."*
Here can be seen the influence not only of
v
the school of which Bishop Andrewes was
so remarkable a leader, but likewise the
immediate result of Laud s teaching and ex
ample. This latter eminent and far-sighted
prelate, had evidently grasped with accuracy
the evils of disunion. Most of the Jacobean
divines, apparently, could not look beyond the
confines of the English nation in a considera
tion of ecclesiastical principles and present
needs, their vision being cramped and circum
scribed. The National Church, as was too
painfully apparent, had been A^isibly separated
from the rest of Western Christendom; and
such separation had brought with it present,
and prospective evils of no small magnitude.
* Leander s Instructions for Beconciliation, p. 208, State
Papers.