Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

SPIRITUAL UNITY. 85
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When in a period of national formation the representative
of sovereignty happens to have the
kingly soul of Alfred, efforts after political unity will
have good results on the Church, but the action of a
less royal spirit, who is aiming at concentration of
power, will be far from advantageous to spiritual
interests. Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edgar, and
Canute did Alfred's work in this respect, whilst the
beginning of a hostile State is traceable from the
advent of the Norman kings onwards. The Saxons
had been in possession for nearly four hundred years,
yet they had not made England one. The capacity
of men is limited, and the chances are that the
individual who is the subject of a petty prince will
be a happier and a better man than the cypher of a
huge national unity.
In those days, however, men were far from any
unity save the spiritual one; the power of the
Church was great in proportion as it was grounded
on the teaching and inspirations of the one faith.
If we could eliminate the democratic elements
from the British Constitution, we could trace
back to the Church England's most characteristic
features.
In the year 800 Ethelard was Archbishop of
Canterbury. In his person Pope Leo finally settled
the claims of his see to primacy "by the authority
of blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles," and this
papal decision was accepted by the Council of
Cloveshoe in H03. Its acts have preserved the