1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

was a blending of church and state, anecclesiastical empire. In the year 1200 Englandbecame subject to the Pope. In 1531, owing to adispute between her king, Henry VIII, and thePope, England withdrew from allegiance toPapacy. The Convocation of its clergy called thesame year, in its decrees, declared King HenryVIII to be ‘The one protector of the EnglishChurch, its only and Supreme Lord; and as far asmight be, by the law of Christ, its SupremeHead.' Those are the exact sentiments of Papacy;that is exactly the sense in which the Pope isrecognized as Christ's vice-gerent. What aglorious representation of the Lord Jesus theyhad in Henry VIII, who, out of six wives, wasdivorced from two, beheaded two, and by manyis supposed to have poisoned one! He was aworthy rival of some of the Popes as an Antichristianclaimant of headship to the church. TheClerical Convocation which could acknowledgesuch a head was not far from being as corrupt asPapacy."The proof that the title, ‘head of the church,'was not an empty honor, appears from thehistorian's words—'At the same time it wasordained that no regard should be paid tocensures which the Pope might pass on accountof this law and that Mass should be said, andsacraments administered as usual. In 1534, allpayments made to the apostolic chamber, anddispensations, were abolished; monasteries weresubjected to royal government, and exemptedfrom all other; the right to summonConvocations, approve or reject canons (laws ordoctrines enacted by the Convocation of clergy),and hear appeals from the Bishops, was vested inthe King alone. These matters are butimperfectly understood by people in general, andthe same titles— 'Supreme head of the church onearth,' etc., are still applied to Englishsovereigns. It is needless to remark that the LordJesus never gave this office to any one, butclaims it Himself; and any others who claim itare usurpers. Paul said: ‘Christ is the Head of theFM201