Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

Sweden, and Pastor Olaf was the conqueror. It was
followed by great and durable consequences to that
country. It decided the king; any doubts that may
have lingered in his mind till now were cleared
away, and he cast in his lot without reserve with
Protestantism. He saw plainly the course of policy
which he ought to pursue for his people's welfare,
and he resolved at all hazards to go through with it.
He must reduce the overgrown wealth of the
Church, he must strip the clergy of their temporal
and political power, and set them free for the
discharge of their spiritual functions -- in short,
remodel his kingdom in conformity with the great
principles which had triumphed in the late
disputation. He did not hide from himself the
immense obstacles he would encounter in
prosecuting these reforms, but he saw that till they
were accomplished he should never reign in peace;
and sooner than submit to defeat in a matter he
deemed vital, he would abandon the throne.
One thing greatly encouraged Gustavus Vasa.
Since the conference at Upsala, the light of the
Reformation was spreading wider and wider
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