[b]This huge mass of rubbish!
(J. C. Ryle, "What Do We Owe to the Reformation?")
We have neither an adequate conception of the
evils from which the Reformation freed us--nor
of the enormous good which it brought in.
In the days when the Roman Catholic Church ruled
England--he who desired to obtain forgiveness of
his sins--had to seek it through a jungle of . . .
priests,
saints,
Mary-worship,
masses,
penances,
confessions,
absolution,
and the like!
This huge mass of rubbish was shoveled
out of the way by the Reformers. They taught
that justification was by faith alone, and that
every heavy-laden sinner on earth had a right
to go straight to the Lord Jesus Christ for
remission of sins--without waiting for Pope
or priest, confession or absolution, masses or
extreme unction. From that time, the backbone
of English Popery was broken!
The Reformation found Englishmen steeped
in ignorance--and left them in possession of
knowledge. It found them blind--and left
them seeing.
It found them without Bibles--and left them
with a Bible in every parish.
It found them priest-ridden--and left them
enjoying the liberty which Christ bestows.
It found them strangers to saving faith, and
grace, and holiness--and left them with the
key to those things in their hands.
It found them slaves--and left them free.