same plan is pursued in the present publication; the involved construction of sentences, common in writers of that period, has also been removed. Those words which have become unintelligible or offensive, are exchanged for others, or are explained by notes when it is desirable that they should be retained. These variations, if they may be so called, were as necessary to render this work generally useful, as the adoption of modern orthography. The utmost care has been taken that the meaning of the author should be strictly preserved, and the various pieces have been collated with the best and earliest editions, or with manuscript copies. This has been done, that the meaning of the author might be given as nearly as possible, not from the first editions being the most correct, as they often abound with errors, for which the hurried or careless manner in which they were for the most part passed through the press, will readily account. The present reprints, it is believed, will be found to present the most correct text of these writers that has hitherto appeared. More than half of the pieces included in this collection, have not been reprinted since the sixteenth century, and a considerable portion is now printed for the first time.” The Volumes included under the title of THE BRITISH REFORMERS may be arranged in By order of the Executive Committee. WM. M. ENGLES, EDITOR. CONTENTS. SOME Account of the Life of Thomas Cranmer. Part I.-Cranmer during the reign of Henry VIII. A short Instruction concerning the Ten Commandments The second Sermon-On the second (third) Commandment The third Sermon-Of our Sanctification A general Preface to be rehearsed in the beginning of every Ser- The first Sermon-Our Father, which art in heaven The third-Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven The sixth-And suffer us not to be led into temptation Extracts from "A Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ." Some Account of Cranmer's books on the Sacrament The second Book-Against the error of Transubstantiation The third Book-Teaching the manner how Christ is present Extract of another Letter to the Queen A Letter to a Lawyer, for the drawing out of his Appeal SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THOMAS CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Martyr, A. D. 1556. PART I. Cranmer during the reign of Henry VIII. In A COMPLETE biographical account of Cranmer must include a large portion of the history of the English reformation. the present sketch it is only intended to state some particulars which are requisite to convey correct information respecting his personal history, briefly noticing several points which have been misrepresented by the bigoted Romanists and the selfcalled liberal historians of protestant countries. We cannot be surprised that the character of a real follower of Christ is not fairly appreciated by the world, but every opportunity should be taken, to correct those mis-statements which bear some appearance of truth, while grosser falsehoods may be left, as carrying their own refutation. In general, the English protestant is too indifferent respecting the charges advanced against Cranmer. He would not estimate the character of the apostle of the gentiles by the opinions of the craftsmen of Ephesus or the philosophers of Athens, although they were not expressed in the bitter terms used by the elders of Jerusalem, who called him "a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition"—why_then should he listen to the representations of the character of Cranmer which emanate from those who evidently are actuated by a similar spirit to that of the opponents of the apostle? The words of our Lord, "Because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you;" are applicable to every follower of Christ. But, however unqualified the world and its votaries may be to estimate the character of a christian, the accusations against Cranmer render it necessary to show that he may rightly be designated as such. Nor is this difficult. There are numerous |