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Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer

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1. Jahrgang MARTIN MBS TEXTE 19 BUCER 2004 SEMINAR Dr. George M. Ella Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer BUCER IN S T E M R A I N M A R 2 1 : E P 4 H ReformiertesReformiertes Forum Forum TableTable of Contents of Contents Influenced by Erasmus and Zwingli ........................................ 3 The break with Rome ............................................................. 4 East Friesland‘s first Reformed Superintendent ........................ 4 Cranmers‘s plans for a pan-European church ........................... 5 The European leaders of the reformation converge on England ........................................... 5 The Strangers‘ Church ............................................................. 6 Laski‘s Reformed worship ........................................................ 7 Bloody Mary‘s shadow falls on England ................................... 7 Lask‘s intervention at Wesel ..................................................... 8 The Frankfurt church of Marian exiles .................................... 9 Laski forms a Dutch church ..................................................... 9 Lutheran Westphal persecutes Reformed Laski ...................... 10 Laski returns home to Poland ................................................ 11 Annotations ........................................................................... 12 The author ............................................................................. 12 Impressum ............................................................................. 13 1. Aufl. 2004 Dr. George M. Ella Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer Dr. George M. Ella We Reformed Evangelicals often mope Influenced by that our age is the least spiritual and Erasmus and Zwingli Bible-believing on record but there is one advantage we have over previous years, Jan Laski, best known in England as namely the rapid improvement taking John à Lasco, was born in 1499 in War- place in our knowledge of former saints. saw, the offspring of a noble Polish family. It appears that our sovereign Lord is now Laski‘s uncle and namesake, Jan Laski, equipping us with examples from the past Poland‘s leading politician, took care of to help us establish the faith in our sphe- the younger Jan‘s education and ear-mar- res of service for the future. In my youth, ked him for the church. Jan Laski Sen. few Christians had heard of George Whi- became Metropolitan of the influential tefield, John Cennick, Ambrose Searle, province of Gnesen in 1510 and almost James Hervey, Robert Traill, William simultaneously Primate of all Poland and Huntington, Joseph Hall, John Gill or chief advisor to the King. He represented even Jonathan Edwards. Their precious Poland from 1513–15 at the Fifth Lateran memory had fallen into oblivion. Nowa- Council, returning with pan-European days, their works are easily available views in cooperation with the Habsburg alongside those of Abraham Booth, John and Hungarian Empires. Laski Sen., Brine, John Newton, John Jewel, Joseph now a papal hereditary legate, began an Hall, George Abbott and other once for- extensive course of persecution in Poland. gotten heroes of the faith. Still to be re- Laski gained a great interest in foreign assessed is the great Reformation hero, travel through his uncle but learned to Jan Laski. It is my conviction that this detest his popish extremes of which the mighty man of God, who had the whole Archbishop later repented. of Europe, including Great Britain, as his Young Laski studied from 1512–1517 parish, will soon be acknowledged as one in Gnesen and Bologna and, though of the very greatest of our Reformers. only 22 years of age, became a Cathedral Dean. He travelled widely in Europe on behalf of Rome who wished to pit Laski‘s learning and zeal against Luther, Zwingli and Oekolampadius. The King also sent him on numerous diplomatic missions. MBS TEXTE 19 3 Dr. George M. Ella Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer During his travels, Laski was the personal against them. Laski was declared a heretic guest of Erasmus who turned his young by the Polish clergy in 1554. friend‘s head from the narrow-minded bigotry of Rome to a greater tolerance. This helped wean Laski from the influ- East Friesland‘s first ence of his uncle and he became more Reformed Superintendent open to the ideas of the Reformers. The breakthrough in Laski‘s life came when The Emden-Oldenburg regions were staying in Zürich with Zwingli where the open to the gospel and Laski preached Swiss Reformer urged his young Polish there for two years, declining to become a friend to take the side of the gospel. minister because of his limited abilities to speak German. Nevertheless, he establis- hed churches and built up existing bands The break with Rome of Christians, becoming more and more Reformed in his theology and outreach. Laski was chief administrator of the The Countess of Oldenburg sponsored Bishopric of Warsaw from 1530-to 32 Laski and encourage him to constitute and must have remained true to Roman a Reformed Church in the Province. superstition until at least 1538 as he was Thus in 1545, Laski became the first then appointed Archdeacon of the War- Superintendent of the Friesland Refor- saw See. Middleton, in his Biographia med Church, retaining this office until Evangelica, also claims that Laski was 1550. Meanwhile, Laski corresponded made Provost of Gnesen and Bishop of with British, Swiss, French and German Vesprin in Hungary. After 1538, Laski Reformers as also political leaders such as allied with the Bohemian Brethren and Duke Albert of Prussia. As his zeal and began openly to question papist dogmas. knowledge of the Scriptures grew, Laski Probably because of his own personal stripped the churches of images and set influence and his close association with up four elders per church to assist the the Royal family, Laski was unhindered. ministers. He insisted that ministers This changed when Laski committed should organise themselves locally and that papal sin of sins: he married and was meet weekly to discuss their tasks and for immediately suspended from all secu- mutual fellowship and edification. For lar and religious offices. The King pro- the instruction of clergy and people alike, nounced this illegal and reinstated Laski. Laski composed a statement of faith and The Roman version is that Laski took catechism. Laski visited England in 1548 an oath of cleansing (Reinigungseid) in to solicit support for a Protestant League 1542, and divorced his wife, thus gaining against the Emperor, and the brief visit back his posts. Laski and his wife now proved of lasting benefit by acquainting followed Sigismund‘s advice and moved Laski with Cranmer. to Germany in 1543 to avoid popish plots REFORMIERTES FORUM 4 Dr. George M. Ella Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer Cranmer‘s plans for The European leaders a pan-European church of the reformation converge on England In 1550, Laski followed an invitation to take up a post in England, first extended When Laski reached England, he to him in 1547. Archbishop Cranmer‘s found a fine body of Reformed men from reminder of 1548 is extant in the Parker Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, Society Records. Here the English Refor- Switzerland and Germany already there. mer tells Laski: Italian Peter Martyr had become Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford (1548) „We are desirous of setting forth in our and Martyr‘s fellow- countryman, Berna- churches the true doctrine of God, and dino Ochino, had been given a prepen- have no wish to adapt it to all tastes, or dary at Canterbury. Both these men had to deal in ambiguities; but, laying aside been in Strasburg with Franco-German all carnal considerations, to transmit to Martin Bucer and arrived in England a posterity a true and explicit form of doc- year before him. When Bucer arrived he trine agreeable to the rule of the sacred had Italian Hebrew scholar Emmanuel writings; so that there may not only be Tremellio with him. Bucer was made set forth among all nations an illustrious Regius Professor of Divinity at Cam- testimony respecting our doctrine, deli- bridge in 1549. The Spanish Reformer vered by the grave authority of learned and nobleman Francisco de Encinas was and godly men, but that all posterity already quartered at Cranmer‘s home. may have a pattern to imitate. For the Hooper had brought Martin Micronius, purpose of carrying this important design the Belgian doctor from Basle and Mic- into execution we have thought it neces- ronius‘ fellow Flemings Gualter Delenus, sary to have the assistance of learned the Hebrew scholar and Jan Utenhoven, men, who, having compared their opini- the Bible translator were already awaiting ons together with us, may do away with Polish Laski‘s leadership. The Walloons all doctrinal controversies, and build Valerand Poullain and Francis Perussel, up an entire system of true doctrine. were equally looking forward to Laski‘s We have therefore invited both yourself arrival. Melancthon was the only church and some other learned men; and as leader invited who declined to come, they have come over to us without any complaining that he feared the Emperor‘s reluctance, so that we scarcely have to troops would arrest him on the way. He regret the absence of any of them, with was not too greatly missed as the Angli- the exception of yourself and Melanc- can Reformers had become suspicious of thon, we earnestly request you, both to him for dropping Luther‘s sound doctrine come yourself, and, if possible, to bring of predestination and even persecuting Melancthon along with you.“1 Predestinarians. This international and highly gifted, scholarly team of Refor- MBS TEXTE 19 5 Dr. George M. Ella Jan Laski the Pan-European Reformer mers worked with Cranmer, joined by order, with all its weaknesses, was better Hooper, Ridley and Cox, to name but a than no order at all! Later, Laski re-adop- few of Cranmer‘s Anglican co-workers, ted his anti-vestment stand. on the revision of the 1549 Prayer Book. At this time, Calvin was still a According to John Ab Ulmis who had secondary figure in the development of organised the transport of a number of the Reformation.
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