The Reformation In England

By J. H. Merle D’Aubigné (Originally published in 1866) Reprint by Banner of Truth Trust 1972

Jean Henri Merle D’Aubigné was the prince of reformation historians. His History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth century in Germany, Switzerland, etc. is a classic. With powerful prose, with the passion of a true believer, and with great historical detail and precision, he sets forth the history of the Lutheran Reformation in five inimitable volumes.  His History of the Reformation in the Time of Calvin although excellent has some defects. It consists of eight 500 page volumes for a total of 4000 pages, somewhat more than most people can manage. About 1500 pages of this introductory material relating the history of Geneva before Calvin’s arrival. While it is important to understand the historical setting this is overkill. One volume of 500 pages would have been more than sufficient for the author’s purpose. And the set ends with Calvin’s return from his exile in Strasburg. So Calvin’s most important work after his return to Geneva is not covered at all. D’Aubigne never wrote a work entitled The History of the Reformation in England. The work presented here is taken from chapters of the above mentioned works that deal with the reformation in England. It is excellent and presents with power and passion and great historical detail the events that caused England to break with Catholicism and led to a reformation of religion in that land. The introductory material in Volume 1, Book 1 is especially interesting as it deals with the planting of apostolic Christianity in Roman Britain, its later subversion by the forces of the papacy, and the beginnings of reformation in the work of Wycliffe and the Lollards. This is great history and the reader is encouraged to read and study those events that in God’s providence were used to reestablish apostolic and Biblical Christianity among the English speaking peoples.