Please see my prior efforts on this book
Introduction
See Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 and more Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
The rest of Chapter 7 – sorry
Sometimes what Samuel Gipp doesn’t say is more important than what he does.
I actually started liking Westcott just on general principles! There is a story in part of this chapter about Westcott feeling sorry for the live fish his father would through in the basket while they were fishing. I’m not sure why Gipp included it, but it made me rather like Mr. Westcott, or at the very least appreciate his sensitivity to other living things.
And then I liked him even more after reading this:
Westcott’s Romanism
That Keble formed in Westcott a passive attitude toward Christianity’s arch-enemy, Rome, is evident by his reaction to a sermon condemning Popery: “As for Mr. Oldham’s meetings, I think they are not good in their tendency, and nothing can be so bad as making them the vehicle of controversy. What an exquisitely beautiful verse is that of Keble’s, ‘And yearns not her parental heart,’ etc. We seem now to have lost all sense of pity in bitterness and ill-feeling. Should not our arm against Rome be prayer and not speeches; the efforts of our inmost heart, and not the display of secular reason?”136
It has been often stated that “You are what you read.” Westcott’s constant exposure to pro-Roman influences set a pattern for his thinking, even though he may not have been aware of it. Westcott even refused to abandon Keble as his writings became more obviously Popish.
“Keble has lately published some sermons in which, as well as in a preface on ‘the position of Churchmen,’ I am afraid he will offend many. I can in some measure sympathize with him.”137
Remembering the hatred Westcott had for what he considered “injustice and oppression,” and his submission to the programming poetry of Keble, we find him slipping farther away from a truly biblical stand after hearing another pro-Roman speaker, Maurice.
“See Maurice’s new lectures, with a preface on development written apparently with marvelous candour and fairness, and free from all controversial bitterness. He makes a remark which I have often written and said, that the danger of our Church is from atheism, not Romanism. What a striking picture is that he quotes from Newman of the present aspect of the Roman Church – as despised, rejected, persecuted in public opinion.”138
This constant barrage of Romanizing influences caused Westcott to incorporate many Roman Catholic practices into his thinking.
And then he really won me over!
In February of 1849 he decided to investigate two favorite subjects of the Romanizers: “Inspiration — Apostolical Succession. May I inquire on all these topics with simple sincerity, seeking only the truth!”139
Considering the Romanistic ideals which Dr. Westcott possessed, it is no surprise that his close friend and companion, Dr. Hort, would compare him to, of all people, the Roman Catholic defector, John Newman! “It is hard to resist a vague feeling that Westcott’s going to Peterborough will be the beginning of a great movement in the church, less conspicuous but not less powerful, than that which proceeded from Newman.”147
Gipp further displays his own paranoia in this chapter.
The Jesuit plan is to introduce the ways of Rome into the minds of Protestants and familiarize them with the “High Church” atmosphere. Then, little by little, allow these Roman ideas to intertwine themselves with the worship service. Dr. Wylie aptly describes the plan:
Apparently Mr. Westcott’ was just a little too Catholic in his faith and practice regarding statues, Mary, Purgatory etc. The rest of the chapter is pretty well a bash fest.
Candy didn’t have much to say about this chapter. It was rather dull. The more explosive anti-Catholic remarks are ahead!
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