11-The Secret Churches

As we have seen, by the 1570s the Church of England was nothing less
than a shambles. In a state of abysmal disorder, it was a corrupt and
apostate Church, and it had become an atrocious monstrosity; grotesque, it
bore little or no resemblance to the New Testament pattern.
It is fair to say that, in the fifty years since Luther had nailed his theses
to the door at Wittenberg, much progress had been made in England, much
ground had been fought over and conquered in the spiritual battle to
recover New Testament church life. Though the gospel sun did not yet
shine in its full glory, the long dark night of Popery had given way to the
light of opening day. The cruel grip of the Papacy no longer held the
people in its power. The Church of England, as well as the nation as a
whole, was free of papal rule, and the government of England was in
English hands. The effort had been costly, however, and the struggle long
and bitter, with a terrible price exacted in blood