13-Thinking the Unthinkable

By the mid 1570s, the Church of England was in a very troubled and
unsettled condition. In the eyes of many believers, it stood in desperate
need of much reform, if it was ever going to be a church in the sense of the
New Testament. And these critics gave open voice to their convictions
even though this was contrary to the law of the land. The State Church was
under attack on two fronts; it had two main opponents. It was censured by
the Anabaptists and various other scattered, hidden and separated churches
from without; and it was criticised by the Puritans – both Episcopalian and
Presbyterian – from within. But there was one great and constant obstacle
to reform, one resolute defender of the Anglican system – Queen Elizabeth
herself. She and her bishops weathered every storm, warded off every
onslaught; or so it seemed. However, as if two fronts were not enough for
Elizabeth to contend with, a third and far more penetrating assault upon the
fabric of the Church of England was about to be launched. This attack
would come from a new group of Puritans; which group, though very small
in number to start with, would prove the most devastating in the long run.