This huge mass of rubbish!

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("http://www.gracegems.org/23/ryle_sermons.htm">J. C. Ryle, "What Do We Owe to the Reformation?")

We have neither an adequate conception of the evils from which the Reformation freed us—nor of the enormous good which it brought in.

In the days when the Roman Catholic Church ruled England—he who desired to obtain forgiveness of his sins—had to seek it through a jungle of . . . 
  priests,
  saints,
  Mary-worship,
  masses,
  penances,
  confessions,
  absolution,
  and the like!

This huge mass of rubbish was shoveled out of the way by the Reformers. They taught that justification was by faith alone, and that every heavy-laden sinner on earth had a right to go straight to the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins—without waiting for Pope or priest, confession or absolution, masses or extreme unction. From that time, the backbone of English Popery was broken! 

The Reformation found Englishmen steeped in ignorance—and left them in possession of knowledge. It found them blind—and left them seeing. 

It found them without Bibles—and left them with a Bible in every parish. 

It found them priest-ridden—and left them enjoying the liberty which Christ bestows. 

It found them strangers to saving faith, and grace, and holiness—and left them with the key to those things in their hands. 

It found them slaves—and left them free.

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