Customer Reviews

The British Josiah: Edward VI-- the most Godly king of England

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A remarkable book telling how one young boy (Edward VI) changed a Nation and turned Britain back to a true Christian Faith, just as his counterpart (Josiah) did for Israel Thousands of years earlier. Another unbelievable fact was how knowledgeable and articulate a prepubescent boy expressed himself. A very enjoyable read for someone interested in history especially one studying Christ's impact on humankind.

This book tells the story of a young king who embraces the teachings of the Bible and how God worked in his life to help change a whole country. He was instrumental in removing idolatry from his country. It is amazing to read his own treatise against the Catholic Church and to know that he was only 12 years old when he wrote it! Amazing! I learned many things from this book.

Filled with extensive historical information, The British Josiah takes the reader back to the time of Wycliffe and shows what events led up to Edward's reign, details Edward's life and time as king, and then summarizes the effect which Edward's reign had on the country through the following centuries.

Though I had researched both the Reformation and the House of Tudor before, nowhere had I found hints of Edward's remarkable wisdom and godliness. My would-be doubts about this book's accuracy were swept away by the fact that Woychuk makes most of his statements through direct quotes from those he is referring to.

Except that some of these quotes take a high reading level, The British Josiah was very understandable and enjoyable. I and my eleven-year-old brother with whom I read it were inspired, convicted, and encouraged by this incredible story. It not only taught us history but amazed us by God's power and work.

Chronicles 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. 34:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images

What is an apt comparison between Josiah and Edward VI is both started their rules at a young age and both sought to do God's will. Whatever you may think of Henry VIII, Amon- Josiah's Father was in more rebellion to God. How and where Josiah got his Godly training may be a bit of a mystery. While Henry VIII may have separated from the Roman Catholic Church out of political and personal expediency, he did make provisions that his son was well trained in the word of God. The British Josiah gives details of the education of Edward VII and the 28 men council to rein England while the King was the age of minority. Edward VI began his reign just the year after Tyndale was executed for translating and marketing the English translation of the Bible, yet English translations were legal during Edward VI reign. The Council, his advisors and Educators were much more in attuned to the ideals of the Reformation then Henry VII ever was. Edward VI lived 1537 to 1553. John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote in a letter to Farell: "Most truly do you say that the land has been deprived of an incomparable treasure." This book the British Josiah makes that argument. Judah's Josiah was a complete treasure, because he had ruled way into maturity.

This work is 202 pages long and 102 pages of it is a biography of Edward VI. The last 50 pages of the work are the writings of Edward VI which is against the Roman Catholic Church and the concept of the Pope as Peter's heir to rule Christians. He attacks the theological foundations of such a concept. Twenty-four pages of this work is about Lady Jane Gray, Mary, Elizabeth, and James the first. This work is antagonistic against Mary and very fond of Elizabeth. While she did not execute those who did not follow the state line of Religion, the state church was not near the ideas of the Reformation. The Queen was not a friend to those who were more closely aligned to the ideas of Edward VI and The Reformation.

This is the book that first introduced me to Edward VI, and it remains one of my favorites. Dr. Woychuk writes with a passion for the subject that is obvious and engaging for the reader, who, by the end of the book will be sharing it.

A lovingly written, highly interesting read for all ages! I would definitely recommend it. :)

and, by the way, you can get it for loads cheaper NEW at Lamp Post Homeschool Store.