The Baptists in Sweden. By Mrs. M.F. Anderson ...

CHAPTER II.
SWEDEN SINCE THE REFORMATION.
THE Reformation in Sweden was an external
work, proceeding rather from the policy of kings
and nobles, than from the religious convictions of
the people. It resembled rather the Reformation
in England than that in Germany. And hence in
both countries the changes in the organization of
the Church were as slight as possible. In both, the
prelatical power was retained. The work was
wrought without any deep religious feeling among
the mass of the people; and that same comparative
indifference would seem to have continued for more
than two centuries.
In devotion to the external form of religion, the
country has not been wanting. Sweden has rendered good service to the cause of Protestantism
in Europe in its hour of need. She can point
with pride to the bold daring of Gustavus Adolphus, the champion of Protestantism, when the
armies of the Papacy were seeking to crush out
the Reformation. His bold achievements, and his
death on the field of Lutzen, must ever occupy a
prominent place in the external history of Protest(26)