Leaders of thought in the English church

Front matter

Sinclair, William MacDonald,

1850-1917.

Leaders of thought in the

Preface

T N offering these biographical studies to my readers, I do not suggest that there are not other leaders of thought equally suitable for delineation. But the twelve whom I have taken seem to me typical of the various aspects of the Church of England since the Reformation. I have placed Archbishop Tait among them, although he might be described as a man of action rather than of thought, because to my mind he represents that calm, comprehensive, loyal, and reasonable attitude of mind which is most genuinely characteristic of the English Church.

I have tried as far as possible to understand the point of view of each, and, where criticism could not be avoided, to touch such

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PRE FA CE points with no unfriendly hand. Biographical sketches dealing with such different elements which should pretend to agree with all of them would indeed be dull. My object has been to make as far as might be a faithful picture of the man, and to show his place in the history of the Church. When the Dictionary of National Biography is complete, the details of the lives of all such characters will be available. But so vast a work will be accessible only to a few. When I was beginning ministerial life in the Church, I am certain that some such collection as this would have been useful to myself ; I venture to hope it may be interesting to others. " There cannot be too many biographies," says a pojDular American writer,* " of good men written, nor too few of bad men. In reading the life of a good man, the wish unconsciously rises to be like him, and

C. N. Bovee.

PRE FA CE ix insensibly the character is modified by it." " The biographies of great and good men," says Matthew Henry, "like Elijah's mantle, ought to be gathered and preserved by their survivors ; that as their works follow them in the reward of them, they may stay behind in their benefit." There are of course excellent Memoirs to be had of all these worthies ; but possibly when they are brought together in brief in one volume they throw light on each other. The general result, 1 think, illustrates the great width of the Church of England ; which, while it is capable of exaggeration and abuse, ought always to be acknowledged and maintained.

Belonging myself to no party, but following humbly, as well as I may, in the steps of some of my characters, and, as to modern times, especially in those of Tait and Lightfoot, I hope that those who look at these pages may be led to see that the teaching of the Church of England itself, in Prayer

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PREFA CE

Book and formularies, is enough for plain Christian men, and that " movements " and "parties" on one side and on the other are sure to lead to unfortunate results. Seeing the Church of England at the present day so unhappily divided, I should indeed greatly rejoice if this series should in any way help, by God's grace, to bring us back to the wise and wholesome standpoint of Holy Scripture, the early Fathers, and the English Reformation.

WILLIAM M. SINCLAIR.

TABLE OF CONTENTS I

CRANMER, THE RESTORER OF PRIMITIVE TRUTH

PAGE

1. Difficulties of Cranmer's position ....... 2

2. Early youth 5

3. Marriage 6

4. Meeting with the King at Waltham 6

5. Embassy to the Emperor ; and appointment to Canterbury . . 7

6. The Queen's divorce ......... 9

7. Great influence .......... 10

8. The Institution of a Christian Man 12

9. Disappointments 12

10. Countermines 13

11. Conspiracy 14

13. Reform of Canon Law . . . . . . • '5

14. Death of Henry ; charge to Edward ; visitation of whole

15. Advancing reforms 16

16. Prayer Book of 1549 16

17. Distinguished foreign guests at Lambeth 17

18. Cranmer's final view on the Lord's Supper 20

19. Prayer Book of 1552 20

20. Articles of Religion 21

21. Our debt to Cranmer ; his views 21

22. Strype's summary of his character 24

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II Latimer, The Preacher Of The Reformation

PAGE

1. His position in the Reformation 26

2. Hallam's estimate 26

3. Early life 27

4. Cambridge 28

5. Brought over to the Reformation by Bilney the Martyr . . 29

6. Inhibited by Bishop of Ely ; encouraged by Wolsey . . 30

7. In favour with the King 30

8. Accused before Convocation 31

9. His opinions not yet finally settled ; submission to the Bishops . 31

10. Appointed Bishop of "Worcester . . . ' . - 32

12. Preaches before Convocation 33

13. The Romish rebellions demand his death or banishment . 34

14. Destruction of Images and Relics 34

15. Resignation in consequence of the Six Articles . . -35

16. Saved from death probably by Crumwell . . . . .36

17. Crumwell beheaded. Blank of six years . . . . -36

18. Committed to the Tower. Released on Edward's accession . . 37

19. His popularity as a preacher in London 37

20. His habits 38

21. Mary s accession. Committed to the Tower 38

22. Sent to Oxford with Cranmer and Ridley for disputations . 39

23. Final examination and sentence at Oxford 40

24. Execution 40

25. Views :

(1) On the Pope 41

(2) On the old Roman Catholic Faith 42

(3) On the Sacrifice of the Mass 43

(4) On the presence of Christ in Communion . . -44

(5) On propitiation in the Mass 45

(6) On Holy Scripture ........ 46

26. Character 47

III Laud, And The Medi.eval Reaction

1. Character 49

2. Differences of estimate 51

3. Sources of information 51

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4. Birth, education, and ecclesiastical standpoint . . . -52

5. Ordination. Marriage of Lady Rich to Lord Devonshire . . 57

6. Oxford life 57

7. Dean of Gloucester 58

8. Bishop of St. David's 59

9. Controversy with " Fisher the Jesuit " 59

10. Confessor to the Duke of Buckingham. Visits his diocese . . 60

11. Accession of Charles L Laud's predominant influence . . . 60

12. Controversy on Montague's Sermon. Bishop of London . . 61

13. Laud and compulsion 63

14. Chancellor of Oxford 63

r5. Court of Star Chamber and Court of High Commission. Archbishop of Canterbury 64

15. Measures against Puritanism ........ 66

17. Metropolitical Visitation of the whole province of Canterbury . 67

18. Juxon, Bishop of London, made Lord Treasurer . -67

19. The Scottish explosion 68

21. The end 70

IV Hooker, The Wise Theologian

2. Estimate of Pope Clement VIII 72

3. Estimate of James I., Charles I., and Princess Elizabeth . . 72

4. Estimate of Hallam 74

5. Boyhood 78

6. Corpus Christi, Oxford 79

7. Sermon at St. Paul's 81

8. Unhappy marriage 82

9. Drayton Beauchamp ; visit of former pupils 83

10. Master of the Temple 85

1 1 . Controversy with Travers 85

12. Desire for retirement ; Boscombe, Bishopsbourne . .86

13. Friendship with Dr. Saravia ........ 88

14. Sought by many. His character 90

15. Death 91

16. Destruction of his papers by his widow -91

17. Final publication of all the books of the Ecclesiastical Polity . 92

18. Quotations :

(1) The Invisible Church ........ 92

(2) Church of Rome heretical ....... 93

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(3) Episcopal Ordination not without exception . . -95

(4) Supremacy of Holy Scripture 96

(5) Presbyter better than Priest 97

(6) The Real Presence only in the soul of the faithful receiver . 98

V

BUTLER, THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER

2. Estimate of Newman 100

3. Estimate of Matthew Arnold loi

4. Estimate of Leslie Stephen 103

5. Estimate of Professor Adamson 105

6. Butler practically adopts Kant's argument for the existence of God 107

7. Wantage and Tewkesbury ; correspondence with Samuel Clarke . 108

8. Conforms to the Church of England ; Oxford .... 109

9. Friends. Preacher at the Rolls Chapel 109

10. Rector of Stanhope. The Fifteen Sermons no

11. Recollections. Publication of the ^«a/u^ in

12. Prebendary of Rochester. Clerk of the Closet to Queen Caroline . in

13. Favour of the Queen. Her death. Recommendation to George II. 112

14. Bishop of Bristol 113

17. Josiah Tucker ; the madness of nations 116

18. Offer of the Primacy 1 16

19. Bishop of Durham I17

20. Characteristics . . . . . . -117

21. His Charge ; Extracts:

(1) Preaching 119

(2) Religious Forms . .121

(3) Neglect of the simple institutions of the Reformers . 121

(4) Repair of Churches 122

(5) Family Prayers 123

(6) Mental Daily Prayer 123

(7) Grace at Meals 124

(8) Parents and Children 124

22. Death at Bath ; burial in Bristol Cathedral 124

23. Professor Ueberweg's summary of his philosophy .... 125

24. His description of the .^Ka/«^ 126

25. Henry Reeve on the Analogy 129

26. Conclusion 131

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VI Waterland, The Expounder Of The Lord's Supper

PAGE

I- Birth 133

2. Boyhood 134

3. Magdalene College, Cambridge 134

4. Habits of study ; Master of Magdalene 134

5. Is Avian Subscription Lawful ? 136

6. Controversies of the Eighteenth Century . . . . .136

7. Vice-Chancellor 139

8. Visit of George I. to Cambridge ; difficulty of the University with

Bentley 142

9. Life and influence at Cambridge 143

10. Vindication of Christ's Divinity ....... 144

11. Eight sermons at St. Paul's Cathedral 144

12. List of his works 145

13. Chancellor of York ; Canon of Windsor ; Vicar of Twickenham ;

Archdeacon of Middlesex 147

14. Habits 148

15. Declines Prolocutorship of the Convocation of Canterbury . . 149

16. Declines the Bishopric of Llandaff 149

18. Character 151

19. Burial in St. George's Chapel, Windsor 152

20. Estimate of Archbishop Potter 152

21. Estimate of Bishop Van Mildert 152

22. Views :

(1) True sense in which the Eucharist is a Sacrifice . • '55

(2) " This Do " not " This Sacrifice " 156

(3) In what sense the Eucharist is not a Sacrifice . . • IS7

(4) In what metaphorical sense Ministers may be called Priests 1 59

(5) Holy Scripture 160

VII John Wesley, The Evangelist Of The Masses

2. Father and family 163

3. Charterhouse . . . . . . 163

4. Christ Church, Oxford 163

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PAGE

5. Ordination; P'ellow of Lincoln ....... 164

6. Law'.s Serious Call 165

7. Societie.s for the Reformation of Manners ; the " Methodist " Club

at Oxford ; Whitefield 166

8. Sermon on the Eucharist 167

9. The mission to Georgia ......... 168

10. German Moravian emigrants ........ 169

11. Savannah; mistakes ......... 169

12. The Moravian impression, May 1738 170

13. Sympathy from the Bishop of London (Gibson) and Archbishop of

Canterbury (Potter) 172

14. Separation from the Moravians 173

15. Bristol; " The World my parish " 173

16. Irreligious state of England . . . . . . . -174

17. Erection of preaching-houses . . . . . . .176

18. Separation from Whitefield and the Calvinist Methodists . . 176

19. Methodist Customs ; institution of Lay preachers .... 177

20. First Annual Conference ; personal supervision . . . .179

21. The clergy less suspicious ; clerical colleagues .... 180

22. Ireland 182

23. The American commission ........ 184

24. Writings 184

25. Old age 185

26. Description 186

27. Statistics 188

28. Biographies 189

VIII Simeon, The Teacher Of Vital Religion

1. Estimate of Canon Overton and Macaulay 190

4. King's College, Cambridge ; religious impression . . . .191

5. Servants and family ......... 194

6. Atkinson and Venn 195

7. Ordination 195

8. Vicar of Trinity, Cambridge ........ 197

9. Persecution 19S

10. First University Sermon 199

11. Preparation of sermons ......... 201

12. Consciousness of personal failings 203

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PAGE

13. The parish conquered 205

14. Tour in Scotland 207

IS- One of the founders of the Church Missionary Society . . .211

16. First meeting of the Bible Society at Cambridge .... 212

17. Society for the Conversion of the Tews ; Trust for Church

Patronage 214

18. Influence over undergraduates 215

19. Old age and characteristics 218

20. Last sermons ; visit to the Bishop of Ely . . . . . 220

22. Funeral 222

23. Horn: Homileticcs 223

24. Interview with Wesley ......... 225

25. Bishop Daniel Wilson's estimate 227

IX Newman, The Founder Of Tractarianism

2. Childhood 229

3. Religious impressions ; Thomas Scott and Daniel Wilson . . 231

4. Trinity College, 0.\ford 232

5. Fellowship at Oriel 233

6. Contributions of friends to doctrinal development .... 233

7. Whately, Keble, Fronde 235

8. Preacher at Whitehall ; Vicar of St. Mary's 238

9. View of the condition of the Church of England; "Need of a

Second Refonnation ' 240

10. The tour abroad ; the illness in Sicily 244

11. The Irish Bishoprics; Keble 's Assize Sermon; the beginning of

the Tracts 245

12. The first Tract (Newman) 246

13. The St. Mary's Sermons . 248

15. " The shadow of a hand on the wall " ; 1839 .... 251

16. Condemnation of Tract 90, 1841 252

17. Retirement to Littlemore, 1842 254

18. Retraction of anti-Roman statements, 1843 255

19. Reception into Roman Commimion, 1845 255

20. Results of Newman's crusade ....... 255

21. Rome, Oscott, Cheadle, Birmingham, Edgbaston .... 257

22. Rector of Dublin Roman Catholic University .... 257

23. Estimate of Newman's difficulty 258

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X

PUSEY, THE GUIDE OF THE OXFORD MOVEMENT

PAGE

2. Family 260

3. Mitcham, Eton, Buckdeii . . 263

4. Christ Church, Oxford .... . . 264

5. jMiss Raymond-Barker .... .... 265

6. Tour in Switzerland ; Byronism 265

7. Fellow of Oriel ; descriptions 266 g. Marriage and Ordination ........ 270

10. Regius Professor of Hebrew and Canon of Christ Church at 28 . 271

11. The Tractarians 272

12. Newman's description of Pusey's adherence ..... 275 '3- 1835; Pusey's Tract on Baptism 278

14. Difference between Pusey and the Reformers .... 280

15. Pusey's view of Baptism, and that of the Council of Trent . 282

16. Confession and Absolution ........ 283

17. Willingness to accept the Council of Trent if explained satisfactorily 286

18. 1843; Censure of the sermon on the Eucharist .... 288

19. Newman's secession 250

20. Death of Pusey's w ife ........ 293

21. Asceticism . 294

23. The Gorham judgment 296

24. Library of the Fathers ; Minor Prophets 296

25. Sisterhoods 297

28. Cardinal Vaughan on Pusey's movement 299

29. Personal influence and example 300

XI Arnold, The Advocate Of Liberal Theology

2. Childhood •. 302

3. Winchester 303

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PAGE

4. 181 1, Scholar of Corpus, Oxford 306

5. 1815, Fellow of Oriel 307

6. 1818, Ordination; difficulties 309

8. 1820, Marriage to Mary Penrose 309

9. Stanley's account of his religious principles ..... 309

10. Bartholomew Price's recollections of Laleham .... 316

11. 1827, Headmaster of Rugby 318

12. Opposition 319

14. Prayer for the Sixth 321

15. Manner in teaching 322

16. Rugby Chapel 324

17. Preparation for Confirmation . ....... 327

18. Extracts from Diary ......... 330

19. 1841, Professor of Modern History at Oxford .... 333

20. Death ; effect on his old pupils described by the late Judge Hughes 333

21. Matthew Arnold's tribute 337