John Edwards (1637–1716) was an English
Calvinistic
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
divine
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine< ...](_blank)
.
Early life
Edwards was the second son of
Thomas Edwards, author of ''
Gangræna''. He was born at
Hertford 26 February 1637, and admitted into
Merchant Taylors' School at the age of ten.
Having spent seven years there under Mr. Dugard's care, he was appointed (10 March 1653-4)
sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is an undergraduate who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined jo ...
of
St. John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge founded by the Tudor matriarch Lady Margaret Beaufort. In constitutional terms, the college is a charitable corporation established by a charter dated 9 April 1511. The ...
, which at that time was under the presidency of
Anthony Tuckney
Anthony Tuckney (September 1599, in Kirton-in-Holland – February 1670) was an English Puritan theologian and scholar.
Life
Anthony Tuckney was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and a fellow there from 1619 to 1630. He was town preacher ...
, a
presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
. Edwards's conduct and proficiency secured him a scholarship, and before (as well as after) graduating he was appointed a moderator in the schools. In 1657 he was admitted B.A., elected fellow 23 March 1658-9, and proceeded to the degree of M.A. in 1661.
Church life
Soon afterwards he was ordained
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...
by
Robert Sanderson,
bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.
The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...
, who at the same time engaged him to preach a sermon at the next ordination. In 1664 he took the charge of
Trinity Church, Cambridge, where his preaching – plain, practical, and temperate – attracted notice, and he won the good opinion of his parishioners during an outbreak of
plague
Plague or The Plague may refer to:
Agriculture, fauna, and medicine
*Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis''
* An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural)
* A pandemic caused by such a disease
* A swarm of pe ...
.
A few years later, having taken the degree of B.D., he was chosen lecturer of
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as Bury, is a historic market, cathedral town and civil parish in Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton A ...
, but retained the office only twelve months, preferring college life. His position, however, at St. John's became untenable on account of his Calvinistic views. As he met no sympathy from the master, he resigned his fellowship and entered
Trinity Hall as a fellow commoner, performing the regular exercises in
civil law. But the parishioners of St. Sepulchre's, Cambridge having invited him to be their minister, he resumed his clerical functions, and about the same time married the widow of Alderman Lane, who had been a successful attorney in the town. After declining other
preferment
A ferment (also known as bread starter) is a fermentation starter used in ''indirect'' methods of bread making. It may also be called mother dough.
A ferment and a longer fermentation in the bread making, bread-making process have several benefi ...
he was presented (1683) to the vicarage of St. Peter's,
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian.
Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
, a benefice which he retained some three years until declining health and waning popularity induced him to seek retirement in a
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and North ...
village, and to make the press, rather than the pulpit the means of diffusing his opinions.
In 1697 he was once more in
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
. In 1699 he took the degree of D.D., and until the close of his long life, which occurred on 16 April 1716, devoted himself to study and to the publication of theological works. He was left a widower in 1701, and soon afterwards married Catherine Lane (niece of his first wife's husband), who survived until 1745.
Bibliography
His ''
Socinians' Creed'' was intended to controvert
John Locke
John Locke (; 29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "father of liberalism ...
's 'Reasonableness of Christians, as declared in the Scriptures.'
Thomas Hearne alleged that Edwards tried to take credit as the author of "The Preservative against Socinianism," written by Dr.
Jonathan Edwards, principal of
Jesus College.
*'The Plague of the Heart,' a sermon, Cambridge, 1665, 4to.
*'Cometomantia: a Discourse of Comets
y J. E.?' 1684, 8vo.
*'A Demonstration of the Existence and Providence of God, from the Contemplation of the Visible Structure of the Greater and Lesser World,' 1600, 8vo.
*'An Inquiry into Four Remarkable Texts of the New Testament
att. ii. 23, 1 Cor. xi. 14, xv. 29, 1 Peter iii. 19, 20' Cambridge, 1692, 8vo.
*'A Further Inquiry into certain Remarkable Texts,' London, 1692, 8vo.
*'A Discourse on the Authority, Stile, and Perfection of the Books of the Old and New Testament,' 3 vols. 1693-5, 8vo.
*'Some Thoughts concerning the several Causes and Occasions of Atheism, especially in the Present Age, with some brief Reflections on Sociniunism and on a late Book entituled "The Reasonableness of Christianity as delivered in the Scriptures," ' London, 1695, 4to.
*Socinianism Unmask'd,' London, 1696, 8vo.
*'The Socinian Creed,' London, 1697, 8 vo.
*'Brief Remarks on Mr. Whiston's new Theory of the Earth,' 1697, 8vo.
*'A Brief Vindication of the Fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith,... from Mr. Lock's Reflections upon them in his "Book of Education,"' &c., 1697, 8vo.
*'Sermons on Special Occasions and Subjects,' 1698, 8vo.
*'πηλυποικλος εοψια, a Compleat History of all Dispensations and Methods of Religion,' 2 vols. London, 1699, 8vo.
*'The Eternal and Intrinsick Reasons of Good and Evil,' a sermon, Cambridge, 1699, 4to.
*'A Free but Modest Censure on the late Controversial Writings and Debates of Mr. Edwards and Mr. Locke,' 1698, 4to.
*'A Plea for the late Mr. Baxter, in Answer to Mr. Lobb's Charge of Socinianism,' 1699, 8vo.
*'Concio et Determinatio pro gradu Doctoratus in Sacra Theologia,' Cantab., 1700, 12mo.
*'A Free Discourse concerning Truth and Error, especially in matters of Religion,' 1701, 8vo.
* 'Exercitations... on several Important Places ... of the Old and New Testaments,' 1702, 8vo.
*'The Preacher, a discourse showing what are the particular Offices and Employments of those of that character in the Church,' 3 parts, London, 1705-7, 8vo.
*'The Heinousness of England's Sins,' a sermon, 1707, 8vo.
*'One Nation; one King,' sermon on the union of England and Scotland, 1707, 8vo.
*'Veritas Redux: Evangelical Truths Restored,' 3 vols. London, 1707-8, 1725–6, fol. and 8vo.
*Sermon on War, 1708, 8vo.
*'Four Discourses,... being a Vindication of my Annotations from the Doctor's
hitbyCavils,' 1710, 8vo.
*'The Divine Perfections Vindicated,' 1710, 8vo.
*'Great Things done for our Ancestors,' a sermon, 1710, 8vo.
*'The Arminian Doctrines condemn'd by the Holy Scripture, in Answer to Dr. Whitby,' 1711, 8vo.
*'A Brief Discourse
n Rev. ii. 4–5' 1711, 8vo.
*'Some Brief Observations on Mr. Whiston's late Writings,' 1712, 8vo.
*'Some Animadversions on Dr. Clarke's Scripture-Doctrine of the Trinity,' 1712, 8vo.
* A supplement to the above, 1713, 8vo.
*'Theologia Reformata,' 2 vols. 1713, fol.
*'How to judge aright of the Former and Present Times,' accession sermon, 17 14, 4to.
*'Some Brief Critical Remarks on Dr. Clarke's last papers,' 1714, 8vo.
*'Some New Discoveries of Uncertainty, Deficiency, and Corruptions of Human Knowledge, &c., 1714, 8vo.
*'The Doctrines controverted between Papists and Protestants... Considered,' 1724, 8vo.
*'A Discourse concerning the True Import of the words Election and Reprobation,' 1735, 8vo.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, John
1637 births
1716 deaths
Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
17th-century English Anglican priests
English Calvinist and Reformed theologians
17th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians
English male non-fiction writers
17th-century English male writers
17th-century English writers