John Simson
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John Simson (1667–1740) was a Scottish "
New Licht The Anti-Burghers were opponents of the Burgher Oath on theological grounds. History First Secession In 1733 the First Secession from the Church of Scotland resulted in the creation of the "Associate Presbytery". This church split in 1747 ov ...
" theologian, involved in a long investigation of alleged
heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
. He was suspended from teaching as Professor of Divinity at the
University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...
for his later life.


Life

He was born on 13 July 1667, the eldest son of Rev Patrick Simson (1628–1715), minister of Renfrew. John was educated at the
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
where he graduated M.A. on 18 July 1692, then did further studies at
Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...
being appointed university librarian in 1696. On 13 July 1698 he was licensed to preach as a
Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...
minister by the Presbytery of Paisley. In September 1698 he travelled to the Netherlands to receive instruction from Johannes Marck, professor of divinity at Leiden University, staying from 1689 to 1731. During this period, his brother Matthew Simson (1673–1756), minister at Pencaitland, Haddingtonshire, was entered at Leyden as a divinity student on 20 February 1699, and it is probable that Simson accompanied him, though he is not entered in the list of students. In poor health, he obtained no ministerial charge till 1705, when he was called to
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, Kirkcudbrightshire on 21 June, and ordained there on 20 September 1708 he was promoted to be professor of divinity in the
University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...
, succeeding James Wodrow, father of
Robert Wodrow Robert Wodrow (167921 March 1734) was a Scottish minister and historian, known as a chronicler and defender of the Covenanters. Robert Wodrow was born at Glasgow, where his father, James Wodrow, was a professor of divinity. Robert was educate ...
. He lectured in Latin, using Marck's ''Medulla'' as his main text-book. He was never convicted of heresy. He adopted the maxim that reason is 'fundamentum theologiæ,' and his aim was to make orthodoxy intelligible. For 20 years the ranks of presbyterian clergy in the west of Scotland and north of Ireland were recruited from his pupils. In 1710 Simson discussed his views at
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with James Webster (1659–1720), minister of the Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh. Subsequently, he stated his position in correspondence with Robert Rowan (1660–1714), minister of Penningham, Wigtownshire, and with James Hog, editor of ''The Marrow''. Webster first publicly attacked Simson in August 1712. On 17 March 1714 he made formal charges in the Edinburgh presbytery. Through the synod of Lothian the matter reached the General Assembly, and Webster, acting under the assembly's order, tabled his complaint before the Glasgow presbytery in the autumn. Simson gave in his replies on 29 March 1715, and the general assembly on 8 May referred the case to a committee of thirty ministers and six elders, on 13 May. At the head of the committee was
William Carstares William Carstares (also Carstaires) (11 February 164928 December 1715) was a minister of the Church of Scotland, active in Whig politics. Early life Carstares was born at Cathcart, near Glasgow, Scotland, the son of the Rev. John Carstares, a ...
, who died before the end of the year. The leading theologians on it were James Hadow, and William Hamilton, D.D., Professor of divinity at Edinburgh. The gist of the accusation was that Simson had attributed too much to the "light of nature", but there were other charges, e.g. he held it probable that the moon was inhabited. At the assembly of 1716 the marrow-men clamoured for Simson's suspension, but the case was deferred till the next assembly, when Webster broke out (8 May 1717) with what Wodrow calls 'a dreadful sally.' At the next sitting he apologised. On 14 May 1717 the assembly found that Simson had 'vented some opinions not necessary to be taught in divinity,' and had employed expressions 'used by adversaries in a bad and unsound sense;' these were prohibited for the future, but no further censure was passed. The assembly was, in fact, being offered to choose between two extremes: on the same day judgment was given against the ‘Auchterarder creed’ (see
Thomas Boston Thomas Boston (17 March 167620 May 1732) was a Scottish Presbyterian church leader, theologian and philosopher. Boston was successively schoolmaster at Glencairn, and minister of Simprin in Berwickshire, and Ettrick in Selkirkshire. In additio ...
, the elder). Preaching at the outer church, Glasgow, on 19 May, Simson gave offence by allusions to his opponents. Eight years later his orthodoxy on the point of Christ's deity was impeached. He admitted changes in his treatment of the topic. Up to 1722 he had taken John Owen as his model; for two years (1723–24) he had specially controverted the
semi-Arian Semi-Arianism was a position regarding the relationship between God the Father and the Son of God, adopted by some 4th-century Christians. Though the doctrine modified the teachings of Arianism, it still rejected the doctrine that Father, Son, ...
teaching of
Samuel Clarke Samuel Clarke (11 October 1675 – 17 May 1729) was an English philosopher and Anglican cleric. He is considered the major British figure in philosophy between John Locke and George Berkeley. Early life and studies Clarke was born in Norwich, ...
; finding that this course had its dangers, he began in December 1725 to combat the opposite error of
Sabellianism In Christianity, Sabellianism is the Western Church equivalent to Patripassianism in the Eastern Church, which are both forms of theological modalism. Condemned as heresy, Modalism is the belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three diff ...
, and was in consequence accused of going over to Samuel Clarke. He defended himself by affirming his judgment that, in the then state of Scottish theology, there was danger of Sabellianism and Socinianism, none of Arianism. His own account is closely confirmed by the evidence of his students. On 16 February 1726 Charles Coats, minister of
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, brought the matter before the Glasgow presbytery, who drew up six queries, which Simson declined to answer. Delay was caused by the state of Simson's health. Wodrow thought him 'in a dying condition,' and that his disorder had affected his mental health. He was unable to attend the assembly of 1726. On 18 May 1727 the assembly suspended him till the next assembly, and appointed a committee of twenty-one ministers and ten elders to co-operate with the Glasgow presbytery in preparing the case. On 16 May 1728, after receiving Simson's explanations and withdrawals, the assembly found his sentiments to be 'sound and orthodox,' but his teaching had been 'subversive,' and his explanations tardy. He was suspended till another assembly should take off the sentence; meantime the matter was to be referred to the presbyteries. Charles Owen, D.D. was present at this assembly. The action of the University of Edinburg in conferring (8 November) its diploma of D.D. upon four non-subscribers, including Owen, was viewed as a protest against the suspension of Simson. By the next assembly all the presbyteries but three or four had reported for Simson's deposition. Besides the 'marrow-men' a strenuous advocate for this course was Allan Logan (died 1733), minister of
Culross Culross (/ˈkurəs/) (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cuileann Ros'', 'holly point or promontory') is a village and former royal burgh, and parish, in Fife, Scotland. According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395. Originally, Culross ...
. Finally, the suspension from all ecclesiastical function was confirmed on 13 May 1729. Simson was to retain the emoluments of his chair, though it was 'not fit or safe' that he should teach divinity. His post at the University lay unfilled from 1729 until 1740, eventually being filled by
Michael Potter Michael Potter (born 24 September 1963) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach who is the interim head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League, and a former professional rugby league football ...
.Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana vol.7 by Hew Scott p.400 After suspension, Simson signed a student's testimonial as S.T.P. No provision was made for the duties of his chair, save that the principal, Neil Campbell, heard the discourses of bursars. Simson died on 2 February 1740. He printed nothing except the papers connected with his trials. His correspondence with Rowan was printed by Webster, Edinburgh, 1715, for presentation to the assembly.


Family

In October 1710 he married Jean Stirling, daughter of Rev James Stirling, minister of the
Barony Church Barony Hall, also known as Barony Church, is a red sandstone Victorian neo-Gothic-style building on Castle Street in the Townhead area of Glasgow, Scotland, near Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the city's oldest surviving ho ...
in Glasgow and a niece of John Stirling (1662–1727), principal of Glasgow College. They had at least 14 children including a daughter, Jean Simson, who married (1757) John Moore, and was the mother of Sir John Moore of Coruña. His sister Agnes married another John Simson, and was mother of
Robert Simson Robert Simson (14 October 1687 – 1 October 1768) was a Scottish mathematician and professor of mathematics at the University of Glasgow. The Simson line is named after him.Thomas Simson Thomas Simson (1696–1764) was a Scottish medical academic at the University of St Andrews. Life He was born in 1696. He obtained the degree of MD from the University of Glasgow in 1720, and two years later, in 1722 was appointed as the first ...
.


References


Citations


Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Simson, John 1667 births 1740 deaths Scottish Christian theologians People from Renfrew Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish librarians 17th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland Leiden University alumni Academics of the University of Glasgow 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland