Learn about the dissident groups in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, and Unitarians. In addition, Sean Kelly presents a vignette of John Biddle’s life and influence.
This is lecture 10 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.
All the notes are available here as a pdf.
Robert Browne (1550-1633)Treatise of Reformation without Tarrying for Any, and of the Wickedness of those Preachers which will not Reform…till the Magistrate Command and Compel ThemReformation needed to take place whether or not the king wanted it or notCongressionalist rather than PresbyterianA group of Dutch Brownists were the ones who came to the New World in 1620sNot related to continental AnabaptistsFounded by John Smyth in 1609, an Englishman from Cambridge who fled to AmsterdamGeneral [Arminian] vs. Particular [Calvinist] are two types of BaptistsReject role of the state in matters of conscience (church should be independent of the state)John Bunyan (1628-88), Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666)Wrote autobiography Grace Abounding to Chief of SinnersPilgrim’s Progress (1678), second part appeared in 1684Roger Williams (1603?-1683) brought Baptist faith to AmericaQuakers (“Society of Friends”)
Founded by George Fox (1624-1691)“Inner Light” written in 1647: The word of God is not confined to the Bible but rather came directly to each person (inner light or inner voice)He rejected social distinctions, allowed women to preachPacifists and egalitarians (worked against slavery in the US using underground railway)No sacraments at all b/c they were physicalTotal silence during meetings until someone is inspired to speakJohn Biddle (1615-1662), the father of English Unitarianismbrilliant man1634 his anthology he published his translations from classics into Englishat university he “outran his instructors and became tutor to himself” (Protesters, 131)1634 he went to Magdalen Hall at Oxford1641 he was headmaster of the Crypt Grammar School in Gloucesterimmersed himself in Scripture for yearsknew entire NT by heart in English and most in Greek, though about Rev. 4 his memory got fuzzyclaimed he never read Socinian literature before coming to his own opinionswrote a pamphlet, Twelve Arguments against the Deity of the Holy Spirit1646 summoned to London’s parliament and imprisoned for 5 years1648 Publishes two anti-Trinitarian documentsA Confession of Faith Toughing the Holy Trinity According to ScriptureThe Testimonies of Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Novatianus, Theophilus, Origen. As Also of Arnobius, Lactanius, Easebius, Hilary and Brightman Concerning the One God and the Persons of the Holy Trinity1652 Biddle released and remained in London where he found fellowship1654 Biddle published his Twofold Catechismwhen Oliver Cromwell got in power Biddle was releasedreturned to quiet active work in a churchtwo months later he was imprisoned in Newgate prisonremained at St Mary’s for 3 years<