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Durham E-Theses Durham E-Theses PROSELYTISATION AND APOCALYPTICISM IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC WORLD - THE THEOLOGY OF JOHN FLAVEL PARKER, NATHAN,THOMAS How to cite: PARKER, NATHAN,THOMAS (2013) PROSELYTISATION AND APOCALYPTICISM IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC WORLD - THE THEOLOGY OF JOHN FLAVEL, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7276/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 PROSELYTISATION AND APOCALYPTICISM IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC WORLD: THE THEOLOGY OF JOHN FLAVEL NATHAN THOMAS PARKER A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN TOTAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION DURHAM UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER 2012 1 ABSTRACT Nathan Parker Proselytisation and Apocalypticism in the British Atlantic World: the Theology of John Flavel This thesis examines the theology of the prominent Puritan minister John Flavel (1627-91). In addition to investigating his methods of proselytising and his beliefs about the apocalypse it argues that his evangelistic approach had a significant transatlantic impact in the eighteenth century. Chapter one argues that Flavel’s approach to proselytising can be understood as an interplay between three grids. First, he argued that there were two realisations at which his hearers must arrive in order to be converted. Second, he argued that, from the vantage point of the preacher, there were three faculties within the human soul where he must direct his evangelistic efforts. Third, Flavel maintained that there were (roughly) ten theological events which must transpire within the soul for a person to experience conversion. Whilst the subject was conscious of some of these states, others were imperceptible. Chapter two demonstrates that Flavel posited two distinct levels upon which these theological states operated: common and saving. Chapter three explores the practical ways in which Flavel led people to experience Christian salvation. Chapter four contends that Flavel’s beliefs about the return of Christ changed over time. In the early part of his ministry, he did not speak of the return of Christ as being imminent, but by 1689 he was convinced that it was at hand. This had implications for his evangelism. Chapter five argues that Flavel’s approach to proselytising had a significant impact on individuals in the eighteenth century, especially around the time of the Great Awakening. This case is constructed through the presentation of several pieces of evidence: numerous people who were converted through reading his sermons, an evaluation of Flavel in print, and marginalia located in copies of his books printed between 1664 and 1799. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND GRAPHS 8 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 9 DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 11 CONVENTIONS 14 INTRODUCTION 16 A. Flavel’s influence 18 B. Scope of the current study 26 C. Literature review 29 a. Influential studies on Puritanism 29 b. Studies concerning Puritan evangelism 33 D. Research on John Flavel 36 a. A methodological weakness in the preceding studies on Flavel 46 b. Areas for further research 50 E. Defining Puritanism 50 CHAPTER 1. THE SPIRIT’S WORK AS A PATTERN FOR PROSELYTISATION: “THE SAME ORDER MUST BE OBSERVED IN GOSPEL OFFERS” 54 A. Two spiritual recognitions: sinfulness and the saving value of Christ 57 3 B. Three human faculties 60 A. Mind 62 B. Affections 65 C. Will 67 C. The pathway to conversion 71 i. Several kinds of knowledge 75 ii. The ordo salutis 78 iii. Awakening 82 iv. Enlightening 83 v. Illumination 85 vi. Conviction 87 vii. Regeneration 92 viii. Faith and repentance 98 ix. Union with Christ 100 x. Justification 102 xi. Sanctification 103 xii. Assurance of salvation 104 2. TWO LEVELS OF EFFECTUALITY: “HOW MANY THOUSANDS MISCARRY” 108 A. Not quite saved 109 B. Two levels along the pathway to conversion 112 i. Awakening 112 ii. Enlightening and illumination 116 iii. Conviction 120 4 iv. Faith 125 v. Assurance 129 C. The three grids interaction with the two levels 135 3. AN APPLICATION OF FLAVEL’S METHOD: “PLEADING AND WOOING FOR CHRIST” 139 A. Expounding upon Christ 144 i. Presenting Christ as the soul’s only durable good 149 ii. The ardency of his love for sinners 150 iii. The lowliness of his humiliation 152 iv. The value of his proffered salvation 153 v. The wicked affront of rejecting him 155 B. Appealing to the affections 160 i. Threats 162 ii. Promises of comfort 165 iii. Cautions about the brevity of time 168 C. Christian Hedonism 177 i. Best accords with human design 179 ii. Was the best conceivable life to be lived 182 iii. Swapped the inferior for the superior 184 iv. Prepared soul for the best enjoyment in heaven 186 4. FLAVEL’S APOCALYPTICISM: “THE DAY IS NOW AT HAND” 191 A. Signs of judgment 194 i. Removal of gospel ministers 195 5 ii. Removal of ordinances from the church 196 iii. Increasing national sinfulness 199 iv. Schism and division amongst Nonconformists 199 B. Flavel’s early writings (1664-71) 201 C. Flavel’s middle writings (1671-80) 203 D. Flavel’s later writings (1680-91) 205 5. FLAVEL AS A TRANSATLANTIC BRIDGE BETWEEN PURITANISM AND THE GREAT AWAKENING 213 A. Accounts of people who read and were influenced by Flavel in the eighteenth century 213 B. Flavel’s influence upon Jonathan Edwards 228 C. Flavel’s influence on George Whitefield 247 D. An analysis of Flavel in print 254 E. Marginalia evidence 267 F. Drawing the chapter together 286 APPENDIX A: EXHAUSTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FLAVEL’S PRINTED WRITINGS 296 Section One: Print 296 Section Two: Electronic media 320 Section Three: Works speciously attributed to Flavel 320 6 APPENDIX B: LIST OF MARGINAL SOURCES CITED 322 APPENDIX C: AN EXTRACT FROM FLAVEL’S DIARY 324 BIBLIOGRAPHY 327 Manuscripts 327 Primary sources 328 Secondary sources 337 Dissertations 363 Electronic sources 365 7 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND GRAPHS Bishop Tanner’s 1721 copy of Athenae Oxonienses 20 Visual depiction of the three grids and their interaction with the two levels 138 1698 Pneumatologia BOD 273-4 1733 Navigation Spiritualized BL 283 Edmund Elys’ letter to John Walker 287 Salt-stone at low tide 292 Salt-stone in Kingsbridge Estuary 293 8 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BL British Library BOD Bodleian Library, Oxford DWL Dr. Williams Library, London EEBO Early English Books Online ESTC English Short Title Catalogue MS/MSS manuscript/manuscripts ODNB Oxford Dictionary of National Biography OED Oxford English Dictionary WCF Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms 9 DECLARATION “No part of this thesis has previously been submitted by me for a degree in this or in any other University. Material from the work of others has been acknowledged and quotations and paraphrases suitably indicated.” “The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any format, including electric and the Internet, without the author’s prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged appropriately.” Nathan Parker 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My first and biggest “thank you” goes to my gracious wife Nicole, who has not only supported me in this project in every conceivable way, but also read through the whole thesis twice (and was, in the process, ferocious with her cruel, red pen). I love you, Nicole. “2012!” I must also thank my parents, Jim and Susan, for not only introducing me to Flavel in the late 1990s, but for living lives which bring much glory to his God. As for my four siblings – Hannah, Andrew, Philip, and Joy – it is impossible to conceive of a more wonderful family. Many thanks to Andrew for designing the helpful visual of the grids and levels. I am also privileged to have Mike and DeAnn Sampley as in-laws. Thank you for supporting us in our decision to move your daughter even further away from California! You guys are wonderful. My primary supervisor, Professor Alec Ryrie, has taught me more than anyone else how to produce quality scholarship. I will always be indebted to him for forcing me to think and argue clearly. Professor Mark McIntosh, although taking me on as a student late in the game, has also been a model scholar and teacher. Many thanks to you both. Outside of my supervisory team, the scholar who has assisted me more than any other is Professor Kenneth Stewart, who taught me (and instilled in me a love for) church history whilst I was in seminary. I would also like to thank numerous scholars who read different chapters of the thesis and offered critical feedback. These include David Bebbington, Charles Cohen, D. Clair Davis, John Fesko, Douglas Kelly, Jim Parker, William Schweitzer, Kenneth Stewart, and Dewey Wallace. Additionally I would like to acknowledge those who lent scholarly assistance in various ways: Cliff Boone, 11 Robert Bucholz, Brian Cosby, Adam Embry, Paul Gardner, Francis Gotto, Bruce Hindmarsh, William Lamont, Eve LaPlante, Darius Rackus, Reiner Smolinski, Nate Warne, and Merry Weisner-Hanks. And for valuable translation assistance, I appreciate Amy Soullier (Welsh), Saaed Bhatti (Urdu), and Matt Lamos (Shorthand).
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