DOCSLIB.ORG

Charles Simeon: Evangelical Or Churchman? Simeon's Contribution to the Baptismal Controversy in the Early Nineteenth Century

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Charles Simeon: Evangelical Or Churchman? Simeon's Contribution to the Baptismal Controversy in the Early Nineteenth Century Durham E-Theses Charles Simeon: evangelical or churchman? Simeon's contribution to the baptismal controversy in the early nineteenth century Becht, Barbara How to cite: Becht, Barbara (1995) Charles Simeon: evangelical or churchman? Simeon's contribution to the baptismal controversy in the early nineteenth century, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/5176/ 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 Charles Simeon Evangelical or Churchman? Simeon's Contribution to the Baptismal Controversy in the Early Nineteenth Century by Barbara Becht The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. A thesis submitted for the degree of M.Theol. tttthe University of Durham March 1995 This thesis is subject to the l":Opyright regulations of the University of Durham, according to which the copyright remains in the hands of the author · ,~. 1 MAY 1996 Charles Simeon. Evangelical or Churchman? Simeon's Contribution to the Baptismal Controversy in the Early Nineteenth Century A Thesis submitted for the degree of M.Theol. at the University of Durham, by Barbara Becht, March 1995. This paper attempts to trace the thought of an outstanding leader of the Anglican Evangelicals, Charles Simeon, concerning baptism. What makes Simeon's life and thought an interesting topic is the fact that his characteristic Evangelical manner is tempered by a strong allegiance to the Church of England and her creeds. Thus, the title of this book is justified: Could Simeon in actual fact reconcile his Evangelical beliefs with his reverence for the Church, a way of life thought by many contemporaries to be on the brink of hereticism with a clear confession to the Church? In order to ascenain the contribution of his thought, it is necessary to ex­ amine the Baptismal Controversy which raged at the time. As the Orthodox con­ tended that the Evangelicals were basically Calvinistic, we especially need to take a closer look at the Calvinistic Controversy preceding the Controversy under discussion in order to ascenain the theological roots of the Evangelicals (Part A, chapter 1). A second chapter examines the Baptismal Controversy and imponant contributions of Onhodox and Evangelical proponents. Pan B then sketches the life of Charles Simeon prior to analyzing Simeon1s thought concerning baptism and regeneration in greater detail. It is found that Simeon belongs to the main group of Evangelicals. Like these, he propagates that regeneration may or may not be conveyed at baptism; funher common points are the notion of ')udgment of charity" (=charitable supposition) and of baptism as a change of state, a title to blessings, the entrance into the covenant, an initiation rite into the Church, an appointed means of grace. Simeon however rejects both the Calvinistic and the Anninian doctrinal systems. A funher point which distinguishes him is his absolute loyalty to the Church and her liturgy. Thus, Simeon unites both his Evangelical nature and his churchmanship in a unique manner. Contents Introduction S Part A : The Baptismal Controversy 7 1 "Calvinism" and the Baptismal Controversy 8 1.1 The Calvinistic Controversy 9 1.1.1 The Historical Components of the Calvinistic Controversy 9 1.1.2 The Theological Components ofthe Calvinistic Controversy 12 1.2 The Baptismal Controversy 14 1.2.1 The Orthodox Party 14 1.2.2 The Evangelicals 16 1.2.2.1 The Views of the Evangelicals 19 1.22.1.1 Religion 20 1.221.2 The Bible 20 1.221.3 Anthropology 21 1.22.1.4 Soteriology 21 1.2.2. 1.5 Ecclesiology 21 1.2.3 The "Calvinism" ofthe Evangelicals 24 1.3 The "Calvinism" of the Baptismal Controversy 29 2 Baptism and Regeneration: the Baptismal Controversy 32 2.1 Controversy Prior to the Controversy 32 2.2 The Baptismal Controversy Proper 41 2.2.1 The Historical Setting 42 2.2.2 A Systematic Evaluation of Selected Works 47 2.2.2.1 Inseparability of Baptism and Regeneration: the Orthodox Shibboleth 47 2.2.2.1.1 Herbert Marsh 48 2.2.2.1.2 Richard Mant 49 2.2.2.1.3 Daubeny 52 2.2.2.1.4 Richard Laurence 54 2.2.2.1.5 Hector Davies Morgan 55 2.2.2.1.6 Variations on a 1beme: Orthodox Unity 56 2.2.2.2 Baptism Versus Regeneration? The Evangelical Dilemma 57 2.2.2.2.1 John Scott 59 2.2.2.2.2 Daniel Wilson 61 2.2.2.2.3 Thomas T. Biddulph 62 2.2.2.2.4 George Nicholson 64 2.2.2.2.5 George Bugg 66 2.2.2.2.6 Henry Ryder 68 2.2.2.2.7 John W. Cunningham 70 2.2.2.2.8 George Stanley Faber 71 2.2.2.2.9 The Christian Observer 74 2.2.2.2.10 TheQuorterlyReview 76 2.2.2.2.11 Diversity and Unity Amongst the Evangelicals 78 3 Conclusion 80 Part B : Charles Simeon: Evangelical or Churchman? 82 1 The Evangelical Enigma: Simeon's Life 82 1.1 Simeon's Childhood 82 1.2 "The Deepest Shame and Sorrow:" at Eton 82 1.3 "The Sweetest Access to God:" Simeon's Conversion-Experience 85 1.4 First Steps into the Ministry 90 1.5 Pastoral Work in an Academic Setting 91 1.5.1 Growing Pains 91 1.5.2 ltregularity or Church Order? 92 1.5.2.1 ''They are all His Flock:" the Dissenters 96 1.5.2.2 "Pray the Prayers:" Liturgy and Renewal 96 1.5.3 Principles of Church Growth 99 1.6 "Academic" Work in a Pastoral Setting 101 1.6.1 The Art of Preaching 105 1.6.2 Friday Tea-parties 107 1.7 Societies and the Evangelical Cause 108 1.8 The Problem of Continuity 110 2 Sign and thing signified: Simeon's Solution 112 2.1 Baptism 112 2.1. 1 The Nature of Baptism 113 2.1.2 Infant Baptism 115 2.2 Regeneration 116 2.2.1 Scope and aim of Regeneration 116 2.2.2 The Nature ofRegeneration 118 2.2.3 "Election but not Reprobation" (Regeneration and Election) 123 2.3 Baptism, Regeneration and the Missing Link 128 2.3.1 Simon Magus & the Dying Thief 131 2.3.2 Noah's Ark 131 2.3.3 Circumcision and Baptism 133 2.3.4 Baptism as a Covenant 135 3 Baptism in the Light of Simeon's Life and Pastoral Theology 136 3.1 Simeon the Ewngelical: Baptism and Conversion 136 3.2 Simeon the Bible Christian: Baptism and Hermeneutics 138 3.2.1 "Be Bible Christians, not System Christians" 138 3.3 Simeon the Churchman: Baptism and Ecclesiology 143 3.3.1 The Centrality ofthe Church 143 3.3.2 Church and Baptism 143 3.3.2.1 ''Enter then into the Ark:" Faith and Baptism 143 3.3.2.2 Visible and Invisible Church: Branches, Fishes and Tares 145 3.3.2.3 The "Individualism" of Simeon's Ecclesiology 146 3.3.3 Confirmation, Communion and Baptism 150 3.3.3.1 The "Peculiar Blessings" of C..ommunion 155 4 Simeon's Contribution within the Baptismal Controversy 158 Bibliography 163 Introduction The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century were a restive and uneasy time marked by political and economical revolution8. chanaes at home and abroad. The rise of the Evangelical movement within the Church of England may be called the most remarkable spiritual development at this time. The emphasis on individual conversion and commitment, holiness of life and witness at home and abroad held a strong appeal for many Christians. A major issue of the time was a direct consequence of the rise of Evangelical­ ism within the Church, namely regeneration and its relationship to baptism: if re~ generation as defined by Evangelicals is linked to conversion, can a person receive regeneration at baptism? Is baptism at all necessary for regeneration, or does it merely play a marginal role? Does regeneration occur at conversion, and if so, can regeneration be lost? These were some of the questions asked and fiercely disputed in these decades. The following pages attempt to trace the thought of an outstanding leader of the Anglican Evangelicals, Charles Simeon, concerning baptism. Little has been written on this subject, and indeed, comparatively little original research has been done on the Evangelicals of this time, leaving aside the multitude of biographies of a devotional nature. What makes Simeon's life and thought an interesting topic is the fact that his characteristic Evangelical manner is tempered by a strong allegiance to the Church of England and her creeds. Thus, the title of this book is justified: Could Simeon in actual fact reconcile his Evangelical beliefs with his reverence for the Church, a way of life thought by many to be on the brink of hereticism with a clear confession to the Church? In order to ascertain the contribution of his thought, it is necessary to ex­ amine the Baptismal Controversy which raged at the time.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Search for Real Christianity: Nineteenth-Century England for a Number of Lessons, We Have Been Looking at Church History In
    Reformation & Modern Church History Lesson 31, Page 1 The Search for Real Christianity: Nineteenth-Century England For a number of lessons, we have been looking at church history in America. Now we go back to the continent of Europe and to England for this lesson. The prayer I will open with comes from the prayer book of the Church of England, from what is called “The Lesser Peace and Fast.” One of the celebration days on the church calendar of the Church of England has to do with a man whose name will come up in today’s lesson, Charles Simeon. On that particular day in the prayer book, this prayer relates to the life and testimony of Charles Simeon. So, as we begin this lesson, I would like for us to use this prayer, thanking the Lord for Simeon and other faithful ministers whom we will be talking about during this time. Let us pray. O loving Lord, we know that all things are ordered by Thine unswerving wisdom and unbounded love. Grant us in all things to see Thy hand, that following the example of Charles Simeon, we may walk with Christ with all simplicity and serve Thee with a quiet and contented mind through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and with the Holy Spirit—one God forever and ever. Amen. As we think about the history of Christianity in England in the nineteenth century, we begin, of course, with the Church of England, and we begin with the Broad Church. In one of Henry Fielding’s novels, he has a character who says this, “When I mention religion, I mean the Christian religion and not only the Christian religion but the Protestant religion and not only the Protestant religion but the Church of England.” And that was probably the attitude of many people who were members of the church in England in the nineteenth century, particularly members of what was called the Broad Church or adherents to the Broad Church philosophy.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wesleyan Enlightenment
    The Wesleyan Enlightenment: Closing the gap between heart religion and reason in Eighteenth Century England by Timothy Wayne Holgerson B.M.E., Oral Roberts University, 1984 M.M.E., Wichita State University, 1986 M.A., Asbury Theological Seminary, 1999 M.A., Kansas State University, 2011 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of History College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2017 Abstract John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican priest who became the leader of Wesleyan Methodism, a renewal movement within the Church of England that began in the late 1730s. Although Wesley was not isolated from his enlightened age, historians of the Enlightenment and theologians of John Wesley have only recently begun to consider Wesley in the historical context of the Enlightenment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between a man, John Wesley, and an intellectual movement, the Enlightenment. As a comparative history, this study will analyze the juxtaposition of two historiographies, Wesley studies and Enlightenment studies. Surprisingly, Wesley scholars did not study John Wesley as an important theologian until the mid-1960s. Moreover, because social historians in the 1970s began to explore the unique ways people experienced the Enlightenment in different local, regional and national contexts, the plausibility of an English Enlightenment emerged for the first time in the early 1980s. As a result, in the late 1980s, scholars began to integrate the study of John Wesley and the Enlightenment. In other words, historians and theologians began to consider Wesley as a serious thinker in the context of an English Enlightenment that was not hostile to Christianity.
    [Show full text]
  • MERTHYR MAWR ESTATE COLLECTION DMM Nicholl
    CONTENTS NICHOLL/ MERTHYR MAWR ESTATE COLLECTION DMM Nicholl/ Merthyr Mawr See also: DN handlist DMM Nicholl/ Merthyr Mawr Page 1-2 Introduction: The Nicholl family of Merthyr Mawr 3-5 Family Diaries, Journals, Accounts, Memoranda, etc (including some estate and household accounts) -Sir John Nicholl -Mary Anne Nicholl -John Nicholl junior (and family) -John Cole Nicholl -John I.D. Nicholl 6-13 Correspondence Correspondents: -Birt family to doctor and mrs John Nicholl -Eliz. Nicholl (nee Harvard), to son John and granddaughter Mary Anne -John Nicholl to wife Judy -Sir John Nicholl to R. Jenner -Sir John and lady Nicholl to younger children Jn. and Kath. Nicholl -Lady Judy Nicholl and relations to Jn. Nichol jun. Also: various letters from Sir John Nicholl to his wife, one from Jn. N. jun. to his father, and one from Wm. Page to sir John Nicholl -Family and friends to Mary Anne, Judy and Kath. Nicholl -Frances Ann Grey (w. of Wm. Booth Grey) to lady Judy Nicholl -Sir John Nicholl to his son Jn. -Lady Judy Nicholl to her son Jn. -Jn. Nicholl jun. to his parents and sisters. Also: list of passmen at Oxford, 1818 -Letters of congratulation received by Jn. Nicholl jun. on gaining first class degree at Oxford. Also: List of passmen at Oxford, 1818 -Jn. Nicholl jun. to his parents and sisters -Letters of congratulation received by Jn. Nicholl on his forthcoming marriage -Jn. Nicholl jun. to his parents and sisters -Lady Judy Nicholl to her children -Jane Harriot Nicholl to her sisters at Penrice -Sir John Nicholl to his son Jn.
    [Show full text]
  • THE CLAPHAM SECT LESSON Kanayo N
    WEALTH AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN THE EXPANSION OF CHRISTIAN FRONTIERS IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: THE CLAPHAM SECT LESSON Kanayo Nwadialor & Chinedu Emmanuel Nnatuanya http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/og.v12i s1.9 Abstract The business of the expansion of any religious frontier is highly demanding. It is a business that has both spiritual and physical components for its effectiveness in the society. Spiritually, it demands prayers while physically; material possessions like money and political influence become veritable tools in enhancing its effectiveness in the world. Historically, the declaration of the Christian faith as legal religion in the Roman Empire by Constantine in the fourth century played a major role in the expansion and the subsequent consolidation of the Church. Likewise, the Clapham sect of the 18 th and 19 th centuries played a significant role in the expansion of the Church beyond the shores of Europe. Their role shows that money and political influence are good vehicles for expanding the gospel of Christ in every part of the world. This work is aimed at a espousing the role of the Clapham sect in the expansion of Christianity in the 19 th century. The aim is to use it as a guide on the best way for Christians to use their wealth and influence towards the expansion of Christianity in contemporary Nigeria. Hence, the work will apply historical method in its evaluation and interpretation. Introduction It is now history that the 18 th century Europe witnesses a rise in the evangelization zeal of Christians in fulfilling the mandate of the great commission, - to take the gospel to the end of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • The Legacy of Charles Simeon
    The Legacy of Charles Simeon John C. Bennett s the vicar of Holy TrinityChurch, Cambridgefor fifty­ Simeon entered Eton at the age of seven. Later in life he A four yearsanda fellow of King'sCollege,CharlesSimeon characterized the school as "so profligate ... [that he] should be (1759-1836)was arguably the foremost evangelical clergyman in tempted even to murder his own son" rather than submit him to the Church of England during the late eighteenth and early the same experience." Simeon found the spiritual climate of nineteenth centuries. Well known for pressing evangelicals to Cambridge, when he entered as a King's Scholar in 1779, to be observe the discipline and order of the established church, he littlebetter thanwhat he had left behind at Eton.' Like many first­ also contributed significantly to the development of the nine­ and second-generation evangelicals, Simeon's faith was not teenth-century Britishmissionary movement, a markedlyvolun­ shaped by the institutional process; rather he was mentoredin the tary phenomenon. Reconciling the tension between his regular faith. The autobiographical account of his spiritual pilgrimage Anglican churchmanship and the voluntarism of evangelical begins with an encounter with the Scriptures and continues missionary efforts is key to understanding Simeon's mission through a series of relationships with a number of the leading legacy.' lights of the evangelical movement, including John Newton and the elder Henry Venn." The efficacy and value of the evangelical Seeds of 1759 mentoring process was etched into Simeon's worldview and played an important role in shaping his missionary agenda. In the birth records of England in 1759 are the names of four men Followinghis evangelicalconversionon Easter1779,Simeon who were to have significant effect on the evangelical Anglican decided to pursue the Christian ministry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Canterbury Association
    The Canterbury Association (1848-1852): A Study of Its Members’ Connections By the Reverend Michael Blain Note: This is a revised edition prepared during 2019, of material included in the book published in 2000 by the archives committee of the Anglican diocese of Christchurch to mark the 150th anniversary of the Canterbury settlement. In 1850 the first Canterbury Association ships sailed into the new settlement of Lyttelton, New Zealand. From that fulcrum year I have examined the lives of the eighty-four members of the Canterbury Association. Backwards into their origins, and forwards in their subsequent careers. I looked for connections. The story of the Association’s plans and the settlement of colonial Canterbury has been told often enough. (For instance, see A History of Canterbury volume 1, pp135-233, edited James Hight and CR Straubel.) Names and titles of many of these men still feature in the Canterbury landscape as mountains, lakes, and rivers. But who were the people? What brought these eighty-four together between the initial meeting on 27 March 1848 and the close of their operations in September 1852? What were the connections between them? In November 1847 Edward Gibbon Wakefield had convinced an idealistic young Irishman John Robert Godley that in partnership they could put together the best of all emigration plans. Wakefield’s experience, and Godley’s contacts brought together an association to promote a special colony in New Zealand, an English society free of industrial slums and revolutionary spirit, an ideal English society sustained by an ideal church of England. Each member of these eighty-four members has his biographical entry.
    [Show full text]
  • Evangelicals and the Synoptic Problem
    EVANGELICALS AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM by Michael Strickland A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Theology and Religion School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion University of Birmingham January 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Dedication To Mary: Amor Fidelis. In Memoriam: Charles Irwin Strickland My father (1947-2006) Through many delays, occasioned by a variety of hindrances, the detail of which would be useless to the Reader, I have at length brought this part of my work to its conclusion; and now send it to the Public, not without a measure of anxiety; for though perfectly satisfied with the purity of my motives, and the simplicity of my intention, 1 am far from being pleased with the work itself. The wise and the learned will no doubt find many things defective, and perhaps some incorrect. Defects necessarily attach themselves to my plan: the perpetual endeavour to be as concise as possible, has, no doubt, in several cases produced obscurity. Whatever errors may be observed, must be attributed to my scantiness of knowledge, when compared with the learning and information necessary for the tolerable perfection of such a work.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Calvinism: B
    Introduction A. Special Terminology I. The Persons Understanding Calvinism: B. Distinctive Traits A. John Calvin 1. Governance Formative Years in France: 1509-1533 An Overview Study 2. Doctrine Ministry Years in Switzerland: 1533-1564 by 3. Worship and Sacraments Calvin’s Legacy III. Psycology and Sociology of the Movement Lorin L Cranford IV. Biblical Assessment B. Influencial Interpreters of Calvin Publication of C&L Publications. II. The Ideology All rights reserved. © Conclusion INTRODUCTION1 Understanding the movement and the ideology la- belled Calvinism is a rather challenging topic. But none- theless it is an important topic to tackle. As important as any part of such an endeavour is deciding on a “plan of attack” in getting into the topic. The movement covered by this label “Calvinism” has spread out its tentacles all over the place and in many different, sometimes in conflicting directions. The logical starting place is with the person whose name has been attached to the label, although I’m quite sure he would be most uncomfortable with most of the content bearing his name.2 After exploring the history of John Calvin, we will take a look at a few of the more influential interpreters of Calvin over the subsequent centuries into the present day. This will open the door to attempt to explain the ideology of Calvinism with some of the distinctive terms and concepts associated exclusively with it. I. The Persons From the digging into the history of Calvinism, I have discovered one clear fact: Calvinism is a religious thinking in the 1500s of Switzerland when he lived and movement that goes well beyond John Calvin, in some worked.
    [Show full text]
  • History of the Church Missionary Society", by E
    Durham E-Theses The voluntary principle in education: the contribution to English education made by the Clapham sect and its allies and the continuance of evangelical endeavour by Lord Shaftesbury Wright, W. H. How to cite: Wright, W. H. (1964) The voluntary principle in education: the contribution to English education made by the Clapham sect and its allies and the continuance of evangelical endeavour by Lord Shaftesbury, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9922/ 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 THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE IN EDUCATION: THE CONTRIBUTION TO ENGLISH EDUCATION MADE BY THE CLAPHAil SECT AND ITS ALLIES AM) THE CONTINUAi^^CE OP EVANGELICAL EI-JDEAVOUR BY LORD SHAFTESBURY. A thesis for the degree of MoEd., by H. T7right, B.A. Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Evangelical Revival
    [Show full text]
  • The Activity and Influence of the Established Church in England, C. 1800-1837
    The Activity and Influence of the Established Church in England, c. 1800-1837 Nicholas Andrew Dixon Pembroke College, Cambridge This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. November 2018 Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my dissertation has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It does not exceed the prescribed word limit for the relevant Degree Committee. Nicholas Dixon November 2018 ii Thesis Summary The Activity and Influence of the Established Church in England, c. 1800-1837 Nicholas Andrew Dixon Pembroke College, Cambridge This thesis examines the various ways in which the Church of England engaged with English politics and society from c. 1800 to 1837. Assessments of the early nineteenth-century Church of England remain coloured by a critique originating in radical anti-clerical polemics of the period and reinforced by the writings of the Tractarians and Élie Halévy. It is often assumed that, in consequence of social and political change, the influence of a complacent and reactionary church was irreparably eroded by 1830.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evangelical Spirituality of Howel Harris Eifion Evans
    The Evangelical Spirituality of Howel Harris Eifion Evans 'Spirituality', like 'piety' and 'godliness', is a record among other things "what passes between God and comprehensive word. It expresses the totality of a my soul ... and how I spend my time." Years later he Christian's devotion, experience, life-style and priorities. wrote of his diaries: "saw wisdom enough in God to gift The different words represent different eras in Church some person, when I am in the grave, to draw somewhat history, with different nuances of meaning and emphasis. out of them that may be of use to the Church." 3 In them In this article the word 'spirituality' is used in the sense the hours are counted in the margin to monitor diligence of a believer's dealings with God. Howel Harris is chosen and usefulness. Fears, frustrations, failures, conversations, as representing the Great Awakening of the eighteenth sermons, plans are all recorded in greater or lesser detail, century, in many ways not typical, but one in whose life depending on inclination and the constraint of time. are clearly visible leading features of the movement. Comments tumble over one another, written with Harris, who lived from 1714 to 1773, claimed to be, white-hot, spontaneous intensity, in a rushing scrawl. along with George Whitefield in England and Daniel What comes through is honesty and accountability, a Rowland in Wales, the first to be used in the work in striving for holiness, a concern for personal relationships, Britain. For nearly four decades from his conversion in a growing acquaintance with his own heart, and an 1735 he was involved in evangelism, decision-making, uncompromising, one might almost say apostolic, the solving of problems, leadership liaison, and commitment to labour for the Gospel.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ERRORS of CALVINISM VS. the BIBLICAL VIEW of GOD and MAN by Roger L
    THE ERRORS OF CALVINISM VS. THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF GOD AND MAN by Roger L. Berry STUDY GUIDE LESSON 1: What Is Calvinism and Arminianism? ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2 LESSON 2: Principles of Biblical Interpretation ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 LESSON 3: The Christian View of Man ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 LESSON 4: The Christian View of God ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 LESSON 5: The Christian View of Christ . 14 LESSON 6: The Grace of God ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 LESSON 7: The Security of the Believer ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 LESSON 8: The Security of the Believer (continued) ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 LESSON 9: Influences of Calvinism ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 LESSON 10: The Dangers of Calvinism ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Copyrighted material. May not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. Copyrighted material. May not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. NOTE: Questionable Teaching in Life In the Son And Elect in the
    [Show full text]