George Stanley Faber
Encyclopedia
George Stanley Faber (often written G. S. Faber) was an Anglican theologian
and prolific author.
He was a typologist
, who believed that all the world's myths were corrupted versions of the original stories in the Bible
, and an advocate of Day-Age Theory. He was a contemporary of John Nelson Darby
. Faber's writings had an influence on Historicism and Dispensationalism
.
, Yorkshire
, by Anne, daughter of the Rev. David Traviss, was born at Calverley parsonage on 25 Oct. 1773, and educated at Hipperholme Grammar School
, near Halifax
, where he remained until he went to Oxford
. On 10 June 1789 he matriculated
from University College
, being then only in his sixteenth year; he was elected a scholar on 25 March following, and took his B.A.
degree when in his twentieth year. On 3 July 1793 he was elected a fellow and tutor of Lincoln College
. He proceeded M.A.
1796 and B.D.
1803, served the office of proctor
in 1801, and in the same year as Bampton lecturer
preached a discourse, which he published under the title of Horæ Mosaicæ.
By his marriage, 31 May 1803, with Eliza Sophia, younger daughter of Major John Scott-Waring of Ince
, Cheshire
, he vacated his fellowship, and for the next two years acted as his father's curate at Calverley. In 1805 he was collated by Bishop Barrington
to the vicarage of Stockton-on-Tees
, which he resigned three years afterwards for the rectory of Redmarshall
, also in Durham
, and in 1811 he was presented by the same prelate to the rectory of Longnewton
, in the same county, where he remained twenty-one years. Bishop Burgess collated him to a prebendal stall
in Salisbury Cathedral
in 1830, and Bishop van Mildert
gave him the mastership of Sherburn Hospital
in 1832, when he resigned the rectory of Longnewton. At Sherburn
he devoted a very considerable part of his income to the permanent improvement of the hospital estates, and at his death left the buildings and the farms in perfect condition.
by faith, and the sole authority of scripture
as the rule of faith. By this conduct, as well as by his able writings, he obtained the friendship of Bishop Burgess, Bishop van Mildert, Bishop Barrington, the Marquis of Bath
, Lord Bexley
, and Dr. Routh.
His work on The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, 1816, is prescientific in its character. He considers that all the pagan nations worshipped the same gods, who were only deified men. This began at the Tower of Babel
, and the triads of supreme gods among the heathens represent the three sons of Noah
. He also wrote on the Arkite Egg’ and some of his views on this subject may likewise be found in his Bampton Lectures. His treatises on the Revelations
and on the Seven Vials belong to the older school of prophetic interpretation, and the restoration of the French empire under Napoleon III was brought into his scheme.
His books on the primitive doctrines of election and justification retain some importance. He laid stress on the evangelical view of these doctrines in opposition to the opinion of contemporary writers of very different schools, such as Vicesimus Knox
and Joseph Milner
. His works show some research and careful writing, but are not of much permanent value. He died at Sherburn Hospital, near Durham, 27 January 1854, and was buried in the chapel of the hospital on 1 February His wife died at Sherburn House 28 November 1851, aged 75.
Many of these works were answered in print, and among those who wrote against Faber's views were Thomas Arnold
, Shute Barrington
(bishop of Durham), Christopher Bethell
(bishop of Gloucester), George Corless, James Hatley Frere
, Richard Hastings Graves, Thomas Harding (vicar of Bexley), Frederic Charles Husenbeth, Samuel Lee, D.D., Samuel Roffey Maitland
, D.D., N. Nisbett, Thomas Pinder Pantin, Le Pappe de Trévern, and Edward William Whitaker.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and prolific author.
He was a typologist
Typology (theology)
Typology in Christian theology and Biblical exegesis is a doctrine or theory concerning the relationship between the Old and New Testaments...
, who believed that all the world's myths were corrupted versions of the original stories in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, and an advocate of Day-Age Theory. He was a contemporary of John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
. Faber's writings had an influence on Historicism and Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants.As a system,...
.
Life
Faber, eldest son of the Rev. Thomas Faber, vicar of CalverleyCalverley
Calverley is a village in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, on the A657 road, midway between Leeds city centre and Bradford...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, by Anne, daughter of the Rev. David Traviss, was born at Calverley parsonage on 25 Oct. 1773, and educated at Hipperholme Grammar School
Hipperholme Grammar School
Hipperholme Grammar School is an independent grammar school in Hipperholme , West Yorkshire, England. It educates pupils between the ages of 11 and 18....
, near Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, where he remained until he went to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. On 10 June 1789 he matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
from University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, being then only in his sixteenth year; he was elected a scholar on 25 March following, and took his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree when in his twentieth year. On 3 July 1793 he was elected a fellow and tutor of Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
. He proceeded M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
1796 and B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
1803, served the office of proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
in 1801, and in the same year as Bampton lecturer
Bampton Lectures
The Bampton Lectures at the University of Oxford, England, were founded by a bequest of John Bampton,. They have taken place since 1780.They were a series of annual lectures; since the turn of the 20th century they have typically been biennial. They continue to concentrate on Christian theological...
preached a discourse, which he published under the title of Horæ Mosaicæ.
By his marriage, 31 May 1803, with Eliza Sophia, younger daughter of Major John Scott-Waring of Ince
Ince
Ince is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated immediately to the east of the Stanlow Oil Refinery. It shares Ince and Elton railway station with the village of Elton, which it runs into...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, he vacated his fellowship, and for the next two years acted as his father's curate at Calverley. In 1805 he was collated by Bishop Barrington
Shute Barrington
Shute Barrington was an English churchman, Bishop of Llandaff in Wales, as well as Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of Durham in England.-Life:...
to the vicarage of Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, which he resigned three years afterwards for the rectory of Redmarshall
Redmarshall
Redmarshall is a village and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England. Redmarshall is situated to the west of Stockton-on-Tees, the Village is also located just north of the A66 which is one of the main Trunk routes in, out and through...
, also in Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, and in 1811 he was presented by the same prelate to the rectory of Longnewton
Longnewton
Longnewton is a village and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England....
, in the same county, where he remained twenty-one years. Bishop Burgess collated him to a prebendal stall
Prebendal stall
A prebendal stall is a seat, usually in the back row of the choir stalls, where a prebendary sits. It was a place of honour for dignitaries who were members of clergy on the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church....
in Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
in 1830, and Bishop van Mildert
William Van Mildert
William Van Mildert was the last palatine Bishop of Durham , and one of the founders of the University of Durham...
gave him the mastership of Sherburn Hospital
Sherburn Hospital
Sherburn Hospital is a medieval hospital located in the hamlet of Sherburn House to the southeast of Durham, England....
in 1832, when he resigned the rectory of Longnewton. At Sherburn
Sherburn House
Sherburn House is a hamlet in County Durham, England. It is situated approximately south-east of Durham between Sherburn and Shincliffe Village. It is in the civil parish of Shincliffe.Sherburn House is the location of Sherburn Hospital.- External links :...
he devoted a very considerable part of his income to the permanent improvement of the hospital estates, and at his death left the buildings and the farms in perfect condition.
Views and work
Throughout his career he strenuously advocated the evangelical doctrines of the necessity of conversion, justificationJustification (theology)
Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
by faith, and the sole authority of scripture
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
as the rule of faith. By this conduct, as well as by his able writings, he obtained the friendship of Bishop Burgess, Bishop van Mildert, Bishop Barrington, the Marquis of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath KG , styled Viscount Weymouth from 1789 until 1796, was a British peer.-Background and education:...
, Lord Bexley
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley PC, FRS, FSA was an English politician, and one of the longest-serving Chancellors of the Exchequer in British history.-Background and education:...
, and Dr. Routh.
His work on The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, 1816, is prescientific in its character. He considers that all the pagan nations worshipped the same gods, who were only deified men. This began at the Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
, and the triads of supreme gods among the heathens represent the three sons of Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
. He also wrote on the Arkite Egg’ and some of his views on this subject may likewise be found in his Bampton Lectures. His treatises on the Revelations
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
and on the Seven Vials belong to the older school of prophetic interpretation, and the restoration of the French empire under Napoleon III was brought into his scheme.
His books on the primitive doctrines of election and justification retain some importance. He laid stress on the evangelical view of these doctrines in opposition to the opinion of contemporary writers of very different schools, such as Vicesimus Knox
Vicesimus Knox
Vicesimus Knox was an English essayist and minister. He was born December 8, 1752, at Newington Green, Middlesex. Knox was educated at St John's College, Oxford, took orders, and became Head Master of Tonbridge School. He published Essays Moral and Literary , and compiled the formerly well-known...
and Joseph Milner
Joseph Milner
Joseph Milner , English evangelical divine, was born at Leeds and educated at Leeds Grammar School and Cambridge.After taking his degree he went to Thorparch, Yorkshire, as curate and assistant schoolmaster. Subsequently he became headmaster of Hull Grammar School, and in 1768 he was chosen...
. His works show some research and careful writing, but are not of much permanent value. He died at Sherburn Hospital, near Durham, 27 January 1854, and was buried in the chapel of the hospital on 1 February His wife died at Sherburn House 28 November 1851, aged 75.
Works
His works include:- ‘Two Sermons before the University of Oxford, an attempt to explain by recent events five of the Seven Vials mentioned in the Revelations,’ 1799.
- ‘Horæ Mosaicæ, or a View of the Mosaical Records with respect to their coincidence with Profane Antiquity and their connection with Christianity,’ ‘Bampton Lectures,’ 1801.
- ‘A Dissertation on the Mysteries of the Cabiri, or the Great Gods of Phœnicia, Samothrace, Egypt, Troas, Greece, Italy, and Crete,’ 2 vols. 1803.
- ‘Thoughts on the Calvinistic and Arminian Controversy,’ 1803.
- ‘A Dissertation on the Prophecies relative to the Great Period of 1,200 Years, the Papal and Mahomedan Apostasies, the Reign of Antichrist, and the Restoration of the Jews,’ 2 vols. 1807; 5th ed., 3 vols. 1814–18.
- ‘A General and Connected View of the Prophecies relative to the Conversion of Judah and Israel, the Overthrow of the Confederacy in Palestine, and the Diffusion of Christianity,’ 2 vols. 1808.
- ‘A Practical Treatise on the Ordinary Operations of the Holy Spirit,’ 1813; 3rd ed. 1823.
- ‘Remarks on the Fifth Apocalyptic Vial and the Restoration of the Imperial Government of France,’ 1815.
- ‘The Origin of Pagan Idolatry ascertained from Historical Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence,’ 3 vols. 1816.
- ‘A Treatise on the Genius and Object of the Patriarchal, the Levitical, and the Christian Dispensations,’ 2 vols. 1823.
- ‘The Difficulties of Infidelity,’ 1824.
- ‘The Difficulties of Romanism,’ 1826; 3rd ed. 1853.
- ‘A Treatise on the Origin of Expiatory Sacrifice,’ 1827.
- ‘The Testimony of Antiquity against the Peculiarities of the Latin Church,’ 1828.
- ‘The Sacred Calendar of Prophecy, or a Dissertation on the Prophecies of the Grand Period of Seven Times, and of its Second Moiety, or the latter three times and a half,’ 3 vols. 1828; 2nd ed. 1844.
- ‘Letters on Catholic Emancipation,’ 1829.
- ‘The Fruits of Infidelity contrasted with the Fruits of Christianity,’ 1831.
- ‘The Apostolicity of Trinitarianism, the Testimony of History to the Antiquity and to the Apostolical Inculcation of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity,’ 2 vols. 1832.
- ‘The Primitive Doctrine of Election, or an Enquiry into Scriptural Election as received in the Primitive Church of Christ,’ 1836; 2nd ed. 1842.
- ‘The Primitive Doctrine of Justification investigated, relatively to the Definitions of the Church of Rome and the Church of England,’ 1837.
- ‘An Enquiry into the History and Theology of the Vallenses and Albigenses, as exhibiting the Perpetuity of the Sincere Church of Christ,’ 1838.
- ‘Christ's Discourse at Capernaum fatal to the Doctrine of Transubstantiation on the very Principle of Exposition adopted by the Divines of the Roman Church,’ 1840.
- ‘Eight Dissertations on Prophetical Passages of Holy Scripture bearing upon the promise of a Mighty Deliverer,’ 2 vols. 1845.
- ‘Letters on Tractarian Secessions to Popery,’ 1846.
- ‘Papal Infallibility, a Letter to a Dignitary of the Church of Rome,’ 1851.
- ‘The Predicted Downfall of the Turkish Power, the Preparation for the Return of the Ten Tribes,’ 1853.
- ‘The Revival of the French Emperorship, anticipated from the Necessity of Prophecy,’ 1852; 5th ed. 1859.
Many of these works were answered in print, and among those who wrote against Faber's views were Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...
, Shute Barrington
Shute Barrington
Shute Barrington was an English churchman, Bishop of Llandaff in Wales, as well as Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of Durham in England.-Life:...
(bishop of Durham), Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell
Christopher Bethell was Bishop of Bangor.Bethell was the second son of the Reverend Richard Bethell, the rector of St Peter's Wallingford, Berkshire, who died 12 January 1806 having married his wife Ann in 1771...
(bishop of Gloucester), George Corless, James Hatley Frere
James Hatley Frere
-Life:Frere was the sixth son of John Frere, of Roydon, South Norfolk, and Beddington, Surrey, by Jane, daughter and heiress of John Hookham of London. He married, 15 June 1809, Merian, second daughter of Matthew Martin, F.R.S., of Poets' Corner, Westminster, by whom he had five sons.Frere met...
, Richard Hastings Graves, Thomas Harding (vicar of Bexley), Frederic Charles Husenbeth, Samuel Lee, D.D., Samuel Roffey Maitland
Samuel Roffey Maitland
Samuel Roffey Maitland was an English historian and miscellaneous writer on religious topics. He was in Anglican orders, and worked also as a librarian, barrister and editor.-Early life:...
, D.D., N. Nisbett, Thomas Pinder Pantin, Le Pappe de Trévern, and Edward William Whitaker.
Neologiser
He also coined the following words:- Astronomicodiluvian
- Fabulize
- Magistratual
- Petrean
- Polyonomy
- Preterist
- Regeneratory
- TriclavianismTriclavianismTriclavianism is the belief that three nails were used to crucify Jesus Christ. The exact number of Holy Nails has been a matter of theological debate for centuries.- Albigenses and Waldenses:...
External links
- Works available on-line:
- The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, Vol 1. (2MB PDF.)
- Napoleon III. The Man of Prophecy (Scanned pages, 1859 American edition.)
- The Apostolicity of Trinitarianism