John Brekell
Encyclopedia
John Brekell was an English presbyterian minister and theological writer.
, Lancashire
, in 1697, and was educated for the ministry at Nottingham
, at the dissenting academy of John Hardy. His first known settlement was at Stamford, Lincolnshire
, apparently as assistant, but he did not stay long. He went to assist Christopher Bassnett
at Kaye Street, Liverpool
, 1729. Joshua Toulmin
prints a letter (dated Liverpool, 3 Dec. 1730) from Brekell to Rev. Thomas Pickard
of Birmingham
, showing that Brekell had been asked to Birmingham, but had 'handsome encouragement to continue' where he was. The date, April 1732, given by James Martineau
, may be that of Brekell's admission to the status of a colleague after ordination.
On Bassnett's death on 22 July 1744 Brekell became sole pastor. His ministry covers the period between the rise of the evangelical liberalism of Philip Doddridge
(his correspondent, and the patron of his first publication), and the avowal of Socinianism
by Joseph Priestley
, to whose Theological Repository
he contributed in the last year of his life. Brekell, though his later treatment of the atonement
shows Socinian influence, stood firm on the person of Christ. In his sermons he makes considerable use of his classic literature. Nathaniel Lardner quotes him as a critic of the ante-Nicene
writers.
There arose a burning question among Liverpool presbyterians in reference to a form of prayer. At length a section of the Liverpool laity
, holding what they termed 'free' views in theology
, built a chapel in Temple Court, printed a Form of Prayer and a new Collection of Psalms, 1763 (the Liverpool Liturgy, as it became known) and secured a minister from London. The leading spirit in this movement was Thomas Bentley
, Wedgwood's partner. His manuscript correspondence deals pretty freely with Brekell, whom he treats as representing 'the presbyterian hierarchy.' Brekell did all he could by pamphlets in 1762 to show the inexpediency of forms of prayer. The new chapel was sold to a Liverpool clergyman on 25 February 1776. Brekell died on 28 December 1769. He married, on 11 November 1736, his wife's name being Elizabeth, and had five children.
The Divine Oracles, or the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, &c., 1749, is a reply to a work by Thomas Deacon
, M.D., of Manchester
, a nonjuring bishop. At this date (see pp. 72, 74) Brekell sides with Athanasius against the Arian
s. He published also on Holy Orders, 1752, and two tracts in vindication of Paedobaptism, 1753 and 1755. Brekell's name appears among the subscribers to a work by Whitfield, a Liverpool printer and sugar refiner, who had left the presbyterians, entitled A Dissertation on Hebrew Vowel-points. After Whitfield's lapse, Brekell wrote An Essay on the Hebrew Tongue, being an attempt to shew that the Hebrew Bible might be originally read by Vowel Letters without the Vowel Points, 1758, 2 pts.
Brekell wrote tracts on Baptizing sick and dying Infants, Glasgow, 1760, and on Regeneration, 1761. He published a dissertation on Circumcision
, 1763, a volume of sermons, The Grounds and Principles of the Christian Revelation, 1765, and A Discourse on Music, 1766. Toulmin gives the titles of sixteen of his publications. It adds: All at Stoke: or an Earnest Persuasive to a Vigorous Self-defence, &c. By J. B., author of the Christian Warfare, &c., Liverpool, 1745, (a sermon (Luke xxii. 36) dedicated 'more especially to the Gentlemen Volunteers of Liverpool, and the Regiment of Blues raised at their own expence by that Loyal Town and Corporation. At the end is a warlike 'Hymn suitable to the Occasion of the general Fast to be observed with a view to the present War, both Foreign and Domestic'); also a Sermon (Phil. i. 11) on the Liverpool Infirmary, 1769, (his last publication). The signature to his papers in the Theological Repository
, vol. i. 1769, and vol. ii. 1771, is 'Verus.'
Life
Brekell was born at North MeolsNorth Meols
North Meols is a civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. The parish covers the village of Banks and the hamlet of Hundred End...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, in 1697, and was educated for the ministry at Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, at the dissenting academy of John Hardy. His first known settlement was at Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, apparently as assistant, but he did not stay long. He went to assist Christopher Bassnett
Christopher Bassnett
-Life:He entered Richard Frankland's Rathmell Academy as student for the Presbyterian ministry on 1 April 1696. He was an intimate friend of Matthew Henry, who says in a manuscript diary, 20 July 1709, ‘recommended Mr...
at Kaye Street, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 1729. Joshua Toulmin
Joshua Toulmin
Joshua Toulmin of Taunton, England was a noted theologian and a serial Dissenting minister of Presbyterian , Baptist , and then Unitarian congregations...
prints a letter (dated Liverpool, 3 Dec. 1730) from Brekell to Rev. Thomas Pickard
Thomas Pickard
Thomas Pickard may refer to:* Thomas J. Pickard , former FBI director* Thomas Pickard , college teacher and politician in New Brunswick, Canada*Tom Pickard , poet and filmmaker...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, showing that Brekell had been asked to Birmingham, but had 'handsome encouragement to continue' where he was. The date, April 1732, given by James Martineau
James Martineau
James Martineau was an English religious philosopher influential in the history of Unitarianism. For 45 years he was Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Political Economy in Manchester New College, the principal training college for British Unitarianism.-Early life:He was born in Norwich,...
, may be that of Brekell's admission to the status of a colleague after ordination.
On Bassnett's death on 22 July 1744 Brekell became sole pastor. His ministry covers the period between the rise of the evangelical liberalism of Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
(his correspondent, and the patron of his first publication), and the avowal of Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
by Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
, to whose Theological Repository
Theological Repository
The Theological Repository was a periodical founded and edited from 1769 to 1771 by the eighteenth-century British polymath Joseph Priestley...
he contributed in the last year of his life. Brekell, though his later treatment of the atonement
Atonement
Atonement is a doctrine that describes how human beings can be reconciled to God. In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, which made possible the reconciliation between God and creation...
shows Socinian influence, stood firm on the person of Christ. In his sermons he makes considerable use of his classic literature. Nathaniel Lardner quotes him as a critic of the ante-Nicene
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
writers.
There arose a burning question among Liverpool presbyterians in reference to a form of prayer. At length a section of the Liverpool laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
, holding what they termed 'free' views in theology
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...
, built a chapel in Temple Court, printed a Form of Prayer and a new Collection of Psalms, 1763 (the Liverpool Liturgy, as it became known) and secured a minister from London. The leading spirit in this movement was Thomas Bentley
Thomas Bentley (manufacturer)
Thomas Bentley was an English manufacturer of porcelain, known for his partnership with Josiah Wedgwood.-Life:He was born at Scropton, Derbyshire, on 1 January 1731. His father, Thomas Bentley, was a country gentleman of some property...
, Wedgwood's partner. His manuscript correspondence deals pretty freely with Brekell, whom he treats as representing 'the presbyterian hierarchy.' Brekell did all he could by pamphlets in 1762 to show the inexpediency of forms of prayer. The new chapel was sold to a Liverpool clergyman on 25 February 1776. Brekell died on 28 December 1769. He married, on 11 November 1736, his wife's name being Elizabeth, and had five children.
Works
His first publication was The Christian Warfare … a Discourse on making our Calling and Election sure; with an Appendix concerning the Persons proper to be admitted to the Lord's Supper, 1742. Following the example of his predecessor, he preached and published a sermon to sailors, Euroclydon, or the Dangers of the Sea considered and improved, &c. (Acts xxvii.), 1744. Then came Liberty and Loyalty, 1746, (a Hanoverian pamphlet).The Divine Oracles, or the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, &c., 1749, is a reply to a work by Thomas Deacon
Thomas Deacon
Thomas Deacon was an English non-juror bishop, liturgical scholar and physician.He was born to William and Cecelia Deacon. After his mother married the non-juror bishop Jeremy Collier, the young Deacon was introduced to many of the leading Jacobite and non-juror figures including George Hickes...
, M.D., of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, a nonjuring bishop. At this date (see pp. 72, 74) Brekell sides with Athanasius against the Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
s. He published also on Holy Orders, 1752, and two tracts in vindication of Paedobaptism, 1753 and 1755. Brekell's name appears among the subscribers to a work by Whitfield, a Liverpool printer and sugar refiner, who had left the presbyterians, entitled A Dissertation on Hebrew Vowel-points. After Whitfield's lapse, Brekell wrote An Essay on the Hebrew Tongue, being an attempt to shew that the Hebrew Bible might be originally read by Vowel Letters without the Vowel Points, 1758, 2 pts.
Brekell wrote tracts on Baptizing sick and dying Infants, Glasgow, 1760, and on Regeneration, 1761. He published a dissertation on Circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
, 1763, a volume of sermons, The Grounds and Principles of the Christian Revelation, 1765, and A Discourse on Music, 1766. Toulmin gives the titles of sixteen of his publications. It adds: All at Stoke: or an Earnest Persuasive to a Vigorous Self-defence, &c. By J. B., author of the Christian Warfare, &c., Liverpool, 1745, (a sermon (Luke xxii. 36) dedicated 'more especially to the Gentlemen Volunteers of Liverpool, and the Regiment of Blues raised at their own expence by that Loyal Town and Corporation. At the end is a warlike 'Hymn suitable to the Occasion of the general Fast to be observed with a view to the present War, both Foreign and Domestic'); also a Sermon (Phil. i. 11) on the Liverpool Infirmary, 1769, (his last publication). The signature to his papers in the Theological Repository
Theological Repository
The Theological Repository was a periodical founded and edited from 1769 to 1771 by the eighteenth-century British polymath Joseph Priestley...
, vol. i. 1769, and vol. ii. 1771, is 'Verus.'