John Collinges
Encyclopedia
John Collinges was an English presbyterian theologian, participant in the Savoy Conference
, ejected minister, and prolific writer.
, Essex
, and educated to 16 at the grammar school of Dedham
, where he came under the influence of Matthew Newcomen
. His father died when he was fifteen, but he was sent as a sizar
to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
. He matriculated in 1639; graduated B.A. 1643, M.A. 1646, B.D. 1653 and D.D. 1658.
By age about 22 he had become a preacher, living in the family of Isaac Wyncoll of Bures, Essex, whose eldest daughter he married. After two years at Bures he was called to Norwich, at first apparently to St. Saviour's parish; but in 1653 he took the place of Harding, ejected vicar of St. Stephen's, which he held without institution till the Restoration
compelled him to resign it. In September 1646, when he came to Norwich, he was invited by Sir John Hobart
to join his household. After Sir John Hobart's death in 1647, part of the house was converted into a chapel by his widow, and here for sixteen years, till the passing of the act restraining religious meetings, Collinges lectured on weekdays, and repeated his public discourses on Sunday nights. He was appointed one of the commissioners at the Savoy Conference, and was anxious for an accommodation. He died in January 1690, at Walcott, Norfolk
.
, and the other published anonymously by Alan Blane with the title 'Festorum Metropolis,' in which the puritan observance of the Sabbath was criticised, and the better observance of Christmas Day insisted upon. Collinges names his reply 'Responsoria ad Erratica Piscatoris,' and has a dedication in heroic verse 'to my dear Saviour.' He denies that the date of Christ's birth can be fixed.
In 1654 he attacked the 'Change of Church Discipline' of Theophilus Brabourne
in a tract entitled Indoctus Doctor Edoctus. Brabourne replied in part ii. of his work, and Collinges rejoined with A New Lesson for the Edoctus Doctor. In 1655 he published 'Responsoria Bipartita, again discussing church government, and considering the right of the church to suspend the ignorant and the scandalous from the Lord's Supper. In 1658 these controversies are concluded by the publication of 'Vindiciae Ministerii Evangelici revindicate,' against a book 'in the defence of gifted brethren's preaching,' which answered Collinges, and against a book called ' The Preacher sent.' In the preface to this work he enumerates and classifies his controversial tracts. After this Collinges dropped controversy; but his devotional and exegetical writings are even more voluminous. In 1650 appeared 'Five Lessons for a Christian to learn; ' in 1649, 1650, and 1652, parts i. ii. and iii. respectively of 'A Cordial for a Fainting Soule,' containing thirty-six sermons in its first two parts. In 1675 he produced 'The Weaver's Pocket Book, or Weaving spiritualised,' a work intended specially for the weavers of Norwich
, in imitation of John Flavel
's Navigation and Husbandry spiritualised. In 1676 he published 'The Intercourses of Divine Love between Christ and His Church,' an exposition of chapter ii. of the Song of Solomon
, which in 1683 was incorporated with a similar exposition of chapter i., and a metrical paraphrase. In 1678 there appeared 'Several Discourses concerning the actual Providence of God,' containing ninety-eight sermons. In 1680 appeared the 'Defensative Armour against four of Satan's most fiery Darts,' and in 1681 a tract on the 'Improveableness of Water Baptism.'
Two biographical works were: 'Faith and Experience,' published in 1647, containing an account of Mary Simpson of St. Gregory's parish, Norwich, and 'Par Nobile,' begun in 1665 on the death of his patron, Lady Frances Hobart, but hindered from publication by the plague and destroyed in 1666 by the fire. It was rewritten and published in 1675, because of certain slanders, and contains accounts of the lives of Lady Frances Hobart, and Lady Katharine Courten who married William Courten
, daughters of John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater
.
Besides numerous sermons, Collinges also wrote the annotations in Matthew Poole
's Bible on the last six chapters of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, the four Evangelists, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians 1 and 2 Timothy, Philemon, and Revelation.
Savoy Conference
The Savoy Conference of 1661 was a significant liturgical discussion that took place, after the Restoration of Charles II, in an attempt to effect a reconciliation within the Church of England.-Proceedings:...
, ejected minister, and prolific writer.
Life
He was the son of Edward Collinges, M. A., born at BoxtedBoxted, Essex
Boxted is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located approximately north of Colchester and northeast of the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the borough of Colchester and in the parliamentary constituency of North Essex. There is a Parish council...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and educated to 16 at the grammar school of Dedham
Dedham, Essex
Dedham is a village within the borough of Colchester in northeast Essex, England, situated on the River Stour and on the border of Essex and Suffolk...
, where he came under the influence of Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen was an English nonconformist churchman.His exact date of birth is unknown. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge . In 1636 he became lecturer at Dedham in Essex, and led the church reform party in that county. He assisted Edmund Calamy the Elder in writing Smectymnuus ,...
. His father died when he was fifteen, but he was sent as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
. He matriculated in 1639; graduated B.A. 1643, M.A. 1646, B.D. 1653 and D.D. 1658.
By age about 22 he had become a preacher, living in the family of Isaac Wyncoll of Bures, Essex, whose eldest daughter he married. After two years at Bures he was called to Norwich, at first apparently to St. Saviour's parish; but in 1653 he took the place of Harding, ejected vicar of St. Stephen's, which he held without institution till the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
compelled him to resign it. In September 1646, when he came to Norwich, he was invited by Sir John Hobart
Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet
Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet was an English politician and baronet.-Background:Born in Norwich, he was the eldest son of Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet and his wife Dorothy Bell, daughter of Sir Robert Bell. His younger brother was Miles Hobart...
to join his household. After Sir John Hobart's death in 1647, part of the house was converted into a chapel by his widow, and here for sixteen years, till the passing of the act restraining religious meetings, Collinges lectured on weekdays, and repeated his public discourses on Sunday nights. He was appointed one of the commissioners at the Savoy Conference, and was anxious for an accommodation. He died in January 1690, at Walcott, Norfolk
Walcott, Norfolk
Walcott is a small village and civil parish on the North Norfolk coast in England between Mundesley and Happisburgh.The name derives from the Celtic word Walecote, which means village by the wood. The village is north east of Norwich, south east of Cromer and north east of London...
.
Works
Collinges was a keen controversialist. In 1651 he published 'Vindiciae Ministerii Evangelici,' which is a vindication of a Gospel ministry against the claim of 'intercommonage' on the part of 'gifted men' not regularly set apart to preach. This was attacked by William Sheppard in 'The People's Privileges and Duty guarded against the Pulpit and Preachers,' to which Collinges at once replied in 'Responsoria ad Erratica Pastoris.' In 1653 he attacked two pamphlets, one by Edward FisherEdward Fisher (theologian)
Edward Fisher was an English theological writer. He is generally considered the author of The Marrow of Modern Divinity by E. F., a work which influentially stated the doctrine of unconditional grace, and was at the centre of the later Marrow Controversy...
, and the other published anonymously by Alan Blane with the title 'Festorum Metropolis,' in which the puritan observance of the Sabbath was criticised, and the better observance of Christmas Day insisted upon. Collinges names his reply 'Responsoria ad Erratica Piscatoris,' and has a dedication in heroic verse 'to my dear Saviour.' He denies that the date of Christ's birth can be fixed.
In 1654 he attacked the 'Change of Church Discipline' of Theophilus Brabourne
Theophilus Brabourne
Theophilus Brabourne , was a writer on the Sabbath question.Brabourne was a native of Norwich. The date of his birth is fixed by his own statement in 1654: 'I am 64 yeares of age'. His father was a puritan hosier, who educated his son at the free school of Norwich till he was fifteen years of age,...
in a tract entitled Indoctus Doctor Edoctus. Brabourne replied in part ii. of his work, and Collinges rejoined with A New Lesson for the Edoctus Doctor. In 1655 he published 'Responsoria Bipartita, again discussing church government, and considering the right of the church to suspend the ignorant and the scandalous from the Lord's Supper. In 1658 these controversies are concluded by the publication of 'Vindiciae Ministerii Evangelici revindicate,' against a book 'in the defence of gifted brethren's preaching,' which answered Collinges, and against a book called ' The Preacher sent.' In the preface to this work he enumerates and classifies his controversial tracts. After this Collinges dropped controversy; but his devotional and exegetical writings are even more voluminous. In 1650 appeared 'Five Lessons for a Christian to learn; ' in 1649, 1650, and 1652, parts i. ii. and iii. respectively of 'A Cordial for a Fainting Soule,' containing thirty-six sermons in its first two parts. In 1675 he produced 'The Weaver's Pocket Book, or Weaving spiritualised,' a work intended specially for the weavers of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, in imitation of John Flavel
John Flavel
John Flavel was an English Presbyterian clergyman and author.-Life:Flavel was born at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire and studied at Oxford. Ordained as a Presbyterian in 1650, though later a Congregationalist, he held livings at Diptford and Dartmouth...
's Navigation and Husbandry spiritualised. In 1676 he published 'The Intercourses of Divine Love between Christ and His Church,' an exposition of chapter ii. of the Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
The Song of Songs of Solomon, commonly referred to as Song of Songs or Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible—one of the megillot —found in the last section of the Tanakh, known as the Ketuvim...
, which in 1683 was incorporated with a similar exposition of chapter i., and a metrical paraphrase. In 1678 there appeared 'Several Discourses concerning the actual Providence of God,' containing ninety-eight sermons. In 1680 appeared the 'Defensative Armour against four of Satan's most fiery Darts,' and in 1681 a tract on the 'Improveableness of Water Baptism.'
Two biographical works were: 'Faith and Experience,' published in 1647, containing an account of Mary Simpson of St. Gregory's parish, Norwich, and 'Par Nobile,' begun in 1665 on the death of his patron, Lady Frances Hobart, but hindered from publication by the plague and destroyed in 1666 by the fire. It was rewritten and published in 1675, because of certain slanders, and contains accounts of the lives of Lady Frances Hobart, and Lady Katharine Courten who married William Courten
William Courten
Sir William Courten was a wealthy 17th century merchant, operating from London. He financed the colonisation of Barbados, but lost his investment and interest in the islands to the Earl of Carlisle.-Birth and upbringing:...
, daughters of John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater
John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater
John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater KB, PC was an English peer and politician.The son of the Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley and Elizabeth Ravenscroft, he was a Member of Parliament for Callington from 1597 to 1598, and for Shropshire in 1601. Knighted on 8 April 1599, he was Baron of the...
.
Besides numerous sermons, Collinges also wrote the annotations in Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole was an English Nonconformist theologian.-Life to 1662:He was born at York, the son of Francis Pole, but he spelled his name Poole, and in Latin Polus; his mother was a daughter of Alderman Toppins there. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1645, under John...
's Bible on the last six chapters of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, the four Evangelists, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians 1 and 2 Timothy, Philemon, and Revelation.
Further reading
- A. S. Hankinson, Dr. John Collinges of Norwich, 1623-90. Norfolk Archaeology, 42 (1997), 511-9.