Socinian controversy
Encyclopedia
The Socinian controversy in the Church of England
(sometimes called the First Socinian controversy to distinguish it from a debate around 1800 mainly affecting Protestant nonconformists; and also called the Trinitarian controversy) was a theological argument on christology
carried out by English theologians for around a decade from 1687. Positions that had remained largely dormant since the death in 1662 of John Biddle
, an early Unitarian
, were revived and discussed, in pamphlet literature (much of it anonymous).
This controversy was part of a larger debate after the Act of Toleration 1689
, which excluded anti-trinitarian beliefs. By the end of the 1690s it had become clear that, for the time being, religious tolerance would not be extended: formally, the Blasphemy Act 1697 settled the matter until the early nineteenth century, religious disabilities for non-trinitarian believers continued in law, and the Act was directed against Unitarians. On the other hand, the arguments had become well aired, and the Church of England was shown to be hardly united on the theology. An unintended consequence of strong attacks by theologically orthodox Anglicans, in the longer term, was a resulting greater de facto tolerance extending among English Protestants, after a halt was called to the aggressive stance in particular of William Sherlock
. This tolerance, becoming a hallmark of Latitudinarian
views as they changed into low church
attitudes, worked its way out in controversies of the eighteenth century.
). There followed (1689) a sheet of ‘Brief Notes’ on the Athanasian creed (see Thomas Firmin
).
These two publications prompted William Sherlock
's Vindication (1690) of the doctrine of the Trinity. Shortly afterwards (11 August 1690) the subject was also taken up by John Wallis. The Socinians and others accused Sherlock;s ‘Vindication’ of tritheism
; and reputedly this work had the effect of making a Socinian of William Manning
and an Arian
of Thomas Emlyn
. Sherlock's position was attacked also by another Anglican, Robert South
, with a mixture of irony and invective.
Sherlock's doctrine, as preached at Oxford by Joseph Bingham
, was condemned by the Hebdomadal Council
(25 November 1695), as ‘falsa, impia et hæretica’ (false, impious and heretical). Sherlock defended himself in an ‘Examination’ (1696) of the decree.
On 3 February 1696 William III
addressed to the hierarchy ‘Directions,’ drawn up by Thomas Tenison
, prohibiting the use of ‘all new terms’ relating to the Trinity. In his ‘Present State of the Socinian Controversy’ (1698, but most of it printed 1696) Sherlock in practical terms gave up on the positions that had been impugned.
Literature related to the argument was still voluminous, however, in the period up to 1704. One notable reader and student of the debate was John Locke
.
Attribution
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
(sometimes called the First Socinian controversy to distinguish it from a debate around 1800 mainly affecting Protestant nonconformists; and also called the Trinitarian controversy) was a theological argument on christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
carried out by English theologians for around a decade from 1687. Positions that had remained largely dormant since the death in 1662 of John Biddle
John Biddle (Unitarian)
John Biddle or Bidle was an influential English nontrinitarian, and Unitarian. He is often called "the Father of English Unitarianism".- Life :...
, an early Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
, were revived and discussed, in pamphlet literature (much of it anonymous).
This controversy was part of a larger debate after the Act of Toleration 1689
Act of Toleration 1689
The Act of Toleration was an act of the English Parliament , the long title of which is "An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes".The Act allowed freedom of worship to Nonconformists who had pledged to the...
, which excluded anti-trinitarian beliefs. By the end of the 1690s it had become clear that, for the time being, religious tolerance would not be extended: formally, the Blasphemy Act 1697 settled the matter until the early nineteenth century, religious disabilities for non-trinitarian believers continued in law, and the Act was directed against Unitarians. On the other hand, the arguments had become well aired, and the Church of England was shown to be hardly united on the theology. An unintended consequence of strong attacks by theologically orthodox Anglicans, in the longer term, was a resulting greater de facto tolerance extending among English Protestants, after a halt was called to the aggressive stance in particular of William Sherlock
William Sherlock
Not to be confused with William Sherlock William Sherlock was an English church leader.-Life:He was born at Southwark, and was educated at St. Saviour's School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge. In 1669 he became rector of St George's, Botolph Lane, London, and in 1681 he was appointed a...
. This tolerance, becoming a hallmark of Latitudinarian
Latitudinarian
Latitudinarian was initially a pejorative term applied to a group of 17th-century English theologians who believed in conforming to official Church of England practices but who felt that matters of doctrine, liturgical practice, and ecclesiastical organization were of relatively little importance...
views as they changed into low church
Low church
Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative. During the series of doctrinal and ecclesiastic challenges to the established church in the 16th and 17th centuries, commentators and others began to refer to those groups...
attitudes, worked its way out in controversies of the eighteenth century.
Detailed history
The Socinian argument, of which little had been heard for 25 years, was revived in 1687 by the publication of a ‘Brief History’ of the unitarians, as they from now on often designated themselves (see Stephen NyeStephen Nye
Stephen Nye was an English clergyman, known as a theological writer and for his Unitarian views.-Life:Son of John Nye, he graduated B.A. at Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1665. He became rector of Little Hormead, Hertfordshire in 1679...
). There followed (1689) a sheet of ‘Brief Notes’ on the Athanasian creed (see Thomas Firmin
Thomas Firmin
Thomas Firmin was an English businessman and philanthropist, and Unitarian publisher.-Early life:Firmin was born to Puritan parents, Henry and Prudence Firmin in Ipswich. Henry Firmin was a parishioner of Samuel Ward, the Puritan incumbent of St. Mary-le-Tower, by whom in 1635 he was accused of...
).
These two publications prompted William Sherlock
William Sherlock
Not to be confused with William Sherlock William Sherlock was an English church leader.-Life:He was born at Southwark, and was educated at St. Saviour's School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge. In 1669 he became rector of St George's, Botolph Lane, London, and in 1681 he was appointed a...
's Vindication (1690) of the doctrine of the Trinity. Shortly afterwards (11 August 1690) the subject was also taken up by John Wallis. The Socinians and others accused Sherlock;s ‘Vindication’ of tritheism
Tritheism
Tritheism is the belief that there are three distinct, powerful gods, who form a triad. Generally three gods are envisaged as having separate powers and separate supreme beings or spheres of influence but working together...
; and reputedly this work had the effect of making a Socinian of William Manning
William Manning (Unitarian)
-Life:He is tentatively identified with William Manning who was born at Cockfield, Suffolk. This Manning was educated at Stowmarket and admitted a sizar of Christ's College, Cambridge, on 25 October 1649, aged 16, Henry More being his tutor...
and an 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...
of Thomas Emlyn
Thomas Emlyn
Thomas Emlyn , English nonconformist divine.-Life:Emlyn was born at Stamford, Lincolnshire and served as chaplain to the presbyterian Letitia, countess of Donegal, and then to Sir Robert Rich, afterwards becoming colleague to Joseph Boyse, presbyterian minister in Dublin...
. Sherlock's position was attacked also by another Anglican, Robert South
Robert South
Robert South was an English churchman, known for his combative preaching.-Early life:He was the son of Robert South, a London merchant, and Elizabeth Berry...
, with a mixture of irony and invective.
Sherlock's doctrine, as preached at Oxford by Joseph Bingham
Joseph Bingham
Joseph Bingham , English scholar and divine, was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire.He was educated at University College, Oxford, of which he was made fellow in 1689 and tutor in 1691...
, was condemned by the Hebdomadal Council
Hebdomadal Council
The Hebdomadal Council was the chief executive body for the University of Oxford from its establishment in 1854 until its replacement, in the Michaelmas term of 2000, by the new University Council...
(25 November 1695), as ‘falsa, impia et hæretica’ (false, impious and heretical). Sherlock defended himself in an ‘Examination’ (1696) of the decree.
On 3 February 1696 William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
addressed to the hierarchy ‘Directions,’ drawn up by Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs.-Life:...
, prohibiting the use of ‘all new terms’ relating to the Trinity. In his ‘Present State of the Socinian Controversy’ (1698, but most of it printed 1696) Sherlock in practical terms gave up on the positions that had been impugned.
Literature related to the argument was still voluminous, however, in the period up to 1704. One notable reader and student of the debate was John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
.
Timeline of publications
| Year | Author | Publication | Position | Replies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1690 | Arthur Bury Arthur Bury Arthur Bury, D.D. was an English college head and Anglican theologian of controversial views. His 1690 antitrinitarian work, The Naked Gospel, first published anonymously, was commanded to be burnt at Oxford, and, in a complex sequence of events involving legal action, Bury lost his position as... |
The Naked Gospel | Latitudinarian | William Nicholls William Nicholls William Nicholls was an English clergyman and theologian, known as an author on the Book of Common Prayer.-Life:He was the son of John Nicholls of Donington, now Dunton, Buckinghamshire. He was educated at St Paul's School under Thomas Gale, and went up with an exhibition to Magdalen Hall, Oxford,... , An Answer to an Heretical Book, called the Naked Gospel, 1691; Thomas Long Thomas Long (writer) Thomas Long was an English clergyman and writer on Church politics. He spent almost all of his life in Exeter.-Life:He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1642... , An Answer to a Socinian Treatise called 'The Naked Gospel", 1691. |
| 1690 | William Sherlock William Sherlock Not to be confused with William Sherlock William Sherlock was an English church leader.-Life:He was born at Southwark, and was educated at St. Saviour's School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge. In 1669 he became rector of St George's, Botolph Lane, London, and in 1681 he was appointed a... |
A vindication of the doctrine of the holy and ever blessed Trinity, and the incarnation of the Son of God: Occasioned by the Brief notes on the creed of St. Athanasius, and the Brief history of the Unitarians, or Socinians, and containing an answer to both | Trinitarian Anglican | Robert South Robert South Robert South was an English churchman, known for his combative preaching.-Early life:He was the son of Robert South, a London merchant, and Elizabeth Berry... (anonymous) Animadversions on Dr Sherlock's Book, entitled a Vindication of the Holy and Ever Blessed Trinity, 1693; Remarks upon a Book Lately Published by Dr. William Sherlock, 1695. |
| 1690 | John Wallis | The Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, briefly explained in a letter to a friend | Trinitarian Presbyterian | |
| 1691 | Daniel Whitby Daniel Whitby Daniel Whitby was a controversial English theologian and biblical commentator. An Arminian priest in the Church of England, Whitby was known as strongly anti-Calvinistic and later gave evidence of strong Arian and Unitarian tendencies.... |
Tractatus de vera Christi Deitate adversus Arii et Socini hæreses | Latitudinarian | |
| 1691 | William Freke William Freke William Freke was an English mystical writer, of Wadham College, Oxford and barrister of the Temple.Freke first comes to attention as a Socinian Unitarian who suffered at the hands of Parliament in 1694 for his anti-Trinitarian beliefs, and later recanted... |
The Arrian's Vindication of Himself | Arian | John Wallis, A Fourth Letter, Concerning the Sacred Trinity, 1691. |
| 1693 | Stephen Nye Stephen Nye Stephen Nye was an English clergyman, known as a theological writer and for his Unitarian views.-Life:Son of John Nye, he graduated B.A. at Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1665. He became rector of Little Hormead, Hertfordshire in 1679... , anonymously |
Considerations on the Explications of the Doctrine of the Trinity, By Dr. Wallis, Dr. Sherlock, Dr. South, Dr. Cudworth, and Mr. Hooker; as also on the Account given by those that say, the Trinity is an Unconceivable and Inexplicable Mystery | Sabellian | |
| 1693 | Edward Fowler Edward Fowler Edward Fower was an English churchman, Bishop of Gloucester from 1691 until his death.- Early life and education :He was born at Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, and was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, later moving to Trinity College, Cambridge.- Writings :Fower was suspected of Pelagian... |
Twenty-eight Propositions, by which the Doctrine of the Trinity is endeavoured to be explained (anonymous), and subsequent defences. | Latitudinarian | Matthew Tindal Matthew Tindal Matthew Tindal was an eminent English deist author. His works, highly influential at the dawn of the Enlightenment, caused great controversy and challenged the Christian consensus of his time.-Life:... , Reflections on the 28 Propositions, 1695. |
| 1693 | Francis Fullwood | The Socinian Controversie | Trinitarian Anglican (ex non-juror) | |
| 1693 | Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards (academic) Jonathan Edwards was a theologian and Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1686 to 1712.Born in Wrexham, Wales, Edwards studied at Christ Church, Oxford from 1655 to 1659. He became a Fellow of Jesus College in 1662, Vice-Principal in 1668 and Principal on 2 November 1686... |
A Preservative Against Socinianism (appeared in parts from this year) | Argued that Socinus had founded a new non-Christian religion. | |
| 1694 | George Bull George Bull George Bull was an English theologian and Bishop of St David's.-Life:He was born, 25 March 1634, in the parish of St. Cuthbert, Wells, and educated in the grammar school at Wells, and then at Blundell's School in Tiverton under Samuel Butler. Before he was fourteen years old he went into... |
Judicium Ecclesiae Catholicae | Athanasian | Gilbert Clerke Gilbert Clerke Gilbert Clerke was an English mathematician, natural philosopher and Socinian theological writer.-Life:Born at Uppingham, Rutland, in 1626, he was a son of John Clerke, master of the school there. In 1641 he was admitted to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and there he proceeded M.A., being... and Samuel Crellius Samuel Crellius Samuel Crell-Spinowski was an Arian philosopher and theologian, pastor of the church of the Polish Brethren.... , Tractatus Tres, 1695. |
| 1695 | Charles Leslie | The Charge of Socinianism against Dr. Tillotson Considered | Church of Ireland non-juror | |
| 1695 | John Smith John Smith (Unitarian) John Smith of St. Augustine's London was an English craftsman and writer, known as "philomath". He was also a Unitarian writer who was coerced into recanting at the height of the 1690s "Socinian controversy".-Religious views:... |
A designed End to the Socinian Controversy: or a rational and plain Discourse that no other person but the Father of Christ is God Most High | Unitarian | Francis Gregory, A divine antidote against a devilish poyson, or, A scriptural answer to an anti-scriptural and heretical pamphlet entituled A designed end to the Socinian controversie, written by John Smith, 1695. |
| 1696 | John Edwards John Edwards (divine) John Edwards was an English Calvinistic divine.- Early life :Edwards was the second son of Thomas Edwards, author of Gangræna. He was born at Hertford 26 February 1637, and admitted into Merchant Taylors' School at the age of ten.... |
Socinianism Unmask'd, followed by The Socinian Creed, (1697) | Calvinist | John Locke John Locke John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social... , Vindication of his Essay of the Reasonableness of Christianity; Samuel Bold Samuel Bold Samuel Bold was an English clergyman and controversialist, a supporter of the arguments of John Locke for religious toleration.-Life:... , Discourse on the true Knowledge of Christ Jesus, 1697. |
| 1702 | Thomas Emlyn Thomas Emlyn Thomas Emlyn , English nonconformist divine.-Life:Emlyn was born at Stamford, Lincolnshire and served as chaplain to the presbyterian Letitia, countess of Donegal, and then to Sir Robert Rich, afterwards becoming colleague to Joseph Boyse, presbyterian minister in Dublin... |
An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ (anonymous) | Unitarian |
External links
- http://www.bartelby.com/220/1607.html
- http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/view/texts/normalized/OTHE00049
Attribution