Tobias Crisp
Encyclopedia
Tobias Crisp D.D. was an English clergyman and reputed antinomian. In the end he proved a divisive figure for English Calvinists, with a serious controversy arising from the republication of his works in the 1690s.
, London. His elder brother was Sir Nicholas Crisp
. After leaving Eton College
he matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge
, remaining at Cambridge until he had taken his B.A., when he removed to Balliol College, Oxford
, graduating M.A. in 1626. About this time he married Mary, daughter of Rowland Wilson
, a London merchant, an M.P. and future member of the council of state, by whom he had thirteen children.
In 1627 he was presented to the rectory of Newington Butts
, from which he was removed a few months later on account of having been a party to a simoniacal contract. Later in the same year he was presented to the rectory of Brinkworth
in Wiltshire
, where he became popular as preacher and host. When he obtained the degree of D.D. is not known, but it was before 1642, when he was compelled to leave his rectory because of persecution by royalist soldiers.
He retired to London in August 1642. While at Brinkworth he had been suspected of antinomianism, and as soon as his opinions became known from his preaching in London, his theories on the doctrine of free grace were bitterly attacked. Towards the close of this year he held a controversy on this subject with fifty-two opponents. He died of smallpox
on 27 February 1643, and was buried in St. Mildred's Church, Bread Street.
, minister of Carter Lane Baptist Chapel, near Tooley Street, in 1791.
Life
He was the third son of Ellis Crisp, once sheriff of London, who died in 1625, and was born in 1600 in Bread StreetBread Street
Bread Street is a ward of the City of London and is named from its principal street, which was anciently the bread market; for by the records it appears that in 1302, the bakers of London were ordered to sell no bread at their houses but in the open market...
, London. His elder brother was Sir Nicholas Crisp
Nicholas Crisp
Sir Nicholas Crispe, 1st Baronet was an English Royalist and a wealthy merchant who pioneered the West African trade in the 1630s; a customs farmer ; Member of Parliament for Winchelsea Nov...
. After leaving Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
he matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, remaining at Cambridge until he had taken his B.A., when he removed to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, graduating M.A. in 1626. About this time he married Mary, daughter of Rowland Wilson
Rowland Wilson
Rowland Wilson was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1645 and 1650. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War....
, a London merchant, an M.P. and future member of the council of state, by whom he had thirteen children.
In 1627 he was presented to the rectory of Newington Butts
Newington Butts
Newington Butts is a former village, now an area of the London Borough of Southwark, that gives its name to a segment of the A3 road running south-west from the Elephant and Castle junction...
, from which he was removed a few months later on account of having been a party to a simoniacal contract. Later in the same year he was presented to the rectory of Brinkworth
Brinkworth
Brinkworth could be*Brinkworth, South Australia*Brinkworth, Wiltshire, UK...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, where he became popular as preacher and host. When he obtained the degree of D.D. is not known, but it was before 1642, when he was compelled to leave his rectory because of persecution by royalist soldiers.
He retired to London in August 1642. While at Brinkworth he had been suspected of antinomianism, and as soon as his opinions became known from his preaching in London, his theories on the doctrine of free grace were bitterly attacked. Towards the close of this year he held a controversy on this subject with fifty-two opponents. He died of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
on 27 February 1643, and was buried in St. Mildred's Church, Bread Street.
Works
After his death his discourses were published by Robert Lancaster under the title Christ alone Exalted, in editions from 1643. In 1690 his Works were republished with additions by one of his sons, and again in 1791 by John GillJohn Gill (theologian)
John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
, minister of Carter Lane Baptist Chapel, near Tooley Street, in 1791.