Socinian controversy 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[1]) 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.[2] 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.
Contents Detailed history Timeline of publications References External links
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 Nye). There followed (1689) a sheet of ‘Brief Notes’ on the Athanasian creed (see Thomas Firmin).[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[4]
Timeline of publications Year
Author
1690 Arthur Bury
Publication
The Naked Gospel
Position
Latitudinarian
Replies William Nicholls, An Answer to an Heretical Book, called the Naked Gospel, 1691;[5] Thomas Long, An Answer to a Socinian Treatise called 'The Naked Gospel", 1691. [6]
1690
William Sherlock[3]
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 Trinitarian creed of St. Athanasius, and the Brief history of the Unitarians, or Anglican [7] Socinians, and containing an answer to both
1690 John Wallis
The Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, briefly explained in a letter to a friend[8]
Trinitarian Presbyterian
1691
Daniel Whitby
Tractatus de vera Christi Deitate adversus Arii et Socini hæreses[9]
Latitudinarian
1691
William Freke
The Arrian's Vindication of Himself[10]
Arian
Considerations on the Explications of the Doctrine of the Trinity, By Dr. Stephen Wallis, Dr. Sherlock, Dr. South, Dr. Cudworth, and Mr. Hooker; as also 1693 Nye, on the Account given by those that say, the Trinity is an Unconceivable anonymously and Inexplicable Mystery Edward 1693 Fowler
Twenty-eight Propositions, by which the Doctrine of the Trinity is endeavoured to be explained (anonymous), and subsequent defences.[12]
Francis 1693 The Socinian Controversie Fullwood[14]
1693
Jonathan Edwards
1694 George Bull 1695
Charles Leslie
1695 John Smith
Robert South (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.
John Wallis, A Fourth Letter, Concerning the Sacred Trinity, 1691.
Sabellian[11]
Latitudinarian
Matthew Tindal, Reflections on the 28 Propositions, 1695.[13]
Trinitarian Anglican (ex nonjuror)
A Preservative Against Socinianism (appeared in parts from this year)
Argued that Socinus had founded a new non-Christian religion.[15]
Judicium Ecclesiae Catholicae[16]
Athanasian
The Charge of Socinianism against Dr. Tillotson Considered[18]
Church of Ireland non-juror
A designed End to the Socinian Controversy: or a rational and plain Unitarian Discourse that no other person but the Father of Christ is God Most High
1696
John Edwards
Socinianism Unmask'd, followed by The Socinian Creed, (1697)
Calvinist[21]
1702
Thomas Emlyn
An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ (anonymous)
Unitarian[23]
Gilbert Clerke and Samuel Crellius, Tractatus Tres, 1695.[17]
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.[19][20] John Locke, Vindication of his Essay of the Reasonableness of Christianity; Samuel Bold, Discourse on the true Knowledge of Christ Jesus, 1697. [22]
References 1. Burns, William E. "Sherlock, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25381 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F25381). (Subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)
2. William Gibson, The Church of England 1688–1832: Unity and Accord (2001), p. 15. 3.
"Sherlock, William (1641?-1707)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
4. John Marshall, John Locke: resistance, religion and responsibility (1994) p. 418. Google Books. (https://books.google.com/books?id=nvcvJ2ABnD8C&pg=PA467&lpg=PA467&dq=%22Socinianism+in+Seventeent h-century+England%22&source=bl&ots=lUPDLkxwJB&sig=eyEKzaOaTf1i_NQ9r351-XO_j58&hl=en&ei=j4_HTbKNJ4G2hAe0nuztAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB4Q6AEwATge#v=onep age&q=Socinian&f=false) 5.
"Nicholls, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
6.
"Long, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
7. Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=rPc2AAAAMAAJ) 8. http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3469516 9.
"Whitby, Daniel". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
10. Greig, Martin. "Freke, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10158 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F10158). (Subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.). The first edition of this text is available at Wikisource: "Freke, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 11. McLachlan, H. J. "Nye, Stephen". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20418 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F20418). (Subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)
12.
"Fowler, Edward". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
13.
"Tindal, Matthew". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
14. Goldie, Mark. "Fullwood, Francis". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67192 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F67192). (Subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)
15.
"Edward, Jonathan". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
16.
"Bull, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
17.
"Clerke, Gilbert". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
18. http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2329933 19. Key, Newton E. "Gregory, Francis". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/11462 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F11462). (Subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)
20. http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/869439 21.
"Edwards, John (1637-1716)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
22.
"Bold, Samuel". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
23.
"Emlyn, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
External links http://www.bartleby.com/220/1607.html http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/view/texts/normalized/OTHE00049
Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Sherlock, William (1641?-1707)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Socinian_controversy&oldid=779702009"
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