Orthodox, Puritan, Baptist (eBook)

Hercules Collins (1647-1702) and Particular Baptist Identity in Early Modern England

G. Stephen Weaver Jr. (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2015 | 1. Auflage
234 Seiten
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Unipress (Verlag)
978-3-647-55086-2 (ISBN)

Infos

The life and writings of Hercules Collins provide a window into understanding how seventeenth-century Baptists viewed themselves in relationship to historic Christianity and Puritan orthodoxy: Collins was not only a respected member of the Particular Baptist community, but was also a faithful representative of that community. G. Stephen Weaver Jr.'s examination of Collins' commitment to historic Christianity and Protestant orthodoxy serves as an opportunity to understand better the doctrinal commitments of seventeenth-century English Particular Baptists.

Dr G. Stephen Weaver, Jr. is Adjunct Professor of Church History at Boyce College in Louisville, KY USA. He is also Senior Fellow at The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Inhalt

Cover 1
Title Page 4
Copyright 5
Table of Contents 6
Body 10
List of Abbreviations 10
Chronology of the Life and Works of Hercules Collins 12
List of Figures 14
Preface 16
Foreword by Crawford Gribben 20
Introduction 22
1. Personal Interest 22
2. State of the Question 23
3. Thesis and Methodology 26
Chapter 1. “Faithful to the Last”: The Life and Legacy of Hercules Collins 28
1.1 Introduction 28
1.2 Early Life and Family 30
1.3 “Not a Learned Education”: Education and Occupation 32
1.4 Beginning of Persecution 36
1.5 Particular Baptist Origins and the Wapping Church 39
1.5.1 John Spilsbury (1593–c. 1662/1668) 40
1.5.2 John Norcott (1621–1676) 40
1.6 Hercules Collins: Pastor 42
1.7 Wapping: The Early Years 44
1.8 The Era of Persecution 46
1.8.1 Prison Writings 49
1.8.2 Counseling The English Spira: John Child 51
1.9 The Rise of Toleration 53
1.9.1 A New Meeting House 54
1.9.2 The London General Assemblies (1689–1692) 54
1.9.3 Financial Provision for Ministers 56
1.9.4 Relationship with Other Pastors 58
1.9.4.1 Benjamin Keach 58
1.9.4.2 William Kiffin 60
1.9.4.3 Hanserd Knollys 62
1.9.5 Falsely Accused 62
1.10 Concern for the Coming Generation 64
1.11 Death and Character of Collins 69
1.11.1 Circumstances of Death 69
1.11.2 A Faithful Pastor 69
Chapter 2. “Orthodox”: Hercules Collins and Historic Christianity 72
2.1 Introduction 72
2.2 Caffyn and the General Baptist Response 73
2.3 Collier and the Particular Baptist Response 75
2.4 Collins and An Orthodox Catechism 77
2.5 Use of the Creeds 78
2.6 Use of the Fathers 82
2.7 Patristic Theology 85
2.7.1 Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Trinitarianism 85
2.7.2 Chalcedonian Christology 88
2.8 Conclusion 92
Chapter 3. “Puritan”: Hercules Collins and Reformed Protestantism 94
3.1 Introduction 94
3.2 Defining Puritanism 95
3.3 Baptists and Puritanism 95
3.4 Puritan Hermeneutics 100
3.4.1 The Necessity of the Holy Spirit 103
3.4.2 The Grammatical-Historical Method 105
3.4.2.1 Historical Context 106
3.4.2.2 Scriptural Context 108
3.4.2.3 Meaning of Words 109
3.4.2.4 Figures of speech 109
3.4.3 The Analogy of Faith 112
3.4.4 Christocentrism 114
3.5 Puritan Homiletics 119
3.5.1 Use of Term “Prophecy” 119
3.5.2 Plain Style Preaching 120
3.5.3 Application of Scripture 120
3.5.4 Qualifications of Ministers 121
3.5.5 Use of Commonplace Books 122
3.5.6 Use of Memory in Preaching 122
3.6 A Puritan Approach to Persecution 123
3.6.1 Counsel for the Living 124
3.6.2 A Voice from the Prison 127
3.7 Conclusion 133
Chapter 4. “Baptist”: Hercules Collins and Baptist Ecclesiology 134
4.1 Introduction 134
4.2 Definition of the Church 134
4.3 Religious Liberty 137
4.4 Congregationalism 138
4.4.1 A Dispute from Prison 139
4.4.2 A Charge of “Lording” 141
4.4.3 Summary 143
4.5 The Sacraments 143
4.6 Baptism 149
4.6.1 Definition of “Baptism” 154
4.6.2 Great Commission Texts 156
4.6.3 New Testament Example Texts 159
4.6.4 Baptist Covenant Theology 160
4.6.5 Summary 164
4.7 The Lord's Supper 165
4.7.1 Defining Terms 167
4.7.2 Two Catechisms and a Confession 170
4.7.2.1 Hercules Collins and An Orthodox Catechism 171
4.7.2.2 William Collins and A Brief Instruction in the Principles of Christian Religion 172
4.7.2.3 Second London Confession of Faith 174
4.7.3 Kiffin, Knollys and Keach 176
4.7.3.1 William Kiffin 177
4.7.3.2 Hanserd Knollys 178
4.7.3.3 Benjamin Keach 181
4.7.4 Eligible Participants of the Supper 183
4.7.5 Summary 191
4.8 Other Ordinances? 191
4.8.1 Laying On of Hands 192
4.8.2 Singing of Hymns 193
4.8.3 Summary 196
4.9 Conclusion 196
Chapter 5. Conclusion: Hercules Collins and Baptist Identity 198
5.1 Introduction 198
5.2 Summary of Arguments 199
5.3 Implications for Questions of Baptist Identity 201
Appendix 204
Appendix 1. Hercules Collins' Tombstone 204
Appendix 2. List of Books Purchased for “Gifted Brethren” 205
Bibliography 210
Index of Names 232
Index of Terms 234

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 15.7.2015
• Reihe/Serie: Reformed Historical Theology
• Reihe/Serie: Reformed Historical Theology
• Reihe/Serie: Reformed Historical Theology.
• Verlagsort: Göttingen
• Sprache: deutsch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
• Schlagworte: Kirchengeschichte • Reformation • Theologiegeschichte
• ISBN-10: 3-647-55086-8 / 3647550868
• ISBN-13: 978-3-647-55086-2 / 9783647550862