Enlightenment Prelate: Benjamin Hoadly, 1676-1761Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), Bishop successively of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester, was the most controversial English churchman of the eighteenth century. He has unjustly gained the reputation of a negligent and political bishop, and with this publication, Gibson attempts to reappraise the legacy of this influential man. It was Hoadly's sermon on the nature of Christ's kingdom that sparked the Bangorian controversy which raged from 1717 to 1720. His sermons, books and tracts poured from the press in huge quantities and were widely read by Anglicans and Dissenters alike, yet his commitment to the ideology of the Revolution of 1688 and to the comprehension of Dissenters into the Church of England earned him the antagonism of many contemporary and later churchmen. This book is the first full-length study of Hoadly to be published, and is a powerfully revisionist study. Hoadly emerges as a dedicated and conscientious bishop with strong and progressive principles. He asserted the right of individuals to judge the Bible for themselves without the shackles of ecclesiastical authority and sought to establish a liberal enclave in the Church to re-attract Dissenters. He also restored a strongly Protestant commemorative view of the Eucharist to the Church. But it was not simply his ecclesiastical work which made him such an important figure. Hoadly's stout defence of rationalism made him a founder of the English Enlightenment. His views on the nature of political authority also drew heavily on John Locke, and Hoadly was responsible for bringing Locke's views to a wide audience. It was his commitment to civil liberties which made him a progenitor of the American Revolution whilst his writing on the nature of civil authority was acclaimed by John Adams as a source of American liberties and of the US Constitution. He also advanced sincerity of belief over the right of the State to impose penalties for the failure to conform. In these principles he presaged the future direction of both religion and society. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 83
Page 15
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Page 19
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Page 24
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Page 25
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Page 26
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Contents
Foreword by James E Bradley | 7 |
Hero and Villain | 19 |
Early Life 16761701 | 41 |
Political Apprenticeship | 55 |
Sacheverell Adversity | 99 |
The Years of the Bangorian | 147 |
Hereford and Salisbury 17211734 | 199 |
Hoadly at Winchester 17341761 | 233 |
Conclusion | 283 |
Hoadly in Poetry | 289 |
303 | |
Bibliography | 358 |
377 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Anglican appointment Archbishop asserted attack Atterbury authority Bangorian controversy Benjamin Hoadly Bishop Hoadly Bishop of Bangor Bishop of Winchester Blackall Burnet Cambridge Christ Christian Church of England claimed that Hoadly clergy conscience Convocation debate defended Hoadly diocese of Winchester Dissenters divine doctrine ecclesiastical eighteenth century episcopal Eucharist faith favour Fleetwood Fournier Gibson Hervey High Church High Churchmen Hoadly argued Hoadly claimed Hoadly wrote Hoadly's Hoadly's book Hoadly's sermon Hoadly's views House Jacobite John Hoadly judgement King Lady Sundon later Latitudinarian Letter liberty Locke Locke's London Lord Bishop ministers Non-jurors occasional conformity ordination Oxford parish Pilloniere Plain Account political preached principles Protestant published Pyle Queen reason religion religious repeal Reverend Revolution Sacheverell sacrament Salisbury Samuel Clarke Samuel Hoadly scripture Sherlock sincerity Snape St Paul St Peter Poor Sykes Taylor Test Act Thomas Tory Vindication Wake Walpole Warburton Waterland Whig Whiston William writing