William Perkins (theologian)
Calvinism | |
---|---|
Notable ideas | Law and Gospel |
William Perkins (1558–1602) was an influential English cleric and
Perkins was a prolific author who penned over forty works, many of which were published posthumously. In addition to writing, he also served as a fellow at Christ's College and as a lecturer at St. Andrew's Church in Cambridge. He was a firm proponent of Reformed theology, particularly the
Early life
Perkins was born to Thomas and Anna Perkins
Little is known of Perkins' childhood and upbringing. Sometime in his early life he was rendered lame which forced him to write with his left hand.
According to an unverifiable story, Perkins was convicted of the error of his ways after he heard a Cambridge mother say to her child, "Hold your tongue, or I will give you to drunken Perkins yonder."[8] Whether or not the story is true, it is clear that Perkins had a religious awakening sometime between 1581 and 1584 during his time at Cambridge.[6] Thomas Fuller's biographical profile of Perkins portrayed him as "very wild in his youth," skilled in mathematics, possessed of "a rare felicity in speedy reading of books," and preaching, early in his ministry, with a sternness that he mitigated in later years:
He would pronounce the word damn with such an emphasis, as left a doleful echo in his auditors' ears a good while after... . But in his older age he altered his voice and remitted much of his former rigidness; often professing that to preach mercy was that proper office of the ministers of the Gospel.[9]
Perkins's sermons, wrote Fuller, "were not so plain but that the piously learned did admire them, nor so learned but that the plain did understand them."[9]
Perkins thus began a lifelong association with the "moderate-puritan" wing of the Church of England which held views similar to those of the continental
Perkins as clergyman and Cambridge fellow
Following his ordination, Perkins also preached his first sermons to the prisoners of the Cambridge jail.
In 1584, after receiving his MA degree, Perkins was elected as a fellow of Christ's College, a post he held until 1594.[5] In 1585, he became a Lecturer of St Andrew the Great in Cambridge, a post he held until his death.[10]
Perkins's churchmanship
As a "moderate Puritan", Perkins was firmly opposed to
On 13 January 1587, Perkins preached a sermon denouncing the practice of kneeling to receive
Perkins married Timothye Cradocke of Grantchester on 2 July 1595. (He had previously resigned his fellowship at Christ's College, since only unmarried men could be fellows.) They became the parents of seven children, three of whom died in youth from various causes, and one of whom was born after Perkins himself had died.[6]
Theological opinions
Perkins was a proponent of "
Some object that his doctrine, referring all to an absolute decree, hamstrings all industry, and cuts off the sinews of men's endeavours towards salvation. For, ascribing all to the wind of God's Spirit, (which bloweth where it listeth,) he leaveth nothing to the oars of man's diligence, either to help or hinder to the attaining of happiness, but rather opens a wide door to licentious security.[9]
In addition to adopting a Reformed soteriology, Perkins also strongly held to the doctrines of
Influence
Although relatively unknown to modern Christians, Perkins has had an influence that is felt by Christians all around the world.
In his lifetime, Perkins attained enormous popularity, with sales of his works eventually surpassing even Calvin's. When he died, his writings were selling more copies than those of many of the most famous of the Reformers combined.[6]
From his position at Cambridge, Perkins was able to influence a whole generation of English churchmen.[22] His pupils include:
- William Ames, Puritan theologian whose "Marrow of Theology" was the most popular systematic theology of the time became professor of theology at Franeker, Netherlands
- Thomas Goodwin, Congregationalist minister and Puritan theologian who was a vital part of the Westminster Assembly
- Paul Baynes, Puritan preacher and successor to Perkins as lecturer at the church of St Andrew the Great in Cambridge
- Samuel Ward, Puritan preacher and master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
- Phineas Fletcher, a poet
- Thomas Draxe, English puritan and theologian
- Thomas Taylor, Puritan preacher and Doctor of Divinity at Cambridge
- James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh
- James Montagu, master of Sidney Sussex and later bishop of Winchester
- Richard Sibbes, Puritan preacher of Gray's Inn and Master at Catherine's Hall known for his eloquence and comforting sermons
- John Cotton, Colonial American Puritan minister and theologian of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Thomas Hooker, Colonial American Puritan minister and founder of the Connecticut Colony
- Thomas Shepard, Colonial American Puritan minister and theologian known for his leadership in the Antinomian Controversy
Death
In 1602, Perkins suffered from "the stone". After several weeks of suffering, he died on 22 October 1602 at age 44.[6]
James Montagu preached his funeral sermon, taking as his text Joshua 1.2, ‘Moses my servant is dead’. He was buried in St. Andrew's, the church which he had pastored for eighteen years.[6]
Publications by Perkins
- Defensio pro Alexandro Discono (1584)[23]
- A Warning against the Idolatrie of the Last Times (1584)[23]
- Foure Great Lyers, Striuing Who Shall Win the Siluer Whetstone: Also, A Resolution to the Count (1585)
- A Treatise Tending Vnto a Declaration Whether a Man be in the Estate of Damnation or in the Estate of Grace: And If he be in the First, How he may in Time Come out of it: if in the second, how he maie discerne it, and perseuere in the same to the end. The points that are handled are set downe in the page following (1590)
- Armilla aurea, id est, Miranda series causarum et salutis & damnationis iuxta verbum Dei: Eius synopsin continet annexa tabula (1590)
- A golden chaine, or the description of theologie: containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods woord. A view of the order wherof, is to be seene in the table annexed (1591)
- The foundation of Christian religion: gathered into sixe principles. And it is to bee learned of ignorant people, that they may be fit to hear sermons with profit, and to receiue the Lords Supper with comfort (1591)
- Prophetica, sive, De sacra et vnica ratione concionandi tractatus (1592)
- A case of conscience : the greatest that euer was; how a man may know whether he be the child of God or no. Resolued by the word of God. Whereunto is added a briefe discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius (1592)
- An exposition of the Lords prayer: in the way of catechising seruing for ignorant people (1592)
- Tvvo treatises: I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit (1593)
- An exposition of the Lords praier: in the way of catechisme (1593)
- A direction for the government of the tongue according to Gods word (1593)
- An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles: according to the tenour of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodoxe Fathers of the Church (1595)
- A salve for a sicke man, or, A treatise containing the nature, differences, and kindes of death: as also the right manner of dying well. And it may serue for spirituall instruction to 1. Mariners when they goe to sea. 2. Souldiers when they goe to battell. 3. Women when they trauell of child (1595)
- A declaration of the true manner of knowing Christ crucified (1596)
- A reformed Catholike, or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion, and wherein we must for euer depart from them: with an advertisement to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme (1597)
- De praedestinationis modo et ordine : et de amplitudine gratiae diuinae Christiana & perspicua disceptatio (1598)
- Specimen digesti, sive Harmoniæ bibliorum Veteris et Novi Testamneti (1598)
- A warning against the idolatrie of the last times: And an instruction touching religious, or diuine worship (1601)
- The true gaine : more in worth then all the goods in the world (1601)
- How to liue, and that well: in all estates and times, specially when helps and comforts faile (1601)
Posthumously:
- The works of that famous and worthie minister of Christ, in the Universitie of Cambridge, M.W. Perkins : gathered into one volume, and newly corrected according to his owne copies. With distinct chapters, and contents of euery book, and a generall table of the whole (1603)
- The reformation of couetousnesse: Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19. verse to the ende of the said chapter (1603)
- A commentarie or exposition, vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and iudiciall diuine (1604)
- Lectures vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation: preached in Cambridge anno Dom. 1595 (1604)
- Gvilielmi Perkinsi Problema de Romanæ fidei ementito Catholicismo.: Estq[ue] Antidotum contra Thesaurum Catholicum Iodoci Coccij. Et [propaideia] iuventutis in lectione omnium patrum (1604)
- The first part of The cases of conscience: Wherein specially, three maine questions concerning man, simply considered in himselfe, are propounded and resolued, according to the word of God (1604)
- Satans sophistrie ansuuered by our Sauiour Christ: and in diuers sermons further manifested (1604)
- Hepieíkeia: or, a treatise of Christian equitie and moderation (1604)
- M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah: preached in 2. sermons in Sturbridge Faire. Together with two treatises of the duties and dignitie of the ministrie: deliuered publiquely in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. With a preface præfixed touching the publishing of all such workes of his as are to be expected: with a catalogue of all the perticulers [sic] of them, diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word (1605)
- Works newly corrected according to his owne copies (1605)
- Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of that calling (1605)
- The combat betweene Christ and the diuell displayed, or A commentarie upon the temptations of Christ (1606)
- A godlie and learned exposition vpon the whole epistle of Ivde... (1606)
- A C[hristian] and [plain]e treatise of the manner and order of predestination: and of the largenes of Gods grace (1606)
- The arte of prophecying, or, A treatise concerning the sacred and onely true manner and methode of preaching (1607)
- A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon the 11 chapter to the Hebrewes (1607)
- A treatise of mans imaginations: Shewing his naturall euill thoughts: His want of good thoughts: The way to reforme them (1607)
- A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft: so farre forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures and manifest by true experience ... (1608)
- The vvhole treatise of the cases of conscience: distinguished into three bookes (1608)
- Christian oeconomie: or, A short survey of the right manner of erecting and ordering a familie: according to the scriptures (1609)
- A graine of musterd-seede: or, the least measure of grace that is or can be effectuall to saluation (1611)
- A resolution to the countryman prooving it utterly unlawfull to buy or use our yeerely prognostications (1618)
- Deaths knell: or, The sicke mans passing-bell: summoning all sicke consciences to pr[e]pare themselues for the coming of the grea[t] day of doome, lest mercies gate be shut against them: fit for all those that desire to arriue at the heauenly Ierusalem. Whereunto are added prayers fit for housholders. The ninth edition. (1628)
Recent reprints:
- The Work of William Perkins, ed. Ian Breward (1970)
- The Works of William Perkins, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Derek W. H. Thomas, 10 vols. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014–2020).
References
- required.)
- ^ a b Brook 1994, p. 129
- ^ Schaefer 2004, p. 40
- ^ a b Neal 1843, p. 213
- ^ a b c d Lea 1996, p. 275
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Beeke & Pederson 2006
- ^ Venn & Venn 1953
- ^ Ferguson 1996, p. viii
- ^ a b c Fuller, Thomas; Nichols, James; White, Andrew Dickson (1841). The holy state, and the profane state. Cornell University Library. London: Printed for T. Tegg. Book II, Ch. X, pp. 80–83.
- ^ a b Ferguson 1996, p. vii
- ^ Schaefer 2004, pp. 38–39
- ^ Herbert 1982, p. 8
- ^ A Puritan's Mind 2012
- ^ von Rohr 1965, pp. 195–196
- ^ Schaefer 2004, p. 42
- ^ Lea 1996, p. 280
- ^ a b Lea 1996, p. 279
- ^ Lea 1996, p. 281
- ^ Arminius 1602
- ^ Storms 2006
- ^ Weber 2001, p. 303
- ^ Schaefer 2004, p. 41
- ^ a b Culianu 1987, p. 63
Sources
- Arminius, Jacobus (1602), Concerning the Order and Mode of Predestination and the Amplitude of Divine Grace by Rev. William Perkins, retrieved 18 February 2014
- ISBN 1601780001, retrieved 18 February 2014
- Brook, Benjamin (1994), "William Perkins", The Lives of the Puritans, vol. 2, London: Soli Deo Gloria, ISBN 1877611794
- ISBN 978-0-226-12316-5, retrieved 18 February 2014
- Ferguson, Sinclair (1996), "Foreword", The Art of Prophesying, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, ISBN 0851516890
- Herbert, James (March 1982), "William Perkins's "A Reformed Catholic": A Psycho-Cultural Interpretation", Church History, 51 (1), Cambridge University Press: 7–23, S2CID 154818667
- Lea, Thomas D (June 1996), "The Hermeneutics of the Puritans", ISSN 0360-8808, retrieved 18 February 2014
- Neal, Daniel (1843), History of the Puritans, vol. 1, New York: Harper & Brothers, OCLC 600071622
- A Puritan's Mind (2012), William Perkins, retrieved 18 February 2014
- Schaefer, Paul (2004), "The Arte of Prophesying", in Kapic, Kelly; Gleason, Randall (eds.), The Devoted Life, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, ISBN 0830827943
- Storms, Sam (8 November 2006), Arminian Controversy, Enjoying God Ministries, retrieved 18 February 2014
- Venn, John; Venn, John Archibald (1953), "William Perkins", in Venn, John; Venn, John Archibald (eds.), Alumni Cantabrigienses (Online ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, retrieved 18 February 2014
- von Rohr, John (June 1965), "Covenant and Assurance in Early English Puritanism", Church History, 34 (2), Cambridge University Press: 195–203, S2CID 162295453
- Weber, Richard M (June 2001), "The Trinitarian Theology of Jonathan Edwards: An Investigation of Charges Against its Orthodoxy", Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 44 (2): 297–318, ISSN 0360-8808, retrieved 18 February 2014
External links
- Works by William Perkins at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)