The Christian’s Deliverance by Christ and the Nature of Practical Religion
The Christian’s Deliverance by Christ and the Nature of Practical Religion

Author: John Kettlewell

Publisher: Puritan Publications

Published: 2020-07-13

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 1626633622

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This work on Practical Religion, which centers on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was Kettlewell’s first work ever published, and was eminently popular. Its purpose was to take basic Christian doctrine and make it exceptionally practical in the life of a believer. In this work he expanded his sermons into 5 discourses or chapters. The first discourse states the notion of the Christian's salvation, and shows it chiefly to consist in a deliverance from our sins, centered on Matthew 1:21, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The second discourse shows that this deliverance, and entire obedience, is neither impossible, nor extremely difficult, if sincere Christians set about it as they should, centered on Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” The third discourse shows how to form such a purpose of sincere repentance, and entire obedience which will be effectual for this purpose, centered on Acts 11:23, “And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord.” The fourth discourse shows how to take the truest wisdom of worldly men in their managements, and apply it with admirable use and advantage in the improvement and perfection of holy obedience, centered on Luke 16:8, “For the children of this world are wiser in their generation, than the children of light.” The fifth discourse shows how Christians ought to think about the return of their prayers, or when they may, and when they may not, promise themselves the particular things they ask for, centered on Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it shall be given you; for every one that asketh, receiveth.” This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

The Mental Universe of the English Nonjurors
The Mental Universe of the English Nonjurors

Author: John William Klein

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2021-09-21

Total Pages: 484

ISBN-13: 1664190414

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The Glorious Revolution of 1688, which pushed James II from the throne of England, was not glorious for everyone; in fact, for many, it was a great disaster. Those who had already taken an oath of allegiance to James II and “to his heirs and lawful successors” now pondered how they could take a second oath to William and Mary. Those who initially refused to swear the oaths were called Nonjurors. In 1691, Archbishop Sancroft, eight bishops, and four hundred clergy of the Church of England, as well as a substantial number of scholars at Oxford and Cambridge, were deprived, removed from their offices and their license to practice removed. The loss of this talent to the realm was incalcuable. Ten different paradigms shaped the English Nonjurors’ worldview: Passive Obedience was paramount, the Apostolic Succession essential, a Cyprianist mentality colored everything, they held a conscientious regard for oaths, the Usages Controversy brought Tradition to the fore, printing presses replaced lost pulpits, patronage was a means of protection and proliferation, they lived with a hybridized conception of time, creative women spiritual writers complemented male bishops, and a global ecumenical approach to the Orthodox East was visionary. These ten operated synergistically to create an effective tool for the Nonjurors’ survival and success in their mission. The Nonjurors’ influence, out of all proportion to their size, was due in large measure to this mentality. Their unique circumstances prompted creative thinking, and they were superb in that endeavor. These perspectives constituted the infrastructure of the Nonjurors’ world, and they help us to see the early eighteenth century not only as a time of rapid change, but also as an era of persistent older religious mentalities adapted to new circumstances.