عنوان

Baptists and 1662:

Number

LA109750

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Baptists and 1662:

General Material Designation

[Article]

Other Title Information

the Effect of the Act of Uniformity on Baptists and its Ecumenical Significance for Baptists today

First Statement of Responsibility

Paul S. Fiddes

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

The Act of Uniformity of 1662 had a much greater impact on the lives of Baptists in England and Wales than is indicated by the number of about 22 ejected from livings, since the Act was the symbolic focus of an attempt to impose religious uniformity more widely in society than merely in the practice of the clergy of the state church. Even before the Conventicle Act of 1664 (replaced by the second Conventicle Act of 1670), the 1662 Act encouraged revival and application of the Elizabethan Act of Uniformity of 1559, reinforced by the Religion Act of 1592, resulting in fines, imprisonment, threat of transportation and deaths in the unhealthy conditions of prison. The purpose of this article is not, however, to chronicle in detail the miseries caused by the series of Acts commonly called the 'Clarendon Code', but to explore the theological reasons why Baptists resisted the uniformity that was being attempted, drawing on two Baptist Confessions of faith written in the period. Uniformity is considered with regard to resistance to the Prayer Book, the requirement for reception of the Anglican eucharist as qualification for public office, and episcopacy. It is argued that the central theological reason for refusal of conformity in all these areas was an honouring of the rule of Christ in the congregation. Comparison is made in each of these areas with the life of the church today and especially with the ecumenical situation. The speculative suggestion is thus made that, had obedience to the rule of Christ been seen to be satisfied, Baptists could in principle have been drawn with other Nonconformists into a comprehensive national church. Less speculatively, it is urged that there are implications for ecumenical relations today. The Act of Uniformity of 1662 had a much greater impact on the lives of Baptists in England and Wales than is indicated by the number of about 22 ejected from livings, since the Act was the symbolic focus of an attempt to impose religious uniformity more widely in society than merely in the practice of the clergy of the state church. Even before the Conventicle Act of 1664 (replaced by the second Conventicle Act of 1670), the 1662 Act encouraged revival and application of the Elizabethan Act of Uniformity of 1559, reinforced by the Religion Act of 1592, resulting in fines, imprisonment, threat of transportation and deaths in the unhealthy conditions of prison. The purpose of this article is not, however, to chronicle in detail the miseries caused by the series of Acts commonly called the 'Clarendon Code', but to explore the theological reasons why Baptists resisted the uniformity that was being attempted, drawing on two Baptist Confessions of faith written in the period. Uniformity is considered with regard to resistance to the Prayer Book, the requirement for reception of the Anglican eucharist as qualification for public office, and episcopacy. It is argued that the central theological reason for refusal of conformity in all these areas was an honouring of the rule of Christ in the congregation. Comparison is made in each of these areas with the life of the church today and especially with the ecumenical situation. The speculative suggestion is thus made that, had obedience to the rule of Christ been seen to be satisfied, Baptists could in principle have been drawn with other Nonconformists into a comprehensive national church. Less speculatively, it is urged that there are implications for ecumenical relations today.

Date of Publication

2013

Physical description

183-204

Title

Ecclesiology

Volume Number

9/2

International Standard Serial Number

1745-5316

Subject Term

Act of Uniformity

Subject Term

Baptists

Subject Term

Book of Common Prayer

Subject Term

Bunyan

Subject Term

Conventicle Acts

Subject Term

Dissenters

Subject Term

ecumenism

Subject Term

Ejectment

Subject Term

episcopacy

Subject Term

Eucharist

Subject Term

Nonconformists

Subject Term

Porvoo

Subject Term

rule of Christ

Subject Term

Test Act

Paul S. Fiddes

Call Number

10.1163/17455316-00902004

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y