Defining the Jacobean Church: The Politics of Religious Controversy, 1603–1625 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

This 2005 book proposes a model for understanding religious debates in the Churches of England and Scotland between 1603 and 1625. Setting aside 'narrow' analyses of conflict over predestination, its theme is ecclesiology - the nature of the Church, its rites and governance, and its relationship to the early Stuart political world. Drawing on a substantial number of polemical works, from sermons to books of several hundred pages, it argues that rival interpretations of scripture, pagan, and civil history and the sources central to the Christian historical tradition lay at the heart of disputes between proponents of contrasting ecclesiological visions. Some saw the Church as a blend of spiritual and political elements - a state Church - while others insisted that the life of the spirit should be free from civil authority. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Note on the text......Page 15 Ecclesiology and history......Page 17 Models of Jacobean Protestant conflict......Page 22 The scope of the work......Page 33 2 The language of ecclesiastical polity and Jacobean conformist thought......Page 38 Religion the 'stay' of polity: public doctrine, history, and sovereignty......Page 42 The Church in history: Bell's Regiment and the ancient and reformed traditions......Page 63 3 Doctrine, law, and conflict over the Canons of 1604......Page 81 Jus antiquum: scripture and law, ca. 1580–1604......Page 83 Beati pacifici?: the Jacobean settlement......Page 91 Dissenting petitions......Page 105 William Bradshaw and his opponents......Page 113 4 Apostoli, episcopi, divini? models of ecclesiastical governance......Page 129 Jurisdiction, sovereignty, and succession......Page 130 The watchmen of the Church: episcopacy and conformity......Page 139 Function versus jurisdiction: the Downame controversy......Page 155 5 Bellum ceremoniale: scripture, custom, and ceremonial practice......Page 174 Subscription and authority: the Abridgment controversy......Page 176 Competing for the reformed tradition: the debate on Morton's Defence......Page 200 The Jacobean Church after 1625......Page 212 6 Ceremonies, episcopacy, and the Scottish Kirk......Page 220 Bancroft and the Presbyterians......Page 222 One Church, two nations?: Jurisdiction and confessional rivalry......Page 229 'Salus ecclesiae suprema lex esto'......Page 236 The Church of 'Greate Brittaine'......Page 251 7 Conclusion: narratives of civil and ecclesiastical authority......Page 268 PRINTED PRIMARY SOURCES (INCLUDES MODERN EDITIONS)......Page 282 SECONDARY SOURCES......Page 291 Index......Page 302 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 5 Title 7 Copyright 8 Dedication 9 Contents 11 Acknowledgements 13 Note on the text 15 1 Introduction: defining the Church 17 Ecclesiology and history 17 Models of Jacobean Protestant conflict 22 The scope of the work 33 2 The language of ecclesiastical polity and Jacobean conformist thought 38 Religion the 'stay' of polity: public doctrine, history, and sovereignty 42 The Church in history: Bell's Regiment and the ancient and reformed traditions 63 3 Doctrine, law, and conflict over the Canons of 1604 81 Jus antiquum: scripture and law, ca. 1580–1604 83 Beati pacifici?: the Jacobean settlement 91 Dissenting petitions 105 William Bradshaw and his opponents 113 4 Apostoli, episcopi, divini? models of ecclesiastical governance 129 Jurisdiction, sovereignty, and succession 130 The watchmen of the Church: episcopacy and conformity 139 Function versus jurisdiction: the Downame controversy 155 5 Bellum ceremoniale: scripture, custom, and ceremonial practice 174 Subscription and authority: the Abridgment controversy 176 Competing for the reformed tradition: the debate on Morton's Defence 200 The Jacobean Church after 1625 212 6 Ceremonies, episcopacy, and the Scottish Kirk 220 Bancroft and the Presbyterians 222 One Church, two nations?: Jurisdiction and confessional rivalry 229 'Salus ecclesiae suprema lex esto' 236 The Church of 'Greate Brittaine' 251 7 Conclusion: narratives of civil and ecclesiastical authority 268 Bibliography 282 MANUSCRIPTS 282 PRINTED PRIMARY SOURCES (INCLUDES MODERN EDITIONS) 282 SECONDARY SOURCES 291 Index 302 "This book proposes a new model for understanding religious debates in the churches of England and Scotland between 1603 and 1625. Setting aside 'narrow' analyses of conflict over predestination, its theme is ecclesiology - the nature of the church, its rites and governance, and its relationship to the early Stuart political world. Drawing on a substantial number of polemical works, from sermons to books of several hundreds of pages, it argues that rival interpretations of scripture, pagan and civil history, and the sources central to the Christian historical tradition lay at the heart of disputes between proponents of contrasting ecclesiological visions. Some saw the church as a blend of spiritual and political elements - a state church - while others insisted that the life of the spirit should be free from civil authority. As the reign went on these positions hardened and they made a major contribution to the religious divisions of the 1640s."--BOOK JACKET. Proposing a new model for understanding religious debates in the churches of England and Scotland between 1603 and 1625, Charles Prior sets aside 'narrow' analyses of conflict over predestination, This book's theme is ecclesiology--the nature of the church, its rites and governance, and its relationship to the early Stuart political world. Drawing on a substantial number of polemical works, from sermons to books of several hundred pages, it argues that rival interpretations of scripture, pagan and civil history and the sources central to the Christian historical tradition lay at the heart of disputes between proponents of contrasting ecclesiological visions. This 2005 book proposes a new model for understanding religious debates in the Churches of England and Scotland between 1603 and 1625. It argues that rival interpretations of scripture, pagan, and civil history and the sources central to the Christian tradition lay at the heart of disputes between contrasting ecclesiological visions.

a New Model For Understanding Religious Debates In The Churches Of England And Scotland From 1603-1625.