God's Order and Natural Law : The Works of the Laudian Divines

This title was first published in 2002. This book fills an important gap in the theological interpretation of the Laudian divines. Iain MacKenzie presents the theology of the Anglican theologians of the early 17th century, exploring the concept of order first in God but then in creation in its relation to the Creator, and then examining the working out of this concept based in theology in civil and ecclesiastical structures and practice. Mapping the Laudian divines' perceptions of how order primarily and necessarily resides in God existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, this book sets out the essential and necessarily practical application of theology as seen by 17th century theologians, and traces the legacy which they have left. This theological, as opposed to a merely historical or literary, study of this important period for the development of society, will be of particular value to theologians, historians and those concerned with the intellectual history of the 17th century. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 The Concept of Order Generally Accepted -- Chapter 2 Order and Theological Method -- Chapter 3 Order, Creator and Creation -- Chapter 4 Order, Knowledge and the Rationality of Man -- Chapter 5 Order, Monarchy and the One Body Politic -- Chapter 6 Order, the Rule and Law of Man and the Rule and Law of God -- Chapter 7 Order, Monarchy, Parliament and Church -- Chapter 8 Order, Uniformity, Preaching and Sacraments -- Chapter 9 Order, Natural Calamities and Evil -- Chapter 10 Order and the Nature of Political Unrest -- Chapter 11 Order: The Knowledge and Being of God and Humanity -- Chapter 12 Order: The Holy Spirit and the Centre of Human Existence -- Chapter 13 Order: The Spirit's Gifts and the Relation of Existences -- Epilogue -- Appendix A Principal Seventeenth-century Authors Quoted -- Appendix B Note on John Swan -- Bibliography -- Index Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 12 1 The Concept of Order Generally Accepted 30 2 Order and Theological Method 36 3 Order, Creator and Creation 48 4 Order, Knowledge and the Rationality of Man 62 5 Order, Monarchy and the One Body Politic 70 6 Order, the Rule and Law of Man and the Rule and Law of God 80 7 Order, Monarchy, Parliament and Church 94 8 Order, Uniformity, Preaching and Sacraments 110 9 Order, Natural Calamities and Evil 126 10 Order and the Nature of Political Unrest 134 11 Order: The Knowledge and Being of God and Humanity 144 12 Order: The Holy Spirit and the Centre of Human Existence 152 13 Order: The Spirit's Gifts and the Relation of Existences 170 Epilogue 184 Appendix A Principal Seventeenth-century Authors Quoted 190 Appendix B Note on John Swan 194 Bibliography 200 Index 204