Heart religion : Evangelical piety in England et Ireland, 1690-1850

The Evangelical Revival of the mid-eighteenth century was a major turning point in Protestant history. In England, Wesleyan Methodists became a separate denomination around 1795, and Welsh Calvinistic Methodists became independent of the Church of England in 1811. By this point, evangelicalism had emerged as a major religious force across the British Isles, making inroads among Anglicans as well as Irish and Scottish Presbyterians. Evangelical Dissent proliferated through thousands of Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational churches; even Quakers were strongly influenced by evangelical religion. The evangelicals were often at odds with each other over matters of doctrine (like the "five points" of Calvinism); ecclesiology (including the status of the established church); politics (as they reacted in various ways to the American and French Revolutions); and worship (with the boisterous, extemporary style of Primitive Methodists contrasting sharply with the sober piety of many Anglican advocates of "vital religion"). What they shared was a cross-centered, Bible-based piety that stressed conversion and stimulated evangelism. But how was this generic evangelical ethos adopted and reconfigured by different denominations and in very different social contexts? Can we categorize different styles of "heart religion"? To what extent was evangelical piety dependent on the phenomenon of "revival"? And what practical difference did it make to the experience of dying, to the parish community, or to denominational politics? This collection addresses these questions in innovative ways. It examines neglected manuscript and print sources, including handbooks of piety, translations and abridgements, conversion narratives, journals, letters, hymns, sermons, and obituaries. It offers a variety of approaches, reflecting a range of disciplinary expertise--historical, literary, and theological. Together, the contributions point towards a new account of the roots and branches of evangelical piety, and offer fresh ways of analyzing the history of Protestant spirituality. Cover 1 Heart Religion: Evangelical Piety in England and Ireland, 1690–1850 4 Copyright 5 Preface 6 Contents 8 Abbreviations 10 Notes on Contributors 12 Introduction: Sources and Trajectories of Evangelical Piety 16 THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART 20 THE STATE OF THE FIELD 25 SOURCES OF EVANGELICAL PIETY 29 TRAJECTORIES OF EVANGELICAL PIETY 38 CONCLUSION 41 BIBLIOGRAPHY 42 Anthologies of Primary Sources 42 Secondary Sources 42 1: Between Puritanism and Evangelicalism: ‘Heart-work’ in Dissenting Communion Hymns, 1693–1709 44 THE PURITAN TRADITION 47 THE RISE OF THE DISSENTING COMMUNION HYMN 50 DOCTRINE AND PIETY IN THE DISSENTING COMMUNION HYMN 52 CONCLUSION 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY 63 Primary Sources 63 Secondary Sources 63 2: Continental Spirituality and British Protestant Readers 65 BIBLIOGRAPHY 85 Primary Sources 85 Secondary Sources 86 3: The ‘Evangelical’ Heart of Pietist Anthony William Boehm 87 PIETISM AND EVANGELICALISM 88 THE ‘EVANGELICAL’ CHARACTER OF BOEHM’S PUBLICATIONS 91 Conversionism 92 Activism 95 Biblicism 98 Crucicentrism 100 ANALYSIS 102 CONCLUSION 106 BIBLIOGRAPHY 107 Primary Sources 107 Secondary Sources 107 4: George Whitefield and Heart Religion 108 DISCOVERING HEART RELIGION 109 PREACHING HEART RELIGION 112 DEFENDING HEART RELIGION 116 A REFORMED RELIGION OF THE HEART 120 CONCLUSION 126 BIBLIOGRAPHY 126 Primary Sources 126 Secondary Sources 126 5: Gazing at the Wounds: The Blood of the Lamb in the Hymns of John Cennick 128 LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JOHN CENNICK 129 ORIGIN AND USAGE OF THE BLOOD AND WOUNDS IMAGERY IN CENNICK’S HYMNS 131 GAZING AT THE WOUNDS 136 ORIGIN AND USAGE OF THE LAMB OF GOD IMAGERY IN ZINZENDORF’S HYMNS 140 COMPARISON OF CENNICK AND ZINZENDORF’S HYMNS 143 CONCLUSION 150 BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 Primary Sources 151 Secondary Sources 152 6: Inward Religion and its Dangers in the Evangelical Revival 153 JOHN WESLEY AND THE CHRISTIAN’S PATTERN 156 JOHN WESLEY AND WILLIAM LAW 160 PHILIP DODDRIDGE AND HENRY VENN 163 BIBLIOGRAPHY 170 Primary Sources 170 Secondary Sources 170 7: Dreaming and Emotion in Early Evangelical Religion 172 BIBLIOGRAPHY 195 Primary Sources 195 Secondary Sources 195 8: Personal Conversion, Revival, and the Holy Spirit: Presbyterian Evangelicalism in Early Nineteenth-Century Ulster 196 BIBLIOGRAPHY 214 Primary Sources 214 Periodicals 214 Pamphlets 214 Collection of Primary Sources 215 Secondary Sources 215 9: The Deathbed Piety of Victorian Evangelical Nonconformists 216 NONCONFORMIST DEATHBEDS 218 RESOURCES FOR THE JOURNEY TO HEAVEN 220 PREPARATION FOR THE ENTRY TO HEAVEN 225 EXPECTATIONS OF THE LIFE IN HEAVEN 232 THE DECAY OF DEATHBED SPIRITUALITY 235 BIBLIOGRAPHY 237 Primary Sources 237 Secondary Sources 238 Index 240 The Evangelical Revival Of The Mid-eighteenth Century Was A Major Turning Point In Protestant History. In England, Wesleyan Methodists Became A Separate Denomination Around 1795, And Welsh Calvinistic Methodists Became Independent Of The Church Of England In 1811. By This Point, Evangelicalism Had Emerged As A Major Religious Force Across The British Isles, Making Inroads Among Anglicans As Well As Irish And Scottish Presbyterians. Evangelical Dissent Proliferated Through Thousands Of Methodist, Baptist, And Congregational Churches; Even Quakers Were Strongly Influenced By Evangelical Religion. The Evangelicals Were Often At Odds With Each Other Over Matters Of Doctrine (like The 'five Points' Of Calvinism); Ecclesiology (including The Status Of The Established Church); Politics (as They Reacted In Various Ways To The American And French Revolutions); And Worship (with The Boisterous, Extemporary Style Of Primitive Methodists Contrasting Sharply With The Sober Piety Of Many Anglican Advocates Of 'vital Religion'). What They Shared Was A Cross-centred, Bible-based Piety That Stressed Conversion And Stimulated Evangelism. But How Was This Generic Evangelical Ethos Adopted And Reconfigured By Different Denominations And In Very Different Social Contexts? Can We Categorise Different Styles Of 'heart Religion'? To What Extent Was Evangelical Piety Dependent On The Phenomenon Of 'revival'? And What Practical Difference Did It Make To The Experience Of Dying, To The Parish Community, Or To Denominational Politics? Introduction: Sources And Trajectories Of Evangelical Piety / John Coffey -- Between Puritanism And Evangelicalism: 'heart-work' In Dissenting Communion Hymns, 1693-1709 / John Coffey -- Continental Spirituality And British Protestant Readers / Patricia A. Ward -- The 'evangelical' Heart Of Pietist Anthony William Boehm / Daniel L. Brunner -- George Whitefield And Heart Religion / David Ceri Jones -- Gazing At The Wounds: The Blood Of The Lamb In The Hymns Of John Cennick / Tom Schwanda -- Inward Religion And Its Dangers In The Evangelical Revival / Isabel Rivers -- Dreaming And Emotion In Early Evangelical Religion / Phyllis Mack -- Personal Conversion, Revival, And The Holy Spirit: Presbyterian Evangelicalism In Early Nineteenth-century Ulster / Andrew R. Holmes -- The Deathbed Piety Of Victorian Evangelical Nonconformists / David W. Bebbington. Edited By John Coffey. This Collection Of Essays On A Critical Phase In The History Of Protestant Spirituality Arose From The Seventh Annual One-day Conference Of The Dr Williams's Centre For Dissenting Studies, Held In 2011--preface Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Evangelical Revival of the mid-eighteenth century was a major turning point in Protestant history. In England, Wesleyan Methodists became a separate denomination around 1795, and Welsh Calvinistic Methodists became independent of the Church of England in 1811. By this point, evangelicalism had emerged as a major religious force across the British Isles, making inroads among Anglicans as well as Irish and Scottish Presbyterians. Evangelical Dissent proliferated through thousands of Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational churches; even Quakers were strongly influenced by evangelical religion. The evangelicals were often at odds with each other over matters of doctrine (like the'five points'of Calvinism); ecclesiology (including the status of the established church); politics (as they reacted in various ways to the American and French Revolutions); and worship (with the boisterous, extemporary style of Primitive Methodists contrasting sharply with the sober piety of many Anglican advocates of'vital religion'). What they shared was a cross-centred, Bible-based piety that stressed conversion and stimulated evangelism. But how was this generic evangelical ethos adopted and reconfigured by different denominations and in very different social contexts? Can we categorise different styles of'heart religion'? To what extent was evangelical piety dependent on the phenomenon of'revival'? And what practical difference did it make to the experience of dying, to the parish community, or to denominational politics? This collection addresses these questions in innovative ways. It examines neglected manuscript and print sources, including handbooks of piety, translations and abridgements, conversion narratives, journals, letters, hymns, sermons, and obituaries. It offers a variety of approaches, reflecting a range of disciplinary expertise--historical, literary, and theological. Together, the contributions point towards a new account of the roots and branches of evangelical piety, and offer fresh ways of analysing the history of Protestant spirituality.