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From Seeker to Finder: A Study in Seventeenth-Century English Spiritualism Before The Quakers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

George Arthur Johnson
George Arthur Johnson
Affiliation:
Palos Park, Illinois
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Extract

The period of the Civil Wars and Commonwealth in England was one of the most momentous epochs in British history. For small groups of people the decade of the 1640's inaugurated a New Age—an age in which the Holy Spirit reigned triumphant. Such believers reached the zenith of Puritan “spiritualism,” or that movement which placed the greatest emphasis upon the Third Person of the Trinity.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , December 1948 , pp. 299 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1948

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References

1 For first pointing out to me a difference between “mystics” and “spirituahsta” I am indebted to Professor Joachim Wach, of the University of Chicago.

2 Saltmarsh, John, Sparkles of Glory…, (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 292.Google Scholar

3 In Sparkles of Glory, 289 ff.; Groanes For Liberty, (London: Giles Calvert, 1646), 22–23Google Scholar; and Smoke in the Temple (London: Giles Calvert, 1646), 7–13,Google Scholar Saltmarsh presented the views of Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and Seekers.

4 Edwards, Thomas, Gangranna … (London: Ralph Smith, 1646), II, 13–14.Google Scholar

5 One of the finest examples of a Seeker who maintained that position throughout his lifetime was Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. When in 1672 the Rhode Islander was questioned why he did not employ nor follow ordinances, he gave a Seeker answer that he was in rebellion against the present administration of God's visible Kingdom—that is, against the existing church organizations and practices (Williams, , George Fox Digg'd Out of His Burrowes …) [Boston: John Foster, 1676], 65)Google Scholar. But the whole tenor of his tracts proves that he upheld a visible church asserting definitely that false Christians were those opposed to “the visible kingdome, and so to visible Christ Jesus in point of his kingdonie, church and worship” (Williams, , The Bloody Tenent Yet Mare Bloody … [London: Giles Calvert, 1652], 60.Google Scholar He denounced the Familists for confounding heaven and earth together in matters of ordinances and worship (Ibid., 61) and the Quakers for giving a spiritual meaning to the Scriptures (George Fox Digg'd Out of His Burrowes, 44, 95).

6 The basis for this title comes from a letter written by Cromwell to Bridget Ireton, his daughter, in which he declared that being a Seeker was next best to being “a happy finder” (Writings and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, edited by Wilbur Cortez Abbott [Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1937–1947], I, 416)Google Scholar. The spiritualists themselves never used the term.

7 There were two Thomas Colliers living in England in the 1640's, both of whom were preachers and writers of tracts and who have been identified falsely by later writers. One was a Particular Close-Communion Baptist (cf. Collier, , A Discourse On the True Gospel Blessedness In the New Covenant [London: Henry Hills, 1659], 41, 112Google Scholar for proof of his belief in immersion, 121 for proof of his belief in close-communion, and 31 for proof of his belief in election); the other was a Finder who gave spiritual emphases to ordinances, to the Scriptures, to the church, and to the state (cf. in particular, Collier, , General Epistle to the Universall Church of the First Born [London: Giles Calvert, 1648]Google Scholar, as proof of Finder influences).

8 There are several current spellings for the chaplain's name. The publications of the Finder's works bear the spelling Erberie, which shortened would be Erbery. One cannot see the justification for the abbreviated form, Erbury.

9 Saltmarsh, , The Opening of Master Prynnes New Book … (London: Giles Calvert, 1646), 28;Google ScholarErbery, William, The Testimony … (London: Giles Calvert, 1658), 244;Google Scholar and Collier, Thomas, A Discovery of the New Creation … (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 12.Google Scholar

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13 Saltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, 263;Google ScholarCollier, , A General Epistle to the Universall Church, 49–54 and 60–62;Google ScholarDell, , Power From On High (London: Giles Calvert, 1645), 9.Google Scholar

14 Dell, , The Doctrine of the Sabbath … (London: Giles Calvert, 1650)Google Scholar; Dell, , The Crucified and Quickened Christian, 14;Google ScholarSaltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, 267;Google ScholarErbery, , The Testimony, 88.Google Scholar

15 Dell, , The Tryall of Spirits Both in Teachers and Hearers (London: Giles Calvert, 1653), 19;Google ScholarSaltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, 270;Google ScholarCollier, , A General Epistle to the Universall Church of the First Born, 38.Google Scholar

16 Roman Catholics and conservative Protestants of course believed in the visible church forming an invisible union with the heavenly church. But the Finders tried to spiritualize even the visible church on earth, and here differed from their contemporaries. Cf. Collier, , The Marrow of Christianity (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 63;Google ScholarDell, , The Way of True Peace and Unity … (London: Giles Calvert, 1649), 19.Google Scholar

17 Dell, , The Building and Glory of the Truely Christian and Spiritual Chureh.… (London: Giles Calvert, 1646), 19–20;Google Scholar Saltmarsh, The Opening of Master Prynnes New Book, 22; Collier, A General Epistle to the Universall Church of the First Born, 38.

18 Dell, , The Way of True Peace and Unity, 48–52, 56, 87;Google ScholarCollier, , The Exaltation of Christ … (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 233–35;Google ScholarSaltmarsh, , Smoke in the Temple, 70.Google Scholar

39 Erbery, , The Testimony, 312.Google Scholar

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21 Dell, The Right Reformation of Learning, Schooles, and Universities in Dell, , A Plain and Necessary Confutation of Divers Gross and Antichristian Errors …(London: Robert White for Giles Calvert, 1654), 18–19;Google ScholarDell, , The Way of True Peace and Unity, 74–77.Google Scholar

22 Dell, The Right Reformation of Learning, Schooles, and Universities, is proof of Dell's concern for secular training for good citizens of the state.

23 Erbery, , The Testimony, 116;Google ScholarSaltmarsh, , An End of One Controversie in Saltmarsh, Some Drops of the Vial Poured Out … (London: Giles Calvert, 1646), 115;Google ScholarCollier, , A Brief Discovery of the Corruption of the Ministerie … (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 12.Google Scholar

24 Dell, The Tryall of Spirits Both in Teachers and Hearers; Dell, , The Stumbling Stone, Wherein the University Is Reproved … (London: Giles Calvert, 1653), 26;Google Scholar Collier, A Brief Discovery of the Corruption of the Ministerie; Dell's support of mechanic preachers is attested in his having John Bunyan, future author of Pilgrim's Progress, preach in his Yelden pulpit, Christmas Day, 1659 (Matthews, A. G., Calamy Revised … [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1934] 161).Google Scholar

25 Collier, A Brief Discovery of the Corruption of the Ministerie.

26 Ibid., 1–21; Dell, The Tryall of Spirits Both in Teachers and Hearers, 29; Erbery, The Testimony, 48–59; Saltmarsh, End of One Controversie, 115.

27 Dell, The Stumbling Stone, Wherein the University Is Reproved, iv; Dell, , The Tryall of Spirits Both in Teachers and Hearers, 24–31.Google Scholar

28 Dell, Uniformity Examined, Whether It Be Found in the Gospel …, in Dell, , Several Sermons … (London: Giles Calvert, 1651)Google Scholar; Saltmarsh, Groaner For Liberty; Collier, , Certaine Queries: Or Points Now In Controversy Examined ([London], 1645)Google Scholar; Erbery, The Testimony.

29 Cf. works listed in n. 1, above.

30 Dell, , The Crucified and Quickened Christian, 5.Google Scholar Even Roger Williams, who tolerated Roman Catholics, declared they must give assurance of civil obedience (The Bloody Tenent … [London, 1644], 174).Google Scholar

31 Dell, , The Crucified and Quickened Christian, 5;Google ScholarDell, , The Increase of Popery in. England (London: Richard Janeway, 1681), 3.Google Scholar

32 Collier, , Certaine Queries, 26.Google Scholar

33 Saltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, ii.Google Scholar

34 Woodhouse, A. S. P., Puritanism and Liberty, Being the Army Debates (1647–9) From the Clarke Manuscripts (London: J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd., 1938), 170.Google ScholarErbery, , The Testimiony, 333.Google Scholar

35 Dell, , The Way of True Peace and Unity, 132;Google ScholarCollier, , A Discovery of the New Creation (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 31–32;Google ScholarSaltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, viii;Google ScholarErbery, , The Testimony, 27.Google Scholar

36 Dell, Power From On High, and works cited in n. 35 above.

37 Buchan, John wan the first great biographer of Cromwell to note the “mystical” character of his writings. Oliver Cromwell (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1934).Google Scholar

38 Writings and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, I, 416.

39 Ibid., II, 236.

40 Ibid., IV, 273.

41 Ibid.

42 Erbery, , The Testimony, 149.Google Scholar

43 Writings and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, IV, 272.Google Scholar

44 Britain, Great, Public Record Office, Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Commonwealth, LXXI (1654) (London: Longman and Company, 1880), 162;Google Scholar CXXVII (1665–1666) (London: Longman and Company, 1882), 327.Google Scholar

45 Dell, The Crucified and Quickened Christian, ii-iii.

46 Salmon, Joseph, Antichrist in Man (London: Giles Calvert, 1648), 47.Google Scholar

47 Lewin, John, Man-Child Brought Forth in Us (London: Giles Calvert, 1648), 16.Google Scholar

48 Westfield, Robert, Christ Coming in the Cloudes (London: Giles Calvert, 1647), 4.Google Scholar

49 Hassal, George, Designe of God in the Saints (London: Giles Calvert, 1648), 2, 3, 15.Google Scholar

50 Couling, Nicholas, The Saints Perfect in This Life; Or Never (London: Gilea Calvert, 1647), 1.Google Scholar

51 Hassal, , Designs of God in the Saints, 32.Google Scholar

52 Gerard, Croese, The General History of ths Quakers … (London: John Dunton, 1696), 11.Google Scholar

53 Fox, George, A Journal … (Philadelphia: Marcus Gould, 1831), I, xxx.Google Scholar

54 Elizabeth Hooton received a very brief notice in Fox's account of 1647. From that version, one is uncertain whether Fox received inspiration from Elizabeth Hooton, or she from him.

55 Fox, , A Journal, I, 74.Google Scholar

56 Ibid., 71.

57 Ibid.

58 Ibid., 72.

59 Ibid., 90–91.

60 Ibid., 91.

61 Wonderful Predictions Declared In A Message⃜ (London; Robert Ibbitson, 1648).Google Scholar

62 Nuttall, Geoffrey T., The Holy Spirit In Puritan Faith and Experience (Oxford, England: Basil Blackwell, 1946), 83.Google Scholar

63 Ibid., 13.

64 Fox, , A Journal, I, 81.Google Scholar

65 Ibid., 105.

66 The Quaker historian, Braithwaite, William C., admits the advanced position of these “Seekers” when he says: “I have called them Seekers, but the name is hardly emphatic enough, for they had already found the light” ((The Beginnings of Quakerism) [London: Macmillan and Company, 1012], 60)Google Scholar. What could these “Seekers” have been but Finders!

67 Fox, , Works (Philadelphia: Marcus Gould, 1831), III, 34.Google Scholar

68 Ibid., 35–37.

69 Ibid., 37.

70 Ibid., 76.

71 Ibid., 35, 55.

72 Ibid., 35.

73 Collier, , A Looking-Glasse for the Quakers, 4–5.Google Scholar

74 Ibid., 5.

75 Fox, , Works, III, 78.Google Scholar

76 Fox, , A Journal, xvii, xviii.Google Scholar

77 Fox, , Works, III, 43, 75, 78.Google Scholar

78 Ibid., 50. With Fox the term “light” was synonymous with Holy Spirit. Thus, the “children of light” were those who acknowledged the Holy Spirit, while the “children of darkness” were those who did not.

79 Dell, , The Crucified and Quickened Christian, 40.Google Scholar

80 Cf. Emmott, Elizabeth Braithwaite, A Short History of Quakerism (London: Macmillan Co., 1923), chap. xii.Google Scholar

81 Saltmarsh, , Sparkles of Glory, 228–29.Google Scholar

82 Matthews, , Calamy Revised, 161;Google ScholarErbery, , The Testimony, 43–47.Google Scholar

83 Fox, , A Journal, xiv.Google Scholar