The English Church in the Eighteenth Century | Page 3

the reviver of modern Arianism, 204 Opponents of Clarke, 205 Waterland on the Trinity, 205-13 Excellences of Waterland's writings, 213 Convocation and Dr. Clarke, 214 Arianism among Dissenters, 215 Arianism lapses into Socinianism.--Faustus Socinus, 215 Modern Socinianism, 216 Isaac Watts on the Trinity, 217-9 Blackburne's 'Confessional', 219 Jones of Nayland on the Trinity, 219-20 Priestley on the Trinity, 220 Horsley's replies to Priestley, 220-4 Unitarians and Trinitarians (nomenclature), 225 Deism and Unitarianism, 226
CHAPTER VII.
'ENTHUSIASM.'
(_C.J. Abbey._)
Meaning of 'Enthusiasm' as generally dreaded in the eighteenth century, 226 A vague term, but important in the history of the period, 227 As entering into most theological questions then under discussion, 229 Cambridge Platonists: Cudworth, Henry More, 230 Influence of Locke's philosophy, 234 Warburton's 'Doctrine of Grace', 237 Sympathy with the reasonable rather than the spiritual side of religion, 237 Absence of Mysticism in the last century, on any conspicuous scale, 238 Mysticism found its chief vent in Quakerism 240 Quakerism in eighteenth century 241 Its strength, its decline, its claim to attention, 244 French Mysticism in England. The 'French Prophets', 246 F��nelon, Bourignon, and Guyon, 249 German Mysticism in England. Behmen, 251 William Law, 253 His active part in theological controversy, 254 Effects of Mysticism on his theology, 255 His breadth of sympathy and appreciation of all spiritual excellence, 257 Position of, in the Deist controversy, 259 Views on the Atonement, 259 On the Christian evidences, 260 Controversy with Mandeville on the foundations of moral virtue, 261 His speculation on the future state, 261 On Enthusiasm, 263 His imitator in verse, John Byrom, 264 The Moravians, 265 Wesley's early intimacy with W. Law and with the Moravians, 266 Lavington and others on the enthusiasm of Methodists, 269 Points of resemblance and difference between Methodism and the Mystic revivals, 271 Bearing of Berkeley's philosophy on the Mystic theology, 274 William Blake, 275 Dean Graves on enthusiasm, 276 Samuel Coleridge, 277
CHAPTER VIII.
CHURCH ABUSES.
(_J.H. Overton._)
Fair prospect at the beginning of the eighteenth century, 279 Contrast between promise and performance, 279 Shortcomings of the Church exaggerated on many sides, 280 _General causes of the low tone of the Church:_-- (1) Her outward prosperity, 280 (2) Influence and policy of Sir R. Walpole, 281 (3) The controversies of her own and previous generations, 282 (4) Political complications, 282 (5) Want of synodal action, 282-4 Pluralities and non-residence, 284-6 Neglect of parochial duties, 286-7 Clerical poverty, 287-9 Clerical dependents, 289 Abuse of Church patronage, 290-2 Evidence in the autobiography of Bishop T. Newton, 292-3 " " " Bishop Watson, 293-6 " " " Bishop Hurd, 296-7 Clergy too much mixed up with politics, 297-8 Want of parochial machinery, 298-300 Sermons of period too sweepingly censured, 300 But marked by a morbid dread of extremes, 301 Political sermons, 302 Low state of morals, 303 Clergy superior to their contemporaries, 301 The nation passed through a crisis in the eighteenth century, 306 A period of transition in the Church, 307 Torpor extended to all forms of Christianity, 308 Decay of Church discipline, 309-310 England better than her neighbours, 311 Good influences in the later part of the century, 311-2
CHAPTER IX.
THE EVANGELICAL REVIVAL.
(_J.H. Overton._)
(1.) THE METHODIST MOVEMENT.
Strength and weakness of the Church in the middle of the eighteenth century, 313 Propriety of the term 'Evangelical Revival', 314 Contrast between Puritans and Evangelicals, 315 William Law, 316 John Wesley, 316-336 George Whitefield, 337-340 Charles Wesley, 340-3 Fletcher of Madeley, 343-6 Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, 347-354 Other Methodist worthies, 355
(2.) THE CALVINISTIC CONTROVERSY.
Feebleness and unprofitableness of the controversy, 356 The disputes between Wesley and Whitefield, 357-8 Minutes of the Conference of 1770, 358-360 The 'Circular printed Letter', 360 Conference of 1771, 361 Controversy breaks out afresh in 1772, 362 Fletcher's checks to Antinomianism, 363-5 Toplady's writings, 365
(3.) THE EVANGELISTS.
James Hervey, 366-370 Grimshaw of Haworth, 370-1 Berridge of Everton, 371-2 William Romaine, 372-4 Henry Venn, 374-7 Evangelicalism and Methodism contemporaneous, 377-8 John Newton, 378-381 William Cowper, 381-3 Thomas Scott, 384-8 Richard Cecil, 388 Joseph Milner, 388-392 Isaac Milner, 392-3 Robinson of Leicester, 393-4 Bishop Porteus, 394 'The Clapham Sect', 394 John and Henry Thornton, 395 William Wilberforce, 395-8 Lords Dartmouth and Teignmouth, 398 Dr. Johnson, 398-9 Hannah More, 399-402 Strength and weakness of the Evangelical leaders, 402-3
CHAPTER X.
CHURCH FABRICS AND SERVICES.
(_C.J. Abbey._)
The 'Georgian Age', 403 General sameness in the externals of worship, 404 Church architecture, 405 Vandalisms, 407 Whitewash, 408 Repairs of churches, 409 Church naves; relics of medi?val usage, 411 Pews and galleries, 411 Other adjuncts of eighteenth century churches, 414 Chancels and their ornaments, 416 Paintings in churches, 419 Stained glass, 423 Church bells, 425 Churchyards, 427 Church building, 428 Daily services, 429 Wednesday and Friday services; Saints' days; Lent; Passion Week; Christmas Day, &c., 432 Wakes; Perambulations, 436 State services, 437 Church attendance, 439 Irreverence in church, 441 Variety of ceremonial, 444 The