Samuel Annesley and the Cripplegate Morning Exercises

Ivan R. Davis

Description

Before the famous preaching revivals of George Whitefield and John Wesley came a quiet "revolution" from Puritan pulpits throughout England. Here is that story.
Out of the religious and cultural turbulence following the Reformation there emerged in sixteenth-century England a "reformed" Christianity which manifested itself in the Puritan tradition. Forged in the fires of political upheaval, persecution, and opposition, the Puritan worldview was championed by its faithful preachers who labored to save souls and guide Christians in the many-times perplexing paths of holy living. This book examines the development of Protestant casuistical ministry in seventeenth-century England with a particular focus on the work of Puritan pastor, Samuel Annesley, and his casuistical efforts through the "Cripplegate Morning Exercises."

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Religion
• Christianisme
• Puritan
• Philosophy
• Samuel Annesley
• Philosophie et théologie
• Religious

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 19 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664286023
• Langue: English

Extrait

SAMUEL ANNESLEY and the CRIPPLEGATE MORNING EXERCISES
 
A Study in Seventeenth-Century Casuistical Ministry
 
 
IVAN R. DAVIS
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 Ivan R. Davis.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8603-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8604-7 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8602-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022922602
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 12/14/2022
Contents
Preface
PART I: SAMUEL ANNESLEY: FROM CRADLE TO CRIPPLEGATE
1SAMUEL ANNESLEY AND THE CRIPPLEGATE CONNECTION
“A Son Asked of God”
Cripplegate: A Useful Location
Cripplegate: Origins
Cripplegate: The Church of St Giles
Cripplegate: The Parish of St. Giles
Cripplegate: The Congregants of St. Giles
Cripplegate: The Vicars
2AN EMINENTLY USEFUL MAN
Early Conflict with the Parishioners
An Eminently Useful Man
3SAMUEL ANNESLEY AND THE CRIPPLEGATE EXERCISES
The Historical Cripplegate Morning Exercises
Annesley and the Cripplegate Exercises
Casuistic Intimations
PART II: CONSCIENCE AND THE CASUISTICAL TRADITION
4THE CASUISTICAL TRADITION
Casuistry: The Case of Conscience
The Emergence of a New Paradigm
The Necessity of a New Paradigm
Casuistry: Science Ad Casus Conscientiae
5THE ESSENTIALITY OF CONSCIENCE
The Cripplegate Consensus on Conscience
6INFLUENCE OF THE RAMUS-AMES TRADITION
PART III: ANNESLEY’S CRIPPLEGATE INSTITUTE FOR CASUISTICAL PREACHING
7ANNESLEY’S CASUISTICAL INHERITANCE
Ames and the Protestant Casuistical Divinity
Thomas Case and Other Early Influences
The Cripplegate Conference
The Cripplegate Curriculum
8ANNESLEY’S INAUGURAL SERMON ON CONSCIENCE
A Pauline Standardization of the Case of Conscience
The Topography of Conscience
A Description of Conscience
The Biblical “Heart” and “Spirit”
The Duties of Conscience
The Office of Conscience
Th e Discourse of a Practical Syllo gism
Typology of Conscience
The Sleepy Conscience
The Seared Conscience
The Erring Conscience
The Doubting Conscience
The Scrupulous Conscience
The Trembling Conscience
The Good Honest Conscience and The Good Quiet Conscience
9A WEALTH OF CASUISTICAL WISDOM
The Preacher-Casuist
A Pastoral Model of Ministry
Spiritual Service: Salvation and Sanctification
Public Preaching: A Ministry of Edification, Exhortation and Encouragement
Private Life: Holy and Conscientious Living
A Spiritual Conversation in This World
Bibliography
 
Image Attributions
Cover Image : The Puritans , Bundy, Edgar, 1862–1922, Photo credit: Gallery Oldham Collection: © Gallery Oldham. Used with permission.
Frontispiece : Figure 1 Samuel Annesley D. D. from an Original Painting in the Library, Red Cross Street, (Illustration to Calamy’s ‘Nonconformist’s Memorial, 1802). © The Trustees of the British Museum. Used with permission.
Pg. 6 : Cripplegate, City of London, 1750. Artist: Anon. © Heritage Image Partnership Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo. Photo credit: London Metropolitan Archives (City of London)/Heritage Images . Used with permission.
Pg. 23 : Figure 2 Title Page of Farewell Sermons Preached By Ejected Ministers in 1662 , 1662, English. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Used with permission.
Pg. 98: The West Prospect of the Parish Church of St. Giles, Cripplegate , Benjamin Cole, 1697–1783, British, after unknown artist, undated, Engraving. © Artokoloro / Alamy Stock Photo. Used with permission.
Pg. 99 Chancel St. Giles , Cripplegate, London, England. Engraving, 19 th century. © De Luan / Alamy Stock Photo. Used with permission.
Dedicated to Soul-Serv ant Reverend Russell Cam eron
Preface
In his article, “Casuistry in the Puritan Age,” 1 John T. McNeill provides us with a thumbnail sketch of “the extensive literature of Protestant casuistry and spiritual guidance which found circulation in the seventeenth century.” 2 In his brief survey, McNeill alludes to the writings of several prominent Puritan casuists of the era, among which include: Thomas Fuller, William Perkins, Bishop Joseph Hall, William Ames, Jeremy Taylor, and Richard Ba xter.
Towards the end of the survey, McNeill devotes an extensive paragraph to one more clergyman-casuist. He is Samuel Annesley, a “Puritan casuist of ability who deserves to be known not only as the father of Susanna Wesley but as a stalwart and scholarly leader of Nonconformit y.” 3
This study follows up on McNeill’s judgement that Samuel Annesley “ deserves to be better known ” and focuses on the discipline of casuistry to which Annesley notably applied his energies for the good of Nonconformity in the Puritan age. He indeed was “a Puritan casuist of ability” as well as a “stalwart and scholarly leader.” But in addition, having stated that Annesley deserves to be better known as a leader of Nonconformity, McNeill refers to
The Morning Exercises at Cripplegate, or Several Cases of Conscience Practically Resolved …a series of discourses given between 1661-1691 by various ministers of the London area, most of the victims of the Great Ejection of 1662. The series was largely arranged by Doctor Annesley, and the materials were edited and published by him. A good many of Annesley’s own addresses are included. His introductory discourse (on Acts 24:16) is an excellent example of the treatment of the theme of conscience by the Nonconformist divines…The collection constitutes a bulky accumulation of casuistical wisdo m…” 4
McNeill invites us to make Samuel Annesley the object of scholarly research. This small work intends to do just that, with the aim of introducing Samuel Annesley to a wider consciousness and realization of the role he played in the emerging world of seventeenth-century Protestant casuistry.
This work consists of three parts. Part I introduces Annesley and places him in the setting of St. Giles, Cripplegate, where he began his association with the Cripplegate Morning Exercises. Part II traces the historical development of Puritan casuistry and the Puritan concept of conscience. Part III considers the sermonic cast of the Cripplegate Institute with a review of select Cripplegate sermons by Annesley. It then examines the distinctive nature of Puritan casuistry and sets Annesley in the community of practitioners to which he belongs.
It is my hope that this “re-introduction” of Samuel Annesley will provide much inspiration for pastors and laity alike, in its presentation of a life lived wholeheartedly in the service of souls to the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Ivan R. Davis
 
And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15

Illustration to Calamy’s Nonconformist’s Memorial , 1802
PART I SAMUEL ANNESLEY: FROM CRADLE TO CRIPPLEGATE
The eminently useful Man, in his Genera tion, is he whose great capacity, for service, is vigoro usly, constantly, and wisely employed, to do that good which is signally profitable, in the import ance, difficulty, and extensiveness thereof, in his Day…
Daniel Williams, The Excellency of a Publick Spirit
ONE Samuel Annesley and the Cripplegate Connection
“A Son Asked of God”
LITTLE IS KNOWN TODAY OF SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY PURITAN DIVINE, DR. SAMUEL Annesley, and yet his role as spiritual guide and leader in the seventeenth-century English church, racked with political and social dilemmas, is worthy of study. We shall see that Samuel Annesley was a scholar of considerable ability, possessing ample leadership gifts, administrative abilities, and counselling skills. These he zealously used in in efforts to guide the church towards holy Biblical living, vigorously applying the tools of casuistical research to the application of moral theology in the church and the pursuit of holiness for seventeenth-century Christians who sought to identify the fine line between living “in the world but not of the world” 5
During his ministry at St. Giles, Cripplegate, Samuel Annesley cast his lot with those who were not able to conscientiously submit to the terms of the 1662 Act of Uniformity , which required English pastors to comply with the administration of prayers