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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.30 - this, I think, is the heart of Taylor's view of the Nicene Creed. Acceptance of its truth, scepticism about Nicene arguments, dislike of the anathema, acknowledgement that this creed preserves peace:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.27 - Taylor here walking a fine line between affirming the Nicene Creed (as "an explication" of the Apostles' Creed) and echoing a Remonstrant preference for "original simplicity":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.26 - Taylor (again echoed in much current writing on the controversy) sees in Constantine's rebuke of both Alexander and Arius the latitude of the pre-Nicene consensus:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.26 - Taylor's account of the controversy between Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and Arius reads like many recent accounts of the controversy, seeing no settled orthodoxy but what Lewis Ayres calls 1/2

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Faith concerning the Sacrament in this manner: God forbid wee should denie, that the flesh and bloud of Christ are truly present, and truly receiued of the faithfull at the Lords Table: it is the Doctrine wee teach others, and comfort our selues with".

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Francis White (Dean of Carlisle, consecrated bishop 1626) in a 1623 debate with Fisher the Jesuit: "The more learned Iesuites themselues, acknowledge, That Protestants beleeue the reall Presence of Christs Bodie and Blood, in the holy Eucharist; and our Diuines deliuer their 1/2

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.25 - Taylor turns to discussion of the Nicene Creed. Here, I think, is a favourable reference to Grotius and Remonstrant divines who were questioning the necessity of the Nicene defintion:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.22-23 - discussing the conflict between Cyprian of Carthage and Stephen of Rome over the former re-baptising heretics, Taylor (perhaps surprisingly) suggests the matter was not an article of faith and 1/2

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.19 - on how the accusations of heresy against the Quartodecimans, who observed their Easter "modestly, quietly, and without faction", was another patristic example of misusing the term 'heresy':

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.17-19 - Taylor criticises the patristic era for using "opinions less necessary" as grounds for accusations of 'heresy'. It is worth noting that recent studies of early Christianity echo Taylor on this.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

"Chillingworth and Falkland [of the Great Tew Circle] found the writings of the Socinians extremely useful ... In 1646 Henry Hammond [the Episcopalian divine] praised Chillingworth's skill in taking 'balsome' from the Socinian Johannes Volkelius" (p.67f).

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.12 - one "may doubt lawfully" a "system of theology". Questioning such a "system" is not a basis for an accusation of heresy:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

King George VI with FDR, after attending divine service at St. James Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, New York, in 1939. And Queen Elizabeth II attending divine service in Old North Church, Boston, in 1976.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

On the 27th day of the month at Evening Prayer, Psalm 131: "I do not exercise myself in great matters : which are too high for me". From Jeremy Taylor's prayer accompanying this psalm, "our affections weaned from great opinions and love of our selves":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.12 - the term 'heresy' should be deployed very sparingly, for "in some things or other" we all "may be easily deceived":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia, built 1732-35. It is described as "the most finely crafted and best preserved parish church from colonial Virginia". Divine service is still offered in the church on Sundays in Summer.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) II.1 - on how the term 'heresy' in Scripture is used for "great errors practical ... such whose doctrines taught impiety", rather than theological error in itself:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.12 - more than a hint of the 'Shakespeare of divines' in this passage, on how adding to the articles of Faith in the Apostles' Creed would require "infallible judgment, and an infallible prudence":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.12 - how adding new articles of faith contradicts "the charity of the church". Interestingly, Taylor in a footnote references the French conciliarist Jacques Almain (d. 1515) who influenced Gallicanism.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Definitely recommended for anyone interested in contemporary Islam. A fantastic study of the significant diversities of modern Islamic thought. Of particular note, "scepticism towards the Islamist project is shared by contemporary Muslims of various ideological persuasions" (p.275).

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.12 - churches can make additions that are deductions from the Apostles' Creed, but these cannot be "necessary to be believed" nor do they bind those of another communion:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.11 - to go beyond the Apostles' Creed in declaring what is necessary for salvation is to go beyond apostolic authority, Scripture, and reason:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Mid-April at The Middle Church, in the heart of Jeremy Taylor country.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.8 - in his discussion of the sufficiency of the Apostles' Creed, Taylor qualifies the descent into hell clause, reflecting (as throughout his works) the hesitation of the Reformed view on this clause:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

From Facebook, the Church of the Incarnation, Manhattan, Second Sunday of Easter. Morning Prayer Rite 1 is the main service on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. (I worshipped here in the Summer of 2008. From memory, it was then surplice and stole at Holy Communion.)

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.7 - the sufficiency of the Apostles' Creed means that it is not to be regarded as "general principles, in the bosom of which many more articles" necessary to salvation are found:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.7 - introducing his central contention, that the Apostles' Creed contains that which is sufficient for salvation:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.6 - that which can be deduced from the core saving articles of the Christian faith is not to be deemed necessary to salvation:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) I.2 - outside of "the foundation of faith", "it is not necessary, concerning many things, to know that God hath revealed them":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Communion Cups from the Walloon Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral, 1632. Protestants from Wallonia fleeing persecution were granted refuge by Elizabeth I. The Chapel was in the crypt of the Cathedral. In 1634 the community had 900 communicants.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Why I like Saint Matthew's account of the Resurrection: 1. Proclaiming the Resurrection *is* an earthquake. 2. The impish character of the angel sitting on the stone. 3. We go back to Galilee, where it all started. 4. This is the first gospel written #MattheanPriority.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

"Here therefore are the great Hinges of all Religion: 1. Christ is already risen from the dead. 2. We also shall rise in God's time and our order. Christ is the first fruits. But there shall be a full harvest of the Resurrection, and all shall rise." Jeremy Taylor

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Jeremy Taylor, in 'The Great Exemplar', on 'he descended into hell': "Our blessed Lord 'descended into hell', saith the creed of the apostles, from the sermon of St. Peter, as he from the words of David, that is, that state of separation and common receptacle of spirits, 1/2

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Jeremy Taylor opening his Passion meditation - in 'The Great Exemplar' (1649) - with a reference to Origen is not without significance. It points to what Sarah Hutton has termed "an Origenist moment in English theology” in the 1650s, particularly amongst the Cambridge Platonists.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Jeremy Taylor, in 'The Great Exemplar', on the nakedness and shame of the Crucified:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Jeremy Taylor, in 'The Great Exemplar', on the institution of the Lord's Supper - on the fitting character of the symbols of Bread and Wine:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

In LEP I.8.7 Hooker, on the duties of the first and great Commandment, alongside Deuteronomy and Matthew, quotes Plato and Aristotle:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - on viewing diversities of opinions as "not to kindle strife, but to warm our affections":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

From Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - on how it is natural for there to be a diversity of theological opinions within Christianity:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

The concluding words of the Prayer Book Gospel reading for the Monday before Easter: we are called with Peter to have "a broken and a contrite heart" as the Passion of the Lord is proclaimed throughout this week.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

From the Epistle Dedicatory of Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - on how a wise modesty in theological claims contrasts with a loud, triumphant ignorance:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Jeremy Taylor, in 'The Great Exemplar', on Palm Sunday: the reception of Christ by His disciples on this day is "expressive of all our duties".

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

From the Epistle Dedicatory of Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - quoting Augustine, Taylor chooses cautious, prudent ignorance over false knowledge:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

From the Epistle Dedicatory of Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - on the need for a wise, prudent agnosticism about theological issues which lack "clearest revelation":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Jeremy Taylor on the Annunciation: "Many times God is present in the still voice and private retirements of a quiet religion, and the constant spiritualities of an ordinary life; when the loud and impetuous winds, and the shining fires of more laborious and expensive 1/2

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

From the Epistle Dedicatory of Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - an early indication (nearly a decade before Unum Necessarium) of the controversy Taylor would provoke with his caution about an expansive doctrine of original sin:

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

From the Epistle Dedicatory of Jeremy Taylor's 'A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying' (1646) - on how a zeal for winning arguments between Christian traditions encourages pride, distracts from practical piety, and "destroy[s] good life":

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

"The uncommon caution of his temper likewise qualified him greatly as a reformer ... the ground which he took, was so firm, as scarce to leave any part of the foundation he laid, under the necessity of being strengthened." William Gilpin (1784) on Cranmer, martyred OTD 1556.

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laudable Practice @laudablepractice.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Hooker concludes his opening account of all things, but particularly humanity, participating "in God himselfe" by quoting two classical sources, LEP I.5.3:

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