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

On how Francis White - who would be a strong supporter of the ecclesiastical policies of the Personal Rule - denied that "personal succession of bishops" was an "essential mark" of the Church. laudablepractice.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-...

laudablepractice.blogspot.com

'The Church is named apostolical not because of personal succession of bishops': Francis White, Laud, and the historic succession

In early 1623, Francis White was one of the Church of England divines who took part in a disputation , ordered by James I/VI, with Fisher th...

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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

"... concerninge that faith hope and charitie without which there can be no salvation; was there ever any mention made save only in that lawe which God him selfe hath from heaven revealed? ... Lawes therefore concerning these thinges are supernaturall" LEP I.11.6

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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

"the variety of theological trajectories existing in tension at the beginning of the fourth century", with the dispute leading to innovations in terminology.

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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

that Cyprian, albeit "in a wrong cause", provides us with a better example than Stephen's "zeal and indiscretion": "piety and charity is to be preferred before a true opinion".

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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

some all descendeth to the eldest sonne ... there is probable reason why either of them may be expedient, and for eyther of them more then probable reason there is not to be found." LEP I.10.10

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

"As for lawes which are meerly humane, the matter of them is any thing which reason doth but probablie teach to be fit and covenient ... One example whereof may be this. Landes are by humaine law in some places after the owners decease divided unto al his children, in 1/2

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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

"... the great inheritance of the British Enlightenment" "Our Declaration of Rights of 1689 was ... the foundation of our constitutional Monarchy" The King rebuking the neo-Jacobite, anti-Enlightenment postliberals ...

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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

effectually to binde us then if our selves had done it in person." LEP I.10.8

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

"As in parliaments, councels, and the like assemblies, although we be not personallie our selves present, notwithstanding our assent is by reason of others agents there in our behalf. And what we do by others, no reason but that it should stand as our deed, no lesse 1/2

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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

deliberate advice, consultation, and composition betwene men, judging it convenient and behoofull ..." LEP I.10.4

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

"Howbeit not this [i.e. monarchy] the only kind of regiment that hath bene received in the world. The inconveniences of one kinde have caused sundry others to be devised. So that in a word all publike regiment of what kind soever seemeth evidently to have risen from the 1/2

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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

to remove, is penurie and want of things without which we cannot live." LEP V.10.2

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

"True it is that the kingdome of God must be the first thing in our purposes and desires. But as in as much as righteous life presupposeth life, in as much as to live virtuously it is impossible except we live, therefore the first impediment, which naturally we endevor to 1/2

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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

"All men desire to leade in this world an happie life. That life is led most happily, wherein all virtue is exercised without impediment or let ... For this cause God first assigned Adam maintenance of life, and then appointed him a law to observe." LEP I.10.2

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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

"Two foundations there are which beare up publique societies, the one, a naturall inclination, wherby all men desire sociable life and fellowship, the other an order expresly or secretly agreed upon, touching the manner of their union in living together." LEP I.10.1

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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

"Now the due observation of this lawe which reason teacheth us, cannot but be effectuall unto their great good that observe the same ... Good doth follow unto all things, by observing the course of their nature" LEP I.9.1

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

Peter Lake's 600 page 'On Laudianism' has convinced me - there was no such thing as 'Laudianism'. The unwieldy coalition supporting the ecclesiastical policies of the Personal Rule was not centred on or defined by Laud. laudablepractice.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

laudablepractice.blogspot.com

The Caroline coalition of the Personal Rule; or, why there was no such thing as 'Laudianism'

In a number of posts on Peter Lake's On Laudianism: Piety, Polemic and Politics During the Personal Rule of Charles I (2023), I have been d...

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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

alotted to it, without perpetuall aid and concurrence of that supreme cause of all things." LEP I.8.11

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

"For whatsoever we have hitherto taught, or shall hereafter, concerning the force of mans naturall understanding, this we always desire withall to be understood, that there is no kind of faculty or power in man or any other creature, which can rightly performe the functions 1/2

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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

perhaps at the first amongst few, afterwards spreading into greater multitude, and so continuing from time to time, may be of force even in plaine things to smother the light of naturall understanding ..." LEP I.8.11

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

"If then it be heere demaunded, by what meanes it should come to passe ... that so many thousands of men notwithstanding have bene ignorant even of principall moral duties, not imagining the breach of them to be sinne: I denie not but lewde and wicked custome, beginning 1/2

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

"yet do we not therfore so far extend the law of reason, as to conteine in it all maner lawes whereunto reasonable creatures are bound, but...we restraine it to those only duties, which all men by force of naturall wit either do or might understand to be such duties as concerne all men." LEP I.8.10

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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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