Giles Firmin
Encyclopedia
Giles Firmin was an English minister and physician, deacon
in the first church in Massachusetts
of John Cotton
, and ejected minister in 1662.
. As a schoolboy he was impressed by the preaching of John Rogers
at Dedham, Essex
. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, in December 1629, his tutor being Thomas Hill
. At Cambridge he studied medicine.
In 1632 he went with his father to New England. While at Boston, Massachusetts, he was ordained deacon of the first church, of which John Cotton was minister. At Ipswich, Massachusetts
, he received in 1638 a grant of 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land. He practised medicine in New England, and was reputed a good anatomist. He married there Susanna, daughter of Nathaniel Ward
, pastor of the church at Ipswich.
About 1647 he returned to England, leaving wife and family in America; on the way he was shipwrecked on the coast of Spain. In 1648 Firmin was appointed to the vicarage of Shalford, Essex
, which had been vacant a year since the removal of Ralph Hilles to Pattiswick
. At Shalford he was ordained a presbyter by Stephen Marshall
and others.
A royalist in principle, he prayed for the afflicted royal family. He got into controversy on points of discipline. He was a strong advocate for the parochial system, insisted on imposition of hands as requisite for the validity of ordination, and denied the right of parents who would not submit to discipline to claim baptism for their children. With Richard Baxter
he opened a correspondence in 1654, complaining to him about separatists. The Quakers also troubled his parish. In church politics he followed Baxter, preferring a reformed episcopacy to either the presbyterial or the congregational model, but laying most stress on the need of a well-ordered parish. He actively promoted in 1657 the "agreement of the associated ministers of Essex" on Baxter's Worcestershire
model.
After the Restoration
he wrote to Baxter (14 November 1660) that he is most troubled about forms of prayer; these, he says, "will not downe in our parts." He is ready to submit to bishops,"so they will not force me to owne their power as being of divine authoritie," and adds, "some episcopacies I owne." In spite of the persuasive efforts of his seven children he refused to conform. As the result of his ejection (1662), Shalford Church was closed for some months.
Firmin retired to Ridgewell
, Essex, perhaps on the passing of the Five Mile Act (1665). He supported himself by medical practice; the neighbouring justices took care that he should not be molested, though he regularly held conventicles. Once a month, when there was a sermon at Ridgewell Church he attended. On 22 July 1672 Daniel Ray, who had been ejected from Ridgewell, took out licenses qualifying him to use his house as a presbyterian meeting-place. Firmin on 1 December took out similar licenses. Ray moved away in 1673, and Firmin remained till his death in sole charge of the congregation.
Firmin retained robust health as an octogenarian, and took part in polemics. He had disagreed with Baxter in 1670, and in 1693 he entered the controversy over the reprinted works of Tobias Crisp
. He was taken ill on a Sunday night after preaching, and died on the following Saturday, in April 1697.
He wrote also in defence of some of the above, and in opposition to John Owen
, Daniel Cawdry
, Thomas Grantham, and others.
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the first church in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
of John Cotton
John Cotton
John Cotton was an English clergyman and colonist. He was a principal figure among the New England Puritan ministers, who also included Thomas Hooker, Increase Mather , John Davenport, and Thomas Shepard and John Norton, who wrote his first biography...
, and ejected minister in 1662.
Life
The son of Giles Firmin, he was born at IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. As a schoolboy he was impressed by the preaching of John Rogers
John Rogers (c.1570–1636)
John Rogers , sometimes referred to as "Roaring" John Rogers, for his fiery preaching style, was a well-known English Puritan clergyman and preacher.-Life:...
at Dedham, Essex
Dedham, Essex
Dedham is a village within the borough of Colchester in northeast Essex, England, situated on the River Stour and on the border of Essex and Suffolk...
. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, in December 1629, his tutor being Thomas Hill
Thomas Hill (Cambridge)
Thomas Hill was an English Puritan divine. Born at Kington, Herefordshire, he took a B.A. in 1622 at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, an M.A. in 1626, a B.D. in 1633 and a D.D. in 1646....
. At Cambridge he studied medicine.
In 1632 he went with his father to New England. While at Boston, Massachusetts, he was ordained deacon of the first church, of which John Cotton was minister. At Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
, he received in 1638 a grant of 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) of land. He practised medicine in New England, and was reputed a good anatomist. He married there Susanna, daughter of Nathaniel Ward
Nathaniel Ward
Nathaniel Ward was a Puritan clergyman and pamphleteer in England and Massachusetts. He wrote the first constitution in North America in 1641....
, pastor of the church at Ipswich.
About 1647 he returned to England, leaving wife and family in America; on the way he was shipwrecked on the coast of Spain. In 1648 Firmin was appointed to the vicarage of Shalford, Essex
Shalford, Essex
Shalford is a small village in the English county of Essex. It is about four miles north of Braintree on the B1057 road.The village has a primary school, a village hall, a 14th century pub . At the southern end of the village is Stoneley Park, made in 1997 from an infilled sand pit and where many...
, which had been vacant a year since the removal of Ralph Hilles to Pattiswick
Pattiswick
Pattiswick is a village near the A120 road, in the Braintree District, in the English county of Essex.- References :*Essex A-Z...
. At Shalford he was ordained a presbyter by Stephen Marshall
Stephen Marshall
Stephen Marshall was an English Nonconformist churchman.His sermons, especially that on the death of John Pym in 1643, reveal eloquence and fervour...
and others.
A royalist in principle, he prayed for the afflicted royal family. He got into controversy on points of discipline. He was a strong advocate for the parochial system, insisted on imposition of hands as requisite for the validity of ordination, and denied the right of parents who would not submit to discipline to claim baptism for their children. With Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
he opened a correspondence in 1654, complaining to him about separatists. The Quakers also troubled his parish. In church politics he followed Baxter, preferring a reformed episcopacy to either the presbyterial or the congregational model, but laying most stress on the need of a well-ordered parish. He actively promoted in 1657 the "agreement of the associated ministers of Essex" on Baxter's Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
model.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he wrote to Baxter (14 November 1660) that he is most troubled about forms of prayer; these, he says, "will not downe in our parts." He is ready to submit to bishops,"so they will not force me to owne their power as being of divine authoritie," and adds, "some episcopacies I owne." In spite of the persuasive efforts of his seven children he refused to conform. As the result of his ejection (1662), Shalford Church was closed for some months.
Firmin retired to Ridgewell
Ridgewell
Ridgewell is a village and civil parish in the Braintree district of Essex, England, about six miles from Haverhill on the main road between Haverhill and Braintree....
, Essex, perhaps on the passing of the Five Mile Act (1665). He supported himself by medical practice; the neighbouring justices took care that he should not be molested, though he regularly held conventicles. Once a month, when there was a sermon at Ridgewell Church he attended. On 22 July 1672 Daniel Ray, who had been ejected from Ridgewell, took out licenses qualifying him to use his house as a presbyterian meeting-place. Firmin on 1 December took out similar licenses. Ray moved away in 1673, and Firmin remained till his death in sole charge of the congregation.
Firmin retained robust health as an octogenarian, and took part in polemics. He had disagreed with Baxter in 1670, and in 1693 he entered the controversy over the reprinted works of Tobias Crisp
Tobias Crisp
Tobias Crisp D.D. was an English clergyman and reputed antinomian. In the end he proved a divisive figure for English Calvinists, with a serious controversy arising from the republication of his works in the 1690s.-Life:...
. He was taken ill on a Sunday night after preaching, and died on the following Saturday, in April 1697.
Works
His works include:- A Serious Question Stated, &c., 1651 (on infant baptism).
- Separation Examined, &c., 1651 [i.e. 15 March 1652].
- Stablishing against Shaking, &c., 1656, 4to (against the quakers; the running title is Stablishing against Quaking; answered by Edward BurroughEdward BurroughEdward Burrough was an early English Quaker leader and controversialist. He is regarded as one of the Valiant Sixty, early Quaker preachers and missionaries....
. - Tythes Vindicated, &c., 1659.
- Presbyterial Ordination Vindicated, &c., 1660.
- The Liturgical Considerator Considered, &c., 1661, (anon., in answer to John GaudenJohn GaudenJohn Gauden was an English bishop of Exeter then bishop of Worcester and writer, and the reputed author of the important Royalist work Eikon Basilike.-Life:...
). - The Real Christian, &c., 1670, (in this he criticises Baxter).
- The Question between the Conformist and the Nonconformist, &c., 1681.
- Πανουργία, &c., 1693 (against Richard Davis and the works of Tobias Crisp).
- Some Remarks upon the Anabaptist's Answer to the Athenian Mercuries, &c. (1694), (apparently his last piece).
He wrote also in defence of some of the above, and in opposition to John Owen
John Owen (theologian)
John Owen was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford.-Early life:...
, Daniel Cawdry
Daniel Cawdry
Daniel Cawdry was an English clergyman, member of the Westminster Assembly, and ejected minister of 1662.-Life:He was the youngest son of Robert Cawdry, and was educated at Sidney Sussex College and Peterhouse, Cambridge. From about 1617 to 1625 he was rector of Little Ilford...
, Thomas Grantham, and others.