John Simson
Encyclopedia
John Simson was a Scottish New Licht theologian, involved in a long investigation of alleged heresy
. He was suspended from teaching as Professor of Divinity, Glasgow
, for the rest of his life.
. He was educated at Edinburgh University where he graduated M.A. on 18 July 1692. He was then librarian at Glasgow College. On 13 July 1698 he was licensed by Paisley
presbytery.
He received instruction from Johannes Marck, professor of divinity at Leiden University
from 1689 to 1731; his brother Matthew (1673–1756), minister at Pencaitland
, Haddingtonshire, was entered at Leyden as a divinity student on 20 February 1699, and it is probable that Simson accompanied him, though he is not entered in the list of students. In poor health, he obtained no ministerial charge till 1705, when he was called to Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire
on 21 June, and ordained there on 20 Sept. In 1708 he was promoted to be professor of divinity in Glasgow University, succeeding James Wodrow, father of Robert Wodrow
. He lectured in Latin, using Marck's Medulla as his main text-book.
He was never convicted of heresy. He adopted the maxim that reason is ‘fundamentum theologiæ,’ and his aim was to make orthodoxy intelligible. For twenty years the ranks of presbyterian clergy in the west of Scotland and north of Ireland were recruited from his pupils. In 1710 Simson discussed his views at Moffat
with James Webster (1659–1720), minister of the Tolbooth church, Edinburgh. Subsequently he stated his position in correspondence with Robert Rowan (1660–1714), minister of Penningham, Wigtonshire, and with James Hog, editor of ‘The Marrow.’ Webster first publicly attacked Simson in August 1712. On 17 March 1714 he made formal charges in the Edinburgh presbytery. Through the synod of Lothian
the matter reached the General Assembly
, and Webster, acting under the assembly's order, tabled his complaint before the Glasgow presbytery in the autumn. Simson gave in his replies on 29 March 1715, and the general assembly on 8 May referred the case to a committee of thirty ministers and six elders, on 13 May. At the head of the committee was William Carstares
, who died before the end of the year. The leading theologians on it were James Hadow
, and William Hamilton, D.D., professor of divinity at Edinburgh. The gist of the accusation was that Simson had attributed too much to the "light of nature", but there were other charges, e.g. he held it probable that the moon was inhabited.
At the assembly of 1716 the ‘marrow-men’
clamoured for his suspension, but the case was deferred till the next assembly, when Webster broke out (8 May 1717) with what Wodrow calls ‘a dreadful sally.’ At the next sitting he apologised. On 14 May 1717 the assembly found that Simson had ‘vented some opinions not necessary to be taught in divinity,’ and had employed expressions ‘used by adversaries in a bad and unsound sense;’ these were prohibited for the future, but no further censure was passed. The assembly was, in fact, being offered to choose between two extremes: on the same day judgment was given against the ‘Auchterarder creed’ [see Boston, Thomas, the elder]. Preaching at the outer church, Glasgow, on 19 May, Simson gave offence by allusions to his opponents.
Eight years later his orthodoxy on the point of Christ's deity was impeached. He admitted changes in his treatment of the topic. Up to 1722 he had taken John Owen
as his model; for two years (1723–4) he had specially controverted the semi-Arian teaching of Samuel Clarke
; finding that this course had its dangers, he began in December 1725 to combat the opposite error of Sabellianism
, and was in consequence accused of going over to Samuel Clarke. He defended himself by affirming his judgment that, in the then state of Scottish theology, there was danger of Sabellianism and Socinianism
, none of Arianism
. His own account is closely confirmed by the evidence of his students. On 16 February 1726 Charles Coats, minister of Govan
, brought the matter before the Glasgow presbytery, who drew up six queries, which Simson declined to answer. Delay was caused by the state of Simson's health. Wodrow thought him ‘in a dying condition,’ and that his disorder had affected his mental health. He was unable to attend the assembly of 1726. On 18 May 1727 the assembly suspended him till the next assembly, and appointed a committee of twenty-one ministers and ten elders to co-operate with the Glasgow presbytery in preparing the case. On 16 May 1728, after receiving Simson's explanations and withdrawals, the assembly found his sentiments to be ‘sound and orthodox,’ but his teaching had been ‘subversive,’ and his explanations tardy. He was suspended till another assembly should take off the sentence; meantime the matter was to be referred to the presbyteries. Charles Owen, D.D. was present at this assembly. The action of Edinburgh University in conferring (8 November) its diploma of D.D. upon four non-subscribers, including Owen, was viewed as a protest against the suspension of Simson.
By the next assembly all the presbyteries but three or four had reported for Simson's deposition. Besides the ‘marrow-men’ a strenuous advocate for this course was Allan Logan (died 1733), minister of Culross
. Finally, the suspension from all ecclesiastical function was confirmed on 13 May 1729. Simson was to retain the emoluments of his chair, though it was ‘not fit or safe’ that he should teach divinity.
After suspension, Simson signed a student's testimonial as S.T.P. No provision was made for the duties of his chair, save that the principal, Neil Campbell, heard the discourses of bursars. Simson died on 2 February 1740. He printed nothing except the papers connected with his trials. His correspondence with Rowan was printed by Webster, Edinburgh, 1715, for presentation to the assembly.
, and was the mother of Sir John Moore
of Coruña. His sister Agnes married another John Simson, and was mother of Robert Simson
and of Thomas Simson
.
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. He was suspended from teaching as Professor of Divinity, Glasgow
Professor of Divinity, Glasgow
Professor of Divinity is an academic position at the University of Glasgow.Although divinity was taught from the foundations of the university in 1451, it was in 1577, as part of James VI's Nova Erectio, that a Chair was established, to be held by the Principal of the University of Glasgow...
, for the rest of his life.
Life
He was the eldest son of Patrick Simson (1628–1715), minister of RenfrewRenfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
. He was educated at Edinburgh University where he graduated M.A. on 18 July 1692. He was then librarian at Glasgow College. On 13 July 1698 he was licensed by Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
presbytery.
He received instruction from Johannes Marck, professor of divinity at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
from 1689 to 1731; his brother Matthew (1673–1756), minister at Pencaitland
Pencaitland
Pencaitland is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, about south-east of Edinburgh, south-west of Haddington, and east of Ormiston.The land where the village lies is said to have been granted by William the Lion to Calum Cormack in 1169, who gave the church, with the tithes and other property...
, Haddingtonshire, was entered at Leyden as a divinity student on 20 February 1699, and it is probable that Simson accompanied him, though he is not entered in the list of students. In poor health, he obtained no ministerial charge till 1705, when he was called to Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire
The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire was a county of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
on 21 June, and ordained there on 20 Sept. In 1708 he was promoted to be professor of divinity in Glasgow University, succeeding James Wodrow, father of Robert Wodrow
Robert Wodrow
Robert Wodrow , Scottish historian, was born at Glasgow, being a son of James Wodrow, professor of divinity.-Biography:Ordered as in the text above:...
. He lectured in Latin, using Marck's Medulla as his main text-book.
He was never convicted of heresy. He adopted the maxim that reason is ‘fundamentum theologiæ,’ and his aim was to make orthodoxy intelligible. For twenty years the ranks of presbyterian clergy in the west of Scotland and north of Ireland were recruited from his pupils. In 1710 Simson discussed his views at Moffat
Moffat
Moffat is a former burgh and spa town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. The most notable building in the town is the Moffat House Hotel, designed by John Adam...
with James Webster (1659–1720), minister of the Tolbooth church, Edinburgh. Subsequently he stated his position in correspondence with Robert Rowan (1660–1714), minister of Penningham, Wigtonshire, and with James Hog, editor of ‘The Marrow.’ Webster first publicly attacked Simson in August 1712. On 17 March 1714 he made formal charges in the Edinburgh presbytery. Through the synod of Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
the matter reached the General Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
, and Webster, acting under the assembly's order, tabled his complaint before the Glasgow presbytery in the autumn. Simson gave in his replies on 29 March 1715, and the general assembly on 8 May referred the case to a committee of thirty ministers and six elders, on 13 May. At the head of the committee was William Carstares
William Carstares
William Carstares , a minister of the Church of Scotland, was born at Cathcart, near Glasgow, Scotland.He was the son of the Rev John Carstares, a member of the Covenanting party of Protestors...
, who died before the end of the year. The leading theologians on it were James Hadow
James Hadow
James Hadow was Principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews from 1707 till 1747. He was the born in Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland on 13 August 1667. He died on 4 May 1747 at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.- Life :...
, and William Hamilton, D.D., professor of divinity at Edinburgh. The gist of the accusation was that Simson had attributed too much to the "light of nature", but there were other charges, e.g. he held it probable that the moon was inhabited.
At the assembly of 1716 the ‘marrow-men’
Marrow Controversy
The Marrow Controversy was a Scottish ecclesiastical dispute occasioned by the republication in 1718 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity The Marrow Controversy was a Scottish ecclesiastical dispute occasioned by the republication in 1718 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity The Marrow Controversy was a...
clamoured for his suspension, but the case was deferred till the next assembly, when Webster broke out (8 May 1717) with what Wodrow calls ‘a dreadful sally.’ At the next sitting he apologised. On 14 May 1717 the assembly found that Simson had ‘vented some opinions not necessary to be taught in divinity,’ and had employed expressions ‘used by adversaries in a bad and unsound sense;’ these were prohibited for the future, but no further censure was passed. The assembly was, in fact, being offered to choose between two extremes: on the same day judgment was given against the ‘Auchterarder creed’ [see Boston, Thomas, the elder]. Preaching at the outer church, Glasgow, on 19 May, Simson gave offence by allusions to his opponents.
Eight years later his orthodoxy on the point of Christ's deity was impeached. He admitted changes in his treatment of the topic. Up to 1722 he had taken John Owen
John Owen (theologian)
John Owen was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford.-Early life:...
as his model; for two years (1723–4) he had specially controverted the semi-Arian teaching of Samuel Clarke
Samuel Clarke
thumb|right|200px|Samuel ClarkeSamuel Clarke was an English philosopher and Anglican clergyman.-Early life and studies:...
; finding that this course had its dangers, he began in December 1725 to combat the opposite error of Sabellianism
Sabellianism
In Christianity, Sabellianism, is the nontrinitarian belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, as perceived by the believer, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself.The term Sabellianism comes from...
, and was in consequence accused of going over to Samuel Clarke. He defended himself by affirming his judgment that, in the then state of Scottish theology, there was danger of Sabellianism and Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
, none of Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
. His own account is closely confirmed by the evidence of his students. On 16 February 1726 Charles Coats, minister of Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, brought the matter before the Glasgow presbytery, who drew up six queries, which Simson declined to answer. Delay was caused by the state of Simson's health. Wodrow thought him ‘in a dying condition,’ and that his disorder had affected his mental health. He was unable to attend the assembly of 1726. On 18 May 1727 the assembly suspended him till the next assembly, and appointed a committee of twenty-one ministers and ten elders to co-operate with the Glasgow presbytery in preparing the case. On 16 May 1728, after receiving Simson's explanations and withdrawals, the assembly found his sentiments to be ‘sound and orthodox,’ but his teaching had been ‘subversive,’ and his explanations tardy. He was suspended till another assembly should take off the sentence; meantime the matter was to be referred to the presbyteries. Charles Owen, D.D. was present at this assembly. The action of Edinburgh University in conferring (8 November) its diploma of D.D. upon four non-subscribers, including Owen, was viewed as a protest against the suspension of Simson.
By the next assembly all the presbyteries but three or four had reported for Simson's deposition. Besides the ‘marrow-men’ a strenuous advocate for this course was Allan Logan (died 1733), minister of Culross
Culross
The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland.According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395...
. Finally, the suspension from all ecclesiastical function was confirmed on 13 May 1729. Simson was to retain the emoluments of his chair, though it was ‘not fit or safe’ that he should teach divinity.
After suspension, Simson signed a student's testimonial as S.T.P. No provision was made for the duties of his chair, save that the principal, Neil Campbell, heard the discourses of bursars. Simson died on 2 February 1740. He printed nothing except the papers connected with his trials. His correspondence with Rowan was printed by Webster, Edinburgh, 1715, for presentation to the assembly.
Family
His wife was a niece of John Stirling (1662–1727), principal of Glasgow College. He had a son, born 1727, and a daughter, who married (1757) John MooreJohn Moore (Scottish physician)
John Moore was a Scottish physician and writer.He was born at Stirling, the son of a clergyman. After taking his medical degree at Glasgow, he served with the army in Flanders during the Seven Years' War, then proceeded to London to continue his studies, and eventually to Paris, where he was...
, and was the mother of Sir John Moore
Sir John Moore
Sir John Moore may refer to:*Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet, British admiral *John Moore , British general...
of Coruña. His sister Agnes married another John Simson, and was mother of Robert Simson
Robert Simson
Robert Simson was a Scottish mathematician and professor of mathematics at the University of Glasgow. The pedal line of a triangle is sometimes called the "Simson line" after him.-Life:...
and of Thomas Simson
Thomas Simson
Thomas Simson was a Scottish medical academic at the University of St Andrews.-Life:He was born in 1696. He obtained the degree of MD from the University of Glasgow in 1720, and two years later, in 1722 was appointed as the first Chandos Professor of Medicine at St Salvator's College, University...
.