Robert Adkins
Encyclopedia
Robert Adkins often misspelled ‘Atkins’ in the ‘Nonconformists' Memorial’, was one of the most notable of the two thousand ejected ministers of 1662.
, Somerset
shire, in 1626. His father intended to put him into business, but, discovering that his heart was set upon being a preacher of the gospel, he sent him to Oxford. He was entered of Wadham College, of which he became ultimately a fellow. He had for tutor the afterwards famous Bishop Wilkins. When Adkins ‘first appeared in the pulpit at St. Mary's, Oxford, being but young and looking younger than he was, from the smallness of his stature, the hearers despised him, expecting nothing worth hearing from “such a boy,” as they called him. But his discourse soon turned their contempt into admiration.. Cromwell appointed him one of his chaplains. But, like Richard Baxter
, he found the place unsuitable ‘by reason of the insolency of the sectaries.’
He resettled at Theydon as the successor of John Feriby and the predecessor of Francis Chandler and his
ministry here extended from 1652–3 to 1657. His health having given way, he removed to Exeter
, at the instance of Thomas Ford, then minister of Exeter Cathedral
. Here he first preached in the parish church of St. Sidwell, while the choir of the cathedral was being prepared for him. When the alterations were completed, the choir, commonly known as East Peter's Church, was capable of accommodating a vast congregation.. He was regarded as one of the best preachers in the west of England at the time. He was ejected from St. Peter's under the act of 1660, but was immediately chosen to St. John's in the same city, which was then vacant. When the Act of Uniformity
came, he was for a second time ejected from St. John's. In his farewell sermon, preached 17 August 1662, he spoke thus memorably: "Let him never be accounted a sound christian that doth not fear God and honour the king. I beg that you would not suffer our nonconformity, for which we patiently bear the loss of our places, to be an act of unpeaceableness and disloyalty. We will do anything for his majesty but sin. We will hazard anything for him but our souls. We hope we could die for him, only we dare not be damned for him. We make no question, however we may be accounted of here, we shall be found loyal and obedient subjects at our appearance before God's tribunal." He remained in Exeter after his ejection and died there on 28 March 1685, aged 59. His funeral sermon was preached by George Trosse and published in his The Sin and Danger of Popery, in six sermons (1712) and his Farewell Sermon at St. John's (1715).
Biography
He was born at ChardChard
Chard , is a leafy green vegetable often used in Mediterranean cooking. While the leaves are always green, chard stalks vary in color. Chard has been bred to have highly nutrious leaves at the expense of the root...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire, in 1626. His father intended to put him into business, but, discovering that his heart was set upon being a preacher of the gospel, he sent him to Oxford. He was entered of Wadham College, of which he became ultimately a fellow. He had for tutor the afterwards famous Bishop Wilkins. When Adkins ‘first appeared in the pulpit at St. Mary's, Oxford, being but young and looking younger than he was, from the smallness of his stature, the hearers despised him, expecting nothing worth hearing from “such a boy,” as they called him. But his discourse soon turned their contempt into admiration.. Cromwell appointed him one of his chaplains. But, like 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 found the place unsuitable ‘by reason of the insolency of the sectaries.’
He resettled at Theydon as the successor of John Feriby and the predecessor of Francis Chandler and his
ministry here extended from 1652–3 to 1657. His health having given way, he removed to Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, at the instance of Thomas Ford, then minister of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
. Here he first preached in the parish church of St. Sidwell, while the choir of the cathedral was being prepared for him. When the alterations were completed, the choir, commonly known as East Peter's Church, was capable of accommodating a vast congregation.. He was regarded as one of the best preachers in the west of England at the time. He was ejected from St. Peter's under the act of 1660, but was immediately chosen to St. John's in the same city, which was then vacant. When the Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity
Over the course of English parliamentary history there were a number of acts of uniformity. All had the basic object of establishing some sort of religious orthodoxy within the English church....
came, he was for a second time ejected from St. John's. In his farewell sermon, preached 17 August 1662, he spoke thus memorably: "Let him never be accounted a sound christian that doth not fear God and honour the king. I beg that you would not suffer our nonconformity, for which we patiently bear the loss of our places, to be an act of unpeaceableness and disloyalty. We will do anything for his majesty but sin. We will hazard anything for him but our souls. We hope we could die for him, only we dare not be damned for him. We make no question, however we may be accounted of here, we shall be found loyal and obedient subjects at our appearance before God's tribunal." He remained in Exeter after his ejection and died there on 28 March 1685, aged 59. His funeral sermon was preached by George Trosse and published in his The Sin and Danger of Popery, in six sermons (1712) and his Farewell Sermon at St. John's (1715).