Samuel Hoard was an English clergyman and controversialist in the Arminian interest. He is credited with the first worked-out attack on Calvinistic doctrine by an English churchman.

Life

He was born in London in 1599, and became either a clerk or a chorister of All Souls' College, Oxford, in 1614. He matriculated on 10 October 1617, and migrated to St Mary Hall, where he graduated B.A. 20 April 1618, and commenced M.A. in 1621.

He became chaplain to Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick

Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick

Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick was an English colonial administrator, admiral, and puritan.Rich was the eldest son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick and his wife Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, and succeeded to his father's title in 1619...

, who presented him in 1626 to the rectory of Moreton

Moreton, Essex

Moreton is a village in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located 7.2 miles east of Harlow and 3.2 miles north-west of Chipping Ongar....

, near Ongar

Ongar

Ongar can refer toin England*High Ongar, Essex*Chipping Ongar, Essex **Ongar , an ancient administrative unit**Ongar railway stationin Ireland*Ongar, Dublinin Pakistan...

, Essex. On 15 June 1630 he was admitted B.D. at Oxford. In 1637 he was collated to the prebend of Willesden

Willesden

Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...

 in the church of St Paul. He died on 15 February 1657 O.S., and was buried in the chancel of Moreton Church. Wood says he was "well read in the fathers and schoolmen, was a good disputant and preacher, a zealous Calvinist in the beginning, but a greater Arminian afterwards".

Works

His Gods Love to Mankind; manifested by disproving his absolute Decree for their Damnation provoked several answers. John Davenant

John Davenant

John Davenant was an English academic and bishop of Salisbury from 1621.-Life:He was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge, elected a fellow there in 1597, and was its President from 1614 to 1621...

 was, according to Lee Gatiss, influential in replying to the Arminian positions of Hoard and Henry Mason

Henry Mason (clergyman)

-Life:He was a younger brother of Francis Mason, archdeacon of Norfolk, and was born at Wigan, Lancashire, about 1573. He entered Brasenose College, Oxford as a servitor in 1592, and was elected Humphrey Ogle's exhibitioner on 2 November 1593. He graduated B.A. in January 1594, and M.A. in May 1603...

. Some pieces by Mason were included in Gods Love to Mankind. There was also a reply from Moïse Amyraut, and Hoard's work is referred to by Nathaniel Culverwel

Nathaniel Culverwel

Nathaniel Culverwell , alternative spellings Nathanael or Culverwell) was an English author and theologian, born in Middlesex. He was baptized on 14 January 1619 at the church of St. Margaret Moses where his father was rector...

. A posthumous work of William Twisse

William Twisse

William Twisse was a prominent English clergyman and theologian. He became Prolocutor of the Westminster Assembly, putting him at the head of the churchmen of the Commonwealth. He was described by a Scottish member, Robert Baillie, as “very good, beloved of all, and highlie esteemed; but merelie...

, with Henry Jeanes

Henry Jeanes

-Life:He was son of Christopher Jeanes of Kingston, Somerset, born at Allansay. He became in 1626 a commoner of New Inn Hall, Oxford, where, according to Anthony Wood, he was known for disputation. He graduated B.A. 3 June 1630, and proceeded M.A...

 and John Goodwin

John Goodwin (preacher)

John Goodwin was an English preacher, theologian and prolific author of significant books.-Early life:Goodwin was born in Norfolk and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. and obtained a fellowship on 10 November 1617. He left the university and married, took orders and...

, also replied explicitly.