Thomas Emlyn
Encyclopedia
Thomas Emlyn English
nonconformist divine.
and served as chaplain to the presbyterian Letitia, countess of Donegal, and then to Sir Robert Rich
, afterwards (1691) becoming colleague to Joseph Boyse
, presbyterian minister in Dublin. From this office he was virtually dismissed on his own confession of unitarianism
, and for publishing An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ (1702) was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for blasphemy
and a fine of £1000. More than two years later (thanks to the intervention of Boyse), he was released in 1705 on payment of £90.
He is said to have been the first English preacher definitely to describe himself as "unitarian," and writes in his diary, "I thank God that He did not call me to this lot of suffering till I had arrived at maturity of judgment and firmness of resolution, arid that He did not desert me when my friends did. He never let me be so cast down as to renounce the truth or to waver in my faith." Of Christ
he writes, "We may regard with fervent gratitude so great a benefactor, but our esteem and rational love must ascend higher and not rest till it centre in his God and ours."
Emlyn preached a good deal in Paul's Alley, Barbican, in his later years, and died in London in 1741.
in 1746, 3 vols., called the ‘fourth edition,’ but this refers only to the included ‘Collection of Tracts’ (1719; 1731, 2 vols.; 1742, 2 vols.). His first publication was ‘The Suppression of Public Vice,’ Dublin, 1698, (sermon on 1 Sam. ii. 30). Among his other pieces are:
In 1823 Jared Sparks
published at Boston, U.S., a selection from Emlyn's works, with memoir. Answers to Emlyn's positions were furnished by Stephen Nye
(1715), Jacques Abbadie (1719), C. Alexander (1791), and Aaron Burr
, president of the college in New Jersey (1791), on occasion of an American edition (1790) of extracts from the ‘Humble Inquiry.’
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
nonconformist divine.
Life
Emlyn was born at Stamford, LincolnshireStamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
and served as chaplain to the presbyterian Letitia, countess of Donegal, and then to Sir Robert Rich
Robert Rich
Robert Rich may refer to:*Robert Rich , American ambient musician*Dalton Trumbo, American screenwriter and novelist, used pen name Robert Rich because of blacklisting*Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick...
, afterwards (1691) becoming colleague to Joseph Boyse
Joseph Boyse
Joseph Boyse was an English presbyterian minister in Ireland, and controversialist.-Early life:Boyse was born at Leeds, England on 14 January 1660, one of sixteen children of Matthew Boyse, a Puritan, formerly elder of the church at Rowley, New England, and afterwards a resident for about eighteen...
, presbyterian minister in Dublin. From this office he was virtually dismissed on his own confession of unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
, and for publishing An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ (1702) was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
and a fine of £1000. More than two years later (thanks to the intervention of Boyse), he was released in 1705 on payment of £90.
He is said to have been the first English preacher definitely to describe himself as "unitarian," and writes in his diary, "I thank God that He did not call me to this lot of suffering till I had arrived at maturity of judgment and firmness of resolution, arid that He did not desert me when my friends did. He never let me be so cast down as to renounce the truth or to waver in my faith." Of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
he writes, "We may regard with fervent gratitude so great a benefactor, but our esteem and rational love must ascend higher and not rest till it centre in his God and ours."
Emlyn preached a good deal in Paul's Alley, Barbican, in his later years, and died in London in 1741.
Works
Emlyn's ‘Works’ were collected by his son Sollom EmlynSollom Emlyn
-Life:Emlyn was the second son of Thomas Emlyn. He was born at Dublin, where his father was at the time settled, on 27 December 1697. He studied law, entered as a student at Leiden University 17 Sept. 1714, became a member of Lincoln's Inn, and rose to be of great reputation as a chamber counsel...
in 1746, 3 vols., called the ‘fourth edition,’ but this refers only to the included ‘Collection of Tracts’ (1719; 1731, 2 vols.; 1742, 2 vols.). His first publication was ‘The Suppression of Public Vice,’ Dublin, 1698, (sermon on 1 Sam. ii. 30). Among his other pieces are:
- ‘The Case of Mr. E—— in relation to the Difference between him and some Dissenting Ministers of the City of Dublin,’ &c., London [August] 1702, Dublin, 1703.
- ‘An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ,’ &c., Dublin, 1702 (anon.; the printer, Laurence, swore ‘he knew not whose writing it was’).
- ‘A Vindication of the Worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, on Unitarian Principles,’ &c., 1706 (anon.; written 1704).
- ‘General Remarks on Mr. Boyse's Vindication of the True Deity of our Blessed Saviour,’ &c. (written 1704; sent to England and mislaid; first printed in ‘Works’).
- ‘Remarks on Mr. Charles Leslie's First Dialogue,’ &c., 1708 (anon.; in this, anticipating Clarke, he calls himself ‘a true scriptural trinitarian;’ he wrote two other tracts against Charles Leslie in the same year).
- ‘The Previous Question to the Several Questions about … Baptism,’ &c., 1710 (anon.; answered by Grantham Killingworth and Caleb FlemingCaleb FlemingCaleb Fleming, D.D. was an English dissenting minister and polemicist.-Life:Fleming was born at Nottingham on 4 November 1698. His father was a hosier; his mother, whose maiden name was Buxton, was a daughter of the lord of the manor of Chelmerton, Derbyshire. Brought up in Calvinism, Fleming's...
). - ‘A Full Inquiry into the Original Authority of that Text, 1 John v. 7,’ &c., 1715 (the controversy with Martin lasted till 1722; each wrote three pieces).
- ‘A True Narrative of the Proceedings … against Mr. Thomas Emlyn; and of his Prosecution,’ &c., 1719 (dated September 1718); latest edition, 1829.
- ‘Sermons,’ 8vo, 1742 (with new title-page, forms vol. iii. of ‘Works’).
- ‘Memoirs of the Life and Sentiments of the Reverend Dr. Samuel Clarke’ (written 1731; first printed in ‘Works’). Also controversial tracts against Willis (1705), Sherlock (1707), Bennet (1718), Tong and others (1719), Trosse (1719), and Daniel WaterlandDaniel WaterlandDaniel Cosgrove Waterland was an English theologian.Daniel Waterland was born at Walesby Rectory, Lincolnshire, England, and educated in Lincoln and at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1703 and MA in 1706...
(1731).
In 1823 Jared Sparks
Jared Sparks
Jared Sparks was an American historian, educator, and Unitarian minister. He served as President of Harvard University from 1849 to 1853.-Biography:...
published at Boston, U.S., a selection from Emlyn's works, with memoir. Answers to Emlyn's positions were furnished by Stephen Nye
Stephen Nye
Stephen Nye was an English clergyman, known as a theological writer and for his Unitarian views.-Life:Son of John Nye, he graduated B.A. at Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1665. He became rector of Little Hormead, Hertfordshire in 1679...
(1715), Jacques Abbadie (1719), C. Alexander (1791), and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, president of the college in New Jersey (1791), on occasion of an American edition (1790) of extracts from the ‘Humble Inquiry.’