George Benson (theologian)
Encyclopedia
George Benson was an English Presbyterian minister and theologian. According to Alexander Balloch Grosart
, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
, his views were "Socinian" though at this period the term is often confused with Arian
.
, Cumberland
, on 1 September 1699. Towards the close of Elizabeth's reign Dr. Benson's great-grandfather, John Benson, left London and settled in Cumberland. This John Benson had thirteen sons, from the eldest of whom Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley
descended. During the English Civil War the youngest of these sons, George Benson, Dr. Benson's grandfather, took the side of the parliament; he had the living of Bridekirk
in his native county, and was ejected in 1662. His grandson George received a classical education and proceeded to an academy presided over by Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven
. He remained at this academy about a year, and then went to the University of Glasgow
.
About the year 1721 he is found in London, and, approved by several presbyterian ministers, he began to preach, first at Chertsey
and then in the metropolis. At this time Edmund Calamy
received him into his own family. At the recommendation of Calamy he next went to Abingdon in Berkshire
. He was chosen pastor of a congregation of Protestant dissenters there. He was ordained on 27 March 1723, Calamy and five other ministers officiating on the occasion. He continued in Abingdon for seven years. When ordained he held strictly Calvinist opinions and preached them fervently.
In 1726 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hills, widow. In 1729 he left Abingdon, having changed to Arminian views which were generally disapproved of by his congregation. He rmoved to London, after hesitating whether to take up medicine himself, having accepted an invitation to become pastor of a congregation in King John's Court, Southwark
. Here he remained eleven years. Having lost his first wife in 1740, Benson was remarried in 1742 to Mrs. Mary Kettle, daughter of William Kettle of Birmingham
. By neither wife had he any family. About this time he was invited to become joint pastor with Samuel Bourn of the presbyterian congregation, Birmingham.
In 1744 the University of Aberdeen
conferred on Benson the degree of D.D. The university of Glasgow had also intended the same honour for him, but one of the professors ‘spoke of him with abhorrence as an avowed Socinian’ (Biog. Britannica). In 1749 Benson was translated to a congregation of Protestant dissenters in Poor Jewry Lane, Crutchedfriars, as successor to Dr. William Harris. Here he continued until his death. He had acted for some years as assistant to Dr. Nathaniel Lardner.
Benson was in familiar intercourse with leading contemporaries, from Lord Chancellor Peter King
to Edmund Law
, bishop of Carlisle. Benson had hardly retired from the ministry when he died on 6 April 1762 in the sixty-third year of his age.
Having completed his plan of paraphrases and notes on these epistles of St. Paul, he proceeded similarly to explain the Seven Catholic Epistles. These were successively published separately between 1738 and 1749, all having extended dissertations on particular points. The Pauline Epistles were collected into one volume in 1752, and in 1756 the Seven Catholic Epistles, with useful indices.
During the nineteen years occupied by these ‘Paraphrases’ he prepared and published a number of other works. In 1738 appeared his ‘History of the First Planting of the Christian Religion, taken from the Acts of the Apostles and their Epistles. Together with the remarkable facts of the Jewish and Roman History which affected the Christians during this Period’ (3 vols.). This learned book reached a second edition in 1756. Later writers are indebted to it. His ‘Paraphrases’ found favour in Germany, where Michaelis translated them. and Holland.
in his ‘View of the Deistical Writers’ (i. 146, 5th ed.) characterises it as ‘not merely an answer to that pamphlet, but a good defence of christianity in general.’ A second edition appeared in 1746, and a third, much enlarged, in 1759.
In 1744 he published ‘A Summary View of the Evidences of Christ's Resurrection,’ in answer to ‘The Resurrection of Jesus considered by a Moral Philosopher.’ Besides editing two works of others he, in 1747, published a volume of sermons. In 1748 he collected a number of his ‘Occasional Tracts’ on various theologico-critical and historical points. They reached a second edition in 1753. One of these tracts, giving a severe account of John Calvin
's conduct towards Servetus, gave considerable offence.
His ‘History of the Life of Christ’ was published posthumously in 1764. His fellow dissenter Hugh Farmer
took issue with Benson's defence of the Temptations of Christ as literal, the work of of a literal devil.
Alexander Balloch Grosart
Alexander Balloch Grosart was a Scottish clergyman and literary editor. He is chiefly remembered for reprinting much rare Elizabethan literature, a work which he undertook because of his interest in Puritan theology.-Life:...
, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
, his views were "Socinian" though at this period the term is often confused with Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
.
Life
He was born at Great SalkeldGreat Salkeld
Great Salkeld is a small village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England, a few miles to the north east of Penrith.The village is believed to have been connected at one time by a bridge over the River Eden to Little Salkeld...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, on 1 September 1699. Towards the close of Elizabeth's reign Dr. Benson's great-grandfather, John Benson, left London and settled in Cumberland. This John Benson had thirteen sons, from the eldest of whom Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley
Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley
Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley, PC was an English politician of the 18th century.-Life:Robert Benson was born in Wakefield. He went to school in London before studying at Christ's College, Cambridge...
descended. During the English Civil War the youngest of these sons, George Benson, Dr. Benson's grandfather, took the side of the parliament; he had the living of Bridekirk
Bridekirk
Bridekirk is a village near Cockermouth in West Cumbria. It contains no shops but is does contain a small church.-Church: St. Bridgets:Bridekirk is named after its cruciform church, reconstructed in the late 1860s. Surviving are the remains of a ruined chancel with 16th-century east and south...
in his native county, and was ejected in 1662. His grandson George received a classical education and proceeded to an academy presided over by Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
. He remained at this academy about a year, and then went to the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
About the year 1721 he is found in London, and, approved by several presbyterian ministers, he began to preach, first at Chertsey
Chertsey
Chertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
and then in the metropolis. At this time Edmund Calamy
Edmund Calamy (historian)
Edmund Calamy was an English Nonconformist churchman, divine and historian.-Life:A grandson of Edmund Calamy the Elder, he was born in the City of London, in the parish of St Mary Aldermanbury. He was sent to various schools, including Merchant Taylors', and in 1688 proceeded to the university of...
received him into his own family. At the recommendation of Calamy he next went to Abingdon in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He was chosen pastor of a congregation of Protestant dissenters there. He was ordained on 27 March 1723, Calamy and five other ministers officiating on the occasion. He continued in Abingdon for seven years. When ordained he held strictly Calvinist opinions and preached them fervently.
In 1726 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hills, widow. In 1729 he left Abingdon, having changed to Arminian views which were generally disapproved of by his congregation. He rmoved to London, after hesitating whether to take up medicine himself, having accepted an invitation to become pastor of a congregation in King John's Court, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. Here he remained eleven years. Having lost his first wife in 1740, Benson was remarried in 1742 to Mrs. Mary Kettle, daughter of William Kettle of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. By neither wife had he any family. About this time he was invited to become joint pastor with Samuel Bourn of the presbyterian congregation, Birmingham.
In 1744 the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
conferred on Benson the degree of D.D. The university of Glasgow had also intended the same honour for him, but one of the professors ‘spoke of him with abhorrence as an avowed Socinian’ (Biog. Britannica). In 1749 Benson was translated to a congregation of Protestant dissenters in Poor Jewry Lane, Crutchedfriars, as successor to Dr. William Harris. Here he continued until his death. He had acted for some years as assistant to Dr. Nathaniel Lardner.
Benson was in familiar intercourse with leading contemporaries, from Lord Chancellor Peter King
Peter King, 1st Baron King
Peter King, 1st Baron King PC, FRS was an English lawyer and politician, who became lord chancellor of England.-Life:He was born in Exeter in 1669....
to Edmund Law
Edmund Law
Edmund Law was a priest in the Church of England. He served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, as Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy in the University of Cambridge from 1764 to 1769, and as bishop of Carlisle from 1768 to 1787....
, bishop of Carlisle. Benson had hardly retired from the ministry when he died on 6 April 1762 in the sixty-third year of his age.
Works
While at Abingdon he published three ‘Practical Discourses’ addressed to ‘young persons.’ These later he suppressed, in consequence of his change of views.Paraphrases
In 1731 he published ‘A Paraphrase and Notes on St. Paul's Epistle to Philemon. Attempted in imitation of Mr. Locke's manner. With an Appendix in which is shewn that St. Paul could neither be an enthusiast nor an impostor; and consequently the christian religion must be (as he has represented it) heavenly and divine.’ The appendix suggested Lord Lyttleton's more famous treatise. This work having been well received, its author pursued his design, and in the same year published his ‘Paraphrase and Notes on Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians.’ This was succeeded in 1732 by a like ‘Paraphrase’ on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians. To this were annexed two dissertations: (1) Concerning the Kingdom of God; (2) Concerning the Man of Sin. In 1733 there appeared his notes on the ‘First Epistle to Timothy,’ with an appendix on inspiration. In the same year appeared his ‘Paraphrase and Notes upon Titus,’ accompanied with an essay concerning the abolition of the ceremonial law. In 1734 there followed observations upon the ‘Second Epistle to Timothy,’ with an essay in two parts: (1) Concerning the Settlement of the Primitive Church; (2) Concerning the Religious Worship of the Christians whilst the Spiritual Gifts continued.Having completed his plan of paraphrases and notes on these epistles of St. Paul, he proceeded similarly to explain the Seven Catholic Epistles. These were successively published separately between 1738 and 1749, all having extended dissertations on particular points. The Pauline Epistles were collected into one volume in 1752, and in 1756 the Seven Catholic Epistles, with useful indices.
During the nineteen years occupied by these ‘Paraphrases’ he prepared and published a number of other works. In 1738 appeared his ‘History of the First Planting of the Christian Religion, taken from the Acts of the Apostles and their Epistles. Together with the remarkable facts of the Jewish and Roman History which affected the Christians during this Period’ (3 vols.). This learned book reached a second edition in 1756. Later writers are indebted to it. His ‘Paraphrases’ found favour in Germany, where Michaelis translated them. and Holland.
Other works
In 1743 he published ‘The Reasonableness of the Christian Religion as delivered in the Scriptures.’ This was originally meant as an answer to ‘Christianity not founded on Argument,’ but its scope widened, and John LelandJohn Leland (Presbyterian)
John Leland was an English Presbyterian minister and author of theological works.Leland was born in Wigan, Lancashire on October 18, 1691. He was educated in Dublin, Ireland , and went into the ministry there. He received his Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Aberdeen in 1739. His...
in his ‘View of the Deistical Writers’ (i. 146, 5th ed.) characterises it as ‘not merely an answer to that pamphlet, but a good defence of christianity in general.’ A second edition appeared in 1746, and a third, much enlarged, in 1759.
In 1744 he published ‘A Summary View of the Evidences of Christ's Resurrection,’ in answer to ‘The Resurrection of Jesus considered by a Moral Philosopher.’ Besides editing two works of others he, in 1747, published a volume of sermons. In 1748 he collected a number of his ‘Occasional Tracts’ on various theologico-critical and historical points. They reached a second edition in 1753. One of these tracts, giving a severe account of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
's conduct towards Servetus, gave considerable offence.
His ‘History of the Life of Christ’ was published posthumously in 1764. His fellow dissenter Hugh Farmer
Hugh Farmer
Hugh Farmer was an English Dissenter and theologian.He was educated at the Dissenting Academy in Northampton under Philip Doddridge, and became pastor of a congregation at Walthamstow, Essex. In 1701 he became preacher and one of the Tuesday lecturers at Salters' Hall, London...
took issue with Benson's defence of the Temptations of Christ as literal, the work of of a literal devil.