John Taylor (1694-1761)
Encyclopedia
John Taylor was an English
dissenting
preacher, Hebrew
scholar, and theologian.
, Lancashire
. His father, John was an Anglican, his mother, Susannah a dissenter. Taylor began his education for the dissenting ministry in 1709 under Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven
, where he drew up for himself a Hebrew grammar (1712). From Whitehaven he went to study under the tutor Thomas Hill, son of the ejected minister Thomas Hill, near Derby
. Leaving Hill on 25 March 1715, he took charge on 7 April of an extra-parochial chapel at Kirkstead
, Lincolnshire
, then used for nonconformist worship by the Disney family. He was ordained (11 April 1716) by dissenting ministers in Derbyshire. In 1726 he declined a call to Pudsey
, Yorkshire
.
, as colleague to Peter Finch, son of Henry Finch
.
So far Taylor had not deviated from dissenting orthodoxy, though hesitating about subscription. According to a family tradition, given by William Turner
, on settling at Norwich he went through Samuel Clarke
's Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity (1712) with his congregation, adopted its view, and came forward (1737) in defence of a dissenting layman excommunicated for heterodoxy on this topic by James Sloss (1698–1772) of Nottingham, a pupil of John Simson
. On 25 February 1754 Taylor laid the first stone of the Octagon Chapel, Norwich
, opened 12 May 1756, and described by John Wesley
(23 December 1757) as ‘perhaps the most elegant one in all Europe,’ and too fine for ‘the old coarse gospel.’ In his opening sermon, Taylor, who had received (6 April) the diploma (dated 20 January) of D.D. from the University of Glasgow
, disowned all names such as Presbyterian and the like, claiming that of Christian only; a claim attacked by a local critic, probably Grantham Killingworth, writing as a Quaker, under the name of ‘M. Adamson.’
At the end of December 1757, John Wesley was shown around the Octagon Chapel, as an invited dignitary. Wesley wrote in his diary:
, opened 20 October 1757. The appointment was a tribute to his reputation, but at the age of sixty-three the change turned out unhappily for him. He had troubles in class teaching, on doctrinal matters with John Seddon
, and was convinced that he was denied due deference. Rheumatism settled in his knees, and he could not walk without crutches. Rousing his powers, he wrote, but did not live to publish, a fervent tract on prayer
.
. A tablet to his memory is in Chowbent Chapel; another in the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, bearing a Latin inscription by Samuel Parr
.
of Hebrew, and was his unaided work. In 1751 he issued proposals for its publication, after more than thirteen years' work. The subscription list to the first volume (1754) contains the names of twenty-two English and fifteen Irish bishops, and the work is dedicated to the hierarchy. Based on Johann Buxtorf the Elder and Noldius (Christian Nolde), the concordance is arranged to serve the purposes of a Hebrew-English and English-Hebrew lexicon, and also attempt to fix the primitive meaning of Hebrew roots.
remarked (1778) that ‘he had to the last a great deal of the puritan in him.’ Orton's earlier guess (1771), adopted by Walter Wilson
, that Taylor had become a Socinian, is dismissed as groundless by Alexander Gordon
in the Dictionary of National Biography
.
Gordon in his Dictionary of National Biography article also wrote that the ethical core interested Taylor more than speculative theology. His work on original sin
(Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin, 1740, written 1735) was against the Calvinistic view of human nature, and was influential: witnessed in Scotland by Robert Burns
(Epistle to John Goudie), and in New England
, according to Jonathan Edwards. It was answered first by David Jennings
in A Vindication of the Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin (anonymous, 1740). Isaac Watts
replied to Taylor in The Ruin and Recovery of Man (1740). James Hervey
's Theron and Aspasio is partly aimed at Taylor, if not explicitly. John Wesley
's Doctrine of Original Sin (1757) is a detailed answer to Taylor, drawing on Jennings, Hervey and Watts. Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin laid a basis for the later Unitarian
movement and the American Congregationalists
.
His study of Pauline theology, partly on the lines of John Locke
, produced (1745) a ‘Key’ to the apostolic writings with an application of this ‘Key’ to the interpretation of the Epistle to the Romans
. Here, rather than in his treatise on the topic (1751), his view of atonement is clearly defined.
Posthumous works were:
He left in manuscript a paraphrase on Ephesians, and four volumes of an unfinished abridgment (1721–2) of Matthew Henry
's ‘Exposition’ of the Old Testament, of which specimens are given in the ‘Universal Theological Magazine,’ December 1804, pp. 314 sq. A selection from his works was published with title, ‘The Principles and Pursuits of an English Presbyterian,’ 1843.
. His surviving children were:
Attribution
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
dissenting
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
preacher, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
scholar, and theologian.
Early life
The son of a timber merchant at Lancaster, he was born at ScotforthScotforth
Scotforth is a civil parish and a suburb in the south of the city of City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It is home to Scotforth St Paul's Church of England Primary School and St Paul's Church. The parish had a population of 239 recorded in the 2001 census.Parts of Lancaster were made up of...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. His father, John was an Anglican, his mother, Susannah a dissenter. Taylor began his education for the dissenting ministry in 1709 under 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...
, where he drew up for himself a Hebrew grammar (1712). From Whitehaven he went to study under the tutor Thomas Hill, son of the ejected minister Thomas Hill, near Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. Leaving Hill on 25 March 1715, he took charge on 7 April of an extra-parochial chapel at Kirkstead
Kirkstead
Kirkstead is an ancient village and former parish on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England. It was amalgamated with the civil parish of Woodhall Spa in 1987.-History:...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, then used for nonconformist worship by the Disney family. He was ordained (11 April 1716) by dissenting ministers in Derbyshire. In 1726 he declined a call to Pudsey
Pudsey
Pudsey is a market town in West Yorkshire, England. Once an independent town, it was incorporated into the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds in 1974, and is located midway between Bradford and Leeds city centres. It has a population of 32,391....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
In Norwich
In 1733 he moved to NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, as colleague to Peter Finch, son of Henry Finch
Henry Finch (minister)
-Biography:Finch was born at Standish, Lancashire, and baptised on 8 September 1633. He was educated at the grammar schools of Standish and Wigan. Calamy does not say at what university he graduated...
.
So far Taylor had not deviated from dissenting orthodoxy, though hesitating about subscription. According to a family tradition, given by William Turner
William Turner (biographer)
William Turner was an English Unitarian minister, known as a biographer.-Life:The son of William Turner, he was born at Newcastle on 13 January 1788. He was educated at Glasgow University, where he graduated M.A. in 1806, at Manchester College , and at Edinburgh University...
, on settling at Norwich he went through Samuel Clarke
Samuel Clarke
thumb|right|200px|Samuel ClarkeSamuel Clarke was an English philosopher and Anglican clergyman.-Early life and studies:...
's Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity (1712) with his congregation, adopted its view, and came forward (1737) in defence of a dissenting layman excommunicated for heterodoxy on this topic by James Sloss (1698–1772) of Nottingham, a pupil of John Simson
John Simson
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.-Life:...
. On 25 February 1754 Taylor laid the first stone of the Octagon Chapel, Norwich
Octagon Chapel, Norwich
The Octagon Chapel is a Unitarian Chapel located in Colegate in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is home to a growing liberal religious community, welcoming people of all religious faiths and none. The congregation is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.The chapel...
, opened 12 May 1756, and described by John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
(23 December 1757) as ‘perhaps the most elegant one in all Europe,’ and too fine for ‘the old coarse gospel.’ In his opening sermon, Taylor, who had received (6 April) the diploma (dated 20 January) of D.D. from 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...
, disowned all names such as Presbyterian and the like, claiming that of Christian only; a claim attacked by a local critic, probably Grantham Killingworth, writing as a Quaker, under the name of ‘M. Adamson.’
At the end of December 1757, John Wesley was shown around the Octagon Chapel, as an invited dignitary. Wesley wrote in his diary:
I was shewn Dr Taylor's new meeting-house, perhaps the most elegant one in all Europe. It is eight square, built of the finest brick, with sixteen sash windows below, as many above, eight sky-lights in the dome, which indeed are purley ornamental. The inside is finished in the highest taste, and it is as clean as any nobleman's saloon. The Communion Table is fine mahogany; the very latches of the pew doors are polished brass. How can it be thought the old coarse gospel should find admission here?
Warrington Academy tutor
Around the end of 1757 Taylor returned to Lancashire as divinity tutor (including moral philosophy) in Warrington AcademyWarrington Academy
Warrington Academy, active as a teaching establishment from 1756 to 1782, was a prominent dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by those who dissented from the state church in England...
, opened 20 October 1757. The appointment was a tribute to his reputation, but at the age of sixty-three the change turned out unhappily for him. He had troubles in class teaching, on doctrinal matters with John Seddon
John Seddon of Warrington
-Life:The son of Peter Seddon, dissenting minister successively at Ormskirk and Hereford, he was born at Hereford on 8 December 1725. The Unitarian John Seddon , with whom he has often been confused, is said to have been a second cousin...
, and was convinced that he was denied due deference. Rheumatism settled in his knees, and he could not walk without crutches. Rousing his powers, he wrote, but did not live to publish, a fervent tract on prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
.
Death
Taylor died in his sleep on 5 March 1761, and was buried in the chapel-yard at Chowbent, Lancashire. His funeral sermon was preached by Edward HarwoodEdward Harwood
Edward Harwood was a prolific English classical scholar and biblical critic.-Life:He was born at Darwen, Lancashire, in 1729. After attending a school at Darwen, he went in 1745 to the Blackburn grammar school under Thomas Hunter, afterwards vicar of Weaverham, Cheshire. Hunter wished him to enter...
. A tablet to his memory is in Chowbent Chapel; another in the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, bearing a Latin inscription by Samuel Parr
Samuel Parr
Samuel Parr , was an English schoolmaster, writer, minister and Doctor of Law. He was known in his time for political writing, and as "the Whig Johnson", though his reputation has lasted less well that Samuel Johnson's, and the resemblances were at a superficial level, Parr being no prose stylist,...
.
Scholar
His classical knowledge, according to Edward Harwood, was ‘almost unrivalled,’ but Samuel Parr found fault with his latinity. His Hebrew Concordance of 1754-7 was both a concordance (based on earlier works) and a lexiconLexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
of Hebrew, and was his unaided work. In 1751 he issued proposals for its publication, after more than thirteen years' work. The subscription list to the first volume (1754) contains the names of twenty-two English and fifteen Irish bishops, and the work is dedicated to the hierarchy. Based on Johann Buxtorf the Elder and Noldius (Christian Nolde), the concordance is arranged to serve the purposes of a Hebrew-English and English-Hebrew lexicon, and also attempt to fix the primitive meaning of Hebrew roots.
Theologian
In 1757 Wesley described Taylor's views as ‘old deism in a new dress.’ Job OrtonJob Orton
Job Orton was an English dissenting minister.-Life:He was born at Shrewsbury. He entered the academy of Dr Philip Doddridge at Northampton, became minister of a congregation formed by a fusion of Presbyterians and Independents at High Street Chapel, Shrewsbury , received Presbyterian ordination...
remarked (1778) that ‘he had to the last a great deal of the puritan in him.’ Orton's earlier guess (1771), adopted by Walter Wilson
Walter Wilson (biographer)
Walter Wilson was an English biographer of nonconformist clergy and their churches.-Life:He was born about 1781, the illegitimate son of John Walter, the newspaper publisher. He was brought up a Presbyterian, and went to work at East India House as a clerk. In 1802 he went into journalism, and in...
, that Taylor had become a Socinian, is dismissed as groundless by Alexander Gordon
Alexander Gordon
Alexander Gordon , fought as a Royalist and was captured by Oliver Cromwell's army at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651 at the end of the English Civil War. He was imprisoned at Tothill Field outside London over the winter of 1651–1652. He was transported to the New World in 1652 and...
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...
.
Gordon in his Dictionary of National Biography article also wrote that the ethical core interested Taylor more than speculative theology. His work on original sin
Original sin
Original sin is, according to a Christian theological doctrine, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred...
(Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin, 1740, written 1735) was against the Calvinistic view of human nature, and was influential: witnessed in Scotland by Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
(Epistle to John Goudie), and in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, according to Jonathan Edwards. It was answered first by David Jennings
David Jennings (tutor)
David Jennings was an English Dissenting minister and tutor, known also as the author of Jewish Antiquities.-Life:He was the younger son of the ejected minister John Jennings , whose ministry to the independent congregation at Kibworth was continued by his elder brother John...
in A Vindication of the Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin (anonymous, 1740). Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
replied to Taylor in The Ruin and Recovery of Man (1740). James Hervey
James Hervey
James Hervey was an English clergyman and writer.-Life:He was born at Hardingstone, near Northampton, and was educated at the grammar school of Northampton, and at Lincoln College, Oxford. Here he came under the influence of John Wesley and the Oxford Methodists, especially since he was a member...
's Theron and Aspasio is partly aimed at Taylor, if not explicitly. John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's Doctrine of Original Sin (1757) is a detailed answer to Taylor, drawing on Jennings, Hervey and Watts. Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin laid a basis for the later Unitarian
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....
movement and the American Congregationalists
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
.
His study of Pauline theology, partly on the lines of John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
, produced (1745) a ‘Key’ to the apostolic writings with an application of this ‘Key’ to the interpretation of the Epistle to the Romans
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
. Here, rather than in his treatise on the topic (1751), his view of atonement is clearly defined.
Works
He published, besides single sermons and tracts:- ‘A Narrative of Mr. Joseph Rawson's Case … with a Prefatory Discourse in Defence of the Common Rights of Christians,’ 1737, (anon.; the ‘Narrative’ is by Rawson; Sloss replied in ‘A True Narrative,’ 1737); 2nd edit. with author's name, 1742.
- ‘A Further Defence of the Common Rights,’ 1738; 2nd edit. 1742; reprinted, 1829.
- ‘The Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin,’ 1740 (three parts); 2nd edit. 1741. ‘A Supplement,’ 1741, (reply to David JenningsDavid Jennings (tutor)David Jennings was an English Dissenting minister and tutor, known also as the author of Jewish Antiquities.-Life:He was the younger son of the ejected minister John Jennings , whose ministry to the independent congregation at Kibworth was continued by his elder brother John...
) - ‘Remarks on such additions to the second Edition of the Ruin and Recovery of the Arguments Advanced in the Supplement to the Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin,’ London: printed and sold by M Fenner at Turk's Head, Gracechurch Street, 1742, (reply to Isaac WattsIsaac WattsIsaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
) [copy in Dr William's Library], all included in 3rd edit. Belfast, 1746; 4th edit. 1767, (with reply to Wesley). - ‘A Paraphrase with Notes on the Epistle to the Romans … Prefix'd, A Key to the Apostolic Writings,’ 1745; Dublin, 1746.
- ‘A Scripture Catechism,’ 1745.
- ‘A Collection of Tunes in Various Airs,’ 1750.
- ‘The Scripture Doctrine of Atonement,’ 1751.
- ‘The Hebrew Concordance adapted to the English Bible … after … Buxtorf,’ 1754–7, 2 vols.
- ‘The Lord's Supper Explained,’ 1754, 8vo; 1756.
- ‘The Covenant of Grace and Baptism the token of it, explained upon scripture principles’, John Taylor, D.D. of Norwich 1755; Printed for J Waugh, at the Turk's Head, in Lombard Street, and M Fenner, at the Angel and Bible in Paternoster Row. [1757 copy in Dr Williams Library].
- ‘An Examination of the Scheme of Morality advanced by Dr. Hutcheson,’ 1759.
- 12. ‘A Sketch of Moral Philosophy,’ 1760.
Posthumous works were:
- ‘The Scripture Account of Prayer,’ 1761; the 2nd edit. 1762, has appended ‘Remarks’ on the liturgy edited by Seddon.
- ‘A Scheme of Scripture Divinity,’ 1763; part was printed (1760?) for class use; reprinted, with the ‘Key,’ in Bishop Watson's ‘Collection of Theological Tracts,’ 1785, vols. i. and iii.
He left in manuscript a paraphrase on Ephesians, and four volumes of an unfinished abridgment (1721–2) of Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry was an English commentator on the Bible and Presbyterian minister.-Life:He was born at Broad Oak, a farmhouse on the borders of Flintshire and Shropshire. His father, Philip Henry, had just been ejected under the Act of Uniformity 1662...
's ‘Exposition’ of the Old Testament, of which specimens are given in the ‘Universal Theological Magazine,’ December 1804, pp. 314 sq. A selection from his works was published with title, ‘The Principles and Pursuits of an English Presbyterian,’ 1843.
Family
He married (13 August 1717) Elizabeth Jenkinson (died 2 June 1761), a widow, of Boston, LincolnshireBoston, Lincolnshire
Boston is a town and small port in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. It is the largest town of the wider Borough of Boston local government district and had a total population of 55,750 at the 2001 census...
. His surviving children were:
- Richard (died 1762), married Margaret Meadows; his eldest son, Philip Taylor (1747–1831), was presbyterian minister at Kay Street, Liverpool (1767), and at Eustace Street, Dublin (1771), and grandfather of Meadows Taylor; his second son, John Taylor, the hymn-writer.
- Sarah (died 1773), married to John Rigby of Chowbent, was mother of Edward Rigby.
Further reading
- Edward Taylor, The History of the Octagon Chapel 1878. [copy in Dr Williams Library].
- Edgar Taylor, The Suffolk Bartolomeans: A Memoir of the ministerial and domestic history of John Meadows, Clk, A.M. formerly Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge; ejected under the Act of Uniformity from the Rectory of Ousden, Suffolk, printed: Arthur Taylor, published London: William Pickering, 1840.
- Herbert McLachlan, English dissenters under the test acts; being the history of... (1931)
- John Seed, The Social and Political Meaning of Rational Dissent in 1770's and 1780s, The Historical Journal, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28, no.2 (June 1985) pp. 299–325.
External links
Attribution