Nathaniel Stephens (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Stephens was an English clergyman, ejected for nonconformity in 1662. He is now best known for his part in the early life of George Fox
. He was a controversialist in the presbyterian interest, engaging also with Baptists, and with Gerard Winstanley. the universalist. In print he was a moderate, fair by the standards of his time to his opponents, and not bringing rancour to discussion of Catholicism.
, Wiltshire
, and was born about 1606. On 14 March 1623, at the age of sixteen, he entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a batler (poor scholar), graduating B.A. 14 February 1626, M.A. 25 June 1628.
On leaving the university he was curate at Fenny Drayton
, Leicestershire
, of which Robert Mason was rector. He probably was in sole charge from 1638. Driven from Drayton by the outbreak of the war in 1642, he took refuge in Coventry
, where he subscribed the Solemn League and Covenant
and became morning preacher at St. Michael's
. He returned to Drayton in 1645, and had among his hearers George Fox
. Stephens thought highly of Fox, discussed religion with him, and preached on the topics of their discourse, a proceeding which made Fox dislike his pastor. In 1649, while Stephens was conducting a lecture at Market Bosworth
, Fox interposed, Stephens cried out that he was mad, and Fox, stoned out of the town by a rabble, set down the "deceitful priest" as his "great persecutor." A discussion between them at Drayton in 1654 is narrated in Fox's Journal. "Neighbours," said Stephens, 2this is the business: George Fox is come to the light of the sun, and now he thinks to put out my starlight."
In 1659 Stephens was presented by Colonel William Purefoy
to the rectory of Drayton, which he held till 1662, when he resigned under the Uniformity Act 1662. He continued to preach privately, but his services were often interrupted. Having seven times been driven from Drayton, he at length removed to Stoke Golding, three miles off, and preached there till lameness confined him to his chair. His studies made him absent-minded, but he was not wanting in a playful humour. He was buried on 24 February 1678 in the churchyard of Stoke Golding.
, is notable for its rejection of speculations. His exegesis is praised and generally followed by Matthew Poole
in the fifth volume (1676) of his Synopsis Criticorum.
He published:
Calamy gives a specimen of his unpublished notes on the Apocalypse, used by Poole, and afterwards in the possession of Sir Charles Wolseley.
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
. He was a controversialist in the presbyterian interest, engaging also with Baptists, and with Gerard Winstanley. the universalist. In print he was a moderate, fair by the standards of his time to his opponents, and not bringing rancour to discussion of Catholicism.
Life
He was son of Richard Stephens, vicar from 1604 of Stanton St BernardStanton St Bernard
Stanton St Bernard is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. Its nearest town is Devizes, about away to the west.All significant local government services are provided by Wiltshire Council, with its headquarters in Trowbridge, and the parish is represented there by Brigadier Robert Hall...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and was born about 1606. On 14 March 1623, at the age of sixteen, he entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a batler (poor scholar), graduating B.A. 14 February 1626, M.A. 25 June 1628.
On leaving the university he was curate at Fenny Drayton
Fenny Drayton
Fenny Drayton is a village in Leicestershire England, in the district of Hinckley and Bosworth. Near to the county border of Warwickshire and using a Warwickshire County postcode, it is just off the A444 road an old Roman road, north of Nuneaton close to its crossroads with the A5...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, of which Robert Mason was rector. He probably was in sole charge from 1638. Driven from Drayton by the outbreak of the war in 1642, he took refuge in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, where he subscribed the Solemn League and Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
and became morning preacher at St. Michael's
St. Michael's, Coventry
St. Michael's is an electoral ward in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Its population is 19,863 . In 2001, its population was 56% white British and 23% Asian or Asian British, many of whom Bangladeshi. The ward includes many students, and 20- to 24-year-olds make up over 20% of the...
. He returned to Drayton in 1645, and had among his hearers George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
. Stephens thought highly of Fox, discussed religion with him, and preached on the topics of their discourse, a proceeding which made Fox dislike his pastor. In 1649, while Stephens was conducting a lecture at Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a small market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It formerly formed a district known as the Market Bosworth Rural District. In 1974 it merged with the Hinckley Rural District to form a new district named Hinckley and Bosworth...
, Fox interposed, Stephens cried out that he was mad, and Fox, stoned out of the town by a rabble, set down the "deceitful priest" as his "great persecutor." A discussion between them at Drayton in 1654 is narrated in Fox's Journal. "Neighbours," said Stephens, 2this is the business: George Fox is come to the light of the sun, and now he thinks to put out my starlight."
In 1659 Stephens was presented by Colonel William Purefoy
William Purefoy
William Purefoy was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1628 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War and was one of the regicides of King Charles I of England....
to the rectory of Drayton, which he held till 1662, when he resigned under the Uniformity Act 1662. He continued to preach privately, but his services were often interrupted. Having seven times been driven from Drayton, he at length removed to Stoke Golding, three miles off, and preached there till lameness confined him to his chair. His studies made him absent-minded, but he was not wanting in a playful humour. He was buried on 24 February 1678 in the churchyard of Stoke Golding.
Works
His chief work (1656), on the ApocalypseApocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
, is notable for its rejection of speculations. His exegesis is praised and generally followed by Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole was an English Nonconformist theologian.-Life to 1662:He was born at York, the son of Francis Pole, but he spelled his name Poole, and in Latin Polus; his mother was a daughter of Alderman Toppins there. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1645, under John...
in the fifth volume (1676) of his Synopsis Criticorum.
He published:
- A Precept for the Baptisme of Infants . . . vindicated . . . from . . . Mr. Robert EverardRobert EverardRobert Everard was an English soldier who fought for the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War and was a religious controversialist in the 1650s...
, 1651, (preface by John Bryan and Obadiah GrewObadiah Grew-Life:Grew was born at Atherstone, Warwickshire on 1 November 1607, the third son of Francis Grew and Elizabeth Denison. He was baptised the same day at the parish church of Mancetter, Warwickshire. Francis Grew was a layman, originally of good estate but impoverished by prosecutions for...
). - A Plain and Easie Calculation of the Name ... of the Beast, 1656, (preface by Edmund Calamy the elderEdmund Calamy the ElderEdmund Calamy was an English Presbyterian church leader and divine. Known as "the elder", he was the first of four generations of nonconformist ministers bearing the same name.-Early life:...
). - Vindiciae Fundamenti, or a threefold defence of the Doctrine of Original Sin, 1658, (against the Arminian positions of Everard, Jeremy TaylorJeremy TaylorJeremy Taylor was a clergyman in the Church of England who achieved fame as an author during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. He is sometimes known as the "Shakespeare of Divines" for his poetic style of expression and was often presented as a model of prose writing...
, and others).
Calamy gives a specimen of his unpublished notes on the Apocalypse, used by Poole, and afterwards in the possession of Sir Charles Wolseley.