Spirituality in Adversity: English Nonconformity in a Period of Repression, 1660-1689

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 17; p. 162
• Main Author: Sell, Alan P F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2013
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English language; English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

Dr Brown subjects the resulting sufferings to judicious assessment, observing the patchiness of actual persecution across the land, the unwillingness of some at all levels of society to obey the law to the letter, or at all, and the discomfort felt by some parliamentarians and Church of England bishops and incumbents at the punitive measures enacted. The author does not overlook the fact that the Dissenters were by no means entirely at one either doctrinally or in terms of church order and sacraments; and they adopted opposed positions at the Declaration of Indulgence (1672), with some taking the opportunity to license meeting places, while others would not do so on the ground that the Charles II had acted unconstitutionally. [...]as well as rejoicing in Christ's unique saving work, the saints were to follow his example in their daily living, sustained by the intercession of Christ, who 'spends all his time in heaven promoting the good of his people' (Isaac Ambrose). Dr Brown points out the risks to their safety regularly run by believer Baptists when necessarily gathering in the open air for immersions - risks which extended to their health in cold weather: the maid of one candidate feared that if her mistress 'went into ye Water she would not come forth alive'; and he does not shirk from reminding us that those Baptists who, on repudiating external forms joined the Quakers were described by George Fox as 'shattered Baptists'.