Böcker av Horton Davies

This is the very first study made in depth and detail of over forty Anglican preachers in the Golden Age of the English Pulpit. There have been individual studies of the sermons of Donne and Andrewes, but none of the metaphysical preachers as a whole.It is the aim of this book to introduce to the reader some of the less familiar preachers: men such as John Hacket and Ralph Brownrig, Calvinist preachers in the metaphysical style such as the Elizabethan Henry Smith (known as silver-tongued for his oratory), or Thomas Adams, who was styled the prose Shakespeare of Puritan theologians. These men, and others, were widely admired in their day and, in many cases, their contemporary popularity challenged that even of Donne.This study provides explanations for the popularity of the metaphysical style, and incidentally proves untenable the stereotype that all the metaphysical preachers were of the Arminian persuasion, since a fair proportion of the group were Calvinists who rejected the Puritan plain style in favor of a metaphysical mode of expression. One explanation of the popularity of this style for a period of some fifty years is that practically every metaphysical divine was also a poet, and that daring imagery, wit, and arcane knowledge were the chief differentia of this style of poetry. Furthermore, James I and Charles I were great admirers of wit and learning. They chose royal chaplains for these qualities: learning made them good apologists, and their wit kept the captive congregations at court intrigued.Equal attention is given to the biographies of the preachers, the themes of their sermons, and the techniques of preaching and sermon construction, with separate chapters on learning and eloquence, wit and imagery, and the uses to which they were put. The result is a full picture of the group of seventeenth-century divines who preached like angels from a cloud.

The Vigilant God (Revisited) is a reassessment of the theology of Providence, in the thought of four major Christian theologians, Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin and Barth, of their views on predestination, theodicy and free will, leading the author to a consider the role it might have for the future of humanity.

This long-standing series provides the guild of religion scholars a venue for publishing aimed primarily at colleagues. It includes scholarly monographs, revised dissertations, Festschriften, conference papers, and translations of ancient and medieval documents. Works cover the sub-disciplines of biblical studies, history of Christianity, history of religion, theology, and ethics. Festschriften for Karl Barth, Donald W. Dayton, James Luther Mays, Margaret R. Miles, and Walter Wink are among the seventy-five volumes that have been published. Contributors include: C. K. Barrett, Francois Bovon, Paul S. Chung, Marie-Helene Davies, Frederick Herzog, Ben F. Meyer, Pamela Ann Moeller, Rudolf Pesch, D. Z. Phillips, Rudolf Schnackenburgm Eduard Schweizer, John Vissers

The horror story of the Huguenot persecution after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes from the early 1680s to the Edict of Toleration in 1787, needs to be retold by looking at some of the positive benefits the refugees brought to the lands to which they escaped. The brutality of the dragonnades, gallows, and hangings cannot be overlooked; nor the gradual oppression of a considerable proportion of the population of France. Yet, this emigration also included success stories, such as two generals in the Ligonnier family and two admirals in the Laforey family. Some Huguenot pastors banished from the realm became like Duval, high-ranking officials in the Church of England or of Ireland. Among artists, Roubillac, a sculptor, enlivened Westminster Abbey, whilst Marot, an architect and engraver, designed castles and gardens. Some businessmen, like Beron and the Faneuil brothers, thrived in Boston. From Huguenot lineage sprang four presidents of the United States. All of this was a tribute to their faith, to their belief in the doctrine of Predestination, and to the qualities of their character such as reverence, chastity, frugality, sobriety, and industry.