laudable Practice

Today we resume our weekly readings from Robert Nelson's 1713 The Life of Dr. George Bull , one of the particularly significant divines of the 18th Church of England. Prior to Lent, we had left Bull in the immediate aftermath of the Restoration, in a nation reeling from the political and religious divisions of the past few decades, his preaching already indicating the wisdom and moderation of the Arminian Conformity central to the Church of England during the long 18th century. We now move to 1662, when Nelson was presented to a new cure: In the Year 1662, Mr. Bull was presented to the Vicaridge of Suddington St. Peter, by the then Lord Chancellor the Earl of Clarendon, at the Request and Application of his constant Patron, and worthy Diocesan, Dr. Nicholson, who was made Bishop of Gloucester upon the Restoration, and who had all that Merit which was necessary to fill so great a Station in the Church to the best Advantage, if his Steddiness to her Doctrines and Discipline, in ...

If we had to point to a key classical text for an Anglican 'Trinitarian minimalism', it would surely be in the 1662 Catechism : What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief?  Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world; Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind; Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God. This summary of the Apostles' Creed is a sufficient statement of Trinitarian faith. This is a  sufficient  account of the Articles of Belief, what is necessary for salvation. Notice what is missing from this summary. There is a complete absence of doctrinal Trinitarian terminology. Such terminology is not required for saving faith. In his 1655 An Exposition of the Catechism of the Church of England , William Nicholson - appointed Bishop of Gloucester in 1661 - gave expression to a significant conviction of Trinitarian minimalism. The Holy Trinity i...