Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. Little is known of his early youth; he studied at Colne Grammar School,[1] before entering as a pensioner of Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1647. His tutor was David Clarkson and he graduated in 1650, being made a fellow of his college in 1651.[2][3]
He now devoted himself to an exact study of biblical and patristic writers, especially Basil and Chrysostom. The result of this reading, and of the influence of John Wilkins, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, was seen in the general tone of his preaching, which was practical rather than theological, concerned with issues of personal morality instead of theoretical doctrine. This plain style of preaching is reflective of the late 17th century, when the integration of reason into Protestant theology came to be seen as one of its finest attributes against Catholicism. Tillotson himself was personally tolerant enough towards Catholics, remarking in a famous sermon that while Popery was "gross superstition", yet "Papists, I doubt not, are made like other men". He was actually a latitudinarian, also known as "Cambridge Arminianism".[4] Besides, Tillotson adopted Arminian views.[5]
He was a man of the world as well as a divine, and in his sermons, he exhibited a tact which enabled him at once to win the ear of his audience. In 1664 he became preacher at Lincoln's Inn. The same year he married Elizabeth French, a niece of Oliver Cromwell; and he also became a Tuesday lecturer at St Lawrence, Jewry (where he was later buried). Tillotson employed his controversial weapons with some skill against atheism and Catholicism. In 1663 he published a characteristic sermon on "The Wisdom of being Religious," and in 1666 replied to John Sergeant's Sure Footing in Christianity by a pamphlet on the "Rule of Faith." The same year he received the degree of D.D.[6]
In 1670 he became prebendary and in 1672 dean of Canterbury. That latter year he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.[7] In 1675 he edited John Wilkins's Principles of Natural Religion, completing what was left unfinished of it, and in 1682 his Sermons. Along with Burnet, Tillotson attended William Russell, Lord Russell on the scaffold in 1683. In 1684, he wrote a Discourse against Transubstantiation. He afterwards enjoyed the friendship of Lady Russell, and it was partly through her that he obtained so much influence with Princess Anne, who followed his advice in regard to the settlement of the crown on William of Orange. He possessed the special confidence of William and Mary, and was made clerk of the closet to the king in March 1689.[6]
It was chiefly through his advice that the king appointed an ecclesiastical commission for the reconciliation of the Dissenters. In August of this year, he was appointed by the chapter of his cathedral to exercise the archepiscopal jurisdiction of the province of Canterbury during the suspension of Sancroft. He was also, about the same time, named Dean of St Paul's. Soon afterwards he was elected to succeed Sancroft as archbishop; but accepted the promotion with extreme reluctance, and it was deferred from time to time, at his request, until April 1691. In 1693 he published four lectures on the Socinian controversy,[8] partly to clear his own name from charges of sympathy with Socinianism in his previous associations with Thomas Firmin, Stephen Nye and others.
His attempts to reform certain abuses of the Church of England, especially that of clerical non-residence, awakened much ill-will, and of this the Jacobites took advantage, pursuing him to the end of his life with insult and reproach. He died on 22 November 1694.[6]
For his manuscript sermons, Tillotson's widow received 2500 guineas. Ralph Barker edited some 250 of them together with the "Rule of Faith" (1695–1704). In 1752 an edition appeared in 3 vols., with Life by Thomas Birch, compiled from Tillotson's original papers and letters. Various selections from his sermons and works have been published separately.[9] AMS Press, New York, published a modern edition of his works in the 1980s. In his home town of Sowerby, a statue of Tillotson still exists in St. Peter's church and an avenue is named after him in the lower end of the town.
Rivers, Isabel. "Tillotson, John (1630–1694)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27449. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
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August 28, 2023
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This article is about the former Archbishop For the 1950s and 1960s singer see Johnny Tillotson John Tillotson October 1630 22 November 1694 was the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury from 1691 to 1694 The Most Reverend and Right HonourableJohn TillotsonArchbishop of CanterburyPortrait by Godfrey KnellerChurchChurch of EnglandDioceseCanterburyInstalledApril 1691Term ended22 November 1694PredecessorWilliam SancroftSuccessorThomas TenisonOrdersConsecration31 May 1691by Peter MewsPersonal detailsBornOctober 1630Sowerby Yorkshire EnglandDied22 November 1694 aged 64 NationalityEnglishDenominationAnglicanAlma materClare College Cambridge Contents 1 Curate and rector 2 Dean of Canterbury and Archbishop 3 Works 4 Notes and references 4 1 Citations 4 2 Sources 5 External linksCurate and rector EditTillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend Sowerby Yorkshire Little is known of his early youth he studied at Colne Grammar School 1 before entering as a pensioner of Clare Hall Cambridge in 1647 His tutor was David Clarkson and he graduated in 1650 being made a fellow of his college in 1651 2 3 In 1656 Tillotson became tutor to the son of Edmund Prideaux attorney general to Oliver Cromwell About 1661 he was ordained without subscription by Thomas Sydserf a Scottish bishop Tillotson was present at the Savoy Conference in 1661 and remained identified with the Presbyterians until the passing of the Act of Uniformity 1662 Shortly afterwards he became curate of Cheshunt Herts and in June 1663 rector of Kedington Suffolk 3 He now devoted himself to an exact study of biblical and patristic writers especially Basil and Chrysostom The result of this reading and of the influence of John Wilkins Master of Trinity College Cambridge was seen in the general tone of his preaching which was practical rather than theological concerned with issues of personal morality instead of theoretical doctrine This plain style of preaching is reflective of the late 17th century when the integration of reason into Protestant theology came to be seen as one of its finest attributes against Catholicism Tillotson himself was personally tolerant enough towards Catholics remarking in a famous sermon that while Popery was gross superstition yet Papists I doubt not are made like other men He was actually a latitudinarian also known as Cambridge Arminianism 4 Besides Tillotson adopted Arminian views 5 He was a man of the world as well as a divine and in his sermons he exhibited a tact which enabled him at once to win the ear of his audience In 1664 he became preacher at Lincoln s Inn The same year he married Elizabeth French a niece of Oliver Cromwell and he also became a Tuesday lecturer at St Lawrence Jewry where he was later buried Tillotson employed his controversial weapons with some skill against atheism and Catholicism In 1663 he published a characteristic sermon on The Wisdom of being Religious and in 1666 replied to John Sergeant s Sure Footing in Christianity by a pamphlet on the Rule of Faith The same year he received the degree of D D 6 Dean of Canterbury and Archbishop Edit The grave of John Tillotson St Lawrence Jewry LondonIn 1670 he became prebendary and in 1672 dean of Canterbury That latter year he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society 7 In 1675 he edited John Wilkins s Principles of Natural Religion completing what was left unfinished of it and in 1682 his Sermons Along with Burnet Tillotson attended William Russell Lord Russell on the scaffold in 1683 In 1684 he wrote a Discourse against Transubstantiation He afterwards enjoyed the friendship of Lady Russell and it was partly through her that he obtained so much influence with Princess Anne who followed his advice in regard to the settlement of the crown on William of Orange He possessed the special confidence of William and Mary and was made clerk of the closet to the king in March 1689 6 It was chiefly through his advice that the king appointed an ecclesiastical commission for the reconciliation of the Dissenters In August of this year he was appointed by the chapter of his cathedral to exercise the archepiscopal jurisdiction of the province of Canterbury during the suspension of Sancroft He was also about the same time named Dean of St Paul s Soon afterwards he was elected to succeed Sancroft as archbishop but accepted the promotion with extreme reluctance and it was deferred from time to time at his request until April 1691 In 1693 he published four lectures on the Socinian controversy 8 partly to clear his own name from charges of sympathy with Socinianism in his previous associations with Thomas Firmin Stephen Nye and others His attempts to reform certain abuses of the Church of England especially that of clerical non residence awakened much ill will and of this the Jacobites took advantage pursuing him to the end of his life with insult and reproach He died on 22 November 1694 6 For his manuscript sermons Tillotson s widow received 2500 guineas Ralph Barker edited some 250 of them together with the Rule of Faith 1695 1704 In 1752 an edition appeared in 3 vols with Life by Thomas Birch compiled from Tillotson s original papers and letters Various selections from his sermons and works have been published separately 9 AMS Press New York published a modern edition of his works in the 1980s In his home town of Sowerby a statue of Tillotson still exists in St Peter s church and an avenue is named after him in the lower end of the town He is buried in the church of St Lawrence Jewry just west of the Bank of England in the City of London Thomas Tillotson was his great great nephew Works EditA Sermon Concerning the Unity of the Divine Nature and the Blessed Trinity London 1693 Thomas Birch ed 1752 The Works of John Tillotson with the Life of the author A Discourse Against Transubstantiation A Persuasive to Frequent Communion in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Ten Volume Set of the Works of John TillotsonNotes and references EditCitations Edit Carr 1878 Tillotson John TLT647J A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b Gordon 1898 Lueker 2000 Lueker 2000b a b c Chisholm 1911 Tillotson 1752 p lvii Tillotson 1693 GW Weldon in 1886 Sources Edit Carr James 1878 Annals and stories of Colne and neighbourhood Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Tillotson John Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 26 11th ed Cambridge University Press Rivers Isabel Tillotson John 1630 1694 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 27449 Subscription or UK public library membership required Gordon Alexander 1898 Tillotson John In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 56 London Smith Elder amp Co Lueker Erwin Louis 2000b Arminianism Christian Cyclopedia Saint Louis MO Concordia publ House Lueker Erwin Louis 2000 Tillotson John Robert Christian Cyclopedia Saint Louis MO Concordia publ House External links EditBibliographic directory from Project CanterburyChurch of England titlesPreceded byThomas Turner Dean of Canterbury1672 1689 Succeeded byJohn SharpPreceded byEdward Stillingfleet Dean of St Paul s1689 1691 Succeeded byWilliam SherlockPreceded byWilliam Sancroft Archbishop of Canterbury1691 1694 Succeeded byThomas Tenison Wikiquote has quotations related to John Tillotson Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Tillotson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Tillotson amp oldid 1163701637, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
