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Edward Fisher (theologian)

December 20, 2023

Edward Fisher (fl. 1627–1655) was an English theological writer.

Fisher is usually identified with "E.F.". the author of The Marrow of Modern Divinity (1645),[1] a work which influentially stated the doctrine of unconditional grace,[2] and was at the centre of the later Marrow Controversy. While this attribution of the book to Fisher is commonly accepted, it is contested by Alexander Gordon in the Dictionary of National Biography who considers it unlikely on internal evidence.[3]

Life edit

Fisher was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fisher, knight, of Mickleton, Gloucestershire. In 1627 he entered as a gentleman commoner at Brasenose College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. on 10 April 1630. He was noted for his knowledge of ecclesiastical history and classical languages. He was a royalist, and an upholder of the festivals of the church against the Puritans. He based the obligation of the Lord's day purely on ecclesiastical authority, declining to consider it Sabbath.

He succeeded to his father's estate in 1654, but finding it much encumbered he sold it in 1656 to Richard Graves. Getting into debt he retired to Carmarthen and taught a school, but his creditors found him, and he left for Ireland. Here he died, at what date is not known. His body was brought to London for burial. He was married, but his wife died before he did.

Works by Fisher and E. F. edit

The publications uncontroversially identified as his are:

  • 'The Scriptures Harmony ... by E. F., Esq.,' &c., 1643.
  • 'An Appeale to thy Conscience,' &c., without place, 'printed in the 19th yeare of our gracious lord King Charles,' &c. (anonymous).
  • 'The Feast of Feasts, or the Celebration of the Sacred Nativity,' &c., Oxf. 1644, (anonymous, identified as Fisher's by the Bodleian Catalogue).
  • 'A Christian Caveat to the old and new Sabbatarians, or a Vindication of our Gospel Festivals . . . By a Lover of Truth; a Defender of Christian Liberty; and an hearty Desirer of Peace, internall, externall, eternall to all men,' &c., 1649 (i.e. 1650 N.S.),; 4th edit. 1652, 'By Edward Fisher, Esq.,' has appended 'An Answer to Sixteen Queries touching the . . . observation of Christmass, propounded by Joseph Hemming of Uttoxeter' (reprinted Somers Tracts, 1748, vol. iv.); 5th edit. 1653; another edit. 1655, has appended 'Questions preparatory to the more Christian Administration of the Lord's Supper ... by E. F., Esq.' The Caveat, which reckons Christmas Day and Good Friday as of equal authority with the Lord's day, was attacked by John Collinges and Giles Collier. Parts of the 'Caveat' were reprinted by the Seventh Day Baptists of America, in 'Tracts on the Sabbath,' New York, 1853.

Thomas Tanner, in his 1721 edition of Anthony Wood's Athenae Oxonienses, identified Edward Fisher with E. F., the author of the Marrow of Modern Divinity; and the identification has been accepted by Philip Bliss, John Hill Burton, and others. It is doubted by George Grub. The author of the Marrow has been described as 'an illiterate barber,' but nothing seems known of him except that in his dedication to John Warner, the lord mayor, he speaks of himself as a 'poore inhabitant' of London. The following publications, all cast into the form of dialogue, and bearing the imprimatur of puritan licensers, are ascribed to the same hand:[3]

  • The Marrow of Modern Divinity . . by E. F., &c., 1645; 4th edit. 1646, has recommendatory letters by Jeremiah Burroughes, William Strong, Joshua Sprigge, and Samuel Prittie.[4]
  • 'A Touchstone for a Communicant ... by E. F.,' c., 1647, (Joseph Caryl's imprimatur).
  • 'The Marrow of Modern Divinity: the Second Part ... by E. F.,' &c., 1649.[5]
  • 'London's Gate to the Lord's Table,' &c., 1647; the title-page is anonymous, but the signature 'E. F.' appears at the end of the dedication to Judge Henry Rolle of the pleas, and Margaret his wife.
  • 'Faith in Five Fundamentall Principles . . . by E. F., a Seeker of the Truth,' &c., 1650.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity, 1645, repr. 2009, Christian Focus Publications, ISBN 978-1-84550-479-3
  2. ^ William M. Lamont, Richard Baxter and the Millennium (1979), p. 326.
  3. ^ a b "Fisher, Edward (fl.1627-1655)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  4. ^ Online text.
  5. ^ The 19th edition of the Marrow was published at Montrose, 1803. It was translated into Welsh by John Edwards, a sequestered clergyman; his dedication is dated 20 July 1650; later editions are Trefecca, 1782; Carmarthen, 1810.

References edit

External links edit

December 20, 2023
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Edward Fisher fl 1627 1655 was an English theological writer Fisher is usually identified with E F the author of The Marrow of Modern Divinity 1645 1 a work which influentially stated the doctrine of unconditional grace 2 and was at the centre of the later Marrow Controversy While this attribution of the book to Fisher is commonly accepted it is contested by Alexander Gordon in the Dictionary of National Biography who considers it unlikely on internal evidence 3 Contents 1 Life 2 Works by Fisher and E F 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksLife editFisher was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fisher knight of Mickleton Gloucestershire In 1627 he entered as a gentleman commoner at Brasenose College Oxford and graduated B A on 10 April 1630 He was noted for his knowledge of ecclesiastical history and classical languages He was a royalist and an upholder of the festivals of the church against the Puritans He based the obligation of the Lord s day purely on ecclesiastical authority declining to consider it Sabbath He succeeded to his father s estate in 1654 but finding it much encumbered he sold it in 1656 to Richard Graves Getting into debt he retired to Carmarthen and taught a school but his creditors found him and he left for Ireland Here he died at what date is not known His body was brought to London for burial He was married but his wife died before he did Works by Fisher and E F editThe publications uncontroversially identified as his are The Scriptures Harmony by E F Esq amp c 1643 An Appeale to thy Conscience amp c without place printed in the 19th yeare of our gracious lord King Charles amp c anonymous The Feast of Feasts or the Celebration of the Sacred Nativity amp c Oxf 1644 anonymous identified as Fisher s by the Bodleian Catalogue A Christian Caveat to the old and new Sabbatarians or a Vindication of our Gospel Festivals By a Lover of Truth a Defender of Christian Liberty and an hearty Desirer of Peace internall externall eternall to all men amp c 1649 i e 1650 N S 4th edit 1652 By Edward Fisher Esq has appended An Answer to Sixteen Queries touching the observation of Christmass propounded by Joseph Hemming of Uttoxeter reprinted Somers Tracts 1748 vol iv 5th edit 1653 another edit 1655 has appended Questions preparatory to the more Christian Administration of the Lord s Supper by E F Esq The Caveat which reckons Christmas Day and Good Friday as of equal authority with the Lord s day was attacked by John Collinges and Giles Collier Parts of the Caveat were reprinted by the Seventh Day Baptists of America in Tracts on the Sabbath New York 1853 Thomas Tanner in his 1721 edition of Anthony Wood s Athenae Oxonienses identified Edward Fisher with E F the author of the Marrow of Modern Divinity and the identification has been accepted by Philip Bliss John Hill Burton and others It is doubted by George Grub The author of the Marrow has been described as an illiterate barber but nothing seems known of him except that in his dedication to John Warner the lord mayor he speaks of himself as a poore inhabitant of London The following publications all cast into the form of dialogue and bearing the imprimatur of puritan licensers are ascribed to the same hand 3 The Marrow of Modern Divinity by E F amp c 1645 4th edit 1646 has recommendatory letters by Jeremiah Burroughes William Strong Joshua Sprigge and Samuel Prittie 4 A Touchstone for a Communicant by E F c 1647 Joseph Caryl s imprimatur The Marrow of Modern Divinity the Second Part by E F amp c 1649 5 London s Gate to the Lord s Table amp c 1647 the title page is anonymous but the signature E F appears at the end of the dedication to Judge Henry Rolle of the pleas and Margaret his wife Faith in Five Fundamentall Principles by E F a Seeker of the Truth amp c 1650 Notes edit Edward Fisher The Marrow of Modern Divinity 1645 repr 2009 Christian Focus Publications ISBN 978 1 84550 479 3 William M Lamont Richard Baxter and the Millennium 1979 p 326 a b Fisher Edward fl 1627 1655 Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Online text The 19th edition of the Marrow was published at Montrose 1803 It was translated into Welsh by John Edwards a sequestered clergyman his dedication is dated 20 July 1650 later editions are Trefecca 1782 Carmarthen 1810 References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Fisher Edward fl 1627 1655 Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links editWho were the Marrowmen Works by Edward Fisher at Post Reformation Digital Library Works by Edward Fisher at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Fisher theologian amp oldid 1185076998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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