William Sherlock

William Sherlock (c. 1639/1641 – June 19, 1707)[1] was an English church leader.

Not to be confused with William Sherlock (cricketer).

William Sherlock

Life

He was born at Southwark, the son of a tradesman,[2][3] and was educated at St Saviour's Grammar School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge.[4] In 1669 he became rector of St George's, Botolph Lane, London, and in 1681, he was appointed a prebendary of St Paul's. In 1684 he was made Master of the Temple.[5]

In 1686, he was reproved for his antipapal preaching and his controversy with the king's chaplain, Lewis Sabran; his pension was stopped. After the Glorious Revolution, he was suspended for refusing the oaths to William III and Mary II but yielded before losing his position.[5]

He became Dean of St Paul's in 1691.

About this time he became involved in the Socinian controversy over Unitarian ideas. In 1690 and 1693, he published works on the doctrine of the Trinity, which ironically helped rather than injured the Socinian cause and involved him in a controversy with Robert South and others.[5] His doctrine was even condemned as heretical at Oxford University. Sherlock defended himself in The Distinction... and Present State... (both 1696), which however practically gave up on the positions that had been impugned.

He died at Hampstead in 1707.[5] By his wife, Elizabeth (née Gardner),[6][7] he was the father of Bishop Thomas Sherlock.

Works
  • The Knowledge of Jesus Christ and Union with Him (1674), which showed his tendencies toward controversy by an attack on Puritan theologian John Owen.
  • A Practical Discourse of Religious Assemblies (1681)
  • The Case of Resistance of the Supreme Powers Stated and Resolved According to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures (1684), which drew the distinction between active and passive obedience, and was generally accepted by the High Church clergy.
  • The Protestant Resolution of Faith (pamphlet) (1687)
  • A Preservative Against Popery: Being Some Plain Directions to Unlearned Protestants, How to Dispute With Romish Priests. (1688)
  • A Practical Discourse Concerning Death (1689), written during the period of his suspension, which became very popular.[5]
  • A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Holy and Ever Blessed Trinity (1690), in response to Socinianism.
  • The Case of the Allegiance Due to Sovereign Powers Stated and Resolved According to Scripture and Reason and the Principles of the Church of England (1691), justifying his change of attitude toward William and Mary.
  • A Discourse Concerning the Divine Providence (1694)
  • The Distinction Between Real and Nominal Trinitarians Examined, and the Doctrine of a Real Trinity Vindicated From the Charge of Tritheism (1696)
  • Present State of the Socinian Controversy’' (1696/1698)
  • A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World, &C.
  • A Practical Discourse Concerning a Future Judgment.

His sermons, collected in two volumes, went through several editions.

Notes
  1. Burns, William E. (2004). "Sherlock, William (1639/40–1707), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25381. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Burns, William E. (2004). "Sherlock, William (1639/40–1707), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25381. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. The record of his marriage on 8 Feb. 1672/3- "Sherlock, William, of St George, Botolph Lane, London, clerk, bachelor, about 31, and Elizabeth Gardner, of St Andrew Undershaft, spinster, about 20- mentions also a "William Sherlock, of Christchurch, Surrey, gent.", possibly the groom's father, to whom is attributed a statement regarding the death of the bride's parents- see London marriage licences 1521-1869, ed. Joseph Foster, Bernard Quaritch (London), 1887, p. 1219-1220
  4. "Sherlock, William (SHRK657W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sherlock, William". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 850.
  6. Burns, William E. (2004). "Sherlock, William (1639/40–1707), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25381. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  7. London marriage licences 1521-1869, ed. Joseph Foster, Bernard Quaritch (London), 1887, p. 1219-1220
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