Edwards John, Dd

Edwards John, D.D., one of the strongest Calvinistic divines the Church of England has produced. He was born at Hertford February 26, 1637, and was educated at Merchant-Taylor's School, London. In 1653 he entered St. John's College, Cambridge, where he became scholar and fellow. He was minister of Trinity Church, Cambridge, from 1664 to about 1676, when he was made rector of St. Peter's, Colchester. He returned to Cambridge in 1679, and there wrote industriously on controversial theology. He died April 16, 1716. "It may be questioned whether, since the days of Calvin himself, there has existed a more decided Calvinist than Dr. Edwards. He has been termed the Paul, the Augustine, the Bradwardine, the Calvin of his age. Such was his abhorrence of Arminianism that he contended, with the old Puritans, that there is a close connection between it and popery." His principal writings are, Theologia reformata, or the Body and Substance of the Christian Religion, comprised in distinct Discourses or Treatises upon the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments (London 1713-26, 3 volumes, fol.): — A complete History or Survey of all the Dispensations or Methods of Religion (London, 1699, 2 volumes, 8vo): — The Arminian Doctrines condemned by the Scriptures (London 1711, 8vo): — Authority of the Old and N.T. (London 1693, 3 volumes, 8vo): — Exercitations, critical, theological, etc., on important places in the O. and N.T. (London 1702, 8vo): — Socinianism unmasked (London, 1697, 8vo): — The Doctrine of Faith and Justification (London, 1708, 8vo). — Jones, Christ. Biography s.v.; Kippis, Biographia Britannica, volume 5.