Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Richard Hooker and the English Reformation pp 185–205Cite as

Grace, Sin, and Nature: Richard Hooker’s Theology of Baptism

  • Chapter

  • 107 Accesses

Part of the book series: Studies in Early Modern Religious Reforms ((SERR,volume 2))

Abstract

Baptismal theology, comprehensively set out by Richard Hooker in the fifth book of the Lawes, reveals the independence of his thought, and serves to highlight the critical departures he makes from a rigorous application of Calvinist and Anabaptist thinking. This paper seeks to offer a consideration of Hooker’s discussion of baptism and, more particularly, the linkages he makes between grace, sin, and nature. The Lawes reveal the breadth and generosity of Hooker’ s spiritual affections and commitments, and may, in part, account for the permanence of his work where many of his contemporaries have not survived in print.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. W. David Neelands, “The Theology of Grace of Richard Hooker,” (PhD thesis, Trinity College and University of Toronto, 1988), 278ff.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Polities: Preface, Books I to IV, edited by Georges Edelen, in The Folger Library Edition of the Works of Richard Hooker, gen. ed. W. Speed Hill (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1977), IV.14.5; 1:340.11–22

    Google Scholar 

  3. See Eccles. 4:9. Egil Grislis, “The Anglican Spirituality of Richard Hooker,” Toronto Journal of Theology 12, no. 1 (1996): 39

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lawes IV.1.4; 1:276.14–20

    Google Scholar 

  5. Calvin, Inst. IV. 14. 20

    Google Scholar 

  6. Inst. IV.19.6

    Google Scholar 

  7. Inst. IV.19.6

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lawes V.49.2, 3; 2:203.9–30

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lawes V.57.4; 2:246.20–247.2

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lawes V.57.1; 2:244.28–245.9

    Google Scholar 

  11. Inst. IV.17.32

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lawes V.57.2; 2:245.17ff.

    Google Scholar 

  13. This raises no difficulty for Hooker because nature and grace are not in opposition, rather sin and grace. The natural order is the only order sensate persons can use to posit the possibilities of a heavenly order. Hence the physicality of the sacramental elements though not absolute in themselves, takes on an importance which is incarnationally related to the order of existence.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lawes V.57.2, 3; 2:245.20–246.7

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lawes V.57.5; 2:247.12

    Google Scholar 

  16. The Complete Writings of Menno Simons, edited by J. C. Wenger, translated by Leonard Verduin (Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1956), 266

    Google Scholar 

  17. This point is also made by Grislis in tracking the distinctions of Menno and Luther. Menno is also clear that “… the Holy Spirit does not operate nor reveal Himself to be in [children], and since they cannot serve in the body of Christ as is required by the Word of God… therefore they should not be baptised.” Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 274

    Google Scholar 

  18. Inst. IV.16.17

    Google Scholar 

  19. Inst. IV.16.20

    Google Scholar 

  20. Egil Grislis, “Calvin’s Doctrine of Baptism,” Church History 31.1 (March 1962): 56

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lawes V.57.5; 2:247.5–8

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lawes V.57.4; 2:247.1

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lawes V.57.6; 2:248.2

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lawes V.57.6; 2:248.7

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lawes V.58.3; 2:250.3–14

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lawes V.58.4; 2:250.17

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lawes V.58.4; 2:251.1–4

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lawes V.60.1; 2:254.1

    Google Scholar 

  29. Lawes V.60.3; 2:255.13–256.1

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lawes V.60.3; 2:256.18–26

    Google Scholar 

  31. ACL, ed. John E. Booty, FLE 4:45.4

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lawes V.57.6; 2:248.4

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lawes V.60.5; 2:258.15

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lawes V.60.5; 2:259.7–15

    Google Scholar 

  35. See footnote ‘u’ in Lawes V.60.3; 2:256.24

    Google Scholar 

  36. Lawes V.60.2; 2:255.1–13

    Google Scholar 

  37. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 242

    Google Scholar 

  38. Egil Grislis, “Martin Luther and Menno Simons on Infant Baptism,” Journal of Mennonite Studies 12 (1994): 14

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lawes V.60.4; 2:257.10

    Google Scholar 

  40. Lawes V.62.21; 2:288.7

    Google Scholar 

  41. Inst. IV.15.22

    Google Scholar 

  42. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 238

    Google Scholar 

  43. Lawes V.60.6; 2:260.3–8, 15–18

    Google Scholar 

  44. Hooker seems to have misquoted Cartwright on this point. See footnote ‘u’ in Lawes V.61.4; 2:266.21.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Lawes V.60.7; 2:261.14

    Google Scholar 

  46. Lawes V.64.4; 2:267.1–10

    Google Scholar 

  47. Lawes V.61.5; 2:268.14

    Google Scholar 

  48. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 240

    Google Scholar 

  49. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 240

    Google Scholar 

  50. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 280

    Google Scholar 

  51. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 274

    Google Scholar 

  52. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 241

    Google Scholar 

  53. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 266

    Google Scholar 

  54. Menno Simons’s depiction of the church he had just left. Complete Writings, 250

    Google Scholar 

  55. Lawes V.62.15; 2:282.1–14

    Google Scholar 

  56. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 273

    Google Scholar 

  57. Lawes V.63.1; 2:291.4

    Google Scholar 

  58. See 1 Cor. 7:14

    Google Scholar 

  59. Lawes V.63.2; 2:291.20

    Google Scholar 

  60. Lawes V.63.2; 2:291.22

    Google Scholar 

  61. Lawes V.63.2; 2:292.28

    Google Scholar 

  62. Menno Simons, Complete Writings, 274

    Google Scholar 

  63. Lawes V.62.15; 2:281.3

    Google Scholar 

  64. Lawes V.64.2; 2:294.30–295.26

    Google Scholar 

  65. Lawes V.65.7; 2:307.20

    Google Scholar 

  66. Lawes V.65.6; 2:306.22–307.9

    Google Scholar 

  67. Lawes I.3.2; 1:65.20–33

    Google Scholar 

  68. W. J. Torrance Kirby, The Theology of Richard Hooker in the Context of the Magisterial Reformation ( Princeton: Studies in Reformed Theology and History, Princeton Seminary Press, 2000 ), 21

    Google Scholar 

  69. Lawes V.64.5; 2:298.4–17

    Google Scholar 

  70. Lawes V.65.5; 2:303.25

    Google Scholar 

  71. Lawes V.65.10; 2:310.5–16

    Google Scholar 

  72. Lawes V.65.15; 2:315.9

    Google Scholar 

  73. ACL 4:65.6

    Google Scholar 

  74. ACL 4:67.7

    Google Scholar 

  75. ACL 4:69.25

    Google Scholar 

  76. ACL 4:67.20

    Google Scholar 

  77. Bryan D. Spinks, Two Faces of Elizabethan Anglican Theology: Sacraments and Salvation in the Thought of William Perkins and Richard Hooker (Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1999 ), 147

    Google Scholar 

  78. Spinks, Two Faces of Elizabethan Anglican Theology, 147

    Google Scholar 

  79. Lawes V.65.4; 2:303.2

    Google Scholar 

  80. Lawes V.65.5; 2:303.22–27, 304.7–12

    Google Scholar 

  81. Lawes V.65.5; 2:304.20

    Google Scholar 

  82. Lawes V.65.20; 2:318.29

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. John K. Stafford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    W. J. Torrance Kirby

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stafford, J.K. (2003). Grace, Sin, and Nature: Richard Hooker’s Theology of Baptism. In: Kirby, W.J.T. (eds) Richard Hooker and the English Reformation. Studies in Early Modern Religious Reforms, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0319-2_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0319-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6462-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0319-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation