Judaism

To put it in one word: I believe that Judaism knows nothing of revealed religion, in the sense in which this is understood by Christians.  The Israelites possess divine legislation. – Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786), German-born Jewish philosopher and grandfather of composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

 

Knowing Law

An ecclesiastic of any real importance, living in the uncertain times of the Commonwealth and the Restoration, would have found it essential to know something of the civil as well as of the church law.  His own rights and those of his party were constantly subject to criticism or attack.  To be certain of just how far he or his opponent might go, legally, was useful information.  Even more surely did the parson of no importance, who had no influential friends and no money, who lived and served in some isolated parish, have need of a knowledge of many simple points of law if he were to protect himself and advise his ignorant people.  “The Country Parson,” George Herbert had written, “desires to be all to his parish, and not only a pastour, but a lawyer also and a phisitian.”

Among the clergymen who gave attention to matters of law were some who held degrees in law, some who gave advice informally (as many did in medicine), and others who were well-read in legal works, finding the subject one of abstract interest.

Dr. Thomas Barlow was “so profoundly Learned, both in Divinity, and the Civil, and Canon Law, that he was often applied to as a casuist, to resolve Cases of Conscience about Marriage…”  Mr. Benlows became (after the 1662 ejectments) a counselor at Law, and a Justice of the Peace.  Christopher Elderfield (private chaplain to Sir William Goring) was “well read in the civil, canon, and common law…”  He wrote: “The Civil Rights of Tithes” (1650).  William Fuller held a degree of Doctor of Laws; afterwards, he became Bishop of Limerick and, later, of Lincoln.  Bishop Juxton, in his youth, took first a bachelor’s and then a doctor’s degree in law.  William Parsons (ejected by the Puritans but, after the Restoration, Vicar of Great Dumnow in Essex) was a bachelor of law.  Dr. William Paul was “a shrewd man in business, whether of Trade, Husbandry, Buying and Improving Land, Disposing of Money; carrying a great command over the factions about him by his money (which he could lend to advantages, to the most considerable men of that party) in those sad times, when others of his Order submitted to them; exceedingly well versed in the Laws of the Church and land…”  Dr. John Richardson, Bishop of Ardagh, was “as good and dexterous a Lawyer as Clerk, he compounded Differences, discharged Annuities and Pensions.”  Matthew Robinson “understood the common and statute law…was a judge of good estates.”  Robert Sharrock became “at length, Archdeacon of Westminster…being then accounted learned in divinity, in the civil and common law, and very knowing in vegetables, and all pertaining thereto.”  Edward Stillingfleet “applied himself much to the study of the law and records, and the original of our constitution…”  Richard Stuart was a doctor of laws “and, afterwards, a noted divine, and Eloquent Preacher…”  Joseph Trueman “had a good share of skill, not only in the Statute and Common Law, but also in the Civil.”  Richard Whitlock was a bachelor of the civil law, and did not take orders until after the Restoration.  Henry Willes was “of great skill in the Law.”

From: English Preachers and Preaching, 1640-1670 by Caroline Francis Richardson (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1928), pp. 154-156.