Robert Sanderson

a younger Son of Rob. Sanderson, was born at Rotheram in Yorkshire on the 19 of Sept. 1587 (29 Elizab.) educated in the Grammar School there, sent by his Relations to Linc. Coll. in the beginning of the year 1601, afterwards matriculated ((a))((a)) Reg Matric. P. pag. 395, a member of the University as a Ministers Son, took the degree of Bach. of Arts in Lent term 1604, elected Fellow of the said Coll. 3. May 1606, having then a Metaphysical brain and matchless memory. In Mich. term 1607 he was admitted Master of Arts, and in July following he compleated that degree by standing in the Act. In 1611 he was made Deacon and Priest by Dr. King B. of London, in 1614 he stood to be Proctor of the University, but missed it, and the year after he published his Logick Lectures that he had before read in the publick Refectory of Linc. Coll. So that his name being then famous, he was elected Proctor with great ease and willingness, an. 1616. The next year he was admitted Bach. of Div. and the year after that, became Rector of Wibberton near to Boston in Lincolnshire, but surrendred it up (as he did his Fellowship) in 1619, because it was a bad air. The same year he became Rector of Bothby-paynel in the said County, was made Chaplain to Dr. George Mounteyne Bishop of Lincolne, and not long after Prebendary of the Collegiate Church of Southwell in the Dioc. of York and Preb. of Lincolne. Dr. Laud Bish. of Lond. got him to be Chaplain to K. Ch. 1. by commending him to be excellent in all casuistical learning, and accordingly in Nov. 1631 he was sworn Chaplain in Ordinary. So that having occasion to be somtimes near to him, the said King took great content in conversing with him, whereby our Author gained great credit from the Nobility, and greater from the Clergy, as being esteemed the most known casuist that this Nation ever produced. In 1636 he was actually created D. of D, on the very day that the K. and Court left Oxon, after they had been some days entertained there. In 1641 he, with two more of the Convocation of the Clergy (for he had been usually elected for all Convocations for about 20 years before that time) did draw up some safe alterations in the Service Book, and abated some of the Ceremonies that were least material, for the satisfaction of the Covenanteers, and Presbyterian Party in the Long Parliament. In July 1642, he was nominated by his Majesty the Regius Professor of Divinity of this University, and the same year he was proposed by both Houses of Parliament to the King then at Oxon. to be one of the Trustees for the setling of Church affairs (as Prideaux Bishop of Worcester was) and was allowed of by the King to be so; but that treaty came to nothing. In 1643 he was nominated one of the Assemb. of Divines, but sate not among them. In 1647 he had the most considerable hand in drawing up the University Reasons against the Covenant and negative Oath, and the same year he was sent for by the King, then at a more large imprisonment, with Dr. Hammond, Dr. Sheldon, and Dr. Morley to attend him, in order to advise with them how far he might with a good conscience comply with the proposals of the Parliament, for a Peace in Church and State; which was allowed by the Independents, but denied by the Presbyterians. Afterwards he attended on his Maj. in the Isle of Wight, preached before him, and had many both publick and private conferences with him to his Majesties great satisfaction. About that time his Maj. translated into English our Authors Book De Juramento; which being done, Dr. Juxon, Dr. Hammond and Mr. Tho. Herbert did compare what he had done with the original, as I shall anon tell you. The same year (1648) he was turned out of his Professorship of Divinity by the Parl. Visitors, and so consequently from his Canonry of Ch. Ch. and soon after he retired to his cure at Bothby, where living obscurely, took upon him to put the Kings Meditations in his solitude into Latine, which being half done, Dr. Earle prevented him from finishing it, by doing that work himself. While he remained there, he was plunder’d, imprisoned, wounded, and tho brought into a low and obscure condition, yet many receded to him for the resolution of cases of conscience. Which being also resolved by Letters, many of them have been preserved, and printed for the benefit of posterity. In Aug. 1660 he was restored to his Professorship and Canonry by his Majesties Commissioners, and by the commendations of Dr. Sheldon to his Majesty K. Ch. 2, he was soon after made Bishop of Lincolne, receiving consecration thereunto in the Abbey Church at Westminster, 28. Oct. the same year. After which, retiring to his Mannour of Bugden in Huntingdonshire belonging to his See, he bestowed much money in repairing his House or Pallace there. All Authors especially those that are famous, do speak honorably of him. The learned Usher of Armagh stiles him judicious Sanderson, upon the return of a case he proposed to him; and Hammond, that stayed and well weighed man Dr. Sanderson, &c. who receiveth things deliberately and dwells upon them discreetly. Besides also his great knowledge in the Fathers and Schoolmen, and profoundness in controversial Divinity, he was exactly vers’d in the Histories of our Nation, whether antient or modern, was a most curious Antiquary and an indefatigable searcher into antient records, as his labors in Mss. which he left behind him do evidently shew. One of them which is a large thick folio, I have seen and perused, containing, all under his own hand, collections from registers, leiger books, rolls, evidences in the hands of private Gentlemen, &c. evidences belonging to Cathedral and other Churches, &c.—This Book is endorsed with Cartae X, shewing that there were other Volumes, as indeed there are, in number about twenty, (as I have been told by Hen. Symmons his somtimes Secretary) which are, as I conceive, dispersed in several hands. He was also a compleat Herald and Genealogist, made several collections of English Genealogies, and also of monumental inscriptions and Arms in Churches and Windows wheresoever he went. His care also was so great for the preservation of them from ruin, that when he published Articles of Enquiry, in order to the visiting of his Diocess in 1661, he, in the conclusion of them, desired the Ministers to make a return of all such monumental Inscriptions, and Arms in Windows, that were in their respective Churches. But many of them being ignorant of such matters, made very imperfect and halt returns. However he carefully preserved them so long as he lived, and what became of them after his death, I cannot tell. His published works are these.

Logicae Artis Compendium. Oxon 1615. 18. 40. &c. oct. there again 1680, the ninth Edit. in oct.

Several Sermons as (1) Two Sermons on Rom. 14.3. and on Rom. 3.8. Lond. 1622. qu. (2) Twenty Sermons. Lond. 1626. fol, among which are the two former. (3) Two Serm. on 1. Tim. 4.4. and Gen. 20.6. Lond. 1628. qu. (4) Twelve Serm. viz three ad Clorum, three ad Magistratum and six ad Populum. Lond. 1626. and 32. fol. (5) Two Serm. on 2. Pet. 2.16. and Rom. 14 23. Lond. 1635. qu. (6) Twenty Serm. formerly preached, viz. sixteen ad Aulam, three ad Magistratum, and one ad Populum. Lond. 1656. fol. The next year were fourteen of his Sermons reprinted, to joyn with the aforesaid twenty, together with a large Preface, by the same Author. Which fourteen were thus divided, viz. Four ad Clerum, three ad Magistratum, and seven ad Populum. It was the fourth time that they were then printed. In 1660 they were all (in number 34) reprinted in folio, and again in 1681 with another ad Aulam and another ad Clerum added, which make up the number of 36. (7th. edit.) with the Authors life before them, written by Is. Walton, &c. As most books of later composure, so more, especially Sermons within the compass of a few years, undergo very different characters, and meet with a quite contrary entertainment in the World: And this I conceive comes to pass, because the way and manner of preaching is in a short time much altered from what it was but a little before. Insomuch that in compliance with the whimsical and ridiculous fickleness of an humoursome age, what of this kind was but just now received from the Press with all possible marks of acceptance and approbation, is soon after, as not suited to the fashionable mode of the nice and delicate palet of the present times, decryed and condemned by the same Persons as flat, dull and insipid. Notwithstanding this observation generally almost holds good, yet Dr. Sandersons Sermons, and indeed all his other genuine works, have not by their age lost the least of their former repute. For such is that solidity and clearness of reason which runs through all his discourses and writings, pen’d in such a manly and lasting a language, that so long as men make these the only tests and measures of their judgings and censures, as they do still, so must they needs likewise in after ages continue in the greatest esteem and veneration, and he be always placed in the highest and first rank of English writers.

Two cases of conscience resolved. Lond. 1628. oct. Three more added—Lond. 1667. 8. oct. Another—Lond. 1674 and another in 1678. In all nine, and repr. 1678 and 1685. in oct.

De juramenti promissorii obligatione praelectiones septem in Schola Theol. Oxon. 1646. Lond. 1647. 70. 76. and 83. in oct. Printed also at Lond. in Engl. 1655. oct. This is the book which I have before hinted, that was translated into English by K. Ch. 1. writ with his own hand, and by him shew’d to his Servants Jam. Harrington and Tho. Herbert, commanding them then to examine it with the original, which they did and found it accurately translated. Not long after his Maj. communicated it to Dr. Juxon B. of Lond, Dr. Hammond and Dr. Sheldon his Majesties Chaplains in ordinary, but the particular time when, I cannot tell.

Oratio habita in Schola Theol. Oxon. cum publicam professionem auspicaretur, 26. oct. 1646. Lond. 1647. 70. 76. 83. oct.

Censure of M [•] . A. A. his book of the confusions and revolutions of Government. Lond. 1649. The next year came out a reply to that censure by Anon.

De obligatione conscientiae praelectiones decem, Oxonii in Schola Theol. habitae, an. 1647. Lond. 1660. 70. 76. 82. oct. The same in English came out with this title. Several cases of conscience discussed in 10 Lectures at Oxon. Lond. 1660. oct. Published at the instant desire of Rob. Boyle Esq. an encourager of Dr. Sandersons studies in the time of his affliction.

Episcopacy (as established by law in England) not prejudicial to regal power, &c. Lond. 1661. 73. 83. oct.

His judgment for setling the Church, in exact resolutions of sundry grand cases. Oxon. 1663. qu. This is at the end of a book intit. Reason and judgment: or, special remarks of the life of Dr. Sanderson late Bishop of Linc. Reprinted (I mean His judgment) at Lond. 1678. oct.

Physicae scientiae compendium. Oxon. 1671. oct. Whether ever before printed I know not.

His judgment concerning submission to Usurpers. Lond. 1678. oct.

Pax Ecclesiae. Lond. 1678. oct. in English. These two with His judgment for setling, &c. before mention’d, and the Oxford reasons, are to be seen in his life printed in oct.

Discourse concerning the Church, in these particulars. (1) concerning the visibility of the true Church. (2) concerning the Church of Rome, &c. Lond. 1688 in about 5 [•] h. in qu. Published by Dr. Will. Assheton of Brasn. Coll. from a Ms. copy which he had from Mr. Josias Pullen of Magd. Hall in Oxon, Domestick Chaplain to the said Bishop at the time of his death. He also had the chief hand in a book intit. Reason [•] of the University of Oxon against the Covenant, &c. wherein the matters that refer to reason and conscience are his; yet notwithstanding, tho Dr. Zouch drew up the Law part, the whole goes under his name. He also wrot (1) The large Preface before a book which he faithfully published out of the original copy, entit. The power communicated by God to the Prince, and the obedience required of the Subjects. Lond. 1660. 1. in qu. there again in 1683 oct. Written by Dr. Jam. Usher Archb. of Armagh (2) The Preface to a collection of Treatises made by the said Archb. bearing the title of—Clavi Trabales: or, nails fastned by some great Masters of Assemblies, &c published by Nich. Bernard D. D.—Lond. 1661. It consists of several Treatises written by Dr. Usher, Mr. Ric. Hooker, Lanc. Andrews, Adr. Saravia, &c. (3) Prophecies concerning the return of Popery. Printed in a book intit. Fair warning: the second part. Lond. 1663. and left a fragment of an Answer to Dr. Tho. Baylies Challenge: Which challenge a certain ((*))((*)) Will. Assheton in his Epistle before Bish. Sandersons Discourse of the Church, &c. before mention’d. Author calls a piece of transparent Sophistry, as was ever called Demonstration: And tho the weakness and inconsequence of it hath been sufficiently displayed, yet such is the pleasure of some men, that it hath been printed and reprinted with as much assurance, as if not the least notice had been ever taken of it. He also had the chief hand in reviewing the Common Prayer at the Savoy, an. 1661 being one of the Commissioners appointed for that purpose, and was the Author and Writer of several Letters to Dr. Hammond, in Dr. Hammonds works, about those knotty points, which are by the learned called the Quinquarticular controversie. Several Treatises also he had laying by him, which were esteemed by those that had seen them most worthy of publication; but a little before his death, he caused them to be burnt, least after, they might come out imperfectly for lucre sake. He surrendred up his pious Soul to God on Thursday 29 of January, in sixteen hundred sixty and two, and was buried in the Chancel of his Church at Bugden before mention’d, in the 76 year of his age.1662/3. Over his grave was soon after a marble stone laid, with an Inscription engraven thereon, made by himself, a Copy of which being printed in Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. shall be now omitted, and in its room shall this be said, that whether you consider him in his writings or conversation, from his first book of Logick to his Divinity Lectures, Sermons and other excellent discourses, the vastness of his judgment, the variety of his learning, all laid out for publick benefit, his unparallel’d meekness, humility and constancy, you cannot but confess that the Church of England could not loose a greater pillar, a better man, and more accomplish’d Divine. Pray be pleased to see more of him in a book entit. The life of Dr. Sanderson late Bishop of Lincolne. Lond. 1678. oct. Written by Isaac Walton, and in the book before mention’d, entit. Reason and judgment: or, special remarks, &c.