Home › T › Taylor (JEREMY the modern Chrysostom)

Taylor (JEREMY the modern Chrysostom)

JEREMY, "the modern Chrysostom"; born in Cambridge, England (baptized Aug. 15, 1613). He studied as a sizar at Caius College, and TAYLOR took his degree of M.A. in 1633. Shortly after he was admitted to holy orders, and his fine appearance and vivid eloquence soon attracted admiration. He won Laud's favor, and through the influence of that prelate was made a fellow of All Soul's College, Oxford. In 1638 he was appointed rector of Uppingham in Rutlandshire. In the civil war, Taylor, whose intellect was impregnably entrenched in reverence for ecclesiastical entrenched in reverence for antiquity, naturally took the royal side, and so lost all his preferments. many years he lived in retirement in Wales, busily engaged in writing books.

In 1658 he went, on the invitation of the Earl of Conway, to Ireland. Immediately after the Restoration he was made Bishop of Down and Connor, which see, as also that of Dromore, he held till his death at Lisburne Aug. 13, 1667. Taylor's writings may be classified as prac- JEREMY TAYLOR tical, theological, casuistic, and devotional. Under the first head we have a "Life of Christ" (1649), which deals with the main incidents of the gospel narrative, and steers clear of theological discussions; "Holy Living" (1650) and "Holy Dyin "Holy Dying" (1651), and "Sermons" (1651-1653). To the second class be- (1651-1653). Το long his "Episcopacy Asserted" (1642) a temperate and reasoned defense of the principles of his Church, with which may be classed his "Apology for Authorized and Set Forms of Liturgy," "The Liberty of Prophesying" (1648), "The Doctrine of Repentance, or Unum Necessarium" (1655), a work condemned by his brethren for its arguments as to the nature of sin, and "Dissuasion from Popery" (1647). His chief casuistic work is his "Ductor Dubitantium" (1660), while his best devotional work is his "Golden Grove" (1655).

TAYLOR His writings are distinguished in their best parts by a sweet, rich, and solemn Emerson calls him the "Shakespeare of divines." Personally he was a man of a truly Christian disposition and of such a noble charity that he stands out in gracious contrast to most of his contemporaries. versity College, London; was called to