Goodwin, John

Goodwin, John, an eminent Arminian divine, was born in 1593, and was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he became fellow in 1617. In 1633 he became vicar of St. Stephen's, Coleasman Street, London, from which he was ejected in 1645 for refusing to administer baptism and the Lord's supper promiscuously. He was a man of great courage, eloquence, and eaiergy; and, though an Independent in Church government, he was a zealous Arminian in doctrine. At the Restoration he was exempted from pardon; but no measures were taken against him, and he died in 1665. He wrote The divine Authority of the Scriptures asserted (Lond. 1648, 4to): — Redemption redeemed, wherein the most glorious Work of the Redemption of the World by Jesus Christ is vindicated against the Encroachments of latter Times (London, 1651, fob. new ed. 1840, 8vo): — Exposition of Romans ix (new ed. by T. Jackson, London, 1835, 8vo): — Imputatio Fidei, a Treatise of Justification (London, 1642, 4to). This last treatise was published in an abridged form (12mo) by Mr. Wesley, who held Goodwin's works in high esteem. A summary of Christian Theology selected from Goodwin was published by S. Dunn (London, 1836, 12mo); and Goodwin's Life has also been written by Reverend T. Jackson (London, 1839, 8vo). John Goodwin was in advance of his age, not only in his theology, but also in his broad views ofthe nature of the Church and of'toleration. His writings "contributed greatly to the diffusion of sound doctrines on religious liberty. "Had Redemption Redeemed been his only publication, it should have been enough of itself to perpetuate his fame. Its great learning, clear reasoning, sound judgment, an admirable spirit, render it worthy of the study of all lovers of this glorious doctrine, and the name of its author. one which all Arminians should delight to honor. A volume so ably written, and going to the bottom of the controversy, could not in that polemic age, fail of creating a storms. The pulpits rang with charges of heresy. The press groaned with sermons, pamphlets, and books. Some were bitterly scurrilous. Dr. Hill, master of Trinity College, Cambridge, charged him with falsifying his quotations, and with the aerors of Pelasius. Resbury wrote very much in the spirit of Edwards. Robert Baillie seems to have taken Prynne for his model. Barlow, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, alones among the crowd addressed him in a style of manliness and Christian candor, speaking of his learning and talents with compliment and respect. George Kendall filled two folios, and actually removed to London that he might watch Goodwin and the better oppose him and his doctrine. He says of himself that though he sometimes sneers, he never snarls or bites. He doubtless tells the truth about the sneering and the biting. Toplady thought the Redemption Redeemed was effectually answered by Kendall. 'If it was,' says Sellon, 'I will eat it, as tough a morsel as it is.' Dr. John Owens, then vice-chancellor at Oxford, and overwhelmed with labors deemed it necessary to employ eight hundred and fifty octavo pages in a reply to the seven chapters on the Perseverance of the Saints" (D.A. Whedon, in Methodist Quaest. Rev. July 1863, page 371; Meth. Q. Rev. October 1869, art. 1). — Hook, Eccles. Biog. 5:339; Allibone Dict. of Authors, 1:704; Neal, Hist. of the Puritans.