Politics, Religion and the British Revolutions: The Mind of Samuel Rutherford

by John Coffey

Overview

This book is the first modern intellectual biography of the Scottish theologian and political theorist Samuel Rutherford (c. 1600-1661). Its main purpose is to provide a thorough discussion of Rutherford's religious and political ideas, and their role in the ideology of the Scottish Covenanters whose rebellion against Charles I marked the beginning of the British troubles in the mid-seventeenth century. The book also constitutes an important multidisciplinary case study in the Calvinist and Puritan traditions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521581721
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/14/1997
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Biography; 3. The scholar; 4. The puritan pastor; 5. The reformed theologian; 6. The political theorist; 7. The ecclesiastical statesman; 8. The national prophet; Conclusion: the failure of godly rule; Bibliography of Samuel Rutherford; General bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"Coffey's book constitutes an enthusiastic investigation of an unattractive subject." Choice

"...a thoroughly researched, well-written and persuasively argued book. It fills a gap in the historiography of mid-seventeenth century Scotland, and in addition, will be of interest to anyone working on the English Civil War, Calvinism, Puritanism, or early modern political thought." Martin Greig, Canadian Journal of History

"Coffey thus provides a sophisticated and complex picture of Rutherford, a valuable resource for specialists in the field, be they historians, theologians, or political theorists." Charles Wiley, Religious Studies Review

"This is a very good book. This book is a fine piece of intellectual history centered on the story of one person's mind and activities, richly contextualized. The portrait of Rutherford is convincing, and the exposition of his writings skillful." Dewey D. Wallace, Jr., Church History

"...his attempt to resolve the previously anachronistic view of Rutherford is largely successful because of his attention to textual analysis, educational influences, and historical context. ...Coffey is effective in translating complexities into lay terms. This work is best suited for the specialist and graduate libraries." Daniel W. Holllis III, History

"For a superb analysis of the life and career of Samuel Rutherford (1600-61) and his impact on theology and political theory, this is the work to consult." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"Readers will be grateful..." David George Mullan, The Review of Politics

"John Coffey's mission in this useful, generally thorough, and widely learned study is to penetrate the 'mind' of his subject, showing what harmonies Rutherford could extract from his internal discordances and, no less important, the stops or trumps." Michael Mendle, Journal of Modern History

From the Publisher