To Meddle with Matters of State: Political Sermons in England, c.1660-c.1700

by Christoph Ketterer

Overview

The thesis analyses political preaching during the reigns of Charles II (1660-1685) and James II (1685-1688/89). It argues that the political importance of sermons preached at court, before Parliament and in the churches of London, is based on the unsolved political, and confessional tensions of the era. Preachers relatively freely discussed questions of religious tolerance, models of political power, and could offer counsel and criticism to those in power. They were in a position to influence the political and religious discourse of Restoration England. In addition, a refined culture of reception existed, showing that a sermon was as much a performance as a text. Sermons therefore continued to be of central importance for the political and religious discourse of the Restoration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783847110774
Publisher:	V&R unipress
Publication date:	03/09/2020
Series:	The Early Modern World , #2
Edition description:	1. Auflage
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.09(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Christoph Ketterer studied English Language and Literature, and Modern History at the University of Freiburg, and Concordia University Montréal, Canada. He received his PhD from the University of Hamburg in 2018.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Conventions and Abbreviations 9

1 Introduction 11

1.1 Problem Statement and Outline 13

2 Defining the Political Sermon: Research and Approach 17

2.1 Conceptual Approaches 19

2.2 Political Sermons in a Multiconfessional Environment 26

3 Experiencing Sermons 41

3.1 "A Pattern to all Other Churches": The Chapel Royal 43

3.2 "Fitted for Auditories": Westminster Abbey, St Margaret's, and London Churches 60

3.3 "Every Day Six Masses": Roman Catholic Chapels 73

3.4 "Difference and Contrariety": Expectations and Evaluations of Preaching 78

3.5 "Like Water Passing through a Cave": Sermon Reception 94

3.6 "Almost as It Was Spoken": Sermons in Print and Writing 107

3.7 "Popish Pamphlets": English Catholic Court Preaching and Preachers 122

4 Preaching the Restoration 131

4.1 "Their Powerful Engine for Supplanting the Church": Restoring Control of the Pulpits 131

4.2 "God's Counsel from the Mouth of His Messengers": Visions of the Restoration 139

4.3 "In the Beginning It Was not So": Thomas Pierce and the Thwarting of Indulgence 160

5 Preaching on Magistracy and Ministry 177

5.1 "Two Distinct Powers": Church and King 178

5.2 "An Act Worthy of the Royal Fiat": Preaching on the Conventicle Acts 186

5.3 "Nothing so Traiterous as Vice": Propagating a Moral Vision 200

5.4 "We Make the King Like Christ": Anniversary Day Preaching in Charles II's Reign 219

6 Preaching at the Court of James II 253

6.1 "The Kings New Chappell for the Mass": lames II's Roman Catholic Chapel Royal 253

6.2 "A Hero Truly Christian": lames II and Pious Kingship 267

6.3 "A Voice that Was Never Yet Heard within these Walls": Connecting England and Catholicism 293

6.4 "The Same Birthright as You": Vindicating Catholicism and Fighting the Penal Laws 307

6.5 "Weather out a Captivity": Anglican Preaching under James II 324

7 Conclusion 341

8 Bibliography 349

8.1 Primary Manuscript Sources 349

8.2 Primary Printed Sources (Edited) 350

8.3 Primary Printed Sources (Unedited) 352

8.4 Secondary Sources 376

Index 399