Richard Greenham was one of the most important and respected figures among the Elizabethan clergy. His contemporaries described him as the founder of a previously unknown pastoral art: the cure of cases of conscience. Despite his fame in the Elizabethan period as a model pastor, pioneer in reformed casuistry, and founder of one of the first rectory seminaries, scholars have made little use of his life and works in their study of Elizabethan religious life. This study restores Richard Greenham to the central place he held in the development of Elizabethan Reformed parochial ministry. The monograph-length introduction includes a biography, an analysis of his pastoral style, and a study of his approach to curing cases of conscience. The transcription of Rylands English Manuscript 524, cross-referenced with the published editions of the sayings, offers a useful source to scholars who wish to study the collecting and 'framing' process of the humanist pedagogical tradition. The selection of early published works includes Greenham's (unfinished) catechism, treatises on the Sabbath and marriage, and advice on reading scripture and educating children.

About the Author
Kenneth L. Parker, Eric J. Carlson

Reviews
'...encourage[s] historians to focus their attention not on sterile academic debates about theology, or the definition of a puritan, but on the parishes of England, where ministers sought to put their theology into practice.' Continuity and Change, Vol. 14, No. 3 '...a highly satisfying work...beautifully produced...it has great value for all who want to trace the way in which the thought of the Reformation was transmitted to the people of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.' The Banner of Truth, No. 440 'Professors Carlson and Parker have broadened access to a magnificent primary source, employing their editorial sensitivity and their splendid critical acumen to produce a volume that will prove a crucial ingredient in our comprehension of early modern godly spirituality.' The Seventeenth Century, Vol. XIV, no. 1 'Parker and Carlson provide a superbly nuanced and subtle reading of Greenham's writings set within the context of his pastoral concerns...Practical Divinity is a model account.' Ecclesiastical History 'This superb re-instatement of a long-forgotten Elizabethan pastor is wholly recommended... An excellent resource for all students of Reformed pastoral practice and the human heart under varied spiritual conditions.' Peace and Truth



Book Information
ISBN 9781840142006
Author Kenneth L. Parker
Format Hardback
Page Count 424
Imprint Ashgate Publishing Limited
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g