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John Spencer (priest)

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

English clergyman and scholar

For other people named John Spencer, seeJohn Spencer.

Not to be confused withJohn Spenser, President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

John Spencer


Born	1630
Died	27 May 1693 (aged 62–63)

Arms of John Spencer, ceiling, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge:*Dean of Ely impaling Spencer (ancient)*

John Spencer (1630–1693) was an Englishclergyman and scholar, and Master ofCorpus Christi College, Cambridge. An eruditetheologian andHebraist, he is best remembered as the author ofDe Legibus Hebraeorum, a pioneer work ofcomparative religion, in which he advanced the thesis thatJudaism was not the earliest of mankind's religions.^[1]

Life

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He was a native ofBocton, nearBlean,Kent, where he was baptised on 31 October 1630. He was educated at theKing's School, Canterbury, became king's scholar there, and was admitted to a scholarship of Archbishop Parker's foundation in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 25 March 1645. He graduated B.A. in 1648, M.A. in 1652, B.D. in 1659, and D.D. in 1665. He was chosen a fellow of his college about 1655.^[2]

After taking holy orders he became a university preacher, served the cures first of St Giles and then of St Benedict, Cambridge, and on 23 July 1667 was instituted to the rectory ofLandbeach,Cambridgeshire, which he resigned in 1683 in favour of his nephew and curate, William Spencer. On 3 August 1667, he was unanimously elected master of Corpus Christi College, a post he held for 26 years.

He was admitted, on the presentation of the king, to thearchdeaconry of Sudbury in the church of Norwich on 5 September 1667; and was instituted to thedeanery of Ely on 9 September 1677. He died on 27 May 1693, and was buried in the college chapel, where a monument with a Latin inscription was erected to his memory.

Works

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Urim and Thummim

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In 1669, he published aDissertatio de Urin. et Thummin (Cambridge, 8vo),^[3] in which he referred these mystic emblems to an Egyptian origin. (SeeUrim and Thummim.) The tract was republished in the following year, and afterwards, in 1744, byBlasius Ugolinus inThesaurus Antiquitatum.

De Legibus Hebraeorum

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In 1685, appeared Spencer's major work, hisDe Legibus Hebraeorum, Ritualibus et earum Rationibus libri tres (Cambridge, 1685; The Hague, 1686). Spencer here conducts a "full-fledged historical investigation" ofMosaic law. According toJan Assmann, "Spencer's project was to demonstrate the Egyptian origin of the ritual laws of the Hebrews." He acknowledged his debt toMoses Maimonides, hisGuide for the Perplexed (circa 1190). While Spencer discovered the influence of Egyptian practices, Maimonides did not. Knowledge ofEgypt came fromancient sources. Spencer considered that "the Israelites to whom the Law was given were culturally Egyptians." As history, Spencer's interest was in "reconstructing the 'temporal circumstances' of Moses' laws."^[4] Spencer drew on the classical writers of Greece and Rome, theChurch Fathers,Josephus, and the Bible. Later, Assmann returned to this subject, discussing Spencer andMaimonides, and thatKarl Leonhard Reinhold took Spencer's approach.^[5]^[6] Spencer concludes that "God gave the Jews a religion that was carnal only in its frontispiece, but divine and wonderful in its interior in order to accommodate his institutions to the taste and usage of the time... ."^[7]

Among adverse critics to hisDe Legibus Hebraeorum wereHermann Witsius in hisAegyptiaca in 1683, Joannes Wigersma,^[8] Ibertus Fennema,^[9] Andreas Kempfer and Joannes Meyer,^[10]John Edwards (1637–1716), andJohn Woodward. Later writers hostile to Spencer's thesis wereWilliam Jones of Nayland, and Archbishop Magee, who rebukedWilliam Warburton for defending Spencer against Witsius.

A second edition of Spencer's work appeared at Cambridge in 1727, (revised byLeonard Chappelow), and another at Tübingen, 1732. Given the religious views at the time, it was indexed inThe Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature: K.Q (byWilliam Thomas Lowndes, published by W. Pickering, 1834, see p. 1722) as "a very learned but dangerous work, the great object of which is to show that the Hebrew ritual was almost entirely borrowed from the Egyptians."^[11]

Later works oncomparative religion, such asJulius Wellhausen'sHistory of Israel (1878) andCornelis Petrus Tiele'sHistoire Comparée des Anciennes Religions de l'Egypte et des Peuples Sémitiques [1882], developed the lines of thought in Spencer.

A Discourse concerning Prodigies

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Spencer also wroteA Discourse concerning Prodigies, wherein the vanity of Presages by them is reprehended, and their true and proper Ends asserted and vindicated, London, 1663; 2nd edit.,to which is added a short Treatise concerning Vulgar Prophecies, London, 1665. The former edition was read bySamuel Pepys, who called it "most ingeniously writ, both for matter and style."^[12]

Family

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He married Hannah, daughter of Isaac Puller of Hertford, and sister of Timothy Puller. She died in 1674, having had one daughter (Elizabeth) and one son (John).

In 1667, while Spencer was Master, his daughter was entertaining a young undergraduate when her father interrupted them. She hid the student in a wardrobe (which college records state only opened from the outside) where he was left for a long time and asphyxiated. Elizabeth, in a fit of grief, committed suicide.^[13]^[14]

Notes

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^Margaret T. Hodgen,Early Anthropology in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (1971), p. 330.
^"Spencer, John (SPNR645J)".A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^Jan Assmann,Moses the Egyptian. The memory of Egypt in western monotheism (Harvard University 1997), p.56 (different spelling, 1670).
^Assmann,Moses the Egyptian (1997), pp. 56-61 ("historical" quote 59, "ritual" quote 57, Maimonides did not 57-60, sources 59). Cf., pp. 61-69, 69-77 ("Israelites" quote 70, "reconstructing" quote 71), 77-79.
^Jan Assmann, "Moses as Go-Between: John Spencer's Theory of Religious Translation", in: Andreas Höfele, Werner von Koppenfels (eds.),Renaissance Go-betweens: cultural exchange in early modern Europe, Walter de Gruyter, 2005,ISBN 3-11-018215-7.
^Assmann,Moses the Egyptian (1997), pp. 115-117 (Reinhold's 1788 book and Spencer).
^Spencer,De Legibus Hebraeorum, vol. 1, p.157, quoted by Assmann (1997), p.79.
^"Wigersma, Johannes". Thesaurus.cerl.org. Retrieved10 January 2015.
^"Link". Archived fromthe original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved22 January 2011.
^[1]Archived July 20, 2011, at theWayback Machine
^Lowndes,The Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature (1834).
^Diary, 1 June 1664.
^Rackham, Oliver (2002).Treasures of Silver at Corpus Christi College. Cambridge University Press.ISBN 0-521-81880-X.
^[2]Archived July 29, 2014, at theWayback Machine

References

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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: "Spencer, John (1630-1693)".Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Academic offices
Preceded by Francis Wilford	Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 1667–1693	Succeeded by William Stanley

v t e Deans of Ely
Early modern	Robert Steward Andrew Perne John Bell Humphrey Tyndall Henry Caesar/Adelmare William Fuller William Beale Richard Love Henry Ferne Edward Martin Francis Wilford Robert Mapletoft John Spencer John Lambe John Wickart Charles Roderick Robert Moss John Frankland Peter Allix Hugh Thomas William Cooke
Late modern	William Pearce James Wood George Peacock Harvey Goodwin Charles Merivale Charles Stubbs Alexander Kirkpatrick Lionel Blackburne Patrick Hankey Michael Carey Allan Shaw William Patterson Michael Higgins Michael Chandler David Pritchard (Acting) Mark Bonney

v t e Archdeacons of Sudbury
High Medieval	William son of Humphrey Baldwin of Boulogne Reiner Roger Robert of Gloucester Alan de Beccles Roger Pincerna William de Clare Thomas Ingoldsthorpe Constantine de Mildenhall Ralph de Fornham Ralph of York
Late Medieval	Henry de Bradenham Alan de Ely Simon de Creake Firmin de Lavenham Gilbert de Marewell Richard Lyng Walter Elvedon Thomas de Winchester Thomas de Methelwold Henry de la Zouche William Graa de Trusthope John Hambleton John de Lincoln Hugh Sturmy Thomas Grene Hugh Gaudeby Thomas Hetersete Richard Maudeleyn Thomas Hetersete(again) Eudo de la Zouche Roger Wodehele Thomas Rodborne Clement Denston John Wiggenhall John Selot Nicholas Goldwell John Jeffreys Thomas Shenkwyn John Finneys William Stillington Thomas Larke Richard Woleman Miles Spencer
Early modern	Thomas Aldriche John Still Tertullian Pyne Cuthbert Norris Theophilus Kent Anthony Sparrow John Spencer Nicholas Clagett Brampton Gurdon John Chapman John Gooch George Glover
Late modern	Lord Arthur Hervey Frank Chapman Arthur Livingstone George Hodges William Farmiloe Eric Buckley Maxwell Maxwell-Gumbleton, Bishop of Dunwich Hugh Norton Harry Barton David Maddock, Bishop of Dunwich Kenneth Child Donald Smith Richard Garrard John Cox David Brierley David Jenkins

v t e Masters of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Thomas de Eltisle Richard Treton John Kynne John de Necton Richard de Billingford John Tytleshall John Botwright Walter Smyth Simon Grene Thomas Cosyn John Edyman Peter Nobys William Sowode Matthew Parker Lawrence Moptyd John Pory Thomas Aldrich Robert Norgate John Copcot John Jegon Thomas Jegon Samuel Walsall Henry Butts Richard Love Peter Gunning Francis Wilford John Spencer William Stanley Thomas Green Samuel Bradford Matthias Mawson Edmund Castle John Green John Barnardiston William Colman Philip Douglas John Lamb James Pulling Edward Perowne Robert Caldwell Edmund Pearce Will Spens George Paget Thomson Frank Godbould Lee Duncan Wilson Michael McCrum Tony Wrigley Haroon Ahmed Alan Wilson Oliver Rackham Stuart Laing. Christopher Kelly

Masters of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

v t e Vice-chancellors of the University of Cambridge
15th century	Thomas Ashwell Henry Stockton Nicholas de Swaffham Nicholas Gay William Millington John Roclyffe Thomas Stoyle William Uttyng William Smyth Edmund Conisborough Thomas Stoyle William Towne Thomas Tuppin John Riplingham John Camberton William Rawson William Stockdale John Dolman Henry Rudd John Smith John Smith Henry Babington
16th century	John Fisher Humphrey Fitzwilliam Geoffrey Knight John Smith Richard Burton John Eccleston William Robson William Buckenham Thomas Thompson John Fawne John Eccleston Robert Dowsing Edmund Natares John Watson Edmund Natares Thomas Stackhouse John Edmunds Thomas Green Henry Bullock Edmund Natares John Edmunds William Buckmaster John Watson Simon Haynes John Crayford Francis Mallet George Day William Buckmaster John Edmunds Francis Mallet Richard Standish John Edmunds Richard Standish John Edmunds Sir Thomas Smith John Madew Matthew Parker John Madew William Bill Matthew Parker Walter Haddon John Madew Andrew Perne Edward Hawford Edwin Sandys John Young William Glyn Cuthbert Scott Andrew Perne John Pory Robert Brassey Edmund Cosyn Andrew Perne Henry Harvey Philip Baker Francis Newton Edward Hawford Robert Beaumont John Stokes Robert Beaumont Roger Kelke Richard Longworth John Young John May John Whitgift Roger Kelke Thomas Byng John Whitgift Andrew Perne John Still Roger Goad Richard Howland Thomas Byng John Hatcher Andrew Perne William Fulke John Bell Richard Howland Robert Norgate Humphrey Tindall John Copcot Thomas Legge Thomas Nevile Thomas Preston Robert Some Thomas Legge John Still John Duport Roger Goad John Jegon Robert Some John Jegon
17th century	John Duport William Smith John Cowell Richard Clayton Samuel Harsnett Roger Goad Thomas Jegon John Duport Fogge Newton Barnabas Gooch (or Goche) Valentine Cary Clement Corbet Samuel Harsnett Owen Gwyn John Hills John Richardson William Branthwaite John Gostlin Robert Scott Samuel Ward Leonard Mawe Jerome Beale Thomas Paske John Mansell John Gostlin Henry Smyth Thomas Bainbridge Matthew Wren Henry Butts Thomas Comber Benjamin Lany Richard Love William Beale Henry Smyth Thomas Comber Ralph Brownrigg John Cosin Richard Holdsworth Ralph Brownrigg Thomas Hill John Arrowsmith Anthony Tuckney Thomas Horton Benjamin Whichcote Samuel Bolton Richard Minshull Lazarus Seaman John Lightfoot Theophilus Dillingham John Worthington John Bond William Dillingham Henry Ferne Henry Ferne Edward Rainbowe William Dillingham James Fleetwood Anthony Sparrow Francis Wilford John Howorth James Fleetwood Edmund Boldero James Duport John Breton Robert Mapletoft William Wells John Spencer Edmund Boldero Isaac Barrow Sir Thomas Page Thomas Holbech Francis Turner John Eachard Humphrey Gower Nathaniel Coga John Copleston Henry James Samuel Blyth William Saywell John Peachell John Balderston John Montagu John Covel James Johnson Charles Roderick Gabriel Quadring George Oxenden William Stanley Thomas Browne John Eachard Henry James Sir William Dawes Thomas Green Richard Bentley
18th century	Thomas Richardson Charles Ashton George Bramston Sir John Ellys Bardsey Fisher John Balderston Edward Lany John Covel Charles Roderick Nathaniel Lloyd Gabriel Quadring John Adams Thomas Green Thomas Sherlock Daniel Waterland William Grigg SirThomas Gooch Thomas Crosse Andrew Snape William Savage John Davies Joseph Craven Robert Lambert John Frankland Robert Lambert Matthias Mawson Charles Morgan Roger Long William Towers John Adams John Wilcox William Richardson John Whalley Edward Hubbard Sir Edward Simpson William Sedgwick Robert Smith William George Kenrick Prescot George Rooke Edmund Castle Francis Parris Thomas Chapman Edmund Keene John Wilcox Philip Yonge Hugh Thomas Edmund Law John Sumner John Green Lynford Caryl Sir James Burrough George Sandby Robert Plumptre Peter Godard William Elliston John Barnardiston William Samuel Powell John Smith Sir James Marriott John Hinchliffe William Richardson John Sumner James Brown William Cooke Lynford Caryl Hon. Barton Wallop Richard Farmer John Chevallier Hugh Thomas Robert Plumptre William Colman Lowther Yates John Barker Richard Beadon John Torkington Peter Peckard Joseph Turner Sir James Marriott William Elliston Richard Farmer Francis Barnes William Pearce William Craven Thomas Postlethwaite Isaac Milner William Colman Lowther Yates Philip Douglas Richard Fisher Belward Robert Cory Humphrey Sumner William Lort Mansel William Gretton
19th century	Joseph Proctor Humphrey Sumner Martin Davy John Torkington Joseph Turner William Pearce Francis Barnes Edward Pearson Isaac Milner Philip Douglas Thomas Browne John Davie Robert Cory William Chafy George Thackeray John Kaye James Wood William Webb George Neville William Frere Christopher Wordsworth William French Henry Godfrey John Lamb Thomas Le Blanc Joseph Proctor Christopher Wordsworth Martin Davy Gilbert Ainslie William Chafy George Thackeray John Graham William Webb Joshua King William French George Archdall Gilbert Ainslie Thomas Worsley William Hodgson Ralph Tatham John Graham George Archdall William Whewell William Hodgson Robert Phelps Ralph Tatham Henry Philpott Robert Phelps Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell George Corrie Richard Okes James Pulling Thomas Geldart Edwin Guest William Whewell Henry Philpott William Henry Bateson Latimer Neville George Phillips Edward Atkinson Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell William Hepworth Thompson Edward Atkinson John Power Henry Wilkinson Cookson Samuel Phear Edward Atkinson John Power Edward Perowne James Porter Norman Macleod Ferrers Charles Swainson Charles Taylor Charles Edward Searle Henry Montagu Butler John Peile Augustus Austen Leigh Charles Smith Alexander Hill William Chawner
20th century	Adolphus Ward Frederic Chase Edward Beck Ernest Stewart Roberts Arthur James Mason Robert Forsyth Scott Stuart Alexander Donaldson M. R. James Thomas Fitzpatrick Arthur Shipley Peter Giles Edmund Pearce Albert Seward George Weekes Thomas Fitzpatrick Allen Beville Ramsay Will Spens J. F. Cameron Godfrey Wilson Henry Roy Dean Ernest Alfred Benians John Archibald Venn Thomas Hele Henry Thirkill Charles E. Raven Sydney Castle Roberts SirLionel Whitby Henry Willink Brian Downs Edgar Adrian Herbert Butterfield Ivor Jennings John Boys Smith Arthur Armitage Eric Ashby Owen Chadwick William Alexander Deer Jack Linnett Rosemary Murray Alan Cottrell Peter Swinnerton-Dyer Harry Hinsley John Butterfield Richard Adrian, 2nd Baron Adrian Michael McCrum
Full-time	Sir David Williams Sir Alec Broers Dame Alison Richard Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Stephen Toope Deborah Prentice

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