In 1686, he was reproved for his antipapal preaching and his controversy with the king's chaplain,Lewis Sabran; his pension was stopped. After theGlorious Revolution, he was suspended for refusing the oaths toWilliam III andMary II but yielded before losing his position.[5]
About this time he became involved in theSocinian controversy overUnitarian ideas. In 1690 and 1693, he published works on the doctrine of theTrinity, which ironically helped rather than injured the Socinian cause and involved him in a controversy withRobert South and others.[5] His doctrine was even condemned as heretical atOxford University. Sherlock defended himself inThe Distinction... andPresent State... (both 1696), which however practically gave up on the positions that had been impugned.
The Knowledge of Jesus Christ and Union with Him (1674), which showed his tendencies toward controversy by an attack onPuritan theologianJohn Owen.
A Practical Discourse of Religious Assemblies (1681)
The Case of Resistance of the Supreme Powers Stated and Resolved According to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures (1684), which drew the distinction between active and passive obedience, and was generally accepted by theHigh Church clergy.
The Protestant Resolution of Faith (pamphlet) (1687)
A Preservative Against Popery: Being Some Plain Directions to Unlearned Protestants, How to Dispute With Romish Priests. (1688)
A Practical Discourse Concerning Death (1689), written during the period of his suspension, which became very popular.[5]
A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Holy and Ever Blessed Trinity (1690), in response to Socinianism.
The Case of the Allegiance Due to Sovereign Powers Stated and Resolved According to Scripture and Reason and the Principles of the Church of England (1691), justifying his change of attitude toward William and Mary.
A Discourse Concerning the Divine Providence (1694)
The Distinction Between Real and Nominal Trinitarians Examined, and the Doctrine of a Real Trinity Vindicated From the Charge of Tritheism (1696)
A modest examination of the authority and reasons of the late decree of the vice-chancellor of Oxford, and some heads of colleges and halls: concerning the heresy of three distinct infinite minds in the Holy and Ever-blessed Trinity (1696)
Present State of the Socinian Controversy’' (1696/1698)
A Discourse Concerning the Happiness of Good Men, and the Punishment of the Wicked, in the Next World, &C.
A Practical Discourse Concerning a Future Judgment.
His sermons, collected in two volumes, went through several editions.
^The record of his marriage on 8 Feb. 1672/3- "Sherlock, William, of St George, Botolph Lane, London, clerk, bachelor, about 31, and Elizabeth Gardner, of St Andrew Undershaft, spinster, about 20- mentions also a "William Sherlock, of Christchurch, Surrey, gent.", possibly the groom's father, to whom is attributed a statement regarding the death of the bride's parents- seeLondon marriage licences 1521-1869, ed. Joseph Foster, Bernard Quaritch (London), 1887, p. 1219-1220
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sherlock, William".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 850.
