Philip Nye (c. 1595–1672) was a leading EnglishIndependent theologian and a member of theWestminster Assembly of Divines.[1] He was the key adviser toOliver Cromwell on matters of religion and regulation of the Church.[2]
Philip Nye was born into a middle-class family inSussex, in about 1595. He entered theUniversity of Oxford as a commoner ofBrasenose College on July 21, 1615.[3] Afterwards he went toMagdalen Hall, Oxford where he studied under aPuritan tutor.[4] He graduated from Magdalen Hall with an Arts degree in 1619 and an M.A. in 1622. He then entered holy orders and becamecurate ofSt Michael's Church,Cornhill, near London.[5] He fell foul of the episcopal court and fled toHolland, spending the years 1633–1640 in exile.[6][7]
Nye co-wrote and promoted theSolemn League and Covenant. Nye along withStephen Marshall "were sent with the commissioners who went from the English Parliament intoScotland, in order to obtain and establish an agreement with the Scottish nation, and to desire their assistance."[12]
He was a member of the parliamentary subcommittee that created the 1644Directory for Public Worship and largely wrote it himself.
In 1647, he was one of the preachers who went from the Parliament to Charles I on theIsle of Wight, in order to save his soul and build a political settlement.[12]
When the monarchy wasrestored in 1660, Nye was initially excluded from the general pardon. That should have meant being hung, drawn and quartered. However, he was included afterwards in the Bill of Indemnity on the condition that he did not accept any ecclesiastical, civil, military or public office.[16] Instead he worked for an independent church as a doctor of theology, until his death in 1672.[17]
Nye and Goodwin co-authoredAn Apologeticall Narration, pleading for toleration ofCalvinist congregations outside a proposedPresbyterian national church.[18] Their text presented to Parliament on 3 January 1644 argued that Congregational churches were closer to the practice ofearly Christians and more suited to the changeability of the times. It meant they could avoid having their views debated at the Westminster Assembly, where they would have been outnumbered and perhaps outvoted.[19] In theWhitehall Debates of 1648, however, Nye backedHenry Ireton's view that toleration should be limited by the state and joined in opposing theRacovian Catechism.[20][21]
Nye was famous for supporting religious freedom and independence. He opposed "a presbytery with a civil state", but otherwise likedPresbyterianism for its staunch scriptural views.[12]
Nye along withThomas Goodwin pleaded forcefully for allowingJews toreturn to England. Their plea had Cromwell's direct encouragement, although wildanti-Semitic rumours and general public antipathy made readmission politically impossible.[22][23]
He was strong an opponent ofastrology, Christmas and superstition in general.[24]
Philip Nye (1643),Two speeches delivered before the subscribing of the Covenant, the 25. of September, at St. Margarets in Westminster, Edinburgh: Printed by Robert Bryson,OL16714330M
Philip Nye (1643),An exhortation to the taking of the Solemne League and Covenant for reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happinesse of the King, and the peace and safety of the three kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, London: s.n.,OL15044211M
Philip Nye (1644),An exhortation to the taking of the Solemne league and covenant for reformation and defence of religion, the hononr [sic] and happinesse of the king, and the peace and safety of the three kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Printed at London: For Ralph Smith ...,OL15040272M
Philip Nye (1646),The Excellency and Lawfulnesse of the Solemne League and Covenant, London: Printed by W. Wilson,OL19935206M
Philip Nye (1658),A declaration of the faith and order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches of England; agreed upon and consented unto by their elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy, October 12. 1658, London: Printed by John Field,OL13914168M
Philip Nye (1660),Beames of former light, discovering how evil it is to impose doubtfull and disputable formes or practises, upon ministers, London: Printed by R.I. for A. Byfield,OL18960457M
Philip Nye (1662),The lawfulnes of the oath of supremacy and power of the civil magistrate in ecclesiastical affairs: and subordination of churches thereunto, London: printed by Peter Cole at the Printing-press in Cornhil neer the Royal Exchange,OL15428961M
Philip Nye (1677),A case of great and present use, London: [s.n.],OL3665216M
Philip Nye (1683),The lawfulnes of hearing the publick ministers of the Church of England proved, London: Printed for Jonathan Robinson ...,OL3664844M
Philip Nye (1683),The lawfulnes of the oath of supremacy, and power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs, London: Printed for Jonathan Robinson ..., and Samuel Crowch ...,OL15040344M
Philip Nye (1687),The King's authority in dispensing with ecclesiastical laws asserted and vindicated, London: Printed for H.N. and Nathanael Ranew ...,OL1678319M
^de Witt, John Richard (1969). Jus Divinum: The Westminster Assembly and the Divine Right of Church Government, page 27 (Th.D. thesis). Kampen, the Netherlands: J. H. Kok. OCLC 31994.
^G. E. Aylmer,Rebellion or Revolution? (1986), p. 179.
^James Reid, Memoirs of the lives and writings of those eminent divines who convened in ... , p. 89.
^Thomas Park,Works of the British Poets, Vol. 5, p. 629.
^T. Osborne, et al. (1762) A New and General Biographical Dictionary: Containing an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the Most Eminent Persons in Every Nation, Particularly the British and Irish, from the Earliest Accounts of Time to the Present Period: Wherein Their Remarkable Actions Or Sufferings, Their Virtues, Parts, and Learning are Accurately Displayed: with a Catalogue of Their Literary Productions, Vol. 8.
^T.C. Hansard, 1808, The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803: From which Last-mentioned Epoch it is Continued Downwards in the Work Entitled "Hansard's Parliamentary Debates." V. 1-36; 1066/1625-1801/03, Vol. 4, p. 91.
