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John Biddle (1615-1662)
by bro.Muhammad Ata ur-Rahim
John Biddle, the Father of Unitarianism in England, was born in 1615. He was a brilliant student and was described as a man who "outran his instructors and became tutor to himself"1. He went to the University at Oxford in 1634, was made a B.A. in 1638 and an M.A. in1641. After leaving Oxford he was appointed as a teacher in the free School of St. Mary de Crypt in Gloucester. Here he began to re-examine his religious views, and began to doubt the validity of the doctrine of the Trinity. He was influenced by the thought of the European unitarians for the teaching of Socianus had by now made its way to England. A Latin version of the Racovian Cathechism had been sent to England with a dedication to King James. It was burnt by the hangman in public in 1614. Although the book might be burnt, its contents caught the interest of the public. Steps were taken to discredit it. John Owen, who was commissioned by the Council of State under Cromwell to refute the teaching of Socianus, is recorded as saying :"Do not look upon these things as things far off wherein you are little concerned, the evil is at the door ; there is not a city, a town, scarce a village in England wherein some of the poison is not poured forth1.
These attempts to uphold the accepted dogmas of the church met with opposition. William Chillingworth (1602-1644), condemned "the mischief of creeds which led to the persecutions, burning, cursing, damning of men for not subscribing to the words of men, as the word of God"2. Jeremy Taylor and Milton both affirmed that "the faithful pursuit of reason did not make a heretic. The mischief lay in the influences that perverted the will "3. the debate spread, and more steps were taken by those in authority to protect the belief in the Trinity. In June 1640, the Conventions of Canterbury and York decided to prohibit the import, printing and circulation of Socian books. Priests were ordered not to preach the Socian doctrines , and everyone was warned that anyone who believed in these doctrines would be excommunicated. A number of authors and thinkers denounced this decision, but to no effect.
It was in this climate of reappraisal and fresh examination that Biddle's own views underwent a change, especially in connection with the doctrine of Trinity. He spoke freely about them and as a result was asked by the Magistrates go give them a written confession of faith in 1644. This he did in simple language :"I believe there is one Almighty Essence called God. So there is only One person in Essence"4.
The more he suffered, the more convinced he became about the errors of the prevailing religion supported by the established Church. Thomas Firmin, who had helped Biddle in the past, continued to help him by providing him with money which made his life in prison as comfortable as it could be. Meanwhile sympathy for Biddle increased far and wide. The more he suffered, the more popular his creed became. The Government asked Dr. John Owen to counteract the effect of Biddle's teaching. After holding a survey in which he discovered that a large number of Englishmen were unitarians, he published a reply to Biddle in 1655. In a way Cromwell's actions helped Biddle: Supported by the allowance. Biddle was out of reach of his enemies and could spend his time in contemplation and prayer. He remained a prisoner in the castle of St. Mary's until 1658; when, due to a increased pressure for his release , he regained his freedom.
As soon as he had come out of prison, he began to hold public meetings in which he examined the Scriptures to demonstrate the Unity of God and show the falsehood of the doctrine of Trinity. These meetings developed into regular unitarian worship according to their faith. This had never happened in England before.
On the 1st of June1662 Biddle was again arrested together with some of his friends in the middle of one of their meetings. They were all put in prison and bail was refused. There was no statute under which they could be punished so they were prosecuted under Common Law. Biddle was fined one hundred pounds and condemned to lie in prison until it was paid. His fellow worshippers were fined twenty pounds each. Biddle was ill-treated in prison and kept in solitary confinement. This, together with the foul air of the prison brought on a disease which resulted in his death in less then five weeks. He died on the 22nd September 1662.
Biddle's death together with the effects of the Act of Uniformity, passed in the same year, meant that public worship which followed the pattern established by Biddle could not take place. Under the Act 2,257 priests were ejected from their 'living'. There fate is unknown. But it is known that about 8,000 people died in prison for refusing to accept the doctrine of Trinity during this particular ear in England. The author of a memoir of Biddle, written about twenty years after his death, preferred to remain anonymous for safety's sake. However, Unitarians continued as a school of thought and its adherents grew. The use of force to bring back people into the established church only helped to win many people over to the beliefs of Socianus and Biddle, and many of the leading intellects of the age, including Milton, Sir Isaac Newton and Locke, affirmed the Divine Unity.
The degree to which the authorities attempted to stamp out Unitarianism can be measured by the laws they passed: An act of 1664 condemned all persons convicted of refusing to go to an established church with banishment. Should such a person return, they would be hanged. There were also penalties for anyone who attended a religious meeting of five or more persons not authorised by the church. Should any one commit this offence second time, they would be banished to America and in case of return or escape would suffer death without benefit of clergy. The Test Act of 1673 provided that, apart from the punishment provided for in the Act of 1664, any person who did not receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England would on conviction be no longer able to sue anyone or bring any action in the law courts. He could no longer be a guardian of any child, or executor, or the recipient of any legacy or deed or gift. Should anyone convicted under this law attempt to do any of these things, they were liable to a five hundred pound fine. In 1689 the Toleration Act was passed. However, toleration was denied to those who did not accept the doctrine of Trinity. The unitarians condemned the intolerance of the Tolerance Act. Parliament replied by the condemning Unitarianism as an "obnoxious heresy". "The penalty for this crime was the loss of all civil rights together with imprisonment for three years. However what Biddle had stood for could not be removed from men's hearts by statute alone, even though the laws prevented many from openly professing their faith. Those who felt the were unable to defy the law and openly denounce the doctrine of Trinity resorted to various expedients in order to quieten the reproaches of their conscience. Some quietly omitted those parts of the Athanasian Creed of which they did not approve. Some had it read by the parish clerk. One priest is said to have shown his disrespect for the creed by having it sung to a popular hunting tune. Another priest, before he read the doctrine of Trinity prescribed by law, said, "Brethren , this is the creed of St. Athanasius, but God forbid that is should be the creed of any man"5. However, on the whole those who believed in the Divine Unity did not generally dare to openly declare their faith.
Biddle was a laborious scholar, and his formulations were the result of profound study. He was convinced that he could best serve mankind by fearlessly bearing witness to the truth even if this meant reproach and persecution. He was prepared to accept poverty, the dungeon and exile. He wanted men to leave the churches which he regarded as corrupt, and to renounce all outward conformity to any profession of error. He had the courage of a martyr.
reference
Anti-Trinitarian Biographies . III , A. Wallace
The religion of the Protestants, W. Chillingworth
The religion of the Protestants, W. Chillingworth
Anti-Trinitarian Biographies . III , A. Wallace
Anti-Trinitarian Biographies . III , A. Wallace
from the Book : Jesus - A prophet of Islam
Author : Muhammad Ata ur-Rahim
(ICRA)