The theory of eucharistic presence in the early Caroline divines, examined in its European theological setting
Abstract
The question of Christ's presence in the eucharist was an issue
which caused great controversy in the Reformation period, and which
continued to evoke dispute during the seventeenth century. Various
interpretations of the Caroline divines' teaching on the eucharistic
presence have been offered, but often they seem either to indicate the
theological position of the writer rather than that of the theologians
considered, or to ignore the broader context of eucharistic doctrine.
The purpose of this study, therefore, was 1. to investigate the
theology of eucharistic presence in the thinking of several seventeenth-century
Anglican divines, and 2. to examine their teaching in relation
to the sixteenth-century Anglican heritage and the various continental
sacramental doctrines, Reformed, Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox.
To accomplish this goal, eight theologians were chosen for examination:
Adrianus Saravia, Lancelot Andrewes, John Cosin, Richard
Montague, William Forbes, William Laud, Jeremy Taylor and Herbert
Thorndike. When available, nineteenth-century editions of their works
were used; otherwise, seventeenth-century texts were employed.
Similarly, modern editions of Roman, Orthodox, Lutheran and Reformed
writings were utilized when possible. Thy examination of eucharistic
teaching included seven major points: 1. the sacrament as mystery,
2. eucharistic change, 3. the relationship between Christ's body and
the bread, 4. eucharistic communion, 5. the nature of Christ's body in
the sacrament, 6. consecration, and 7. adoration in the eucharist.
This study has shown that there was great diversity in the
thinking of the Caroline divines (although they did not treat the
subject of eucharistic presence with equal detail or depth); no
unified understanding of sacramental presence was expressed. Reformed
ideas inherited from the previous century remained strong, but new
tendencies toward other understandings of the eucharist can be
discerned. The period, therefore, can be seen to represent a new
stage in the history of Anglican eucharistic doctrine.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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