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This thesis deals with an outstanding family of English Dissenter ministers Who lived in the second half of the seventeenth century through until nearly the end of the eighteenth century.001 The Dissenters by general definition were any church people in England who differed with the Church of England. Thus the term "Dissenters" would include Roman Catholics, Quakers, Unitarians, Presbyterians,Independents (Congregationalists) and Baptists. The Usual definition, however included only the Presbyterians, Independents and Baptists, 002 groups which had some theological similitarity and found it advantageous to stand together. Alto the Dissenters said that much of the elaborate ritual of the Church of England was unnecessary and unscriptural, practically all Dissenter preaching was for positive Christian faith and Christian living.
In particular, the Stennett family, with whom we are concerned in this thesis, provided a series of leading Dissenters ministers in London for over a century (less a gap of twenty four years). These Stennetts were well educated which early in this period was quite unusual among Baptists. The family had in it many ministers many ministers though it was exclusively ministerial. Almost all material about the family, however, has been preserved through church channels, so little is known about those who were not ministers. Thus, as this thesis is written from a religious point of view, the material has all been distinctly pertinent. Yet one could wish more were known about the men who did not become ministers. With resources of leadership, education and consecration, a number of the men did the work of the Christian ministry for their time. The ministers of the Stennett family served Seventh Day Baptists or "first day" Baptists churches. The leading man in each of four generations was a Seventh Day Baptist or a "Sabbath-Keeping" Baptist. Even though two of these four men had more to do with "first day" Baptists than with Seventh Day Baptists, The latter have always claimed all four. Seventh Day Baptists recognize no man or group as the founder of their denomination. Never the less, the Stennetts are among the early Seventh Day Baptists and their spirit will tend to permeate Seventh Day Baptist thought as long as history is consulted for the enrichment of the present and future. Occasionally I will point out ideas that have significance for Seventh Day Baptists today. Indeed, many of the Stennett's ideas have value for the twentieth century. Nevertheless, civilization is fluid It is never static, and history never repeats itself. indeed, Jonathan Allen, a great American Seventh Day Baptist educator of the nineteenth century has said.
In developing this thesis, I have tried to do the following things. (1) To the common data on the lives of the Stennetts as found in Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America005 I have added data from every possible source I could think of. (2) Into their lives I have tried to reinsert the content of the sermons and books which they published. I have read all of their writings which are available to me, which amounts to about ninety percent of their publications. (This thesis has to proceed with the use of published materials, which are sometimes voluminous and sometimes scanty.006 undoubtedly their publictions indicated some of their chief interests, but likely there are also distortions. Usually sermons were published, not at the decision of the preacher, but by popular request. An obvious distortions is that a large number of the funeral sermons preached by Joseph II and Samuel were published. In a more significant view of thought, there are likely some theological distortions.) (3) 1 have tried to relate their lives to the events and the theological ideas of their times. It seems to me, for instance, that the political and military history of the times is absolutely essential to the under-standing of Joseph I.007 In writing this thesis, I have tried to document carefully the route of my research; thus anyone can check the accuracy of my research and writings at any point. Also, when anyone wants more information on a given point in the thesis, he can readily know the exact sources I have used.008 For technical form, I have used Kate L. Turabian's summary of the University of Chicago Manual of Style.009 Many libraries and many individuals have helped me in the research for this thesis. The most important libraries are those connected with the following institutions: (1) The Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society, Plainfield, NJ (now Jamesville, Wisconsin) Seventh Day Baptist materials (especially in regard to Edward Stennett and for church record books); (2) Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York, for Baptist materials (particularly for Joseph II and Samuel); (3) Starr King School for Ministry, Berkely, California, for general Dissenter materials; and (4) University of California and the Pacific School of Religion, both in Berkeley, California, for general resource materials. Personal acknowledgments are especially due to Dr. Wayne Rood for the overall guidance of the thesis, to Miss Evalois St. John for her excellent help in guiding my use of the materials of the Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society, and to my wife for her laborious technical assistance. Besides Dr. Rood, Dean A. J. C. Bond and Dr. Corliss F. Randolph have read portions of the various drafts of this thesis. None of these individuals, however, is to be held responsible for my evaluations or historical judgments. |
