Charles Herle (1598–1659) was a prominent English theologian, of moderate

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...

views. He graduated from

Exeter College, Oxford (Let Exeter Flourish) , old_names = ''Stapeldon Hall'' , named_for = Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter , established = , sister_college = Emmanuel College, Cambridge , rector = Sir Richard Trainor ...

with an M.A. in 1618. He was vicar of Winwick,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...

, from 1626. In a controversy with Henry Ferne, a Royalist, he insisted, against divine right theory, that a monarch's sovereignty was mediated by the people, rather than coming directly from God. It has been suggested that this work marks the beginning of a transition from theories of

mixed government Mixed government (or a mixed constitution) is a form of government that combines elements of democracy, aristocracy and monarchy, ostensibly making impossible their respective degenerations which are conceived as anarchy, oligarchy and tyranny. T ...

to the doctrine of

separation of powers Separation of powers refers to the division of a state's government into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities, so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches. The typi ...

. His 1643 work on ''The independency on scriptures of the independency of churches'' provoked reaction from

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

, and controversy with

Samuel Rutherford Samuel Rutherford (also Rutherfurd or Rutherfoord; – 29 March 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and theologian who wrote widely read letters, sermons, devotional and scholastic works. As a political theorist, he is known for " ...

. Parliament appointed him

Prolocutor A prolocutor is a chairman of some ecclesiastical assemblies in Anglicanism. Usage in the Church of England In the Church of England, the Prolocutor is chair of the lower house of the Convocations of Canterbury and York, the House of Clergy. The P ...

of the

Westminster Assembly The Westminster Assembly of Divines was a council of divines (theologians) and members of the English Parliament appointed from 1643 to 1653 to restructure the Church of England. Several Scots also attended, and the Assembly's work was adopt ...

on 22 July 1646, after the death of William Twisse. The

Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" o ...

of 1646 was drawn up by Herle with others, drafting being assigned at one point to a small group of Herle,

Edward Reynolds Edward Reynolds (November 1599 – 28 July 1676) was a bishop of Norwich in the Church of England and an author.Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. Prepared by the Rev. John M'Clintock, D.D., and James Strong, ...

and Matthew Newcomen.

Works

*''A payre of compasses for church and state'' (1642) *''The independency on scriptures of the independency of churches'' (1643) *''Ahab's fall by his prophets flatteries'' (1644) *''A Fuller Answer to a Treatise written by Dr. Ferne'' (1642)A fvller answer to a treatise vvritten by Doctor Ferne, entituled The resolving of conscience upon this question whether upon this supposition or case, the King will not defend but is bent to subvert religion, lawes and liberties, subjects may, with good conscience, make resistance : vvherein the originall frame, and fundamentalls of this government of England together with those two texts of Scripture are sufficiently cleered [WorldCat.org]
/ref>

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Herle, Charles 1598 births 1659 deaths Westminster Divines English Presbyterian ministers Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford English Calvinist and Reformed theologians 17th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians 17th-century Presbyterian ministers