John Sprint (died 1623) was an English clergyman and theologian, as well as a writer in favor of conformity, despite earlier

Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...

views that had led him into conflict with the authorities.

Life

His grandfather John Sprint was an

apothecary ''Apothecary'' () is an Early Modern English, archaic English term for a medicine, medical professional who formulates and dispenses ''materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms ''pharmacist'' and, in Brit ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

; his father, also John Sprint (d. 1590), was appointed dean of Bristol in 1571, archdeacon of Wiltshire 1578, and treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral in 1584. John Sprint the younger was born in or near Bristol, and was elected a student of

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...

in 1592. He graduated B.A. on 6 March 1596, and earned his M.A. on 21 May 1599. Having been ordained, he attached himself to the puritan party, and took occasion, when preaching at the university church, to inveigh strongly against the ceremonies and discipline of the English church. On being called to account by

John Howson John Howson ( – 6 February 1632) was an English academic and bishop. Life He was born in the London parish of St Bride's Church, and educated at St Paul's School. He was a student and then a canon of Christ Church, Oxford, and Vice-Chanc ...

, the vice-chancellor, he defied his authority, and was sent to prison. The matter was referred to the queen and council; a commission was appointed, and Sprint was compelled to read his submission in convocation. In 1610 Sprint was appointed vicar of

Thornbury Thornbury may refer to: Places ;Australia *Thornbury, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne **Thornbury railway station, Melbourne ;Canada * Thornbury, Ontario ;England *Thornbury, Devon * Thornbury, Herefordshire *Thornbury, Gloucestershire **Thornbury ...

in Gloucestershire, where he continued for some time to hold views adverse to those of the established church; but he was induced to conform by the persuasion of Samuel Burton,

archdeacon of Gloucester The Archdeacon of Gloucester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Gloucester, England whose responsibilities include the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Gloucester.'' History The first ...

. Sprint died in 1623, and was buried in

St. Anne's, Blackfriars St Ann Blackfriars was a church in the City of London, in what is now Ireland Yard in the ward of Farringdon Within. The church began as a medieval parish chapel, dedicated to St Ann, within the church of the Dominican Order, Dominicans (the or ...

, leaving two sons, John (d. 1692) and Samuel. Both took holy orders, and were among the ejected ministers of 1662, John being ejected from the living of

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, former county in South East England, now mainly within Greater London. Its boundaries largely followed three rivers: the River Thames, Thames in the south, the River Lea, Le ...

, and Samuel from that of

South Tidworth Tidworth is a garrison, garrison town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in south-east Wiltshire, England, on the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain. Lying on both sides of the A338 road, A338 about north of the A303 road, A303 primary r ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...

Works

He published ''Cassander Anglicanus: shewing the necessity of conformity to the prescribed Ceremonies of our Church in Case of Deprivation'' (London, 1618), which had considerable effect on beneficed clergy of puritan tendencies. It provoked an anonymous reply entitled ''A brief and plain Answer to Master Sprints discourse'', to which Sprint made a rejoinder entitled ''A Reply to the answer of my first Reason.'' Both are printed with the 1618 edition of ''Cassander Anglicanus''. In his defense of conformity Sprint argues that the rites are non-essential, and that no minister of the gospel is justified in abandoning his ministry because they are enjoined upon him.

James Ussher James Ussher (or Usher; 4 January 1581 – 21 March 1656) was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625 and 1656. He was a prolific Irish scholar and church leader, who today is most famous for his ...

argued in this way to Robert Blair; Blair countered with points made by

James Sempill Sir James Sempill (1566–1626) was a Scottish courtier and diplomat. He was known by the name of his family estate, Beltrees or Beltries. Early life James Sempill was the eldest son of John Sempill of Beltrees, and Mary Livingston, one of the "F ...

in his reply ''Cassander Scotiana to Cassander Anglicanus''.Alan Ford, ''James Ussher'' (2007), p. 168. He was the author of: *''Propositions tending to prove the necessary Use of the Christian Sabbath or Lord's Day'', London, 1607, and ''The Practice of that Sacred Day, framed after the Rules of God's Word'', printed with the former. These works supported strict

Sabbatarian Sabbatarianism advocates the observation of the Sabbath in Christianity, in keeping with the Ten Commandments. The observance of Sunday as a day of worship and rest is a form of first-day Sabbatarianism, a view which was historically heralded ...

views. *''The Summe of Christian Religion by way of Question and Answer'', London, 1613. *''The Christian's Sword and Buckler; or a Letter sent to a Man grievously afflicted in Conscience and fearfully troubled in Mind'', London, 1638; 10th ed. 1650. To Sprint is also ascribed ''A true, modest, and just Defence of the Petition for Reformation exhibited to the King's Majestie. Containing an Answere to the Confutation published under the Names of some of the Universitie of Oxford'', 1618. Some early verses of his are prefixed to

Thomas Storer Thomas Storer (c. 1571 – 1604) was an English poet and mathematician. His major work was the ''Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey''. Life He was the son of John Storer of London. He was elected a student of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1587, and gr ...

's ''Life and Death of Wolsey'', 1599.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sprint, John Year of birth missing 1623 deaths 16th-century English Puritan ministers 17th-century English Anglican priests English theologians English conforming Puritans Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Deans of Bristol English male non-fiction writers