Vincent Alsop (30 August 1630 – 8 May 1703) was an English Nonconformist clergyman. His ''Mischief of Separation'' and ''Melius Inquirenduni'' became landmarks in the history of religious nonconformity.

Life

Alsop was the son of the Rector of South Collingham, Nottinghamshire and was educated at

St John's College, Cambridge St John's College, formally the College of St John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge, is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, founded by the House of Tudor, Tudor matriarch L ...

. He received deacon's orders from a bishop, and settled as assistant-master in the free school of Oakham, Rutland. The Rev. Benjamin King took him under his wing, and he married King's daughter. He was thus converted to King's religious beliefs, and received ordination in the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

denomination, not being satisfied with that which he had from the bishop. He was presented to the living of

Wilby, Northamptonshire Wilby is a suburban linear village and civil parish in the Wellingborough built-up area of North Northamptonshire, England. The suburb is 3 miles south-west of Wellingborough town centre. The village is often considered a suburb of Wellingboroug ...

, but lost it as a result of the

Act of Uniformity 1662 The Act of Uniformity 1662 ( 14 Cha. 2. c. 4) is an act of the Parliament of England. (It was formerly cited as 13 & 14 Cha. 2. c. 4, by reference to the regnal year when it was passed on 19 May 1662.) It prescribed the form of public prayer ...

. After this he preached privately at

Oakham Oakham is a market town and civil parish in Rutland (of which it is the county town) in the East Midlands of England. The town is located east of Leicester, southeast of Nottingham and northwest of Peterborough. It had a population of 12,14 ...

and

Wellingborough Wellingborough ( ) is a market town in the North Northamptonshire, Unitary Authority area, England, from London and from Northampton, north of the River Nene. Originally named "Wendelingburgh" (the stronghold of Wændel's people), the Anglo ...

, and suffered accordingly. He was imprisoned for six months for praying with a sick person. A book against

William Sherlock William Sherlock (c. 1639/1641June 19, 1707) was an English church leader. Life He was born at Southwark, the son of a tradesman, and was educated at St Saviour's Grammar School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge. In 1669 he became ...

dean of St Paul's The dean of St Paul's is a member of, and chair of the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London in the Church of England. The dean of St Paul's is also '' ex officio'' dean of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of th ...

, called ''Antisozzo (against Socinus)'', written in the vein of

Andrew Marvell Andrew Marvell (; 31 March 1621 – 16 August 1678) was an English metaphysical poet, satirist and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1659 and 1678. During the Commonwealth period he was a colleague and friend ...

's ''The Rehearsal Transpros'd'', made him a name as a wit. He was also invited to succeed the venerable Thomas Cawton (the younger) as independent minister in

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

. He accepted the call and drew great crowds to his chapel. He published other books which showed a strong vein of wit, as well as great powers of reasoning. Even with John Goodman and

Edward Stillingfleet Edward Stillingfleet (17 April 1635 – 27 March 1699) was an English Christian theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of ho ...

for antagonists, he more than held his own. His ''Mischief of Impositions'' (1680) in answer to Stillingfleet's ''Mischief of Separation'', and ''Melius Inquirenduni'' (1679) in answer to Goodman's ''Compassionate Inquiry'', remain historical landmarks in the history of nonconformity. As a result of the involvement of his son in alleged

treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...

able practices, he had to appeal to and obtained pardon from

James II of England James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...

. This seems to have given a somewhat diplomatic character to his later years, inasmuch as, while remaining a nonconformist, he had a good deal to do with proposed political-ecclesiastical compromises. Two polemical works once thought to be his – ''A Reply to the Reverend Dean of St. Paul's Reflections on the Rector of Sutton, &c.'' (1681) and ''The Rector of Sutton Committed with the Dean of St. Paul's, or, A Defence of Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenicum'' (1680) – have also been attributed to the Nottingham Presbyterian John Barret. Upon Alsop's death, his significant personal library was sold at retail. No catalog survives.

Bibliography

* 1678
''Melius inquirendum. or a sober inquirie, ...''
* 1680
''An exercitation on that historical relation, ...''
* 1680
''The mischief of impositions: ...''
* 1681
''A reply to the reverend Dean of St. Paul's reflections''
* 1681
''Melius inquirendum, or a sober inquiry, ...''
* 1687
''Mr. Alsop's speech to King James II ...''
* 1695
''Duty and interest united ...''
* 1696
''Decus & tutamen: or, practical godliness, ...''
* 1696
''God in the mount. A sermon ...''
* 1698
''A vindication of the faithful rebuke ...''

Notes

References

* Anthony à Wood, ''Athenae Oxonienses'' (edited by Bliss) iv. 106; * Edmund Calamy, ''Life of Baxter'', ii. 487; * Walter Wilson, ''History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches'', iv. 63–66.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alsop, Vincent 1630s births 1703 deaths People from Northamptonshire Ejected English ministers of 1662 17th-century Christian clergy Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge