The Seekers, or Legatine-Arians as they were sometimes known, were a Protestant dissenting group that emerged around the 1620s, probably inspired by the preaching of three brothers - Walter, Thomas, and Bartholomew Legate. The term dissenter (from the Latin dissentire, “to disagree” labels one who dissents or disagrees in matters of opinion belief etc Bartholomew Legate (c 1575 &ndash 18 March, 1612) was an English anti-Trinitarian Martyr. Arguably, they are best thought of as forerunners of the Quakers, with whom many of them subsequently merged. Seekers considered all organised churches of their day to be corrupt, and preferred to wait for God's revelation.

Origins

British historian Christopher Hill explains that, long before the English Revolution, there already existed a "lower-class heretical culture" in England. John Edward Christopher Hill, usually known simply as Christopher Hill, February 6, 1912 &ndash February 23, 2003 was an English The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The cornerstones of this culture were Anti-clericalism and a strong emphasis on biblical study, but there were specific heretical doctrines that had “an uncanny persistence”. Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes Religious (generally Catholic institutional power and influence real or alleged in all aspects of public and political There was a rejection of Predestination, and an embrace of Millenarianism, mortalism, anti-Trinitarianism, and Hermeticism. Predestination (also linked with Foreknowledge) is a religious concept which involves the relationship between God and His creation Millenarianism (sometimes spelled millenarism or millennarism) is the belief by a religious social or political group or movement in a coming major transformation See also Intermediate state In Christian theology, soul sleep is a belief that the Soul sleeps unconsciously between the Death of the Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that reject as non-scriptural wholly or partly the doctrine of the Trinity; the Doctrine Hermeticism is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, who is put forth as a Such ideas became "commonplace to seventeenth century Baptists, Levellers, Diggers, Seekers, … early Quakers and other radical groupings which took part in the free-for-all discussions of the English Revolution". See Levellers (disambiguation for alternative meanings. The Levellers were members of a mid 17th century English Political movement The Diggers were an English group begun by Gerrard Winstanley as True Levellers in 1649, who became known as "Diggers" The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. ^[1]

Beliefs and practices

The anti-clericalism of Seekers' pioneers the Legatts was far from unique. However, historically, when 'heretics' were faced with being burnt at the stake they retracted, retaining their beliefs in a less public way. Execution by burning has a long history as a method of Punishment for Crimes such as Treason, Heresy and Witchcraft ^[2] The Legatts were exceptional. Thomas died in Newgate Prison after being arrested for his preaching and Bartholomew was burnt for heresy in 1612.

Seekers after the Legatts were Puritan, although not Calvinist. A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Whilst accepting their zeal in desiring a ‘godly society’, some contemporary historians doubt whether the English Puritans during the English Revolution were as committed to religious liberty and pluralism as traditional histories have suggested. A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, However, historian John Coffey’s recent work^[3] has emphasised the contribution of a minority of radical Protestants who steadfastly sought toleration for so called Heresy, Blasphemy, Catholicism, non-Christian religions, and even Atheism. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief Blasphemy is the disrespectful use of the name of one or more gods. Atheism This minority included the Seekers, as well as the General Baptists and the Levellers. General Baptist is a generic term for Baptists that hold the view of a general Atonement, as well as a specific name of groups of Baptists within the broader See Levellers (disambiguation for alternative meanings. The Levellers were members of a mid 17th century English Political movement Their collective witness demanded the church to be an entirely voluntary, non-coercive community able to evangelise in a pluralistic society governed by a purely civil state. Such a demand was in sharp contrast to the ambitions of the magisterial Protestantism of the Calvinist majority.

The Seekers were not an organised religious group in any way that would be recognised today (i. e. not like a religious Cult or Denomination). This article does not discuss "cult" in the original sense of "veneration" or "religious practice" for that usage see Cult (religious practice Church (disambiguation A religious denomination is a subgroup within a Religion that operates under a common name tradition and identity They were shambolic (by modern standards), informal and localised. 'Membership' of a local Seekers assembly did not preclude membership of another sect. Indeed, Seekers shunned creeds (see Free Christianity) and each assembly tended to embrace a broad spectrum of ideas. Free Christians, sometimes known as "Non-Subscribing" Protestants or "Non-Creedal" Dissenters are theologically open-minded Christians who in good conscience That said, there were a number of beliefs and practices that made the Seekers distinctive from the large number of nonconformist dissenting groups that emerged around the time of the Commonwealth of England. Nonconformism is the refusal to conform to common standards conventions rules customs traditions norms or laws English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England. The Commonwealth of England was the Republican government which ruled first England (including Wales) and then Ireland and Scotland Most significant was their form of collective worship.

In common with other Dissenters, the Seekers believed that the Roman Church corrupted itself and, through its common heritage, the Church of England as well. Only Christ himself could establish the "true" Church. Distinctively, in eager anticipation of his second-coming, and mindful of his direct inspiration and guidance in the meantime, the Seekers held meetings (free of all Church ritual) in silence.

Clearly, Seekers anticipated aspects of Quakerism. Unsurprisingly, a significant number of Seekers became Quakers and many remaining Seekers attended the funeral of George Fox, the founder of Quakerism. George Fox (July 1624 – 13 January 1691 was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers

Influential Seekers

• William Erbery (or 'Erbury') (1604-1654) is credited with convincing Oliver Cromwell's daughter to become a Seeker. William Erbery or Erbury ( Glamorganshire, 1604-1654 was a Welsh clergyman and radical Independent theologian
• John Saltmarsh's The Smoke in the Temple (1646) is an important statement of the Seekers' beliefs. John Saltmarsh (born Yorkshire, d 1647 was a radical English religious and controversial writer and preacher
• William Walwyn (see the Levellers). See Levellers (disambiguation for alternative meanings. The Levellers were members of a mid 17th century English Political movement
• Roger Williams, early British American originator of separation between church and state, co-founder of state U. Roger Williams ( December 21, 1603 &ndash April 1, 1683) was an English theologian, a notable proponent of Religious Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate S. state of Rhode Island, co-founder of the First Baptist Church in America (which he left to become a Seeker)

References

External links

• ExLibris' page on The Seekers

See also

• Religion in the United Kingdom
• English Dissenters
• 17th century denominations in England