The Shakespeare of Divines

Early Life and Formation

Born in Cambridge to a barber-surgeon, Jeremy Taylor’s humble beginnings belied his future prominence. His exceptional intellectual gifts earned him admission to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, at age thirteen. Despite his modest background, his eloquence and learning caught the attention of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, who became his patron and launched his ecclesiastical career.

Education and Early Career

Taylor’s academic career at Cambridge proved exceptional. He became a Fellow of Caius College and earned his MA degree in 1634. Following his ordination, he quickly gained recognition for his preaching abilities. Archbishop Laud’s patronage secured him a fellowship at All Souls, Oxford, marking the beginning of his rise in the Church of England.

Major Works

• Holy Living (1650)
  • Practical spiritual guidance
  • Daily devotional instruction
  • Rules for Christian living
  • Moral and ethical guidance
  • Prayer and meditation methods
• Holy Dying (1651)
  • Preparation for death
  • Pastoral comfort in mortality
  • Spiritual exercises
  • Christian contemplation
  • Deathbed ministry guidance
• The Liberty of Prophesying (1647)
  • Religious tolerance defense
  • Freedom of conscience
  • Limits of church authority
  • Protestant comprehension
  • Unity in essentials
• Ductor Dubitantium (1660)
  • Systematic moral theology
  • Cases of conscience
  • Ethical decision-making
  • Pastoral guidance
  • Anglican moral method
• Worthy Communicant (1660)
  • Eucharistic theology
  • Sacramental preparation
  • Spiritual examination
  • Devotional guidance
  • Liturgical instruction
• The Great Exemplar (1649)
  • Life of Christ
  • Moral teachings
  • Devotional meditations
  • Practical applications
  • Spiritual formation

Literary Style and Innovation

Taylor earned his sobriquet “Shakespeare of Divines” through his masterful prose style. His writing combined rich metaphorical language with poetic expression and classical allusions. His ability to craft vivid imagery and deploy rhetorical devices made his devotional works accessible and memorable. This literary genius transformed theological writing, demonstrating that spiritual instruction could achieve artistic excellence.

Civil War and Exile

The English Civil War proved a period of both hardship and literary flourishing for Taylor. His royalist sympathies cost him his position and led to imprisonment. Forced into exile in Wales, he supported himself through teaching while producing some of his finest written works. This period of external constraint became one of remarkable creative freedom.

Episcopal Ministry

Following the Restoration in 1660, Taylor’s loyalty was rewarded with appointment as Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland. As Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin, he worked to reform the Irish Church and provide pastoral leadership during a challenging period of reconstruction. His episcopal ministry combined administrative skill with continuing literary productivity.

Theological Method

Taylor’s theological approach exemplified the best of Anglican methodology. He grounded his work in Scripture and patristic learning while engaging contemporary issues with practical wisdom. His moral theology combined rigorous thinking with pastoral sensitivity, acknowledging human complexity while upholding Christian principles. This balanced approach influenced subsequent Anglican thought and practice.

Legacy and Influence

Taylor’s impact on Anglican spirituality and moral theology continues through his devotional works, which remain classics of English spiritual literature. His advocacy for religious tolerance, though limited by modern standards, helped establish Anglican principles of comprehension. His integration of learning, piety, and practical wisdom exemplifies the Anglican via media, while his literary style demonstrates the height of English prose.

Further Reading

• Hughes, H. Trevor. The Piety of Jeremy Taylor. Macmillan, 1960. [Comprehensive study of Taylor’s spirituality and theology]
• McAdoo, H.R. The Structure of Caroline Moral Theology. Longmans, Green and Co., 1949. [Analysis of Taylor’s ethical thought in context]
• Stranks, C.J. The Life and Writings of Jeremy Taylor. SPCK, 1952. [Classic biographical study with theological analysis]
• Greer, Rowan A. Christian Hope and Christian Life: Raids on the Inarticulate. Crossroad Publishing, 2001. [Study of Taylor’s spiritual theology]
• Spurr, John. The Restoration Church of England, 1646-1689. Yale University Press, 1991. [Contextual study including Taylor’s influence]