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The Liturgical Theology of John Owen—A Proposal

Posted on 23. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde in John Owen

Well, today was a mini-milestone as I sent off my Master of Theology (Th.M.) thesis proposal to my faculty readers, Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. Derek Thomas. Now, the fun begins!

Below is the proposal (footnotes converted into parenthetical references), which should come to reality by May when I am scheduled to graduate, Deo volente.

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“The Liturgical Theology of John Owen”

by Daniel R. Hyde

John Owen (1616–1683) was called “the Calvin of England” [Memoirs of Ambrose Barnes, ed. W.H.D. Longstaffe (London: Surtees Society, 1867), 16] and the “Atlas and Patriarch of Independency” [Anthony Wood, History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, ed. John Gutch, 2 vols. (Oxford, 1791), 2:650] by his contemporaries while his epitaph depicted him as “worthy to be enrolled among the first Divines of the age” (Et Seculi hujus Insignissimis annumerandus). Over the past decade the secondary literature on this preeminent and voluminous theologian of the high orthodox period has increased. In 1987 Sinclair Ferguson’s PhD thesis on Owen’s doctrine of the Christian life was published [John Owen on the Christian Life (Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987)]. Eleven years later in 1998 Carl Trueman published a significant study of Owen’s Trinitarian theology [The Claims of Truth: John Owen’s Trinitarian Theology (Carlisle, England: Paternoster Press, 1998)]. 2002 marked the publication of Sebastian Rehman’s important study of Owen’s theological method [Divine Discourse: The Theological Methodology of John Owen, Texts & Studies in Reformation & Post-Reformation Thought, gen. ed. Richard A. Muller (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002)]. In 2004 two more popular books were published, one by Richard Daniels on Owen’s Christology [The Christology of John Owen (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2004)] and another by Jon Payne on Owen’s doctrine of the Lord’s Supper [John Owen on the Lord’s Supper (Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2004)]. In 2007 two substantive works came to press. Carl Trueman published another considerable study of Owen’s doctrines of God, covenant theology, and justification that located his thought within the High Orthodox period [John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man, Great Theologians, eds. John Webster, Trevor Hart, and Douglas B. Farrow (Hampshire, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2007)]. Alan Spence’s PhD thesis was published, dealing with Owen’s Christology [Incarnation and Inspiration: John Owen and the Coherence of Christology (London/New York: T&T Clark, 2007)].

Yet no study has yet come to press on his liturgical theology despite the prominence of liturgical theology in the Works of John Owen. While he wrote simply on worship early in his ministry, in his second and third published works, The Duty of Pastors and People Distinguished (1643)  and Two Short Catechisms (1645),  especially of note is the prominence of liturgical theology after 1660, when he stepped down as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and 1662, when he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity. For example, he dealt with liturgical theology contra Rome in Animadversions on a Treatise Entitled Fiat Lux (1662) and contra the Anglicans in A Discourse Concerning Liturgies, and Their Imposition (1662). In A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God (1667) he gave a positive presentation of the Congregational way. Later, he wrote A Discourse of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer; with a Brief Inquiry into the Nature and Use of Mental Prayer and Forms (1682).  Sometime towards the end of his life he wrote An Answer unto Two Questions . . . with Twelve Arguments against any Conformity to Worship not of Divine Institution (published posthumously in 1720).

Originality

Despite the important secondary works above, there is scant material devoted to Owen’s liturgical theology. This thesis attempts to fill that lacuna. There are only brief references to Owen’s important 1662 liturgical treatise, A Discourse Concerning Liturgies, and Their Imposition, within several books and essays. As far as journal articles, there is a dearth of material on Owen’s liturgics. In a survey of journals only two articles deal directly with Owen’s liturgical theology. The first is a popular article that draws general applications for today [Douglas Jones, “Liturgy Lessons from Owen,” Reformation & Revival 5:3 (Summer 1996): 111–118] while the other is a journal article that briefly surveys Owen’s doctrine of worship in his massive commentary on Hebrews [A. Craig Troxel, “‘Cleansed Once for All’: John Owen on the Glory of Gospel Worship in ‘Hebrews,’” Calvin Theological Journal 32:2 (November 1997): 468–479]. Owen’s liturgical theology represents an area for further scholarly enquiry. In 2008 I sought to begin making a contribution of Owen liturgical studies [“For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free: John Owen’s A Discourse Concerning Liturgies, And Their Imposition,” The Confessional Presbyterian 4 (2008): 29–42].

Viability

The viability of this thesis is found in two facts. First, despite the lack of secondary material on this specific topic, the growing secondary literature will be invaluable in placing Owen’s liturgical theology in its high orthodox context. Second, there are major primary sources in Owen’s Works mentioned above that have yet to be studied in great detail.

This material shows is that Owen’s liturgical theology was governed by several key factors: first, the sufficiency of Scripture; second, Christian liberty won by Christ; third, the work of the Holy Spirit in equipping ministers; fourth, Christ’s heavenly priesthood; and fifth, Owen’s desire for true catholicity.

Potential

The potential of this Master of Theology (Th.M.) thesis is twofold. First, this thesis will serve the academy by making a significant contribution to the growing field of John Owen studies in an area where no study has yet been done. Second, this thesis will serve the church by providing a study of a Puritan’s practical/pastoral theology. Since all Reformed ministers, consistories/sessions, and believers engage in the worship of God every Lord’s Day and seek to do so in an ever-increasing idolatrous context, this work will equip these for authentic Reformed ministry in the twenty-first century.

Tags: Hyde, liturgy, Owen