John Wallis

1616–1703

Junior scribe; later Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford and founding fellow of the Royal Society.

Biography

A 27-year-old Cambridge-trained minister when he was appointed an Assembly scribe, Wallis is now remembered chiefly as one of the founders of modern mathematics. He published the *Arithmetica Infinitorum* (1656), invented the infinity symbol ∞, contributed to the early calculus, and was Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford from 1649 to his death. He cracked royalist ciphers for Parliament during the Civil Wars and remained a churchman of moderate Reformed convictions.

Principal works

Arithmetica Infinitorum (1656)
Truth Tried (1643)

Role at the Assembly

Scribe

The scribes kept the Assembly's official minutes and recorded its votes. Henry Roborough and Adoniram Byfield served throughout; the minutes in their hand are the principal surviving record of the debates that produced the Standards.

Ontology placement · 0 overrides of 35

I. ✦ Scripture

Sufficiency Express-And-Good-Consequence Canon 66-Book-Protestant-Canon Authority Self-Authenticating-With-Internal-Witness Interpretation Scripture-Interprets-Scripture Necessity Necessary-After-The-Fall

II. ✠ God & Decree

Trinity Nicene-With-Filioque Order of Decrees Deliberately-Permits-Both Extent of Atonement Particular Reprobation Preterition-And-Just-Condemnation Covenant of Redemption Implicit-Affirmed

III. ⊕ Covenant

Number of Covenants Bi-Covenantal Mosaic Covenant Administration-Of-Grace Children of Believers Federal-Inclusion-Paedobaptist Testamental Continuity One-Substance-Different-Administrations

IV. ☧ Christology

Natures Chalcedonian-Two-Natures Offices Prophet-Priest-King States & Descent Humiliation-And-Exaltation; No-Local-Descent Active-Obedience Imputation Active-And-Passive-Obedience-Imputed

V. ✚ Soteriology

Effectual Calling Effectual-And-Renewing Justification Ground Imputed-Righteousness-Of-Christ Saving Faith Receptive-Resting-On-Christ-Alone Perseverance Certain-For-The-Elect Assurance Attainable-But-Not-Essence-Of-Faith

VI. ⚖ Law & Sanctification

Uses of the Law Three-Uses-Affirmed Tripartite Division Moral-Judicial-Ceremonial Sabbath Lords-Day-Fourth-Commandment-Perpetual Good Works Necessary-Fruit-Not-Meritorious

VII. ☩ Ecclesiology & Worship

Polity Presbyterian-Jure-Divino Sacramental Efficacy Signs-And-Seals-Conferring-Grace-By-Spirit Regulative Principle Strict-Only-What-Commanded Censures & Synods Three-Degrees-With-Graded-Synods

VIII. ⌛ Civil & Last Things

Magistrate's Role Custos-Utriusque-Tabulae (1646) Oaths & Marriage Oaths-Lawful-Serious; Divorce-Adultery-Or-Desertion Intermediate State Immediate-Conscious-With-God-Or-Judgment Final Judgment Single-Universal-Judgment-By-Christ