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Lazarus Seaman

1607–1675

Master of Peterhouse Cambridge; hypothetical universalist; the first English book auction.

The Hypothetical Universalists (Davenant-Calamy Line)

Biography

Of Emmanuel College Cambridge, Seaman was made Master of Peterhouse in 1644 (replacing the ejected royalist John Cosin) and was one of the most learned Hebraists in the Assembly. At Westminster he was a steady advocate of hypothetical universalism in the atonement debates — one of the principal Calamy-Davenant bloc — and a strong voice for presbyterian polity. He preached the parliamentary fast sermon Solomons Choice (1644) and contributed substantially to the Confession's chapter on Christ the Mediator. Ejected from Peterhouse in 1660 and from his London parish in 1662. His library — sold at auction by William Cooper on 31 October 1676 — produced the first printed English book-auction catalogue, a small but consequential bibliographical first that established the format of every subsequent English book auction. He died in September 1675.

Principal works

Role at the Assembly

English Presbyterian divine

The great majority of the sitting members were English parish ministers of Presbyterian conviction. They formed the drafting core of the Assembly, manning its three standing committees and supplying most of the text of the Confession, the two Catechisms, and the Directory for Public Worship.

Party in 2 cruxes

Ontology placement · 1 override 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 Hypothetical-Universal ≠ 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