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Thomas Goodwin

1600–1680

Chief Independent theologian; later President of Magdalen Oxford.

The Five Dissenting Brethren (Independents) The Supralapsarians The Savoy Declaration (1658)

Biography

Goodwin was the most learned of the Five Dissenting Brethren and the chief intellectual architect of Independent ecclesiology. President of Magdalen College Oxford under the Protectorate (1650-1660). His massive posthumous *Works* (12 vols, 1681-1704) is the great Independent dogmatic system — strongly supralapsarian, with a developed covenant of redemption and an experimental soteriology shaped by Sibbes. Ejected in 1660, he lived in retirement in London until 1680.

Principal works

An Apologeticall Narration (1644, with Nye, Burroughs, Bridge, Simpson)
A Childe of Light Walking in Darknesse (1636)
Of the Object and Acts of Justifying Faith (posthum. 1697)
Works (12 vols, 1681–1704)

Role at the Assembly

Independent / Dissenting Brethren

A small but articulate minority of Congregationalist divines — the 'Dissenting Brethren' — who pressed for a gathered-church polity against the Presbyterian majority. Their Apologeticall Narration (1644) and their dissents in the Grand Debate over church government shaped the Confession's carefully worded chapters and anticipated the Savoy Declaration of 1658.

Party in 7 cruxes

Ontology placement · 3 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 Supralapsarian ≠ Extent of Atonement Particular Reprobation Preterition-And-Just-Condemnation Covenant of Redemption Explicit-Developed ≠

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 Independent-Congregational ≠ 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