Library Lecture on Richard Bernard

I gave a lunchtime lecture last Monday on "Richard Bernard and his book on conscience". We weren't a great number mainly due to the snow but the lecture can be downloaded here on the Library's website.

Oxford

I've been promising myself a trip to Oxford to check out the Benjamin Beddome archive for some months now and I finally grabbed an opportunity last Thursday. Rhodri tagged along for trip #1 of his world tour of the UK. We headed off not long after 8 am to Baker Street. I met a South African lady who attended the church recently, which was a good providence. I hope we see her again.
We caught the Oxford Espress in Baker Street and were in Oxford by 11 am, a little later than anticipated. I then headed for Regents Park College's Angus Library, where various Beddome items can be found.

The current librarian (Rev Emma Walsh) is new to the job so, understandably, isn't yet as knowledgeable as the previous librarian (Mrs Mills) but she was very helpful indeed. There is something time transcendent about a good library. What a joy!

I had no time for the Bourton church minute books but consulted his will, a letter he wrote, a manuscript notebook compiled by his grandson (?) and one or two other things. I noticed again that there are around 30 or 40 of his hymns written in his own hand on scrap paper in a bundle and a set of notebooks (in another hand) containing hymns he wrote with texts and dates, which I must consult further some time (there are also notes to an unprinted sermon).

I also consulted the volumes containing all 225 printed Beddome sermons (several of which I do not have access to at present) and wrote down the texts. I also looked through the catalogue of his library, which is also housed in the Library. He had around 600 volumes, mostly in English but with some in Latin (and one in German). Puritan authors predominate - Arrowsmith, Owen, Goodwin, Sibbes, etc. I also noted polemical publications (from both sides) connected with the baptism debate and commentaries by Calvin. He had two works by Richard Bernard who I am also interested in so I took out Beddome's copy of Bernard on conscience - Christian see to thy conscience. It is an original 1631 edition. Beddome has added his name in two places near the front. These words also appear which I am unable to attach a meaning to as yet "perlect minse Junie 1776" [perlect = having read]. Beddome would have been 59 in this year. Anyway with nearly 20 pages of notes I've got plenty to keep the Beddome site going for a little while.

We headed back on the bus to baker Street. Rhodri then left me to go to an end of term do with his English class. Dylan was out at a concert in Hyde Park (someone had got some free tickets)and the little boys had just returned from a party at a friend's house when I arrived back mid-evening.

Blog of the week 4

So here is another blog of mine that I want to draw attention to. We started with the Thomas Adams one here. My other blog devoted to a Puritan is here. It looks at forgotten early puritan Richard Bernard [1568-1641].

A Puritan lived name of Bernard
A preacher he was, very learned.
He also wrote much
On pi'ty and such
But now by most people he's spurn-ed.

I came across Bernard studying Puritan writings on the conscience. Some posts here began life here on this blog but then I transferred them over.

This prolific Puritan pastor and writer was author of The Faithfull Shepheard and his practice (1607, 1621), a handbook for ministers and an allegory called The Isle of Man (1627). I started the website in January 2007 and it now contains some 69 posts, not quite as many as I had hoped by this time. It has officially had around 1,274 visits (an average of 7 a day) and 2,443 page views (an average of 11 a day). It's not doing quite as well as Adams then but that is to be expected.

Quote:

The Father of his mercy gave him for us, and he in love bestowed himself of us. The Father did will our peace, and he spared no pains. He came into the world poor, to make us rich. He was to the wicked a derision, that we with angels might be had in admiration. He was blasphemed, to make us blessed; buffeted and scorned, to make us secure in true comfort. He worked righteousness, that we might be free of wickedness. He was innocent, to procure us pardon, being penitent. His holiness is our happiness, his suffering our safety, his grace our good. He was here in trouble for us, his life painful and miserable, so his end for us doleful, and his torments intolerable. In all his life, that we read of, he did never laugh, but often lament. He mourned to see men’s madness, and wept for their woe. Here he sighed for to make us sing. He sobbed and sorrowed much to make us merry. He bore upon him unutterable torment patiently, that we might avoid the plagues of God eternally. His prayers were loud cries and strong, to make our prayers to pierce the heavens.

10 Puritans Called Richard

Pic shows Richard _______?

1. Richard Baxter, famous Puritan, prolific author
2. Richard Sibbes, also famous, works 7 vols
3. Richard Bernard, see my blog
4. Richard Alleine, author Heaven opened, etc
5. Richard Greenham, early puritan counsellor
6. Richard Rogers, wrote on Judges
7. Richard Gilpin, wrote Treatise of Satan's Temptations
8. Richard Mather, New Englander, father of Cotton Mather
9. Richard Steele, author The religious tradesman, etc
10. (Sir) Richard Baker, wrote on certain Psalms

[Pic drachir sebbis]

Richard Bernard

This post is simply to say that I have deleted all posts relating to Richard Bernard on this blog. They can now be found, along with many others, on the blogspot Richard Bernard Puritan.

Richard Bernard Bibliography

I've just posted a bibliography of works by Richard Bernard here.