God's Order and Natural Law

'This is a valuable and timely study of some of the basic motifs in the work of a group of early 17th century English theologians, whose thought Iain MacKenzie suggests is more systematic and penetrating than has sometimes been allowed. His book throws new light onto familiar topics and concludes with a striking presentation of one of the key elements in the sermons of Lancelot Andrewes. It is a work which will be of interest not only to theologians and historians but more widely to those concerned in the whole intellectual history of the 17th century.' Revd Canon Professor A.M.Allchin 'The book is well laid out, in short chapters that are packed with quotations from writers as diverse as Richard Hooker, William Laud, George Herbert, Robert Sanderson, and Francis White... The result is pleasing and nourishing...' Church Times '... MacKenzie sets out to rescue the thought of the Laudian divines from historians who often fail to appreciate the full contours of late sixteenth and early seventeenth-century theological ideas.' Anglican and Episcopal History 'Iain MacKenzie, residentiary Canon of Worcester Cathedral, offers a thorough and systematic study of the theology of a group of early seventeenth-century English divines commonly known as the 'Laudians'... the instruction and delight of reading such beautifully ordered prose... edifying and absorbing - a most welcome addition to the study of early seventeenth-century intellectual history.' Anglican Theological Review '... this book [...] provides a helpful balance to the predominantly political interpretations of the period. Both historically and theologically, the book's account of divine and created order is of considerable interest.' Churchman

• Contents: Preface; Introduction; The concept of order generally accepted; Order and theological method; Order, creator and creation; Order, knowledge and the rationality of man; Order, monarchy and the one body politic; Order, the law of man and the law of God; Order, monarchy, Parliament and Church; Order, uniformity, preaching and sacraments; Order, natural calamities and evil; Order and the nature of political unrest; Order, the knowledge and being of God and humanity; Order: the Holy Spirit and the centre of human existence; Order: the Spirit’s gifts and the relation of existences; Epilogue; Appendixes; Bibliography; Index.