Robert Sanderson, greatest of English casuists, was born 19th September 1587, either at Sheffield or at his father’s seat, Gilthwaite Hall near Rotherham. From Rotherham grammar-school he passed in his thirteenth year to Lincoln College, Oxford, of which he became a fellow (1606), reader of logic (1608), and thrice subrector (1613–16), in the last year being also chosen senior proctor. In 1631 he became king’s chaplain, was created D.D. in 1636, in 1646–48 filled the regius chair of Divinity at Oxford, and was parson of Boothby-Pagnell for upwards of forty years (1619–60), even through all the Great Rebellion. In 1660 he became Bishop of Lincoln. To him are due the present preface to the Prayer-book and the General Confession. He died at his palace of Buckden, Hunts, 29th Jan. 1663. His works (6 vols. 1854) comprise, besides sermons, the “Logicæ Artis Compendium” (1615), “De Obligatione Conscientiæ Prælectiones” (1647); new ed. by Whewell, (1851), “Nine Cases of Conscience Resolved” (1628–78), and “Episcopacy not Prejudicial to the Regal Power” (1661).
Personal
He was a lover of musique, and was wont to play on his base violl, and also to sing to it. He was a lover of heraldry, and gave it in chardge in his articles of enquiry; but the clergie-men made him such a lamentable imperfect returne that it signified nothing. The very Parliamentarians reverenced him for his learning and his vertue, so that he alwayes kept his living, quod N. B. (the information in the Oxon. Antiq. was false). He had no great memorie, I am certaine not a sure one; when I was a fresh-man and heard him read his first lecture, he was out in the Lord’s Prayer. He alwayes read his sermons and lectures. Had his memorie been greater his judgement had been lesse: they are like two well-bucketts.
He was moderately tall: his behaviour had in it much of a plain comeliness, and very little, yet enough, of ceremony or courtship; his looks and motion manifested affability and mildness, and yet he had with these a calm, but so matchless a fortitude, as secured him from complying with any of those many Parliament injunctions, that interfered with a doubtful conscience. His learning was methodical and exact, his wisdom useful, his integrity visible, and his whole life so unspotted, that all ought to be preserved as copies for posterity to write after; the Clergy especially, who with impure hands ought not to offer sacrifice to that God, whose pure eyes abhor iniquity. There was in his Sermons no improper rhetoric, nor such perplexed divisions, as may be said to be like too much light, that so dazzles the eyes, that the sight becomes less perfect: but there was therein no want of useful matter, nor waste of words; and yet such clear distinctions as dispelled all confused notions, and made his hearers depart both wiser, and more confirmed in virtuous resolutions. His memory was so matchless and firm, as ’twas only overcome by his bashfulness; for he alone, or to a friend, could repeat all the Odes of Horace, all Tully’s Offices, and much of Juvenal and Persius, without book: and would say, “the repetition of one of the Odes of Horace to himself, was to him such music, as a lesson on the viol was to others, when they played it to themselves or friends.”
Whether you consider him in his writings or conversation, from his first book of logic to his divinity lectures, sermons and other excellent discourses, the vastness of his judgment, the variety of his learning, all laid out for public benefit, his unparalleled meekness, humility and constancy, you cannot but confess that the Church of England could not lose a greater pillar, a better man, and more accomplished divine.
General
Dr. Sanderson, who stands at the head of all casuists, ancient and modern, was frequently consulted by Charles I…. His Sermons still maintain their reputation for clearness of reason, and a purity of style, which seems to be the effect of it.
Sanderson was the greatest casuist in the world.
Sanderson was the most celebrated of the English casuists.
His works, though not abounding with the grace of the gospel, do not, as far as we have read them, present views opposing that grace…. His sermons are rather dry and repulsive, but more correct than some later writers.
