2 AUGUST 1873, Page 21

The Life of John Goodwin. By Thomas Jackson. (Longmans.)— The

author has enjoyed no common good fortune in being able after the lapse of fifty years to publish a second edition of his book. Goodwin was Vicar of St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, during a period when it was not easy for a man of independent ways of thinking to keep at peace with his neighbours. He began life as a moderate Calvinist and Puritan, and naturally incurred the displeasure of Archbishop Laud. But the e'erchbishop was not so hard upon him as were the Presbyterians, in the bays when they had the strength of the Long Parliament at their back. Goodwin favoured Independency, and he was ejected from his vicarage. He had probably provoked no small theological hatred by his views of justification, for he refused to accept the doctrine which was then popular among the Puritan divines, that the righteousness of Christ is imputed, and is counted by God as formally belonging to the believer. His progress in thought continued to separate him still more widely from the dominant party. It was not long before he definitely abandoned the Calvinistic theology, and adopted the tenets of Arminius, dwelling with special energy on the doctrine of Universal Redemption. But his chief offence was probably the liberal doctrine of toleration which ho preached. The proposition of one of Cromwell's Parliaments that all who held the fundamental doctrines of religion should be allowed the free exercise of their religion was not wide enough for him, and he argued that toleration should be complete. At the Restoration, Goodwin, who had unfortunately written a pamphlet in defence of the execution of the King, was not permitted to remain in peace. Ho was coupled with Milton in the proclamation which ordered the burning of the "Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio," and in an order of the House of Commons -"that Mr. Attorney-General do proceed against John Milton and John Goodwin." He was not equally fortunate with Milton in being included in the Act of Oblivion, but he was not molested. He seems to have died during the plague. The list of his publications is one of formidable length. Mr. Jackson's biography is a valuable contribution to ecclesi- astical history.