John Faldo

John Faldo (1633–1690) was an English nonconformist minister and controversialist.

Life

Faldo is said to have been educated at Cambridge University,^[1] and to have been a chaplain in the army, so that he held no benefice when the Act of Uniformity 1662 became law. In 1673 he is described as a nonconforming minister at Barnet, and in 1684 was chosen pastor of the congregation at Plasterers' Hall, Addle Street, Aldermanbury, London. Here he remained till his death. Faldo was a congregationalist in the latter part of his life.

He died on 7 February 1690, of the stone, and was buried at Bunhill Fields, where there was a Latin inscription upon his tomb. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John Quick, and afterwards published. It asserts that he did much to heal the breach between Presbyterians and Independents, but gives no biographical facts except the observation that ‘such a pastor as Mr. Faldo is forty years a making.’

Works

In 1673 he published ‘Quakerism no Christianity. Clearly and abundantly proved, out of the writings of their Chief Leaders. With a Key, for the understanding their sense of their many Usurped, and Unintelligible Words and Phrases, to most Readers.’ The book was in three parts, the third being entitled ‘An Examination of the First Part of W. Pen's Pamphlet called The Spirit of Truth: with a Rebuke of his Exorbitances.’ This was at once answered by William Penn in a tract.^[2] Faldo, still in 1673, answered Penn;^[3] to which, in 1673 again, Penn replied.^[4] Penn states in this tract that Faldo took up the subject ‘disgusted at the coming over of some of his hearers to the way we profess.’ On the appearance of ‘The Invalidity,’ Faldo sent Penn a printed challenge to engage in a public dispute, which Penn refused by letter, observing, ‘for thy letter, it is civil, I wish all thy procedure had grated no more: I love, and shall at any time convenient, embrace a sober discussion of principles of religion; for truly I aim at nothing more than truth's triumph, though in my own abasement;’ but Faldo was displeased with the answer, and published in 1674 ‘A Curb to W. Penn's Confidence,’ to which Penn retorted.^[5] After this Faldo assembled a company of twenty-one learned divines, who subscribed to a commendatory epistle which was issued with a second edition of Faldo's original work, ‘Quakerism no Christianity.’ This appeared in 1674, and was at once answered by Penn.^[6] The final tract of the controversy was Faldo's answer to this, which appeared in 1675.^[7] Throughout the controversy Faldo was abusive.

A volume published by Faldo in 1687, called ‘A Discourse of the Gospel of Peace, and of the Government of our own Spirits. Being the substance of Divers Sermons, from Ephes. vi. 15 and Prov. xvi. 32’ was dedicated to Lady Clinton, to whose family Faldo seems to have acted as chaplain.

In 1696 there was published the seventeenth edition of Jeremiah Dyke's ‘The Worthy Communicant: or a Treatise showing the due Order of Receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper,’ abridged and supplemented by Faldo so as to bring the book ‘within the reach of the poor.’

References

•  "Faldo, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Notes

1. He is not found in Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses
2. ‘Quakerism a New Nick-Name for Old Christianity, being an Answer to a Book, Entituled, Quakerism No Christianity; subscribed by J. Faldo. In which the Rise, Doctrine and Practice of the Abused Quakers are Truly, Briefly and Fully Declared and Vindicated from the False Charges, Wicked Insinuations and utmost Opposition made by that Adversary. By one of them, and a Sufferer with them in all their Sufferings, William Penn.’ The British Museum copy of this tract is dated 1672, apparently a misprint for 1673.
3. ‘A Vindication of “Quakerism no Christianity,” &c., against the very vain attempts of W. Pen, in his pretended answer: with some remarkable passages out of the Quakers' Church Registry, wherein their near approach to Popery and their bold blasphemy is abundantly manifest’
4. ‘The Invalidity of John Faldo's Vindication of his Book, &c. In Two Parts. By W. Penn, who Loves not Controversy for Controversy's Sake.’
5. ‘William Penn's Return to John Faldo's Reply, called A Curb for William Penn's Confidence, &c., writ in Defence of his Answer to John Faldo's Printed Challenge.’
6. ‘A Just Rebuke to One and Twenty Learned and Reverend Divines (so called). Being an Answer to an Abusive Epistle against the People called Quakers.’
7. ‘XXI Divines (whose names are hereunder affixed) cleared of the unjust Criminations of W. Penn in his pretended “Just Rebuke” for their Epistle to a book entituled “Quakerism no Christianity.”’

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Faldo, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.