Charles Herle 1598-1659 .........................................No Portrait Available

Herle was a prominent English theologian, of moderate Presbyterian views. He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford with an M.A. in 1618. He was vicar of Winwick, Lancashire, from 1626. In a controversy with Henry Ferne, a Royalist, he insisted, against divine right theory, that a monarch's sovereignty was mediated by the people, rather than coming directly from God. It has been suggested that this work marks the beginning of a transition from theories of mixed government to the doctrine of separation of powers. His 1643 work on independent churches provoked reaction from New England, and controversy with Samuel Rutherford. He became Prolocutor of the Westminster Assembly in 1646, after the death of William Twisse. The Westminster Confession of Faith of 1646 was drawn up by Herle with others, drafting being assigned at one point to a small group of Herle, Edward Reynolds and Matthew Newcomen.

Works

His works include: A payre of compasses for church and state (1642), The independency on scriptures of the independency of churches (1643), Ahab's fall by his prophets flatteries (1644), A Fuller Answer to a Treatise written by Dr. Ferne (1642)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Pair of Compasses for Church and State: Delivered in a Sermon Preached at St. Margarets in Westminster, before the Honorable House of Commons, at their Monthly Fast - November the last, 1642 Read Online PDF Download

Worldly Policy, and Moral Prudence. The Vanity and Folly of the one, the Solidity and Usefulness of the other. In a Moral Discourse - 1654 PDF Download

Wisdom's Tripos, or rather its Inscrition Detur Sapienti, in Three Treatises. 1-Of Worldly Policy, 2-Of Moral Prudence, 3-Of Christian Wisdom. The Vanity of the First, The Usefulness of the Second, The Excellency of the Third. - 1670 PDF Download

An answer to mis-led Doctor Fearne .. (1642) Read Online PDF Download

The Independency on Scriptures of the Independency of Churches: Wherein The Question of Independency of church-Government is temperately, first, stated; secondly, argued: thirdly, cleared from the objections: and fourthly, appealed in, to the judgements of such as stand for it. - 1643 PDF Download

David's Reserve, and Rescue, in A Sermon Preached before the Honorable, The House of Commons, on the Fifth of November, 1644. PDF Download

David's Song of Three Parts: Delivered in A Sermon Preached before the Right Honorable the House of Lords, at the Abby-Church in Westminster, upon the 15th day of June, 1643. Being the day appointed for public thanksgiving for God's great deliverance of the Parliament, City and Kingdom, from the late most mischievous conspiracy against all three. - 1643 PDF Download

A Fuller Answer to A Treatise Written by Doctor Ferne, entitled The Resolving of Conscience upon this Question, whether upon this supposition, or case (the King will not defend, but is bent to subvert Religion, Laws, and Liberties) Subjects may with good conscience make resistance. Wherein the original frame, and fundamentals of this government of England, together with those two texts of Scripture are sufficiently clears. viz. Romans 13:1 and 1 Peter 2:13. - 1642 PDF Download