Edward Reyner facts for kids

Edward Reyner (born 1600, died around 1668) was an English clergyman. He was known for writing books that helped people with their religious life. He didn't always agree with all the church rules of his time.

Life Story

Edward Reyner was born in a place called Morley, near Leeds. When he was young, he went to regular religious meetings in nearby towns. He listened to many sermons, which are religious speeches.

He studied at St. John's College, Cambridge, getting his first degree in 1620 and a master's degree in 1624. After college, he taught at schools in Lincolnshire, including one run by the Countess of Warwick. Lady Warwick then supported him as a special preacher in Welton.

He was later invited to Lincoln, where he stayed for almost 40 years. In Lincoln, he became a preacher at St. Benedict's Church in 1626. The king also made him the minister of St. Peter at Arches church in 1627.

Even though Reyner didn't follow all church ceremonies, many people liked his preaching. This included important church leaders. He even preached when Bishop John Williams visited. In 1635, he was given another important church role in Lincoln. In 1639, he turned down a job to lead an English church in the Netherlands. Around the same time, he was asked to regularly confirm that he was following the common church prayers.

During the First English Civil War, when royalist soldiers took over Lincoln, Reyner left the city. For a while, he preached in Yarmouth. Then he moved to Norwich and gave lectures there from 1643 to 1645.

He returned to Lincoln in 1645 after being officially asked to come back. He preached every Sunday at St. Peter's and at the cathedral. He followed a church system called congregationalism, where each church group makes its own decisions. His sermons often spoke against certain religious ideas of the time. During a battle near Newark in 1646, Reyner preached to the army fighting for Parliament. This sermon was later printed. He didn't sign a special loyalty oath called the 'engagement' but agreed to another set of religious beliefs.

In 1662, he lost his position as a minister, but he seems to have stayed in Lincoln. Edward Reyner had two sons with his wife, Elizabeth. Their names were John and Joseph. John also became a minister but lost his job during a time of change in England.

His Writings

Edward Reyner wrote several books, mostly about Christian life and faith. Here are some of his works:

• Precepts for Christian Practice: This book gave advice on how to live as a Christian. It was very popular and had many editions.
• Rules for the Government of the Tongue: This book offered guidance on how to speak wisely and carefully.
• Considerations concerning Marriage: This book discussed marriage and answered questions about it. The original copy was lost, so he rewrote it.
• A Treatise of the Necessity of Humane Learning for a Gospel-preacher: This book explained why it was important for preachers to be educated.
• The Being and Wellbeing of a Christian: This book was published after he died. It talked about what it means to be a good Christian and how to have a close relationship with Christ. His son John helped to publish his last two books.