Edmund Calamy (1600-1666)

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Biography of Edmund Calamy (1600-1666):

Edmund Calamy (February 1600- October 29, 1666) was known as “the elder” he was an English Presbyterian church leader.

Of Huguenot descent, he was born in Walbrook, London, and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where his opposition to the Arminianism excluded him from a fellowship. Nicholas Felton, Bishop of Ely, nevertheless made him his chaplain, and gave him the living of St Mary, Swaffham Prior, which he held till 1626. He then removed to Bury St Edmunds, where he lectured for ten years, retiring when his bishop (Wren) insisted on the observance of certain ceremonial articles.

In 1636 he was appointed rector (or perhaps only lecturer) of Rochford in Essex, but had to leave for the sake of his health. In 1639 he was elected to the perpetual curacy of St Mary Aldermanbury in London, where he had a large following. At the opening of the Long Parliament he distinguished himself in defence of the Presbyterian cause, and contributed to the conciliatory work known as Smectymnuus, against Bishop Joseph Hall’s presentation of episcopacy. The initials of the names of the several contributors formed the name under which it was published, viz., Stephen Marshall, E Calamy, T Young, Matthew Newcomen and W Spurstow. Calamy was an active member in the Westminster assembly of divines, and, refusing to advance to Congregationalism, found in Presbyterianism the middle course which best suited his views of theology and church government. He opposed the execution of King Charles I, lived quietly under the Commonwealth, and was assiduous in promoting the king’s return; for this he was afterwards offered the bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield, but declined it, perhaps for his wife’s sake.

He was made one of Charles’s chaplains, and vainly tried to secure the legal ratification of Charles’s declaration of October 25, 1660. He was ejected for Nonconformity in the Great Ejection of 1662, and was so affected by the sight of the devastation caused by the Great Fire of London that he died shortly afterwards. He was buried in the ruins of his church, near the place where the pulpit had stood. His publications are almost entirely sermons.

His eldest son Edmund Calamy “the younger”, followed a similar religious path, and was ejected from the rectory of Moreton, Essex, in 1662. He was of a retiring disposition and moderate views, and died in 1685.

His Works:

The Art of Divine Meditation by Edmund Calamy – eBook
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The Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace by Edmund Calamy – eBook
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The Godly Man’s Ark by Edmund Calamy – eBook
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1. A collection of several sermons preached upon solemn occasions (1659) by Edmund Calamy
2. A compleat collection of farewel sermons (1663) by Edmund Calamy
3. A just and necessary apology against an unjust invective (1646) by Edmund Calamy
4. A patterne for all (1658) by Edmund Calamy
5. A Serious advice to the citizens of London (1657) by Edmund Calamy
6. A sermon preached at Aldermanberry-Church, Dec. 28. 1662. in the fore-noon. By Edm. Calamy, late pastor of the same congregation. by Edmund Calamy
7. A sermon preached by Mr. Edmund Calamy at Aldermanbury, London, Aug. 24, 1651 (1651) by Edmund Calamy
8. An ansvver to the articles against Master Calamy, Master Martiall, Master Burton, Master Peters, Master Moleigne, Master Case, M. Sedgwicke, M. Evans, &c. and many other painfull divines (1642) by Edmund Calamy
9. An indictment against England (1645) by Edmund Calamy
10. Eli trembling for fear of the ark. A sermon preached at St. Mary Aldermanbury, Decemb. 28. 1662. (1662) by Edmund Calamy
11. Englands antidote, against the plague of civil warre (1645) by Edmund Calamy
12. Englands looking-glasse, presented in a sermon, preached before the Honourable House of Commons (1642) by Edmund Calamy
13. Evidence for heaven containing infallible signs and reall demonstrations of our union with Christ and assurance of salvation (1657) by Edmund Calamy
14. Gods free mercy to England (1642) by Edmund Calamy
15. Master Edmund Calamies leading case (1663) by Edmund Calamy
16. Old Mr. Edmund Calamy’s former and latter sayings upon several occasions (1674) by Edmund Calamy
17. Saint memorials: or, Words fitly spoken (1674) by Edmund Calamy
18. The art of divine meditation. Or, A discourse of the nature, necessity, and excellency thereof (1680) by Edmund Calamy
19. The city remembrancer. Or, A sermon preached to the native-citizens, of London (1657) by Edmund Calamy
20. The doctrine of the bodies fragility (1654) by Edmund Calamy
21. The door of truth opened: or, A brief and true narrative of the occasion how Mr Henry Burton came to shut himself out of the church-doors of Aldermanbury: (1645) by Edmund Calamy
22. The fixed saint held forth in a farwell sermon (1662) by Edmund Calamy
23. The great danger of covenant-refusing, and covenant-breaking. Presented in a sermon (1646) by Edmund Calamy
24. The happinesse of those who sleep in Jesus (1662) by Edmund Calamy
25. The monster of sinful self-seeking, anatomized (1655) by Edmund Calamy
26. The noble-mans patterne of true and reall thankfulnesse (1643) by Edmund Calamy
27. The righteous mans death lamented (1662) by Edmund Calamy
28. The saints rest: or Their happy sleep in death (1651) by Edmund Calamy
29. The saints transfiguration: or The body of vilenesse changed into a body of glory (1655) by Edmund Calamy
30. Two solemne covenants (1647) by Edmund Calamy