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'''Seekers''' in contemporary usage refers to [[persons]] whose [[truth]] quest leads them beyond [[conventional]] [[knowledge]] and the [[communities]] defined by such knowledge. Otherwise, historically, there was a group known as [[Seekers]], or Legatine-Arians as they were sometimes known, who were a Protestant dissenting [[group]] that emerged around the 1620s, probably inspired by the preaching of three brothers - Walter, Thomas, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Legate Bartholomew Legate]. Arguably, they are best thought of as forerunners of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends Quakers], with whom many of them subsequently merged. Seekers considered all organised churches of their day to be corrupt, and preferred to wait for [[God]]'s [[revelation]].

'''Seekers''' in contemporary usage refers to [[persons]] whose [[truth]] quest leads them beyond [[conventional]] [[knowledge]] and the [[communities]] defined by such knowledge. Otherwise, historically, there was a group known as [[Seekers]], or Legatine-Arians as they were sometimes known, who were a Protestant dissenting [[group]] that emerged around the 1620s, probably inspired by the preaching of three brothers - Walter, Thomas, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Legate Bartholomew Legate]. Arguably, they are best thought of as forerunners of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends Quakers], with whom many of them subsequently merged. Seekers considered all organised churches of their day to be corrupt, and preferred to wait for [[God]]'s [[revelation]].

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''[[Seekers]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Seekers this link].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''[[Seekers]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Seekers this link].</center>

==Origins==

==Origins==

British historian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hill_(historian) Christopher Hill] explains that, long before the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War English Revolution], there already existed a "lower-class [[Heresy|heretical]] [[culture]]" in England. The cornerstones of this culture were Anti-clericalism and a strong emphasis on [[Bible|biblical]] [[study]], but there were specific heretical [[doctrines]] that had “an uncanny [[persistence]].” There was a rejection of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination Predestination], and an embrace of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism Millenarianism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_sleep mortalism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism anti-Trinitarianism], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism Hermeticism]. Such [[ideas]] became "commonplace to seventeenth century Baptists, Levellers, Diggers, Seekers, early Quakers and other [[radical]] groupings which took part in the free-for-all [[discussions]] of the English Revolution."[1]

British historian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hill_(historian) Christopher Hill] explains that, long before the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War English Revolution], there already existed a "lower-class [[Heresy|heretical]] [[culture]]" in England. The cornerstones of this culture were Anti-clericalism and a strong emphasis on [[Bible|biblical]] [[study]], but there were specific heretical [[doctrines]] that had “an uncanny [[persistence]].” There was a rejection of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination Predestination], and an embrace of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism Millenarianism], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_sleep mortalism], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism anti-Trinitarianism], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism Hermeticism]. Such [[ideas]] became "commonplace to seventeenth century Baptists, Levellers, Diggers, Seekers, early Quakers and other [[radical]] groupings which took part in the free-for-all [[discussions]] of the English Revolution."[1]

==Beliefs and practices==

==Beliefs and practices==

The anti-clericalism of Seekers' pioneers the Legatts was far from [[unique]]. However, historically, when 'heretics' were faced with being burnt at the stake they retracted, retaining their [[beliefs]] in a less [[public]] way.[2] The Legatts were exceptional. Thomas died in Newgate Prison after being arrested for his preaching and Bartholomew was burnt for [[heresy]] in 1612.

The anti-clericalism of Seekers' pioneers the Legatts was far from [[unique]]. However, historically, when 'heretics' were faced with being burnt at the stake they retracted, retaining their [[beliefs]] in a less [[public]] way.[2] The Legatts were exceptional. Thomas died in Newgate Prison after being arrested for his preaching and Bartholomew was burnt for [[heresy]] in 1612.

Seekers after the Legatts were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan Puritan], although not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism Calvinist]. Whilst accepting their zeal in desiring a ‘godly [[society]]’, some contemporary historians doubt whether the English Puritans during the English Revolution were as committed to religious [[liberty]] and pluralism as [[traditional]] histories have suggested. However, historian John Coffey’s recent work[3] has emphasised the contribution of a minority of radical Protestants who steadfastly sought [[toleration]] for so called Heresy, Blasphemy, Catholicism, non-Christian religions, and even [[Atheism]]. This minority included the Seekers, as well as the General Baptists and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levellers Levellers]. Their collective witness demanded the church to be an entirely voluntary, non-coercive [[community]] able to evangelise in a pluralistic society governed by a purely civil [[state]]. Such a demand was in sharp contrast to the ambitions of the magisterial Protestantism of the Calvinist majority.

Seekers after the Legatts were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan Puritan], although not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism Calvinist]. Whilst accepting their zeal in desiring a ‘godly [[society]]’, some contemporary historians doubt whether the English Puritans during the English Revolution were as committed to religious [[liberty]] and pluralism as [[traditional]] histories have suggested. However, historian John Coffey’s recent work[3] has emphasised the contribution of a minority of radical Protestants who steadfastly sought [[toleration]] for so called Heresy, Blasphemy, Catholicism, non-Christian religions, and even [[Atheism]]. This minority included the Seekers, as well as the General Baptists and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levellers Levellers]. Their collective witness demanded the church to be an entirely voluntary, non-coercive [[community]] able to evangelise in a pluralistic society governed by a purely civil [[state]]. Such a demand was in sharp contrast to the ambitions of the magisterial Protestantism of the Calvinist majority.

The Seekers were not an organised [[religious]] group in any way that would be recognised today (i.e. not like a religious Cult or Denomination). They were shambolic (by modern standards), informal and localised. 'Membership' of a local Seekers assembly did not preclude membership of another sect. Indeed, Seekers shunned creeds (see Free Christianity) and each assembly tended to embrace a broad spectrum of ideas. That said, there were a number of beliefs and practices that made the Seekers distinctive from the large number of nonconformist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Dissenters dissenting groups] that emerged around the time of the Commonwealth of England. Most significant was their form of [[collective]] [[worship]].

The Seekers were not an organised [[religious]] group in any way that would be recognised today (i.e. not like a religious Cult or Denomination). They were shambolic (by modern standards), informal and localised. 'Membership' of a local Seekers assembly did not preclude membership of another sect. Indeed, Seekers shunned creeds (see Free Christianity) and each assembly tended to embrace a broad spectrum of ideas. That said, there were a number of beliefs and practices that made the Seekers distinctive from the large number of nonconformist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Dissenters dissenting groups] that emerged around the time of the Commonwealth of England. Most significant was their form of [[collective]] [[worship]].

In common with other Dissenters, the Seekers believed that the Roman Church corrupted itself and, through its common heritage, the Church of England as well. Only Christ himself could establish the "true" Church. Distinctively, in eager anticipation of his [[Second Coming|second-coming]], and mindful of his direct [[inspiration]] and [[guidance]] in the meantime, the Seekers held meetings (free of all Church [[ritual]]) in [[silence]].

In common with other Dissenters, the Seekers believed that the Roman Church corrupted itself and, through its common heritage, the Church of England as well. Only Christ himself could establish the "true" Church. Distinctively, in eager anticipation of his [[Second Coming|second-coming]], and mindful of his direct [[inspiration]] and [[guidance]] in the meantime, the Seekers held meetings (free of all Church [[ritual]]) in [[silence]].

Clearly, Seekers anticipated aspects of Quakerism. Unsurprisingly, a significant number of Seekers became Quakers[citation needed] and many remaining Seekers attended the funeral of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fox George Fox], the founder of Quakerism.

Clearly, Seekers anticipated aspects of Quakerism. Unsurprisingly, a significant number of Seekers became Quakers[citation needed] and many remaining Seekers attended the funeral of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fox George Fox], the founder of Quakerism.

Richard Baxter, a contemporary and unsympathetic [[author]], claimed that they had merged with the "Vanists" or followers of Henry Vane the Younger.[4]

Richard Baxter, a contemporary and unsympathetic [[author]], claimed that they had merged with the "Vanists" or followers of Henry Vane the Younger.[4]

# Hill, Christopher (1977) Milton and the English Revolution, Faber & Faber, London, pp. 70 - 71.

# Hill, Christopher (1977) Milton and the English Revolution, Faber & Faber, London, pp. 70 - 71.

# Coffey, John (1998) "Puritanism & Liberty Revisited: The Case for Toleration in the English Revolution," The Historical Journal, Cambridge University Press.

# Coffey, John (1998) "Puritanism & Liberty Revisited: The Case for Toleration in the English Revolution," The Historical Journal, Cambridge University Press.

# "Seekers". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Seekers.  

# "Seekers". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Seekers.  

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.exlibris.org/nonconform/engdis/seekers.html ExLibris' page on The Seekers]

* [https://www.exlibris.org/nonconform/engdis/seekers.html ExLibris' page on The Seekers]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]