Radicalism: When Reform Becomes Revolution: The Preface to Hooker's Laws: A Modernization

Hooker's Laws in Modern English, Volume 1

By: Richard Hooker

Narrated by: Alastair Roberts

Richard Hooker’s Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity is one of the great landmarks of Protestant theological literature, and indeed of English literature generally, but is scarcely read today on account of its difficult and archaic style. The time has come to translate it into modern English so that Hooker may teach a new generation of churchmen and Christian leaders about law, reason, Scripture, church, and politics. In this initial offering of a multi-year translation project by the Davenant Trust, we present a short and accessible sample of Richard Hooker’s profound insight and rhetorical genius, in the form of his Preface to the work. This wide-ranging discourse on the psychology of religious and political radicalism, and the need to balance the demands of conscience with legal order, is much more than a mere preface, with startlingly relevant insights for the church and the task of Christian citizenship today.

This fully revised second edition contains a much-expanded introduction to the life of Richard Hooker, and a comprehensive revision of the translation for greater clarity and accuracy.

©2017 The Davenant Institute (P)2019 The Davenant Institute

Interesting

Very interesting, some parts I replayed. I'm curious about the whole book; understanding the difference in the factions & how to move forward

The kind of book every Christian should read.

Although this is only Hooker's preface, it contains Hooker's assessment of the political and theological situation and a summary of his argument. The primary topics considered in both the preface and the larger work - authority, scripture, reason, tradition, and the role of church and civil government - are still hotly contested today, and Hooker's argument is still relevant today.

The performance does have a few minor hiccups that do not detract from the overall book.