Stilling was not a profound I liinker, nor yet a thorough student. Education ha<l not lifted him out of himself. He was simply the frankest,most natural, and most at- tractive of Christian romanticists. Even in his favorite field of theosophic mysticism he displayed none of the creative power of Oetinger, nor was he a visionary like J. Bijhme; he was simply well-read, and possessed the power of vivid description to perfection. His principal works are the Siegesgeschichle,i.e. an exposition and elaboration of the Apocalypse on the basis of Bengel's chronology, and the Theorie der Geisterkunde {Theory of Spirit-law), which is largely based on Swedenborg. He often asserted in his correspondence that he was constrained by the will of God, clearly revealed, to write these books. The most interesting of Stilling's writ- ings are his always mystical stories. Their titles were captivating — e. g. Das Ileiniweh ; Scenen aus deni Geis- terreiche — but they were valuable rather on account of their solid contents ; the scenes, often well-nigh majes- tic, which they presented; the apparently artless, and yet richly illustrative, adorned, and blooming style in which they were written ; the warmth of Christian feel- ing by which the\' were pervaded ; and the grandeur of the problems they attempted to solve. Comp. the ro- mances, Gesch. d. Ilerrn run Mori/enthau : —Theodor ron d. Linden : — Florenlin von Fahlettdom: — Theobald, oder d, Schvarmer : — also /f. Slillinf/s .Jugend-, .Jiinr/lings- jahre, Wanderschaflu- und Lehrjahre: — and the Grave Mann. His dogmatical views do not need discussion in this place. I lis was no jjliilosophical mind, and his dogmatics were simply Christian ascetics in philosoph- ical guise. Stilling is not yet, perhaps, w'ell understood. The letters to Saltzmaim reveal him most clearly. In them we observe his sensitive nature, his rich fancy, his power of delicate description, and an all-pervading im- pression that he is engaged in the service of the Lord. The letters breathe the most humane ideas and the most tender regard for the truth. On his life see Heinroth, Gesch. d. AfysticLwws (Leips. 1830), p. 513 sq.; Rudel- bach, Christ/. ISiof/raph. vol. i ; Winkel, Bonn, evangel. Monatsschrifl, 1844, ii, 233-2C>2; Kurze, Gesch.d. Inspira- tions-Gemeinden,be.ionders in d. Grafschaft IVittyenslein ; (Jfibel, Ge.<!ch. (J. wahren Inspirations-Gemeinden, in Nied- ner's Zeitschrift fiir hist. Theoloyie, 1854, ii, 270: Prot.
STILLINGFLEET
IOL'8
STILWELLITES
MonatfUiitter, July, lMn7; Jan. 1860; nodemann, Ziige au» dem Lfben dts ./. //. Jiinf/, etc. (Hielefelil, 1844 ) ; .1 lis d. Piimeren eiiier Tochter SlilJiiii/'s ( Hannen, 18(j(t) ; Ness- \eT, Elude Thtohff.gur J. Slillinf) (Strasb. 18(!0) ; Kncy- ciop. dt.<t fieii.i dti Monde, s. v. "Jung," etc. — Herzog, Real-t'iiriikl«p. s. V.
Stilliugfleet, Fdwarp. a learned English prelate, was Imrn at t'raiibornt', Korsctshirc, April 17, 1635, and educated at a grain inar-scliool in that place, and at KingwiMid, in Hampshire. Having secured one of Lvnne's exhil)itions, he entered St. John's College, Cam- bridge, in Michaelmas, 1648. He took his degree of A.B. in 16.i2, and was admitted to a fellowship iNIarch 31, 1G.">3. In 16,'>4 he accepted the invitation of Sir Koger Hurgnyne to reside at his seat at Wroxhal). War- wickshire, and in 16;)0 was appointed tutor to tlie Hon. Francis Pierrepont, brother of the maripiis of Dorches- ter. He obtained the degree of A.M. in 1656. and in the following year was presented to the living of Sutton, Beiifordshire. His lirst advance to London was in con- sequence of his being appointed preacher to the KoUs ChaiH'l by Sir Harbottle (iriniston; and in January, 166.5, he was presented by Thomas, earl of Southamp- ton, to tlie living of .St. Andrew's, Holborn. He retained the preachership at the Holls, and was at the same time afternoon lecturer at theTem|)le Church. In February, 1667, he was collated by bishop Henchman to the preb- «n<l of Islington, Church of St. Paul's. He was also king's chaplain, and in 1670 Charles II bestowed on him the place of canon residentiary of St. Paul's. In Octo- ber. 1672, he exchanged his prebend of Islington for that of Newington. in the same church. These prefer- ments were followed in 1677 by the archdeaconry of I>>ndon, and in January, 1678, by the deanery of St. I'aul's. Dr. Stillingfleet was canon of the twelfth stall in the Church of Canterbury, and prolocutor of the low- er house of convocation for many years. At the Revo- lution he was advanced to the bishopric of Worcester, and consecrateil Oct. 13, 1680. Soon after his promo- tion to the see of Worcester, he was appointed one of the commissioners for reviewing the liturgy. He died at his house in Park Street, Westminster, ]\Iarch 27, 1699. The principal works of Dr. Stillingfleet are, Ire- mciim,n Weapon Siilne for the Church's Wounds (1659, 4to): — Oriifints Sacm, or n Rational Account of the Chritlian Foilh as to the Truth and Dicine Authority of the Scriptures (1662, 4to): — A Rational Account of the Grounds of the Protestant Reliyion (1664, fol.) : — Tracts in Repli/ to Strictures on the Vindication, etc.:— Six Senmms (1669, fol.): — ,4 Discourse concerninr/ the True Reason of the Sufferings of ChrUt (1669, fol.) :— followed by a second [)art, A Discourse conceniiuf/ the Idolatry I'ractuted in the Church of Rome, etc. (1671, 8vo) : — .4 nswer to Srreral Treaties, occasioned bv that work (1673, 8vo l : — Conferences between a Romish I'riesf, a Fanatic Chaj>lain,and a I)irine of the Church of Enq- lund, conceminy /dolalry (1679, 8vo) : — Answers to Some Papers Lately Printed concerning the A uthorily of the Catholic Church in Matters of Faith, etc. (1686, 4t()) :— The Doctrine oflhf Trinity and Transultstantiation Com- pared f 1686, 4to) :— 7'/ic Council of Trent Examined awl llisprored hy Catholic Tradiliim (1688, 4to) :— Th- rmsonahli-ness of Separation (I6«l, Uit) : — Concerniny thf liishops' Riyhl to Vole in Parliament in Cases Capi- tal ( l(»8(),8vo) -.—Orif/ines liritannic<r, or the A ntiquities if the Hritish Churches (1685, fol.) -.—Discourse cuncem- iny the /lliyality of the Ecclesiastical Commission, etc. ([M'.l) -. — /Hjiroursis in Vindication of the Trinity, etc. ( 1696):— iK'sidcs Stnnons, Tracts, etc. See Chalmers, Jiioy. Iiicl. H. v.; Hook, Eccles. liioy. 8. v.