Taylor, Nathaniel (1), an English clergyman, was assistant minister in Westminster in 1683, and ap- pointed pastor of a congregation at Salter's Hall in 1695. He died in 1702, at the age of about forty. He publish- ed. Sermons (Lond. 1688, 4to): — Funeral Seiinon (1691, 4to) : — Pi-esercatire against Deism (1698, 4to): — Fune- rcd Sermon (1699, 4to) : — Discourse of Faith in Jesus Christ, etc. (1700, 4to) -.—Dr. William Sherlock's Cases and Letter of Church Communion, etc., Considered (1702, 8vo) : — Practical Discourses (1703, 8vo). See Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and Arner. Authors, s. v.
Taylor, Nathaniel (2), a Congregational minis- ter, was born at Danbury, Conn., Aug. 27, 1722 (O. S.). He graduated at Yale College in 1745, and was ordained pastor, June 29, 1748, at New Milford, Conn., where he remained until his death, Dec. 9, 1800. For twenty-six
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years lie was one of the Yale College board of trustees. His only publications were two occasional Sermons. In 175y he was cliaplain, under Col. N. Wliiting, at ami around Crown I'oint and 'ric<»nderoga. Sec Sprague, Annals "f't/ie A inn: I'nijiit. i. 107.
Taylor, Nathaniel William, D.D., an eminent Congregational prcaclicr and divine, and the grandson of the [ireccdiiig, was born at New Milford, Comi., ,June 23, 17)Sl>. He spent his early years on a farm, was pre- pared for college by Kev. Dr. Azel Backus, and gradu- ated at Yale College in 1807, having had twice to relin- quish his studies on account of disease of the eyes. He was private tutor for a year in Albany and Montreal, studied theology four years with Dr. Dwiglit, and in 1812 succeeded Closes Stuart in the j)astorate of the First CInirch, New Haven, wliere he labored with great success for ten years. Of his preaching, Dr. Diitton thus speaks: ''The intellectual qualities of his [ireach- ing were thorough and ))rofound, yet lucid and scriptu- ral: exposition and discussion of weighty themes; a marshalling of comprehensive forces of luminous and enkindled logic, to bear, with compacted and converg- ing unity and climacteric ]xiwer, on the one question in hand; a fidl and frank meeting of difficiilties ; bold, de- fiant, and powerful grappling with objections; fearless reference, in defence of scriptural doctrine and precept, to reason and common-sense; close and pungent appli- cations to conscience, and earnest and tender appeals to the heart." Dr. Taylor was considered one of the ablest preachers of his time, and in certain aspects was thought to have had no eipial. xVfter he became theological in- .etructor, especially in times of revival, his labors were widely sought l>y the Church and freely given. In ]82'2, upon the formation of the theological department in Yale College, he was chosen Dwight professor of di- dactic theology, which position he held until INIarch 10, 18.i8, when he ipiietly and peacefidly passed away from earth. It was as a teacher of theology that his' influ- ence has been most widely felt. In this field, he was an original investigator, and few men have left a deeper impress upon American divinity. In several important respects he diverged from the traditional theology of New England. He held that the mind, however af- fected by sill in intellect, sensibility, or will, is yet a free agent, capable by intellect to perceive and under- stand the objects and motives of choice, capable l)y sen- pibility to feel their influence, and capable by will to choose or refuse any one of them ; .and that the power of will, by which it makes a given choice, is a power that could in the time and circumstances have chosen differently and op()ositely. He repudiated the predi- cating of the words "predestinated" and "decreed" to Cod, and substituted the word " purposed." While de- pravity is universal to the race, it is not to be ascribed to any jiroperty, propensity, or disposition of the soul, prior to actual transgression, as sinful in itself, or as the necessary cause of sin, nor to a sinful nature corrui)ted in or derived from Ailam, sin being traced to the con- stitutional propensity of man for natural good, as per- verted by his own moral agency. " Sin comes in as an unavoidable result, so far as divine prevention is con- cerned, of such materials as (iod uses, and must use, in a vionil universe— to wit, free agents." God, having created man moral and responsible, cannot prevent the entrance of sin without contradicting himself. He ad- mitted and taught that sin is among the things which arc according to the counsel of Cod's will, yet only in an indirect and remote sense, (iod preferriiig a moral .system in which sin is necessarily incidental ti) the non- existence of a moral system. As to the oritrinality and soundness of Dr. Taylor's views concerning sin, much difference of opinion has prevailed. .Some of his followers have claimed that they are original with him; others quote Wliately, Woodward, and Dr. John ■\oung as having enoiriRed views in consonance with his. Dr. I'ond charges him with reviving " the old Ar- minian deistical hypothesis," while Dr. Dutton claims,
on the contrary, that "time has fully proved that his mode was altogether best for the refutation of Armin- ianism." Dr. \\'iiedon says that w bile Dr. Taylor " vin- dicated the divine government by introducing into his system the Arminian view of sin, he overllirows his own work by admitting the principle of preordination." At all events, the enunciation of Dr. Taylor's views gave rise to a prolonged and exciting controversy, which was carried on with unusual persistency and ability between himself and his colleagues, on the one hand, and Drs. Tyler, Woods, and other prominent Congregational di- vines, on the other. Dr. Taylor never admitted that his opinions were heretical, judged by the standard theologians of New England, but labored hard to prove their substantial conformity to the latter. Defended and enforced by his intense earnestness and eloquence, and by his powerful logic, his theology has won many aiiherents, and — so it has been claimed — has silently modified, and in a true sense rationalized, the Calvinis- tic theology. Dr. Taylor attached much importance to the truths of natural religion, and he also laid much stress upon true theories of mind. A correct mental [diilosophy he deemed fundamental, and elaborated with much care a system of Ins own. Witli Dwight and Edwards, he held that all motives tind their ultimate ground of appeal in the desire of personal happiness, and that the idea of right in its last analysis is resolved into a tendency to the highest happiness. As a teacher, Dr. Taylor won the admiration and affection of his pu- pils, nearly seven hundred being under his training, and inspired them with enthusiasm and pleasure in the pur- suit of their studies. In his social and domestic rela- tions, he was peculiarly attractive and lovely, and pe- culiarly beloved. As an author. Dr. Taylor is known principally by posthumous works. His controversial articles were contributed principally to the Monthly and Quarlerly (,'hrisliiin Spectator and to the Spirit of the Pilyriiiis. Since his death there have appeared the fol- lowing, edited by Noah Taylor, D.D. : Practical Ser- viom (N. Y. 18.o8, 8vo) : — Lectures on the Moral Govern- ment (yf God (ibid. 1859, 2 vols. 8vo), his greatest and most celebrated performance: — Essays, Lectures, etc., upon Select Topics in Revealed Theology (ibid. 1859, 8vo). See the Congregational Quarterly, 1860, p. 245 sq. (by Dr. Dutton) ; Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and Ainer. Authors, s. V. ; Appletons' Cyclopcedia, s. v.; also the Christ. Qua?: Spec. vols, ii, iv, v ; Spirit of the Pilgrims, vols. V, vi; New-Englander, Nov. 1859 (by Prof. ^Mar- tin); Amer. Theol. Rev. 1859, p. 391 sq. (by Dr. Pond) ; Meth. Quar. Rev. 1859, p. 317, GG7 ; 1800, p. 146, 656- 669 (by Dr. Whedon); Memorial of Nathaniel IV. Tay- lor, D.D. (New Haven, 18.58, 8vo), comprising sermons bj' Drs. Bacon, Dutton, anil Fisher. See Theology; TvLiiu, Bknnet.