E. B. Pusey: A Champion of God's Word and Truth as Pioneer of the Oxford Movement

On September 17, the Anglican Church in North America honors E. B. Pusey (1800 - 1890), a priest and teacher of the faith. That succinct description touches on two key elements of his character: his honor of his office and his commitment to the truth of the Bible.

Today, Pusey is acknowledged as the key figure in the Oxford Movement in the 19th-century Anglican Church. He was born in 1800 to Huguenot parents who fled religious persecution in France. A deep commitment to theology, education, and the revitalization of the Anglican tradition marked his life. This blog post explores Pusey's journey, his contributions to the Oxford Movement, and his lasting impact on the Church of England. Above all, it strives to highlight his love of Jesus* (4BC - 30 AD), His Truth, and His Church.

An asterisk* after a name means the person is in SPIRITUAL LIVES.

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Early Life and Education

E. B. Pusey was born on August 22, 1800. His family's history of faith and resilience profoundly influenced his theological outlook. As Hugenots, their faith was based upon the five solas: Scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, and glory to God alone.

In 1818, Pusey began his studies at Oxford University. He excelled academically and graduated in 1822. A year later, he became a fellow, joining notable contemporaries such as John Keble (1792-1866) and John Henry Newman. His time at Oxford was instrumental in shaping his theological positions.

Historic Oxford University, a center of learning and theology

From 1825 to 1828, Pusey broadened his intellectual horizons by studying Oriental languages and German theology at the prestigious University of Göttingen.

Although Pusey established a cordial relationship with some of his German professors and though he proved to be a brilliant student in their classes, he rejected higher criticism and became an outspoken defender of traditional Christian doctrines.

The teaching of Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg (1802-1869), a professor at Berlin, seems to have encouraged Pusey to maintain his belief in the historical accuracy and divine authority of the Scriptures. Hengstenberg, once a rationalist himself, had begun moving toward Pietism when Pusey met him, and both eventually became famous champions of orthodoxy: Hengstenberg in Lutheranism and his pupil in Anglicanism.

While in Germany, Pusey mastered the Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic languages, which equipped him well for work as an exegetical commentator on various books of the Old Testament. The fruit of this labor was two books,

• Daniel the Prophet, supporting the traditional historical dating of the Book of Daniel;

• The Minor Prophets, with Commentary, on the Twelve Minor Prophets, his main contribution as Professor of Hebrew.

Personal Life and Early Ministry

When he returned from Germany in 1828, Pusey was ordained and married Maria Barker, whom he had known from childhood. Their marriage brought joy and stability to his life, and they welcomed their only son, Philip Edward Pusey, in 1830. Philip later became a scholar who assisted his father with literary work, but faced health struggles and passed away in 1880.

Pusey's personal life was marked by challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of his wife in 1839. This tragedy profoundly affected him, shaping his theological reflections and deepening his dedication to the Church.

Tragedy struck again in 1844 with the death of Pusey's daughter, Lucy. This profound loss deepened his commitment to the Church as a source of comfort and support.

The Oxford Movement and Theological Contributions

The Oxford Movement sought to revive the Catholic heritage of the Anglican Church, gaining momentum in the 1830s. Pusey, who became closely involved with the movement in the mid-1830s, made significant contributions during this time. His influential tract on baptism and the establishment of the Library of the Fathers played a crucial role in promoting its ideals, as the Library contains critical ancient texts that re-emphasize the Church’s historical foundations.

When John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and Henry Edward Manning (1808 – 1892) left the Anglican Church to become prelates for Rome, Pusey became the leading figure in the Oxford Movement.

He passionately advocated for the Anglican tradition, seeking to bridge the gap between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. Pusey believed in recognizing the core beliefs that united the two traditions, aiming for a message of unity and understanding.

Pusey's theological contributions were significant. In 1846, he delivered two impactful sermons on confession within the Church of England. These sermons revitalized the practice, emphasizing the importance of the penitential system and influencing Anglican worship practices nationwide.

He sought the truth and unification with a meek and quiet spirit and answered a challenging letter from Manning with An Eirenicon (1865-1876). Pusey, however, despite his friends' efforts to woo him, remained a convinced Anglican.

There, he cited Roman Catholic teachings about purgatory and indulgences, together with the position of the Virgin Mary, as chief obstacles to reunion. After Vatican Council I promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility in 1870, Pusey lost all hope for official reconciliation with Rome.

Drawing by Clara Pusey, Pusey Family at Breafast, 1857: Public Domain

The Later Years and Enduring Legacy

Pusey's later years were filled with both personal loss and professional achievements. In 1843, he welcomed Marian Hughes (1817-1912), the first Anglican woman to make vows since the Reformation. Hughes became the mother superior of an order she founded, aligning with Pusey's vision of a revitalized Anglican Church.

In 1856, Pusey delivered a landmark sermon titled “The Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” This sermon not only became a cornerstone of Anglican theology but also transformed worship practices within the Anglican community. By stressing Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, Pusey solidified his influence in Anglican thought. At the same time, he rejected Rome's dogma of transubstantiation. As always, Pusey was true to God's Word, the Bible.

Reflection on Pusey's Impact

E. B. Pusey's life and legacy are a testament to his unwavering commitment to the Anglican tradition and a pursuit of theological truth. His work in the Oxford Movement, his promotion of high church practices, and his desire for unity within Christianity have left a lasting mark on the Church of England. In all of this, his commitment to God's truth and the absolute authority of the Bible was protection against the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. These teachings had deceived two of his lifelong friends.

Despite facing personal trials, Pusey's dedication inspired generations of theologians and laypeople. His life encourages us to seek truth, embrace our rich faith heritage, and cultivate unity.

In our often-divided world, Pusey's legacy serves as a guiding light, reminding us of the value of understanding and reconciliation in our Christian communities, but not at the weakening of the authority of God's word and its truth.

His life shows us that even in the midst of grief and struggle, the pursuit of faith can lead to loving evangelism for the lost and victims of false religion.

A serene church interior reflecting the beauty of Anglican worship

Dr. Pusey loved his Roman Catholic friends even as they left him for the Papal anti-Christ.

• He was a man of peace and love, but he would not abandon the truth for peace.

• His love remained even as the struggle took away his peace.

• That love for the lost compels us to witness to the lost, especially those who have been deceived by Rome.

  
  

Pusey inspires me to live for Him who died for me and to be a "fisher of men."

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How firm a foun­da­tion, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His ex­cel­lent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

You, who un­to Je­sus for re­fuge have fled?

In ev­ery con­di­tion, in sick­ness, in health;

In po­ver­ty’s vale, or ab­ound­ing in wealth;

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,

As thy days may de­mand, shall thy strength ev­er be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dis­mayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strength­en and help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My right­eous, om­ni­po­tent hand.

When through the deep wa­ters I call thee to go,

The riv­ers of woe shall not thee ov­er­flow;

For I will be with thee, thy trou­bles to bless,

And sanc­ti­fy to thee thy deep­est dis­tress.

When through fie­ry tri­als thy path­ways shall lie,

My grace, all suf­fi­cient, shall be thy sup­ply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I on­ly de­sign

Thy dross to con­sume, and thy gold to re­fine.

Even down to old age all My peo­ple shall prove

My sov­er­eign, eter­nal, un­change­able love;

And when hoa­ry hairs shall their tem­ples adorn,

Like lambs they shall still in My bo­som be borne.

The soul that on Je­sus has leaned for re­pose,

I will not, I will not de­sert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell should en­dea­vor to shake,

I’ll nev­er, no nev­er, no nev­er for­sake.

Words: From A Se­lect­ion of Hymns from the Best Au­thors, by John Rip­pon, 1787.