Christopher Cartwright


Christopher Cartwright was an English clergyman, known as a Hebraist and for his use of targums in Biblical exegesis, following the lead of Henry Ainsworth with John Weemes.

Life

He was born in the parish of St. Michael-le-Belfry, York, in 1602. He was admitted to Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 13 December 1617. He graduated B.A. 1620, M. A. 1624; was elected to a fellowship at Peterhouse on 30 March 1625, and was afterwards a clergyman in York. Cartwright illustrated the Bible from ancient rabbinical writings, and was respectfully mentioned by contemporaries. He died at York in 1658, and left some books to the library of Peterhouse.

Controversy with Baxter

When Richard Baxter wrote his first work, Aphorisms of Justification, he submitted it to Cartwright among others. There were many other critics But Cartwright’s had an impact in the long term. Cartwright made various remarks, to which Baxter replied. Cartwright then replied by some 'exceptions.' Baxter lost the manuscript, which turned up some years after Cartwright's death. In 1676 Baxter published his Treatise of Justifying Righteousness, in two books, the second of which, entitled A Friendly Debate with the learned and worthy Mr. Christopher Cartwright, contained all the preceding papers, together with Baxter's final reply, The Substance of Mr. Cartwright's Objections considered.

Works

Other writings are: