Thomas Adams
Thomas Adams was an English clergyman and preacher born around 1582 or 1583. He studied at Cambridge, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 1601 and a master’s in 1606, and was ordained in 1604. Adams faced challenges in securing stable employment, which heightened his awareness of social justice issues, often reflected in his sermons. His career gained momentum by 1611 when he became a preacher in Willington, where he wrote notable works such as "The Gallants Burden" (1612) and "The White Devil: Or, The Hypocrite Uncased" (1613). These sermons not only served religious purposes but also showcased literary techniques, making them popular among various audiences. In 1614, he published "The Devills Banket: Described in Foure Sermons," solidifying his reputation. After moving to London, where he continued to write despite personal losses, Adams published "The Workes of Thomas Adams" in 1629. His later years were marked by criticism from Protestant leaders, leading him to withdraw from public life. Adams passed away in November 1652, leaving behind a legacy of impactful sermons and writings.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Thomas Adams
Writer
- Born: 1582/1583
- Birthplace: England
- Died: November 26, 1652
- Place of death: England
Biography
Thomas Adams was born in England in 1582 or 1583. He studied at Cambridge, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1601 and a master’s in 1606. Adams was ordained in 1604 and served in small posts around the country.
Unfortunately, Adams had difficulty finding work to support his family. With his own financial troubles, Adams was well aware of the problems of the poor, and he would often incorporate ideas of social justice into his sermons. By 1611, he had a steady job at Willington, where he served as a preacher and wrote up sermons for publication. One of his first notable successes was his sermon The Gallants Burden (1612), which would find multiple printings. His 1613 sermon The White Devil: Or, The Hypocrite Uncased was one of his more popular works. Adams also completed his first book of collected sermons, The Devills Banket: Described in Foure Sermons, in 1614.
Adams’s sermons grew popular not only as religious lessons but also as literary works. Adams was known to include literary form and traditions into his sermons. He was also known for satirizing sins and vice as a way to speak against them.
In 1614 Adams and his family moved to Wingrave, where he took the position of vicar. As his popularity grew, Adams was often sought by other churches to speak to their congregations. In 1618 Adams published The Happiness of the Church: Or, A Description of Those Spirituall Prerogatives Wherewith Christ Hath Endowed Her, a collection of sermons collected when Adams had fallen ill. A year later, he moved closer to London where he would remain for the rest of his life.
Shortly after moving to London in 1619, his wife died. Adams continued to support himself and his children. He continued to write and speak around London, but over time his work began to slow. In 1629, he published The Workes of Thomas Adams: Being the Summe of His Sermons, Meditations, and Other Divine and Morall Discourses, one of his last major works.
After 1629, Adams did much to avoid the public eye as Protestant leaders criticized him and his works. His final work published during in his lifetime, Gods Anger and Mans Comfort: Two Sermons, was printed in 1652. Adams died in November of that year.