Charles_Herle
Charles Herle
English theologian
Charles Herle (1598–1659) was a prominent English theologian, of moderate Presbyterian views.
Herle graduated from Exeter College, Oxford with an M.A. in 1618. He was vicar of Winwick, Lancashire, from 1626.[1]
In a controversy with Henry Ferne, a Royalist, Herle insisted, against divine right theory, that a monarch's sovereignty was mediated by the people, rather than coming directly from God.[2] It has been suggested that this work marks the beginning of a transition from theories of mixed government to the doctrine of separation of powers.[3] His 1643 work on The independency on scriptures of the independency of churches provoked reaction from New England,[4] and controversy with Samuel Rutherford.
Parliament appointed Herle as Prolocutor of the Westminster Assembly on 22 July 1646, after the death of William Twisse.[5][6] The Westminster Confession of Faith of 1646 was drawn up by Herle with others,[7][8] drafting being assigned at one point to a small group of Herle, Edward Reynolds and Matthew Newcomen.