Taylor, NATHANIEL WILLIAM

Taylor, NATHANIEL WILLIAM, preacher and theologian, was born at New Milford, Connecticut, 23d June 1786, studied at Yale, became pastor of a Congregational church at New Haven in 1812, and in 1822 became professor of Theology in Yale College, where he taught until his death, 10th March 1858. In numerous sermons, lectures, and essays he maintained what from his pastoral charge became known as the 'New Haven theology,' long assailed as heretical. This system, a softening of the traditional Calvinism of New England, maintained the doctrine of natural ability, and denied total depravity; sin is a voluntary action of the sinner; but there is, derived from Adam, a bias or tendency to sin, which is not itself sinful. His works were edited in 5 vols. by his son-in-law, Dr Noah Porter (1858-59).