Background
Jacob Acontius was born in
Trento, although it was probably Ossana.
engineer jurist philosopher theologian
Jacob Acontius was born in
Trento, although it was probably Ossana.
Jacob Acontius studied law and theology, but his profession was that of an engineer, and in this capacity he found employment with the English government.
Acontius served as secretary to Cristoforo Madruzzo, a liberal cardinal. When the more conservative Paul IV became pope, Acontius repudiated Roman Catholic doctrine, left Italy, and eventually found refuge in England. He arrived soon after the accession of Queen Elizabeth I (1558).
On his arrival in London, Acontius joined the Dutch Reformed Church; before reaching England, however, he had published a treatise on methods of scientific investigation, and his critical spirit made it difficult for him to remain within any of the recognized churches. He was later excluded from the sacraments, partly because he was considered to hold Anabaptist beliefs (in the baptism of adult believers) and Arian (anti-Trinitarian) opinions and partly because he defended the radical pastor Adrian Haemstede, who had previously been excommunicated.
In his Satanae stratagemata (1565) Acontius identified the dogmatic creeds that divide the church as the “stratagems of Satan. ” In the hope of finding a common denominator for the various creeds, he sought to reduce dogma to a minimum.
Acontius repudiated Roman Catholic doctrine, left Italy, and eventually found refuge in England.
On his arrival in London he had joined the Dutch Reformed Church in Austin Friars.