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John Bramhall
John Bramhall (1594–1663) was an English preacher, theologian, and Anglican bishop whose ministry and writings significantly shaped the Church of England and Ireland during a tumultuous era. Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, to Peter Bramhall, he attended Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, earning a BA (1612), MA (1616), BD (1623), and DD (1630). Initially ordained around 1616, he served in Yorkshire, gaining prominence as a preacher and debater, notably defeating Catholic priests in a 1623 disputation at Northallerton. His early career flourished under Archbishop Tobias Matthew, who made him a chaplain, and through ties to Sir Thomas Wentworth (later Earl of Strafford), he moved to Ireland in 1633 as a royal chaplain. Consecrated Bishop of Derry in 1634, Bramhall worked tirelessly to restore church properties, doubling his diocese’s income, and helped align the Irish Church with English standards, adopting the Thirty-Nine Articles. Bramhall’s ministry faced severe trials during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, leading to his impeachment by the Irish Commons and imprisonment in Dublin. Fleeing to the continent in 1644, he preached in exile—serving English communities in Brussels and Antwerp—while defending Anglicanism against Puritans, Catholics, and Thomas Hobbes, with whom he famously debated free will and determinism in works like The Catching of Leviathan (1658). Returning after the Restoration, he became Archbishop of Armagh in 1661, moderating the enforcement of religious conformity in Ireland. Married with children (details sparse), he died of apoplexy in 1663, leaving a legacy as a learned apologist and reformer, his works collected in 1677 by John Vesey, cementing his influence on Anglican theology.
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John Bramhall preaches about the prophecy concerning the birth and death of Jesus Christ, referred to as 'The Nail' in Zechariah's prophecy. Christ is symbolized as 'The Nail' who bears the burdens of our sins, cares, and will receive eternal glory. As 'The Nail,' He bore the heavy burden of our sins on the cross, offering freedom to all who acknowledge their sins laid upon Him. Believers are encouraged to cast all their cares upon Him, trusting in His ability to carry their burdens and to hang the glory of their lives upon 'The Nail' who is worthy of all honor and praise.
Have You Found the Nail?
What a strange question! but it refers to the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and is a prophecy concerning His birth and death. The prophet Zechariah foretold His coming with this name and title, chapter 10 and verse 4 of his prophecy: "Out of him (the tribe of Judah) shall come forth . . . The Nail!" Numerous titles are given the Son of God in the Bible but this may be one of the strangest yet filled with great significance. In Old Testament times a nail was used as a tent pin, driven into the ground (Exodus 27:19) and also as a strong pin, built into the wall of an eastern building securely, to hang vessels upon (Ezekiel 15:3). This latter explanation suggests why Christ is called "The Nail." The Nail is to bear burdens. We place many things upon a nail, transferring them from ourselves, putting them upon the provided burden-bearer. The significant reason that Christ came to be "The Nail" is – He is the great Burden Bearer! 1. As The Nail, He bore the burden of our sin! It was upon the cross that Christ accomplished this great work: "who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24). The burden was incalculably heavy, for "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). It was the whole world’s guilt that hung on the Blessed One: "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). There was no other person who could and did bear this load for us and he did not fail! "One died for all". Have you acknowledged that your sins were there laid upon Him? If so, you will know the joy of these words: "All thy sins were laid upon Him, Jesus bore them on the tree; God, Who knew them, laid them on Him And believing, thou are free". If not, find "The Nail" this moment: "we have found HIM" said Philip (John 1:45). "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Now turn to Him while you may; by faith see your sins "laid on Him" and you will find The Nail! 2. As the nail, He bears the burden of our cares! Troubles and sorrows fill the earth, from which none are exempt, but if we have found "The Nail" we shall find Him able to carry all our cares also. Surely, if we believe that He bore all our sins, we can also trust Him to carry all our care! Absolutely! Peter has bidden us to do this, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). How foolish for us to carry our own burdens with such provision as the Nail! "Cast thy burden on the Lord" wrote the Psalmist, "and He shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22). What are you doing with your burdens? Are you carrying them yourself? Find the Nail! Hang them on Him today and do not remove them! He is a "sure Nail." You can trust Him wholly, for "they that trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true". Have you found the Nail? 3. As the Nail He will have eternal glory! "They shall hang upon Him all the glory of His father’s house" (Isaiah 22:24). The treasures of the house of David were hung in splendor upon the nails embedded in the walls, emblems of kingly glory. Today, the universe hangs on Him! (Heb. 1:3); tomorrow the government of the earth will hang on Him! (Isaiah 9:6) and in eternity the glory of universal reign, in heaven and earth, will hang on Him also (Eph. 1:10; Phil. 2:9-11). Then why cannot we hang the glory of our lives upon the Nail today? He is worthy! Our sins were laid on Him! Our cares can be laid on Him! Our love; our talents; our possessions; our all, is worthy to be hung on that blessed Nail! Some day, a redeemed universe will ascribe unto the Nail eternal glory, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!" (Rev. 5:11). Why wait for that day? Do it now! Have you found the Nail?
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John Bramhall (1594–1663) was an English preacher, theologian, and Anglican bishop whose ministry and writings significantly shaped the Church of England and Ireland during a tumultuous era. Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, to Peter Bramhall, he attended Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, earning a BA (1612), MA (1616), BD (1623), and DD (1630). Initially ordained around 1616, he served in Yorkshire, gaining prominence as a preacher and debater, notably defeating Catholic priests in a 1623 disputation at Northallerton. His early career flourished under Archbishop Tobias Matthew, who made him a chaplain, and through ties to Sir Thomas Wentworth (later Earl of Strafford), he moved to Ireland in 1633 as a royal chaplain. Consecrated Bishop of Derry in 1634, Bramhall worked tirelessly to restore church properties, doubling his diocese’s income, and helped align the Irish Church with English standards, adopting the Thirty-Nine Articles. Bramhall’s ministry faced severe trials during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, leading to his impeachment by the Irish Commons and imprisonment in Dublin. Fleeing to the continent in 1644, he preached in exile—serving English communities in Brussels and Antwerp—while defending Anglicanism against Puritans, Catholics, and Thomas Hobbes, with whom he famously debated free will and determinism in works like The Catching of Leviathan (1658). Returning after the Restoration, he became Archbishop of Armagh in 1661, moderating the enforcement of religious conformity in Ireland. Married with children (details sparse), he died of apoplexy in 1663, leaving a legacy as a learned apologist and reformer, his works collected in 1677 by John Vesey, cementing his influence on Anglican theology.