[10] His association as preacher or minister with St James's, Clerkenwell,[5] appears to have begun by 1654, when he was approached to officiate while an election was arranged in the following year.
Sparke maintained this connection with Clerkenwell in 1660, as an Independent, sharing, or in rivalry, with the elected minister Dr Siddon.
[12] Indentures of Fine were prepared between them in 1662, and in March 1664 a year's lease, and release, were made by them jointly with Sir Theodore Devaux of Covent Garden.
[7] In January 1637/38, Sparke published a sermon of 44 pages for the funeral of Henry Chitting, Chester Herald, entitled The Christian's Map of the World.
The portrait of Josias Shute which is prefixed to the edition was engraved by William Marshall, and the verses (both Latin and English) which are inscribed beneath it are subscribed "Ed.
His very lasting work, which had its first edition in 1652, was Scintillula Altaris, or a Pious Reflection on Primitive Devotion: as to the Feasts and Fasts of the Christian Church orthodoxally Revived (T. Maxey for Richard Marriot, London).
This fourfold method of exposition addressed a metaphysical principle in his teaching, as when, in his second disquisition (upon Advent Sunday), he described the four Sundays of Advent, as "may in some sense (like the Four Evangelists) be called our Saviour's four-wheel'd Chariot (Quadriga Domini), carrying the glad and sad tydings of his approach throughout the Church, as those do his Mercy and Justice throughout the world.
A brief extract from his poem on this feast illustrates his richly figurative style:"His Ministerial-Advent next attend,And in his Word, each Grief shall finde a Friend.The Motions of his Spirit, are the Gales,That, while we steer towards Heav'n, will fill our Sails;His blessed Sacraments, the Churches Wings,Whereby each Lark of Heaven mounts, and sings:A pair of cleansing Streams, broach'd from the sideOf our dear Lord, when for us crucifi'd,Our Brace of Spies, that from blest Can'an bringsNews of her chearing Vines, and fruitfull Springs.
"[22]Although the words "Primitive Devotion" suggested the paring away of ceremonial, Sparke's intention was really to reconstruct and to expound anew the Anglican Calendar of observances which had been thrown out by the revolutions of religious policy during the preceding decade.
The second edition, published in 1660, was entitled Θυσιαστήριον, vel Scintilla Altaris ("Thysiasterion, or, the Spark of the Altar"), and with a new dedication to King Charles II, and a collection of poems by notable persons approving the author's steadfastness to the old order in the face of the intervening chaos, was at once esteemed both for its orthodoxy and for the sinewy strength, depth and clarity of its expositions.
Edward settled money for her in the hands of Trustees of her own choosing, and left her the annual rents from his houses in Wapping for her lifetime, unless she remarried, after which they should revert to Sarah and Matthew Lister.
[34] Altogether Edward Sparke seems to have kept his financial and property affairs in good order, though the sums referred to are not especially large.
The 1662 edition of Scintilla Altaris contained an engraved portrait by Abraham Hertochs, set within a cartouche bearing the legend: "Edoardus Sparke S T D Regi a Sacris.
[37] Both versions display a shield of arms and a crest for Sparke, which seem to correspond to Bernard Burke's blazon, Chequy or and vert, a bend ermine, with crest Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi panther rampant guardant argent spotted with various colours, fire issuing from the ears and mouth proper.
The date of the rediscovery of the original stone is left blank in the register, but Robert Hamilton, D.D., FRS, FSA (c. 1751–1832) was inducted to St Olave's in 1797[40] and was elected President of Sion College, London Wall, in 1817.
He saw the inscription positioned on the outside south wall of St Olave's church tower, and it read: "Hoc marmor sacrum est memoriae Edoardi Sparke S.T.P.
tam doctrina quam ingenio celeberrimi olim rectoris huius parochiae qui obijt xiij die Sept. Ann Dom MDCLXXXXIII aetat suae LXXXVII.
"[1](This stone is dedicated to the memory of Edward Sparke, Doctor of Sacred Theology, formerly by teaching and genius the very famous rector of this parish, who died on 13 September 1693 aged 87.