Editing Ralph Cudworth (section)

===Commonwealth and Restoration===
Cudworth emerged as a central figure among that circle of theologians and philosophers known as the [[Cambridge Platonists]], who were (more or less) in sympathy with the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth]]: during the later 1650s, Cudworth was consulted by [[John Thurloe]], [[Oliver Cromwell]]'s Secretary to the [[English Council of State|Council of State]], with regard to certain university and government appointments and various other matters.<ref>T. Birch, ''Account of the Life and Writings'' (1743), [http://warburg.sas.ac.uk/pdf/ach2200b2396022.pdf pp. viii–x (pp. 16–18 in pdf).]</ref><ref>'Life of Cudworth, Appendix A: Letters to Thurloe', in W.R. Scott, ''An Introduction to Cudworth's Treatise concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality'' (Longmans, Green & Co.: London, 1891), [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015014300878;view=1up;seq=35 pp. 19–23] (Hathi Trust).</ref> During 1657, Cudworth advised [[Bulstrode Whitelocke]]'s sub-committee of the Parliamentary "Grand Committee for Religion" on the accuracy of editions of the English Bible.<ref>C. Anderson, ''The Annals of the English Bible'' (William Pickering: London, 1845), ii, [https://books.google.com/books?id=85ZgAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA394 Book 3, p. 394] (Google).</ref> Cudworth was appointed Vicar of [[Great Wilbraham]], and Rector of [[Toft, Cambridgeshire|Toft]], [[Cambridgeshire]] [[Diocese of Ely|Ely diocese]] (1656), but surrendered these livings (1661 and 1662, respectively) when he was presented, by Dr [[Gilbert Sheldon]], [[Bishop of London]], to the [[Hertfordshire]] Rectory of [[Ashwell, Hertfordshire|Ashwell]] (1 December 1662).<ref name="CCEdp" />

[[File:Former swimming pool - geograph.org.uk - 1580169.jpg|thumb|right|The mid-seventeenth century Fellows' Swimming Pool, Christ's College, Cambridge]]
Given Cudworth's close cooperation with prominent figures in Oliver Cromwell's regime (such as [[John Thurloe]]), Cudworth's continuance as Master of Christ's was challenged at the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]] but, ultimately, he retained this post until his death.<ref>Letter (6 August 1660), in J. Crossley, ''Diary and Correspondence of Dr John Worthington'' (Chetham Society, O.S., 13 (1847)), i, p. 203; and Christ's College website, [https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/college-life/masters-christs-college-1505 List of Masters of Christ's College].</ref> He and his family are believed to have resided in private lodgings at the "Old Lodge" (which stood between Hobson Street and the College Chapel), and various improvements were made to the college rooms in his time.<ref>J. Covell, 'An Account of the Master's Lodgings in ye College', in R. Willis and J.W. Clarke, ''The Architectural History of the University of Cambridge, and of the Colleges of Cambridge and Eton'', (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1886), ii, [https://archive.org/details/architecturalhis02will_0/page/212 pp. 212–19] (Internet Archive).</ref> He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society|Fellow]] of the [[Royal Society]] in 1662.