Bishop _Gibson_ and my self, upon any other Terms, than his making me
ample Satisfaction for the Injuries done to my Reputation and low
Fortunes. Tho' he may thirst after my Life, or at least, my Liberty;
yet under the Providence of God I fear not the Loss of either. God be
prais'd, this Kingdom is bless'd with such a Civil Administration for
Wisdom, Justice and Mercy, as no Nation of the World can equal. Our
Magistrates are all Philosophers, Lovers of Truth, and of an Enquiry
into it; and so tender of the religious as well as of the civil Rights
of the Subject, that I have nothing to dread from them.
There is somewhat _popular_ indeed, tho' nothing true nor rational, in
the Clamour and Accusations of the _Clergy_ against me. Bishop _Gibson_
would insinuate[337] that my _Discourses_ on _Miracles_ strike _at the
Foundation of civil Society_; but by an unnatural Consequence of his
own making. I confess, it is an heinous Crime to write any Thing that
tends to the Subversion or Prejudice of the civil Society: But how will
the _Bishop_ make me guilty of it? If the _Clergy_ will not be
Disturbers of the Peace of the Publick upon my _Discourses_; it's
certain, that the Quiet of the World, which I wish and aim at, will be
inviolably kept and preserv'd for all me. My Followers indeed, when I
walk the Streets of this City, are _numerous_; and if any of them should
break the Peace, what serves my _Lord Mayor_'s Power for, but to
chastise them for it? As for my self and my Adherents at home, which, as
yet, are _without Number_, we are all _Quietists_ and should act against
our Consciences and Religion, if we should injure any Man in his Person
and Property. But I smile to see a _Clergyman_ all on a sudden, like the
_Bishop_, so tender of the Welfare of the Publick, when
_Ecclesiasticks_, in all Ages past, have been the _Bane_ of Society and
the _Pest_ of Mankind, as appears from the Wars and Persecution they
have rais'd in the World; and from that Strife, Variance and Discords,
they have occasion'd in Cities and Families. And with Submission to the
_Bishop_, who I hope will not be angry for my saying it, I am sure, the
_Clergy_ at this Juncture, are like an _high-mettal'd blind Horse_,
that were they not ridden by the Civil Authority with a strait Rein,
would be oppressing and trampling upon all, that flood in the Way of
their Interests, to the Disturbance of _Civil Society_.
_Profaneness_ too does the _Bishop_ charge me with. But why so? Because
I ridicule the Nonsense and Absurdities of _Jesus_'s Miracles according
to the Letter, which he venerates. Very fine indeed! The _Bishop_ would
worship the _Head_ of an _Ass_, and a wiser Man than himself, without
the Charge of Profaneness, must not laugh at his foolish Superstition.
And _Blasphemy_ lastly does the _Bishop_ accuse me of: And this is a
sad _Bugbear_ Word, that has frighted Abundance of People into
dreadful Apprehensions of my Guilt, even to the Abhorrence of me. But
the _Bishop_ should first have defined, what is meant by _Blasphemy_,
and have proved me guilty of it, before he had made his Exclamations:
Or the _Turks_ may say that a Jest upon their _Alcoran_, in which
there are no Contradictions, is as much a _Blasphemy_, as any
Ludicrousness upon the _Gospels_, which are full of Inconsistencies.
That there is such a Sin or Error, call'd _Blasphemy_, according to
the Scriptures, is certain: But our _Divines_ are undetermined about
the Nature of it. I intend to take my Opportunity to treat on the Sin
of Blasphemy, and to prove, _Ministers_ of the _Letter_ are the only
Persons that can be guilty of it. _Ministers_ of the _Letter_, upon
the Authority of the Fathers, are the Worshippers of the
_Apocalyptical Beast_; and anti-allegorical Expositions are that
_Blasphemy_, St. _John_ writes of, which the _Beast_ and his
Worshippers will open their Mouths in, against the most High. This
shall be proved as clear as the Light. But when I do it, I would not
have any think, it is with an Intention to bring the Bishops of
_London_, _Litchfield_, and St. _David_'s, or any other _Divines_,
under Prosecution for that heinous Sin: No, my God is omnipotent,
omniscient and omnipresent; and knows how and when to reckon with such
Blasphemers, without calling upon the Civil Magistrate to do it for
him. Should I importune the Civil Authority to execute Vengeance upon
them, I should make a foolish _Calf_ or a Senseless _Idol_ of my God,
that was unable, or knew not how, nor when to vindicate his own Cause.
Surely the _Bishop_ of _London_, upon his Prosecution of me for
_Blasphemy_, must think his God now _asleep_ or _gone a Journey_ from
Home; or he would not be for taking God's own Work out of his Hands,
and committing it to the Care of the Civil Magistrates.
The _Bishop_ moreover should consider, that the Words _prophane_ and
_blasphemous_ are of no Use and Signification among Philosophers, who in
Disputation never cast them at each other, however they may differ in
Opinion. Philosophers are all supposed to be such profound Venerators of
the Deity, as they would not be guilty of _Prophaneness_ and _Blasphemy_
for the whole World. If any of our School of _Free-Thinkers_ should say
of his Opponent that he's _prophane_ and _blasphemous_, he would be
reprimanded for want of Wit, Temper and good Manners; and be told that
he's like a _Billingsgate Scold_, who has Recourse to impertinent bad
Language, when her Reason fails her for better Rhetorick.
But it may be, for ought I know, the _Bishop_ has some Design in his
Accusations against me for _Profaneness_ and _Blasphemy_; but I hope
it is a better than to prejudice the Civil Magistrate, or to incense
the Populace.
According to the Fathers I am so far from being a Blasphemer, that
they say, _Christ_ upon the literal Interpretation of his Miracles is
metamorphosed into the False-Christ, call'd _Anti-Christ_. Whether
there is any Truth in this their Opinion I can't be positive, till the
Experiment is fully made. But if our _Clergy_ will keep their Temper,
and grant me a clear Stage of Battle, I'll try it out; and see whether
I can't, by the Club of Reason and primitive Authority, give their
_Anti-Christ_ a fatal Blow: Who knows but I may give Peace to the
Church, and reconcile all Parties by it?
However this may be; I am sure, no Man can wish for a greater
Advantage over his Enemy, than I have over the _Bishop_ in this
Controversy: But he shall find me a generous Adversary, who will make
no worse Use of my Advantage over him than now and then to put him in
Mind of his _Pastoral Letter_, and of the Prosecution; unless I should
be tempted, ere long, to publish my _Moderatorial_ Letter, like his
_Pastoral_ one, to the People of _London_ and _Westminster_, with
_Ten_ wholesome Rules in it, not only to caution them against false
Prophets and false Teachers, without forgetting the _Bishop_ of the
_Diocese_, but to direct them to the Ecclesiastical Fountain of the
growing Sins, Errors and Infidelity of the Age, which the _Clergy_
know I am of Ability to lay open.
When I began the Publication of these _Discourses_, I own, I laid a
_Trap_ for some considerable _Clergyman_; but little imagined, the
great _Bishop_ of _London_ would be caught in it. But now I have taken
hold of him, I'll not release him out of the Controversy, till he has
sorely repented of his Ignorance or Malice in calling me a _Writer, in
Favour of Infidelity_.
So much at present for the Bishop of _London_. I have been the quicker
of late in the printing of _this_, because I am given to understand,
the _Bishop_ of St. _David_'s stays for it, intending to make but one
Work of it, and answer all _six Discourses_ together. I hope my
_Rabbi_'s Letter here will be thought by him, a good Payment for his
Patience. And now I shall be in Expectation of his Mountainous
Production, and where I shall hide myself from the terrible Strokes of
his Pen, I have not as yet consider'd.
I am not a little pleas'd to see a _Couple_ of Dissenting Preachers,
_viz._ Dr. _Harris_ and Mr. _Atkinson_, lifted into the Controversy
against me. If they had kept their Necks out of the Collar, they might
have dissembled and pretended, that, upon the Conclusion of the Battle,
when it would have appear'd, I am a real Contender for Primitive
Christianity, they had a better Understanding of the Fathers, and a
clearer View of my Design, than to suspect me of Blasphemy and
Infidelity: But now they are engag'd with equal Spite, Ignorance and
Defamations against me, they must take their Share of the Fate and
Shame, with the _Clergy_, upon the Conclusion of the Controversy.
There's no Body can think it worth my while to bestow a Six-penny
_Pamphlet_ upon either of these _Gentlemen_, but for all that, they
shall not be altogether slighted and neglected by me. I have made a
Collection of their Rhetorical Flowers, which occasionally shall be
presented the Publick, to the Admiration of their Wit, Reason,
Learning and Eloquence. And at present only take Notice, that they are
_both_ for the Persecution of me; but not so much for my Opinions, as
the Indecency, Irreverence, and Immorality of my Stile; forsooth!
which is just such a Distinction, as may be easily stretch'd to the
Justification of the Persecution of all Authors, whom the Priesthood
in Power shall not like. Mr. _Atkinson_'s Argument for the Persecution
of me, is much the same with that, which _John Calvin_ used for the
Persecution of that great Philosopher _Servetus_; the Injustice and
Cruelty of whose Death and Sufferings is a greater Reproach to the
Name of _Calvin_, than the Martyrdom of any _Protestant_ can be to the
Memory of any Popish Prelate.
To conclude, what I have written, in these _Six Discourses_, is with a
View to the Glory of God, the Advancement of Truth, the Happiness of
Mankind, the Demolition of _Babylon_, the Edification of _Jerusalem_,
and the Demonstration of the Messiahship of our Spiritual _Jesus_, to
whom be Glory for ever. _Amen._
~_FINIS._~
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTES:
[309] Revelations, Chap. xviii. 11.
[310] _In his Pastoral Letter_, P. 35.
[311] Daniel, Chap. vi. 17.
[312] Adducor ut credam Pilati Annulo & hunc Lapidem signatum. _In
Loc. Matt._
[313] _Upon the Place in_ Matthew.
[314] Si Jesus volebat re vera declarare suam divinam Potentiam,
debuerat suis Insultatoribus, ipsique Præsidi qui capitalem sententiam
contra se tulerat, denique cæteris omnibus se ostendere. _In Orig.
Lib._ ii. _contra Celsum_.
[315] In _Limborchii_ Amica Collatione cum Judæo.
[316] Magna sane Res & miranda occurrit hoc loco, quæ non solum
aliquem ex vulgo Credentium exercere posset, sed perfectiores etiam;
cur non Dominus post Resurrectionem æque ac superioribus temporibus
conspiciendum se præbuerit. _In Lib._ ii. _cont._ Celsum.
[317] Quamvis Celsus has Jesu post Resurrectionem Apparitiones
conferre conetur cum vulgaribus Spectris & Visionibus. _In Origen.
Lib._ ii. _contra Celsum_.
[318] Comminatus est periculum Accusatoribus Christianorum. _Tertul.
Apol. Cap._ v.
[319] Justin Matyr. _In Apol._ ii.
[320] Quod autem a Joseph, rogato Pilato ut Corpus redderet, & sindone
involvitur, & in Monumento novo in Petra excisa reponitur, & Saxum
Ostio Monumenti advolvitur: Quanquam sit Ordo Gestorum, & sepeliri eum
erat necesse, qui resurrecturus erat a mortuis, tamen non sine Rerum
aliquarum Momento expressa sunt singula. Joseph Apostolorum habet
speciem: & idcirco quanquam in duodecem numero Apostolorum non fuerit,
Discipulus Domini nuncupatur. Hic munda sindone corpus involvit; &
quidem in hoc eodem linteo reperimus de coelo ad Petrum universorum
Animantium genera summissa. Ex quo forte non superflue intelligitur
sub lintei hujus nomine consepeliri Christo Ecclesiam: quia tum in eo,
ut in Confusione Ecclesiæ mundorum atque immundorum Animalium fuerit
congesta diversitas. Domini igitur Corpus tanquam per Apostolorum
doctrinam in vacuam & novam requiem Lapidis excisi, _viz._ in pectus
duritiæ Gentilis quodam doctrinæ opere excisum Christus infertur, rude
scilicet & novum, & nullo antea ingressu timoris Dei pervium. Et quia
nihil præter cum oporteat in pectora nostra penetrare, Lapis Ostio
advolvitur: ut quia nullus antea in nos divinæ Cognitionis Auctor
fuerat illatus, nullus absque eo postea inferatur. Metus deinde
furandi Corporis, & Sepulchri Custodia atque Obsignatio, Stultitiæ
atque Infidelitatis Testimonium est; quod signare Sepulchrum ejus
voluerint, cujus præcepto conspexissent de Sepulchro mortuum
suscitatum. _In Loc. Matt._
[321] Ad hoc enim Dominus hodie resurrexit, ut Imaginem nobis futuræ
Resurrectionis ostenderet. _In Serm._ clxviii. _Append._
[322] Quid singula significent, quærere sanctæ quidem Deliciæ sunt.
_In Johan. Evang. C._ xx. _Tract._ 120.
[323] Monumentum Christi est divina Scriptura, in qua Divinitatis &
Humanitatis ejus mysteria densitate Litteræ veluti quadam muniuntur
Petra. _In Diversos Homil._ 2.
[324] Ne putes, tunc solummodo traditus est Christus Principibus
Sacerdotibus & Scribis.----Quando enim vides Scripturas Prophetarum &
Evangelii & Apostolorum traditas esse in Manus falsorum Sacerdotum &
Scribarum; num intelliges quia Verbum Veritatis traditum est
Principibus iniquis & Scribis? _In Mat. C._ xx.
[325] Interpretario autem Nominis Barabbæ est Patris Filius: Jam
itaque Arcanum Infidelitatis futuræ ostenditur, Christo Patris Filium
præferendo, Antichristum scilicet hominem Peccari & Diaboli filium,
potiusque adhortantibus principibus suis eligunt, Damnationi
reservatum, quam Salutis Authorem. _In Loc. Matt._
[326] Velum Templi scissum est, & omnia Legis Sacramenta, quæ prius
tegebantur, prodita sunt atque ad Gentium Populum transierunt. _In
Loc. Matt._
[327] Petræ scissæ, id est, universa Vaticinia Prophetarum. _In Epist.
ad Hedibriam._
[328] Sed mihi videtur Terræ Motus & reliqua typum ferre credentium,
quod pristinis Errorum vitiis derelictis, & Cordis emollita duritia,
postea agnoverint Creatorem. _In Loc. Matt._
[329] Ipsum autem triduum, non totum & plenum fuisse Scriptura Testis
est. _In Libro 4to de Trinitate, Sect. 10._
[330] De tribus diebus, multi sancti multa hinc senserint atque
dixerint----Sed nos neutram eorum vacantes sententiam; melius tamen,
si placet in his spiritualem requiramus Intellectum, tres Dies tria
Tempora Sæculi ponentes. _In Serm. de Symbolo._
[331] Cum disputamus adversus eos, & cum conquirimus advicem, tunc
quærimus locum Dogmatis illius in litera Legis Historiæ, & ostenditur
secundum Historiam stare non posse. _In Psal._ xxxvi.
[332] _Pastoral Letter_, P. 25.
[333] Adventus quidem Christi unus in Humilitate completus est, alius
vero speratur in Gloria. Et hic primus Adventus in Carne, mystico
quodam Sermone in Scripturis Sanctis Umbra ejus appellatur. _In Jesu
Novo Homil._ viii.
[334] Vera Christi Miracula & Sanatio Infirmorum est spiritualis. _In
Matt. C._ xxv.
[335] Hæc licet in præsens gesta sunt, quid tamen in futurum
significent contuendum est. _In Matt. C._ x. _S._ 1. Christi Gesta
aliud portendunt. _C._ xii. _S._ 1. Peragunt formam futuri gesta
præsentia. _C._ xxi.
[336] _Pastoral Letter_, P. 3.
[337] _Pastoral Letter_, P. 35.
_BOOKS written by Mr._ WOOLSTON, _and Sold by him next Door below
the_ Star _in_ Aldermanbury, _and by the Booksellers of_ London
_and_ Westminster.
I. The Old Apology reviv'd, _&c._
II. Dissertatio de Pontii Pilati Epistola ad Tiberium circa Res Jesu
Christi gestas.
III. Origenis Adamantii Epistolæ duæ circa Fidem vere orthodoxam &
Scripturarum Interpretationem.
IV. The exact Fitness of the Time of Christ's Advent demonstrated by
Reason against the Objections of the old Gentiles, and modern
Unbelievers.
V. Four Free-Gifts to the Clergy, or Challenges to a Disputation on
this Question, Whether the Hireling Priests of this Age, who are all
Ministers of the Letter, be not Worshippers of the Apocalyptical
Beast, and Ministers of Anti-Christ?
VI. An Answer to the said Four Free Gifts.
VII. Two Letters to Dr. _Bennet_ on this Question, Whether the People
call'd _Quakers_ do not the nearest of any other Sect in Religion,
resemble the Primitive Christians, in Principle and Practice?
VIII. An Answer to the said two Letters.
IX. The Moderator between an Infidel and an Apostate: Or the
Controversy between the _Grounds_ and his Ecclesiastical Opponents,
set in a clear Light, _&c._
X. Two Supplements to the Moderator, _&c._
XI. A Defence of the Miracle of the _Thundering Legion_, against a
Dissertation of _Walter Moyle_, Esq.;
XII. Six Discourses on the Miracles of our Saviour.
XIII. His Defence of those Discourses, against the Bishops of St.
_David_'s and _London_.
[Illustration ]
Mr. _WOOLSTON_'S
DEFENCE
OF HIS
DISCOURSES, _&c._
[Illustration]
Mr. _Woolston_'s Defence
OF HIS
_DISCOURSES_
ON THE
MIRACLES
OF OUR
SAVIOUR,
Against the _Bishops_ of St. DAVID_'s_
and LONDON, and his other
_Adversaries_.
PART I.
_Res Religionis non Verberibus sed Verbis est peragenda._
Lactant.
_London_: Printed for the Author, and
Sold by him, next Door to the _Star_ in
_Aldermanbury_, and by the Booksellers of
_London_ and _Westminster_, 1729.
[Price _One Shilling_.]
[Illustration]
TO THE
QUEEN.
Madam,
_Not long since the_ Bishop _of_ St. David_'s presented to Your_
Majesty _his_ Vindication; as _I would have done this my_ Defence, _if
I had known how to get Access to Your Royal Presence_.
_Your_ Majesty _will perceive, that here's a sad War broke out
between the_ Bishop _and my self, about_ Miracles; _which, in all
probability, will cost a large Effusion of Words; and, unless Your_
Majesty _can accommodate the Difference, will hardly be terminated
without the Slaughter of many Notions and Arguments_.
_The_ Bishop _is for making Your_ Majesty _the Arbitress of our
Controversy, which I consent to; and he talks of Your singular
Qualifications to preside at it, which I as certainly believe, as that
a_ Bishop _will not lye nor flatter_.
_Had I known before of Your_ Majesty's _Abilities at this Controversy,
I should have gone near to have applauded You for them; and the World
would readily have believed my Praises of You to be just, because I
had no Bishoprick nor_ Translation _in View for them_.
_If Your_ Majesty _has no extraordinary Talent at this Controversy, I
trust, You are wiser than to think the Better of Your self for the_
Bishop_'s Compliment. You'll not be vain; tho' he is fulsome._
_But the Bishop_, Madam, _has done me wrong. He would insinuate, that
I am disaffected to the_ King's _Title and Government; which is
entirely false. I Love and Honour Your whole Royal Family, and often
pray for Your_ Majesty _too_, without Pay, _which is more than any_
Bishop _in_ England _has done for You_.
_And what are my Prayers for Your_ Majesty? _That God may prolong Your
Days to the comfort of Your Royal Progeny, and the Joy of these
Nations; That the Felicity of Your Life may be uninterrupted by
Enemies and Misfortunes; and That after a good old Age, when Life is
no longer desirable to the happyest Princes, You may be transferr'd to
an heavenly and immortal Crown of Glory. This is the hearty and
voluntary Prayer of_,
[Sidenote: London, September 27, 1729.]
Madam,
_Your Majesty's_
_most humble_,
_most obedient_,
_and faithful Servant_,
Thomas Woolston.
[Illustration]
A
DEFENCE
OF THE
DISCOURSES on _Miracles_.
At Last, one Volume of _Bishop Smalbroke_'s mountainous Work, that the
_Press_ has been so long pregnant with, is brought forth: And I don't
doubt, but it answers the Expectations of the _Clergy_, who will extol
it to the Skies, and applaud it to the Populace, as an absolute
Confutation of my _Discourses_; but I would advise them, if it be not
too late, not to be too profuse in their Commendations of it, for fear
that an Occasion should be given them to blush for their want of
Judgment. We have had Instances of Books before now (and one very
remarkable, in the Case of _Boyle_ against _Bently_) that have met
with a general Approbation, till they have been sifted into, and upon
Examination found empty; and it is not impossible, but _this_ of the
_Bishop_ before us, may meet with the same Fate.
I had conceived a great Opinion of this _Bishop_'s Learning and
Abilities, and, if he had not sent[338] two simple _Harbingers_
before-hand, should have been so apprehensive of his Acuteness, that
nothing, but a thorough Persuasion of the Goodness of my Cause, and of
my Power to defend it, could have kept me from Flight before him. But
I stand my Ground, and shall, against greater Adversaries than this
_Bishop_, who has more weakly and maliciously attack'd me, than you'd
have been expected from one of his reputed Candour and Learning; and
given me greater Advantages to insult and triumph over him, than I
could wish or desire.
Many other little _Whifflers_ in Divinity have before attack'd me with
their _Squibs_ and _Squirts_ from the _Press_, but I despised them
all, as unworthy of my particular Regard and Notice, reserving my self
for Defence against this _Bishop_'s grand Assault; when, by the by, I
might have an Opportunity to animadvert on one or other of them. Some
of these _Whifflers_, like Men of Honour, have set their Names to
their Works; others very prudently have concealed their Names, which,
upon the best Enquiry I could make, I have not been able to discover,
or I had given them a Rebuke for their Impudence and Slanders. It may
be wonder'd, that any polemical Authors, especially when they write on
the orthodox and establish'd Side of the Question, should conceal
themselves, and that they are not tempted with the Hopes of Reward and
Applause to make themselves known. I will say what I think here, that
it's never Modesty in such _anonymous_ Authors (for we _Scribblers_ in
Divinity, whatever we may pretend, have always a good Conceit of our
selves) but Apprehensions of a sharp Reply to their Dishonour. And
this is the true Reason, why some of my Adversaries industriously
conceal themselves, knowing that they are guilty of wilful and
malicious Lies and Calumnies, which I should chastise them for. But,
as their Names are supprest, they know, it's to no Purpose for me to
expose their Malice, because no body can be put to shame for it.
The _Bishop_ of St. _David's_ acts here a more glorious Part: He comes
not behind me, like other _Cowards_, to give me a secret Knock on the
Pate, but like a courageous Champion, looks me in the Face, and
admonishes me to stand upon my Guard. This is bravely done in him! And
I have no Fault to find, but that he is providing himself with
_Seconds_ in the Controversy, I mean the _Civil Powers_, and calling
upon them to destroy me, before the Battle is well begun, and whether
he gets the better of me or not. This is not fairly nor honourably
done of the _Bishop_, and I have Reason to complain of it. Tho' I
think my self equal, if not superior in the Dispute, to any of our
_Bishops_, yet I am not a Match for the _King_'s Power, neither would
I lift up my Hand, or use my Pen against him for all the World. If the
_Bishop_ will yield to a fair Combat, and desire the Civil Authority
to stand by and see fair Play between us, I will engage with him upon
any Terms. But to make the _Civil Powers_ Parties in our Quarrel, and
to bespeak them, right or wrong, to favour his Side, is intolerable,
and what we spiritual Gladiators ought to abhor and detest.
I liked the _Bishop_, when he proposed to the _Queen_ to be _Arbitress_
of our Controversy. As I will not here question her Qualifications to
judge in it, so the first Opportunity I have of waiting on her
_Majesty_, I will join my Requests to her to accept of the Trouble and
Office. After she has fix'd the Terms of Disputation, and thought of a
proper Reward for the _Victor_, or a Punishment for the _Conquer'd_,
then will we proceed, and either dispute the Matter from the Press, or
scold it out in the Queen's Presence, as she shall think it most
conducive to the Edification of herself, and of her Court-Ladies.