THE

Theological and Miscellaneous

WORKS

OF

JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D.F.R.S. &c.

WITH

NOTES, BY THE EDITOR.

VOLUME XVIII.

Containing

DEFENCES

OF

THE HISTORY OF THE CORRUPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY,

IN REPLY TO DR. HORSLEY AND MR. BADCOCK,

1783–1787 :

AND

Defences of Unitarianism,

1786, 1787.

CONTENTS

OF THE EIGHTEENTH VOLUME.

Defences

OF THE

HISTORY OF THE CORRUPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY,

In Reply to Dr. Horsley and Mr. Badcock, 1783-1787.

A REPLY TO THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON THE HISTORY OF THE

CORRUPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE MONTHLY REVIEW

FOR JUNE, 1783.

Page

PREFACE

3

OF THE OLDEST OPINIONS CONCERNING CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION

8

Sect.

1. Of the Nazarenes, Ebionites, and Alogi

9

II. Of the Inference from Hegesippus

12

JII. Of what may be inferred from Justin Martyr, concern-

ing the State of Opinions in his Tinie

16

IV. Of the Quotation from Eusebius, and Tertullian's Ac-

count of the ancient Unitarians more particularly

considered

V. Of my being charged with advancing that Justin

Martyr was the First who started the Notion of

Christ's Pre-existence

25

VI. Of the Doctrine of the Miraculous Conception

30

VII. Miscellaneous Articles

32

Conclusion

34

20

38

47

O

51

LETTERS TO DR. HORSLEY.

PREFACE

An Introductory Letter

: :

Letter

1. Of the Argument from the Writings of the Apostles

and the Apostolical Fathers

II. Of the Distinction between the Ebionites and the Na-

zarenes

III. That the Primitive Unitarians were not considered as

Heretics

IV. Of the Inference that may be drawn from the Passage

of Athanasius, concerning the Opinion of the early

Jewish Christians, relating to Christ

65

61

69

Page

!

Letter

V. An Argument for the late Origin of the Doctrine of

the Divinity of Christ, from the Difficulty of tra-

cing the Time in which it was first divulged

VI. Of the Personification of the Logos

VII. Considerations relating to the Doctrine of the Trinity

VIII. Miscellaneous Articles

The concluding Letter

REMARKS ON THE ARTICLE IN THE MONTHLY REVIEW

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1783

80

86

92

107

112

117

125

127

REMARKS ON THE MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE LETTERS

TO DR. HORSLEY.

Preface

Introduction

Sect.

I. Of the Omission of the Sentence in Justin Martyr

II, Of the Creed of Tertullian

III. Miscellaneous Articles

The Conclusion

128

133

135

137

143

154

157

162

175

181

186

190

196

LETTERS TO DR. HORSLEY. PART II.

Preface

I. The Introduction

II. Of the Doctrine of the first Ages concerning the

Person of Christ

III. Of the Nazarenes and Ebionites

IV. Of the supposed Orthodox Jewish Church at Jeru-

salem, and of the Veracity of Origen

V. Of Heresy in the earliest Tiines

VI. Of the Sentiments of Justin Martyr, Irenæus, and

Clemens Alexandrinus, concerning Heresy

VII. Of the State of Heresy in the Time of Tertullian

VIII. Of Origen's Idea of Heresy

IX. Of the light in which the Unitarians were considered

in later Ages, and of the State of the common

People at all times

X. Of the Quotation from Athanasius

XI. Of the Time when Christ began to be considered as

God, and the Opinion of the Ancient and Modern

Jews with respect to the Messiah

XII. Of the Personification of the Logos

XIII. Considerations relating to the Doctrine of the Trinity

XIV. Of Prayer to Christ

XV. Of the Unitarian Principles with respect to Maho-

metanism and Infidelity

XVI. Of Bishop Bull's Defence of damnatory Clauses

XVII. Of the Light in which the Dissenters are considered

by the Archdeacon of St. Alban's, and of the

Penalties to which the Unitarians among them are

subject

200

205

O

213

225

230

242

245

251

253

Letter

XVIII. Of the Charge of wilful Misrepresentation, &c.

XIX. Miscellaneous Articles, and the Conclusion

Page

261

265

275

277

278

285

LETTERS TO DR. HORSLEY. PART III.

Preface

An Introductory Letter

1. Of the Veracity of Origen

II. General Observations relating to the supposed Or-

thodox Church of Jewish Christians at Jerusalem

after the Time of Adrian

III. Of the Testimony of Epiphanius to the Existence of

a Church of Orthodox Jewish Christians at Jeru-

salem after the Time of Adrian

IV. Of the Evidence from Jerome in favour of the Exis-

tence of a Church of Orthodox Jewish Christians

at Jerusalem, after the Time of Adrian

V. Of the Miraculous Conception

VI. Miscellaneous Articles

O

288

291

296

299

STRICTURES ON MR. HOWES's OBSERVATIONS ON BOOKS

310

DEFENCES OF UNITARIANISM, 1786, 1787.

DEFENCES OF UNITARIANISM FOR THE YEAR 1786.

Preface

317

322

LETTERS TO DR. HORNE, DEAN OF CANTERBURY.

1. Introduction; and of the Charge of Ignorance or

Insincerity in the Defenders of the Doctrine of the

Trinity

II. Of the Argument from Antiquity, and of Dr. Horsley's

Services with respect to it

III. Of the Interference of Civil Power in Matters of

Religion

IV. Of some particular Arguments for the Doctrine of

the Trinity

V. Miscellaneous Articles, and Conclusion

326

332

336

342

LETTERS TO THE YOUNG MEN WHO ARE IN A COURSE OF

EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AT THE UNI-

VERSITIES OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.

345

349

I. Of Subscription to Articles of Faith

II. Of the Study of the Doctrine of the Trinity

III. Of the Difficulties attending an open Acknowledg-

ment of Truth

IV. Animadversions on Dr. Purkis's Sermon

1. Of the Influence of Philosophy on Religion

2 Of Mysteries in Religion

3. Of Toleration

352

356

357

358

359