The Works of the REV. Jonathan Swift, D.D. (Volume 9); With Notes, Historical and Critical (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1808. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... REMARKS UPON A BOOK, Entitled, The Rights Of The Christian Church," &c. Written In 1708, But Left Unfinished. These Remarks, though left unfinished by the t)ean, and but the slight prolusions of his strength, show how sincere, how able a champion he was of religion and the church. W. B. Dt. Matthew Tinclal f, born about l6"37, became a commoner of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 65'4; removed to Exeter College in 1672; and was elected fellow of AM Souls in 1676. In the reign of James II. he declared himself a Roman Catholic, but afterward renounced that religion. He greatly distinguished himself by two famous works. First, "The Rights of the Christian Church asserted," in I706. This book, as was expected, made a great noise, and met with many answerers; among others, it exercised the pen of Dr. Swift, in these judicious Remarks. Dr. Tindal published a defence of it in 1709; which, with the book itself, the house of commons ordered to be burnt by the hangman, March 25, 1710. The other famous work of Dr. Tindal was, "Christianity as old as the Creation," published in 1730. The first was written against the Church, this against Revelation; so that, if this Author's principles and designs bad taken place, his plan would have been completed by the destruction of both. Besides these two important works, he wrote a great number of smaller pieces on civil and religious liberty. He died in August 1733; and though he was about 73 years of age when he published his " Christianity as old as the Creation," yet he left a second volume of that work in manuscript, by way of reply to all his answerers; the publication of which was prevented by Bp. Gibson. He was indisputably a man of groat reasoning powers, and very sufficient learning; and Christians might have wished with reason, ...