Note 123 — Chapter XIV · BRITISH FREETHOUGHT IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
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Much account was made of one of the most compendious, the
Short and Easy Method with the Deists
(1697), by the nonjuror Charles Leslie; but this handy argument (which is really adopted without acknowledgment from an apologetic treatise by a French Protestant refugee, published in 1688
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) was not only much bantered by deists, but was sharply censured as incompetent by the French Protestant Le Clerc;
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and many other disputants had to come to the rescue. A partial list will suffice to show the rate of increase of the ferment:—
1683. Dr. Rust, Discourse on the Use of Reason in ... Religion, against Enthusiasts and Deists.
1685. Duke of Buckingham, A Short Discourse upon the Reasonableness of men’s having a religion or worship of God.
1685. ,, The Atheist Unmask’d. By a Person of Honour.
1688. Peter Allix, D.D. Reflexions, etc., as above cited.
1691. Archbishop Tenison, The Folly of Atheism.
1691. ,, Discourse of Natural and Revealed Religion.
1691. ,, John Ray, Wisdom of God manifested in the Works of the Creation. (Many reprints.)
1692. C. Ellis, The Folly of Atheism Demonstrated.
1692. ,, Bentley’s Sermons on Atheism. (First Boyle Lectures.)
1693. Archbishop Davies, An Anatomy of Atheism. A poem.
1693. ,, A Conference between an Atheist and his Friend.
1694. J. Goodman, A Winter Evening Conference between Neighbours.
1694. ,, Bishop Kidder, A Demonstration of the Messias. (Boyle Lect.)
1695. John Locke, The Reasonableness of Christianity.
1695. ,, John Edwards, B.D., Some Thoughts concerning the Several Causes and occasions of Atheism. (Directed against Locke.)
1696. An Account of the Growth of Deism in England.
1696. ,, Reflections on a Pamphlet, etc. (the last named).
1696. ,, Sir C. Wolseley, The Unreasonableness of Atheism Demonstrated. (Rep.)
1696. ,, Dr. Nichols’ Conference with a Theist. Pt. I. (Answer to Blount.)
1696. ,, J. Edwards, D.D., A Demonstration of the Evidence and Providence of God.
1696. ,, E. Pelling, Discourse ... on the Existence of God. (Pt. II in 1705).
1697. Stephen Eye, A Discourse concerning Natural and Revealed Religion.
1697. ,, Bishop Gastrell, The Certainty and Necessity of Religion. (Boyle Lect.)
1697. ,, H. Prideaux, Discourse vindicating Christianity, etc.
1697. ,, C. Leslie, A Short and Easy Method with the Deists.
1698. Dr. J. Harris, A Refutation of Atheistical Objections. (Boyle Lect.)
1698. ,, Thos. Emes, The Atheist turned Deist, and the Deist turned Christian.
1699. C. Lidgould, Proclamation against Atheism, etc.
1699. ,, J. Bradley, An Impartial View of the Truth of Christianity. (Answer to Blount.)
1700. Bishop Bradford, The Credibility of the Christian Revelation. (Boyle Lect.)
1700. ,, Rev. P. Berault, Discourses on the Trinity, Atheism, etc.
1701. T. Knaggs, Against Atheism.
1701. ,, W. Scot, Discourses concerning the wisdom and goodness of God.
1702. A Confutation of Atheism.
1702. ,, Dr. Stanhope, The Truth and Excellency of the Christian Religion. (Boyle Lect.)
1704. An Antidote of Atheism. (? Reprint of More).
1705. Translation of Herbert’s Ancient Religion of the Gentiles.
1705. ,, Charles Gildon, The Deist’s Manual (a recantation).
1705. ,, Ed. Pelling, Discourse concerning the existence of God. Part II.
1705. ,, Dr. Samuel Clarke, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, etc. (Boyle Lect. of 1704.)
1706. A Preservative against Atheism and Infidelity.
1706. ,, Th. Wise, B.D., A Confutation of the Reason and Philosophy of Atheism (recast and abridgment of Cudworth).
1706. ,, T. Oldfield, Mille Testes; against the Atheists, Deists, and Skepticks.
1706. ,, The Case of Deism fully and fairly stated, with Dialogue, etc.
1707. Dr. J. Hancock, Arguments to prove the Being of a God. (Boyle Lect.)