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THE
Theological and Miscellaneous
WORKS
OF
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL. D. F.R.S. &c.
WITH
NOTES, BY THE EDITOR.
VOLUME VI.
CONTAINING
AN
HISTORY OF EARLY OPINIONS
CONCERNING
Jesus Christ.
33053
PRINTED BY G. SMALLFIELD, HACKNEY.
ру
√.6
CONTENTS
OF THE SIXTH VOLUME.
Sect.
DEDICATION
PREFACE
THE Introduction: containing a View of the principal
Arguments against the Doctrines of the Divinity
and Pre-existence of Christ
I. Of the Argument against the Doctrines of the Divinity
and Pre-existence of Christ, from the general Tenor
of the Scriptures
II. An Argument for the late Origin of the Doctrines of
the Divinity and Pre-existence of Christ, from the
Difficulty of tracing the Time in which they were
first divulged
-
III. An Argument against the Divinity of Christ, from his
not being the Object of Prayer-
IV. Of the Argument against the Doctrine of the Trinity.
as implying a Contradiction
Page
3
5
ib.
13
23
28
33
37
V. Of the Nature of the Arian Hypothesis, and of the
Proof which is necessary to make it credible
VI. Reasons for not considering Arians as being properly
Unitarians
VII. Of the Argument against the Pre-existence of Christ
from the Materiality of Man; and of the Use of the
Doctrine of the Trinity
BOOK I.
THE HISTORY OF OPINIONS WHICH PRECEDED THE
DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST, AND
WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR IT.
CHAPTER I.
Of those who are called Apostolical Fathers
CHAPTER II.
Of the Principles of the Oriental Philosophy.
CHAPTER III.
Of the Principles of the Christian Gnostics
I. Of the Pride of the Gnostics
II. Tenets of the Gnostics.-Of the Origin of Evil, and the
Doctrine of ons
45
49
53
62
74
79
* 80
83
III. The Doctrine of the Gnostics concerning the Soul
IV. The Doctrine of the Gnostics concerning the Maker of
the World, and the Author of the Jewish Dispen-
sation
V. The Doctrine of the Gnostics concerning the Person
of Christ
85
89
Remarks
100
VI. Of the Doctrine of the Gnostics with Respect to Mar-
tyrdom
102
105
108
111
VII. The Gnostics disbelieved the Resurrection -
VIII. Of the Immoralities of the Gnostics, and their Senti-
ments with respect to Marriage, &c.
IX. Of the Gnostic Teachers giving Lectures for Money
X. Of the refractory Disposition of some of the Gnostics
XI. Of Public Worship among the Gnostics
CHAPTER IV.
The Gnostics were the only Heretics in Early Times 117
V. Of Heresy according to Clemens Alexandrinus, Ter-
tullian, Origen, and Firmilian
VI. Of Heresy in a later Period
CHAPTER V.
Of the Apostles' Creed, as a Guard against
Gnosticism
CHAPTER VI.
Of the Doctrine of Plato concerning God, and
the general System of Nature
145
152
CHAPTER VII.
A View of the Principles of the later Platonists
167
I. The Doctrines of the later Platonists concerning God
and Nature
II. Of the Doctrine of the Platonists concerning the
Union of the Soul with God, and general Observa-
tions
180
CHAPTER VIII.
Of the Platonism of Philo
186
BOOK II.
CONTAINING the hisTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE
TRINITY.
Of Christian Platonism
Of the Generation of the Son from the Father
I. The Doctrine of the Platonizing Fathers concerning the
Generation of the Son, as the second Person in the
Trinity, stated
II. Authorities for this Opinion from Justin Martyr to
Origen
III. Authorities from Origen, and other Writers subsequent
to him; with an Account of other Attributes of
the Father, besides that of Wisdom, which Christ
is said to have been
196
204
208
214
The Defence of the preceding Doctrine by the
Fathers
I. The Generation of the Son from the Father illustrated
by the uttering of Words
II. The Generation of the Son from the Father illustrated
by the prolation of a Branch of a Tree from the
Root, &c.
III. Why only one Son was generated; the Objection of
Generation implying Passion considered, and why
the Son and Holy Spirit did not generate, &c.
IV. Whether the Generation of the Son was in Time, and
also whether it was a voluntary or involuntary Act
of the Father
The Inferiority of the Son to the Father, shewn
to have been the Doctrine of all the Anteni-
cene Fathers
Of the Power and Dignity of Christ as the
existing Logos of the Father
Christ, besides being the Logos of the Father was
thought to have a proper Human Soul
270
