STACKHOUSE, Rev. Mr. Thomas; GIBSON, Edmund
Thomas Stackhouse (1677-1752) was a teacher and clergyman, whose greatest work is entitled "New History of the Holy Bible from the Beginning of the World to the Establishment of Christianity" which he dedicated to his patron, Edmund Gibson. The last three items in this volume are written by Edmund Gibson (1669-1748), Bishop of London, known for railing against masquerade balls, Catholicism and Quakerism. All four of these articles refute the arguments of freethinker Thomas Woolston (1670-1733), known as an intellectual and excellent preacher. Woolston began to interpret the scriptures as allegory, rather than in a literal sense, and fell out of favour with the authorities. He began to write anonymously, defending the Quakers and allegorical readings of the scriptures. But as his career progressed, he began to sign his own name to his writings, losing the support of many friends along with his fellowship at his college. Stackhouse directly addresses Woolston's "Discourse on the Miracles of Our Saviour" (1727) while the letters by Gibson in this volume address subsequent Woolston discourses. Woolston's thoughts laid the groundwork for many future dissenters and freethinkers but, after his fourth discourse, the government prosecuted him. Declared guilty and too poor to pay his fines, he spent his remaining days in jail. This volume is part of the 18th-century public debate regarding free speech.
