A Vindication of Certain Passages in a Discourse: on . the Death of Dr. Priestley; and a Defence of Dr. Priestley's Character and Writings, in Reply to the Animadversions of . John Pye Smith

A Vindication Of Certain Passages In A Discourse: On. The Death Of Dr. Priestley; And A Defence Of Dr. Priestley's Character And Writings, In Reply To The Animadversions Of Rev. John Pye Smith by Thomas Belsham. This 1808 polemical work comprises five letters in which Belsham responds to John Pye Smith's criticisms of his Discourse on the Death of Dr. Priestley. It defends Dr. Priestley's character and writings, argues against Calvinism's portrayal of God and predestination, and defends the humanity of Christ in contrast with Trinitarian formulations. It also defends the humanity of early Christian writers and presents a Unitarian perspective, using discussions of Origen, Tertullian, Chrysostom, and Justin Martyr to illustrate the development of doctrine. An appendix includes Theophilus Lindsey's view on Priestley/Horsley controversy, and a postscript addresses revisions in the second edition.