Woolston, Thomas

Woolston, Thomas an English divine, who was noted in his day for the boldness of his opinions, was born at Northampton in 1669. He received the proper training in the grammar-school, and entered Sidney College, Cambridge, in 1685, where he subsequently graduated, and became fellow of his college. He was prosecuted before lord chief-justice Raymond for the views advanced in his Discourses on the Miracles of Our Savior, and sentenced to a year's imprisonment and a fine of £100. He purchased the liberty of the rules of the King's Bench, where he continued after the expiration of the year, being unable to pay the fine. Efforts were made for his release, but were unsuccessful, because he refused to desist from offensive writings. He died in the bounds of King's Bench prison, January 27, 1732. Among his principal writings are the following: The Old Apology for the Truth of the Christian Religion against the Jews and Gentiles Revived (1705): — Dissertatio de Pontii Pilati ad Tiberium Epistola (1720): — A Free Gift to the Clergy, in Four Parts (1722-24): — Moderastor Between an Infidel and an Apostate (1725): — Six Discourses on the Miracles of Our Savior (1727-29): — Defence of the Six Discourses on the Miracles of Our Savior (1729-30).