PHILALETHES CESTRIENSIS—STEPHENS' SERMONS.
I shall feel much obliged if any of your correspondents can inform me what is the real name of the author of the following work:
"An Impartial enquiry into the true character of that Faith, which is required in the Gospel, as necessary to salvation; in which it is briefly shewn, upon how righteous terms unbelievers may become true Christians, &c., by Philalethes Cestriensis. 8'o. Lond. 1746. Dedicated to Philip earl of Chesterfield, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland."
In your 6th Number is an inquiry for a "tract or sermon" by the Rev. W. Stephens, which elicited a reply in No. 8. from "Mr. Denton," who mentions four sermons by that author and inquires whether any other sermons or tracts of his were published, which are not included in the two posthumous volumes?
Now it has struck me that a volume of sermons in my possession may, from the nature of the subjects, be Stephens's, but whether included in the volume alluded to I know not. The volume contains six sermons, each with separate title and separate pagination. A common preface is prefixed, and there has been a common title-page, which unfortunately is missing in my copy.
"Serm. I. The Divinity of Christ argued, from his right to worship, on Rev. v. 13, 14., preached in 1720, at Great Torrington, at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Barnstaple."
"II. The necessity of believing the Divinity of the Son of God, John iii. 16., preached at Great Torrington on Christmas Day, 1721."
"III. The Humiliation and Exaltation of the Son of God considered in the new light, Philipp. ii. 6-12., preached at the primary Visitation of Stephen [Weston] Lord Bishop of Exon, at Great Torrington, 1726."
"IV. Christ, King of the Jews both before and after his Incarnation, Matt. ii. 1, 2., preached on Christmas Day and First Sunday after Epiphany, 1727."
"V. The Beginning, Extent, and Duration of Christ's Mediatorial Kingdom, same text, and preached at the same season."
"VI. The natural supremacy of God the Son; same text, &c."
The three last sermons have a title generally applicable, and repeated before each viz., "The Supreme Dominion of God the Son, both Natural, Oeconomical, and Judaical, proved from Scripture, in three Sermons." The separate titles bear date 1729; and the publisher was Samuel Birt, at the Bible and Ball, Ave Maria Lane.
This notice may supply the information of which Mr. Denton is in quest, and at all events I should be very glad to learn who the author really was. His sermons are, as is said of those of Stephens, far above the ordinary run. The period at which they were delivered agrees with the dates of those at page 118. The author, in the general preface, says, that Sermon II. was not "suffer'd to see the light before it had pass'd through the hands of Dr. Waterland." Was not Stephens subsequently Vicar of St. Andrew's, Plymouth?
Balliolensis.