As a probationer for the ministry, William Ashdowne went to Dover,[2] then following the death of his father-in-law became minister in the (Unitarian) General Baptist denomination at Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was an active contributor to several magazines, but not always accepted for publication, as in 1786, an article on baptism by the editor of the Repository.[3]
He wrote several religious booklets including one arguing for an allegorical reading of the New Testament devil passages: An attempt to shew that the opinion concerning the devil or satan, as a fallen angel, and that he tempts men to sin, hath no real foundation in scripture.[5] Ashdowne acknowledged continuity with
'The Notions concerning Dæmons, about our Saviour’s time, have been collected, from the best authorities, by Dr Lardner, in his Tracts; by Dr Newton, in his Dissertations on Prophecy; and lately by Mr Farmer, in his Dissertations on Miracles: It only remains, that we should search the Scriptures, and point out some Errors in the application of known Truths.'.[6]
Ashdowne's view forms part of a wider stream of similar arguments in the writings of Thomas Hobbes (1651); Arthur Ashley Sykes (1737); Richard Mead (1755) and others,[7] and his 1794 work was cited in general reference works such as the Penny Cyclopedia of 1837.[8]
Among his other works were several focussing on the subject of baptism, including: A dissertation on St. John, iii. 5. In which, from arguments intirely new, is fully made appear from the New Testament, that by the word Spirit, is meant the word of God; ... Likewise that baptism, ... is the only initiating right [sic] into the Kingdom of God, (1798)
Referencesedit
^Jennett Humphreys, 'Ashdowne, William (1723–1810)’, rev. M. J. Mercer, first published Sept 2004, 240 words
^Winnifrith Alfred, Men of Kent and Kentish men: biographical notices of 680 worthies of Kent p. 49 1913
^H. McLachlan, The Story of a Nonconformist Library (1923) p. 99
^Schofield Robert E. The enlightened Joseph Priestley: a study of his life and work from 1773 to 1804 p. 226
^by William Ashdowne 1791, printed by J. Grove; and sold by Johnson, in St. Paul's Church-yard; Marsom, bookseller, Holborn; Bristow, Canterbury; and Ledger,
^Ashdowne, ‘'AN INQUIRY INTO THE Scripture Meaning of the Word SATAN, AND ITS SYNONIMOUS TERMS, The DEVIL, or the ADVERSARY, and the WICKED-ONE', page 40, 1794
^Burke, J. Christianity in the Witch Hunt Era, 2008
^e.g. entry The Devil, in Penny cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful p. 447
william, ashdowne, 1723, 1810, english, unitarian, preacher, contents, life, works, references, external, linkslife, editas, probationer, ministry, went, dover, then, following, death, father, became, minister, unitarian, general, baptist, denomination, mount,. William Ashdowne 1723 1810 was an English Unitarian preacher 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife editAs a probationer for the ministry William Ashdowne went to Dover 2 then following the death of his father in law became minister in the Unitarian General Baptist denomination at Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent He was an active contributor to several magazines but not always accepted for publication as in 1786 an article on baptism by the editor of the Repository 3 He was a friend and correspondent of Joseph Priestley 4 Works editHe wrote several religious booklets including one arguing for an allegorical reading of the New Testament devil passages An attempt to shew that the opinion concerning the devil or satan as a fallen angel and that he tempts men to sin hath no real foundation in scripture 5 Ashdowne acknowledged continuity with The Notions concerning Daemons about our Saviour s time have been collected from the best authorities by Dr Lardner in his Tracts by Dr Newton in his Dissertations on Prophecy and lately by Mr Farmer in his Dissertations on Miracles It only remains that we should search the Scriptures and point out some Errors in the application of known Truths 6 Ashdowne s view forms part of a wider stream of similar arguments in the writings of Thomas Hobbes 1651 Arthur Ashley Sykes 1737 Richard Mead 1755 and others 7 and his 1794 work was cited in general reference works such as the Penny Cyclopedia of 1837 8 Among his other works were several focussing on the subject of baptism including A dissertation on St John iii 5 In which from arguments intirely new is fully made appear from the New Testament that by the word Spirit is meant the word of God Likewise that baptism is the only initiating right sic into the Kingdom of God 1798 References edit Jennett Humphreys Ashdowne William 1723 1810 rev M J Mercer first published Sept 2004 240 words Winnifrith Alfred Men of Kent and Kentish men biographical notices of 680 worthies of Kent p 49 1913 H McLachlan The Story of a Nonconformist Library 1923 p 99 Schofield Robert E The enlightened Joseph Priestley a study of his life and work from 1773 to 1804 p 226 by William Ashdowne 1791 printed by J Grove and sold by Johnson in St Paul s Church yard Marsom bookseller Holborn Bristow Canterbury and Ledger Ashdowne AN INQUIRY INTO THE Scripture Meaning of the Word SATAN AND ITS SYNONIMOUS TERMS The DEVIL or the ADVERSARY and the WICKED ONE page 40 1794 Burke J Christianity in the Witch Hunt Era 2008 e g entry The Devil in Penny cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful p 447External links edit Ashdowne William Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ashdowne amp oldid 1038388942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
