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Newton, Thomas (2), D.D.

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Newton, Thomas (1)

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Newton, Thomas (2), D.D.,

an eminent English prelate, was born at Lichfield in 1704. He was educated there and at Westminster School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he became fellow. He was for some years a city preacher and tutor in the Tyrconnel family, but in 1744 he was appointed rector of St. Mary- le-Bow, London, by his friend and patron, Pulteney, earl of Bath. Thomas Newton afterwards became successively lecturer at St. George's, Hanover Square; prebendary of Westminster in 1757; next dean of Salisbury and sub-almoner, and bishop of Bristol and canon residentiary of St. Paul's about 1761, and dean of St. Paul's in 1768. He died in 1782. "Bishop Newton," says a contemporary, "was a prelate of not very remarkable powers. natural or acquired; but personally he was without reproach, acceptable in the society of the great, and possessed of a certain amount of general and professional knowledge." The fourth edition of his Works (3 vols. 1782) is complete; that in 6 vols. 8vo (1787) is only complete with his Dissertations on the Prophecies which have remarkably been fulfilled, etc. (10th ed. Lond. 1804, 2 vols. 8vo), which Bickersteth (Christian Student, p. 473) pronounces "a very valuable work;" but which Orme (Bibl. Bib. s.v.) pronounces "seldom profound or original, though they contain occasionally some correct views of Scripture." Jennings, in Kitto (Cyclop. Bibl. Lit. iii, s.v.), says, "By a certain class, who lag behind their age, it is still read and admired. It may, however, be occasionally consulted with advantage" — he might have added on all except Newton's interpretation of the Book of Revelation, where he is altogether astray and uncritical. The work has been translated into Danish and German, and found circulation in several thousand copies. As a divine he belonged to the supernaturalistic school of his time, and was more positive than Samuel Clarke (q.v.). Bishop Newton also wrote On the Anglican Ritual (Tracts of the Anglican Fathers); an Autobiography, published by Alexander Chalmers in Lives of Dr. Edward Pocock, etc. (Lond. 1816, 2 vols. 8vo); and edited Milton's Poetical Works, with notes from various authors. See J. B. Smith, D.D., An Analysis of Bishop Newton on the Prophecies (Lond. 1836, 12mo); Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. 2:2188; and the references quoted in the body of this article.