DODWELL. 107 In a l l his previous writings, Mr. Dodwell had been backed b y the approbation and support o f a strong party; but the palpable absurdity o f his next performance, brought upon him almost universal censure. The title o f this work which will b e sufficient t o give a view o f i t s purpose, runs thus, “An epistolary Discourse, proving from the Scripture, and the first Fathers, that the Soul i s a Principle, naturally mortal; but immortalised actually, b y the plea sure o f God, t o Punishment o r t o Reward, b y i t s Union with the divine Baptismal Spirit; wherein i s proved, that none have the power o f giving this divine immortalising Spirit since the Apostles, but only the Bishops.” He prefixed t o i t a dissertation t o prove “that Sacerdotal Absolution i s necessary for the Remission o f Sins, even o f those who are truly penitent.” These monstrous and abhorrent propositions were warmly attacked b y the most celebrated men o f the day, and a s warmly defended b y their bigotted author i n several publications, which afford a melancholy prospect o f the absurdities into which a man may b e led b y means o f a vast store o f acquired learning, unaccompanied b y strong natural powers o f discrimination. - Mr. Dodwell was, a s we have before said, desirous o f seeing the breach i n the church made up; accordingly, o n the death o f his friend Dr. Lloyd, which took place o n the 1st o f Jan. 1710-11, h e wrote, i n conjunction with some others, t o Dr. Kenn, the only surviving deprived bishop, t o know, whether h e challenged their subjection ? His answer was such a s t o induce Mr. Dodwell t o return into the communion; o n which h e turned round o n such o f his old friends a s still refused t o conform, and wrote, “The Case i n View, now i n Fact,” &c. i n order t o induce them t o follow his example. Mr. Dodwell closed a long life, spent i n literary labour, a t Shottesbrooke, June 7 , 1711, i n the seventieth year o f his age. His industry was prodigious, a s appears b y the number o f his works, which we have found i t impossible even t o enumerate. No one who wrote half the books
