Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 38.djvu/22

This page has been validated.
Milner
16
Milner

logia’ (enumerated in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ 1826, ii. 180).

Milner's chief theological publication was: ‘The End of Religious Controversy, in a friendly Correspondence between a Religious Society of Protestants and a Roman Catholic Divine. Addressed to … Dr. Burgess, in Answer to his Lordship's Protestant Catechism,’ London, 1818, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1819; 5th edit. ‘with considerable emendations by the author,’ 1824; 8th edit. ‘in which is introduced a Vindication of the Objections raised by R. Grier’ [1836?]; other editions, Derby, 1842, 12mo; London, 1853, 12mo; Dublin, 1859, 12mo. This work was composed in 1801-2, but its publication was deferred for sixteen years at the request of Dr. Horsley, bishop of St. Asaph, who had defended Milner in the House of Lords at the period of his dispute with Dr. Sturges. Dr. Husenbeth says ‘that multitudes of converts have been made by that work—probably more than by all our other controversial works put together.’ It drew forth replies from Blakeney, Collette, Fossey, Garbett, Grier, Hearn, Hopkins, Jackson, Lowe, dean of Exeter, MacGavin, Ouseley, and Phillpotts, bishop of Exeter.

His other works are:

  1. ‘A Sermon [on Deut. xxxii. 39] preached at Winchester, 23 April 1789, being the General Thanksgiving Day for His Majesty's Happy Recovery.… With Notes, Historical, Explanatory,’ &c., London, 1789, 4to. In reply to this, J. Williamson, B.D., published ‘A Defence of the Doctrines … of the Church of England from the Charges of the Rev. J. Milner,’ 1790.
  2. ‘The Divine Right of Episcopacy,’ 1791, 8vo.
  3. ‘Ecclesiastical Democracy detected,’ 1792, 8vo.
  4. ‘An Historical and Critical Enquiry into the Existence and Character of St. George, patron of England, of the Order of the Garter, and of the Antiquarian Society; in which the Assertions of Edward Gibbon, esq., History of Decline and Fall, cap. 23; and of certain other Modern Writers, concerning this Saint, are discussed,’ London, 1792, 8yo.
  5. ‘The Funeral Oration of … Louis XVI, pronounced at the Funeral Service performed by the French Clergy of the King's House, Winchester, at St. Peter's Chapel in the said City, 12 April 1793.’
  6. ‘Account of the Communities of British Subjects, Sufferers by the French Revolution;’ in the ‘Laity's Directory’ for 1795, 1796, and 1797.
  7. ‘A Serious Expostulation with the Rev. Joseph Berington, upon his Theological Errors concerning Miracles and other Subjects,’ 1797.
  8. ‘Dissertation on the Modern Style of altering Antient Cathedrals, as exemplified in the Cathedral of Salisbury,’ London, 1798, 4to; 2nd edit. 1811.
  9. ‘Life of Bishop Challoner,’ prefixed to that prelate's ‘Grounds of the Old Religion,’ London, 1798, 12mo.
  10. ‘The Case of Conscience solved, in Answer to Mr. Reeves on the Coronation Oath,’ 1801. This elicited replies from T. Le Mesurier and Dr. Phillpotts, bishop of Exeter.
  11. ‘Authentic Documents relative to the Miraculous Cure of Winefrid White, of the Town of Wolverhampton, at Holywell, in Flintshire,’ London, 1805, 12mo; 3rd edit. London, 1806, 8vo. Peter Roberts published ‘Animadversions’ on this work in 1814.
  12. ‘An Inquiry into certain Vulgar Opinions concerning the Catholic Inhabitants and the Antiquities of Ireland, in a series of Letters,’ London, 1808, 8vo; 3rd edit. ‘with copious additions, including the account of a second tour through Ireland, by the author, and answers to Sir R. Musgrave, Dr. Ryan, Dr. Elrington,’ &c., London, 1810, 8vo.
  13. ‘A Pastoral Letter [dated 10 Aug. 1808] addressed to the Roman Catholic Clergy of his District in England. Shewing the dangerous tendency of various Pamphlets lately published in the French Language by certain Emigrants, and more particularly cautioning the faithful against two publications by the Abbé Blanchard and Mons. Gaschet,’ London, 1808, 8vo; another edition, Dublin, 1808, 8vo. This pastoral gave rise to an embittered controversy.
  14. ‘Dr. Milner's Appeal to the Catholics of Ireland,’ deprecating attacks made upon him by Sir R. Musgrave, T. Le Mesurier, &c., Dublin, 1809, 8vo.
  15. ‘An Elucidation of the Veto,’ London, 1810, 8vo.
  16. ‘Instructions addressed to the Catholics of the Midland Counties of England on the State and Dangers of their Religion,’ Wolverhampton, 1811, 8vo.
  17. ‘Letters to a Roman Catholic Prelate of Ireland in refutation of Counsellor Charles Butler's Letter to an Irish Catholic Gentleman; to which is added a Postscript containing a Review of Doctor O'Connor's Works entitled Columbanus ad Hibernos on the Liberty of the Irish Church,’ Dublin, 1811, 8vo.
  18. ‘A Brief Summary of the History and Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures,’ London, 1819, 8vo.
  19. ‘Supplementary Memoirs of English Catholics, addressed to Charles Butler, esq., author of Historical Memoirs of the English Catholics,’ London, 1820, 8vo. Additional notes to this valuable historical work were printed in 1821.
  20. ‘The Catholic Scriptural Catechism,’ 1820, reprinted in vol. i. of the tracts issued by the Catholic Institute, 1838.
  21. ‘On Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,’ 1821, reprinted, London, 1867, 32mo.
  22. ‘A Vindication of "The End of Religious Contro-